# Breaking Bad 5.03 "Hazard Pay" 7/29/12

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 30, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806 "2012-07-30T02:08:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![MakeSweetPassionateSenseToMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3e96dc/32.png) [@MakeSweetPassionateSenseToMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MakeSweetPassionateSenseToMe)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/101 "2012-07-30T21:18:02Z")

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What I was very curious about during this episode was what Walt’s reaction was to seeing Tio Salamanca playing the U.N. bomb assassin in Scarface(Both Mark Margolis)… then again, maybe it was referencing that role that eventually got Mr. S to acquiesce to Walt’s nursing home plan in the first place. 😃

I love how conditioned we have become to not being able to make any real prophetic postings about where the show will wind up. We all just tend to throw a thousand thoughts at the forum walls and exclaim “Hey! That was mine…gold star!”, but the defiance of expectation is such a rare and wonderful trait of this show and one of the main reasons it is as compelling as it is.

As for what I see happening, I think that Skyler is going to snap real soon, well before the 8 episode run, and do… something. Maybe she’ll slip something to Marie, maybe get into talks about WitPro, maybe even start compiling her own evidence against Walt, even if it implicates herself, just to get him away from her and the kids.  
I’m guessing that Mike could potentially be the target of New Hampshire Walt’s vendetta, perhaps as a result of Mike(and Jesse?) cutting out Walt entirely and putting him on the run (in conjunction with the law coming after him.  
Finally, I can see this happening because Jesse FINALLY realizes exactly what Walt has been doing to him for this year, how many died or were harmed directly just so that Walt could inflate his own ego (and in some cases, protect his ass).

I’m likely wrong about all of these things, but sweet and sour Jesus, it is a fun game to play!

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**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/102 "2012-07-30T21:18:10Z")

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> [@Tarwater](#):
>
> A lot of people are unfamiliar with that scene because it was cut from the pilot for repeats. So unless you watch the series on DVD or through Netflix, or saw the scene when it originally aired, you’re unlikely to have seen it.

[It’s still available on YouTube.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=JGoEEMBdl5g#t=814s)

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**Author:** ![jrepka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee59a6/32.png) [@jrepka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrepka)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/103 "2012-07-30T21:18:57Z")

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> [@Sampiro](#):
>
> Speaking of, do accounts in the Caymans (and other famous international hidey-holes) really have names on them? I thought they were numbered and accessible only with a series of passwords and the like for the specific reason of not being traceable to an individual.

Don’t know the answer to this, but even if it is true, I’m pretty sure the list they found behind the picture had names written next to the numbers.

And someone speculated on this earlier, but I believe I heard Hank say (during the Hank-Mike showdown last week) that the account with Mike’s grand-daughter’s name on it was the largest of the accounts.

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/104 "2012-07-30T21:19:15Z")

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> [@Sam\_Lowry](#):
>
> > [@davidm](#):
> >
> > I find the whole pest control thing interesting. Recall that Walt went absolutely nuts over the fly in the old lab. He was convinced it would “contaminate” the batch.
> > 
> > So now they’re working in infested buildings. Is Walt going to freakout over a bug again and cause some kind of problem? Or is it a symbol of how Walt’s changed and how hardened he’s become?
> 
> I could see the bugs maybe bothering him in the future, but if I remember correctly, it wasn’t just that there was a fly in the episode “Fly.” He was feeling guilty over Jane’s death and the fly was a convenient distraction. I don’t see the bugs being an issue unless they are just everywhere. And they might take that into account and not choose the house that’s completely taken over, along with choosing which has the best floor plan.

Why couldn’t they cook in the house _after_ it’s been fumigated?

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/105 "2012-07-30T21:29:15Z")

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> [@jrepka](#):
>
> And someone speculated on this earlier, but I believe I heard Hank say (during the Hank-Mike showdown last week) that the account with Mike’s grand-daughter’s name on it was the largest of the accounts.

It was the largest account because Mike hadn’t spent any of the money Gus paid him. Hank said that was a smart move and it may be the thing that has kept Mike out of prison to this point. We don’t know that Mike had the largest salary. He doesn’t seem like the type to live conspicuously and he may not need the money- he could have other sources of income, like his retirement pay from the police force and other jobs he’s done since his retirement.

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**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/106 "2012-07-30T21:38:49Z")

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I thought that Walt’s comment about why Victor was killed was aimed at Jesse. By volunteering to pay the “hazard pay”, he compromised Walt’s negotiating position with Mike.

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**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/107 "2012-07-30T21:43:02Z")

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> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#):
>
> [It’s still available on YouTube.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=JGoEEMBdl5g#t=814s)

Man, I forgot all about that scene. That was frickin’ hilarious. “Keep it going, keep it going… YES!! 56!” 😃

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**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/108 "2012-07-30T22:09:43Z")

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> [@Erdosain](#):
>
> Walt is actually the most replaceable guy in the scheme. And he’s lucky as hell to get his $133,000/week.

