Howard Hamlin/Synopsis

The story of Howard Hamlin from Better Call Saul
==Background==
Howard was coached by Charles McGill during his law student time. He took up HHM with the insistence of his father George Hamlin. Despite Howard wanting to branch off to make his own firm, Chuck convinced him to stay with him offering the partner position. He would end up hiring Jimmy McGill and Kim Wexler, but ended up rejecting Jimmy when he asked to become a lawyer. Despite Howard making him think it was his decision, Chuck forced him to do so.
==Season 1==
Following Chuck's "extended leave of absence" from HHM, Howard effectively takes over as the only leader of the company while Chuck continues to be paid a weekly stipend of $26,000. Jimmy confronts Howard and demands a $17 million severance payout for Chuck. Jimmy accuses Howard of robbing his brother of his rightful part. In response, Howard reduces Chuck's allowance to $857. Later, Craig and Betsy Kettleman, a couple accused of embezzling county monies, turn to HHM when Jimmy attempts and fails to offer his services to them. Even though Jimmy could supply crucial evidence in the police investigations into the disappearance of the Kettlemans, Howard strives to keep Jimmy out of them. 
In response to Chuck's suggestion that Jimmy alter his name to avoid confusion with HHM as an attorney, Jimmy purposefully incites imitation in public by imitating the design of an HHM banner featuring Howard for his own advertisement. Jimmy was ordered to take down his banner after the judge ruled in Howard's favor in the subsequent court case. Jimmy, however, changes the course of events by combining the banner removal with a publicity ploy to boost his popularity locally. Hearing this information, Howard reluctantly describes Jimmy's behavior as "a mere PR gag."
In response to Jimmy discovering a very lucrative new case, Chuck offers his assistance and forms a temporary collaboration with his brother. Later, he also convinces Jimmy to work with HHM, a course of action that Jimmy initially rejects. Chuck phones an unknown party while Jimmy is sleeping and has the audacity to leave his residence while wearing his space blanket. It turns out that the caller was Howard. 
For Chuck's first meeting in the legal office building in a while, Howard organizes the entire staff so that when Chuck arrives, he is greeted with cheers from everyone. In the meeting, Howard and Jimmy agree on compensation for their assistance and advancement of the case. He further adds that, contrary to Jimmy's expectations, HHM is solely interested in the case itself and not on Jimmy accepting a temporary position as an attorney there. Jimmy, who is shocked and hurt, rages that he would sooner set the entire building on fire than give it to Hamlin.
Kim inquires about Howard's justifications for this choice after learning of his disapproval. Howard gently tells her to keep her inquiries to herself and informs her that this is none of her business. Moments after insisting that Kim leave his room, he suddenly changes his mind and instructs her to stay and close the door because what he is about to tell her needs to be kept a secret, according to him. Through this exchange, Kim appears to learn that Chuck actually disapproves of Jimmy's success as a lawyer and that Howard rejected Jimmy's application and appointment solely on Chuck's orders.
Jimmy takes care of Chuck after becoming aware of Chuck's conduct and gives Howard the case. Howard explains that he really likes Jimmy and respects him, and that he only kept Jimmy outside because Chuck told him to. Jimmy retracts his criticism of Howard in response. Kim works to get Jimmy a position there and informs him that Howard was pushing for him to get the chance too as it's at a location where Chuck has no control over. Later, when HHM had to collaborate with another firm on the case Jimmy provided them, they worked to get Jimmy a job there.
==Season 2==
Inside the courthouse, Kim and Howard are waiting to introduce Jimmy to his future employers from Davis & Main as he is deliberating with himself in the parking lot. After a brief pause, Jimmy enters the courtroom with confidence and formally welcomes Clifford Main, the senior partner, and his two partners. He pulls Kim aside and inquires about whether their relationship would alter if he accepted the position before the talk could continue. Kim replies with surprise that the two have nothing to do with one another, and Jimmy agrees. He goes back to the group and informs them that he needs to withdraw from Davis & Main's consideration process. Everyone is in awe as he walks away while grinning.
