Episode 4 of "Prison Cell 211" resumes precisely where the previous episode left off. The Mostros' daring bid for freedom from North Division's iron grip crumbles, and Calancho's men reclaim them as hostages. Gandara's patience is wearing thin, yet the Colonel reassures him that Juan will procure Baldor, leveraging Juan's wife under their watchful eyes beyond the prison walls.
Estelle and the hostages are liberated, yet she elects to remain, choosing to lend a hand to her fellow guards rather than flee. Catching sight of Juan's pregnant wife outside, she inquires about him, prompting the Colonel to weave a tale of Juan's voluntary sacrifice, stating he chose to remain their inside man, their eyes and ears. Estelle, however, finds it hard to swallow that Juan would willingly abandon his loved ones.
Meanwhile, Juan discovers that Baldor is incarcerated in Cell 211 and rushes to the pinhole to impart this crucial information to the Colonel. But blind to the cell's whereabouts, the Colonel insists Juan locate it first before securing his release. Juan's anxiety mounts, his thoughts consumed by his expectant wife awaiting him beyond the prison bars.
Desperate measures call for desperate acts. Juan seeks to ingratiate himself with Calancho, uncovering a shared hometown background that binds them together like brothers divided by mere train tracks. He emphasizes their common plight, surviving amidst adversity, solidifying their bond—or so he hopes. As if their neighboring birthplaces weren't enough, the timely arrival of requested food—meat, tortillas, and drinks—transforms the protest into an unexpected fiesta.
Elsewhere, North Division's cartel boss, Jose Luis, reaches out to Calancho with a deal. But Calancho is unmoved by the monetary offer, his heart hardened by twenty years of incarceration left behind by Jose. Anticipating rejection, Jose implements Plan B, dispatching his men to abduct Calancho's sister.
Outside the prison walls, chaos reigns, leaving Estelle deeply concerned. The Colonel shoots down her plea to inform the families of the unfolding drama inside, tasking her instead with managing the crowd and media frenzy. Increasingly frustrated with Gandara's inertia, the Colonel takes matters into his own hands, calling the governor for reinforcements. Unbeknownst to them, the DEA eavesdrops on their conversation, plotting their next move.
Juan's words, resonating with the idea of equality for all, left a profound impact on Calancho. He commanded his men to share their provisions not only with the hostages but also with members of the Mostros gang. However, the brief merriment within the confines was swiftly shattered when Jose's men dispatched a grim warning to Calancho—they sent his little sister back in a zippered body bag, fueling his rage to unprecedented heights.
In response to the escalating violence, the governor deployed police forces to Ciudad Juarez and enforced a curfew. The authorities employed force to disperse the protestors gathered outside Cereso 30, but this only provided Jose's men with an opportunity to plunge the region into deeper chaos. Within the prison walls, Calancho abandoned any pretense of caution. He rallied his men in cell 211, where they pinned down Baldor, their target for revenge fully in their sights. Calancho raised his blade, nearly severing Baldor's hand, but Juan intervened, realizing that the path to freedom was fraught with dire consequences.
Juan's interference enraged Calancho, who retaliated by forcing Juan to carry out the deed himself. The inmates egged Juan on, their taunts echoing incessantly in his mind. Meanwhile, the turmoil outside had spun into a full-fledged riot, with clashes between the police and the protesting family members intensifying. Caught in the fray, Juan's pregnant wife, still among the protesters, suffered a violent blow to her head as she was jostled against the prison gates, collapsing unconscious to the ground.
