Coming Home Again – The show begins with Arman Morales (Adan Canto) lying unconscious on the ground in proximity to his burning vehicle. Nadia Morales (Eva De Dominici) screams his name as she runs out of the house. Thony De La Rosa (Elodie Yung) yells for Arman from his cellphone. He opens his eyes to look at Nadia, seeing Thony pleading with him to come back to her. Nadia pulls his body away from the burning vehicle. Frantic, Thony repeatedly calls Arman.

Arman suddenly wakes up in a hotel room. He gradually gets up to look out the window. Nadia appears to be surprised to see Arman out of bed. After a brief hug, he questions their location. She informs him they are a few hours away from home. As they sit down on the bed, she apologizes for what she said previously when upset about his affair with Thony. He asks how long he has been out. She says on and off for nearly a week. He asks about Hayak Barsamian (Navid Negahban). She informs him of tossing their cellphones out. He believes Hayak blew up his vehicle after discovering Arman’s gun deal with Noah McPherson (Eric Ladin).  She asks him who else knew about the gun deal. He tells her the only person was Carlos (Harold Nieves Fisch). She denies having heard from Carlos.

Fiona De La Rosa (Martha Millan) suggests Marco De La Rosa (Ivan Shaw) celebrate Luca’s recovery, not fight with Thony. He demands to know why Thony hasn’t returned from Mexico, with Luca De La Rosa (Valentino LaSalle/Sebastien LaSalle). She assures him the delay is for Luca’s recovery. She orders Jaz (Faith Bryant) to wake Chris (Sean Lew) up. When Jaz refuses, Fiona knocks on Chris’s bedroom door to see Chris dressed up. She questions why he is wearing that outfit. He informs her of his plan to accompany her to the lawyer’s office. She assures him there is no need to go with her because she will only be requesting an extension.

Showing her a document, he explains how the attorney is scamming her. He says the DACA application is available for free download online. The filing fee is $495 but the immigration attorney is charging them $300 extra. When she jerks the document out of his hand, he tells her about the expedite fee, which is not even a real service. Marco sarcastically says it wouldn’t be Fiona’s first time getting taken advantage of.

Thony greets Julio (Jonathan Medina) who asks about Luca’s condition. She says his body is not rejecting the new liver. Julio informs her about Arman’s credit card not working. She offers to contact Arman, but he doesn’t see a need for it. He wants Luca discharged by tomorrow. She refuses his offer of hotel recommendations. Dara Qum (Josette Canilao) is playing with Luca when Thony enters his room. Thony asks how she is feeling. Complaining of a little tenderness, she jokes about donating pieces of her liver when Thony’s phone rings. She is relieved to hear Arman’s voice. He informs her of the explosion. She asks where he is staying. He is laying low in a hotel between Reno and Vegas.

He knows someone who will make her and Luca fake passports. She tells him about his credit card being declined. He assures her someone he knows will pay for their passports. They have connections at the border. Nadia approaches when he hangs up with Thony. He admits to working on a way for Luca and Thony to cross the border from Mexico to the United States. She wants him to forget about Thony and focus on their marriage instead. He doesn’t respond when she gives him an ultimatum, Thony or her.

Fiona and Chris wait at the immigration office. He questions why the delay. The receptionist (Deborah Martinez) suggests they schedule an appointment before their next visit.

Thony, Lua, and Dara meet Martin (Phil Mendoza) inside a store. Martin takes their photos for fake passports. He suggests Dara pretend to be Luca’s mother because border guards tend to overlook children of American citizens. Agreeing, she tells him Dara’s last name. He tells her border agent Guillermo Sanchez (Randy Barco) will be in Booth 2. She needs to get there today because this is his last shift for the week. They have two hours to get to the border.

They are in line at the US border.

Chris and Fiona spot their immigration attorney Wyatt Jennings (Dan Davidson) walking down the hallway with a woman. The receptionist is busy, so Fiona has a plan. She knocks on the door of what looks like a conference room. He admits to remembering them. She accuses him of promising Chris US citizenship. While everyone in attendance listens, she says you took our money. Chris adds, “You charged up bogus fees like a DACA expediting fee.” He suggests they speak privately in his office. She asks if Chris’s paperwork has been filed. He isn’t for sure. When she threatens to sue him for nonexistent fees, he agrees to give her a refund.

Thony tells Dara they have 10 minutes before Guillermo’s shift ends. A guard orders the line Thony is in to move to transition to Booth 3. When he is distracted by a barking dog, they move closer to Guillermo’s booth. Thony informs Dara about utilizing her last name for Luca. Confused, Dara asks why she did it. Thony explains how she is an American citizen before giving her money for a taxi and hotel room. She orders her to take Luca to a local hospital if he gets sick. Dara suggests they wait to cross the border. Thony assures her everything will be okay because she is great with Luca. She asks Luca if he would like to play a game. When he agrees, she tells him to tell Guillermo Dara is his mommy.

They are called up next. Dara is okay to pass. Guillermo is replaced by a female CBP officer (Ericka Zepeda) who knows her passport is fraudulent.  Luca says mommy repeatedly while Thony turns back to Mexico.

When Thony calls FBI Agent Garrett Miller (Oliver Hudson), he immediately asks why she is in Mexico. She asks how he knew. He reminds her of his status. She tells him about Luca’s liver transplant surgery. He questions why Arman never helped her get back. She asks him to help her get across.

Marco shows Jaz how to shuffle cards. Her attempt sends the cards across the countertop. Thony calls Fiona to alert her of Luca and Dara’s return home. While she gets her updated on the situation, Marco tells Fiona he wants to speak with Thony. She assures her Garrett will help her get across when Marco grabs the phone from Fiona. He asks if she is staying in Mexico with Arman. She hangs up on him.

