"Confessions" is the eleventh episode of the fifth season of Breaking Bad and the fifty-seventh episode altogether.
Summary[]
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Outside a diner in Arizona, Todd leaves Walt a voicemail about the recent change of management and that Declan is no longer involved. Inside, he brags to his uncle Jack and his partner Kenny about his role in the train heist, leaving out the killing of Drew Sharp. Afterward, Jack and Kenny visit the restroom, where Jack nonchalantly wipes blood off his shoe with a paper towel and flushes it down the toilet. The three then leave the diner and haul the methylamine trailer back to New Mexico.
Act I[]
Hank interrogates Jesse
Hank enters the interrogation room and tells Jesse he knows that Walt is "Heisenberg," which jolts Jesse out of his daze. Hank asks Jesse to give up information on Walt, having deduced that Jesse's recent actions are indicative of him no longer being Heisenberg's partner, but Jesse sarcastically asks him if he will beat him again. Hank mentions that Walt has done a number on him and seems to convince Jesse that Walt is a monster; however, when Hank once again asks Jesse to flip on Walt, Jesse replies with: "Not to you." Saul then arrives and ends the interrogation, dismissing both Hank and the other two detectives, who entered the room as well. After they exit, Saul scolds Jesse for throwing his money away and getting arrested and for not calling him upon his arrest. He then asks Jesse if Hank told him about his discovery, which Jesse confirms.
At the White residence, Walt Jr. yells from across the house that he's going to the Schrader residence, as Marie called asking for Walt Jr. to help her with a computer problem and then to stay for dinner. Realizing that this is merely a ploy to lure Walt Jr. away from them, Walt reveals to Junior that his cancer has returned, prompting him to stay home. When Hank arrives home, Marie questions how the meeting went, and Hank informs her that he did not end up telling the DEA. When she inquires as to why, he lashes out at her, telling her that he has a lead to focus on. Meanwhile, back at the White residence, Walt sits on his bed while Skyler operates the camera; the duo film a video, which begins with Walt stating that the following is his confession.
Act II[]
Walt and Skyler then ask Hank and Marie to meet them at a Mexican restaurant called Garduño's. Hank is incensed, although Walt refuses to acknowledge Hank's statements about him running a drug empire. Walt mentions that neither he nor Skyler want the Schraders to involve their children, citing Marie's attempt to lure Walt Jr. away, with Walt adding that his son knows about his cancer and that his son would be destroyed if he heard Hank's accusations. Hank scoffs at the idea and reiterates that he will see Walt put away. Skyler asks Hank to give up, citing that Walt is out of the business. Marie berates Skyler for her words and actions, even questioning whether her affair was genuine, before she then tells Walt to kill himself. Walt then gets up, motioning for Skyler to do the same. He then pulls out a DVD from his jacket pocket and slides it towards Hank before he and Skyler leave the restaurant.
Hank and Marie watch Walt's confession video
Hank and Marie return home and play the DVD, where Walt's confession video starts off with him stating that if someone is viewing this, it means he has been killed by Hank. In the video, Walt claims that Hank is a corrupt DEA agent who enlisted Walt to help run his meth empire. He begins the tale by disclosing that shortly after he discovered he had cancer, he found himself struggling with the idea to provide for his family. Just then, Hank had brought him on a ride-along where he showed him how much cash could be made in the meth business. Walt states that Hank took advantage of his vulnerability to force him to produce meth, which he then sold using contacts he made as a DEA agent. Walt adds that Gustavo Fring was Hank's partner in the operation and that Hank forced Walt to work under Gus. Walt further claims that when the partnership dissolved, Gus attempted to have Hank killed; although Hank survived, Walt used $177,000 of his drug money to cover Hank's medical bills.
Walt further claims that Gus then arranged for another hit on Hank, although Hank was protected, and that Hank retaliated by conspiring with Hector Salamanca to kill Gus using a bomb that Hank had forced him to build. Walt adds that Hank was then promoted to become the Head of the Albuquerque DEA, solidifying his position of power within the DEA and in the meth business. With tears, Walt declares that Hank forced him to keep making meth by taking his children away from him and Skyler, who discovered his crimes as a result, and that Hank kept the kids at his own house for three months; he adds that when he tried to quit the business, Hank attacked him, and the camera zooms in on the bruise on his face. Choked with emotion, Walt sobs as he refers to Hank as a dangerous man who must be stopped.
