The Americans, Season 4, Episode 7, The Travel Agents

Martha took a dramatic and reckless step in the final moments of last week’s episode.  She has left the safe house and her best chance to avoid capture by the FBI behind.  Meanwhile, Elizabeth reels from Phillip’s revelation he has shown Martha his true face.  She seems to worry Phillip may chose Martha over her. The FBI erupts with the information that Gaad’s shy secretary has spied for the Soviets. Whatever the outcome, there will be no one who emerges from this crisis unchanged.

At the Soviet Embassy, Oleg and Tatiana work on an itinerary for Martha’s extraction. The plan is to fly her out of the U.S. to Cuba, then onto Prague and Moscow.

Gabriel greets Elizabeth and Phillip at the door of the safe house with the troubling news that Martha has fled and threatened to scream “KGB!” if the old man tried to stop her.  Elizabeth asks, “When?” He tells her about forty minutes ago.  Phillip hands him the rat in a jar, which is placed in the freezer.  Phillip tries to imagine where Martha might have gone; including places they had dates and her church.  Elizabeth thinks Phillip should not go out to look for her and offers to go with Hans.  Gabriel adds wearily, “If she’s in public and starts screaming again, you may have no choice…” (The implication is Martha may have to be killed on sight if she can’t play cool.)

At the FBI, Stan and Dennis arrive at Agent Gaad’s office and motion for him to join them in the vault.  Dennis informs Gaad they found a “Clark Westerfield,” a child who died in Minnesota at age seven whose birthdate matches Martha’s Clark. Gaad sighs, “Martha’s boyfriend had a fake id.”  Stan apologizes and informs his boss they are bringing in a sketch artist to draw Clark using his landlord as a source.  The agents leave Gaad.  Gaad sighs deeply; his reputation and position at the Bureau are done if Martha proves to be helping the KGB.

An aerial view of Washington D.C. helps the viewer grasp how difficult it would be to find a single person in such a large city.  Phillip asks Elizabeth to phone in updates of her search every thirty minutes.  Elizabeth assures her husband that the situation is not his fault. Phillip still blames himself for her behavior, reasoning she panicked when she learned Phillip left because she didn’t now Gabriel. Elizabeth notes Gabriel is right. (About the need to silence her.) Phillip answers grimly, “I know.” He leaves the safe house in a baseball hat and sunglasses, Elizabeth wears her “Clark’s sister” disguise to commence the search.

The FBI swarms in Martha’s small apartment.  Stan searches the electrical outlets for “bugs.”  Agents sift through tampons and ice cubes for secrets.  Dennis examines a radio.  Agent Gaad stands by the window, looking out nervously.

Phillip rings a bell and the Centre’s dispatch woman lets him inside.  He orders her to find him maps, bus and river routes.

Martha walks alone, looking around furtively.  She tries to discern whether the men around her are agents, but everyone looks suspicious.  Martha begins to breath rapidly, probably having another panic attack.

Phillip plots a radius on a city map.  The blonde woman urges him to eat and offers him borscht. (Since the Jennings try to act American at all times, it’s probably been a long time since Phillip has the native soup.)  The woman tries to offer Phillip support but soon the phone rings.  Elizabeth reports she hasn’t seen Martha yet but has sent Hans inside the church.  Phillip recalls she used to like to take long walks by the viaduct.  Elizabeth tries to offer Phillip reassurance that “She’ll be okay.” Phillip tells the blonde woman, “I haven’t had borsht in a long time.”

In the FBI vault, the agents pour over the items they removed from Martha’s apartment, including a photo album.  Dennis tells Gaad he knows which church Martha attended.  Gaad notes Martha made a deposit recently, but no withdrawals.  A superior calls Stan over.  He asks Stan to check with his contact at the Soviet Embassy and to blackmail him if necessary.  Stan notes, “This guy plays the long game.”  The superior grows impatient, noting they don’t have time for the long game.  Stan refuses to contact Oleg angering the superior.  A man in the room calls out, “Martha’s on the phone to her parents.”

Martha makes the call from a park pay phone.  She asks her mother not to wake her father, but soon her father is on the line.  Martha confesses, “I’m in so much trouble. No matter what you hear, know that I love you.” She hangs up to the bewilderment of her elderly parents.  It sounds like she’s saying goodbye. 

