Carter WengerMrs. WilliamsEnglish 1102February 15 2014

Observational Overview

Note: The three observations that are within this paper are each based on a different episode of Breaking Bad. The first observation lapses one day while the last two each portray the events of a two-day period. Each episode is around 48 minutes long, and the times and events noted are relative to the duration of the episode. These observations serve to depict an accurate representation of the figured world of Walter White’s drug empire and the way that the three discourse communities within it function both collectively and independently.

Location Description:All episodes take place in residential Albuquerque, New Mexico. Though the location itself appears to be, and mostly is, a typical middle-class neighborhood, there is still an active drug market functioning within it. Throughout the episodes, we are taken throughout many areas of the town. There are three places that are most central to the plot. The RV is symbolic of this stage in the show in general. The RV is a primitive and mobile set-up that Walt and Jesse use to cook their meth in New Mexico’s remote deserts. The interior and exterior are very worn and aged, but with all of the visual “loudness” of the RV, they remain under the radar. The second important setting is Jesse’s apartment. Jesse is rarely at his house, so there are no flashy arrangements or luxurious pieces of furniture. His house is a very humble and bland place with nothing much more than a mattress on the floor. His house does, however, serve as an inconspicuous place of business and meeting. The third most common place is Saul Goodman’s office. His lobby is often filled with the degenerates of Albuquerque. His clientele expect him to work out deals under the table that will exonerate them from their accusations or toils. His office is a round room with small plaster pillars around the walls, which are painted with the Declaration of Independence. I’ll do my best to include descriptions of other areas within the observation notes as the settings change.

Figured World: A figured world is a collection of actors constructing a series of discourse communities. Many discourse communities can be in a single figured world, but figured worlds are driven by certain expectations and conventions of proper comportment.

Obviously as an inherently immoral practice, the world of cooking and selling meth is one with very unique laws and rules for what type of comportment is and isn’t acceptable. Most notable is the way that doing the societally correct thing is nearly always wrong in the drug world. To alert the authorities of any drug-related activity would be the worst possible things to do. Essentially this figured world is entirely counter-intuitive. It juxtaposes all moral behaviors in its definition of what one’s obligations are. So, it is quite possibly most accurate to say that doing the wrong thing is usually doing the right thing in this grim world. The only definitive obligations are that each and every tier of the operation remains subservient to their superiors.

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Walt and Jesse cook the meth at their own pace and will. The meth is then given to sellers who must sell the product and secure all of their dues to then give to Walt and Jesse. The dealers are then given a cut of the total income. Saul Goodman is their primary line of defense at any time authorities get involved. Saul is needed by Walt and Jesse, but he is also there at the will of Walt and Jesse, so they remain in control of the empire. It is vital that every involved member effectively completes their tasks in order to maximize profits. Aside from these duties, all moral values are negated. The sole task is to individually and successfully complete these tasks no matter the cost so that the system isn’t disrupted by a necessity of the branches to cover for one another.

Actors: Actors make up discourse communities within a figured world. Actors often play different roles within their figured worlds and discourse communities and they often provide a dynamic diversity to their worlds.

Walter White is the visionary of the entire meth operation. He has the knowledge to make stellar meth from his background as a high school chemistry teacher and professional chemist. He is the most important figure in his figured world. He is battling cancer and is driven to cook by the desire he has to leave as much money as possible to his family in the event that he dies. This task drives him to near insanity. He is swallowed by the drug world and becomes too tied to it to escape, and he likely wouldn’t leave if he could due to the vast amounts of money he is securing for his family. He is very well calculated and thinks all of his moves through to ensure his operation isn’t busted by his brother-in-law, Hank, who runs the DEA. Walter is very thorough and very logical.

Jesse Pinkman was a student of Walt’s in high school. Walt heard that Jesse was mixed up in the drug world and tracked him down to assist him in his operation. He needed his knowledge of the drug market’s dynamics. Jesse is often hyperactive and impulsive in his actions. He is nearly the antithesis of Walter. Walt remains well collected in tense situations while Jesse is often driven to act erratically by his paranoia. However, he becomes very skilled at cooking through working as Walt’s assistant, and Walt quickly comes to regard him as an equal in his operation. Jesse is also fundamental in Walt’s success. He is most important to Walt.

