"Better Call Saul": 5.4 "Namaste" Quiz

Answer: Bowling balls

The clerk asked if she could help him find something, but he declined, "No thanks, I'm just browsing". He picked up numerous items: a lamp, trophies, a tea kettle, horseshoe, lawn darts, and even a Buddha statue. When he picked up a portable television, and swung it back and forth, the helpful clerk told him "That still works. You can plug it in if you want".

But after wandering through the store, testing various items to the sound of Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band's "Laventille Road March", he spotted the bowling balls. Saul talked the clerk into $75 for all three balls, and he walked out with a carrying case also.

The scene was actually a flash-forward connected to an event that occurred later in the episode when we found out what Saul intended to do with those bowling balls.

Answer: Howard

Howard had been a bit of a mess early last season as he struggled to deal with Chuck's death, but he had things together now. He was interested to know why Jimmy was now "Saul Goodman". Saul explained, that "Saul Goodman is the last line of defense for the little guy. You're getting sold down the river - he's a life raft... You got Goliath on your back, Saul's the guy with the slingshot.

He's a righter of wrongs, he's a friend to the friendless". Howard was amused by the speech but asked why Jimmy McGill couldn't do that. Howard then said that he believed Jimmy changed his name because of the way he was treated by Hamlin Hamlin McGill: "Your name is a part of that firm; now it's tainted... we took your legacy away from you". Howard told him, "I should have showed some backbone" when he had the opportunity to hire Jimmy, but Saul wasn't interested: "It's ancient history". Howard however was determined to make up for past mistakes and offered Saul a job. Saul quickly replied: "Before you offer me a job, you might want to call your buddy, Cliff Main.

He'd have a unique perspective on employing me". Howard seemed to be on a sort of ten-step program for getting his life together, and perhaps making peace with Saul was one of the steps, but he did seem very sincere. Saul however was dismissive of Howard throughout the lunch, and even though he didn't turn down the job offer outright, he wasn't at all enthused about it, and as Howard drove away in his Jaguar, Saul smirked at the "NAMAST3" license plate (apparently, "NAMASTE" was already taken).

Answer: Build the call center on another plot of land

It turned out that Mesa Verde had initially looked at two plots of land for their call center. The other plot hadn't been chosen because of drainage issues, but Kim had found out that the drainage had been fixed, and new roads had been built near the property.

She tried to convince Mesa Verde CEO Kevin Wachtel that going back to the other property was a good decision because of the new infrastructure. She even tried to throw in the issue of "reputational risk": "Ousting a man from his house is never a good look". Kevin wasn't buying it; he asked Kim to confirm that Mesa Verde owned their plot of land and if they were in the right legally; when she agreed, he said, "That settles it. I'm not gonna let anybody chase me off ". Kim was disappointed but moved on. Paige said that she had talked to the sheriff, and that "come Friday at noon, Acker will be out and construction will proceed".

Answer: Switched the defendant with a lookalike

After her disappointment with the Mesa Verde meeting, Kim went to watch Saul in the courtroom. He was questioning the store clerk (Tim DeZarn) who was on duty the night that the store was robbed, emphasizing that the man had worked a long shift, the cameras in the store weren't working, and that he was the only witness. According to the clerk, the defendant had bought a candy bar, and when the register was open, he snatched the money and ran.

The clerk said he was sure that he could identify the thief: "It's him, your client". Saul asked him again if he was sure, and to take his time answering, but the clerk said he didn't need time: "That's him". Saul then said, "Would you be surprised to learn that the person you just pointed to is not the defendant? My client is in the back of the courtroom".

The prosecutor and judge both were displeased, and the judge adjourned court and called the attorneys to her office. When Saul returned, he told Kim "Two sweetest words in the English language: Mis Trial".

Answer: Culvert

Hank asked why someone would put a dead drop in a culvert: "Rain comes and your money's on its way to the Rio Grande". Steve suggested that a different drop would be used during monsoon season, but Hank wasn't listening; he was focused on the word "culvert": "that's a weird word. What is it, like Dutch?" Steve thought it was French, but Hank dismissed this.

Then Steve gave the Spanish definition, but Hank dismissed this also: "Do you ever hear anyone walk around talking about the majestic culverts of Spain?" After a brief discussion of the business at hand, Hank returned to the topic: "Culvert. CuuulVERT. Sounds like a Dutch word for crotch rot".

The conversations between Hank and Gomey were bizarre but never boring.

