Breaking The Scene (Better Call Saul — “How About Aspen?”)
Here’s a scene from Better Call Saul, a show with some of the best writing I’ve ever been able to watch unfold.
Written By: Alison Tatlock
Where To Watch: Netflix
Scene Context:
Jimmy is struggling to start up his own law firm. He’s been trying to get his girlfriend, Kim, on board. They are both at a party hosted by Kim’s law firm, Schweikart & Cokely.
Scene Conflicts:
- Kim wants to get through the party without drama.
- Jimmy wants to show Kim that her law firm is bullshit.
- The firm’s boss, Richard, wants to appear benevolent to his employees.
Scene Outline:
- Jimmy emerges from Kim’s office, having just viewed her many trophies from her work at this law firm.
- Kim invites Jimmy to a conversation with Richard. They’re talking about where to take the next company retreat.
- Jimmy jokes that he’ll be invited. Richard jokingly asserts that Jimmy isn’t invited.
- Richard talks about how he wants to spend a lot on the retreat, so the firm doesn’t appear stingy. He mentions a ski trip to Taos, possibly.
- Jimmy says Taos is an alright option. Richard invites Jimmy to share more of his opinion.
- Jimmy starts talking about the skiing in Telluride. He continues, despite Richard’s discomfort, happily discussing how cool a hugely expensive trip could be (custom parkas and party bus included).
- Kim gently puts a hand on Jimmy as Richard jokingly notes that Jimmy doesn’t think small.
- Jimmy doesn’t stop talking, mentions that the trip should go to Aspen.
- Richard, more serious, tells Jimmy it’s too long of a bus ride. With all of Richard’s employees now watching, Jimmy offers that Richard book everyone a private jet.
Why It Works:
Turning Opponent’s Strength to Weakness: This scene is effectively Jimmy ambushing Richard, and each character has a specific form of overcoming the other. For Richard, he believes his best way to ‘win’ is through appearing kind. He doesn’t stifle Jimmy while he speaks, and is even the one to prompt Jimmy into his rant. Jimmy, of course, throws Richard’s kindness right in his face by effectively calling his bluff. What Richard wants to appear as is exactly what Jimmy uses to tear him apart. Everything Jimmy brings up is a challenge to Richard’s original sentiment- that he doesn’t want to appear cheap. As Jimmy’s suggestions get increasingly elaborate and expensive, Richard is effectively made weak as a result of what he thought was his strength.
Highlight Protagonist’s Competency: Jimmy is, throughout the show, a conman driven by spite and only rarely has the desire to follow the rules of morality. When you have a character that’s despicable like this, there’s a few things you can do to make them worth engaging with, and that includes giving them something which they are best at. And what’s Jimmy best at? Well, it’s being a showman. We’ve seen, time and time again, that no one puts on a better performance than Jimmy, and despite it being used to nefarious ends more often than not, it does make us appreciate Jimmy in one way or another.
Say It With A Smile: One of the most engaging aspects of this scene is how no one is really at conflict with one another. With it being a ritzy, lawyer-filled gala, everyone’s putting on their best face. This means Richard and Kim can’t stop Jimmy and outright tell him to shut up. The environment has stunted their ability to control Jimmy, and as a result, they must find different ways to stop him without telling him he’s being rude. This means we get wonderfully packed moments of subtext, like when Kim gently puts a hand on Jimmy’s shoulder, or when Richard “jokes” that Jimmy won’t be invited to the ski trip. They’re practically nothing, but they’re so charged with emotion and motivation that it’s impossible not to notice them.
Silent Stakes: Because of the intrinsically locked-down environment, Kim can’t stop Jimmy. Rather, she’s forced into the unlucky role of bystander as Jimmy attacks Richard. She can’t show her discomfort, but to have to watch her boyfriend so plainly instigate her boss right in front of her is an undoubtedly conflicting position to be in, and the fact that she maintains her composure throughout the scene is one of the things that makes her character so endearing- she never admits defeat. Rather, she revels in her background position and lets it play out, knowing how impossible it is to stop Jimmy. Similarly, we are left to wait for the following scene which, undoubtedly, won’t bode well for Jimmy.
Summary:
This scene is wonderfully effective in showcasing the complex dynamics of these character’s relationships in a way that in neither confusing nor overt. By putting them in a situation where they have to talk around what they really mean, we get to see some really great subtext-based dialogue, all built around fascinating characters.