Saul Goodman is the corrupt lawyer who works to keep the names of Walt and Jesse’s subjugates clear of a criminal record or a file with the DEA. Any time one of the operation’s members is detained, Saul devises a plan to get them out of trouble and cleared of the DEA’s watchful eye. Saul is vital because he has the legalistic knowledge to cheat or trip the justice system in Albuquerque.

Badger is the best representation of a dealer. They don’t possess strong intellect, but they are able to distribute the product on the streets. While it is imperative to have dealers, the individual dealers are expendable. Badger’s encounter with the DEA is exemplary of the way a dealer must deal with heat from the authorities. He remains steadfast and doesn’t break under the pressure. Badger is a leader to the other dealers and interacts most directly with Walt and Jesse.

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Hank is Walt’s stepbrother and the head of the DEA. Hank is furiously trying to unveil who is cooking the meth that is rapidly spreading throughout his region. He is Walt’s biggest enemy and Walt has the advantage of knowing Hank is after him while Hank is completely oblivious to the possibility of Walt being a drug lord. The emotional connection they have as family members obviously drives a lot of the show’s tension as the viewer knows what Hank doesn’t know. Walt is constantly trying to avoid piquing Hank’s curiosity.

Skylar, Marie and Walt Jr. are Walt’s other close family members. Skylar is Walt’s wife. Their son is Walter Jr. and Marie is Skylar’s sister and Hank’s wife. At this point in the show, they are all kept in the dark about Walt’s drug empire and they attribute any obscure behavior to his battle with cancer. As Walter dives deeper and deeper into the drug world, the viewer must decide how much involvement he is permitted due to the fact that his operation is only to secure money for his family no matter the legal risks. They are, however, yet another perceptive group that he must successfully deceive to keep his operation fully functional.

Discourse Communities: Discourse communities are groups of actors that are working with the some motives or towards the same goal.

The Bosses/Cooks- Walt and Jesse act as both the bosses and the cooks in the operation. They cook when they want to and the lower workers are ready and waiting any time there is a new batch of product to push. They also must remain authoritative no matter how likable the dealers are. They must sacrifice mercy and pity in order to keep their operation running at optimal performance. Within this community, Walt is often the logical thinker while Jesse allows paranoia and impulsive action to interfere with the efficiency of the operation. However, Jesse is necessary. His knowledge of the dynamics of selling drugs is imperative to the empire’s prolonged and increased status.

The Dealers- Badger, Skinny Pete and Combo are responsible for selling the meth that is cooked by Walt and Jesse. They then return all of the money they made for a cut of the profits. They must stay out of the clutches of the authorities at all costs, and in the event that they are caught, they must not divulge any information about who their employer is. They are vital to the operation as workers, but not as individuals. If they are killed, they will simply be replaced by other dealers.

The Defenders- Saul Goodman and his associates are responsible for assuring the continued anonymity of Walt and Jesse primarily, but also of their dealers. Any time the DEA calls one of them in for questioning, Saul and his workers are responsible for getting them out of the DEA’s focus. Saul is able to take much pressure off of Walt and Jesse. Without having to worry about covering their tracks, Walt and Jesse are better able to focus on expanding their empire, and Saul is always there to give advice on how their plans could possibly be transparent.

The Subjective Enemy- Hank, Walt’s stepbrother, is the head of the DEA. Albuquerque has a very active drug market due to its proximity to the Mexican border. There is a great deal of unrest and tension pulsing through the area with the rise of meth sales, and Hank is aware that

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there is a new product sweeping the area by storm. The DEA would typically be seen as the “good guys”, but the roles are reversed as the portrayal of the events make Walt’s actions seem much more noble.

Note: A bit of background information may be necessary in order to properly understand the following notes. Walter White is a high school chemistry teacher who has been diagnosed with cancer. In order to leave money to his family in the event he dies, Walt has taken up cooking meth. His product is nearly perfect due to his chemistry experience and, at this point in the season, Walt and Jesse have just broken away from all past investors and are now in full control of their operation. They answer to nobody and must also be sure that nobody gets in the way of their operations. In the past episode, a customer stole meth from a dealer, and Walt ordered Jesse to track down the thief and kill him if he must in order to get the money they’re owed.