Answer: Clean the fryer

After Lyle (Harrison Thomas) closed up for the night, he found Gus looking at the fryer. When Gus asked him if the fryers were acceptable to him, Lyle initially said that he couldn't see anything wrong with them, but when Gus said, "I understand", Lyle found some minor issues and told Gus that he'd take care of it.

When Gus later inspected the fryer again, he told Lyle he could go home, but then Gus started to roll up his sleeves, and Lyle begged for the opportunity to do them again. Gus told him, "If you would like to take another crack at it, then go ahead".

As Lyle exhaustively scrubbed the fryers, the DEA operation went down. Gus received the call: "All clear... went down like it was supposed to". Gus then told the sweat-covered Lyle he could go home, telling him the fryer was "acceptable". On the "Better Call Saul" forums, fans discussed this scene and had two general interpretations. One -- Gus was taking out his frustration on Lyle because he was helpless to do anything about the DEA operation, or two -- Gus was keeping Lyle there as an alibi, although the need for an alibi wasn't particularly clear as it certainly wouldn't be Gus doing the pickups at the dead drops.

Answer: They didn't catch the pickup man.

The DEA captured three lower level workers who had dropped off the cash, and of course the cash, over $700k. But they didn't nab the pickup man who could lead them back to dealer, so Hank didn't consider the operation to be a success. Gus had arranged it so the pickup guy would ditch the truck when the DEA trapped him and run off into the desert, losing Hank and Steve who were chasing him.

He was then picked up by Victor at a designated point. Hank wasn't happy though: "I want to go upstream, Gomey, not downstream".

But Hank managed to lead a well-done rally for his team and the Albuquerque Police Department, congratulating them on a successful operation and buying the first round of beer at a local bar.

Answer: Showed him a dirty picture

When Acker opened his door, Saul immediately stuck his foot in to keep Acker from shutting the door in his face. Acker initially thought Saul was from Mesa Verde, but even when Saul told him that, "I want to represent you, sir", Acker wasn't having it.

He didn't want a lawyer. Then Saul showed him the picture, telling Acker that it was his proposal. Acker was clearly flabbergasted as he looked at the picture. Can't provide a description here - family-friendly website and all - but as Saul said, it depicted what he was going to do to Mesa Verde: "I'm the guy who will do whatever it takes to stick it to them".

As Saul left the property, he called Kim: "Guess who's got a new client in Tucumcari". When Kim asked how Saul managed to convince him, Saul said, "visual aids. You'd be surprised what you can find on that Internet".

Incidentally, as Saul was standing by his car, there was a Mesa Verde billboard in the background with a phone number on it for "employment opportunities". If you called the number (at least, when the episode first aired), you got a message from Mesa Verde's Kevin Wachtell talking about the new call center.

Answer: Vandalized Howard's car

After calling Kim, we saw Saul hesitate, check his watch, and then appear to ponder something. It was at this point that the opening sequence to the episode actually took place. The next scene was several hours later as it was well past sunset. He parked his car, donned gloves and a hat and then headed to a fancy, gated property. To the sounds of Aphex Twin's "diskhat1", he began his bowling game.

The first ball was lobbed over the fence, landing on the block driveway. Saul peaked over the fence to get a better view of his target and then lobbed the second ball, which dented Howard's car, setting off the alarm.

But Saul wasn't through, after another peak, he readjusted his aim and lobbed the last ball, smashing through the rear window of the car. Saul ran off, and at that point, Howard came out on a balcony to see what the commotion was.

He looked visibly hurt to see the damage to his car, and stood there staring at it as he turned off the alarm. This was another scene that brought about a lot of discussion on the "Better Call Saul" forums. Was it Saul's speech to Acker about the little guy getting abused by Mesa Verde "looking down at us from their glass tower" that made him want to lash out at the establishment? Or was it Howard's turnaround from the despair he experienced last season after Chuck's death that riled Saul?

Answer: He was stabbed

Mike went to sit with Kaylee, but Stacey told him that she had made other arrangements. She said that there was something going on with him, and that she'd rather he not sit with Kaylee for the time being. She said that she'd invite him over for dinner, but he looked rather angry as he left. Later we saw him approach the house from last episode where he got into a scuffle with some punks and ended up breaking one of their arms.

The last time was an accidental encounter, but this time was deliberate.

As he approached the house, he appeared to contemplate what he was doing, and then as he walked by, he looked right at them as if to egg them on. When they attacked, he got in a few good shots, but they quickly overpowered him, and one of them pulled a knife and stabbed him.

But Mike's attempt at suicide by gangbanger wasn't successful. When he awoke, he found himself in a mysterious adobe compound, his wound bandaged.