Crawl Space (Breaking Bad)
Encyclopedia
"Crawl Space" is the eleventh episode of the fourth season
of the American television drama series Breaking Bad
, and the 44th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on September 25, 2011.
) and the Cartel's leadership, Jesse
(Aaron Paul
) drives a weakened Gus (Giancarlo Esposito
) and a wounded Mike (Jonathan Banks
) to a makeshift emergency room Gus had prepared. Gus recovers quickly but Mike has to stay another week before he can move, so he is left behind. Jesse is told that he will take over cooking meth for Walter
(Bryan Cranston
), but Jesse says Walter must not be harmed. Gus later visits Hector (Mark Margolis
) to tell him that all of the Cartel's leaders are dead, and that the henchman Jesse shot during the escape was Joaquin Salamanca, Hector's grandson, and the last of Hector's relatives.
Hank (Dean Norris
) continues to investigate Gus on his own with Walter driving him, and decides to inspect the industrial laundromat that hides the meth lab. Hoping to stop Hank's investigation, Walter purposefully gets into a car accident, injuring himself and Hank. Although he will stop asking for Walter's help, Hank is still undeterred and buys a car made for disabled drivers. Meanwhile, Ted (Christopher Cousins) attempts to return Skyler's (Anna Gunn
) money after learning it was from her and earned from Walter's gambling (the cover story that she uses for the meth profits). Ted says the money will only pay off the IRS and not help his business and pay bills, which Skyler views as an attempt to blackmail her for more money. She calls Saul (Bob Odenkirk
), who has his bodyguard Huell (Lavell Crawford
) and con artist Kuby (Bill Burr
) scare Ted into paying the IRS. He does, but slips and hits his head while trying to escape from them. Whether or not this kills or disables him is left ambiguous. The summary of the episode on the show's website says that Ted "ends up tripping on a throw rug and knocking himself out on a kitchen island."
Walter realizes that Jesse has also been cooking in the lab. Walter pleads for them to stick together to thwart Gus, but Jesse, still bitter after their fight, turns his back on Walter. Walter is suddenly tasered by Tyrus (Ray Campbell) and brought to the desert where Gus confronts him. Gus tells Walter to stay away from Jesse, and that although he cannot kill Walter due to Jesse's continuing loyalty to him, he asserts that Jesse will inevitably relinquish that loyalty and side with Gus, effectively eliminating what little protection Walter still enjoys. Gus also says that Walter has failed to stop Hank's investigation so Hank will need to be killed, and if Walter interferes, Gus will kill Walter's entire family.
A panicked Walter barges into Saul's office and takes Saul up on an earlier offer to go into hiding. The man who will do it needs $500,000 in cash immediately, which Skyler has stored in a crawl space in the house. Walter also asks Saul to anonymously warn the DEA that Hank is being targeted. Saul initially refuses but agrees if Gus' name isn't mentioned. Walter rushes home and is perplexed when there is not enough money; Skyler tells him about the money she gave to Ted. A horrified Walter screams and then suffers a breakdown, laughing maniacally. As Skyler backs away, a crying Marie (Betsy Brandt
) calls to say that the DEA have received an anonymous tip that Hank is again a target and they are sending numerous agents to guard him.
Breaking Bad (season 4)
The fourth season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad premiered on July 17, 2011 and concluded on October 9, 2011. It consists of 13 episodes, each running approximately 47 minutes in length...
of the American television drama series Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White , a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series...
, and the 44th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on September 25, 2011.
Plot
Making their escape after killing Don Eladio (Steven BauerSteven Bauer
Steven Bauer is a Cuban-American actor. He is known for his role as Manny Ribera in the 1983 film Scarface, and his role on the bilingual PBS show Que Pasa, USA.-Early life:...
) and the Cartel's leadership, Jesse
Jesse Pinkman
Jesse Bruce Pinkman is a fictional character of the American television drama series Breaking Bad on AMC. He is portrayed by Aaron Paul and was created by series creator Vince Gilligan.-Background:...
(Aaron Paul
Aaron Paul
Aaron Michael Paul is an American actor. After appearing in several roles in American television, including a recurring role on the HBO series Big Love, Paul came to prominence in the late 2000s for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Jesse Pinkman in the AMC series Breaking Bad, for which he...
) drives a weakened Gus (Giancarlo Esposito
Giancarlo Esposito
Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito is a Danish-born American film and television actor and director.-Early life:Esposito was born in Copenhagen, Denmark to an Italian father and African-American mother. His mother was an opera and nightclub singer from Alabama, who once appeared on the same...
) and a wounded Mike (Jonathan Banks
Jonathan Banks
Jonathan Ray Banks is an American actor in film and television.Banks was born in Washington, D.C. in 1947. His mother worked for the CIA. Banks attended Indiana University Bloomington where he was a classmate of Kevin Kline...
