As the episode opens, Thony (Elodie Yung) prepares to leave Jaz (Faith Bryant) to care for Luca (Sebastien LaSalle, Valentino LaSalle). Jaz voices concern for Fiona (Martha Millan) and Chris (Sean Lew) who are en route to the U.S. from Manila, Philippines. Thony tries to assures her that they will be fine. A short time later, Thony arrives to find the cleaning shop vandalized. Armed with a rock, she gradually makes her way through the building. “Go Home” is spray-painted on the wall.
Fiona and Chris call Thony to update them on their location at the border. Fiona promises Thony that she will help cover the cost of their travel expenses. Thony assure her that it is taken care of. Fiona asks if she agreed to clean again. Thony rushes off the phone when she hears the door shut. She is armed with a mop when Jeremy Dolan (Brandon Jay McLaren) approaches, claiming Ludlow notified him of a broken window. He apologizes for the “Go Home” slur. She thanks him before leaving. A motel Coyote (Randy Gonzalez) confiscates Chris and Fiona’s phones and orders them to leave anything that does not fit in a small bag. Thony arrives at a large warehouse where Dante (Clayton Cardenas) demands several vehicles spot-cleaned.
At the border hotel, Chris and Fiona are waiting to board a truck when the head Coyote (Leonel Garza) refuses Gizelle (Natasha Elias) passage without upfront payment. Chris gives the Coyote his money from Paolo Belleza (JB Tadena) and warns that he will lose Camila’s (Esmeraldo Camargo) passage as well if he refuses.
Thony informs Dante that a mother gave birth inside one of the trucks. He reminds her that she is there to clean. She tells him that she can help the mother because she is a doctor. He orders her to clean She walks through the warehouse where she finds the mother and her newborn. Thony convinces her to let her examine her.
In the back of a truck, Chris asks Fiona if she ever thought what if she had stayed in Manila with Paolo. She claims to have blocked it out after she decided to leave. He describes Paolo as “awesome.” They briefly speak with Camila and Gizelle.
Nadia Morales (Eva De Dominici) tells ASAC Katherine Russo (Liza Weil) that Arman Morales (Adan Canto) may have been taken by a cartel. She promises to help take down the cartel in exchange for Russo’s finding Arman and immunity for both of them. Russo shows her police body cam footage of a man forcing Arman into a van. Nadia is relieved to see Arman alive but cannot identify the man who took him hostage. Russo suggests Thony was there and can identify the man. Nadia records the footage on her phone. Elsewhere, Fiona, Chris, and the others are forced out of the truck.
Dante orders Thony to get back to work. She warns that the mother will die if she does not get treatment. He threatens Chris and Fiona if the trucks are not thoroughly cleaned. Ignoring him, she returns to help the mother. Later, they arrive at the cleaning shop. At the casino, Nadia leaves Thony a voicemail urging her to call. Looking at the footage of Arman’s abduction, she sees a logo on the side of the van. A short time later, she arrives at a junkyard to ask Glen (William Martin Brennan) about the van in the footage. He claims someone took the vehicle but does not know who.
Jorge Sanchez (Santiago Cabrera) and Ramona Sanchez (Kate del Castillo) do not agree on what to do about Arman. She says Arman can help them make changes but he fears she is delusional. She accuses him of putting her operation in jeopardy and demands him to embrace Arman when he is located. Dante informs them that Thony left with Soledad (Frida Mercury) and baby. Jorge promises to find her. At the cleaning shop, the Soledad’s condition worsens. Thony gives her an injection when Susan Redman (Rekha Sharma) enters and threatens to call the police. Thony warns that the Soledad will if they do not work fast. Susan reluctantly agrees to help. Later, the Soledad and baby are loaded into an ambulance. Susan informs Thony that the incident must be reported to CPS. Thony reminds her that she physically aided in the mother’s care. Susan agrees it would be best to keep it between them.
Ramona confronts Thony about what she did. Thony says the mother was hemorrhaging. Ramona reminds her that she is in charge, not her. Thony suggests saving the mother’s life will help build Ramona’s reputation. Ramona claims a doctor was scheduled to see the mother tomorrow morning. She warns her against disobeying orders.