ASAC Katherine “Katie” Russo (Liza Well) informs Garrett the FBI can’t get Thony across the border. He asks why the heck not. She suggests everyone is tired of his games. He assures her Thony is a vital informant for the Barsamian case. She reminds him of Thony being on Homeland Security’s watch list after his ICE raid. He suggests they get Thony an SPBP. She tells him Thony doesn’t qualify. He pleads with her to help get her across for the sake of their case. Promising to make more calls, she gives him the okay to go to the border as a civilian, not an FBI agent.

Nadia is not keen on Arman’s plan to meet Hayak. He reminds her of their financial situation. She suggests he think about it, but he had already made up his mind.

Garrett talks to Russo on the phone about Thony’s situation. He waves at an agent as he crosses the border. She tells him to stay put until they can do it through the legal process.

Hayak is enjoying himself at the club when Arman arrives. Arman informs him about the explosion. Hayak acts to know nothing about it. He tells him about the negotiated $6m with Noah. Surprised, Hayak asks him to validate the price again. Arman claims to not have told him until he was sure. He asks where the guns are being stored. Arman says they are at a farmhouse before asking about Carlos. He promises to get up with Hector (Leandro Valdez) and Noah to verify if he still wants to buy the guns. Giving him a hug, Hayak claims to be relieved he is alive.

Garrett meets up with Thony who is ready to go home. He suggests they get a motel room, so they can leave tomorrow. She reminds him of Luca’s surgery. She apologizes for not informing him of her plans to take Luca to Mexico. When he opens the trunk of his car, she refuses to put her bags inside. He assures her the truck is not for her bags, but for her. Confused, she questions his motive. He pleads with her to give him a couple of days to get her paperwork approved. She says no because Luca needs her. He recommends Fiona or Marco take Luca to the hospital if he gets sick. She agrees to get in the trunk of his car. Hesitating, he orders her to get in. She asks his plan if they are caught. He will pretend to not know she got there.

CBP Agent Vega (Lawrence Gilligan) stops Garrett before he crosses. When he flashes his FBI credentials, Vega asks for his passport and his business in Mexico. Garrett lies about getting his kids some maracas. The agent asks if he has firearms in his car. He says no, just a few water pistols that belong to my kids. He orders him to pull over for further instructions. Garrett tries convincing Vega to let him pass by saying he has a deadline to get back to the field office. He orders him to open the trunk. Garrett asks for a supervisor. Female CBP Agent (Ericka Zepeda) blows her whistle as Garrett is handcuffed.

Garrett and Thony are placed in a cage. She questions why they will do with them. He says someone from the bureau will vouch for them, so they are free to go. She tells him her family needs to know what happened. He asks how much Marco knows about him and Arman.

Arman arrives at the hotel, where Nadia is washing her hair. She asks what happened with Hayak. He tells her about lying to Hayak about who tried to kill him.  She questions if Hayak believed his story. He says Hayak believed his story about the gun deal with Noah. She scolds him for giving the money for the guns to Hayak. He assures her it is the only way for him to remain alive. He promises they will start over after the gun deal.

Fiona hurriedly answers her phone to hear Thony on the other end. She informs her of their situation before asking her to contact Dara tomorrow. Fiona asks what she is supposed to tell Marco. She agrees to handle him when she gets back home. Marco just happens to be listening to their conversation. He angrily demands to know what is going on. When she tries to convince him, Thony will be home soon, he reminds her of being his sister. He accuses her of drinking and hanging out with boys at the same age as Jaz. He tells her she is living in prison when Chris orders him to shut up. Marco says it is none of his business. Chris reminds him of it being their home.

Garrett accuses Thony and Arman of providing him with false information. He questions how she got caught up with a bad guy who murders and traffics guns. She tells him it is not that simple. He reminds her of what they are doing is wrong. She admits to trying to follow the rules, but it got her nowhere. He asks if she is calling him a privileged American. Acknowledging that is exactly right, she tells him Luca doesn’t have the same right because he was born in a foreign country. He tells her his scumbag father killed someone when he was young.  He chose to be a good guy, not a bad guy like his father.

The next morning, they are handcuffed and escorted to Russo and Homeland Security Dave DePaul (Derek Webster). Russo arrests and charges Thony with obstruction of justice and aiding and abetting. DePaul informs Thony she will be detained until her order of removal is complete. Garrett demands Russo explain what is going on. She tells him he is facing termination. Thony is placed in a vehicle before it drives away.

Arman and Nadia pull out of the hotel parking lot. After arriving home, Arman checks the house while Nadia finds a cooler in the kitchen. He kicks off the lid to find a frozen Carlos inside. Frantic, Nadia turns to Arman for comfort.

Garrett arrives home.

Dara drops Luca off at Fiona’s. He asks Marco where his mommy is at.

Thony is locked behind bars as the episode comes to an end.

 

The Cleaning Lady Review

A disappointing episode and so close to the finale. Most of the scenes were way too long and the content seemed a bit repetitive. I was hoping for much more, but you get what they give you.

Thony’s rant about American privilege was a bit farfetched, especially from someone living outside the United States. Even though Luca was not an American citizen, he was provided health care services on the same level as American children. This is not to mention, not all children in the United States are covered under a health care plan.

I felt Chris and Fiona’s immigration scene was unnecessary. This issue should’ve already been cleared up, so they could focus on the Barsamian case. I’m pretty sure other viewers felt the same way since it is the most interesting part of the show.

I’m already beginning to question the finale. Hope they don’t repeat the same mistake twice. The show was already too long, with many episodes being nothing more than filler.

The episode deserves a 5.5. Get more The Cleaning Lady recaps here. Support ReelMockery by clicking the link.