THE EMPIRE CLASSIC SCENE

Bad day at Black Rock chosen By Vince Gilligan

VINCE GILLIGAN: “my dad introduced me to this movie. the scene that tickles me the most is when spencer tracy karate-chops ernest borgnine in the throat and kicks him through the front door of the restaurant. He’s only got one arm — you’re just thinking, ‘Oh man, he’s gonna get his ass kicked.’ It’s probably a moment I was thinking of when I began conceiving Walter White for Breaking Bad.”

INT. DINER — DAY

Macreedy (Tracy) has come to Black Rock seeking a man named Komoko. In a diner, Macreedy is targeted by local thugs Reno Smith (Robert Ryan) and Coley Trimble (Borgnine), who don’t want him poking around. Trimble has intimidated Macreedy out of his diner stool, and is trying it on for size.

trimble: This stool ain’t comfortable.

macreedy: I was afraid of that.

trimble: I think I like the one you’re on.

smith: He’s as changeable as a prairie fire.

macreedy: Suppose you tell me where to sit?

Trimble dumps ketchup into Macreedy’s chilli.

trimble: I hope that ain’t too much.

Macreedy slops his spoon through the mess.

macreedy: Your friend’s a very argumentative fellow.

smith: Sort of unpredictable, too. Got a temper like a rattlesnake.

trimble: That’s me all over. I’m half horse, half alligator. You mess with me, and I’ll kick a lung outta ya. Whaddya think of that?

macreedy: No comment.

trimble: You know, talking to you is like pulling teeth. You wear me out. [Leaning in, shouting] You’re a yellow-belly Jap lover, am I right or wrong?

macreedy: You’re not only wrong, you’re wrong at the top of your voice.

trimble: You don’t like my voice?

macreedy: I think your friend is trying to start trouble.

smith: Why ever would he wanna do that?

macreedy: Well, I don’t know. Maybe he thinks

that if he needles me enough, I might crack. I might even fight back. And then either he or your other apes sitting over there could beat me to death and cop a plea of self-defence.

smith: I don’t think that would be necessary. You’re so scared now you’ll probably drown in your own sweat.

trimble: Before that happens, couldn’t I pick a fight with you if I tied one hand behind me?

Macreedy pushes his bowl away, leaves a coin on the counter. He starts for the door. Trimble grabs Macreedy and spins him around.

trimble: If I tied both hands?

Macreedy suddenly chops Trimble in the throat with his right hand. Trimble staggers back against the wall. He gasps for breath. Smith just watches.

Trimble launches himself at Macreedy, who calmly sends him flying again. Then Macreedy delivers three short blows, which send Trimble through the entrance, taking the door with him.

Dazed, Trimble picks himself back up. Staggers back inside. Has one last swing. Macreedy catches his fist and flips him over, knocking him out.