) to a makeshift emergency room Gus had prepared. Gus recovers quickly but Mike has to stay another week before he can move, so he is left behind. Jesse is told that he will take over cooking meth for Walter
Walter White (Breaking Bad)
Walter Hartwell "Walt" White is a fictional character and the antihero of the American television drama series Breaking Bad on AMC. He is portrayed by Bryan Cranston and was created by series creator Vince Gilligan...
(Bryan Cranston
Bryan Cranston
Bryan Lee Cranston is an American actor, voice actor, writer and director. He is best known for his roles as Hal the father in the Fox situation comedy Malcolm in the Middle, and Walter White in the AMC drama series Breaking Bad, for which he won three consecutive Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama...
), but Jesse says Walter must not be harmed. Gus later visits Hector (Mark Margolis
Mark Margolis
Mark Margolis is an American actor who has been making films since 1976.Margolis went to Temple University briefly before moving to New York City, where he studied drama with Stella Adler and at the Actors Studio...
) to tell him that all of the Cartel's leaders are dead, and that the henchman Jesse shot during the escape was Joaquin Salamanca, Hector's grandson, and the last of Hector's relatives.
Hank (Dean Norris
Dean Norris
Dean Joseph Norris is an American actor currently starring as DEA agent Hank Schrader, the brother-in-law of main character Walter White in the AMC series Breaking Bad, which premiered on January 20, 2008.-Biography:...
) continues to investigate Gus on his own with Walter driving him, and decides to inspect the industrial laundromat that hides the meth lab. Hoping to stop Hank's investigation, Walter purposefully gets into a car accident, injuring himself and Hank. Although he will stop asking for Walter's help, Hank is still undeterred and buys a car made for disabled drivers. Meanwhile, Ted (Christopher Cousins) attempts to return Skyler's (Anna Gunn
Anna Gunn
Anna Gunn is an American actress, best known for her roles as Assistant District Attorney Jean Ward on The Practice, Martha Bullock on Deadwood, and, currently, Skyler White on Breaking Bad. She appeared on Seinfeld in the episode "The Glasses" and on the first season of Murder One...
) money after learning it was from her and earned from Walter's gambling (the cover story that she uses for the meth profits). Ted says the money will only pay off the IRS and not help his business and pay bills, which Skyler views as an attempt to blackmail her for more money. She calls Saul (Bob Odenkirk
Bob Odenkirk
Robert "Bob" Odenkirk is an American actor, comedian, writer, director and producer. He is best known as the co-creator and co-star of the HBO sketch comedy series Mr...
), who has his bodyguard Huell (Lavell Crawford
Lavell Crawford
Lavell Crawford is an American stand-up comedian and actor from St. Louis, Missouri. His mother is Annita Crawford. His sisters are Elonda Goodwin and Erica Roach. His step-father is Dwight Davis....
) and con artist Kuby (Bill Burr
Bill Burr
William "Bill" Burr is an American stand-up comedian, radio host and actor.-Life and career:Burr was born in Canton, Massachusetts. His father was a dentist, and Bill worked as a hygienist for a short time. He began stand-up at age 23 after attending Emerson College. In 1995, he moved to New...
) scare Ted into paying the IRS. He does, but slips and hits his head while trying to escape from them. Whether or not this kills or disables him is left ambiguous. The summary of the episode on the show's website says that Ted "ends up tripping on a throw rug and knocking himself out on a kitchen island."
Walter realizes that Jesse has also been cooking in the lab. Walter pleads for them to stick together to thwart Gus, but Jesse, still bitter after their fight, turns his back on Walter. Walter is suddenly tasered by Tyrus (Ray Campbell) and brought to the desert where Gus confronts him. Gus tells Walter to stay away from Jesse, and that although he cannot kill Walter due to Jesse's continuing loyalty to him, he asserts that Jesse will inevitably relinquish that loyalty and side with Gus, effectively eliminating what little protection Walter still enjoys. Gus also says that Walter has failed to stop Hank's investigation so Hank will need to be killed, and if Walter interferes, Gus will kill Walter's entire family.
A panicked Walter barges into Saul's office and takes Saul up on an earlier offer to go into hiding. The man who will do it needs $500,000 in cash immediately, which Skyler has stored in a crawl space in the house. Walter also asks Saul to anonymously warn the DEA that Hank is being targeted. Saul initially refuses but agrees if Gus' name isn't mentioned. Walter rushes home and is perplexed when there is not enough money; Skyler tells him about the money she gave to Ted. A horrified Walter screams and then suffers a breakdown, laughing maniacally. As Skyler backs away, a crying Marie (Betsy Brandt
Betsy Brandt
Betsy Brandt is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Marie Schrader in Breaking Bad-Early life:Brandt is a native of Bay City, Michigan. Betsy graduated from Western High School in 1991....
) calls to say that the DEA have received an anonymous tip that Hank is again a target and they are sending numerous agents to guard him.
External links
- "Crawl Space" at the official Breaking Bad site