Walter and Jesse in “Cornered”

Walter

Alright, I need an update.

Jesse

Update on what?

Walter

An update on these little field trips that you've been taking with Mike.

Jesse

I told you already we pick up money, check on things, stuff like that.

Walter

And you're his bodyguard, right? [Jesse turns away] What? What? That's what you said!

Jesse

I said I guarded him, like backup, like a second set of eyes. Everybody needs backup, right?

Walter

And this has to be you? It can't be–I don't know–Tyrus or any of the couple dozen muscleheads that Gus has working for him? It has to be Jesse Pinkman. Why? What, is there something about you I don't know? Are you a former Navy SEAL? Do you have to have your hands registered as lethal weapons?

Jesse

[flips Walter off] Register this.

Walter

All I'm saying is that do you not even question this? Do you really believe that you mean anything to these people? And I'm not trying to be insulting, I'm just trying to make you see things clearly.

Jesse

I see they can't outright kill me but they don't want me getting high. I see this thing probably started as Gus getting Mike to babysit me. But you know what? I saved Mike from getting robbed, even killed maybe. So maybe I'm not such a loser after all!

Walter

I mean, what if it... Oh, God... [beat] I mean, what if it...What if it's all just a set-up?

Jesse

What?

Walter

What if this robbery that you stopped wasn't even real? I mean, think about it. Your first day out guarding Mike, he steps out for one second and what happens? You immediately get robbed.

Jesse

You are such an asshole!

Walter

Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer. Like you said, Gus can't kill you because of me. He knows that I won't stand for it. He needs me and he hates the fact that he needs me! So what does he do? He goes to work driving a wedge between you and me!

Jesse

You're an asshole. If you'd been there, you'd know it wasn't a set-up.

Walter

Wait a minute, how long did those guys chase you, huh? 'Cause the way you describe it, they gave up pretty damn easy. No, no, this whole thing–all of this–it's all about me!