Randomly, Kevin Rankin (Friday Night Lights; Justified) is one of the criminals, and just as was the case when Landry was introduced so modestly, I have to wonder if something will happen to make his part more important in the episodes ahead. So the criminals weigh the pros and cons of inciting a riot or sabotaging someone in the shower, and what C.O.s they have in their pockets. The conversation is so wonky and insider and jargon-laden, and no attempt is made to clarify things to Walt or us. It's fun to watch Walt be on the outside of impenetrable knowledge of something. The leader (I assume this is Todd's uncle) tells Walt that the task is do-able, but incredibly complex. "Offing Bin Laden wasn't this hard," he says. [Note: A rare reference to what year it is, which Vince Gilligan interestingly responded to in this interview.] Walt decides to get passive aggressive and talk about the artwork in the room and Uncle of Todd is like, "Look, I didn't say we couldn't do it, I said we can't do it the way you want." Walt says, in fact, they CAN do it the way he wants, or else he can go shopping for another crew that can. The macho gauntlet having been thrown down, obviously Uncle of Todd is going to make this happen.

Back at the White house, which at this point is just one ever-expanding shadow, Walt checks his watch and then starts the countdown. Now, come on, WALT having a watch isn't going to help matters, you crooks. Some plan this is. ...Actually, okay, it's a pretty impressive plan. We see it carried out via one of the more memorable montages on this show that has enjoyed its fair share of montages. It's set to characteristically uncharacteristic music ("Pick Yourself Up" by Nat King Cole), as we take a tour through the New Mexico prison system and watch a succession of stoolies get taken care of. It's prison, and there aren't a lot of options, so it's not like there's a ton of diversity in the kills. One happens in the showers, one by the pay phones. Most meet their end via a furious series of stabbings with tiny little shivs; those are pretty brutal to watch but also kind of hypnotic in their swift repetitions. The centerpiece act of violence is reserved for poor Dennis, who's in solitary after his plea meeting; he gets doused with lighter fluid or alcohol or whatever and then set ablaze inside his cell. [Note: There's an awesome "making of" video here.]