Episode 5 of "Prison Cell 211" unfolds dramatically as Helena collapses in a heap just beyond the prison gates, while Juan stands distraught, his hands still trembling from the grim task of severing Baldor's wrist. Calancho, desperate to stem the tide of disaster, pleads with the doctor to ensure Baldor's survival, knowing full well that his demise would seal their fate. Helena's waters break abruptly, and a cluster of women rush to her aid, their faces etched with concern.
The governor finds herself in an unenviable meeting with the DEA. They propose to assist her in navigating the chaos wrought by the riot police, but only on the condition that she grants them access to the prison to apprehend Baldor.
Simultaneously, Calancho turns to Gandara for help, Baldor's life ebbing away and their meager medical supplies proving inadequate. Gandara delegates Estelle to oversee Baldor's medical needs, who in turn contacts an old associate from the governor's security detail, offering to procure the contact information of a still-loyal guard.
Caught between a rock and a hard place, the governor seeks solace in the company of her ailing grandmother at a secluded hospital. Her grandmother, wise and weathered, reminds her of her innate strength, likening her to a swimmer who thrives against the current.
Elsewhere, Jose's trust in Gandara wanes, prompting him to seize control. His first move? Bombing a state police station, a bold statement of intent.
Estelle guides Calancho and a motley crew of inmates, who hold family members hostage, to an awaiting ambulance. Their mission: to ensure Baldor receives life-saving care without alerting the authorities to his whereabouts. Juan, amidst this fraught convoy, catches snippets of desperate cries for help from women outside—Helena in dire need of medical attention. His fragile state shatters further at the sight of his wife.
Calancho and his men struggle to wheel Baldor back into the prison's confines, accompanied by the anxious doctors. Juan, in a fit of emotional turmoil, is restrained by Calancho's men as he shouts for his wife. The medics' pleas for more assistance grow more urgent—Baldor's life hangs by a thread. In a bid to save him, Calancho tasks Estelle with procuring a surgeon.
Juan assumes command, seizing Estelle's walkie-talkie to hail Ramirez, his voice thick with worry as he inquiries about Helena's condition. The tension mounts, each beat of Juan's heart echoing the ticking clock that is Baldor's fading life.
Ramirez fabricates a tale, asserting that Helena is well, when in reality, she has succumbed to her injuries. Her life ebbed away before the ambulance had even departed for the hospital, consumed by the vast loss of blood and amniotic fluid. Ordering his men to conceal her demise from the authorities, Ramirez orchestrates a charade, making it appear as though Helena perished amidst the chaotic riot stampede.
Elsewhere, Ramirez and Gandara devise a plan to exploit the impending arrival of the surgeon to rescue Baldor. Gandara issues a hit on Calancho. Concurrently, the governor sees an opportunity to seize the glory for Baldor's rescue and his extradition, aligning herself with the DEA's extraction team for this purpose.
Inside the prison walls, Ramirez hastily guides his team towards the prearranged meeting point with Estelle, with the aim of securing Baldor. However, Calancho and Juan, foreseeing their every move, are already in position. They seize Ramirez as their hostage and eliminate the rest of his team without mercy.
By this point, Calancho and the other inmates are aware of Juan's legal profession, yet they heed his words and obey his commands. With Ramirez in their custody, Calancho grants Juan the authority to confront him. Juan inquiries about his wife, prompting Ramirez to speak the truth, albeit laced with insults. He scorns Juan, claiming that Helena's death was a result of her own foolishness, despite constant pleas for her to leave. Enraged, Juan's demeanor undergoes a dramatic transformation, and he plunges a knife into Ramirez without the slightest hesitation.
As the episode draws to a close, the surgical team arrives, fully equipped with medical instruments, poised to save the amputee, Baldor.
