3.9.-KAFKAESQUE

BREAKING BAD (2008–2013): SEASON 3, EPISODE 9 - KAFKAESQUE - FULL TRANSCRIPT

Skyler hatches a plan as Hank's hospital bills stack up. Meanwhile, Walt and Gus come to a better understanding as Jesse, looking for more independence, pursues a new opportunit

Previously on Breaking Bad...
I can't help you get through this
if you wont me what it is Walt did.
Two men are coming to kill you. Come again.
Two men ambushed Hank.
There tattoos indicate an affiliation with the drug cartel.
You knew my brother when I was with the DEA.
I investigate everyone I do business.
I am sleeping with my boss and I don't know why.
What's up partner?
This is my replacement?
In the litlle village where I was born,
life moved at a slower pace...
yet felt all the richer for it.
There, my two uncles were known far and wide
for their delicious cooking.
They seasoned their zesty chicken
using only the freshest herbs and spices.
People called them "Los Pollos Hermanos"-
the Chicken Brothers.
Today, we carry on their tradition
in a manner that would make my uncleproud.
The finest ingredients are brought together with loving care...
then slow-cooked to perfection.
Yes, the old ways are still best
at Los Pollos Hermanos.
But don't take my word for it.
One taste and you'll know.
♪
Breaking Bad 3x09 Kafkaesque Original Air Date on May 16, 2010
201.6.
Jesus, seriously.
Better over than under.
Over by a pound and a half.
I thought you were all, like, precise.
Whatever. We'll just save it out till next week.
No. We ship it as-is.
What are we, running a charity?
Come on, man, we're gonna take it out.
Leave it.
One batch, one ship.
Stop complicating things.
Why are you purposely giving him free meth?
These bitches are bleeding us enough already.
You are paid extraordinarily well.
Why can't you just appreciate that? Yeah, yeah, yeah, hey.
Hey, I been crunching numbers, all right?
Oh, you've been crunching numbers?
Yeah, I've been crunching numbers,
and I don't gotta be a mathematician to figure out
that this deal you made is bullshit.
We both earn-
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know...
a million and a half each.
Whoop-de-doo.
What's he getting?
Huh?
Say he's wholesaling
at 40 large a pound.
That's probably high.
High. Uh, what, for our stuff?
That's what I was getting.
All right, look, say he's getting 40 a pound.
All right? 200 pounds a week for three months.
And, like, what happens at the end of the three months?
Look, what- whatever.
200 pounds a week for three months.
That's 2400 pounds.
2400 times 40,000 is-
and I swear to God, I double-checked this, like, 10 times-
96 million dollars.
96 million dollars.
All right? 96 million.
96 to our three.
That is messed up, yo.
That is so messed up.
Fairness-wise, I can't even-
Jesse, you are now a millionaire,
and you're complaining?
What world do you live in?
One where the dudes who are actually doing all the work
ain't getting fisted.
What is going on with you lately?
What's happened to you?
Hang on, can't we just-
Hey, we got to hash this out.
Hey, what's more important than money?
These things they laughingly call pillows,
I would not give them to prison inmates.
You want me to go ask for another?
No. Just remind me to bring his from home.
They're not moving his legs enough.
Hey, everybody.
Oh...
Hi, Marie.
Is it okay if-
if I visit?
Yeah.
His color looks good.
Gomie, is that you?
Hey, buddy. Yeah, it's me.
That's you, Gomie?
Yeah, Hank. I'm right here.
Come here. Closer.
What is it?
Closer.
Asshole.
Man, he got you good.
Yeah, yeah.
I'm glad to see you still have your twisted sense of humor.
Hey, check this out.
I got something that'll make you feel better.
I've been keeping an eye on that blue meth of yours.
Six, seven weeks, nothing.
Then all of a sudden, boom.
It's popping up everywhere.
Look at the new locations.
Texas, Nevada,
up in Farmington.
Even right here in town.
A teener here and there, you know,
strictly street-level amounts.
Man, it's crazy.
How exactly is that supposed to make me feel better?
Beuse you were right.
You're the only one that saw this coming.
