The episode kicks off in Assistant District Attorney Joe Herman's (played by Robert Cicchini) office, where Thony De La Rosa (portrayed by Elodie Yung) and Jorge Sanchez (Santiago Cabrera) present their contrasting accounts of recent events. Thony insists that Jorge stepped in to rescue her when Ramona Sanchez (Kate Del Castillo) posed a lethal threat. Herman speculates that their marriage might be under strain, but they reassuringly affirm that all is well. Jorge further elaborates on his commitment to self-care.
Flashing back, we witness Jorge brutally beating a cartel member (Ricky Robles Cruz) who refuses to divulge the Cowboy’s (Brian Norris) whereabouts, hurling him through a pane of glass. Returning to the present, Herman inquiries about Thony's recovery from being shot. She calmly narrates that she's been recuperating at home, indulging in family time with Luca (Khalen Roman Sanchez) and Violeta Sanchez. In another flashback, Thony arrives to attend to the injured cartel member Jorge had assaulted.
Back in Herman's office, the DA accuses Jorge of living a dual life, to which he remains silent, and they depart abruptly. Elsewhere, cartel enforcers escort individuals into a restroom where they expel bags of narcotics. Maria (Dani Oliveros) hands these drugs over to a cartel associate.
Meanwhile, Thony expresses her fear that her husband's quest for revenge could lead to his demise. Fiona (Martha Millan) teasingly inquires whether Thony and Jorge have consummated their marriage, prompting Thony to scoff and defend Jorge's honor. Fiona playfully teases Thony about her feelings for Jorge before reminding her of an upcoming meeting with a home lender, prompting Thony to ask her to pick up Luca and Violeta.
Elsewhere, a cartel enforcer (Edwin Garcia II) offers Maria an envelope and triples her pay for a local errand. Reluctantly, she agrees. He leads her into a room prepared for a procedure. Terrified, Maria attempts to resist, but the enforcer subdues her while another man places a nitrous oxide mask over her face. In a drug-induced haze, she hallucinates the Cowboy entering and wonders if she's a mere cleaning lady before another mask is clamped over her face.
At Desert Coliseum, Feng (Alain Uy) speculates that the Cowboy has gone underground. Jorge questions Feng's loyalty, reminding him that Ramona recruited him from Hong Kong. Feng assures Jorge of his allegiance to the victorious side, prompting Jorge to recall Feng's earlier deceit about his hacking abilities. El Don (Danny Pardo) suggests tapping into local escort services, an idea Feng finds appealing. Jorge ponders whether he deserves revenge for these betrayals. El Don urges Jorge to concentrate on his impending meeting with Samuel Heller (John Pyper-Ferguson), warning of dire consequences if they fail to reach an accord. With this in mind, Jorge rushes off to The Crescent Lounge, the Cowboy’s favorite haunt.
Samentha, alias Janelle Baptiste, raked in an impressive $2,000 from her ridesharing endeavors in just one week. Fiona, her cutthroat associate, took her fair share of 20% without hesitation. Benny, known as Chau Long, grumbled about not receiving his own fair compensation, but Samentha reminded him of the decent wage he earned and the roof over his head. Juana, alias Juanita Trad, approached Fiona with a request to hire her undocumented sister, Alma. Fiona, mindful of the clandestine nature of her business, emphasized the need for secrecy and handed Juana some cash for Alma, conditional on obtaining a genuine driver's license. Benny egged Fiona on to expand her operations and emulate Robin Hood's philanthropy, but she stood firm in her belief that small-scale operations were safer.
In the hallowed halls of West Valley Community Hospital, a clash of opinions ensued between Thony and Dr. DuPont, alias Daniel Bonjour, over the treatment of a dislocated shoulder. Dr. DuPont, insistent on immediate intervention, snapped the shoulder back into place, earning a piercing scream from the tightrope walker patient. In a private moment, Thony attempted to apologize for an earlier incident where an ill Maria was abandoned outside the hospital by a van. Together, DuPont and Thony escorted Maria to a bed and revealed a grotesque surgical wound beneath her shirt. Later, DuPont marveled at Maria's survival, while Thony advocated for the administration of a broad-spectrum antibiotic. DuPont, assertive, insisted that treatment decisions were his prerogative. Thony countered by urging thorough testing to ascertain if Maria had been a victim of the illicit organ trade. Her suspicions were confirmed by a pager message from the cartel, accompanied by coordinates. Before departing, she insisted that DuPont initiate cephalexin treatment.
Fiona's mortgage loan approval came with an unpleasant surprise. As she scrutinized the documents, she discovered an alarmingly higher interest rate than previously agreed upon. The lender rationalized the hike, citing the heightened risk associated with undocumented mortgages and demanding a doubled down payment. Fiona, incensed, rejected his explanation and thanked him sarcastically. She then informed Juana that Alma could begin driving for her rideshare fleet once she secured a legitimate driver's license.