Later, Howard brings a delivery of groceries to Chuck's home. In order to maintain continuity on the Sandpiper Crossing case, Jimmy was hired by Davis & Main in a partner-track role, Howard tactfully informs Chuck. Chuck, surprised, inquires as to if Cliff is aware of Jimmy's past. Howard claims he presented a whole, truthful picture of Jimmy, but he also acknowledges that he didn't prevent Jimmy from being employed. Chuck sits silently and scowling as Howard leaves. Later, Howard makes an appearance at a gathering with Davis & Main executives to discuss the Sandpiper issue. Jimmy starts to give an update on his client outreach efforts, but as Chuck enters the room, his confidence is dashed.
Another meeting with the Sandpiper co-counsel at HHM is attended by Chuck and Howard. When the conversation turns to client outreach, Cliff offers to spare Jimmy the embarrassment of having to mention how he recently acquired more than 200 new clients in the previous few weeks. Chuck raises the possibility that solicitation—an unlawful act—was involved because he only received one response to their mailer in Amarillo and is suspicious of his success record there. Jimmy maintains that he went to the residents, not the other way around.
Kim is summoned before Howard and Chuck when Jimmy airs an advertisement without Clifford Main and his partners' permission, and Howard reprimands Kim for failing to alert them about Jimmy's advertisement. Kim is consequently relegated to document review. She prevents Jimmy from discussing it with Howard since doing so will just make things worse.
Kim keeps looking for a new client for HHM in an effort to regain her job. She finally gets a call back from Paige Novick, senior lawyer for Mesa Verde Bank & Trust. After setting up a meeting over the phone, Kim erupts in excitement, her jubilation echoing across the deserted parking garage. The following day, Paige and Kevin Wachtell, the CEO of Mesa Verde, are greeted by Kim and Howard in the HHM lobby. Kim offers to compile a list of associates to assign to the case when the meeting goes well. Howard, who is still upset with her, tells her that someone else will take charge of that because Kim already has a lot on her plate with the doc review. 
Kim is disappointed and dejected as he retreats inside. Later, Howard goes to see Chuck to tell him about Mesa Verde. Chuck is thrilled by Kim's ability to secure $250,000 in billings and perhaps years of work for HHM, but Howard says he hasn't yet forgave her. However, with Chuck's assistance, Kim is returned to her previous position. Howard, on the other hand, treats her coldly and gives her the most demeaning and menial tasks, such as sending her to attempt and defend unwinnable motions in court.
Kim visits Howard in his office after deciding to leave HHM and begin a solo practice with Jimmy. She presents Howard with her letter of resignation. Howard doesn't appear surprised because he has heard rumors that Kim will be partnering with Schweikart and Cokely. Howard infers from Kim's statement that she will be a single practitioner that she will be collaborating with Jimmy. He expresses appreciation for Kim's "fresh start" and claims that he always wanted to launch his own company, take on the world, and make a difference, but his father persuaded him to join HHM. 
Kim thanks HHM for everything, especially helping with the cost of her law school education, and she offers to pay back the remaining balance of her loan. As she leaves his office, Howard tells her that she won't be required to repay them and wishes her success. Outside, Kim hears Howard instructing his assistant to call Mesa Verde and cancel everything he had scheduled that morning in anticipation of her intention to accompany her client. She rushes back to her office and phones Paige to schedule a meeting with her and Kevin Wachtell after realizing that time is of the essence. Later, she is successful in persuading Paige and Kevin to work with her instead of HHM.
Later, Howard stops by Chuck's house to let him know that Kim may win Mesa Verde from HHM. The information that she is pooling her resources with Jimmy and likening him to Svengali has Chuck shaken. Since compliance law is not his area of expertise, Howard needs Chuck's assistance in setting up the afternoon meeting with Kevin that he has managed to schedule in an effort to retain Mesa Verde as a client. Chuck is willing to attend the meeting and assures Howard that the lights will stay on and that he would act as usual despite Howard's request for arguments and bullet points. To Howard's astonishment, Chuck tells Kevin during the meeting that Kim is unquestionably the best person to handle Mesa Verde.
