El Reloj – As the episode opens, Thony (Elodie Yung) takes pictures of Luca (Sebastien LaSalle, Valentino LaSalle) on his first day of school. Jaz (Faith Bryant) bangs on the bathroom door for Chris (Sean Lew) to get out. Luca complains about how they are making a big deal of his starting school. Thony reminds him of how they never thought he would go to school with other children. He admits to only wanting to be a regular kid. Chris tells her that Luca is right, she is taking it too far. She stresses the need for his immune system to get stronger. Fiona (Martha Millan) assures her that the doctor would have never approved him going to school if there were risks. Luca is up to his knees in sewer water.

Ramona Sanchez (Kate Del Castillo) and Jorge Sanchez (Santiago Cabrera) play an audio recording of Armando Morales (Adan Canto) saying, “Clock, don’t count the hours because I’m going crazy.” Dante (Clayton Cardenas) tells them that it is proof Armando is still alive. In a flashback, Ramona gifts young Armando (Adan James Carrillo) a remote control model like her own Cadillac. He confesses to love her as they embrace. Young Jorge (Leyson Andreck) returns as Armando holds up the key to Ramona’s Cadillac. Eduardo Morales (Jason Manuel Olazabal) arrives while they are playing with the RC cars. He refuses to accept gifts bought with dirty money and tosses the RC Cadillac in the fire pit. She warns him against forcing his ideas on Armando. He demands she be gone by tomorrow morning. Back to the present, Ramona orders Dante to bring her Nadia Morales (Eva De Dominici) because she is going to bring Armando home.

At school, Luca meets his teacher, Mrs. Rodell. He gives Thony his turtle before walking away with Rodell. Jorge assures her that it gets easier. She voices concern about CPS finding out that they are talking. He claims to have asked a friend to see if he can get Luca removed from the system. He hands her the paperwork. She asks what is in it for him. He claims Ramona wants Armando to manage the smuggling operation but he wants him out. He asks how she feels about Armando but she refuses to answer. He plays Armando’s audio recording that is from the song, “El Reloj.” She suggests he is drugged. As he walks away, she turns to see Ramona’s guy watching her from a nearby vehicle.

Ramona shows Nadia Morales (Eva De Dominici) where she and Armando will stay after they bring him home. She has a horse brought in to help them heal. Nadia asks what she wants in return. Ramona tells her that she would like Armando to join her cartel because she can trust him. Fiona is surprised when Jeremy Dolan (Brandon Jay McLaren) arrives to work on her toilet. Jorge complains about Ramona’s plan for Armando and Nadia to stay with them. Nadia thanks Ramona but stresses the need for them to live somewhere without distractions. Ramona warns that whoever took Armando may try to come after him again. Nadia demands to talk to the kidnappers and be present during the exchange. Jorge warns against it but she insists. Ramona says Nadia will be responsible for what happens.

Thony informs Fiona that Armando may be coming home today. Fiona urges her to think about a relationship with Armando because she deserves to be loved. Dante’s arrest report shows he was found with 16 vials of Devil’s Breath in his possession. Looking at the images, Thony says the writing is the same as the vial that she found. She believes Dante took Armando and wants to visit the address on the arrest report. Fiona suggests telling Jorge but Thony says he may be part of it. Grabbing an antitoxin, they prepare to leave when Jeremy announces the toilet is fixed. They convince him to give them a ride to Dante’s place.

Ramona gets Armando’s car out of impound. Nadia claims Armando said it was the car of his childhood. Jorge tells her that Ramona gave Armando a model Cadillac. Ramona says Eduardo destroyed it. Jorge gives Nadia a cellphone that the kidnappers will contact her on.

Jeremy drops Fiona and Thony off at the address listed on Dante’s arrest report and agrees to pick them up later. Inside the apartment building, a man tries to solicit them. They approach a woman (Nohelia Sosa) who responds in a foreign language. They find Armando’s jacket filled with bullet holes near where a group of kids are playing basketball. Thony tells them that it belongs to her friend who may be injured. Kyle (Elohim Nycalove) asks them to come with them.

During a phone conversation, Nadia tells the kidnappers that the money will be wired into their account once Armando is safe with her. Dante claims to have a bad feeling about the exchange. Ramona says he is worried because he is not in control. Nadia tells Ramona that the kidnappers have agreed to her terms. They talk about their regrets when she receives a text from the kidnappers.

Kyle leads them into a room where his sick grandfather, Alvin (Myles Cranford) is staying. Thony diagnoses him with BPPV, an inner ear condition. She demonstrates how to manipulate Alvin for Kyle to repeat when necessary. Alvin admits to feeling much better. As Fiona and Thony are preparing to leave, Kyle claims a man threw it in the dumpster. Fearing for his safety. Kyle agrees to show them where the man lives. Thony sees a beaten and battered Armando restrained in a room.

Jorge works on the Cadillac. Ramona denies favoring Armando. He reminds her that she gave Armando her Cadillac, not him. He stresses the need to grow their business and eliminate routes that put it at risk. She says they will discuss it with Armando when he is home.

Fiona and Thony break into an apartment. Fiona waits outside while Thony goes in to look for Armando. She trips on something, breaking several vials of Devil’s Breath. Inhaling the powder, she begins to hallucinate and embraces what she believes is Armando. She vows to never let him go again when Fiona warns that they need to go. Thony says they need to take Armando. Fiona makes her realize that he is not there. Inside Jeremy’s truck, Fiona treats Thony with an antitoxin when they see the men putting something in a vehicle. Jeremy urges them to call the police but Thony calls Nadia who is waiting for the kidnappers. Thony warns her that Dante helped kidnap Armando. Not believing her, Nadia refuses to give up her location. Dante orders her to put the phone away. She texts the location to Thony.

En route to the address, Jeremy catches up with the men from the apartment building. As they pass the vehicle, Thony and Armando see each other. Several unmarked police cruisers block the roadway. Jeremy and the kidnappers veer onto another road to miss them. Dante’s phone rings. The kidnappers shoot at Jeremy’s vehicle. A kidnapper points his gun at Thony. Armando utilizes his restrained arms to knock it down as the vehicle goes over a cliff. Thony looks over the cliff as the police cruisers approach. In a flashback, Thony and Armando are dancing. He says, “Clock, don’t count the hours because I’m going crazy. She’ll leave forever when the morning comes again.” They kiss as the episode ends.

 

The Cleaning Lady Review

Nadia makes a deal with the kidnappers to exchange Armando for $1 million. In the meantime, Thony and Fiona find Armando at a sleazy apartment complex as listed on Dante’s arrest report. Thony is exposed to Devil’s Breath. Fiona administers an antitoxin to offset the side effects. Nadia is at the exchange location when Thony calls to tell her that they found Armando and Dante is involved. Dante orders Nadia to put her phone away. She does but not before texting Thony their location.

En route to the location, Jeremy catches up with the kidnapper’s vehicle. Thony and Armando see each other. Several unmarked police cars set up a roadblock but the kidnappers and Jeremy avoid it. When a kidnapper threatens to shoot Thony, Armando hits the gun. The kidnapper’s vehicle goes over a cliff.

 

It appears as if they tried to sneak in a look-a-like for Arman. The actor is not even close to resembling Adan Canto. It’s a bold move that insults the viewer’s integrity. If closure was so important, why not create a miniseries from flashbacks?

The episode deserves a 4.5 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 classic and new movies and TV shows, sports, and much more.