Mother’s Mission – The story begins with FBI agents, Garrett (Oliver Hudson) and Renee Lawson (Esodie Geiger) leading a raid on the casino. Garrett orders the music to be cut before approaching Hayak Barsamian (Navid Negahban) who is having dinner with Arman Morales (Adan Canto). He arrests a politician (Walter Anaruk) for bribery and solicitation. The politician denies accepting bribes, but Garrett isn’t having it. Arman orders the FBI agents out of his club if they are not going to arrest anyone else.

Thony (Elodie Yung) pleads with Fiona (Martha Millan) to talk to her. Fiona is angry because Thony refused to open up about her deal with the FBI. Thony assures her it was to protect them. She reminds her about Gabby (Cosima Cabrera) being deported, and her nearly being deported. Thony says maybe she can convince the FBI to do something about Gabby. Fiona accuses her of thinking she is better than everyone else.

Arman assures Hayak everything is under control. He suggests they strategize by relocating the guns from the truck depot to somewhere else. Hayak blames the FBI raid on Arman for failing to do his job. Arman agrees with Hayak’s theory.

Thony informs Marco De La Rosa (Ivan Shaw) of Luca’s increased bilirubin level. Carlos believes his condition is worsening because his Pediatric End-State Liver Disease “PELD” score is 38. She promises to get Luca (Valentino LaSalle) on the liver donor list. He spoke to someone with connections to the embassy. She warns him that he could go to jail. He asks her to send him money to cover the cost. When she denies having that kind of money, he accuses her of not wanting him there.

Thony speaks with Dr. Daniel Saroyan (Antonio Jovani Leon) about Luca’s condition. Lowering his voice, he warns her that is dangerous to try to bypass the system for a donor organ. When she offers to pay cash for a liver, he denies having connections to the black-market organ trade. She questions if the hospital will do the surgery if a liver becomes available. He fears losing his medical license. He warns her about the dangers of the organ black market.

Thony meets with Garrett to discuss the Barsamian case. He admits his decision to deport them was not a good idea before apologizing. She calls him a snake for ordering the raid. He asks her what she thinks of Arman. She reminds him how Arman helped her family. He promises to not have them deported. She demands legal status. He tells her about the S visa, which is designed to protect informants from being deported. She doesn’t believe his promises to keep her in the United States.

Thony and Arman discuss the FBI. She tells him about Luca’s worsening condition. He suggests she talk to Dr. Saroyan. She tells him about Dr. Saroyan’s refusal to help. Arman claims he may know someone who can get them a liver. Before he agrees, he requests her to validate that she really wants to go through with it. She says yes. He tells her to come by tomorrow morning and he will take her to the coyote.

Fiona refuses to permit Thony to enter her bedroom.

Arman drives Thony out to meet his connection. He tells her to leave the talking to him. Guns are drawn on them before they get out of his vehicle. He yells for Bosco (Rocko Reyes) who emerges from his trailer. They greet each other before Arman introduces him to Thony. Bosco agrees to take Thony to meet with the broker. Arman assures her Bosco will protect her. Bosco orders her to get in the back of his van, which is already packed with undocumented children and adults. Thony asks Lizzie (Elsianna DeLeon) if she is okay. She assists her out of the van when they arrive. Mother Donna (Betty Buckley) orders Thony to come with her.

Isabel Bersamian (Shiva Negar) asks to speak with Arman alone. She asks them about the FBI raid. He asks if she has spoken to Hayak. She knows Arman will not lie to her. He assures her Hayak is a good businessman. She accuses him of money laundering for her father. He tells her the FBI only arrested local politicians. She names off a list of crimes Hayak has committed. He promises to protect her and her family.

Mother Donna explains how the operation works. When the undocumented arrive, they are treated like family. She explains how the cartel targets children for prostitution and drug running. The cartel eventually kills the children for their organs. Thony explains Luca’s condition. Mother Donna informs her it will cost $70K for a liver. Tony says I didn’t think you were running a business here. She assures her it isn’t a business, but a service. Thony tries to find ways to cut corners to lower the cost. She tells her about being a doctor in Manila. Mother Donna asks if her medical license is still active. She says they are in Manila, not America. Mother Donna escorts her to the surgery center. She offers to give Luca a liver transplant in exchange for three kidney removals.

