"Sunset" is the sixth episode of the third season of Breaking Bad and the twenty-sixth episode altogether.
A tribal police officer is dispatched to investigate the possible disappearance of an elderly woman that resides on a reservation outside of Albuquerque. At her property, out behind the outhouse, he finds her body and evidence that someone else has taken up residence - two black men's shirts, hanging out to dry. "Whoever's in there, show yourself!" the officer shouts. One of the Cousins, Leonel, steps out of the house, distracting the cop while the other sneaks up behind the officer and attacks him with an axe, dispatching him with a number of blows.
Summary
Walter watching a model condo for purchase
Skyler White calls Walter White to discuss the signed divorce papers she was surprised to find in Holly White's crib. The conversation turns to the use of drug money to pay child support. "You'd be making us accessories after the fact," contends Skyler. "How do you think we've been paying our bills these last six months?" asks Walt, before hanging up. He's looking at a model condo, which he offers to buy, furnishings and all. When the agent looks reluctant, "Name one thing in this world that is not negotiable," Walt insists.
Meanwhile, the Cousins enter Los Pollos Hermanos. Gustavo Fring watches as they sit down stock-still without ordering anything.
Over at Jesse's, the blue meth Jesse Pinkman made without Walt dazzles Badger. Jesse invites Badger and Skinny Pete to rejoin him in the business. This time they'll "sell it safe," he says. We do it right, "We don't get greedy," he adds, attempting to entice them. The plan: Badger will have Clovis fix up the RV and Skinny Pete will procure supplies. Hank Schrader, on stakeout in his SUV down the street, observes Skinny and Badger departing. Hank can hardly contain his excitement.
Walt drives Walter White Jr. to school. "It's not like I get a vote," complains Walter Jr. about the divorce. "I am the man that I am, son," Walt responds, adding that he's "actually feeling very good about the future."
Gus arrives at Los Pollos Hermanos and sees the Cousins. "They're ba-aack," says the manager, wondering if she should call the police. "They're doing nothing wrong," Gus replies, instructing to leave them be.
At his first day of work at the superlab, Walt meets his new assistant, Gale Boetticher, a specialist in X-ray crystallography with a libertarian attitude regarding the use of drugs by consenting adults.
"I love the lab," Gale enthuses after he and Walt create their first batch. "It's all still magic." Prompted by Walt, Gale recites "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer," Walt Whitman's poem about the exhilaration of experiencing scientific wonders first-hand. "Yes, I am a nerd," Gale laughs.
Meanwhile Hank, still staking out Jesse's house, receives a call from Marie Schrader, asking when he's coming home. He needs to stay put, Hank explains, until Jesse leads him to the RV or does something illegal. "I, for one, can think of someone who might know something," Marie says, remembering what her sister told her before.
At his condo, Walt gets a call from Hank. The DEA agent wonders if Walt remembers his former student Jesse Pinkman having an RV. As Hank explains his theory, Walt realizes that Hank is closing in on his partner.
Walt calls Jesse, but hangs up before speaking out of fear of the line being tapped. He calls Saul and announces that Hank knows about the RV, "which is covered with my fingerprints," Walt says. "It's only a matter of time before he tracks it down." "So get rid of it!" says Saul. Walt is in a spin, not knowing what to do next, whilst Saul reprimands him for not having a contingency plan.
Walt races to the repair yard and orders Clovis and Badger to destroy the RV. "I know a guy that'll wipe this off the planet," Clovis says.
Badger tips off Jesse about Walt's plan. Jesse obliviously blasts out of his house and drives off, unaware he's being trailed by the tenacious Hank.
Back at Los Pollos Hermanos, Gus, frustrated with the lurking Cousins, approaches them and arranges an off-site meeting: "Sunset."
At a junkyard, Walt discusses the demolition of the RV with the junkyard owner, Old Joe, who assures Walt it will be destroyed, crushed into a tiny block then recycled into patio furniture. Walt is alone in the RV when Jesse barges in, shouting at Walt that the RV is his and Walt has no right... Seconds later, Hank drives up. Walt looks out the window, sees Hank... "You led him right to us," he reprimands a shocked Jesse, who quickly dawns on the fact he's just messed up once again.