Well, three cheers for me.
This thing doesn't do a damned thing.
Hank, it's probably still on lock-out.
It's been an hour, right?
I'm hurting here. I could use some meds.
Okay. I'll go find somebody.
Hey, no more shop talk.
Sorry.
I didn't see it coming.
What?
Damn right you did.
No, I didn't see shit.
Day late and a dollar short, as usual.
The only reason I'm...
even breathing...
is I got a warning call.
A warning call? What do you mean?
One minute before they attacked me,
somebody called my cell and told me to expect it.
A voice scrambler. It could have been anybody.
Marie's got my phone somewhere,
if you want to run the incoming.
Not that you're going to learn anything worth knowing.
I don't get it. Cartel hit?
Who would have called to warn you?
I don't know.
Aw, Jesus.
Come on already.
Hang on.
Skyler, I had nothing to do-
Are we safe?
Yes.
Are you safe?
Absolutely.
Jesse?
Jesse?
What about you?
Face looks better.
How's it all going? Anything you want to tell us about?
What, like my interesting life?
One day pretty much bleeds into the next.
Been working a lot. I got a job.
Job is good.
It's in a Laundromat.
It's totally corporate.
Corporate Laundromat.
It's, like, rigid. All kinds of red tape.
My boss is a dick. The owner? Super dick.
I'm not worthy or whatever to meet him,
but I guess everybody's scared of the dude.
The place is full of dead-eyed douche-bags,
the hours suck,
and nobody knows what's going on,
so...
Sounds kind of Kafkaesque.
Yeah.
Totally Kafkaesque.
Majorly.
Ooh, from the U.S. attorney in Santa Fe.
Very nice.
We've got all these nice tulips and baby's breath.
This is chrysanthemum. That looks like chrysanthemum.
Look at these Hank. Aren't they beautiful?
Beautiful.
Wow, look at the size of this basket.
It's got so many goodies in it.
Look, chocolate-covered pretzels
and cheese sticks
and some some fancy designer olives.
You had me at cheese sticks.
Mmm, you're going to have to fight me for those, Hank.
"Get well, and best wishes from Ted Beneke
and all the folks at Beneke Fabricators. "
Wow, he gives you all this time off, and now this?
Get me a job there.
I know. He's great.
Boss hall of fame.
I don't see anything here from Kleinman.
They're going to have to get on the stick.
How's everybody doing today?
Good. We're good.
How are you?
I'm very good.
Hi, Hank.
Just going to do a quick peripheral response, all right?
See where we're at.
Moment of truth, huh?
Yeah. I wouldn't call it that.
All right, let's just take a look here.
All right.
All right, I want you to tell me if you can feel this.
All right.
How about this?
Okay.
How about now?
Do that one again, would you?
Right there?
Yeah, yeah, I feel it. A tingle.
Okay, on a scale of one to ten,
ten being your normal level of feeling
and one bein no feeling at all.
Oh, I don't know.
A four?
Okay, four. Okay.
And how about there?
Yeah. Um, a six.
Okay, good.
And here?
Yeah, still there. A little less.
A three. Okay.
All right, good.
Thank you very much, Hank. Good, good.
So this is good news, right?
Oh, yeah, definitely.
It looks like some nerve function is returning.
Oh, thank God.
All right, so when do we get him walking again?
Marie, it's important that we manage our expectations.
We're talking about months of very hard work,
and even then the odds, they're not great.
But you can't know for sure.
No.
When does he start physical therapy?
We've sent the paperwork to your insurance. It's high priority.
We should have pre-authorization the next few days.
Certainly by early next week.
Next week?
No, that's not going to do it.
I've looked into this.
The sooner physical therapy begins,
the better his chances are.
He needs daily sessions.
Isn't that right?
Well- Actually,
your plan's treatment program
covers four sessions a week.
Actually, she asked the doctor.
Plan-wise, four sessions a week is fairly typical.
And the therapists in your network are mostly fine.
Mostly fine? Okay. There's a ringing endorsement.
Look, if Hank had more physical therapy,
with better therapists,
wouldn't it be more likely he would walk?