In the vault, Stan theorizes the KGB doesn’t have her or they wouldn’t have allowed her to call home.  The agents identify the pay phone call as originating in Woodley Park.

Martha walks alone on a high bridge over a rushing river.  She looks down at the river and rocks and appears to be thinking of jumping.  Tears stream down her face in the weak winter sunlight.

Stan and Dennis head to the payphone in the park.  They communicate with the other agents via walkie-talkies. There is no sign of Martha.  Stan suggests they spread out to look for her.  From the car, the high bridge can be seen in the background.  Stan looks that direction and recognizes the structure from a photo in Martha’s family album.  Stan deduces the call sounded like a “goodbye” and fears Martha may have been thinking of this place she came with her parents, then committed suicide by jumping off the bridge.

Phillip and the blonde woman wait for more information to come in.  She asks him if he had met the person before her.  Before Phillip can answer her question, the phone rings.  Martha is surprised to hear Phillip’s voice on the line and cries to him, “You left me with a stranger!”  Martha continues to rail about her hurt and confusion. Phillip asks where she is and says he’ll come pick her up, then “tell her everything.”  Martha is far from reassured, “I want it to stop, I want it to end!” (Be careful what you wish for Martha!)  Martha blurts out her location and Phillip hangs up.

Stan looks down from the bridge to the rocks.  Dennis stands below in the water. Martha hasn’t committed suicide.

Elizabeth calls in and is informed that Phillip has left for Martha’s location.  Elizabeth reports she is close to the location.

Oleg informs Tatiana he is unable to secure a pilot for Martha’s extraction.  Tatiana reports calmly, “I got one, one that was needed for another operation.  We’re fine.” Oleg masks his surprise at her ability to access seemingly endless resources.  He looks down at a mysterious file on her desk with curiosity.

Elizabeth walks in the park and spots Martha.  Elizabeth reaches in the right pocket of her pink jacket, appearing to hold something inside before she approaches her target.  Elizabeth calls out to Martha, “Clark’s on his way; he wanted me to stay with you until he got here.”  Martha asks, “Are you sleeping with my husband?”  She continues by asking if the “mom” at the wedding was another agent and if the old man with the cane is also an agent.  Elizabeth denies sleeping with Phillip and attempts to calm her down.  Martha is panicking and raising her voice. Elizabeth moves swiftly to “embrace” her and delivers a hard punch to Martha’s lower abdomen.  Elizabeth tells the hysterical woman, “There is nowhere to go, they know who you are and are coming for you.  They’ll arrest Clark.  Do what I say and you’ll live, you’ll live.”

In the woods nearby, Phillip walks around, calling out for Martha.  He removes his sunglasses and looks around before finding a pay phone. (Where were all these payphones when I was a kid?  I remember never being able to find one when I needed one back in the day.)

Henry drools over Brooke Shields’s racy Calvin Klein jeans ad.  Matthew isn’t as interested and drinks a bottle of beer.  Henry whines for beer and Matthew pours him a small amount in a glass.  Paige arrives and tells her brother she’s made dinner. She boldly asks Matthew for a beer and he offers her a full one, which she drinks from the bottle. (Little rebel.) Henry cries foul, but Matthew explains his sister is fifteen and therefore closer to the drinking age.  Matthew cautions Henry, “My dad is a FBI agent, he’ll notice if we drink all the beers.”  The trio watch television together.

Stan gets a Coke from the vending machines at work.  Agent Gaad updates him on the search for Martha, the payphones in the park are being watched and they are attempting to track down a former roommate.  Gaad informs Stan the Deputy Attorney General went to the FBI director to complain about Stan.  Gaad stood up for Stan noting he learned in Vietnam not to “fall down and play dead.”  Gaad notes between the bug in his pen, Gene and Martha his career is pretty dead already.

Phillip returns to the safe house.  Elizabeth greets him and says, “She’s all right.” Martha is clutching her left side and she tells him it’s just a bruise. (Not disclosing who gave it to her.)  Martha asks Phillip what his name was when he was born.  He answers truthfully, “Mikhal, but everyone called me Misha.”  Phillip leaves to get ice for her wound. Martha cries.  Phillip sees the rat in the jar near the ice cube tray, a poignant reminder of how not normal the situation has become.