Since the regulations are constantly changing and the consequences for even the most honest errors can be disastrous, Chuck professes to be dull and reads FEC and ISO reports for entertainment. Chuck makes his point gradually but clearly: no matter how excellent one person may be, the needs of Mesa Verde are too great to be handled alone. He is much more experienced than Kim. Kevin comes to a decision to stick with HHM. Howard congratulates Chuck on his accomplishments as he heads out. But Chuck finally succumbs to the effects of the extended exposure to the electricity and falls into Howard's arms. 
A week later, Howard and Chuck would appear before the New Mexico State Banking Board to receive final permission for the new Mesa Verde branch, along with Kevin Wachtell and Paige Novick. Howard offers to go to the meeting by himself, but Chuck won't stay. Jimmy observes Chuck and Howard leave from the park across the street. He immediately rushes inside Chuck's home with a stack of documents to remove the ones he has altered to harm the two of them.
Chuck nearly suffers an EMS attack when passing through the metal detector in the courthouse, but he maintains his composure. Kevin begins to make an opening statement in favor of the application before the board, saying that Mesa Verde's new branch is advantageous for everyone. When a staff member hands a file to the board commissioner, the conversation is interrupted. Chuck tries to clarify things after being caught off guard by the sudden interruption and, upon the board's request, mentions the planned branch's fake address of 1216 Rosella Drive, which Jimmy had made up. 
The hearing is ultimately postponed to six weeks later due to the discrepancy between the information in the application and the initial submission. This is especially frustrating for Kevin and Paige because Chuck, despite their repeated requests, refuses to acknowledge that he used the wrong address. Chuck rushes through the papers as soon as he gets home, ignoring Howard's attempts to console him. He discovers Jimmy's involvement when he discovers that the '1261' address appears in all of the files. Following a head injury and coming home, Chuck leaves HHM, much to the dismay of Howard, who phones Jimmy and informs him of Chuck's actions. In reality, Chuck uses all of this as part of a successful ruse to prod Jimmy into admitting to altering Mesa Verde's records.
==Season 3==
Howard accepts Chuck's invitation to his home, where he listens to Jimmy's taped admission of altering the Mesa Verde files. Although Howard is horrified by Jimmy's conduct, he tells Chuck that the tape cannot be used to harm Jimmy in court or to entice Mesa Verde to return to HHM. Later, when Jimmy breaks into the house and burns the tape after being tipped off about its presence as part of Chuck's grand scheme, he is there. Jimmy is taken into custody for the robbery as a result of Howard and Chuck's private investigator being present during the crime.
Chuck, Jimmy, and Kim meet with DDA Kyra Hay to explore a pre-prosecution diversion arrangement in which Jimmy confesses to the break-in and provides that confession to the New Mexico Bar Association (which would ensure Jimmy's disbarment) in exchange for avoiding jail time. Howard represents Chuck during this meeting. After the meeting, Kim confronts Howard and Chuck and lets them know she wants to get rid of the copied tape that Chuck had made.
Chuck refuses Howard's advice to not speak at Jimmy's bar hearing, believing that the case will be strong enough with only his own testimony. Kim forces Howard to acknowledge that he is the son of one of HHM's identified partners during his testimony, undermining his assertion that Chuck blocked Jimmy in order to prevent nepotism. In addition, Howard acknowledges that Jimmy was unaware of Chuck's conduct and says Jimmy has a lot of potential. Howard and the rest of the group later watch in disbelief as Chuck goes on a tirade against Jimmy and his desperate attempts to get him removed from the bar.
Howard comes to see Chuck with a 35-year-old bottle of Macallan scotch after Jimmy is put on leave for a year. He asserts that despite Jimmy's inability to practice law for a full year, they still prevailed since he is almost certain to make a mistake and receive an indefinite suspension. He tells Chuck that worrying about Jimmy is pointless and a waste of his time and intellect, and that he should get over it. Chuck toasts to "new beginnings" and seems to concur.