It's very hard to say, Marie.
Is the health plan's way medically justifiable? Sure.
Is it absolutely optimal?
Yo5 know, screw it.
I'm going to make sure he gets what he needs,
and they can just reimburse me later.
Mrs. Schrader, I get your frustration. Really, I do.
But my best advice is stay in the network.
Don't go out of pocket.
Physical therapy is just the beginning.
We're talking nursing care, modifications to your home,
occupational therapy, medical equipment.
It could run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
So what?
We're just supposed to compromise on his care?
Well, if you don't follow the insurance company's procedures,
they may never pay you back.
I've seen patients and their families go bankrupt,
waiting to be reimbursed.
Who is the best physical therapist that you know?
I can give you some names.
But they're not likely to be on your plan.
To hell with the plan.
Yeah, there he is.
Finally. I went ahead and started without you.
Ladies, this is Jesse-san. He's in for the full treatment.
Kick off your shoes. Lay back. Exfoliate.
Maybe later.
So, where's the maestro?
Out parking the mini-van?
What do I look like, his shadow?
Who cares where he's at?
What am I doing here?
Well, I was going to have you two flip a coin,
but since the genius can't be bothered,
today's your lucky day.
Look around, kiddo. It's all yours.
What? This?
Yeah. You are now the owner of this fine establishment.
For free?
Free? Ladies, cover your ears.
No, not free.
Look, hey, this is a squeaky-clean,
highly profitable- at least potentially-
local institution,
looked upon with favor by the Chamber of Commerce.
Better Business Bureau.
At $312,000, it's a steal.
312,000?
Don't you get it?
On the outside, it's a nail salon, right?
On the inside, it's the best money laundry a growing boy could ask for.
Wait, wait.
Wait.
Ladies, thank you. Thank you. Good job.
Come back here.
Sit. Come on.
Humor me here for a second.
Now, you know you need to launder your money, right?
Do you understand the basics of it?
Placement, layering, integration?
I ain't buying no damn nail salon, so just forget it.
You want to stay out of jail, don't you?
You want to keep your money and your freedom.
Because I got three little letters for you.
IRS.
If they can get Capone, they can get you.
Hey, look. Here's you, right?
Pink, Pinkman. Get it?
Okay, here's your cash.
You're out on the town. You're partying hearty.
You're knocking boots with the chickie babes.
Oh, who's this? It's the tax man.
And he's looking at you.
What does he see?
He sees a young fellow with a big, fancy house,
unlimited cash supply, and no job.
Now what is the conclusion the tax man makes?
I'm a drug dealer.
Wrong.
Million times worse.
You're a tax cheat.
What do they do? They take every penny,
and you go in the can for felony tax evasion.
Ouch. What was your mistake?
You didn't launder your money.
Now, you give me your money.
That's called placement.
Hand me that little thinGod bin.
This is the nail salon, right?
I take your dirty money
and I slip it into the salon's nice, clean cash flow.
That's called layering.
Final step, integration.
The revenues from the salon go to the owner.
That's you. Your filthy drug money has been transformed
into nice, clean, taxable income,
brought to you by a savvy investment in a thriving business.
So you want me to buy this place so I can pay taxes.
I'm a criminal, yo.
Yeah, and if you want to stay a criminal
and not become, say, a convict,
then maybe you should grow up and listen to your lawyer.
Right, so you can get your 5%.
No, that's 17%.
I heard you say 5.
You said it right in front of me.
Yeah. That was for your partner.
It's privileges of seniority and all.
But for you, it's the usual. 17%, and that's a bargain.
Hey, what, you- Hey, listen to-
Come on, I'm talking to you about your future here.
Listen to reason.
How is your brother-in-law?
He'll live.
Good. I'm glad.
Walter, you seem troubled.
How can I help you?
I asked to see you in order to...
clear the air.
There are some issues
that could cause a misunderstanding between us,