Tatiana and Oleg wait in his office.  Arkady enters and learns Tatiana has secured a pilot for Martha.  Arkady seems a bit surprised too, but only says, “Good.  Then we’re set.”  Tatiana confirms Martha is now in their custody.  Arkady acknowledges the information and leaves the room.

Phillip and Elizabeth discuss the precarious situation.  Elizabeth notes, “If she runs again…” Elizabeth suggests Phillip tell her he’ll join her and they will have a life together, noting she needs hope to get on the plane.  Elizabeth has doubts of her own after seeing how Phillip has responded to the crisis.  She asks, “If you could go back, with Martha-if the kids were grown, would you?” Phillip seems taken aback by her doubts, “Your crazy, it’s not like that at all.  I love you.”  He says he’ll be home with her in a few hours.  Elizabeth urges him to stay with Martha, she kisses Phillip goodbye.

Tatiana dictates a note; “The sample procured by Directorate S is being prepared for transport to Moscow.” From this note is it unclear if she’s speaking about Martha, the dead rat sample or possibly both.  She ends her dictation by stating, “Handle with extreme caution.”  The assistant looks to Tatiana for further instructions but she tells him simply, “Send it.”

Gaad enjoys a glass of scotch in his office.  Stan enters with a sketch, which puzzles Gaad; the artist accidently drew one of Martha and Clark. (If Gaad can’t recognize is own secretary from the sketch, is Phillip safe?)  Stan begins to mention Martha’s boyfriend but Gaad interrupts to show him the marriage certificate they’ve recovered.  Gaad sighs, “MY SECRETARY, was married to a KGB officer.”  He notes they did blood tests and had witnesses, making everything official.  Gaad believes they targeted and seduced Martha for their purposes.  Stan offers an alternative explanation; perhaps they had met before from school.  Gaad squarely points the blame at himself. “I’m in charge.” Gaad continues to wonder why, was the sex that good or was she simply that unhappy?

Phillip gives the ice pack to Martha. He informs her, “Tomorrow you’ll leave for Russia to begin a new life. It’s not easy but it’s the only way.”  Martha looks at him pleadingly, “How soon before you come?”  Phillip refuses to lie to her as Elizabeth suggested, “I won’t, I can’t.”  Martha weeps and asks if he could come to visit, but again he says no.  Martha is worried about her parents and wonders if she has the strength to go to a foreign country, learn a new language and have a new life.  Martha observes she’ll be alone, just like before Clark entered her life.  Phillip assures her she will be treated with honor and respect for her sacrifice.  But Martha was willing to make that sacrifice only to be with Phillip.  Without him, her betrayal doesn’t make sense.

Elizabeth readies herself for bed.  She seems very tired and emotional.  Martha sleeps next to Phillip one last time.  Phillip remains fully clothed and awake.  The episode ends. Phillip was trying so desperately to save Martha, he seems to have succeeded in saving her life but at the cost of her heart.  Elizabeth seems to doubt her place in her husband’s heart for the first time.  The experience with Martha has laid bare her very few insecurities.  At the Residentura, Tatiana has shown the men she is the one holding the power of the Directorate S program.  It’s clear she may know secrets hidden even from the ambassador.  Stan and Dennis came very close to catching Martha and Phillip. Will he recognize his neighbor from the sketch of Clark?

The preview for next week features Martha leaving the United States. Stan is under pressure as the FBI trail goes cold. Phillip tries to honor Martha’s request to inform her parents about her leaving but this move proves dangerous. Paige struggles with her parents continued absence and secrets. Her relationship with Pastor Tim threatens to expose her parents. The show continues to balance action with believable relationships making it one of my favori

The Americans, Season 4, Episode 6, Rat

Last week found our main characters under extreme pressure.  Martha is under scrutiny and Phillip seems to be willing to act alone to save her.  But given the risks, is her exposure inevitable?

The hour opens with Phillip and Elizabeth post-coitus.  She playfully teases her husband about his non-symmetrical nipples.  Phillip tries to laugh, but the tension is palpable.  Elizabeth tries to assure him, “Martha is okay, nothings happened.”  Phillip asks, “Do you think I’m being stupid?”  Elizabeth says no, she sees Phillip’s actions as merely “trying to do the right thing.”

