Rejected Bad: Scattergories
The following is a rejected script from an early season of Breaking Bad.
INT. GUS' METH LAB - NIGHT
The lab is buzzing with activity. JESSE PINKMAN, his hands chained to a heavy bubbling meth pot, gazes longingly at the exit.
VICTOR, a calm and collected enforcer, sits across from Jesse at a folding table. Scattergories cards are scattered across the table. Jesse eye-rolls as Victor picks up a card.
VICTOR: Alright, Jesse, let's see if we can get that brain of yours working. Category is "Things you find in a laboratory"...
Jesse sighs heavily.
JESSE: Why do I feel like I've entered some twisted dimension of torture?
Victor chuckles and flashes a mischievous grin.
VICTOR: (light-hearted) Come on, Jesse. Gus thinks I could make you smarter. Let's prove him right.
Jesse reluctantly plays along, staring at the card with a blank expression.
JESSE: (thinking out loud) Lab coats... test tubes... scales... I don't know, man. This is frickin' hard.
Victor leans back in his chair, studying Jesse closely.
VICTOR: You know what Gus once told me? He said, "Victor, to truly excel in this line of work, you must learn to think like a chicken."
Jesse raises an eyebrow, intrigued.
JESSE: (stifling a laugh) Think like a chicken? What the hell does that mean?
Victor leans forward, his expression serious.
VICTOR: (clucking) No, seriously, Jesse. Think about it. Chickens are always alert, paranoid, and constantly searching for an opportunity to escape. They're survivors.
Jesse ponders for a moment, scratching his head.
JESSE: So, you're sayin' I gotta be paranoid and alert, like a damn chicken?
VICTOR: (clucking slyly) Exactly! Think about it. If you're alert, you'll spot potential hazards, avoid mistakes, and stay one step ahead of danger.
Jesse's face lights up with realisation.
JESSE: (enlightened) That's actually not the dumbest thing I've heard. Gus might be onto something here.
Victor nods, smirking.
VICTOR: Just focus, Jesse. Use that chicken mindset, and you'll start seeing patterns and connections you've never noticed before.
Jesse takes a deep breath, embracing the challenge. He studies the card once again and starts mouthing words silently.
JESSE: (recalling): Goggles... safety shower... handbook...
Victor looks impressed as Jesse continues to list his answers.
VICTOR: Nice, Jesse! You're getting the hang of it. Now, that's thinking like a chicken.
Jesse grins, finding a renewed sense of determination and focus.
JESSE: (confident) Bring it on, Scattergories! Jesse Pinkman is thinking like a goddamn chicken!
Victor bursts into laughter.
VICTOR: Except I rolled the dice and it landed on ‘C’. Plus, you are meant to write these down in secret!
Jesse looks down at the cards, disappointed.
FADE OUT.
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