1.07 A No-Rough-Stuff-Type Deal

(This is the final episode of season one)

Summary and spoilers

At a school/police meeting to discuss the missing lab equipment, Walt loses concentration (the police have no leads and are still investigating). Walt’s hand wanders down between Skyler’s thighs, and she resists at first and then responds. They consummate their passion in the car after the meeting.

Walt visits the recovering Jesse, who is in the process of selling his house (which he says is haunted) and is now living in the RV. Walt puts about 32 grand in cash in Jesse’s hand, but Jesse is still upset that Walt made a deal with Tuco. Jesse also has bad news; Walt should not have made a deal to supply 2 pounds of meth a week, because Jesse cannot get enough over the counter ‘pseudo’ to make more than half a pound a week.

Walt and Skyler’s consultation with the doctor is anticlimactic. He says Walt’s ‘friskiness’ may not be a sign that the chemo is working, and he won’t know until the round is over and he can do another cat scan.

Walt and Jesse meet with Tuco at a car junkyard. Tuco is unhappy at only getting half a pound instead of the promised two pounds. He pays for the half pound, but Walt pushes him for all the money, in advance, as a capital investment. Tuco gives in for the most part, giving Walt 52 grand and the rest as a loan with interest to be paid back; then Walt promises 4 pounds. Jesse wonders how Walt is going to get enough pseudo to make that much.

At the baby shower for Holly (formerly Esmeralda), Walt gives a nice speech to the coming arrival, telling her that she will always have a family who loves her. Marie’s gift is a sparkly, diamond-encrusted tiara. Walt Jr. films the event and mixes in a little voyeuristic cleavage shots. Hank asks Walt for something stronger than beer; alone, Hank pulls out a couple of his illegal Cuban cigars and they discuss why the illegal things are better. After the party, Walt tells Skyler that he’s interested in the alternative therapy of a sweat lodge that takes place over a weekend. Skyler is thrilled. Of course, Walt is going to use the time to cook.

There’s just one problem – Jesse has been unable to get a key ingredient. But Walt decides they can break into a chemical warehouse and get it, using his skills to create an explosive that can cut through the serious security doors on the place.

When Skyler tries to return the tiara to the jewelry store, she is arrested, as it is a stolen item. Held in the manager’s office, Skyler threatens to tell the media that she, a pregnant woman, was held with no evidence. She then fakes going into labor. Skyler is released, and she immediately calls Marie – but gets her answering machine.

Wearing stylish ski masks with pom-poms, Walt and Jesse lock the guard in a portajohn and steal the chemical they need. The RV won’t start, so they move the lab to the basement of Jesse’s house, unaware that an open house is planned for later that day.

Skyler confronts Marie about shoplifting. Marie denies everything.

Walt returns home, exhausted, and collapses in a chair. Skyler brings him a yummy drink and asks about the sweat lodge. She asks about Walt’s strange smell – he says it is sacred Navajo herbs. Skyler tells Walt about Marie’s kleptomania.

Walt and Jesse deliver the meth to Tuco. Tuco hands over all the cash easily, and the meeting goes well for the two cookers, but not so for one of Tuco’s gang, who makes the mistake of speaking out of turn, and is beaten unconscious by Tuco.

Comments

The theme of the show is ‘the desirability of illegality.’ Walt, Marie, and Hank all dabble to different degrees in illegal activities, while Tuco wallows in the illegal. There is a half-hearted attempt to draw parallels between Hank’s possession of illegal Cuban cigars and Walt’s bulk manufacture of a dangerous drug.

Raymond Cruz (Tuco) deserves mention for his over-the-top yet believable performance as a crazed drug lord.

For those who don’t know, ‘pseudo’ is short for pseudo ephedrine, over the counter cold medication that forms the main ingredient in crystal meth.

Memorable Moments

• The priceless look on Walt and Jesse’s faces when they realize that they are stuck in a no-expiry-date business relationship with one of most violent and insane drug dealers in the world

Quotable Quotes

Skyler: (after making love in the car) Where did that come from? And why was it so good?
Walt: Because it was illegal.

Walt: This is the first day of the rest of your life, but what kind of life will it be, huh? Will it be a life of fear, of ‘oh, no, no, no, I can’t do this’, of never once believing in yourself, huh?
Jesse: I don’t know!

Jesse: How much cash do you need?
Walt: More.

Walt: What would you do if it were me?
Skyler: What do you mean, if it were you?
Walt: If it were me [engaging in illegal activity], what would you do? Would you divorce me, would you…turn me into the police?
Skyler: You don’t want to find out.