Martha readies herself for another day at the FBI she takes a Valium pill.  The television reports news of Prince Charles’s visit to Australia.  Jane Pauley has a special report on women, comparing single, married and divorced women in terms of their happiness.  Martha looks around her apartment as if saying goodbye to it. She switches the TV off and leaves.

In the FBI “vault” Dennis and Stan sort through Martha’s personal history.  Dennis notes she is an only child who is very close to her parents.  Martha was engaged to her high school sweetheart but he dumped her when she discovered she was pregnant.  This led to an abortion in 1964.  Dennis notes that abortion was illegal and dangerous at that time.  Stan asks his partner, “Do you think Martha is attractive?”  Dennis notes there is “something sexy about her.”  Stan remarks it appears like she has led a rather isolated life, with few relationships.  Stan notes she dated Agent Amador, who was murdered.  The men continue to ponder what these details say about their suspect.

In a semi-industrial area, Phillip meets with William.  Phillip states the Centre needs another glanders sample.  William explains that will not be possible as the company has wrapped up its research on the material.  Phillip uses Gabriel’s script to implore William to “step up” and make a difference.  He reminds William he has been working for twenty-five years and now is the time to make a move so he can “return home a hero.”  William is unmoved by the speech, he feels its more likely he’ll return home in a coffin.  But, William notes they are working on a new substance called “tularemia” which could be easily weaponized.  With a touch of irony in his voice, Phillip replies, “Sounds good.”

Martha attempts to act normal at work as the men who are investigating her walk past her workstation.

Phillip continues his conversation with William. “I’m running an agent who’s in danger.” William asks how he knows, and Phillip confesses it’s a feeling he has.  The biologist exclaims, “Feelings are buggers!”  Phillip relates he’d like to get her out. William guesses, “They don’t want to.  The bosses don’t know what they’re doing.” William is clearly jaded and bitter at this point in his long and fruitless career in the United States.  Phillip notes the agent (Martha) trusts him.  William replies, “That’s always a problem.”

Martha walks home and Phillip, in his Clark disguise, follows her in his car.  He urges her to get in and explains, “They may know about you, we need to get you out.”  He promises her “everything will be okay.”  It’s a promise that probably can’t be kept.

Martha is taken to a “safe house” which is a non-descript home in the suburbs. Martha looks around and tells Phillip, “I don’t understand, I’m scared.”  Phillip embraces her.  Gabriel arrives and exchanges pleasantries with Martha, “Nice to meet you, I’ve heard so much about you!”  Martha is silent.  Phillip advises her to make tea in the kitchen.  Once alone, Gabriel is livid at Phillip’s action.  “You have acted impulsively, you promised me this wouldn’t happen.”  Gabriel wants Martha to go back to work the next day and for things to go back to the “way they were.”

Phillip sighs; probably he had expected this response from his handler.  He confesses, “Martha has seen me.”  The old man is shocked, “How?”  Phillip explained it just happened.  Gabriel again chastises him for deciding to reveal his identity without orders.  The old man reminds him this action may have risked lives.  Phillip is adamant, “Martha is done.”  Gabriel refuses to accept this fact; she is integral to working with William as she provides them with his surveillance information. Phillip asks to not meet with William again.

The tea is ready.  Martha stares blankly at the television.  Gabriel cooks while Phillip sets the table in this oddly domestic scene.  Elizabeth arrives, reprising her role as Clark’s sister.  She has brought groceries and essentials for Martha.  Martha asks her, “So, you’re part of this?”  Elizabeth replies she is there to support Martha and notes Gabriel is a fabulous cook.  Martha looks pained and remains silent.

Elizabeth ventures into the kitchen and is surprised to see Phillip is not wearing his Clark disguise.  She asks simply, “When?”  Phillip explains it was about three weeks ago, he revealed his true face because he felt Martha was falling apart.  A tense silence follows and then Elizabeth asks, “Did you want her to see you?” confesses he didn’t know what else to do.  Elizabeth peers inside the old fashioned refrigerator and then pours more wine for Martha.  She faces Phillip again, “You should have told me you were bringing her in.”  Phillip looks saddened and adds, “Couldn’t just let her…” (Be caught.)

Elizabeth thinks Phillip should go home but he argues it would be better for Martha if he stayed.  Unhappy with this decision, Elizabeth leaves but asks Phillip to tell Martha she’ll return the next day.

