Breaking Bad Episode 58: Rabid Dog

Walter White returns to his home to find the living room doused in gasoline but no sign of Jesse Pinkman, who had broken in earlier with Saul Goodman’s car parked in the driveway. Walt attempts to clean the gasoline but the smell persists, so he fabricates a story about a gas station pump malfunction to explain the fumes to his skeptical son, Walter Jr., and wife, Skyler. To mask the odor, Walt soaks his clothes and car seats with gasoline, then moves his family to the luxurious Sandia Resort and Casino under the pretense of escaping the fumes.

At the hotel, Walt secretly meets with Saul Goodman and Patrick Kuby in the parking lot to ask for updates on Jesse’s location. Saul suggests killing Jesse, calling him a “rabid dog” like Old Yeller, but Walt firmly rejects the idea, insisting he just needs to talk to Jesse. Later, Skyler confronts Walt after spotting him with Saul; she learns Jesse tried to burn their house and, shocked, demands that Walt kill Jesse to protect their family. Walt remains reluctant, insisting he can resolve the situation through conversation.

A flashback reveals that after Jesse assaulted Saul and poured gasoline in Walt’s house, DEA agent Hank Schrader tracked Jesse to the residence and convinced him not to torch it. Hank then persuades Jesse to work with him to bring Walt down, leaving just before Walt arrived.

Back in the present, Walt leaves a voicemail for Jesse, asking to meet at “The Plaza” to reconcile over Brock Cantillo’s poisoning. Hank coerces the fearful Jesse to comply and gather evidence against Walt. Jesse, wired for sound, goes to the plaza but panics when he mistakes a pedestrian for a hitman and backs out. He then calls Walt from a pay phone, threatening him and declaring he will “get him where he really lives”. Hank berates Jesse for ruining the plan, but Jesse calmly says he has a better strategy. In the episode’s final scene, Walt calls Todd and requests another hit from his uncle, Jack—signaling his decision to try to kill Jesse.