Amen to that. We saw (with Gale) that any reasonably intelligent young chemistry grad can make a product _almost_ as good as Walt’s. Perhaps a percentage point or three off, but nothing that makes a difference in the real world. On the other hand, there aren’t any universities churning out top-notch cleaners like Mike.

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**Author:** ![Pitchmeister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pitchmeister/32/3459_2.png) [@Pitchmeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitchmeister)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/109 "2012-07-30T22:21:43Z")

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I really can’t stand the way Skyler is acting right now, it reminds me of a few seasons ago when she was giving Walt the silent treatment. All she does is lie around and look scared, it’s a bit tiring. Although I loved Anna Gunn’s acting when she realized Walt is moving back in - awesome trembling lip.

Walt is really in full-on manipulation mode - his “confession” to Marie is evil and cunning on so many levels it’s not even funny. I believe he is aware how scared Skyler is - he just chooses to ignore it and show her who’s the boss.

No Hank in this episode, though - really sad. I’m not sure who I want to find out about Walt’s deeds first, Hank or Jesse. Both options promise to be really fun.

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**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/110 "2012-07-30T22:31:32Z")

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> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> Why couldn’t they cook in the house _after_ it’s been fumigated?

Maybe because the fumigation also gets rid of any lingering odors from the cook. Or disguises them as fumigation odors.

I still don’t like the tents. All those B&E guys are going to stop B&E’ing because Todd’s crew tells them to? I didn’t hear a mention of them being paid off.

We know it’s not going to work. The only question is what will trip them up.

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**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/111 "2012-07-30T22:53:56Z")

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> [@AuntiePam](#):
>
> I still don’t like the tents. All those B&E guys are going to stop B&E’ing because Todd’s crew tells them to? I didn’t hear a mention of them being paid off.

Todd’s crew was the one supplying information to the burglars (or burgling themselves). They were instructed to tell those people they had no new info and were out of the game. They were paid $10K each for one job. I think that’s enough to keep them happy and their mouths shut, don’t you?

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**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/112 "2012-07-30T22:57:25Z")

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> [@Mr.Excellent](#):
>
> Amen to that. We saw (with Gale) that any reasonably intelligent young chemistry grad can make a product _almost_ as good as Walt’s. Perhaps a percentage point or three off, but nothing that makes a difference in the real world. On the other hand, there aren’t any universities churning out top-notch cleaners like Mike.

I don’t know if Walt is that replaceable. Mike could definitely find someone who could handle the technical aspects. But I don’t know how easy it would be able to find someone who could also handle the lifestyle aspects. Someone who could lie to most people about their job, not freak out about the cops, and could launder their money successfully. Mike could probably find a chemist who could make good product, but it be harder to know if that chemist will buy a new BMW immediately and brag about his money to his fellow graduates who are paying off student loans, and then soon gets picked up by the police or DEA.

Also, Jesse is still loyal to Walt. Mike would have to work on Jesse before it would be okay if Mike tried to replace Walt. And if Jesse’s not willing to help, I don’t know how any new chemist will make the product. I don’t know if Walt has any notes regarding the process. If he did have any notes before, I would think after the troubles with Gale he would destroy them, or at least take out enough that he could still use them for reference but they’d be mostly useless to anyone new.

This is just for the sake of argument though. I don’t think Mike would try to replace Walt. If Walt seemed like he was becoming too much trouble, I think Mike would just try to kill him and find a new source of income, which I’m sure Mike could do fairly easily.

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**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/113 "2012-07-30T23:01:08Z")

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> [@AuntiePam](#):
>
> Maybe because the fumigation also gets rid of any lingering odors from the cook. Or disguises them as fumigation odors.
> 
> I still don’t like the tents. All those B&E guys are going to stop B&E’ing because Todd’s crew tells them to? I didn’t hear a mention of them being paid off.
> 
> We know it’s not going to work. The only question is what will trip them up.

Todd’s crew was selling info to other crews. Mike told them to stop in exchange for their cut. The other crews would have no idea what houses to hit without that info.

And it seems a no-brainer to cook before the fumigation. Walt and Jesse have to be in the house for something like 36 hours. Walt already has cancer; there’s no sense in giving it to Jesse too.

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**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/114 "2012-07-30T23:05:49Z")

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> [@HenryGale](#):
>
> I loved that moment, because it could be interpreted either way, depending on how callous you think Walt has really become. It could be “Good work, I might need you later” or it could be “Day one and you’re already speaking out of turn. Don’t think I’m going to forget you.”

But the whole “Don’t talk to these two guys (Walt and Jesse), if you have any problems, come to me.” was Mike’s idea. I highly doubt that Walt likes the way that that makes Mike the boss, and he’s all too happy to help defy that directive from Mike. In fact, that’s almost certain to become a major sticking point - when Walt inevitably tries to interact with and assert control over the exterminator crew.

