The Cleaning Lady Season 2 Episode 1 Recap

Sins Of The Father – The episode begins with Hayak Barsamian (Navid Negahban) removing a cellphone inside a plastic bag from a floor drain. Prison guard Moore (Eddie Flake) nods as he sends a text. Hayak informs Arman Morales (Adan Canto) that he should be released by next week. Arman promises to get the business in operation soon as he’s out and take care of Vida. Hayak asks if someone is handling the withdrawals. Arman says The Cleaning Lady is on it since Nadia Morales (Evan De Dominici) is under close FEDs surveillance.

Thony (Elodie Yung) leaves Marco De La Rosa (Ivan Shaw) a voicemail, pleading with him to call so they can discuss Luca (Sebastien LaSalle/Valentino LaSalle).

Fiona (Martha Millan) tells Thony that their search turned up empty. Jaz (Fath Bryant) says no one recalls seeing Marco. Nadia asks if she placed a freeze on her credit card. Thony says she set up alerts to monitor activity because he may need to purchase food. Chris (Sean Lew) calls Marco a “jerk” for what he did. After assuring her that Luca won’t be harmed, Fiona refers to Marco’s actions as a mistake. Thony says it was aimed to hurt her when an alert reveals Marco booked two flights on Philippine Airlines.

Thony suggests she get Garret Miller (Oliver Hudson) involved. Fiona warns that Garret cannot be trusted to not arrest Marco or contact ICE. Thony says if Marco returns to the Philippines, she’ll have to leave the US for good.

Garret says goodbye to Sammy (Dean Allen Williams) when ASAC Katherine Russo (Liza Well) approaches. She asks if he saw to who Arman’s case was assigned. He says “corrupt as he**” Judge Tuckerton, was not an accident. She assures him that they’ll catch him if it’s a bribe. After warning the bribe must be blocked, he reminds her of the millions they have in their possession. She asks if the money turned up during the gun deal. He says Arman will be released without it. She suggests digital currency.

An investigation draws Garret’s attention. He demands to know why Maya Campbell (Chelsea Frei) is being pegged as a suspect. She reminds him that it’s against regulations to discuss another agent’s case. He suggests a technicality is the only reason he doesn’t have the case. After saying sex with a CI isn’t a technicality, she assures him that he’d be an insurance salesman if it weren’t for her. He claims Maya was a bartender working to pay off her student loan debt. She tells him that Cortez has her dealing now. He warns something needs to be done about it when Thony calls to ask for his help in stopping Marco from leaving with Luca. He promises to contact TSA before heading to the airport. Thony demands Fiona to not tell Marco what she’s doing. Fiona asks if she wants him to lie to her brother. Thony says just have him contact her.

Nadia visits Arman in prison. She informs him that Hayak’s lawyer believes the FBI doesn’t have sufficient evidence to keep him behind bars. He asks if she’s secured enough money to cover his litigation costs. She suggests he chose the wrong person to handle their finances. He assures her that Thony can be trusted. She says Thony may be on her way to the airport right this second.

Garret dispatches TSA agents to Gate 25C. Luca asks when will his mommy be there. He tells him that she’ll be along later. As Thony approaches, he flees the area with Luca. She discovers his stuffed toy on the floor.

After telling Thony that CCTV showed Mario leaving the airport with Luca shortly after their arrival, Garret says his cellphone was dumped. She warns that Mario could take Luca anywhere. He assures her that with the APB, they will nab him in a few days. She tells him that she wasn’t ready to go back to the Philippines like Marco. He accuses her of still being affiliated with Arman. She reminds him that Arman’s in prison. He suggests she get a “fresh start” in the Philippines. She assures him that it isn’t possible while Marco has Luca.

Nadia tries to reach Thony with no luck.

Jaz asks why Marco would run off with Luca. Fiona admits she has no idea why. Chris asks if the police will arrest him if he’s caught. Fiona assures him that won’t happen. Chris reminds her of what she says about Marco being a “spoiled brat.” She claims Lolo and Lola give him whatever he wants. He warns Luca won’t be seen again if he gets his way this time since they can’t travel to the Philippines when Thony arrives home. Fiona asks if she understands how much trouble Marco’s in with the police involved. Thony says he did it to himself when Arman calls to demand she answer Nadia’s calls. He informs her that $2 million is needed to bribe a judge for his release. She says Marco kidnapped Luca. He asks where he is at. She warns that he could be anywhere since he left the airport.

Arman asks Garret why he came to visit him since he copped out of their deal. Garret accuses him of doing the same. Arman reminds him of Hayak being handed over to the FBI. Garret asks what happened to the money from the gun deal. Arman denies any knowledge of its whereabouts before knocking on the door. When both men leave the room, Moore rushes in to retrieve a device. He tells Hayak that Arman ratted him out to the FEDs.

Thony counts the money when Fiona approaches. She informs her that Nadia needs $2 million to get Arman out of prison. Fiona reminds her of their plan to build a free clinic. Thony assures her that they have enough money for a clinic but Arman needs to be released first. Fiona asks if there is a reason why they need Arman. Thony questions what she’s referring to. Fiona says Marco kidnapped Luca because he believed something was going on between her and Arman. When Thony answers the phone, Marco scolds her for bringing the cops to the airport. She reminds him that he took Luca. When he suggests they talk like a married couple, she asks to speak with her son. He promises to call her later.