Back at home, Elizabeth surprises her kids by cooking a dish she learned from her Korean friend Young Hee.  Paige is curious about her mom’s friend but Elizabeth explains it’s just “someone from work.”  Paige notes the chicken is rubbery.  Her mom explains that’s because it’s tofu.  Henry is slow to leave his computer games to come for dinner.  He asks repeatedly when they will reschedule their vacation to Epcot.  Paige asks her brother if he can teach her how to write her papers on the computer.  Elizabeth explains their father won’t be joining them for dinner because of work.

Martha sorts through the supplies Elizabeth brought her.  She complains to Phillip there is only one change of clothes.  She wonders where they will go.  Phillip replies she must trust him.  Martha knows “Jen” is not really his sister and deduces they work together.  Martha asks if he is “involved” with her.  Phillip answers with a half-truth, “We’ve worked together a long time.”  Martha continues to probe, “Work for who?” Phillip replies, “The KGB.” (I believe that is the first time the show has explicitly said the name of the Soviet spy agency, it is mainly referred to as “The Centre.”) Martha begins to cry, realizing she is a traitor to her country.  Phillip assures her, “You don’t have to do anything ever again.”  Phillip tries to calm her by instructing her to breath.  He reminds her she wanted to know everything.  Martha acknowledges this but adds, “I never thought…”

Martha hold Phillip close and reasons things will be all right, “As long as we’re together.”  She kisses him with her eyes filled with tears.  She mentions running away and begs him to make love to her.  Phillip obliges but seems far away in his own thoughts.  In the next room, Gabriel hears Martha’s passionate moans.

At the FBI, Stan and Dennis learn that Martha has called in sick.  Stan decides to call her home to make sure she’s okay; the call goes to the answering machine.  The men decide to leave for Martha’s place.

At the safe house, Martha asks what is the next step.  Phillip tells he they’ll find her a place.  Martha states, “The person watching me, thinks I’m involved but what if he’s wrong?  Then things can go back to normal.”  Phillip says he wishes that were the case.  Martha realizes, “I’m never going home, am I?”  Phillip doesn’t answer.

Dennis and Stan enter Martha’s residence with assistance from her landlady.  Stan looks around the neat and empty space.

In the kitchen of the safe house Phillip pours coffee.  Gabriel asks about Martha and Phillip informs her she’s resting.  The old man reports William has sent out an emergency signal and wants Phillip to meet with him immediately.  Phillip remarks cynically, “There’s always some reason.”  Gabriel tries to emphasize the importance of William’s work.  The Soviets fear if the United States could immobilize their nuclear arsenal (through Star Wars like technology) their only defense would be biological weapons.  Gabriel notes Martha called in sick for work and the agency may already be suspicious. (If they only knew how suspicious Dennis and Stan are about Martha she would probably be dead.)  Phillip says he’ll tell Martha he needs to leave for a while.  Gabriel thanks him.

Phillip finds Martha in a deep, Valium assisted sleep.  He opts not to wake her but riffles through her purse.  He finds her Valium and her revolver.  Phillip steps near the curtained window and remove the bullets from the gun.  He pockets the weapon.   and leaves quietly.

Stan hands a sketch of “Clark” to his landlord.  Stan asks the man who signed the lease.  Stan looks around the neat apartment, which seems free of personal effects and pictures.  This heightens his suspicions.

At the Soviet Embassy, Oleg speaks to Tatiana about his mother.  Oleg called recently but his father said she was too depressed to speak to him.  Oleg feels guilty for leaving.  Tatiana advises him to be patient and notes grief takes time.  Arkady enters the room and informs them, “We have to exfiltrate a U.S. citizen.”  Arkady elaborates the person was a secretary and they need to get her to Moscow, soon.  Tatiana asks, “What did she do?”  Arkady doesn’t answer.

Stan works with another agent to gather information on different “Clark Westerfield’s.”  The man tells him the name fits an eighty-five year old man in Idaho and a thirty-five year old attorney from Atlanta.  Dennis asks if the lawyer is married with children.  The agent only has the names at this time.  Stan asks him to check for other Clark Westerfield’s, including death records.  Stan notes Martha stated her married boyfriend was a businessman.  Stan asks Dennis, “Is a lawyer a businessman?”  Dennis isn’t sure.  Stan alerts Agent Gaad they need to speak with him.