A tunnel Coyote (Valentin Mexico) orders Chris, Fiona, and the other immigrants into an underground. Camila begins to panic. Fiona urges her through the tunnel.
Jorge urges Thony to think of Luca before disobeying orders in the future. She claims Ramona threatened Chris and Fiona. He assures her that they are safe and Ramona is good at what she does. Thony asks why she hasn’t found Arman. He warns that Ramona will only keep her alive until Arman has no use for her. As she gets out of the vehicle Nadia pulls up. Out of sight, Nadia shows her the footage of Arman’s abduction and asks if the man is one of Sin Cara’s. Jorge approaches and denies any connection to Arman’s abduction. Thony says he is telling the truth. He claims to have been close to Arman when they were children. Nadia accuses Thony of stabbing her in the back before leaving. Jorge says Nadia will be a problem. Thony urges him to leave it to Ramona.
Fiona, Chris, and the immigrants emerge from the tunnel to be met by a nun (Mickey Bond) who says this is the U.S. They are walking to the vans when border control arrives. Fiona and Chris flee into Allure Boutique. While Chris is hiding, a Border Patrol agent (Kyle Kernan) as Fiona if she is a U.S. citizen. She says yes before keeping him from entering the dressing room. He demands to see her papers when a dispatcher orders the agents to assist outside. Several immigrants are apprehended. A Coyote rushes them into a van. Gizelle and Camila are separated. The Coyote claims both vans are heading in the same direction. Elsewhere, Thony tries to call Fiona but her phone is with the Coyotes. She thanks Jeremy for cleaning up. He assures her that she does not deserve to be bullied because this is her home.
Thony finds the gray van involved in Arman’s abduction in Ramona’s warehouse. Jorge claims a shipment of vehicles from junkyards came through. She says the vehicle was at the airport on the night of Aman’s abduction. He warns her against interfering in the operation. She questions if he really wants to find Arman. He admits to not wanting her or Arman in his life and orders her to leave.
Nadia promises to give Russo the cartel and Thony. Russo says the deal offers her immunity, not Arman. Nadia declines the offer. Russo claims Arman was never going to walk free after reneging on so many deals. She questions if he was working with the cartel. Nadia assures her that is not the case. Russo vows to avenge Garrett Miller’s death.
Chris intervenes to stop a Coyote from sexually assaulting Camila. The scuffle ensues when Fiona jumps in to help. Fiona, Chris, and Camila watch as the Coyote vans drive away. The episode ends.
The Cleaning Lady Review
A woman gives birth on Ramona’s route. Thony is at the cartel’s warehouse when she encounters the woman. She puts her and her family’s lives in danger to save the woman from hemorrhaging to death. Susan reluctantly helps save the woman’s life and later threatens to report Thony for providing medical care without a license. Thony reminds her that she participated in the treatment and must report herself as well. Susan suggests they drop it.
Nadia propositions Russo by offering to help take down Thony and the cartel if she finds Arman and gives them immunity. Russo agrees to give her immunity, not Arman. Nadia vows to never turn on Arman.
Chris and Fiona arrive in the U.S. with the help of Coyotes. Border Patrol apprehends some of the undocumented immigrants. Camila gets separated from her mother, Gizelle. During a stop, Chris intervenes to save Camila from getting sexually assaulted by a Coyote. They are abandoned in a remote area with no phone.
Season three is a mission to target America’s immigration process. It would have been more effective to focus on Arman’s disappearance and less on such a controversial issue. Viewers are hungry for good TV. In my opinion, this series does not fit the bill.
The flaws are too obvious to ignore. Surrounded by cartel, Thony manages to get a mother covered in blood and her baby out without being seen. Instead of taking her to a hospital, she takes her to the cleaning shop. I don’t remember Russo and Garrett being friends. She knew Garrett had an affair with an informant and wasn’t against playing dirty to get what he wanted.
The episode deserves a 5.8 out of 10. Get more The Cleaning Lady recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can help build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss new TV shows, movies, crime, and more.