Observation OneSeason Two: Episode Seven

Negro y Azul03:50- The show begins in Walt’s classroom. The room is set up like the traditional high school chemistry lab. There are long lines of black countertop desks. He is alone in the room with a student who is asking for his 58 test score to be raised to a passing score because he claims he studied “like really, like really all night hard.” He continues to sputter incoherently before Walt cuts him off by saying, “Don’t bullshit a bullshitter.” just before pointing the student to the door. (See Photo #1)

06:10- Walt climbs atop one of his classroom desks and pulls a cellphone out of the tile ceiling. He calls Jesse and leaves a message asking why he hasn’t responded to him in three days, adding at the end to forget about what he was supposed to take care of. This is the beginning of the heightening of Walt’s double life. It is affecting his attitude both in his personal and professional lives.

07:15- Walt pulls up to Jesse’s house and begins banging on the door to no response. The landlady next door comes out and asks him to stop knocking because Jesse is obviously not answering. Walt claims to be Jesse’s father and says it is urgent that he sees his son. She asks him to return later just before Jesse opens the door and reluctantly lets Walt in. Jesse’s house is an empty place with eggshell white walls and no couch or television. The only appliances are in the kitchen. He only owns a built-in oven and refrigerator.

09:25- Walt walks into Jesse’s house and asks Jesse where he’s been. Jesse sits down and begins to attempt to smoke marijuana before Walt grabs the bong from him and threatens to break it, calling him a “druggie idiot” before asking if that’s all he’s been doing while he tried to contact him. Jesse said he was “handling business”. Walt asks what business and Jesse pulls a gun out of a drawer and says “This business.”

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11:20- Walt picks up the gun and counts the bullets inside of it. All five rounds are still inside of it. Jesse had been told by Walt to kill a couple that had stolen a good bit of their product. After Jesse sees Walt notice all of the rounds still in the gun, he tells him that it wasn’t he that killed her. Jesse tells Walt that the woman dropped an ATM on her boyfriend’s head while he watched. Walt immediately gets silent. This is exemplary of the amount of dirty work Walt and Jesse have to do to secure and maintain their control. (See Photo #2)

13:15- As Walt and Jesse are still in Jesse’s living room, Badger and Skinny Pete call to tell Jesse that they’ve got their cash. Walt asks if Jesse is going to get the money and Jesse says, “I just want to forget everything.” Walt leaves, mumbling “Sorry” just before shutting the door behind him.

16:30- The dealers (Badger, Skinny Pete and Combo) are standing in a local museum. They are in a secluded corner with displays about communism waiting for Jesse to come meet them to trade cash from the last batch for a new batch of product to sell. Walt shows up instead, introducing himself as “Heisenberg”. (When Walt is Heisenberg he wears dark sunglasses and a black bowler cap.) The dealers ask if Jesse really killed the guy who stole his meth without paying and Walt asks what they’ve heard. They say nobody has missed a payment since hearing that the cooks weren’t tolerating any payment delays. This is great news for the operation. The dealers don’t need to know the truth (that Jesse didn’t actually kill the man) and if they did know the truth, they would feel relaxed possibly at the expense of increased productivity. Walt and Jesse only answer to each other. (See Photo #3)

23:20- Walt and Jesse are staring at a map in Jesse’s kitchen. Walt believes that the quality and demand for their product alongside the operation’s newfound respect from those who fear them offers them a window of opportunity to expand their territory. Walt tells Jesse that no other drug operations will cross them due to their fear. Jesse fears that they will be targeted for infringing on other’s markets, but Walt convinces him that there is no way the plan could fail. This is another revolutionary moment for Walt as his interests have moved from localized sales (which are already bringing in massive profits) to expanded operations. He is fast becoming a drug lord.