and I think it's in our best interest
to lay the cards on the table.
That's the best way to do business.
My brother-in-law,
moments before he was attacked-
someone called to warn him.
I believe that same person was protecting me.
Those two men, the assassins-
I believe I was their prime target,
but that somehow they were steered away from me
to my brother-in-law.
Because of this intervention,
I am alive.
And yet I think that this person
was playing a much deeper game.
He made that phone call because he wanted a shootout,
not a silent assassination.
In one stroke
he bloodied both sides,
set the American and Mexican governments
against the cartel,
and cut off the supply of methamphetamine
to the Southwest.
If this man had his own source of product
on this side of the border...
he would have the market to himself.
The rewards would be...
enormous.
We're both adults.
I can't pretend I don't know that person is you.
I want there to be no confusion.
I know I owe you my life.
And more than that,
I respect the strategy.
In your position,
I wouldn't done the same.
One issue which troubles me-
I don't know what happens
when our three-month contract ends.
What would you like to happen?
You know why I do this.
I want security for my family.
Then you have it.
Three million for three month.
That was our agreement.
Extended annually,
twelve million a year.
Call it fifteen.
Open-ended.
Would that be agreeable?
Part of the reason we talk about what gets us riled up,
in our daily lives
is to help each other put a finger
on what our relapse triggers might be,
head off our disease before it comes back.
So... anyone?
Free license to bitch and moan.
How often do you get that?
Jesse, last time you seemed pretty down
about your job at the Laundromat.
Let me ask you something.
If you had the chance to do anything you wanted,
what would you do?
Make more green, man, a lot more.
Forget about money. Assume you have all you want.
Um...
I don't know.
I guess I would make something.
Like what?
Not that it even matters, but...
work with my hands, I guess.
Building things, like...
carpentry or brick laying or something?
I took this vo-tech class in high school,
wood working.
because it was just a big Jesus-,
but this one time I had this teacher
name of, uh...
Mr. Pike.
I guess he was, like, a Marine or something before he got old.
He was hard of hearing.
My project for his class
was to make this wooden box,
you know, like a small-
just like a- like a box,
you know, to put stuff in.
So I wanted to get the thing done just as fast as possible.
I figured I could cut classes for the rest of the semester,
and he couldn't flunk me
as long as I, you know, made the thing.
So I finished it in a couple days.
It looked pretty lame,
but it worked,
you know, for putting stuff in or whatnot.
So when I showed it to Mr. Pike
for my grade,
he looked at it and said,
"Is that the best you can do?"
At first I thought to myself,
"Hell, yeah, bitch.
"Now give me a D and shut up
so I can go blaze one with my boys. "
I don't know.
Maybe it was the way he said it, but...
it was, like, he w-
he wasn't exactly saying it sucked.
He was just asking me honestly,
"Is that all you got?"
And for some reason I thought to myself,
"Yeah, man, I can do better,"
so I started from scratch.
I made another,
then another,
and by the end of the semester,
by, like, box number five,
I had built this thing.
You should've seen it.
It was insane.
I mean, I built it out of Peruvian Walnut
with inlaid Zebrawood.
It was fitted with pegs, no screws.
I sanded it for days until it was smooth as glass.
Then I rubbed all the wood
with tung oil so it was rich and dark.
It even smelled good.
You know, you put nose in it
and breathed in,
it was-
It was perfect.
What happened to the box?
I, um-
I gave it to my mom.
Nice.
You know what I'm going to say, don't you?
It's never too late.
They have art co-ops that offer classes,
adult extension program at the university.
You know, I didn't give the box to my mom.
I traded it for an ounce of weed.
He's a hero. You don't deny coverage to a hero.