It’ll probably only start with him encouraging them to defy Mike’s order not to speak, but eventually he’ll probably have them defying Mike in much more significant ways, which will probably lead to big trouble - which is why Mike wanted to prevent Walt from influencing them in the first place.

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**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/115 "2012-07-30T23:07:36Z")

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Awesome cartoon correlating amount of hair to violence in Breaking Bad:

> **[Violence VS hair: an analysis of Breaking Bad - The Oatmeal](https://theoatmeal.com/comics/breaking_bad_hair)**
>
> Proximity to violence VS the amount of hair on one's head: an analysis of Breaking Bad.

It’s worth it for the drawing of Tio alone.

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**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/116 "2012-07-30T23:09:43Z")

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> [@Erdosain](#):
>
> Awesome cartoon correlating amount of hair to violence in Breaking Bad:  
> [Violence VS hair: an analysis of Breaking Bad - The Oatmeal](http://theoatmeal.com/comics/breaking_bad_hair)
> 
> It’s worth it for the drawing of Tio alone.

Love it.

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**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/117 "2012-07-30T23:11:53Z")

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> [@BringItInBro](#):
>
> They bomb the house after Walt and Jessie are done cooking, it looked to me that it included the tent as well.

But if the bug poison can get into the tent, won’t it cover their meth gear? Given Walt’s demonstrated bouts of obsessive-compulsion about purity, that strikes me as odd.

And if the poison _can’t_ get into the tent, doesn’t that mean a sizable chunk of the house doesn’t get fumigated, running the risk of the homeowner complaining down the line?

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**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/118 "2012-07-30T23:18:01Z")

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> [@Sam\_Lowry](#):
>
> Also, Jesse is still loyal to Walt. Mike would have to work on Jesse before it would be okay if Mike tried to replace Walt. And if Jesse’s not willing to help, I don’t know how any new chemist will make the product.

Well, Saul knows all the dirt about Brock’s poisoning, and we know that if Mike applies minimal persuasion, Saul will spill the beans. If Mike starts wondering how Jesse came to turn away from Gus and back towards Walt, or were to catch wind of Brock’s poisoning, he could quite easily turn Jesse against Walt.

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/119 "2012-07-30T23:19:45Z")

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> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#):
>
> But if the bug poison can get into the tent, won’t it cover their meth gear? Given Walt’s demonstrated bouts of obsessive-compulsion about purity, that strikes me as odd.
> 
> And if the poison _can’t_ get into the tent, doesn’t that mean a sizable chunk of the house doesn’t get fumigated, running the risk of the homeowner complaining down the line?

After they were done cooking, they broke down their great and stored it. Then the house (including the cooking tent area) was fumigated. Assume they make sure it’s clean before starting a job and I don’t think it would be a problem.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-5-03-hazard-pay-7-29-12/629806/120 "2012-07-30T23:28:34Z")

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> [@Acsenray](#):
>
> Nitpick: I believe it’s “Vamonos.” Actually it’s kind of odd, because so far as I understand it, “vámonos” means “let’s go.” It seems to me that the more appropriate word would be “Vete!” or “go away!” But then again, I don’t really know much Spanish, so I might be wrong on all of this.

Isn’t it kinda slang for “move it!” or “git outta here!”? I’m sure I’ve seen it used that way zillions of times, anyway, and that usage would make sense for a pest control outfit.

Everyone dies in this [del]movie[/del] show. If it wasn’t clear before, there you go.

It’s kinda hilarious that Walt was showing Scarface to the baby. Flynn, I can see as the right age for a first viewing (hey, no pancakes, so they had to find another reason for him to eat, this week – POPCORN) and I’m sure the baby’s too young to remember anyway, but it’s still funny.

ALways great to see Badger and Skinny Pete. I half expected the cases would say the name of their band (can’t remember the name, though). Vamonos Pest does sound like something that could really be a band name.

I don’t really see it as being all that calculating that Walt told Marie about Ted. It was pretty much either that or the whole meth story. And it’s not like he was even lying, Skylar did have an affair with Ted, and she was freaked out about his accident. He just left out the more incriminating details.

Then again, I didn’t think Walt was pushing Jesse into breaking up either, though it makes sense once it was brought up. I thought he was just trying to tell Jesse that he really, truly trusts him, and that includes his judgment with regard to the girlfriend. More of a Walt moment than a Heisenberg one, at least to me, I admit the argument the other way is pretty good.

I thought Walt had already moved back in, more or less. Seems weird how it’s an issue for Skylar that he’s bringing his stuff back when he’s already back to sleeping there. Then again, she’s pretty fucked up at the moment.

People have already mentioned how Scarface is also running on AMC (and had commercials during every break) but while at the cook house, Walt and Jesse were watching the 3 Stooges – which also airs on AMC. NYUK NYUK NYUK

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