On Walter’s 50th birthday, he looked back on his life: his academic qualifications were far higher than those required for his current job as a high school chemistry teacher, he had a rebellious son, a pregnant wife, and an introverted personality. On this very day, he learned he had lung cancer and only two years left to live.
He suddenly felt numb to the world around him and tried his best to hide his lung cancer diagnosis from his family. He planned to ask his brother-in-law, who worked at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), for advice—just as the DEA had arrested a major drug dealer.
While waiting for his brother-in-law, he saw someone jump out of the building’s window. He immediately recognized the person as Jesse, his former student. Jesse was fleeing the DEA and rushing to his car.
That night, Walter followed Jesse, and the two agreed on a plan to cook meth together: Walter would be responsible for manufacturing amphetamines, and Jesse would sell them.
The next day, Walter stole chemical supplies from the school, and the two hid in a recreational vehicle (RV) to start cooking.
Walter’s skilled craftsmanship produced amphetamines that left Jesse full of praise. Jesse took the drugs to the drug dealers. Knowing Jesse and Emilio both had prior records, the dealers decided to take a desperate risk. They threatened Walter with Jesse and Emilio’s lives, demanding he hand over the amphetamine formula.
Walter agreed to their request. As he demonstrated the amphetamine-making process to the dealers, he deliberately added the wrong chemicals to create toxic fumes that trapped them. The dealers passed out, and Walter and Jesse fled in the RV—only for the vehicle to break down suddenly. Just then, a police car appeared. Walter pulled out a gun, ready to fight, but it turned out to be a false alarm.