Rabid Dog

Walt creeps cautiously through his house in search of Jesse, who broke in and doused it in gasoline, but Jesse is nowhere to be found. After a cleaning crew cannot fully remove the gasoline scent, Walt douses his clothing and the seats of his car in it. He tells a doubtful Skyler and Walt Jr. a complicated fabrication about a pump malfunction at the gas station. Walt moves the family into a hotel until the carpet and flooring can be replaced.

Walt secretly meets with Saul and Kuby in the hotel's parking lot, asking for an update on Jesse's whereabouts. Saul hints at the possibility of killing Jesse, but Walt rejects the idea and warns him to never bring it up again. Back in their hotel room, Skyler confronts Walt over his lies, having just seen him with Saul. Walt confesses that Jesse is upset and tried to burn down their house, but says he is not concerned because Jesse decided against it. A shocked Skyler presses Walt to kill Jesse, whom she views as a threat to their safety, saying "We've come this far ... What's one more?"

A flashback reveals that Jesse did not simply change his mind. Hank, having trailed Jesse to Walt's residence after Jesse assaulted Saul, managed to talk Jesse out of torching the house and convinced him to work together to bring Walt down. Hank and Jesse left the house seconds before Walt arrived. Marie talks to her therapist about her issues with Walt, but stops short of revealing the true extent of his criminality. Hank keeps Jesse at their house because he believes that he will be more protected there; Marie agrees because Hank assures her that things will turn out badly for Walt. Hank and Gomez tape Jesse as he recounts his history with Walt. However, because there is no physical evidence and Walt has left the meth business, Hank has nothing sufficiently incriminating to take to the authorities.

Walt leaves a voicemail for Jesse, asking to meet in a public plaza in Downtown Albuquerque to discuss Brock's poisoning and to reconcile. Hank coerces the reluctant Jesse to comply, despite Jesse's fear for his own safety. Hank reassures Jesse by recounting Walt's previous attempts to protect him at his own expense, and states that since the meeting is in a public place, he will be safe. However, privately with Gomez, Hank indicates his dislike of Jesse and indifference to risking his death; if Jesse is killed on camera, it can be used as potential evidence against Walt.

Wired for sound, Jesse goes to meet with Walt but backs down after mistaking a nearby pedestrian for a hitman. Angered, Jesse goes to a pay phone to call Walt and threatens him, telling him that he will "get him where he really lives." A furious Hank berates Jesse for blowing the plan, but Jesse calmly informs him that he has a better strategy in mind. Meanwhile, Walt calls Todd, requesting a job for his Uncle Jack.

• "Rabid Dog" at the official Breaking Bad site
• "Rabid Dog" at IMDb