Chip, we haven't talked about the comedic horror of the Wendy sequence at the beginning of "Half Measures." They're really showing us the evils of meth, no? I love how Breaking Bad alternately glamorizes and demonizes the drug world. Tell me what Wendy was dislodging from the remnants of her teeth wasn't an, ahem, oh just never mind....
So here's a thought about our gal-about-town Wendy. As Jesse pointed out, she's spent some time being worked over in an interrogation room by Hank, but she didn't break. There was an earlier scene back in Season One when Hank took Walt Jr. to the seedy side of town to warn him about drugs. Hank's interaction/harassment of Wendy indicated they knew each other then. So what if Wendy decided to go to Hank to tell what she knows, maybe because Tomas' death hit too close to home? She told Jesse she had a son of her own for whom she would, and does, do anything. She was obviously troubled and affected by Jesse's "do it for the kids" speech. And although she ultimately went along with Jesse's homicide by hamburger plot, she had a problem with killing someone. Any chance she was out on the street, possibly looking for the gangbangers to score some meth, when the carnage went down? And would she put herself in harm's way by talking to Hank in order to make the streets safe for little Anthony to ride his bike as a kid, not a criminal in training? Ultimately, would she sell Jesse out? They have an interesting relationship, somewhat mother/son, don't you think?
And even if Wendy's conscience wouldn't bring her in to tell what she's seen on her own, if Hank was bored and decided to spend his downtime investigating the death of Tomas, he might go to Wendy and recruit her as an informant, which might push her over the edge this time. Hank's got a lot of time on his, er, hands. And Hank truly loves being a cop. I can see him deciding to work the case on his own, just to have something to do. It would certainly be an interesting development for Hank to learn outside any official law enforcement duties that Walt was dirty. What would happen then?
I think we'll be seeing Wendy of the Evening again soon.
CHIP SAID:
Indeed, Wendy deserves some discussion of her own. In just a few minutes montage, Breaking Bad has given us a searing image of the true life of a prostitute. The monotony of the ups and downs, ins and outs if you will. I believe most real life hookers do not look like Julia Roberts or Rebecca DeMornay. (I just dated myself, didn't I?)
Wendy simultaneously seems like a woman in charge of her own destiny and yet also desperately out of control. She seems to be a creature of habit and not having her regular street corner supply will definitely disrupt her routine. How will she respond to that? I do believe there is a better than average chance she witnessed what "went down" that night. Who knows how she will respond. She may not have the classic heart of gold, but she does have a heart. You are right, Holly. She does have a soft spot for children. How will she construe what happened to Tomas, though? Who will she blame. Is Jesse the hero or the heel in her eyes? That will determine what she does.
HOLLY SAID:
Excellent points, my friend, excellent points. You're right on the money about how she perceives Jesse's motive as the determinative factor. And I think based on their past conversation about the gangbangers having to go because they recruited and used kids, as well as Jesse's willingness to face them down in a two against one showdown, she'll see Jesse as the hero. So....why not just leave him out of it? Some bald guy driving a van/SUV with an identity crisis came out of nowhere and plowed them over, then shot one of them with his own gun for good measure. Who cares why the dealers were out of the car or that they were armed? They're drug dealers. It's what they do. And she has no incentive to keep quiet for fear of losing her supply, it's already gone.
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