Two weeks after Chuck's breakdown, Howard interrupts Kim's meeting with Paige and Kevin during his own lunch meeting to sternly remind her of her time working in doc review at HHM. The following day, Kim sends Howard a check for the sum he contributed to her student loans for law school. Howard confronts Kim aggressively after their guests have left, especially given the timing. Kim learns from Howard that he has spent the past two weeks having dinner meetings with clients in an effort to repair the firm's reputation. Kim remains unrepentant, telling Howard that he is to blame if he failed to disclose Chuck's genuine condition to his clients and that she only served as his representative. Kim's check is torn up by Howard, who declares that while her debt has been forgiven, everything else has not. Later, when he pays Chuck a visit to discuss his malpractice insurance, he is surprised and delighted to hear that Chuck has gone grocery shopping by himself. 
Howard finds out from the insurance officials for HHM that they want to treble the premiums for each of the firm's attorneys after learning about Chuck's EHS and courtroom meltdown. They provide a substitute, which is awful for HHM and involves a senior partner watching Chuck in court for free. Chuck threatens to file a lawsuit as the meeting comes to a close, and Howard tries to get Chuck to step down since he no longer trusts Chuck or his judgment. Chuck storms out of the room in a fit of rage.
The following day, Jimmy confronts Howard about the Sandpiper Crossing settlement offer at HHM's parking garage. He points out that HHM stands to profit significantly from the offer that they are delaying. Jimmy requests that Howard make a quick settlement because it would be right for the clients. Howard declines, realizing Jimmy is simply concerned about getting his share of the money while pretending to care about the clients. He calls Jimmy pathetic and transparent, says speaking to him is like speaking to Gollum, and even offers to give him money from his wallet to punish Jimmy. 
He forewarns Jimmy, knowing that he is willing to go to that low but won't because he is too greedy, against using any shady tactics to get the settlement accepted or leaking information to Schweikart and Cokely. Jimmy will receive his money, according to Howard, but he will have to wait for it. Later, Howard's secretary brings him an envelope from Chuck, which he interprets as Chuck's letter of resignation. He gives his secretary the go-ahead to organize a large retirement celebration. Unluckily, he spoke too soon since when he opened the package, Chuck had already decided to sue HHM for breach of contract. After observing that Chuck has reinstalled some of the electrical appliances, Howard visits Chuck's home to confront him.
Insisting that he has overcome his EHS hallucination, Chuck swears to take Howard to court to defend his right to run the company he created from the bottom up and threatens to liquidate it if he doesn't get his way. Chuck is made to put down an electrical cooking tool after Howard departs, demonstrating that he is still uncomfortable with living near electricity.
Chuck proposes to dismiss the lawsuit in exchange for their permission to return at a meeting with the senior partners. Instead, Howard declares that Chuck has taken his vendettas too far and orders everyone out of the room. As per the partnership agreement, Howard offers Chuck a $3 million check along with the promise of two further installments. Chuck realizes that Howard is buying him out of his own pocket when Howard says that the money comes from both his own cash and a few loans. Howard notifies the rest of the company of his impending resignation once Chuck's threat of financial blackmail is lifted, and he observes Chuck's last exit from HHM from the lobby balcony.
==Season 4==
After Jimmy dismisses a call from him, Howard phones Kim's apartment and informs Kim—whom Jimmy had advised not to pick up the phone—that he must speak with Jimmy immediately regarding Chuck. Jimmy sees Howard standing next to a coroner's van behind him as he gets at Chuck's burned-out home. Howard tells Jimmy not to look once Jimmy understands Chuck is gone and then leaves, allowing Jimmy to deal with his sadness. Kim and Howard speak with the fire inspector to determine the precise circumstances behind Chuck's death. Later, Howard calls Jimmy to deliver the obituary for Chuck, but Jimmy becomes distraught and Kim has to complete the conversation on his behalf. 
A sad Howard meets Kim and Jimmy and reveals to them that he believes Chuck committed himself after consoling Chuck's ex-wife after the burial. After the malpractice insurance event, Howard admits to kicking Chuck out of the company, and he feels responsible for Chuck's death. Jimmy's casual answer to Howard's admission stuns both Howard and Kim, who were unaware that Jimmy was actually to blame for the insurance issue. 