Mother Donna introduces Thony to Jose (Ramiro Montanez). She tells Jose that Thony maybe his surgeon. He is grateful to get the surgery, so the money will pay for his crossing. Thony asks what will happen to Jose’s kidney. She assures her that it is donated to someone in need. Jose will finally get to join his family. Thony agrees to do it for Luca.

Thony tells Fiona about the organ broker. She explains how she will pay for Luca’s liver. Mother Donna assured her the donors are willing participants. Fiona admits she would donate Chris’s kidney if it could get him citizenship. Arman contacts Thony to alert her of a shipment that will be transported by three Liberty Republic trucks. He wants her to tell Garrett she saw armed men loading the trucks.

She meets with Garrett to tell him about the shipment. He tells her the paperwork for her S visa has been started. She asks if her information should be delayed like the paperwork. He assures her information will speed up the process. She gives him an inventory list for the shipment. He promises to check it out.

Thony arrives at the facility to meet with Mother Donna who admits to researching her medical background. Garrett and Renee stop the three Liberty Republic trucks. FBI agents file out of the back the undercover vehicles. Garrett opens the trailer door to find several tons of watermelons. He trips out when they don’t find any hiding in the watermelons.

Arman tells Carlos (Harold Nieves Fisch) they will move the guns to a farm without telling him. Carlos asks about Hayak. Arman assures him that he will tell Hayak later.

Thony meets Dr. Nnamdi (Conphidance) from Nigeria. He specializes in orthopedics and trauma medicine. US laws require him to repeat medical school. She assures him that her time there will be short.

Isabel speaks with Hayak about his claims of being an American dream. She reminds him about the politicians who were arrested attending wedding. He tells her his clients are responsible for themselves. She questions the large sum of money given to her as wedding gifts. He assures her it was nothing. She demands to know why the FBI raided his trucks. Before leaving, she informs him that she doesn’t want anything else to do with his business. Arman offers to talk to Isabel, but he refuses the offer. He thanks Arman for saving his ass by moving the guns to a safe location. Arman contributes it to his teachings.

Thony is not happy when the first kidney removal is a child. She reminds him the child is too young to operate on. He says we do not have an option it is up to Mother Donna who we don’t want to upset. She confronts Mother Donna about the young patient. It is the family’s decision to donate the kidney for their American dream. Mother Donna tells her it was the child’s only option besides the cartel prostitution. She refuses to operate on the child.

Garrett discusses their failed raid. Renee believes Thony got a bad tip. He believes Arman and Thony are playing him. She suggests cutting Thony lose. He says they should do what Arman is going to them, feed them false information. Renee agrees with his theory.

Arman hears Thony sobbing while she cleans up. She tells him the broker didn’t work out. He escorts her into his office. She sobs uncontrollably. He promises to help her find another way. They make out until she breaks away.

Fiona is waiting when Thony arrives home. He escorts her to Luca’s room, where he is playing with Marco. They hug while Luca celebrates by jumping on the bed as the episode comes to an end.

 

The Cleaning Lady Review

Another episode that doesn’t move Luca closer to a liver transplant. The episode provided viewers an inside look at illegal organ trafficking, which is not unheard of in the United States. An NBC News article posted on July 24, 2009, claimed the FBI raided an organ trafficking ring operating in the US. Donors were transported from Israel to an undisclosed location in the United States for the procedure. The traffickers paid the donors $10K for their kidneys.

In addition to human organ trafficking, illegally imported cigar sales, FBI corruption, money laundering, illegal immigration, and gun-running, the show touches on visa bribery and fraud. The show veers off track, which is most likely contributed to a lengthy 10-episode season. The episode was interesting, but I felt it was packed with unnecessary filler.

The episode deserves a 6. Get more The Cleaning Lady recaps here. Support ReelMockery by clicking the link.