Outside The Crescent Lounge, Thony slipped into the passenger seat of Jorge's car, her demeanor reflecting fatigue. Jorge, groggily, requested something to stave off drowsiness. Thony quipped if that was the sole reason for summoning her. Jorge confessed that The Crescent Lounge was Cowboy's favorite haunt, hinting at a looming confrontation. Thony warned that their lives remained in peril until Cowboy was neutralized. Jorge reminded her of his familial obligations, prompting Thony to ponder spending more time at the compound. He entrusted her with his car while he caught some shut-eye, handing her a bottle of pills before drifting off.
Back at the hospital, Thony examined Maria's wound with greater scrutiny. Maria, recognizing Thony's accent, revealed that she and her husband were saving money to bring their son from Manila. She balanced part-time school and cleaning jobs at casinos to make ends meet. When Thony inquired about the surgical wound, Maria confessed to her past as a drug mule for Sin Cara, sharing insights that Cowboy had imparted.
Outside The Crescent Lounge, El Don implored Jorge with urgency, urging him to concentrate solely on his impending meeting with Heller. Jorge solemnly vowed that the conflict would conclude once Cowboy was no more. Confessing his own tormented past, El Don admitted how his relentless pursuit of vengeance for his son's brutal murder had ultimately shattered his marriage. Jorge, in turn, revealed that his union with Thony was merely a strategic alliance to shield them both from the clutches of prison.
Suddenly, Feng broke into their conversation with startling news: Cowboy had made contact with Mrs. Jones, the notorious bomb maker, just the previous day. Meanwhile, inside the hospital, Thony stood with Maria in the x-ray room as the radiology technician, Josh Horton, revealed a chilling discovery – an unknown device embedded within her abdomen, suspected to be a bomb. The room erupted into chaos as a Code Black was declared. Melissa, her voice trembling with urgency, relayed the dire situation to Jorge, who frantically inquired about Thony's wellbeing. He issued a stern warning, threatening dire consequences if his finances were jeopardized by the hospital's plight, and ordered her to transport Thony to a secure location immediately. El Don opted to remain behind, keeping a vigilant watch for Cowboy's return.
Jorge raced towards the hospital, his mind racing with worry. In the x-ray room, Maria's panic was palpable as she demanded answers. Thony, ever calm, soothed her frayed nerves while examining her wound, which had mysteriously worsened. With tears in her eyes, she pleaded with DuPont to abandon her and save himself, insisting that she stay to attend to Maria's critical injury. DuPont, calm under pressure, prescribed IV ceftriaxone and metronidazole as potential treatments.
As Jorge sped towards the hospital, his phone calls to Thony went unanswered. Elsewhere, a line of anxious undocumented immigrants waited patiently for Fiona to document their information, while Benny rambled incoherently about the Matrix. Juana and her sister, Alma, arrived amidst the bustling atmosphere, only to be met with Samentha's grim news about the bomb threat.
Back at the hospital, Commander Coleman's voice cut through the tension, ordering DuPont and Thony to evacuate the premises. Thony, determined, insisted that there was only one way to access and defuse the bomb. Coleman, unmoved, informed them that a specialist was en route. Maria's pleas for Thony not to leave her went unanswered as armed tactical officers physically escorted them from the room. Thony, guilt-ridden, blamed herself for the situation, while DuPont reassured her that she had done all she could. He pressed her for information about the pager, promising his assistance in return. With the specialist estimated to arrive in 90 minutes, the pressure mounted. Coleman, recognizing Thony's expertise as a cardiothoracic surgeon, reluctantly agreed to allow her to perform the surgery. As DuPont squeezed Thony's hand, offering her his heartfelt wishes for luck, the stage was set for a high-stakes battle against time and terror.
Upon reaching the hospital, Jorge hastily sought out Melissa, anxiety etched on his face as he inquired about Thony's whereabouts. Stress-laden, she revealed a harrowing tale—a patient with a bomb embedded within their flesh. Informed of the impending operation, Thony tasked Fiona with the care of Luca, but her demand for a family dinner at home fell on deaf ears. Coleman insisted that Thony don a bomb disposal suit, yet she steadfastly refused. Jorge's arrival interrupted the tense standoff, insisting on a word with her.
Thony recounted the grim tale, explaining how Ramona’s hitman had implanted the bomb in a woman's body with lethal intentions. He urged her to flee, but her resolve remained unshaken. Jorge started to speak, yet his words caught in his throat, unspoken. Meanwhile, Maria, desiring a moment of joy for her son, proposed a visit to a magic show. As the anesthesia took hold, Maria drifted into a peaceful slumber.