The video comes to an end, and Marie questions who else Walt might've shared the video with; Hank correctly states that Walt would not have sent it to anyone else but them as a form of blackmail. Marie denounces its efficacy, instead suggesting that Hank deliver the video to the DEA and come out ahead of it. However, Hank brings up the $177,000 Walt claimed he spent on Hank's bills and asks Marie what he meant. Marie admits that she took Walt's money to pay for Hank's medical bills because his insurance did not cover it, and that Hank needed the treatment in order to regain his walking ability. Hank is distraught over this revelation; Marie clarifies that she believed it was gambling money, but Hank utters that Marie has "killed him" by accepting the money; as there would be evidence that Hank did not pay for his treatment via insurance but paid through cash, specifically an amount of cash the Scharaders did not possess or can account for, it lends credence to Walt's fabricated confession and torpedoes Hank's ability to denounce the video's statements as false.
Act III[]
Saul and Jesse meet up with Walt in the desert, where Walt questions Jesse on the interrogation. Jesse replies that he did not sell Walt out but that he believes the rest of the DEA does not know about his secret since he noticed Hank had come alone and did not want the two police officers to hear him. Walt then suggests that Jesse use Saul's contact who specializes in creating new identities for criminals, advising him to start over in a new location with a new name and to create a new life, one where he could have his own family; he adds that Jesse is still young and has a lifetime ahead of him.
Jesse confronts Walt about his true intentions
Jesse is fed up and asks Walt to stop trying to sell him a sales pitch, declaring that Walt does not care for him and instead wants him to leave town, not because he genuinely believes Jesse deserves a better life but because he doesn't want Jesse around while he is being investigated. He then asks Walt to be truthful and admit the real reason why he wants him to leave town. Jesse then asks Walt if he would kill him if he refuses to leave "the same way you killed Mike". Walt walks up to Jesse, who wearily flinches at his approach, and hugs him tight. Jesse then breaks down crying and sobs onto Walt's shoulder.
Act IV[]
At the car wash, Walt asks Skyler if she can handle the cash register as he has a chemotherapy appointment. Noticing that Skyler is distracted with worry, he assures her that their video plan worked and that she has nothing to worry. Meanwhile, at the DEA field office, Gomez asks Hank why two of his agents are tailing Jesse when Jesse's arrest is an APD issue. Hank refuses to answer why, prompting Gomez to bring up that Hank has history with Jesse and that if Jesse finds out Hank is using DEA resources to surveil him, he can then sue the DEA. Hank then tells Gomez to have the agents end the surveillance, although Gomez becomes upset when Hank refuses to elaborate. Hank then gets up and leaves the office.
Jesse realizes that Walt poisoned Brock
Jesse is taken to Saul's office, where Saul calls his acquaintance to pick Jesse up. The fee for Jesse's relocation costs $125,000, which Saul takes out of the money Walt gave him, adding that Walt wanted him to give Jesse extra money so that Jesse can set himself up nicely. Jesse tries to light up a joint, but Saul tells him that the acquaintance will not take him if he's carrying drugs and orders him to put his joint out. Jesse stubs out the joint but refuses to give up his weed, placing the bag in his hoodie's front pocket. Jesse chooses Alaska as his destination and seems buoyed by the idea. As he leaves Saul's office, Jesse squeezes by Huell, who stands in the doorway. Later, as he waits at the roadside location where he is to be picked up, Jesse pulls out a carton of cigarettes but realizes that his bag of weed has gone missing. He then pieces together that Huell must have lifted the weed, the same way he had Jesse had initially suspected Huell of pickpocketing his ricin cigarette. Jesse is filled with rag; Saul's acquaintance then pulls up in a minivan, but Jesse storms off, prompting the minivan to drive away.