Hayak offers Arman some 20-year single malt. Arman questions how he got it. Hayak says with so many friends having his back, he knows who he can and can’t trust before he whistles. Two guards escort him to General Population, where an inmate says, “Fresh meat.”

Garret visits La Habana to see Nadia. He says rumors claim she visited Arman in prison. She asks what he wants. He suggests she give up the location of the money. She denies having any connection to Hayak’s illegal gun operation. He asks what will happen to Arman when Hayak discovers who worked with the FEDs to get him locked up. While leaving the club, he receives a call from Hayak.

Fiona and Thony work on withdrawing the crypto for Nadia. Thony warns her that they have eight minutes to get it done. Fiona changes clothes and wings before entering the Cash Fast Express multiple times.

Hayak tells Garret that he’s interested in getting his sentence reduced. Garret suggests the judge might be lenient if he can lead them to the money from the gun deal. Hayak promises to provide the location when he gets a reduced sentence in writing.

Russo questions whether Hayak would agree to give up his crypto wallet to the FBI. Garret suggests it has something to do with the fear of a 20-year prison sentence. An agent informs them that withdrawals are taking place every five minutes. He asks if the withdrawals are recorded in real-time. Russo says Hayak got the FBI involved after discovering someone was stealing his money. He asks if it’s possible to abort the transactions. The agent acknowledges they can freeze the wallet. He warns that freezing the account would play into Hayak’s hands. Russo says otherwise, they risk the judge being bribed. The agent put a freeze on the account.

Thony warns Fiona that someone may have put a freeze on the account. Fiona rushes back to the van.

Arman is mopping up when two inmates jump him. He’s severely injured while stopping the inmates.

Thony tells Fiona that she needs to let Nadia know about the crypto wallet when Marco calls. He warns her that she’ll never see Luca again if the police get involved. Fiona and Chris demand to go with her.

Marco claims Luca is excited to return to Lola and Lolo because she’s coming with them. She reminds him that his visa got rejected. He says Luca is healthier now. She assures him that Luca is happy with Chris. He accuses her of wanting to stay in the US for the “gangster.” Fiona warns Chris that someone will call the police on them. Chris asks why she’s defending Marco after what he did to their family. Thony says she’s sorry that their marriage is over. When Chris tries to get into the motel room, Marco tries to hold him back. Chris shoves him down the steps. Thony informs them that he’s dead. Chris asks if he killed him. Fiona assures him it was an accident. Thony orders her to take Chris home while she stays behind to clean up.

Thony wipes down the banisters before emptying his wallet and taking his wedding ring. She tells Jon Price (Mac Brandt) in the Office that she discovered an injured man on the steps. Jon asks if the man is breathing. She says he isn’t breathing. After reminding her that she found him, he gives her the phone receiver. She informs him that she’s undocumented. He agrees to make the call.

Thony watches as several police cruisers en route to the hotel. Garret informs her that Luca is all right but it’s not good.

When Thony arrives at the scene, Garret informs her that she needs to identify Marco. She demands to see Luca before approaching the body. After a police officer pulls back the sheet, she nods. Garret escorts Luca down the steps while Jon watches while talking to an officer.

Prison officials escort an injured Arman out on a stretcher.

Chris and Fiona watch as Thony puts Luca in his bed. Thony warns Chris that they can never tell anyone the truth because they wouldn’t believe them. Fiona tells them that she’ll take the blame. Chris says no. Thony promises to take care of them.

Jon watches the security footage that shows Chris shoves Marco down the steps as the episode comes to an end.

 

 

The Cleaning Lady Review

The intro started off with minimal changes since the finale. Hayak was working with his attorney to get Arman released from prison. Arman informs Thony that Nadia needs $2 million to cover a bridge for his release. A guard utilized a device to record Arman saying he handed Hayak over to the FBI. After Hayak finds out, he sends him to General Population. Thony and Fiona are in the process of withdrawing the $2 million from the crypto wallet when Garret orders a freeze.

Thony meets Marco to convince him to let Luca go. Marco has his mind set that they will return to the Philippines as a family. When Chris and Marco get into a scuffle, he shoves him down a flight of stairs. Thony checks his pulse to discover he’s dead. Chris and Fiona go home while she stays behind to take care of Marco. Jon in the motel Office contacts the police per her request while she waits nearby. Garret calls to inform her of what happened. She arrives at the hotel to identify Marco’s body and retrieve her son.

Arman is jumped by two inmates. During the attack, the inmates appear to be killed while Arman’s severely injured. He is later seen on a gurney. Thony warns Chris that what happened at the hotel must stay between them. Fiona agrees to accept the blame if anything happens.

Jon from the hotel views the surveillance footage that shows Chris pushes Marco down the steps.

It’s obvious what Jon plans to do with the surveillance footage. Remember, Thony told him that she was undocumented. This will probably not end well for anyone involved. While Arman will most likely survive his injuries, it’s questionable if he’ll be released. There was no mention of how much money was withdrawn from the crypto wallet before the FBI put a freeze on it.

My biggest gripe is the soundtrack, which doesn’t fit the story. Is it just me or is the makeup off? The actors look like they’ve aged drastically since the finale in March 2022.

The acting is not great, but tolerable. With Marco out of the picture, Thony’s not footloose and fancy-free yet. Marco may be a pussy cat compared to Jon.

The episode deserves a 6.5. Get more The Cleaning Lady recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.