They'll say they're not denying coverage.
No, no, I'm agreeing with you,
but I went through all this with Walt.
You'll burn through your savings, and then what?
Well, you two managed, right?
You said yourself
that Elliot and Gretchen's money didn't cover everything.
Jesus, I've got to get back.
What? No.
No, no, no, you should rest.
Look, why don't you go in and take a long bath
I put some fresh sheets on the bed.
I want to be there in case he wakes up.
With all they're giving him, he'll sleep till morning.
Hey, Sky.
Hey.
Wha- What are you doing here?
Well, I just thought I'd stop by
to see how you're holding up.
Is this a bad time, or...
Um- Hi.
Hi.
Uh, Marie, this is Ted, my boss.
Oh, you're Ted.
I've heard so much about you.
Thank you for your gift basket.
That was really thoughtful.
It was. It was really nice. Thank you, Ted.
Cheese sticks. Cheese sticks.
Well, you're welcome.
You know, we care about Skyler so much
that naturally that extends to the whole family.
Are you coming in?
Oh, yeah, you should.
I'm sorry.
Come on in, Ted. Thanks. Okay.
We were just having some wine. Would you like a glass?
No. No, thanks.
I'm just on my way home.
I just thought I'd-
You know, I-
I am really beat. I think I'm going to take that bath.
It was nice to meet you, Ted,
and thank you again.
Nice to meet you, too, Marie.
Please give my best wishes to your husband.
I will.
Thanks for stopping by,
but it's actually not a-
not the best time for a visit, so-
Can we just talk for a minute?
I know you need to be with your family,
but I haven't heard from you in days
I left messages- I'm so sorry.
You gave me all that time off, and I really should've-
That's not my point.
I- I care about you. That's all.
Ted, I-
It's just this whole thing with Hank
has been one non-stop horror show,
you know, so...
Well, I- I just want you to know
that I'm here for you.
Thank you.
Um, but I really do need you to...
Okay. Okay?
Skyler, I've got to say your sister seeing me here-
I mean-
So what?
I'm divorced. You're divorced. So what?
Okay, let's talk about it later, Ted, okay?
Is there some reasonfor sec?
Because- Later. Ted, not now.
Skyler, just tell me-
You really want to do this now?
Are you really going to make me do this right now?
Wow.
Yeah, you're right.
I'm- Bad idea to come here.
Ted, I'm-
I'll see you in a day or two.
Back at the office.
Take as much time as you want.
I can't believe you had to crush the RV.
Must've been, like...
depressing.
For real. That's a stone loss.
No one misses it more than me.
Free to cook anytime, anywhere.
No quotas, no one to answer to.
What's the point of being an outlaw
when you've got responsibilities?
Darth Vader had responsibilities.
He was responsible for the Death Star.
True that. Two of them bitches.
Just saying. Devil's advocate.
I've got to pay taxes now? What the hell's up with that?
That's messed up, yo. That's Kafkaesque.
Church. Right.
Let's kick it back into gear.
Let's start slinging again.
Boo-yah!
Shh.
Let's dot.
Life's too short. That's what I say.
Hell, yeah, bitches. We don't need no RV.
Alls we need is a bicycle,
some Drano, soda bottles,
Nah, nah, nah, no shake 'n bake.
Where's your self-respect? Come on.
Yo, maybe it ain't top shelf,
but we could at least move it.
Still kind of dry out there.
Let's- It'll sell on the street.
Who says we sell on the street?
Maybe I know a whole new market.
Maybe alls we need is the meth.
What's the yield?
Hey.
The yield. Come on.
Uh... 201.8.
I see a couple new faces.
Anybody want to introduce themselves?
Don't all speak at once.
Yeah.
So my name's Brandon.
Okay, Brandon.
You want to tell us something about yourself?
Well, why I'm here-
it's just one thing.
It's meth.
It's bad.
Thought I had it kicked a couple times, you know,
but then... Jesus.
This new version of it hit the streets and...
wow.
Not that blue stuff.
Oh, sorry, I didn't raise my hand.
No, go ahead. This is what we do.
Yeah, exactly, the blue stuff.
You had it, to
Yeah, bro.
I wish I never even heard of it.
It was like lighting my whole head on fire.
Yeah, stuff will burn you down.
