Breaking Bad Episode 33: Full Measure

In a flashback to 1993, a pregnant Skyler and Walter White view the "starter house" they will eventually live in, with Walter envisioning a bright future with three children and a prestigious career at Sandia Laboratory. In the present, after Jesse Pinkman flees following a shootout with Gus Fring's dealers, Walter is summoned to the desert by Mike Ehrmantraut and Gus to answer for running the dealers over with his car to save Jesse. Gus, furious that Walter risked the operation for a "worthless junkie," demands an explanation. Walter argues that Jesse acted out of revenge for the death of Tomás, a boy Gus's dealers killed. Walter presents Gus with two options: kill him and spend months hunting Jesse, or overlook the incident and continue their partnership. Gus agrees to continue but insists on choosing Walter's new lab assistant, selecting Gale Boetticher, the man Walter had previously replaced with Jesse.

The next day, Walter arrives at the lab to find Gale reinstated as his partner, with Victor supervising them constantly. That evening, Gus visits Gale at his apartment, informs him of Walter's cancer, and tells Gale he must learn Walter's cooking method to prepare for a "worst-case scenario" where Walter is unavailable. Meanwhile, Mike demands Jesse's location from Saul Goodman; when Saul refuses, Mike physically threatens him, forcing Saul to show a notebook with a fake address for a trailer park in Virginia. Later, Walter and Saul locate Jesse hiding in a local laser tag arcade. Walter informs Jesse that once Gale is confident enough to take over the lab, both he and Jesse will be disposed of. Jesse suggests Walter turn himself into the police, but Walter refuses to cooperate with the DEA. They decide they must kill Gale to survive and debate who should do it, with Jesse initially reluctant. Walter reminds Jesse that he saved his life and expects Jesse to return the favor, eventually convincing him to agree.

As Walter leaves his home to kill Gale, Victor arrives and claims there is a chemical leak at the lab, forcing Walter to go with him despite suspecting a setup. At the lab, Mike waits to kill Walter. Walter begs for his life, first offering to cook for free, then offering to give Jesse up. Mike gives Walter a phone to call Jesse and arrange a meeting so they can find him. When Walter calls, he tells Jesse he is stuck at the lab and that Jesse must "do it" in his stead. Mike demands to know what Walter did, but Walter coolly recites Gale's home address, stating that Mike cannot afford to kill him now because the assistant is about to die. Jesse grabs his gun and rushes out of the laser tag arena. At Gale's apartment, Gale is making tea when he hears a knock; he answers the door to find Jesse pointing a gun at him. Gale assumes he is being robbed, but slowly realizes Jesse's intentions, meekly pleading, "You don't have to do this...". Jesse shoots Gale in the head.