Jesse furiously pours gasoline all over the White Residence
An enraged Jesse storms into Saul's office, barges past Huell and begins to kick Saul, causing him to bleed. Saul attempts to retrieve a gun from his desk, but Jesse gets to it first and demands that Saul confess that he had Huell steal his ricin cigarette and that Walt poisoned Brock. Saul admits that Walt did have him pickpocket the ricin cigarette but that Walt told him he was doing it to "save" Jesse and that he himself had no clue Walt was planning to poison Brock. As Jesse storms out and steals Saul's car, Saul places a phone call to Walt, informing him that Jesse knows the truth. Walt, who had left the car wash en route to his chemo therapy, speeds back to the car wash, where he retrieves his revolver, which he had hidden within the soda vending machine. Jesse drives to the White residence, driving onto the front lawn. He rushes out of the car and grabs a can of gasoline from the trunk; he then kicks down the front door and starts pouring gasoline all over the living room in rage and fury.
Official Photos[]
Trivia[]
- The opening line of Walt's fake confession where he tells his full name and address is a reference to Walt's confessional in "Pilot".
- Aaron Paul won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in this episode.
- This is the last episode where Walt and Marie directly interact with each other. The last thing Marie says to Walt is for him to kill himself. This episode is also the last time Hank and Skyler interact with each other. The last thing Hank says to Skyler is warning her she will not get off easy if she continues to be loyal to Walt.
- This is also the last episode where Saul and Jesse interact with one another.
- Kelley Dixon, the editor, stated on the Breaking Bad Insider Podcast that this was her favorite episode of Season 5B.
- When Jack Welker's Gang are at the diner, the song "Gonna Romp and Stomp" by Slim Rhodes is played in the background. A Romper Stomper is a slang term for a skinhead.
- In "El Camino", it's revealed that Jesse's choice of Alaska comes from a conversation with Mike Ehrmantraut before they announced their decision to quit the drug business. Mike had told Jesse that Alaska is a place where he could remake himself however he wants and that it's where Mike would've chosen if he was Jesse's age and looking to start over.
- In "El Camino", Jesse is able to track down Ed the Disappearer using clues from the password he overheard Saul use when calling for him and recognizing Ed's van from the aborted pickup. In turn, Ed forces Jesse to pay him for both the attempted pickup in "Confessions" and the one Jesse goes through with in "El Camino."
Production[]
Credits[]
Starring
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Guest Starring
Co-Starring
- Tina Parker as Francesca
- Jason Douglas as Detective Munn
- Mary Sue Evans as Janice
- Millard Drexler as Customer
- Caroline Patz as Waitress
Uncredited
Featured Music[]
- "Midnight Blue" by Rita Remington and the Smokey Valley Symphony (in the diner during the teaser)
- "Everyday" by Mack Self (in the diner during the teaser)
- "Gonna Romp and Stomp" by Slim Rhodes (in the diner during the teaser)
- "La Casa de Olvera B" by Liza Carbe and Jean-Pierre Durand (in the Gardunia's Taqueria restaurant when the Whites meet the Schraders)
- "Chaparrita A" by Liza Carbe and Jean-Pierre Durand (in the Gardunia's Taqueria restaurant when the Whites meet the Schraders)
- "A la Orilla del Mar (Instrumental)" by Francisco Rodriguez/Marc Ferrari/Matt Hirt (in the Gardunia's Taqueria restaurant when the Whites meet the Schraders)
- "Living the Dream" by Chieli Minucci/Emanuel Kallins/Steve Skinner (in the carwash before Walt goes to meet Jesse)
- "Almost Alaska" by Dave Porter (while Jesse waits for the extractor)
- "Nice N' Easy" by Die Solisten der SDR Big Band (The Soloists of the SDR Big Band) (in the carwash as Walt retrieves the gun)
- "Gas Can Rage" by Dave Porter (as Jesse pours gas over Walt's lounge)
Memorable Quotes[]
- "It was perfect. No one even knew they got robbed, just like we planned. Mr. White told me it was, like, the biggest train heist ever, like, potential money-wise. So that's how that happened."
- ―Todd describing the methylamine heist to his uncle.
