Gray Matter (Breaking Bad)

Infobox Television episode
Title = Gray Matter


Caption =
Series = Breaking Bad
Season = 1
Episode = 5
Airdate = February 24, 2008
Production =
Writer = Patty Lin
Director = Tricia Brock
Episode list = Episode chronology
Prev = Cancer Man
Next = Crazy Handful of Nothin'

Gray Matter is the fifth episode of the American dramedy "Breaking Bad".

ynopsis

After failing to acquire a legitimate job at a real estate firm, Jesse runs into an old friend named Badger. He suggests that he and Jesse team up to make meth since he has the supplies needed to cook. Walter and Skyler go to the birthday party of Walter's old college friend, Elliot. Elliot is married to Gretchen, the woman who appeared in Walter's flashback in episode three. He lives in a large mansion and runs a famous research company called Gray Matter, which he and Walter created in graduate school (Gray because of Walter's last name of White and Elliot's last name of Schwartz, which is derived from the German word schwarz, meaning black). As of right now in the series, it is unexplained why Walter has no part in the company.

Elliot eventually offers Walter a job with Gray Matter, hinting about the great healthcare they have. An angry Walter confronts Skyler about having told Elliot about the cancer. He turned Elliot down, bewildering Skyler. Meanwhile, Badger shows up to the RV with the necessary supplies to cook. They drive to a barren field and begin to make the meth, but Badger is no help and merely gets drunk and fools around. Jesse, however, is much more serious and knowledgeable about the process thanks to Walter's influence. The finished product is very good, but not of the same quality that Walter made. Jesse dumps it and begins again.

Walter Jr. and his friends are busted by an off-duty police officer while attempting to buy beer. He calls Hank to pick him up instead of Walter. At home, Skyler tells Hank and Marie about Walter admitting to smoking pot (which he had fabricated to explain his association with Jesse). The sudden change in Walter and his strange decision to not accept Elliot's job offer perplexes everyone, and they decide to hold an intervention. In the meantime, when Jesse deems a third batch of meth not good enough, Badger becomes irate and tries to stop it from being dumped in the desert with the first two. Jesse and Badger fight, with Badger being kicked out of the RV and left behind, after trying to stop it from driving off with a crossbow.

Walter comes home to see Skyler, Walter Jr., Hank and Marie waiting for him. Everyone asks why he chased away the best possible way to pay for treatment and why he seems certain to give up so easily. Marie, however, says the decision should be left to Walter because as a medical practitioner, she has seen people regret going on chemo. When Hank voices agreement with Marie, an argument breaks out until Walter finally speaks up, saying that he wants to make decisions for himself. He does not want to go on chemo because it will make him even sicker and weak - living some extra years on chemo will be pointless since he will be hardly able to function anyway. Walter does not want to put the burden on his family nor does he want to put himself through that.

The next morning, Walter wakes up alone in bed, as Skyler was in the kitchen. Realizing how she would feel to wake up alone everyday for the rest of her life if he were to pass away, he decides to go ahead with the chemotherapy. He assures Skyler that he will speak to Elliot about reimbursing the cost. After his first chemo session, Walter receives a call from Gretchen, who just heard about his cancer. She is confused why Walter turned down Elliot's offer and asks if it is because of her and Walter's past history. Walter ignores the question and lies, saying his insurance ended up covering the chemo after all. Walter goes back to Jesse's house and asks, "Wanna cook?"