29:00- We are now taken to the home of Walt. In a mid-sized, warmly-lit kitchen, Skylar is speaking with her sister Marie about a new job she has gotten. Marie asks if money is tight and Skylar says yes. Marie offers her financial support and Skylar becomes quiet immediately as Walt enters. Walt has kept Skylar completely in the dark about his greatly increased income, and she seems to be reluctant to tell Walt that she’s gotten a job. To Marie and Skylar, Walt is still the same clean-cut, bland good guy that he’s always been.

39:00- Jesse walks into the museum to speak with the three dealers who await his arrival. He tells them that the town now belongs to them and only them. He says that they are going to build an empire and live like royalty. Jesse walks outside and gets into Walt’s car. Jesse fastens his seat belt just before Walt tells him that they must raise the price. Jesse becomes bothered and asks why. Walt responds, “We corner the market and then raise the price. It’s simple economics.” They drive away. This entire episode shows drastic changes in Walt’s psyche. From the moment he learns that his empire is feared, he is consumed by thoughts of how he can use his power to appropriate more power.

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Artifacts: Artifacts are certain articles, ideas or concepts that represent or symbolize a group’s objectives.

The Cellphone hidden in the ceiling of Walt’s classroom is representative of the double life Walt has started to construct for himself. He is comfortably maneuvering his way through his double life while raising no red flags and leaving no traces.

The Map that Walt shows Jesse represents a big change in Walt’s approach to his meth business. Up until this point, all of the cooks of meth were based around producing specific amounts of meth to make very well calculated amounts of money according to Walt’s plans for what he intended to leave his family in the event of his death. The authority and financial gains have begun to skew Walt’s views of his empire’s intentions. He is becoming consumed by his success and the potential he sees to live a lavish lifestyle by greedily putting his abilities to use.

The Gun provides another example of Walt’s departure from an existentially morally justified operation (providing for his family) to a much more power-driven mindset. He’s no longer so bothered by the implications of his actions. He is willing to stop at nothing to maintain the control he’s attained for himself.

Literacy Practices: Literacy practices are certain methods of interaction and communication that are particular, but not necessarily exclusive to, discourse communities and figured worlds.

Self-Justified Immorality: We’re again faced with self-justified immorality in this episode. Walt and Jesse deem it acceptable to keep all of the dealers and locals in the dark about the fact that Jesse didn’t actually kill the thief. This is the type of behavior that is often unacceptable, and is perhaps even unacceptable in this context. However, in terms of utility, the viewer is led to understand how this lie cultivates a spirit of fear in all who hear of the tale of Jesse and Walt’s intolerance towards those who don’t pay their dues.

Observation TwoSeason Two: Episode Eight

Better Call Saul

0:01- We open to see Badger sitting on a bench selling meth on a street corner to a fidgety and shady character. They are at a local playground on a bright and sunny day. Cars pass by frequently and the sidewalks bustle with activity. They are in the open in a seemingly non-threatening area. As the customer asks Badger for drugs, Badger feels that something is off, and he is skeptical of whether or not to offer him his goods.

4:10- Badger has just sold meth to an undercover cop, and he has been detained. This will greatly complicate the operation and security of funds for Walt and Jesse. It also could potentially reveal

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their identities if Badger were to snitch on them, but that would be greatly outside of the appropriate behavior for a dealer. (See Photo #4)

15:25- Walt and Jesse are at Jesse’s apartment, which is a bare place with eggshell white walls. There is no furniture and nothing other than a plain white oven and refrigerator in the kitchen. They are currently counting the money that returned from the latest sold batch of meth. They see that Badger’s money hasn’t arrived yet. Jesse begins to defend Badger because he still sees him as a friend, but Walt reminds him that they are the bosses of the dealers. They call and hear that Badger was arrested, and they now must go out of their way to get him out of trouble. (See Photo #5)

19:15- We are now in a DEA interrogation room. There are blue walls, a wooden table at which Badger is seated and a camera on the wall with a blinking red light. Badger is being interviewed by the undercover cop who busted him. Enter Saul Goodman. He is the corrupt lawyer who has been hired to represent Badger in court and in his testimony. He arranges for Badger to get another phone call and helps to fool the DEA into believing Badger is irrelevant to their investigations.

