"Better Call Saul" S6: E10 "Nippy" Quiz

Answer: A dog that doesn't exist

This is the first episode of season 6 to be shot entirely in black and white. Up till now, only a new season's introduction was shot like that. To symbolise the depressing life of "Gene" aka "Saul Goodman" or "Jimmy McGill" in Omaha. Hiding under a new name all this time, bored, miserable, repeatedly watching his old commercials on video.

The black and white depicts his new "life" as a kind of purgatory. But today, he's putting posters up on neighbourhood trees asking if anyone has seen a missing dog named "Nippy". Just then, an old lady named Marion comes along on her motor-scooter. "Gene" correctly guessed this particular lady would have a fondness for dogs. So she stops and asks him about the non-existent Nippy.

This meeting is no accident.

Answer: Jeff

At the beginning of season 4, "Gene" was in hospital. He had collapsed at work and they called an ambulance. The doctors couldn't find anything wrong and discharged him, saying it was probably just a panic attack. (But we know it probably the stress of hiding from the authorities.)
But that night, in a cab taking him to his car, Gene noticed the cabbie studying him in the rear-view mirror. Then Jimmy/Gene spotted an Albuquerque air-freshener. Uh-oh! Did the cabbie know who he really is?
Unfortunately, yes. Several days later (the beginning of Season 5), Jeff the cabbie came up to Saul/Gene in the mall with a friend. They wanted to hear him say "Better Call Saul"; Jeff was a huge fan back in Albuquerque!
Gene/Saul/Jimmy realises this man knows too much. He has to get rid of him!
And today, he "meets" Jeff's mother Marion. Her motor-scooter mysteriously breaks down while they are discussing poor Nippy. Gene pushes her home. (Surely a coincidence he had wire-cutters in his hand when standing behind her scooter?)

Answer: Help him commit theft

When Jeff drives his cab home at the end of that day, he is surprised to find his mother has a guest. And it's Saul Goodman of all people! Of course "Gene" has to act like he's never met Jeff before. But that night, once the two men are alone in the backyard, Jeff demands to know what he's doing here. Jimmy/Saul smiles and says he's here to show Jeff "The Game". Then they won't meet again, clear?
At first, Jeff doesn't understand. Saul explains he will show him how to make lots of money, hire girls, drive fancy cars, etc. Now he has Jeff's attention...

Answer: Carol Burnett

Carol Burnett has been a huge "Breaking Bad" fan for many years. She once told Vince Gilligan she would love to play a role in its spin-off "Better Call Saul", no matter how small. So he cast her as Marion.

Answer: Buddy

Buddy the cab driver was with Jeff the day he tormented "Gene" in the shopping mall. Their upcoming heist needs a third person. So they take Buddy into their confidence and recruit him. Not hard since he is as amoral as Jeff.

Answer: His old ring

After having dinner at Marion and Jeff's house (and bemoaning the loss of his non-existent Nippy), "Gene" returns home. He retrieves a hidden item he hasn't worn in a while: his pinky ring. As Saul Goodman he wore it all the time. But not in Omaha.
It used to belong to his late Illinois childhood friend Marco. Marco used to assist Jimmy's scams by pretending to be dead or drunk. But one night in 2002, he had a heart-attack for real and died.
Marco's mother gave Jimmy that ring, and he wore it in Albuquerque for eight years. Until he was forced to disappear, thanks to a certain felonious chemist named White...

Answer: Security guards

The next day, happier than he has been for months, "Gene" goes to work. As the mall's closing, he visits the Security Room. Bringing some goodies from the boring pastry shop he's been managing for months.
Nick (the slender security guard) recognises him at once. They had an argument at the beginning of season 3 (before "Gene" collapsed and Nick called the ambulance). But the two men want to bury the hatchet. Saul shares his pastries with Nick and Frank (the not-so-slender guard). Saul wants to befriend Frank in particular. Frank sits in front of the security cameras all night long.
Something potential thieves will need to take into consideration...

Answer: Clothing-shop

As we've come to expect, Jimmy/Saul/Gene has concocted a brilliant plan. But, as we've also come to expect, something is going to go wrong.
Jeff, Buddy and their new leader find an empty snowy field and "rehearse" their master-plan. Jeff is going to sneak into the expensive clothing-shop after hours and help himself to three of each item. Why three? Because three minutes is the robbers' "window of opportunity" as "Gene" puts it.
He's been visiting Frank for weeks and timing his routine. Frank talks non-stop about football with his back to the monitors for three minutes. Enjoying goodies a certain Cinnabon manager brings...

Answer: Jeff gets a concussion

Kathy, the owner of the Cottonwood Mall clothing store, gets a surprise as the day is ending. There's a delivery for her at Mall's loading dock. It's expensive equipment - which she certainly didn't order! Delivered by a driver called Ricky (Buddy, actually). She telephones "Ricky"'s boss. Yes, you guessed it, Saul picks up. He talks the tired manager into letting them leave the box here overnight. Then everyone goes home...not realising there is in fact a man inside the box. Named Jeff, no less.
Once he gets a text message from "Gene", chatting to Frank yet again about sports, he leaps out of the box. So far so good...
Only Jeff didn't know there a slippery spot outside the clothing store. His arms full of stolen merchandise, he slips and hits his head! Gene/Saul gulps. If Frank turns to look at the monitor, he will see an unconscious intruder! Now what?
Then Saul/Jimmy has a brainwave. To buy Jeff more time, he suddenly breaks down exclaiming "What's the point?". He tells the embarrassed Frank he has no friends, no family, his brother took his own life, no one cares about him. (Since that is all true, perhaps his tears were genuine?)
Luckily it works, and Jeff eventually gets to his feet and staggers away. Sniffing, Saul/Gene excuses himself and leaves.
Mission accomplished!

Answer: False

The three accomplices are overjoyed! Gloating over all the stolen merchandise in Marion's garage, "Gene" suddenly puts his foot down. "I need to hear you say 'we're done'. Say it!"
Buddy and Jeff look at one another. What is their leader's problem? Then Saul informs them how much jail time they'll get if they bother him again.
Then they realise the truth. He set this whole thing up so they wouldn't bother him ever again! Clever! Jeff is beginning to wish he and Buddy hadn't tormented Saul Goodman that day at the mall after all.
Then Saul goes inside and tells Marion a family actually had "Nippy" all this time. "All in all," he concludes a happy ending.