Only reason I have a hope in hell
is because it's long gone.
That's the shame of it.
Nah, come on, man. Don't tell me that.
I hear it's back in town.
Stay strong, brother. Stay strong.
It's gonna be okay.
I swear to God, I'll do it. I will go to the press.
I will go to 48 Hours. I will go to Nightline.
I don't even know if there is a Nightline anymore. It doesn't matter.
They will all take it, and they will run with it
because he is a hero,
and he is not going to be in a wheelchair at 43.
Jesus.
Marie, I know Skyler's already told you this,
but if there's every anything that you need,
anything at all...
It's good to have you here.
Both of you.
I just wish there was...
something more that we could do.
Walt?
We can always pay their bills.
Please, it's tens of thousands of dollars.
We have the money, more than enough.
Walt earned it. Skyler.
I think Marie should know the truth.
Skyler, I really don't think this is a good idea.
I think that- He earned it gambling.
Walt and I, uh-
We've had our problems lately. You know that.
And, uh...
what it all came down to
really was... money.
Pure and simple.
When Walt was diagnosed, it, um-
It changed him.
Looking back, I don't think I ever really understood
what it was that he was going through.
It was more than facing death.
It was knowing that he was going to leave behind...
nothing.
And so that's how this all started.
For better or worse,
he wanted to provide, and so...
he paid his medical bills the only way he knew how.
I thought that Elliot and Gretchen paid for your treatment.
Yeah, I thought so, too,
but the truth is he never took their money, not a dime.
He was too proud to take
what he considered to be charity.
Isn't that right?
So he put his mindo it and-
Well, you know how Walt is.
He's- He's a problem solver,
and he read books,
and he did a whole bunch of research,
and he came up with...
this system.
A system?
A system for counting cards in Blackjack.
W- What do you mean, like Rain Man?
Well, I don't pretend to understand, you know, all the details,
but he was convinced
that if you put enough money into it,
he'd have a, um, uh-
God, what is it?
A statistical edge?
Yes, statistical-
So- right... um, yeah.
So he- Every spare minute,
Walt was at some card table somewhere,
and at first he went to the casinos,
but then he realized that-
...but then he realized
that the casinos report your winnings to the IRS,
and if it gets reported,
your family might find out,
and if you do not want your family to find out,
then you find another place to gamble,
like an illegal, backroom game.
You remember all those long walks that Walt used to take,
all that time he used to spend away from home?
I guess for a couple months there you were...
sort of leading a double life, weren't you?
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God, your-
your fugue state, was that some sort of cover?
No. No.
He did not fake that, Marie.
The night that Walt disappeared...
he los$14,000.
It was his pension fund,
our savings,
basically every last dime we had to our name, gone.
He couldn't live with it.
He was suicidal.
But you have to try to understand
that as soon as he got out of the hospital,
he went right back to gambling.
I mean, that's how deep this went.
How could you
do that to her, Walt?
I, um-
Anyway, this system of his...
he finally got it to work.
So all this is to say
we have the money.
No more gambling.
But we have the money.
How... much money?
Walt?
Uh-
Well, uh-
It's in the seven figures.
Oh, God. Holy Mary, Mother of God.
What can I say?
I did very well.
Marie...
you will take our money.
Use it to take care of Hank.
Please.
Marie, let us help.
Does Walt, Jr. know about this?
Absolutely not,
and I need to keep it th way,
and Hank- okay-
Hank's got enough on his mind right now,
so can we just please keep this between us? Yeah. Yeah, I-
Yeah, I-
I just- I need to-
Yeah, okay.
We'll talk about it later.
How did you come up with that?
I mean, where-
where did you possibly-
I learned from the best.
Somehow something tells me
that Hank is here because of you.
And I'm not forgetting that.