25:10- Walt meets with Saul after being called by Badger to pay Saul the money needed in order to clear his name. Saul’s office has plaster pillars around its circular walls on which are printed the Declaration of Independence. His dark wooden desk is cluttered with books and papers. Saul mentions that the DEA is searching meticulously for “Heisenberg”, which is the alias Walt goes under in the drug world. So, Walt learns that the DEA is closing in on him. Also, Saul speaks about the fear Badger has of his employers, so Walt also learns that he has solid authority over his subjugates. Walt begins coughing…a side effect of his cancer treatments. Walt tries to bribe Saul into doing all he can to divert the DEA, but Saul throws him out. (See Photo #6)

30:00- Now behind the office of Saul, Walt and Jesse kidnap Saul and hold him at gunpoint while wearing masks. It is nighttime and the area behind the office is a vast expanse of desert. Walt and Jesse have dug a grave as a scare tactic. They tell Saul he should have taken the bribe from “an associate” of theirs and when he begins to backpedal they say it is too late. After scaring him enough, they ask that he represent Badger with the best possible representation. He advises that they kill badger, but Walt begins coughing, and Saul recognizes the cough. At this point, Saul calls him by his name, and Saul becomes a part of their figured world. They remove their masks and begin to make a deal for how to free Badger. Saul becomes a vital part of their defense tactics, always acting as a seemingly naive intermediary that removes dealers and others from the grips of the authorities when they get involved.

35:50- Walt and Jesse are now in Saul Goodman’s office together. Saul reveals his plan. For $80,000 Saul will arrange that Badger be released for leading the DEA to “Heisenberg”. However, they won’t lead him to Walt, they will lead him to a stand-in who accepts money for posing as a criminal in the place of others, and ultimately serves their jail time. Walt and Jesse accept the deal.

38:30- Walt and Jesse are in a car watching Badger as he sits next to a man on the same bench that the episode opened on. The DEA is also close by watching the deal from afar to catch

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Heisenberg. The stand-in arrives and sits on a different bench as Badger attempts to strike up a deal with the wrong man. Walt sends Jesse to tell Badger to move to the next bench, but Jesse is worried that the DEA will see him. Jesse gets out and Walt blocks the DEA’s view by driving in front of the DEA’s car and speaking with his brother-in-law, Hank, who is the head of the DEA. Walt carries a conversation with an impatient Hank who is obstructed of the view of his set up to catch the Heisenberg stand-in. The plan works. Badger moves to the stand-in and the DEA doesn’t see Jesse speak with Badger. The heat is off from the DEA for the time being.

44:15- Saul shows up at the school that Walt teaches Chemistry in. Walt’s classroom is a large chemistry lab with multiple sinks and gas spouts. He makes Walt aware that he needs to be harder to find. This personal contact with Walt is exemplary of Saul’s thoroughness in his job. He offers his full services in protecting Walt as he tries to build a drug empire. Saul says that in order to make and keep the money he aims to attain, Walt will need his services. Thus, Saul becomes a vital part of Walt and Jesse’s drug empire.

Artifacts:

The Money Counter is representative of Walt and Jesse’s authority in the way that they can calculate their individual profits without any higher powers intervening. It’s small construction and use in Jesse’s humble and bare apartment represents the centrality and small size of their operation despite its income. They secure maximum profits by keeping all tangential roles minimized.

The Grave is representative of their willingness to go to extreme measures to scare their hesitant subjugates into cooperating. They are okay with being highly immoral so long as it means the operation isn’t disruptive and it continues to grow in strength. (See Photo #7)

Saul’s Commercial is highly unprofessional and crude. It is fully representative of his behavior as a low-brow lawyer. Saul’s behavior goes hand-in-hand with the dark, tragicomic nature of the show. He’s exactly the type of gritty and dishonest lawyer the system needs.

Literacy Practices:

Discreetness is vital in everyone’s jobs. When Badger is selling in the park, he hides a paper sack with the product inside of a trashcan. He acts as though he’s throwing something away in order to take the bag out of the trash. Walt and Jesse both have separate phones they use solely for “business” purposes. They must not leave any trail for the DEA to easily track back to them.

