Season One, Episode 2

Hone Claws

The Saffron City prosecutor's office - a squat, dull office building in the heart of the city. The chatter of lawyers, paralegals, and secretaries on the phone fills the room. Shifting through the mass is city prosecutor Doug Landers - late-40's, tall, bald. We follow Landers as he walks down a hall - stopping to fill his water bottle and checking his mailbox in a back room.

He checks his phone - turns it on silent - before opening a door at the end of a building. We see his reaction to the contents of this room. He pauses - looks on - and rolls his eyes. A facial 'Oh, fuck.'

Circling around the room, we see its other inhabitants. It's a conference room, and sitting on one side of the table is Saul Goodman, flamboyantly dressed as always. Next to him, in a bright yellow prison jumpsuit, is his client, Troy. Saul wears a shit-eating grin. His client is not so enthusiastic. Saul points eagerly to the other lawyer.

Saul: You're late!

Doug: Let's get this over with, Saul. I'm meeting the D.A. for brunch in -

He checks his phone.

Doug: Half-an-hour.

Saul: Wouldn't wanna miss that, would we?

Doug reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small tablet-like device. He turns it on, flips it around, and shows it to the other two men. Troy drops his eyes to read the text on the tablet. Saul seems apathetic to its contents.

Doug: Troy? Here's the deal. We want to offer you eighteen-months in exchange for a plea of your guilt. Once you get out, you'll be looking at a year of probation.

He hovers his finger over the tablet, as if it should be a done deal. Saul leans back comfortably in his chair. Doug focuses his attention back on Troy.

Doug: It's a good deal. If this goes to trial, you're looking at up to ten years. Silph Co. could get involved. You don't want to get headlocked with them in a courtroom…trust me.

Saul: Actually -

Troy and Doug both look at Saul. He's got an ace up his sleeve.

Saul: After discussing this case with my client, I believe there are some pertinent details to discuss before we…

He waves his hand towards the tablet.

Saul: Look at or sign anything.

Doug: Goodman, your client is accused of breaking into Silph Co. and threatening a man with a Pokemon. He had sensitive materials on him when he was caught.

Saul: So just to clarify…you have footage of my client doing all of this?

Doug: We have footage of him in the lobby during closed hours, using an elevator, and sneaking into a lab containing proprietary materials owned by Silph.

Saul: But not entering the building?

Doug: We believe Troy entered through a maintenance hallway.

Saul: I'm sorry, I'm not as familiar with the layout of Silph headquarters as you two gentlemen. Could you translate for me? Because it sounds like you're saying there were no cameras filming-

He gestures towards Troy.

Saul: My client breaking in or threatening anyone.

Doug: I'm not going to play your games, Saul. We've already spoken to the custodian. He says your client threatened him with an Arbok. Held the Poke Ball right to his back.

Doug once again focuses on Troy.

Doug: Pokemon-related crimes carry a minimum sentence of six years. I've got this janitor on speed-dial, ready to take the stand. Do you really want him as a witness in court? An old man who had his life threatened? Think about that.

Saul: No, no. That's okay. We already have thought about it. Could we see it?

Doug: See what?

Saul: The Poke Ball.

Doug gives Saul a look of pure contempt. They stare each other down for a moment, but then the prosecutor stands up and walks out the door.

Saul (to Troy): I think he's having a rough day. Family troubles, maybe. Impotence. You never know.

Troy ignores him. Just stares at the wall. It's been two days since he tried to save his Pidgey. At this point…

He shutters. Tries not to think about it.

Prosecutor Landers walks back in the room carrying a shoe box.

Saul (loudly): …and anyway, that's why I think the guy should just really go for the hair plugs!

He looks up at Doug with faux-embarrassment.

Saul: Oh, sorry. I was just talking about -

Doug drops the shoe box on the table. Saul goes to open it.

Saul: Do you mind?

Inside the box are all of Troy's clothes. Resting on top is a single Poke Ball. Troy's eyes immediately go to it.

Saul grasps the Poke Ball in his hand and places his thumb on the button.

Saul: So, according to the guy my client allegedly threatened, there should be an Arbok in here.

Doug: You know that doesn't have to be the case. Your client could have lied.

There's a beat. Saul presses the Poke Ball's button. It opens. Nothing.

Saul: You're right. My client could have lied. Except my client's guilty of just one thing - staying in Silph Co. - after hours - and being aggressively handled by a security guard when he went searching for help.

A look of confusion appears on Doug's face.

Doug: …What?

Saul: We know my client entered the building earlier that day. We do have footage of that. Right?

He gestures around the room, looking for affirmation.

Saul: Right. Why was he there?

Troy: My Pokemon.

All eyes are on Troy now.

Saul smirks at his client.

Saul: Sorry - I sort of assumed that I was going to do all the talking here, given that you've been the strong, silent type up until now.

Troy (to Doug): I had just come back from a Pokemon center. My Pidgey…it was dying. I was looking for help.

Saul (to Doug): But I'm sure you already know that, because you probably talked to the secretary who told him to get lost.

Silence fills the room for a moment.

Saul: So my question to you, counselor, is this: Where is the footage showing my client leaving after that discussion?

Doug's eyes narrow.

Doug: We're…experiencing difficulty retrieving it.

Saul: And who can blame you? It's a big building. You can't expect those cameras to work all the time! Maybe a..uhh…Pikachu got into the wiring.