continuación

Un comercial de televisión de Los Pollos Hermanos exalta la historia (apócrifa) de la cadena y el secreto de su pollo característico. La secuencia pasa a Walt y Jesse en el superlaboratorio , entregando un cargamento de metanfetamina azul , que se envía a la granja de pollos de Gus . Victor supervisa a los trabajadores mientras colocan bolsas plásticas de metanfetamina en recipientes de masa para freír especialmente marcados con UV para su distribución en todo el suroeste. A medida que los camiones se cargan y salen de las instalaciones, se puede ver la silueta de Gus observándolos partir.

Acto I

Walt y Jesse cocinan un lote que rinde un poco más de lo requerido. Jesse quiere guardar el producto adicional para el próximo lote, pero Walt insiste en que se lo envíen a Gus. Habiendo calculado el número, Jesse se queja de que Gus recaudará $96 millones frente a sus míseros $3 millones. Walt responde que Jesse debería estar feliz de ser millonario.

En el hospital , Gómez visita a Hank y le muestra un mapa que detalla dónde se ha encontrado la metanfetamina azul, y le da crédito por predecir correctamente la reaparición del producto. Hank no se consuela mucho con la noticia; él está en demasiado dolor. Skyler observa a Walt absorber esto, y la revelación de Hank de que recibió una llamada advirtiéndole del ataque inminente de los primos , que es la única razón por la que sobrevivió. En el estacionamiento, Walt le dice a Skyler que no tuvo nada que ver con el tiroteo y le asegura que la familia está a salvo.

Acto II

Jesse asiste a una reunión de su grupo de apoyo, donde describe su nuevo lugar de trabajo como una aburrida lavandería corporativa . "Mi jefe es un idiota", se queja Jesse, y agrega que el dueño es "un súper idiota" a quien todos temen. Cuando el líder del grupo se refiere a la situación de Jesse como "kafkiana", Jesse, sin entender realmente lo que significa la palabra, está de acuerdo con él.

De vuelta en el hospital, un médico examina las piernas de Hank y observa que la función nerviosa parece estar regresando. Sin embargo, el médico les informa a Skyler y Marie que las probabilidades están en contra de que Hank se recupere por completo. Otro miembro del personal del hospital se refiere a los retrasos en el seguro y alude a las limitaciones de la póliza, pero le aconseja a Marie que no se salga del plan o podría terminar en bancarrota. Cuando le dijeron que la fisioterapia sería médicamente justificable pero no óptima, Marie decide que ella misma se encargará de la atención de Hank.

Saul y Jesse visitan un spa de uñas que, según propone Saul, sería una fachada ideal para un esquema de lavado de dinero . Jesse, poco impresionado con el plan de Saul y ya reacio a pagar impuestos, termina la conversación después de que Saul se niega a extenderle la estructura de tarifas del 5% de Walt.

Mientras tanto, Walt visita la granja de pollos para reunirse con Gus, queriendo discutir "problemas que podrían causar un malentendido entre nosotros". Walt especula que él era el objetivo principal de los Cousins, y que Gus los guió hacia Hank para protegerlo, y que lo hizo para presionar al cartel , afectar su suministro y podría acaparar todo el mercado de metanfetamina del suroeste. Walt dice que le debe la vida a Gus y respeta su estrategia. Se va con un contrato indefinido de 15 millones de dólares al año y la garantía de Gus para la familia White permanece a salvo. En el camino a casa, sintiéndose empoderado e imprudente, Walt pisa el acelerador y casi conduce su Aztek contra un camión que se aproxima.

Acto III

En otra reunión del grupo, Jesse cuenta que el Sr. Pike , profesor de carpintería de la escuela secundaria, lo inspiró. Al principio, Jesse holgazaneaba en la clase del Sr. Pike, pero cuando lo reprendieron por no poder hacerlo mejor, finalmente creó minuciosamente una caja intrincada. Cuando se le pregunta qué hizo con él, Jesse dice que se lo dio a su madre . Cuando el líder del grupo sugiere que "nunca es demasiado tarde" y que Jesse debería tomar clases de arte, Jesse admite que en realidad no le dio la caja a su madre, sino que la cambió por una onza de hierba.

Skyler y Marie discuten las facturas médicas de Hank en la residencia White cuando Ted hace una visita sorpresa. Cuando la conversación se lleva afuera, Ted pregunta por qué Skyler está siendo reservada, bajo la impresión de que se ha divorciado de Walt. Skyler reprende a Ted por ponerla en un aprieto. Ted se va y le dice que se tome todo el tiempo que necesite.