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Observation Three:Season Two: Episode Nine

Four Days Out

00:01- We open to Walt and his family sitting in the waiting room at Walt’s doctor’s office. Also there is Walt’s brother and sister in-law. His brother in law, Hank, as you’ll remember, is the head of the DEA that is currently looking for “Heisenberg”. They make small talk as Walt shifts uncomfortably before excusing himself to the bathroom. He goes into a stall and begins coughing uncontrollably.

02:25- Walt is getting a cat scan in a dark-blue tinted testing room. He completes it and as he leaves the room he accidentally sees the X-Ray and a look of disbelief crosses his face as he sees a giant white blob on one of his lungs. He is obviously greatly concerned, as the results look very negative.

03:40- Walt is now sitting in Saul Goodman’s office. Saul is present and talking Walt through options as he discusses his hopes to launder money into his family’s bank account. Walt’s funds are greatly depleted after the cost of freeing Badger, and Walt is troubled by the little amount he’s secured for himself alongside the seemingly poor test results.

04:55- Walt and Skylar lay in bed and Skylar suggests they make weekend plans to get their minds off of the tests. Walt says he feels he needs to visit his mother and Skylar, picking up on Walt’s negativity, scolds him for his lack of positivity. Walt convinces her he just feels it’s been too long since he’s visited.

09:00- Walt calls Jesse from a payphone to tell him that they need to cook immediately. Jesse, waking up at his home with his girlfriend, tells Walt he has plans to go to an art museum (which he does). Walt tells Jesse that their methylamine is expiring and they must cook before it ruins.

10:45- Skylar and Walt pull up to the airport. She drops him off to “go see his mother”, and she leaves as soon as Walt enters the doorway. When her car is out of sight, Jesse arrives driving the mobile meth lab (an old RV). Walt gets in and they leave immediately.

13:30- After a montage of the RV traveling deep into the remote New Mexico desert, they slow to a halt and begin preparing to cook. Jesse lays the keys on a counter inside the RV, which Walt reprimands him for, claiming it is part of the work station. Jesse moves the keys to the ignition without turning them. A red light begins blinking dimly on the dashboard.

15:25- Jesse starts a generator and we are shown a montage of their routine making meth. Walt and Jesse begin working. They measure and fill beakers. The RV fills with smoke and they put on gas masks and continue working. They are both very involved in the process. They ask no questions and say nothing as they complete their first batch. It is very flawless and mechanical.

17:15- Walt and Jesse have packed the finished product of the first batch into plastic bags and stacked them onto a scale. Jesse asks Walt to calculate how much this batch will earn them. Walt

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thinks for a moment and recalculates before saying in disbelief that this batch will produce $672,000. Jesse asks if that is split between them and Walt smiles and says “$672,000..each.” The two of them beginning shouting in celebration as Walt momentarily breaks from his usual composed and serious nature. Walt suggests that they continue cooking but in the joy of their success, Jesse convinces Walt that they should take the night off, drive to the closest hotel, and resume the next morning.

19:30- Jesse and Walt prepare to leave and as Jesse turns the keys which had been left in the ignition and they find that the battery is dead. Walt immediately shouts at Jesse for his poor decision of placement for the keys. This draws attention to the constant tension between the well-calculated actions of Walt and the impulsive and analytical nature of Jesse.

21:00- Walt and Jesse syphon gas out of the RV into the generator, but Jesse accidentally spills a good bit of the gas over the top and sides of the radiator. Walt doesn’t see this and as Jesse begins to pull the ripcord to start the generator, it explodes and a huge fire starts. Walt runs to grab the fire extinguisher but Jesse beats him to the fire with all of their drinking water. He pours it over the generator, thus ruining the generator while also disposing of all of their drinking water. Again, we see the intellectual contrast between Walt and Jesse. Walt immediately becomes infuriated with Jesse at his poor decision.

24:05- Jesse calls Skinny Pete to come pick them up, giving him somewhat vague directions to where they are currently stranded.

26:10- Jesse calls Skinny Pete to check on his progress. Skinny claims to have “crossed the river”. When Jesse says this aloud, Walt immediately yells “What river? There’s no river!” Just as Jesse tries to explain this to Skinny Pete, the phone’s battery dies.