Walt and Jesse inside the RV as Hank is investigating outside
Hank pounds the RV's door. "Last chance to do it the easy way," he tells Jesse. Walt strains to hold the door shut as Hank tries to pry it open with a crowbar. "Got a warrant?" Old Joe asks, walking up to Hank. "I don't need one if I've got probable cause, counselor," Hank replies. The junk-yard guy and Hank continue to spar over whether the RV is a vehicle or a domicile. If the latter, its residents would be constitutionally protected against unlawful search and seizure. Hank, getting increasingly irate at the challenge, rips some duct tape off the RV door, revealing bullet holes from Walt's previous confrontation with Emilio Koyama and Krazy 8. "There was a firearm discharged inside of this domicile," Hank says. Walt whispers to Jesse and orders him to reply, "How could you have known that the holes were there before you took off the tape?" and Jesse complies. "This is my own private domicile," Jesse continues, "and I will not be harassed... bitch!" Hank bitterly heads to his car and calls ASAC George Merkert to obtain a warrant. Walt, meanwhile, has an idea (much to the relief of a pleading Jesse) and makes a desperate call of his own.
Minutes later, Hank's cell phone rings. A woman identifying herself as an Albuquerque police officer informs him that Marie has had a car accident and is being airlifted to a hospital. Hank leaps into his SUV and drives off.
At his office, Saul's secretary Francesca hangs up the phone, telling her boss, "You're gonna have to start paying me more." Saul shoots her a wry smile, then snaps the cell phone in half and chucks it in the bin.
Hank rushes into the hospital looking for Marie. Through his panic and rushing about, he finally realizes his cell phone is ringing. It's Marie, all fine and well, checking in to make plans for dinner. Hank, at first relieved, then slowly fuming, realizes he was tricked. A determined look sets across his face...
Back at the junkyard, a forklift rips apart the RV and loads it into a crusher, as Jesse and Walt look on relieved.
At sunset, Gus and the Cousins meet in the desert. Gus reiterates they must back off Walt. Then questions them, "Why Walter White?" He may have betrayed Tuco Salamanca, Gus reminds them, but someone else pulled the trigger. "The DEA is off-limits," says one Cousin citing Bolsa. Gus replies that north of the border is his territory so he approves of the hit. "As a show of respect", Gus adds, "the agent's name is Hank Schrader. May his death satisfy you."
Credits
Main Cast
- Bryan Cranston as Walter White
- Anna Gunn as Skyler White
- Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman
- Dean Norris as Hank Schrader
- Betsy Brandt as Marie Schrader
- RJ Mitte as Walter White Jr.
- Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman
- Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo Fring
Supporting Cast
- David Costabile as Gale Boetticher
- Matt L. Jones as Brandon "Badger" Mayhew
- Tom Kiesche as Clovis
- Larry Hankin as Old Joe
- Luis Moncada and Daniel Moncada as The Cousins
- Charles Baker as Skinny Pete
- Tina Parker as Francesca
- Ashley Kajiki as Cynthia
- Jose Avila as Deputy Bobby Kee
- Frank Bond as Realtor
- Jui Hise as Mother
- Trina Siopy as Nurse
- John Augustini as Tim (Uncredited)
Trivia
- Larry Hankin (Old Joe), like Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn and Bob Odenkirk, is also a Seinfeld alum. Hankin's character auditions for and is cast in the role of "Kramer" in the fourth-season episodes "The Pilot, Part 1" and "Part 2".
- The painting on the wall of the model apartment has been seen before: it was on the wall of the doctor's office in the Pilot.
- When Jesse asks Badger to get the RV in shape, he specifically asks for a buzzer that buzzes when the key is placed in the ignition, a reference to his mistake in "4 Days Out"
- In a phone conversation with Walter, Skyler sarcastically refers to her unhappiness as "completely out of the clear blue sky unhappiness." It is unclear whether she intentionally referenced Walter's Blue Sky meth.
- Walt makes a sandwich, and takes off the crust, something Domingo Gallardo "Krazy 8" Molina did.
- This is the last appearance of the RV before its return in the flashback in "Ozymandias".
- Continuity error: In this episode Saul doesn't know about the RV, but he was kidnapped in it in "Better Call Saul", and afterwards presumably driven back in it.
- Error: Walt drives to Clovis yard to destroy the RV - how did he know that is where the RV was, Jessie had sent it there to get repaired, only Badger and Skinny Pete knew it's location.
Featured Music
- "Sun Shine On Me" by Buddy Stuart (as Walt prepares for his first day in the superlab)
- "Ginza Samba" by Vince Guaraldi & Bola Sete (as Walt and Gale first cook together)
- "He Venido (Bolero)" by Los Zafiros (as the RV is crushed)
- "Breaking Bad Sunset End Credits" by Dave Porter (end credits)
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