- "My name is Walter Hartwell White. I live at 308 Negra Arroyo Lane, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87104. This is my confession. If you’re watching this tape, I’m probably dead– murdered by my brother-in-law, Hank Schrader. Hank has been building a meth empire for over a year now, and using me as his chemist. Shortly after my fiftieth birthday, Hank came to me with a rather shocking proposition. He asked that I use my chemistry knowledge to cook methamphetamine, which he would then sell using his connections in the drug world, connections that he made through his career with the DEA. I was astounded. I–I always thought Hank was a very moral man, and I was particularly vulnerable at the time–something he knew and took advantage of. I was reeling from a cancer diagnosis that was poised to bankrupt my family. Hank took me on a ride-along and showed me just how much money even a small meth operation could make. And I was weak. I didn’t want my family to go into financial ruin, so I agreed. Every day, I think back at that moment with regret. I quickly realized that I was in way over my head and, Hank had a partner named Gustavo Fring, a businessman. Hank sold me into servitude to this man, and when I tried to quit, Fring threatened my family. I didn’t know where to turn. Eventually, Hank and Fring had a falling out. From what I can gather, Hank was always pushing for a greater share of the business, of which Fring flatly refused to give it, and things escalated. Fring was able to arrange, uh, I guess… I guess you call it a hit on my brother-in-law, and failed, but Hank was seriously injured, and I wound up paying his medical bills, which amounted to a little over $177,000. Upon recovery, Hank was bent on revenge. Working with a man named Hector Salamanca, he plotted to kill Fring, and did so. In fact, the bomb that he used was built by me. And he gave me no option in that. I have often contemplated suicide, but I’m a coward. I wanted to go to the police, but I was frightened. Hank had risen in the reigns to become the head of the Albuquerque DEA, and about that time to keep me in line, he took my children from me, for three months he kept them. My wife, who up until that point, had no idea of my criminal activities, was horrified to learn what I had done. Why Hank had taken our children. We were scared. And I was in hell. I hated myself for what I had brought upon my family. Recently, I tried once again to quit, to end this nightmare, and in response, he gave me this. I can't take this anymore. I live in fear every day that Hank will kill me. Or worse, hurt my family. All I could think to do was to make this video and hope that the world will finally see this man for what he really is."
- ―Walter's fake confession.
- Marie: "Who do you think he's shown this to?"
- Hank: "No one. It's a threat. It's what he will do if I don't back off."
- Marie: "I think you should show this to Ramey. Just get ahead of it. That video is a bunch of lies, Hank. Anybody who knows you will know."
- Hank: "$177,000? Hell's he talking about? Marie?"
- Marie: "They told me it was gambling money."
- Hank: "What was gambling money? Oh, Jesus Christ, Marie. Oh, God, no."
- Marie: "How was I supposed to know? How was I supposed to know where it really came from?"
- Hank: "Why were they paying for my medical bills? What about my insurance?"
- Marie: "Insurance wouldn't have covered the treatment that you needed, and I... I just wanted the best for you."
- Hank: "Why didn't you tell me?"
- Marie: "Because I knew that you would refuse it, and without it, you may never have been able to walk again."
- Hank: "Oh, Christ, Marie. You killed me here. I mean, it's the- that's the last nail. That's the last nail in the coffin."
- ―Hank and Marie after watching Walt's fake confession.
- Walter: "Saul knows a man. He specializes in getting people new identities. He would move you someplace far away, set you up with a whole new life. Yeah, I know. It sounds a little extreme. But maybe it's exactly what you need. You know, I really think that would be good for you. Clean slate. My, just think about it. You get a job. Something legitimate, something you like. Meet a girl, start a family even. Hell, you're still so damn young. You know, what's here for you now, anyway? I tell you, if I could, I'd trade places. Whole lifetime ahead of you, with a chance to hit the reset button. In a few years, this might all feel like nothing more than a bad dream."
- Jesse: "Would you just, for once, stop working me?"
- Walter: "What are you talking about?"
- Jesse: "Can you just, uh, stop working me for, like, ten seconds straight? Stop jerking me around?"
- Walter: "Jesse, I am not working you."
- Jesse: "Yes. Yes, you are. All right? Just drop the whole concerned dad thing and tell me the truth. I mean, you’re–you’re acting like me leaving town is–is all about me and turning over a new leaf, but it’s really–it’s really about you. I mean, you need me gone, ‘cause your dickhead brother-in-law is never going to let up. Just say so. Just ask me for a favor. Just tell me you don’t give a shit about me, and it’s either this–it’s either this–or you’ll kill me the same way you killed Mike. I mean, isn’t that what this is all about? Huh? Us meeting way the hell out here? In case I say no? Come on! Just tell me you need this!"
- ―Walt and Jesse at meeting in the desert.