They sign legal documents pertaining to Chuck's estate while Howard and Rebecca are present at the meeting. Howard says that Chuck bequeathed the house to Rebecca and that, as Chuck's executor, he will be selling the property when Kim shows up on Jimmy's behalf. Kim informs the two that Jimmy doesn't want anything and declines their offer to let him sift through what's left and take what he wants. Howard provides Kim a letter of consent to divide Jimmy's fortune. Kim knows that $5,000 is the amount you give someone when you want to cut them out of the inheritance but don't want them to challenge the will; it's just enough money to demonstrate that the receiver isn't forgotten. Howard confirms that this amount will be used. 
Howard informs Kim that Chuck also left a sizeable endowment for a scholarship for promising young people, and he hopes Jimmy will serve on the board. Kim agrees to let Howard know about this as well as to give Jimmy a private letter. When Rebecca is gone, Kim confronts Howard aggressively about his behavior in the wake of Chuck's death. She yells at him so loudly that Howard's voice cracks when he asks what he can do to make things better. Kim then snarls out of the room.
Later, when Jimmy arrives at the courthouse for his legally required PPD check-in, Howard is restless and unattractive as Jimmy enters the lavatory. Howard first claims that everything is OK but then makes a reference to having sleeplessness. Howard responds that he already sees someone twice a week when Jimmy proposes he see Kim's therapist. Jimmy rips up Kim's therapist's business card when Howard departs and flushes it down the toilet.
Later, Jimmy pays Howard a visit at HHM to pick up the $5,000 check left for him by Chuck. Jimmy notices that several of the cubicles outside are empty, and Howard acknowledges that HHM has had to fire personnel owing to "setbacks," including issues with paying Chuck's inheritance. Jimmy inquires about the strategy for restarting the business, but Howard remains silent. Jimmy encourages Howard to stop "wallowing" and battle to save HHM in an effort to uplift him. Jimmy refers to Howard as "a shitty lawyer but a great salesman," to which Howard responds, "Fuck you, Jimmy." Jimmy exhorts Howard to channel this wrath towards regaining control of the business.
A year after Chuck committed suicide, Howard conducts an interview with Marshall Dixon while at the opening of the Charles L. McGill Reading Room. Although Howard acknowledges that HHM has had a difficult year, the company is recovering. Even though Howard wants to claim credit for the dedication, he acknowledges that he is merely a guest and that some unknown benefactor was actually responsible. Later, Jimmy makes a case for holding a new election for Kristy Esposito, the only candidate Jimmy voted for, and Howard, who is in charge of the meeting to decide who will receive scholarships from the company, is impressed. She is rejected, nevertheless.
==Season 5==
Finally agreeing to meet with Howard, Jimmy, now going by Saul Goodman, is briefly introduced to Judge Lawler. Jimmy, who consents to being referred to as Jimmy from now on, is questioned by Howard regarding the character of Saul Goodman. Although Jimmy's account of Saul impresses Howard, he wonders why he didn't just carry out those actions as Jimmy McGill. Howard acknowledges that HHM wronged Jimmy and tarnished his name as a result, making it simpler for Jimmy to assume the identity of Saul and carry out his mission. Howard regrets not defying Chuck and employing Jimmy when he first became prohibited and again when Jimmy brought the Sandpiper Crossing case to HHM.
Jimmy rejects Howard's offer of employment at HHM. With HHM expanding once more, Howard feels he could use someone with Jimmy's charm and skills. Howard was motivated by Jimmy's advocacy for Kristy Esposito during the scholarship committee meeting. Jimmy is surprised by Howard's offer, and the two men part ways amicably after finishing their lunch.
Later, Jimmy sneaks into Howard's property and uses three bowling balls to break out the back glass of his automobile. Later, Howard calls Jimmy and asks whether he's thought about his offer to join HHM; Jimmy replies that he's still debating it and swiftly hangs up. After appearing in court on behalf of two prostitutes, Jimmy employs them to ruin Howard's lunch with Clifford Main as Jimmy gleefully observes from his car.