27:25- It is the next morning now and Walt and Jesse are still stranded. Walt has started to manually turn the gears of the radiator while it is connected to the RV’s battery. He hopes to eventually generate enough power to jump the battery manually. Jesse is impatient and complains that Walt’s approach is absurd. He says it will never work and Walt snaps back “It has to work!” It is seemingly their last hope, and Jesse’s pessimism is greatly hindering their progress.

30:10- Walt is asleep on a lawn chair as Jesse continues turning the gears alone. He wakes Walt to ask if they can try to start the RV yet. Walt begins coughing violently and is becoming clearly weak. Jesse begins to believe that maybe Walt is anxious to cook because he sees his condition worsening. He asks Walt, “Methylamine doesn’t spoil does it?” Walt then gets out of his chair and walks away, confirming Jesse’s suspicion.

32:05- Jesse cranks the keys and the RV starts just before the battery dies again. He begins shouting and walks outside of the RV to see Walt kneeling in the middle of the open desert. He approaches him and immediately stops yelling as he sees Walt remove him hand from his mouth after coughing. Walt’s hand is covered in blood. Jesse becomes very sensitive to Walt’s condition.

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33:40- Walt and Jesse are now resting inside of the RV. Walt is very weak and after claiming he deserved all of his misery, Jesse reassures him that all he has done has been for the benefit of his family. Jesse then becomes impatient and says he’s going to walk fifteen mile back to town alone. Walt tells him there’s no way he’ll make it back alive. Jesse begins shouting at Walt to “start thinking scientifically.” Jesse yells a variety of far-fetched suggestions before suggesting they build a battery.

36:20- Walt gets up and tells Jesse to begin gathering coins, nuts and bolts. Jesse asks if they’re building a robot, and Walt looks at him in disbelief and says, “We’re building a battery.” This is common of Jesse. He inadvertently drags Walt into the worst possible situation just before accidentally coming up with a solution as well. The battery works and they return to the airport. Jesse asks Walt how the cancer is and Walt cuts him off, quickly saying, “Good.” Until this point, Jesse and Walt haven’t been very personal, but their relationship as individuals is clearly growing.

42:15-All of the people from the first scene are sitting in a doctors office. Walt and Skylar are closest to the desk while the others are seated behind. The doctor tells Walt that his cancer is in remission just before saying his tumor has shrunk by eighty percent. The family celebrates. Walt is in disbelief due to the look of the scan. He begins coughing. The doctor tells him that the cough is a reaction to the treatment that must be worked on immediately, but that it is nothing to be concerned about. The entire family is very happy.

46:00- Walt is now alone in the doctor’s office restroom. He washes his face and crouches over the sink, seemingly feebly and uncomfortably. He goes to get a paper towel to dry his hands and face, and as he looks at his reflection in the metal paper towel dispenser, he immediately begins angrily punching it until it is mangled. Walt is obviously struggling with all of the danger and trouble he’s put himself through under the impression that his cancer would be fatal. He’s slowly morphing into a monster.

Artifacts:

The RV is a perfect example of the primitiveness of Walt and Jesse’s operation at this time. It’s heavily used state easily draws attention, but it is very quickly dismissed by all who see it. It is so obvious that it is hidden. Walt and Jesse are still able to make flawless meth, and the RV provides a private space for their cooks and the crude setup doesn’t keep them from amassing millions of dollars in revenue. (See photo #8)

Walt’s deteriorating mental state is elucidated in the final moments of this episode. Walt is trying to find the balance between family needs and personal incentives and success. He has found a place where he is respected and feared. After his promising test results, he immediately falls into a state of discontentedness. He must then choose between removing himself from the drug world with the promise of an extended life or continuing the expansion of his empire at the possible cost of his family’s safety and well being. (See Photo #9)

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Literacy Practices:

Lying is a necessary practice in this figured world. It is obviously compulsory for the dealers and Saul Goodman’s office to retain and protect any and all knowledge of the practices and identities of those involved in the drug empire. There is a more morally exacting issue faced by Walt. He has a family to both provide for and protect. In the path he’s chosen, these two tasks are mutually exclusive. He cooks for their future sustenance in the event that he dies. However, he must not bring them into his practice. He evades all questions regarding his late nights and abstruse behavior. In this episode we see this applied in his plan to tell Skylar he is flying to see his mother when, in reality, he is planning a three day cook with Jesse.

