Cleaning Up Season 1 Episode 2 Cleaning Up Ep. 2
- January 16, 2019
- 46 min
-
(84)
Cleaning Up is a British television drama series, focusing on the life of a working-class woman named Sam (played by Sheridan Smith), who is a single mother struggling to make ends meet. In episode 2, Sam continues to juggle her job as a cleaner at a London financial firm with her gambling addiction and attempts to pay off her debts.
The episode begins with Sam desperately trying to find a way to pay back her bookie, Gerry (Peter Guinness), who is constantly pressuring her to give him the money she owes him. Sam has already sold her possessions and borrowed from friends, but she is still short. In a moment of desperation, she steals a client's details from the financial firm she cleans for, hoping to use the information to make quick money through insider trading.
Meanwhile, Sam's colleague, Jess (Jade Anouka), is also dealing with problems of her own. She has been promoted to supervisor and is struggling to adjust to the new role. Jess is also having an affair with the firm's married CFO, which Sam discovers and uses as leverage to get Jess to help her with her insider trading scheme.
As the two women carry out their plan, Sam's home life continues to be strained. She is avoiding her children's school because of the unpaid fees and feels guilty for not being there for them. Sam's ex-husband is also demanding more money from her for his new family, adding to her financial burden.
As the episode progresses, the consequences of Sam's actions catch up with her. Her colleagues become suspicious of her behavior and she is called into a meeting with the firm's head of security. Sam must navigate the situation, while also struggling with her own guilt and the realization that her actions have put her job and reputation in jeopardy.
Ultimately, Cleaning Up explores the struggles of a single mother trying to make ends meet in a world that is stacked against her. The show offers a nuanced portrayal of addiction, poverty, and the lengths that people will go to in order to survive. It is a gripping drama with complex characters and a compelling storyline that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.