Doug: So what are you trying to say? That your client wandered the building, unseen, until the custodian was threatened and he was caught?

Saul: My client was lost, aimless. Searching for anything to save his poor Pokemon. He should have left and sought help elsewhere, true, and he's aware he made a mistake but…

He gestures again at the tablet on the table.

Saul: Eighteen months jail time? Seems a little harsh.

We cut to Saul leaving the prosecutor's office. He's wearing the same grin he wore when we first saw him. He circles around the building into a parking lot adjacent to a convenience. Sitting on its own in a corner spot is his signature white car - the bright yellow custom plate reading 'LWYRUP.' He leans on it for a second, checking his watch.

A few seconds pass when a small, beetle-like purple vehicle pulls up right next to him. Saul glances over, chuckles to himself, and gets in this new car.

Inside the car is Jennifer. She's got short, blonde hair. She's wearing a black dress, nails painted bright red. Large sunglasses cover her face.

Jennifer: How'd it go?

Saul looks uncomfortable as he gets into the car. He shifts awkwardly as he tries to see if he's in the angle of the parking lot's security cameras.

Saul: Why do you always ask that? As if you even care.

He pulls out his wallet and takes out a small stack of bills. He tosses it into Jennifer's lap. She looks down and smiles.

Jennifer: Gotta start the conversation somehow. You're lucky we had a man at Silph.

Saul: No I'm not. Assholes are attracted to assholes. You're like Magnemites.

Jennifer giggles at this.

Jennifer: So your guy?

Saul: Time served. Six months probation. He'll be okay.

Jennifer: Do you think he could have gotten away with it?

Saul: What?

Jennifer: He broke into Silph Co. and had the HM in his hand. If it weren't for some bad timing, do you think he could have gotten away with it?

Saul: I dunno. Maybe. He's just some stupid kid.

Jennifer: If it weren't for stupid -

She peers at Saul from over her sunglasses.

Jennifer: You and I'd be out of a job.

Saul looks out the window. He sighs.

Jennifer: You run into this kid again, send him my way. I'll make a badass out of him.

Saul: Yeah. It's been a pleasure.

He turns to leave the car, but she reaches out and grabs his arm.

Jennifer: I talked to him today.

A look of terror flashes across Saul's face.

Saul: Jesus, about me?

Jennifer: We never talk about people. Just Pokemon.

Saul: What…what did he want?

Jennifer: Opportunity. We'll be in touch.

Troy stands in front of a shopping mall. In one of the retail spaces is the office of Saul Goodman. It's a building as gaudy and flamboyant as the man himself. A giant, inflatable Nidoqueen waves on the roof of the building.

Inside the office, a variety of Saul's clients wait for their lawyer. One man has a Lickitung stuck to his face. Another sits next to an exact replica, clearly a Ditto, both wearing neck braces. One old woman presses an ice pack to her Psyduck's forehead.

Troy approaches Francesca, Saul's plump secretary. She waves him back without looking at him.

Saul is in his office, feet propped on his desk, looking at his phone. He glances at Troy, but doesn't move.

He gestures for Troy to sit. Troy does.

Saul: You're lucky. That whole camera thing? One in a million chance. It's good you called me. I've found that other attorneys aren't as…detail-oriented as I am. Now, I'm as happy as you are about your newfound freedom, but there is the issue of -

He makes a 'money gesture' with his fingers and thumb. Troy reaches into his pocket, pulls out a wad of bills, and puts them on Saul's desk. He snatches it up and starts counting.

Saul: Wonderful. Well, that seems to be in order. So…stay out of trouble, okay? You got…I dunno, plans? Girlfriend? Job?

Troy: I had a Pokemon.

Saul snaps his fingers, remembering Troy's story.

Saul: That's right! A Sandshrew!

Troy: A Pidgey.

Troy says this firmly. There's more than a hint of resentment.

Saul: Yeah, Pidgey! I'm sure it's a…very cute, tiny bird.

Troy: It didn't make it. It died alone. All of this…I did it for nothing.

Saul grimaces and puts his feet down. He leans forward. This is his 'serious' face.

Saul: Look, kid, I'm sorry to hear that. But you're -

There's a brief moment of contemplation on his face. He glances down at some paperwork on his desk.

Saul (continuing): Twenty-three? Twenty-four? And you're still trying to bum it with a Pokemon. Any gym leader's gonna laugh you out of the building. You think ladies want some scrawny wannabe prancing around Kanto like a ten year old? I mean, come on!

He spreads his arms wide.

Saul: You have the whole world by the balls! There is nothing holding you back. You knock that six months out and you're as good as gold. You get a future.

The two sit there. Saul's pep talk didn't seem to have much of an effect.

Troy: Is that it? Can I go?

Saul: Yeah…you can go.

Troy starts to get up out of his seat.

Saul: Hey, kid.

Troy turns slightly, listening.

Saul: Time for some tough love. Breaking into Silph Co. for a Pokemon you care about…that's a really dumb thing to do. You want to act stupid? Fine. I can't stop you. Stupid keeps me in business. But you've got a record now. Maybe stupid's the only option you have left. You want my advice?

He pulls a card out from his desk and hands it to Troy, face down.

Saul: If you're gonna do stupid, don't do it alone.

Troy leaves his seat and walks out of the room. As he re-enters the lobby, he looks down at the card and flips it around.

It's solid black with a large, red 'R' in the center.