Kim Quits the Firm
Better Call Saul (2015)
YouTube captions are often inaccurate. The transcript below is verified for accuracy.
Characters
Howard
Kim
Transcript
[Howard]
Hey Kim, can we make this quick? I'm kind of swamped right now.
[Kim]
Uh sure. Thanks for meeting with me. I only need a few minutes.
[Howard]
Great. What's up?
[Kim]
Howard, could we do this in your office? Please?
Again, thanks for taking the timeâ
[Howard]
You can just go ahead and rip off the Band-Aid. I have a pretty good idea why you're here.
So you're going with Schweiger and Coakley?
[Kim]
I'm sorry?
[Howard]
I heard. Through the grapevine.
[Kim]
I'm not going to another firm. I'm starting my own. I figured I'd try giving it a go as a solo practitioner.
[Howard]
Well, I uh... Wow.
[Kim]
I realized it was something I needed to do.
[Howard]
The week Jimmy exits Davis and Maine, you decide to leave us? That can't just be happenstance.
[Kim]
It's not. We're gonna be sharing expenses. One office, but two separate practices.
[Howard]
Smart. On several counts.
[Kim]
Howard, I want you to know that I appreciate my time here. I'm grateful for everything you and the firm have done for me, especially the financial help with my schooling. And I'm ready to write a check for the remainder of the loan. I just need accounting to get me that figure.
[Howard]
No need. Our gift to you.
[Kim]
I don't know what to say. Um, thank you.
[Howard]
You earned it. Tell you the truth, I'm kind of envious.
[Kim]
Really? Why?
[Howard]
Something about a fresh start. Back in the day, right out of law school, I thought long and hard about hanging up my own shingle.
[Kim]
Oh yeah?
[Howard]
Yeah. Oh, I was ready to take on the world. Make a difference. Dad talked me out of it. Wanted me to join the ranks here. Throw another H in the firm's logo. Things work out the way they're supposed to, I guess. Kim, I want you to know that I always pushed you harder because I knew that I could expect more from you. Good luck to you.
[Kim]
Thank you.
[Howard]
[unintelligible] âand cancel everything I have lined up this morning.
[Assistant]
Calling now.
[Kim]
Sorry. Excuse me. Hi Paige. It's Kim. Yeah, hi. Just checking that we're still on for lunch on Monday. Great. And Kevin too? Good. Well, before we meet, there's some news you need to know about.
Clip Context
Kim has decided to open her own private practice law firm.
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Vocabulary
Read each word out loud.
happenstance
/ËhĂŚpÉnËstĂŚns/
noun
a chance occurrence; an event that happens by coincidence rather than intention.
Example:
By pure happenstance, they ended up sitting next to each other on the flight and became close friends.
through the grapevine
/θru Ă°É ËÉĄreÉŞpËvaÉŞn/
idiom
by informal or unofficial means of communication; via rumors or word of mouth
Example:
I heard through the grapevine that the company is planning a major restructuring.
swamped
/swÉmpt/
adjective
extremely busy or overwhelmed, especially with work or responsibilities
Example:
Iâd love to help, but Iâm completely swamped with deadlines this week.
rip off the Band-Aid
/rÉŞp Éf Ă°É ËbĂŚndËeÉŞd/
idiom
to deal with something difficult or unpleasant quickly to avoid prolonged discomfort; (âBand-Aidâ is a brand of small adhesive bandages used to cover minor wounds.)
Example:
I didnât want to have that conversation, but I decided to rip off the Band-Aid and tell him the truth.
join the ranks
/dĘÉÉŞn Ă°É rĂŚĹks/
idiom
to become part of a particular group, often one defined by a shared status, profession, or experience
Example:
After publishing his first novel, he joined the ranks of contemporary bestselling authors.
hang up one's shingle
/hĂŚĹ Ęp wĘnz ËĘÉŞĹÉĄÉl/
idiom
to start working independently, especially by opening a private business or professional practice
Example:
After years at a large law firm, he finally hung up his shingle and opened his own office.
figure
/ËfÉŞg yÉr/
noun
a number; an amount of money
Example:
I need you to provide me with a figure before I can transfer the money.
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Conversation Practice
Working with a tutor? Try asking or answering these questions out loud with them.
Working alone? Try speaking your answers out loud or write them in the lesson discussion below.
1. Have you ever started your own business? If not, would you like to?
2. Do you listen to rumors or ignore them?
3. When you have bad news to share, do you prefer to rip off the Band-Aid or do you prefer to be indirect and cautious?
4. What's your preferred method of unwinding after a long week of being swamped at work/school?
5. Are there any jobs that, no matter what figure they offered, you would not accept?
Lesson updated:
May 3, 2026
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