The agents enter the “vault.”  Stan begins, “I think Martha is bad.” Dennis notes she called in sick and wasn’t home.  Gaad looks shocked but asks Stan what information they have.  Dennis informs him about Martha’s married boyfriend and how barren “Clark’s place” appeared.  Agent Gaad looks deeply troubled, “Martha’s worked here over ten years, that is crazy!”

Down by the docks, Hans keeps watch with binoculars.  Elizabeth wears a curly wig as she smokes at a nearby bus stop.  Hans uses a mirror to signal her.  A brown car approaches and heads down an alley.

Stan asks the agent working on Clark if he’s made any progress.  The agent notes no progress, yet.

William meets with Phillip who wears a blonde wig and goatee disguise.  William hands him a dead rat in a mason jar labeled with a “Biohazard” sticker.  The biologist explains he had to improvise to get the new virus, explaining an isolated sample was impossible but the virus is within the rat’s tissue.  William asks what happened with Phillip’s agent.  Phillip explains they “brought her in.”  William recalls how they sent his wife back and he wanted to protest and “take them on” but didn’t.  Phillip leaves in his car with the dead rat.  Elizabeth walks on alone.

Gabriel takes his medication in the kitchen when Martha comes in demanding to know where Phillip has gone.  Gabriel assures her he’ll be back soon and offers to make her a meal.  Martha walks out without a word.

The agents continue their discussion about Martha in the vault.  Agent Gaad explains she was the secretary when he took over the division ten years ago.  He could have brought his own secretary with him but didn’t want to displace Martha.  Stan observes, “No good deed goes unpunished.”  Stan reasons he could be wrong about Martha.  But Gaad notes, “No one could have put the bug in my pen more easily then Martha.”  Gaad theorized Martha and Gene could have been working together or maybe they killed Gene to protect her. (Right on the nose, Agent Gaad!)  Gaad exclaims that Martha had access to everything.

Martha dresses to leave.  She examines her purse and is upset to find her gun is gone.  She marches out the front door and Gabriel struggles to catch up with her. The old man begs her to come back inside but Martha yells back, “Where is he? What have you done with him?”  Gabriel pleads for her to trust him.  Martha warns him, “Get away, I know what you are! I’ll scream your KGB, then everyone will know!” Gabriel lets her walk away down the street, but she has probably just sealed her fate.

This hour was a phenomenal game of “cat and mouse” or “cat and rat.”  Both the FBI and KGB realize how dangerous the lonely secretary is to their secrets.  Undoubtedly, it would be better for her if the FBI caught her where at least she’ll be afforded the right to a trial.  Despite Phillip’s feeling for her, it is doubtful he would chose her over his own family and children’s safety.  He simply loves Elizabeth more.  It’s hard to see any possible ending for Martha besides death or capture.

Next week’s preview shows Martha on the run.  Agent Gaad discovers Martha had married “Clark Westfield”, further exposing her lies.  Martha makes a desperate call to Phillip begging him, “I want it to stop, I want it to end.”  It will end but unfortunately for Martha, not in the way she’d hoped.

Better Call Saul, Season 2, Finale, Klick

The final hour of Season 2 has arrived.  The stories of Mike, Jimmy and Chuck dominate the episode.  The conflict between Jimmy and his older brother reaches a crescendo as Chuck lays a trap for Jimmy.  Mike flirts with dramatic action, but can he take it?  Even to save his daughter-in-law and Kaylee?  Will we learn how Hector Salamanca ends up in a wheelchair?

This final hour begins with a flashback of Chuck waiting at a hospital for his younger brother.  Chuck informs Jimmy their mother has just passed away.  Jimmy is distraught and asks Chuck if his mother regained consciousness and said any last words.  Chuck replies “No.”

The action moves to the moment after Chuck’s collapse in the print shop.  Jimmy makes a critical decision to run inside to take charge of the situation.  He yells at Lance to call 911 and orders Ernie to leave.  Jimmy runs around the shop unplugging the printers and turning off the lights.  Chuck opens his eyes to look at his brother, but says nothing.

Chuck is rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.  The paramedics report that Chuck was unconscious for about one minute.  The lights and electricity hum around Chuck whose head is bleeding.  The doctors and nurses set about their assessment of his injures, but Chuck begs them to turn out the lights and refuses to have an EKG siting his “hypersensitivity to electricity.”  The more Chuck resists the more the medical team pushes him.  He is placed in wrist restraints and the doctor wants to perform a CAT scan to assess his head injury.  Chuck screams at them, “You’re killing me!”