Later, Howard approaches Jimmy at the courthouse and inquires once more about the HHM offer. Jimmy once more responds that he is still debating it. Jimmy pretends ignorance while Howard retracts the offer and admits that he is definitely furious with Jimmy, mentioning the bowling balls and prostitutes as examples. Jimmy becomes enraged and violently accuses Howard of causing Chuck's death and loudly states that he has grown too big for the responsibilities of an HHM job; Howard mocks Jimmy as he quietly leaves as Jimmy makes a scene. Howard apologizes to Jimmy for his grief (clearly caused by Chuck's death).
Kim briefly rides in the same elevator as Howard and his colleagues, and Howard discovers that she has left Schweikart and Cokely to pursue pro bono work. In exchange for a few moment of her time, he tells Kim about Jimmy's recent harassment of him, advises Kim to stop following him, and urges Jimmy to seek assistance. Before calling his remarks arrogant and insulting, Kim bursts out laughing at him and asserts that she makes her own judgments and that Howard does not know Jimmy. Before walking out, an angry and hurt Howard responds that Chuck knew Jimmy the best.
Kim remembers Howard's remarks, and she later reveals to Jimmy that he attempted to "white knight" her before commending his harassment of Howard. She then suggests more punitive measures, like giving Howard drugs so he can shave his head or dousing his pool in bleach. To Jimmy's increasing horror, Kim is adamant about the idea that they frame Howard for "something unforgivable" in order to ruin his career and secure Jimmy's share of the Sandpiper settlement.
==Season 6==
Jimmy and Kim intensify their plan to harm Howard. The two discuss possible ways to frame Howard at the El Camino Dining Room. Kim starts to make an audible plan suggestion to Jimmy after outlining how it needs to be well-paced so Howard won't notice it coming and how it needs to make sense. The following day, Jimmy and Kim are spotted watching Howard and Cliff Main play golf at a country club. Jimmy walks into the club and asks Norm Wakely for a tour while introducing himself as Saul Goodman. Kevin Wachtell, who the two run into, informs Norm about Jimmy's reservations, which causes Norm to ask Jimmy to leave.
This leads to a disagreement between Kevin and Jimmy during which Jimmy accuses Norm of being antisemitic as the cause of his unexpected denial of a tour. Jimmy eventually gains entry to the men's changing area, and after distracting the security guard by blocking the toilet, he locates Howard's locker and slips a tiny plastic bag of baby powder disguised as cocaine into it. Just as Howard and Cliff are about to return, he manages to slip away from them, where he hears the commotion around the bag's discovery.
Later, Jimmy and Kim keep planning how to include Cliff in the scheme against Howard. Kim has learned that Craig and Betsy Kettleman, the former of whom was recently released from prison, are operating a tax preparation business in the desert called Sweet Liberty Tax Services. To Betsy's dismay, Jimmy shows up at the office. At first, she rejects Jimmy's invitation to work with them once more, but she eventually agrees under the pretext that Jimmy could know something that would enable their complete exoneration.
Jimmy convinces the Kettlemans that Howard was under the influence of cocaine during their case after they had signed letters of engagement with him, but Betsy swiftly fires Jimmy. Later on, the Kettlemans are shown speaking with Cliff. Cliff rejects their accusations against Howard and declines to represent them due to their cooperation with HHM on the Sandpiper Crossing settlement.
The following day, Jimmy sends Huell Babineaux to steal Howard's car keys from a valet. In the back of a van, Huell turns over the keys to a colleague who duplicates them and creates a system for remotely locking and unlocking the Jaguar. The keys are still gone when the valet attendant finds them, and when he returns to get them, they are lying on the ground next to the car. Jimmy is shown the workings of the device by Huell, who also hands him the keys.
Jimmy, who has dressed and arranged himself to look just like Howard, uses the spare keys to steal Howard's car when Howard visits his therapist. Jimmy brings Wendy up from the Crossroads Motel while Kim has lunch with Cliff, waiting for Kim's approval. Jimmy shoves Wendy out of the car as Kim and Cliff finish their lunch meeting, and he drives off as she yells at him that he owes her money. Howard's car skids to a stop as it races around a corner and comes to a stop.
Cliff observes in disbelief, believing Howard is to blame, and makes the connection. Despite the fact that the original parking space has been taken, Jimmy is able to return Howard's car to his therapist's office, and Howard doesn't seem to notice.