Interview With Walter White:

Note: The following interview has been contrived to represent the likely responses of Walter White to the following questions. All answers are created based on the actions and aura that Walter White emits throughout the show.

Q) How did you get your start in your craft?

A) I was very troubled when I learned that I had cancer. I was devastated, really. After years of teaching, I felt that I’d fail my family as a provider if I died leaving them nothing to sustain themselves. My brother, a DEA agent, took me on a ride along one day and I saw an old student of mine, Jesse, escape through a window as they entered the house. I learned how much money cooks make in the methamphetamine business, and I knew I’d found my answer. I got in touch with Jesse, privately of course, and he showed me the basics of the cooking process, which I then improved upon. We came up with the perfect chemical recipe, and the whole thing took off immediately.

Q) Tell me about the role you play in relation to those around you.

A) I was really the visionary of the whole operation. I knew I had the ability to make the best meth ever produced. All I needed was assistance from someone who knew all of the caveats of the drug world. Jesse became an immediate necessity in that regard. We are both invested in the business in different ways, and we are both indispensable factors. We make the major decisions for the direction we want this thing to head. We need dealers, but we don’t need specific dealers. So long as they are compliant and return to us the money our product makes, it doesn’t matter who they are as people. We currently work with many of Jesse’s friends as dealers. They lack much common sense, but they are fully subservient. Saul Goodman is nearly imperishable as well. He has liberated us many times from assured federal prosecution. He has all of the corruption we need in a lawfully representative figure. I consider myself to be only slightly superior to Jesse, but given his impulsive behavior, I feel it best that I stay in possession of the highest hand.

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Q) Tell me about the tools that are most vital to your success.

A) All that Jesse and I really require in terms of cooking is the proper chemistry equipment and chemicals. All of the ingredients are available at hardware stores except for methylamine. We often have to find ways to break into warehouses in order to attain it. We currently keep all of our equipment in an RV. It is mobile and we can cook for days in extremely remote desert areas. We hope to one day move into a well-concealed lab with equipment to make much bigger batches. It is feasible, but we need much more money and much more planning before we can make that leap.

Q) What are the biggest challenges to your success and how do you circumvent them?

A) Well, obviously given the illegality of methamphetamine production, we are constantly having to cover our tracks. The DEA is nearly omnipresent and they are very thorough. It is imperative that we do all we can to hide our intentions in purchasing ingredients from stores. We often travel to different stores to buy different products in smaller quantities. It is time consuming, but mass purchasing of certain products immediately puts you under the DEA’s watchful eye. We also must assure that nobody undermines our power or authority. This is the most troubling aspect of our operations. We must act with no grace in instances where our authority is threatened. We have resorted to very drastic measures in the past and we will do so again in the future to anyone who challenges our capacity for flexibility or forgiveness. I will not be explicit, and I will conclude my answer there.

Q) What must the outlook of each member of the operation be in order to assure your success?

A) We ask for nothing other than discretion and diligence from those below us. Jesse and I assume full responsibility for our own actions and the compliant actions of those under our command. We also face the biggest dilemmas as a result of this approach. Our outlook must often remain very…merciless. The only problems we must solve stem from disruptions to our operations that are caused by others. We leave absolutely no margin for error and any and all who pose a threat to our success are immediately reprimanded. When all is running smoothly, we are devoid of any worry.

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Photo #1: Walt Speaking With A Student

Photo #2: Walt At Jesse’s House

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Photo #3: Walt As “Heisenberg” Making A Drop With Dealers

Photo #4: Badger Being Arrested

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Photo #5: Walt And Jesse Counting Money

Photo #6: Walt’s First Meeting With Saul Goodman

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Photo #7: “The Grave”

Photo #8: The RV

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Photo #9: Walt’s Breakdown

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