Later, a female doctor comes to speak to Jimmy about Chuck’s condition.  She is frustrated because they can’t “clear” his head injury or check his heart because he refused the tests.  Jimmy asks if they can just check him “the old-fashioned way.”  Jimmy doesn’t want to admit his brother to a psychiatric facility, but agrees to obtain a “temporary guardianship” which will allow the hospital to perform the tests.  Jimmy wants to take his brother home once he’s medically cleared.  He asks the doctor if he can be the one to explain the situation to Chuck.

Jimmy enters his brother’s dark hospital room.  At first, Chuck refuses to speak to him and repeatedly calls out for Ernie.  Ernie appears and Chuck asks him how long he was unconscious.  The timid assistant reports, “About one minute.”  Chuck theorizes Jimmy was there so quickly because he had bribed the print shop worker and was there to spy on them.  Ernie tells his boss Jimmy appeared because he had called him earlier, worried about Chuck’s agitation.  Chuck is disappointed in both of them and orders them out of his room.  Ernie leaves and once they are alone, Jimmy tells his brother, “There’s something I have to do.”  Chuck guesses correctly; Jimmy is seeking a temporary guardianship.  He scoffs, “You finally got me where you want me!”  Jimmy exits.

In the hallway, Jimmy asks Ernie why he “covered” for him by stating he called. Ernie explains Chuck has been obsessing about how to seek revenge on Jimmy. Ernie adds, “You’re my friend.”  Ernie walks down the hospital hallway and mutters to himself, “I miss the mailroom.”  (Kim, Ernie and Jimmy have worked in the HHM mailroom.)

The Mexican truck driver has been hog-tied with duct tape again, but this time by Salamanca and his goons.  The man attempts to scream as Nacho and the ponytailed man drive the Chevy van into a remote place in the desert.  They stop to unlock a padlocked fence; Mike watches from a sand colored station wagon in the distance.

Chuck antagonizes the doctor at the hospital about her duty as a physician to follow the Hippocratic oath.  She is unphazed by his rant and assures him the test will be done before he knows it.  Chuck is wheeled into the MRI machine and balks at the noise and electricity.  (The show mentioned he was to have a CAT scan but he is clearly in an MRI, which actually emits less radiation but takes longer and makes more noise.  Sorry, as a former ICU nurse, I hate to see medical facts distorted in television.)

Jimmy sits in a waiting area, “Diagnosis, Murder” plays on a television.  Kim arrives to offer her support.  Jimmy complains the test has run long and urges her to work so he can take his mind off “hospital stuff.”  Jimmy’s commercial airs; it is a montage of seniors from the first woman with the figurine collection to the masturbating faux veteran.  The final image shows Jimmy in front of the giant flag from the schoolyard advertising his services.  Kim congratulates his efforts.  The doctor arrives to tell Jimmy his brother is physically okay and she believes his fainting episode was a form of panic attack.  She warns him there was a “complication” from the tests.

Jimmy runs into his brother’s room to find him unresponsive.  The doctor theorizes Chuck is in a self-induced catatonic state.  Jimmy accuses her of “frying his brain.” The doctor believes Chuck will emerge from this state and be fine.  Jimmy states he’ll stay by his brother’s side.

Mike meets with his gun dealer outside in a remote area.  The man shows him several options of long-range weapons.  Mike hits a distant target and the men discuss ammunition options.  Mike selects a weapon and bullets.  The man wipes off his fingerprints before handing the weapon over to Mike who places it in the sand colored station wagon.  

Jimmy is at Chuck’s side when he opens his eyes and asks for water.  Jimmy happily helps his brother and reports he was asleep for twenty hours.  Chuck states the last thing he remembers was entering the machine.  Chuck theorizes Jimmy has probably arranged to place him “In an insane asylum in Las Cruces.”  Jimmy tells his brother he can go home.

Chuck wraps himself in a thermal blanket as Jimmy hovers, offering to make him tea. Chuck asserts he’s fine and wants to be left alone.  Jimmy protests, stating he still needs someone to deliver food and look after him.  He reminds Chuck that he has changed his locks and failed to give him a key.  Jimmy needs to know his brother is okay so Chuck agrees to have Ernie come back.  In the foreground, old family pictures are displayed.  Jimmy finally leaves his brother.

