The company running the prison introduces some new work which pays considerably more than the other jobs.
Caputo has a chats with Pearson, the administrator from the prison company. Caputo wants to talk to the higher ups but Pearson is a bit evasive.
Marisol "Flaca" Gonzales gets the backstory spotlight. She also wants to apply for the new job and gets in an argument with some of her coworkers in the kitchen about it. They think that she's acting like she's too good for the kitchen.
Flaca was a high school student, before she went to prison. She had a boyfriend who was selling drugs. She wanted to get involved. She didn't want to end up like her mother, sewing clothes at home for other people. Ian, her boyfriend, kept her out of the business so she branched out on her own. She sold fake drugs, flavored pieces of paper.
Somebody (or something) messes with Washington's stash of hooch. She's convinced that it is another prisoner until she sees a squirrel in a tree that looks stoned. Taylor suggests a remedy involving urine and cayenne pepper to scare off animals. Washington takes the suggestion seriously.
Dayanara gets two visitors. Cesar is the first one. He has looked into Bennett and can't find anything. The man has vanished. Dayanara is convinced that it is something she did or said. Cesar tells her that it isn't her fault and promises to kill Bennett when he finds him. The second visitor is Delia Powell, Mendez' mother. Dayanara now wants Delia to take her child once it is born. Delia tries to have a conversation with Dayanara but she doesn't want to talk other than to get Delia to commit to taking the baby.
Vause spots a new woman in the prison but she isn't wearing orange so she must not be new. Vause is convinced that the new woman is an assassin sent to kill her. Chapman thinks she's crazy and makes fun of Vause by suggesting that maybe she, Chapman, is the assassin. Vause gets even more unnerved by Chapman's teasing.
Red cozies up to Healy. She makes some changes to her appearance. She sweet talks him. She wants the kitchen back but he says he can't help her.
Gloria gets fed up with Romano practicing Santeria. She takes away all the charms she gave her. She threatens Romano that if she practices anymore Santeria she will come after her. Soso subsequently approaches Ramano for help. Romano, as usual, doesn't say anything and Soso does all the talking. Soso walks away feeling better about herself.
Flaca's high school business resulted in tragedy when one of the boys who took the fake drugs she sold dove off the roof of the high school. The police found out that she was the one who sold him the fake drugs and arrested her.
All the prisoners who want the new jobs are given a test. They still don't know exactly what the jobs are, just that they pay more money. The questions on the test don't give them any idea of what the work is going to be. Selections are made from list of prisoners that took the test but as Caputo learns they just randomly selected prisoners who took the test and didn't even grade the tests. Chapman, Flaca, DeMarco, Black Cindy, Watson are all among those selected for the new work which turns out to be sewing women's underwear.
Thoughts
I was shocked by the lengths that Red went to get the kitchen back. It didn't occur to me that she wanted something other than Healy's attention. Silly me. It all makes sense now but I was shocked because I thought what she wanted was Healy.
I am so glad that Flaca finally got the backstory spotlight. I really liked how they handled it. I don't know if it was the best backstory spotlight ever but it was good enough for me. I especially liked how her mother's work tied into the job that Flaca will now be doing in prison and the expression on her face as she absorbed that information.
I can't get over how different Morello looks without her makeup. I'm starting to get used to the look I wonder how else the change will manifest itself in her.
Characters who did not show up in this episode: Aleida Diaz, Doggett, Bennett, Nichols.
There is a lot of good humor in this episode. I loved the scene where the test was being administered in the cafeteria. There were some classic moments. Suzanne had the best one. I laughed out loud at it.
I really liked this episode. It feels like the show is returning to its old form for me. I'm eager to see how the company that is now overseeing the prison affects things further. I'm on board at this point for at least a few more if not until the end of the season.
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