With deft hands, Thony opened Maria's chest, employing a scope to project the deadly device onto a screen. Coleman scrutinized the bomb, noting its heated state and the absence of a pressure sensor. Maria's blood pressure plummeted, prompting Thony to massage her heart with determined hands, steadfastly refusing to let her fade away.
Elsewhere, Heller perched on a log, his eyes glued to his wristwatch. Outside The Crescent Lounge, El Don contacted Jorge, relaying Cowboy's failure to arrive and suggesting a partnership in the mine's profits, with Heller as his counterpart. Jorge, uninterested in the cursed wealth, dismissively granted him the mine and its accompanying woes before terminating the call.
Back at the hospital, Thony's relentless massage of Maria's heart urged Coleman to act swiftly. With steady hands, Coleman severed a wire, and the bomb was rendered inert. Thony carefully placed the disarmed device into a containment vessel. Soon after, DuPont and Thony resumed Maria's surgery, during which she confessed to her true identity as a cartel doctor and her sham marriage.
In a parallel narrative, Jorge was en route to meet Heller when Feng's call interrupted his journey, revealing Cowboy's rendezvous with two escorts at the Twilight Motor Lodge. Jorge's eyes narrowed as he spotted Heller, but his thoughts were elsewhere as he rushed back to his car. At the lodge, Cowboy watched two escorts engage in a passionate embrace until Jorge stormed in, commanding the women to leave. Half-dressed, Cowboy recounted Vanessa's survival of the crash and her desperate crawl across the pavement, culminating in Ramona's brutal murder of the helpless woman. The conversation degenerated into violence as Cowboy struck Jorge and attempted to choke him. Jorge, fighting for breath, recalled Vanessa's cries for help as he retaliated, strangling Cowboy until his lifeless eyes stared back at him.
Meanwhile, Heller, impervious to the chaos unfolding, checked his watch once more and departed into the night.
Thony's hands shake violently as she stitches the wound closed, her nerves evident in every trembling motion. DuPont, sensing her distress, reaches out and firmly steadies her hand, providing the much-needed calm. Emerging later from the operating room, Thony collapses onto the floor, her sobs echoing the depths of her emotional turmoil.
Meanwhile, at the Twilight Motor Lodge, Jorge issues a cold command to El Don: bury Cowboy and incinerate every trace of the incident. El Don, wise to the ways of the underworld, warns that Cowboy's demise will not pass unnoticed. Jorge, undeterred, requests a phone. as an act of selfishness. Frustrated, Jorge vows that the inmates will tear Ramona to shreds before he departs.
Elsewhere, Thony updates Fiona on the surgery, her voice tinged with exhaustion. Fiona, tears streaming down her face, insists that Thony swear never to put herself in such peril again. Thony, grateful for the concern, thanks her. Fiona offers to let Luca speak to her, but Thony gently declines, saying they will have dinner together soon.
Shortly after, Thony retreats to the shower, seeking solace in the cascading water. Jorge arrives in search of her, his presence filling the space with tension. DuPont, lying to protect Thony, claims she has left, declining to elaborate on her emotional state. Jorge inquires if she has returned home, and DuPont, subtly probing, asks if that is where she should be. Jorge takes a step towards him, surveys the surroundings, and then exits, leaving an air of unease in his wake.
DuPont offers Thony a comforting drink, acknowledging his bravery in misleading Jorge. He asks if she is alright, and she responds with uncertainty. He credits her with saving Maria's life, calling her incredible. As an unknown number flashes on her phone, she wonders aloud if DuPont sees her as dangerous. He admits he does, but for reasons far removed from what she might fear. They both confess to having abandoned the pursuit of happiness.
In a voicemail, Jorge confesses to Thony that killing Cowboy was a mistake, his voice heavy with regret. Thony turns to DuPont, asking if she frightens him. He nods, but clarifies that it is not in the way she might think. They both share a mutual understanding of lost dreams and dashed hopes.
Jorge's voicemail continues, revealing his rationale: he had to stop Cowboy from killing her. The interruption of a new voicemail alert pulls Thony's attention away from DuPont's comforting presence. As passion ignites between them, Thony and DuPont share a tender kiss, their connection deepening despite the turmoil surrounding them. Jorge, meanwhile, expresses his desire for a genuine marriage with Thony, unaware of the emotional entanglements she has formed.
In the throes of desire, Thony and DuPont make love, their bodies a sanctuary from the chaos outside. Yet, the persistent beep of another voicemail alert pulls Thony back to the present, reminding her of the unresolved dangers and complexities of her life.