Later, Erin Brill conducts a meeting with the senior plaintiffs in the Sandpiper Crossing class action lawsuit as Howard and Cliff observe. After Erin's explanation that class action settlements have lengthy deadlines makes the residents lose hope, Howard steps in as the group's leader right away and utilizes his charisma to win them back. Cliff confronts Howard about what he saw after the meeting. When Howard inquires about the person Cliff was meeting after adamantly denying any participation, Cliff responds that it was Kim.
Cliff, who believes he actually needs therapy for a drug problem, is informed by Howard that he has a "Jimmy McGill problem," and Howard then phones his assistant to ask her to cancel Cliff's entire week. Then, using the alias H. O. Ward, Howard tricks Jimmy into going to a boxing ring where they "punch it out," with Howard winning after hitting Jimmy in the stomach. Outside the boxing arena, Howard meets with a private eye in the latter's car and instructs him to keep an eye on Jimmy and who he speaks to. 
Later, at his home, Howard gets ready for work by dressing, shining his shoes, and packing his Jaguar with his suit jacket. Making a cappuccino with foam art in the form of a peace sign for his wife Cheryl, he toils over his espresso machine. She gives her husband a half-hearted thank you before obtaining a travel mug and pouring the cappuccino into it while Howard looks on, obviously appalled. Then, Howard warns Cheryl obliquely that he thinks Jimmy's position is becoming worse and that it's conceivable she might "hear or see something."
I was unable to express what. After scarcely exchanging any niceties with her husband, he reassures her that he is committed to putting an end to it, and she departs the house. Later that day at HHM, Howard's private investigator gives him a rundown of Jimmy's actions over the previous several days while walking through a series of images documenting Jimmy's routine. Howard interrupts him by asking a question about a photo he saw, though. Jimmy only deviated from the schedule once, according to the private detective, when he stopped at a bank to withdraw an estimated $20,000 in cash before going to his workplace. According to Howard, there is no justification for a lawyer to make such a withdrawal.
After that, Howard meets with his private eye to talk about Jimmy's recent antics. The investigator shows Howard images of Jimmy paying off the mediator, Rand Casimiro (who is actually someone else Jimmy recruited to play the role of Casimiro), that were tainted with a psychoactive substance. After thereafter, Howard has a meeting with Cliff Main and Irene Landry to go over the impending Sandpiper case meeting. Early to the meeting, Howard talks to an HHM intern stocking the mini-fridge about Chuck's advice. As soon as the conference starts, Howard recognizes Casimiro and accuses him of plotting with Jimmy. He then orders his assistant to get the envelope containing pictures of Casimiro conversing with Jimmy.
But as Howard opens the package in front of everyone, he discovers that the pictures have been switched out for genuine ones of Jimmy passing a Frisbee to someone, and he learns that Jimmy had arranged for him to hire a crook as his private detective. Casimiro leaves the conference after being insulted and wishes Howard success. Cliff is informed by Schweikart that because the meeting was unsuccessful, they will be returning to their initial settlement offer and will lower it by $1,000,000 for each day that follows. Howard is confronted by Cliff, who threatens to reveal what he has seen to the defense team unless he agrees to settle at the new price. Howard agrees grudgingly.
Later, to mockingly celebrate Jimmy's victory, Howard visits Jimmy and Kim at their apartment and gives them a bottle of Macallan scotch whisky while vehemently rebuking them for tarnishing his name. He then goes on to describe Kim and Jimmy as "perfect for each other" and calls them both "soulless," furious that they used a complicated plot to drag him through the mud.
Lalo Salamanca enters the apartment as Howard resumes his tirade. Lalo answers nonchalantly that he is nothing and that he only wants to "speak to my lawyers" when Howard wonders who he is, much to Jimmy and Kim's concern. They both frantically beg Howard to leave, but he refuses, telling Lalo with mocking humor that he should get better attorneys. 
After attaching a silencer to a gun, Lalo shoots Howard in the head, killing him, as soon as he understands his danger. A neighboring coffee table is struck by Howard's motionless corpse, which also breaks his jaw and causes facial disfigurement. When they see what has just happened, Jimmy and Kim both scream in fear. Lalo tells them to calm down and says, "Okay... Let's talk."