Jesse visita una tienda de delicatessen con Badger y Skinny Pete , y recuerda que puede cocinar "en cualquier momento y en cualquier lugar" cuando está en la casa rodante y no tener gente que lo mande. "¿Cuál es el punto de ser un forajido cuando tienes responsabilidades?" él se queja. Jesse propone que se lancen, insinuando que ha encontrado un nuevo mercado para aprovechar. De vuelta en el laboratorio, informa que el peso de un lote es inferior a un par de libras.

Acto IV

Badger y Skinny Pete siguen el nuevo plan de negocios de Jesse acompañándolo a su próxima reunión de apoyo grupal. Allí, se aseguran de mencionar la metanfetamina azul que está "de vuelta en la ciudad", atrayendo a los otros adictos en recuperación del grupo. 

Mientras tanto, en el hospital, Marie amenaza con llevar la historia de Hank a la prensa si no recibe una terapia de primera. Ignorando la vacilación de Walt, Skyler se ofrece a pagar las facturas médicas de Hank. Al explicar cómo encontró una gran cantidad de dinero, Skyler cuenta una historia sobre Walt que intenta mantener a su familia desarrollando un sistema de conteo de cartas y ganando a lo grande en juegos ilegales de blackjack. Marie está asombrada por la supuesta admisión. Walt le sigue el juego, impresionado por la habilidad de Skyler para mentir. Cuando le pregunta cómo se le ocurrió a Skyler la historia, ella responde que "aprendió de los mejores". Skyler también expresa su sospecha de que a Hank le dispararon por culpa de Walt. Ella sale, una vez más dejando a Walt cabizbajo.

Trivialidades

Definición de Kaf·ka·esque (adj.)

1. Perteneciente o relativo a Franz Kafka o sus escritos.

2. Tener una calidad de pesadilla compleja, extraña o ilógica.

3. Marcado por una distorsión surrealista y, a menudo, una sensación de peligro inminente.

Durante la secuencia de montaje de apertura que presenta la metanfetamina de Walt y Jesse que se pasa de contrabando a través de Pollos Hermanos, la canción utilizada es una variación del "Tema de Bolivia" de la banda sonora de Scarface . Aparece en la escena cuando Tony Montana viaja a Sudamérica para encontrarse con el capo de la droga, Sosa.

Mark Harelik, que interpreta a un Doctor en este episodio, es otro alumno de Seinfeld (como Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn y Bob Odenkirk). En el episodio "The Comeback", Harelik interpreta a Milosh, un trabajador de una tienda de tenis.

Mientras preparan juntos el plato chileno para la cena de Gus y Walt, se ve un pimiento naranja en rodajas en la tabla de cortar, al igual que el pimiento naranja que se corta en rodajas en la apertura del comercial de Los Pollos Hermanos que es el adelanto al comienzo de este mismo. episodio.

Mientras Walt limpia en el laboratorio, la mancha que observa en un tanque grande aparece reflejada en la parte inferior central de su frente. Esta es la ubicación tradicional de la "Marca de Caín", que denota la maldición de Dios sobre Caín por asesinar a su hermano, Abel, y por mentirle a Dios sobre el asesinato. Walt está luchando con la culpa después de darse cuenta de que él es en gran parte responsable de lo que le sucedió a Hank.

Esta no es la primera serie de Bryan Cranston que presenta la palabra "Kafkiano": en el episodio "Krelboyne Picnic" de Malcolm in the Middle , Reese se mete con un joven nerd llamado Eraserhead solo para verse amenazado por la apariencia idéntica de su objetivo. hermano mayor, a lo que Eraserhead dice "Kafkiano, ¿no?"

En realidad, Gus recaudará $104 millones en tres meses. Jesse se olvidó de tener en cuenta que hay 13 semanas en tres meses e hizo su cálculo para solo 12 semanas.

La perspectiva de la carpintería de Jesse se trae de vuelta en el final de la serie.