Breaking Bad Episode 57: Confessions

In "Confessions," Walter White manipulates his family and former partner Jesse Pinkman to protect himself after Hank Schrader reveals he knows Walt is Heisenberg, culminating in Jesse discovering Walt’s true role in poisoning Brock and dousing Walt’s house in gasoline.

**Hank’s Interrogation and Jesse’s Release** The episode opens with DEA agent Hank interrogating Jesse at a diner, where Hank reveals he knows Walt is Heisenberg. Jesse refuses to cooperate or rat out Walt, despite Hank’s history of violence against him. Lawyer Saul Goodman arrives, threatens to sue the police department, and bails Jesse out to take him to meet Walt in the desert.

**Walt’s Manipulation of His Family** Walt’s son, Walter Jr., tells his father that Marie Schrader invited him to repair her computer and stay for dinner, a move Walt recognizes as a clumsy attempt to separate him from his family. Walt manipulates his son by confessing that his cancer has returned and that he passed out "very very briefly," ensuring Walter Jr. stays home instead of going to the Schraders.

Later, Walt and Skyler meet Hank and Marie at a taqueria (Garduño’s) to negotiate, asking them to keep their children out of the situation and warning that Hank’s investigation will ruin the family. The meeting fails, and as the Whites leave, Walt hands his in-laws a DVD of his fabricated "confession".

**The Fake Confession DVD** At home, the Schraders watch the DVD, which reveals Walt’s "confession" stating that Hank masterminded the Heisenberg empire and forced Walt to cook meth, even killing Gus Fring due to their dispute. The video also claims Walt was a slave to the "evil" Hank. While watching, Marie reveals to a stunned Hank that she paid over $177,000 for his physical therapy using Walt’s drug money (which Skyler had claimed were gambling winnings), lending credibility to Walt’s story and destroying Hank’s credibility.

**Walt and Jesse in the Desert** Walt meets Jesse in the desert, advising him to start a new life in Alaska with a new identity provided by Saul’s contact. Jesse angrily demands Walt stop manipulating him, accusing Walt of killing Mike Ehrmantraut. Walt embraces Jesse, who cries in his arms, and Jesse agrees to leave Albuquerque. Jesse calls Saul and prepares to depart.

**Jesse’s Realization and Fury** While waiting for the van to relocate him, Jesse notices his marijuana and a ricin-laced cigarette are gone, realizing Saul’s associate Huell stole them. Jesse storms back to Saul’s office, bloodies Saul’s nose, and holds everyone at gunpoint until Saul confesses that Walt asked him to steal the ricin cigarette months earlier. Jesse pieces together that Walt was the mastermind behind poisoning Brock with lily of the valley, using the ricin plot to manipulate Jesse.

Reeling from this revelation, Jesse steals Saul’s car, rushes to Walt’s house, kicks down the door, and begins dousing the seemingly empty house in gasoline as the episode cuts to black.

**Todd’s Side Plot** In a brief side scene, Todd recalls to his uncle Jack and accomplice Kenny how he helped steal methylamine from a train, neglecting to mention the boy he murdered. Jack and Kenny agree to let Todd cook meth on his own and drive back into New Mexico.