S04E09 · EP 42
season 4 · 2011-09-11

Bug

written by ? · directed by ? · 1.89M viewers · image Breaking Bad Wiki (CC BY-SA)

Episode DNA

17 scenes · 3 threads
tense 21%scheme 15%threat 12%cheerful 6%investigation 6%lie 6%angry 6%tender 3%awkward 3%violence 3%

Story threads over runtime

click a block to open the scene
0:005:0010:0015:0020:00
A · Hank's investigation of Gus
B · Walt and Jesse's conflict
C · Skyler's cover-up for Ted
01

Every scene

17 scenes · our breakdown
1 · Hank's house · act1Hank and Walt Investigate Gus

Hank and Walt joke about the mineral show as code for a strip club, but Hank is actually excited about the investigation.

01:14–04:00scheme
2 · Los Pollos Hermanos parking lot and Hank's house · act1Walt and Hank Leave Pollos

Walt insists on leaving without going inside Los Pollos Hermanos. Hank plugs the tracker into his computer and sees Gus only goes between home and that restaurant.

04:00–05:43investigation
4 · Outside the laundry · act1Jesse has already started cooking

Walt finds Jesse has started the cook and sees the ricin still in his pack.

06:37–09:28lie
5 · Car wash and Walt's location · act1Skyler Suggests Quitting Second Job

Skyler calls Walt from the car wash, reporting good profits and suggesting he quit his second job. She tells him to consider an exit strategy, and Walt replies he is working on it.

09:28–11:36scheme
6 · Walt's location · act2Hank Wants to Visit Distribution Center

Hank calls Walt and asks for a ride to the Los Pollos Hermanos distribution center. Walt lies about having an upset stomach and convinces Hank to delay the trip for a day or two.

11:36–14:53lie
7 · Walt's location · act2Walt warns Mike about Hank

Walt calls Mike to warn him that Hank plans to snoop around the farm.

14:53–16:03scheme
8 · Car wash · act2Skyler Rings Up False Purchases

Skyler rings up false purchases between actual customers at the car wash. Ted shows up and greets her, saying she looks happy.

16:03–17:34scheme
9 · Car wash · act2Ted Reveals IRS Audit and Criminal Investigation

Ted tells Skyler about the IRS audit and the criminal investigation. Skyler realizes this could lead to an investigation of the car wash. She refuses to help him uncook the books, fearing for her own safety.

17:34–20:39threat
10 · Factory farm · act2Jesse Asks Mike About Gus Killing Hank

Jesse asks Mike if Gus will kill Hank, discussing the potential fallout. Mike questions if Jesse would have a problem with that, and Jesse says who cares what he thinks.

20:39–23:28threat
11 · Factory farm · act2Sniper Kills Gus' Man

A sniper suddenly kills one of Gus' men in front of Jesse. Mike tackles Jesse to the ground and shoves him to cover behind a metal shack.

23:28–25:37violence
12 ▸ 25:37
12 · Superlab · act3Walt Diatribes Against Gus, Mike Shuts Him Up

Walt assumes Gus ordered the man's death and launches into a diatribe. Mike orders him to shut up and warns him against ever calling the police on one of Gus' men again.

25:37–27:03threat
13 · Outside the laundry · act3Jesse Asks Mike About Gus' Actions

Jesse thanks Mike for saving him and asks why Gus walked into the gunfire. Mike explains the cartel needs Gus' distribution network, so they won't kill him. Jesse realizes the rest of them are open season.

27:03–28:06investigation
14 · IRS building · act3Skyler Feigns Stupidity at IRS

Skyler appears at the IRS building dressed in a revealing outfit and feigning stupidity. She explains Ted's unreported income by claiming she didn't record electronic payments and used Quicken. The agent buys the act and drops the investigation.

28:06–33:01impersonation
15 · Outside IRS building · act3Skyler Tells Ted to Pay $617,000

Skyler tells Ted to pay the $617,000 in taxes and penalties. Ted says he has no assets left to sell, and Skyler realizes he's already spent the money.

33:01–33:18threat
16 · Gus's home · act3Gus Asks Jesse About Cooking Formula

Gus invites Jesse to his home and prepares food. He asks Jesse if he can cook Walter's formula alone. Jesse refuses and threatens to die if Gus kills Mr. White. Gus explains he needs Jesse's help to prevent a war with the cartel.

33:18–37:31negotiation
18 · Jesse's house · act3Jesse Tells Walt About Mexico Trip

Jesse tells Walt that Gus wants him to go to Mexico to teach cartel chemists how to cook the blue formula. Jesse is scared he will mess up and get them all killed. He asks Walt for help and coaching.

38:22–40:53scheme
19 · Jesse's house · act3Walt Confronts Jesse About Gus Visit

Walt confronts Jesse about visiting Gus's house and not poisoning him. Jesse admits he didn't have a chance. Walt reveals he bugged Jesse's car and knows he was there for two hours and 18 minutes. Walt accuses Jesse of signing his death warrant and tells him to go to Mexico and screw up.

40:53–45:48betrayal
03

Same DNA

nearest episodes by gene profile

Episode facts

Wikipedia · Wikidata
Aired
2011-09-11
Overall
#42
Writers
Director
Viewers
1.89M (US)
Pace
76 words/min · 142 questions

Where to watch

sponsored
TV
Stream all 5 seasonsWhere it's streaming now · JustWatch
Find
BD
The Complete SeriesBlu-ray / DVD box set
Shop
EP
BugDigital purchase
Buy
Links may earn SceneClip a commission. Illustrative availability.

In this episode

HS
Hank SchraderDean Norris62 episodes · drives 113 scenes
WW
Walt Whitman5 episodes · drives 309 scenes
MS
Marie SchraderBetsy Brandt62 episodes · drives 22 scenes
JP
Jesse PinkmanAaron Paul62 episodes · drives 180 scenes
SW
Skyler WhiteAnna Gunn62 episodes · drives 105 scenes
ME
Mike EhrmantrautJonathan Banks38 episodes · drives 40 scenes
TB
Ted BenekeChristopher Cousins18 episodes · drives 1 scenes
CM
Chris MaraChristopher King5 episodes