Piñata (Better Call Saul)

In a flashback from 1993, Jimmy McGill collects ballots for an office pool predicting the outcomes of the 65th Academy Awards and Howard Hamlin announces that Chuck McGill has successfully closed a lucrative case for Hamlin Hamlin & McGill (HHM). The staff applauds and Kim Wexler takes the opportunity to show Chuck her own legal acumen. Jimmy tries to congratulate Chuck, who is dismissive. Jimmy passes the firm's law library while delivering mail, checks to make sure no one is watching, and silently enters.

Late at night, Kim reviews Mesa Verde documents but is drawn to her pro bono cases. The next morning, she meets with Rich Schweikart and makes a successful pitch to join Schweikart & Cokely as head of a new banking division. She informs Jimmy over lunch, falsely telling him that Rich sought her out. Kim's news appears to cause Jimmy to have a panic attack in the restaurant's kitchen; he then returns and encourages her to take the job.

A relative of Geraldine, his first elder law client,[lower-alpha 1] calls Jimmy and says she died. Jimmy breaks down afterward, and later re-watches his first elder law commercial,[lower-alpha 2] which featured Geraldine.

Gus Fring and Mike Ehrmantraut arrange to house Werner Ziegler and his crew while they build the meth lab. Mike explains the living and security arrangements to Werner and his crew. Crew member Kai appears dismissive, but Werner vouches for him. Mike apologizes to Stacey for exposing Henry at the support group,[lower-alpha 3] and Stacey allows him to see Kaylee again.

Gus visits a hospitalized, unconscious Hector Salamanca and recounts a childhood story about a coati that ate the fruit from a lúcuma tree Gus had carefully tended in Chile. He trapped the coati, which broke its leg while trying to escape. Rather than killing it, which would have been humane, Gus held it and let it suffer until it died.

Jimmy visits HHM to pick up his $5,000 inheritance check.[lower-alpha 4] Howard explains that clients are leaving because HHM's reputation has been damaged by recent events. Before departing, Jimmy tries a "tough love" pep talk to rouse Howard into action.

Jimmy uses his inheritance to buy pay-as-you-go phones for resale on the street. The three teenagers who previously robbed him attempt to rob him again,[lower-alpha 5] and Jimmy springs a trap. After the three teenagers are bound and suspended upside down, Huell Babineaux and Man Mountain use bats to smash piñatas close to their heads. Jimmy obtains their fearful agreement that the boys will both leave him alone and spread the word that he is off limits.

"Piñata" was watched by 1.40 million viewers on its first broadcast, earning a 0.4 ratings for viewers between 18 and 49.[4]