Chuck waits a few minutes, and then peers outside to check that his little brother has left.  Wrapped in a thermal blanket and carrying a propane lantern like a crazed coal miner, Chuck makes his way outside and opens up the garage door. (There was no way to enter from the inside of the house?)  In the dim interior small appliances and other electrical items are stored.  Chuck searches the boxes for something.

In the desert, Mike removes his new weapon from the trunk of his car. Mike has dressed in beige to blend in with his surroundings.  He arrives at some rocks and sets up his weapon. In the valley below, the pony-tailed man digs a hole.  There is a small shed like structure.  The Chevy van and another car are parked nearby. Mike loads his weapon.  The Mexican man is dragged near the freshly dug hole and can be heard pleading for his life.  Hector and Nacho emerge from the shed, Nacho stands in front of the old man, blocking Mike’s shot.  The cousins shoot the Mexican man and he falls into the hole.  The ponytailed man shovels dirt over the body as the cousins go inside the shed with Nacho and Hector.  Mike uses his scope to zoom in on the structure.  Suddenly, the insects stop chirping.  In the distance, he hears a car horn blaring.  Mike grabs his long-range weapon and takes out a revolver to go investigate the source of the noise.  He finds a stick has been wedged to sound his station wagon’s horn.  On the dashboard is a note, which reads, “DON’T.”  Mike looks around but doesn’t see anybody.

Jimmy’s new office is filled with seniors who wait patiently while helping themselves to hard candies.  Jimmy walks out with an elderly man, taking time to compliment his “blue blocker” sunglasses.  Kim delivers Jimmy an urgent message from Howard regarding Chuck.  Reluctantly, Jimmy leaves his clients, promising them Kim will make them fresh coffee and a round of donuts.  Alone in his new office, Jimmy calls his former boss.  Howard asks, “Are you behind this?”

Jimmy rushes over to his brother’s house and knocks frantically while calling out, “Chuck, I know you’re in there!”  Chuck responds he’s busy, but Jimmy persists.  Finally, Jimmy is let inside.  Chuck is busy, covering all the home’s surfaces with thermal foil lining.  Jimmy asks cautiously, “What’s up, see you’ve got a little project going on here.”  Chuck explains he’s trying to insulate the home against the electrical pollution.  Jimmy urges him to take a break so they can talk.

“Howard tells me you quit HHM.”  Chuck explains he has retired not only from the firm but also from the practice of law.  Jimmy is aghast, “How are you going to retire before you get me disbarred?”  Jimmy theorizes Chuck is mad because he lost the Mesa Verde account, but states he can’t retire over it.  Chuck complains he can’t do the job any more; he’s utterly humiliated at his rookie mistake regarding the address.  Chuck notes he blamed Jimmy for the error, but it was really because of the electricity.  He realizes it is “time to end it”, meaning his law career.

Jimmy can’t let his brother shoulder the blame for his shenanigans and begins, “What if I told you, you didn’t make a mistake.  I did it!  I changed 1261 to 1216.  It went down exactly like you said.  You got every detail right.  Relax, your brain is fine!”

Chuck is shocked, “You would go to such lengths to humiliate me?”  Jimmy counters he did it all for Kim, he didn’t think it would hurt Chuck so deeply.  Jimmy implores his brother to call Howard and tell him he’s not quitting, adding, “Take that shit off the walls!”  Chuck beams wickedly, “You just confessed to a felony!”  Jimmy scoffs at these words, noting it’s his words against his obviously mentally ill brother.  Jimmy leaves confidently.  Chuck uncovers a tape recorder and presses “Stop.”  He has evidence to put his brother in prison.

It seems an abrupt way to end the season.  The viewer is left to ponder who put the note on Mike’s car and when will Jimmy realize he’s in big trouble.  Chuck exploited his younger brother’s biggest weakness, his love and respect for Chuck.  Jimmy has struggled his whole life to win his brother’s approval and affection.  Jimmy is like his father in the way he wants to please people.  Chuck exploited Jimmy’s desire for approval to trick him into a full confession.   This may be the real reason Jimmy finally changes his name and identity to become Saul Goodman.  Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until next year to find out.