==Legacy==
Jimmy sees Howard's corpse and falls to the ground, Lalo tying him to his chair, and Jimmy starts screaming in shock and despair. Lalo, who had been slain by Gus during a gunfight, is buried next to Howard's body under Gustavo Fring's superlab. In order to make it appear as though Howard had committed suicide by walking into the water while under the influence of cocaine, Mike Ehrmantraut and Gustavo Fring's men drove Howard's automobile to the ocean several states away. By doing this, it makes sense why Howard's body is missing because it would be assumed that it was washed away at sea. Mike and his team clean up the apartment, removing the bullet and blood, and then they burn the evidence as part of the cover-up.
Jimmy and Kim go to HHM the day after Howard passed away, where the staff and legal community are conducting a memorial service for him. They find out from Rich that HHM is changing its name, moving to a smaller office, and cutting back on staff. They walk up to Cheryl, Howard's widow, who is conversing with Cliff. Cheryl questions the two about prior allegations Howard had made that Jimmy had harassed him. Jimmy tries to avoid Cheryl's questions, but she makes him recite the account of Howard's final alleged sighting that he gave to the police.
He tries to say that Howard arrived to the apartment while under the influence of drugs, but Cheryl angrily doesn't buy it. Kim fabricates an account of how she saw Howard snorting cocaine in his office. Cliff is unwilling to support her, so Cheryl starts crying and goes to the bathroom. Kim pulls Jimmy in for a solemn kiss before driving out after Jimmy informs her that the torment of lying to Cheryl is ended in the HHM parking garage.
Kim later informs the judge at a court hearing that she has notified the state bar that she is no longer a lawyer. Inconsolable by Howard's passing, Kim informs Jimmy that evening that she has come to the conclusion that the two of them must split ways since they are harmful to one another and everyone around them. She further admits that she had heard from Mike that Lalo was alive and well before he showed up at the flat. 
She breaks down and says she didn't tell Jimmy the truth because it would have destroyed the plan to harm Howard, their friendship, and because she was having "too much fun" to stop. Kim keeps packing as Jimmy is left in silence.
Jimmy and Kim's con left Howard's reputation irreparably damaged to the point that he would eventually only be remembered for the lies that had been published about him because Howard was no longer alive to defend himself.
In 2010, Kim makes her way back to Albuquerque and provides Cheryl and the district attorney with an affidavit that describes her and Jimmy's plot to portray Howard as a cocaine user, Lalo's murder of him, and Gus and Mike's men's staging of his death as a suicide. Following Cheryl's reading of it, Kim clarifies that Howard was killed because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and that she is unaware of the location of his remains. Despite the fact that the police will now look for Howard once more, Kim doesn't believe they will find him.
Cheryl informs Kim that the lies she and Jimmy made up about Howard and the portrayal they gave of him are now all that everybody remembers of him. Kim wants to rectify that and attempts to reassure Cheryl that Howard was killed swiftly and that he didn't suffer. When Cheryl wonders if Kim will face charges and go to jail, Kim responds that the district attorney most likely won't because there is no hard proof and no other witnesses left but Jimmy, assuming he's still alive. However, both ladies agree that Cheryl has the right to sue Kim in civil court and demand payment in full if she so chooses. Cheryl questions Kim's motivation in taking this action.
Later, while returning to the airport, Kim sobs uncontrollably out of regret and sorrow. Jimmy tries to exploit his understanding of Howard's murder to help his plea agreement after getting arrested. He is shocked to see that Kim had already made a statement about it a month earlier. Later, Bill Oakley informs Jimmy that Cheryl is "out lawyer shopping as we speak" to sue Kim for all she has and will ever have, but that the district attorney is likely to sit on the case and do nothing with it.
When Saul is trying to discuss Howard's murder during his plea hearing, he breaks down and says that he had given the government "a load of BS" about Kim's involvement in the killing in order to persuade her to attend the court. "Saul Gone" It is likely that Howard's reputation has been somewhat restored as a result of both Kim's declaration and Jimmy's reference of Howard's murder during his high-profile trial.
Category:Synopsis