Ep 10. Night Shift

In Room 104 season 3 episode 10, titled "Night Shift," the audience is taken on a journey through the workday of a hotel housekeeper named Tanya. From cleaning up vomit stains to uncovering hidden drug stashes, Tanya's night shift is far from boring, and the audience gets a peek into the often overlooked world of hotel service workers.

The episode begins with Tanya cleaning one of the dingy motel rooms located in Room 104. It's clear that Tanya is no stranger to the horrors hidden in hotel rooms, as she cleans up stains and debris with a practiced ease. As Tanya goes about her work, she begins to notice strange things about the motel guests: the man in room 104 is hiding something, the couple in room 107 clearly hasn't left their room in days, and the guests in room 105 leave nearly every light on all night.

As the night wears on and Tanya continues her cleaning, the audience is given more and more insight into her past. We learn that she's a former addict, now sober and trying to make ends meet as a single mother. Her daughter called her earlier in the night, upset that her father hadn't shown up to pick her up. Tanya reassures her daughter that she'll be home soon and continues on with her work.

As Tanya cleans room after room, she begins to notice strange occurrences happening in each one. The man in room 104 seems to be hiding a woman inside, but whenever Tanya asks him about it, he becomes evasive. The couple in room 107 is clearly going through some sort of crisis, as they argue loudly and the man breaks down in tears. And the guests in room 105 continue to leave all their lights on, even after Tanya turns them off multiple times.

The night takes a turn when Tanya discovers drugs hidden inside one of the rooms. She debates whether or not to turn them in to the front desk, ultimately deciding to flush them down the toilet instead. It's clear that Tanya's past struggles with addiction are affecting her decision-making in this moment.

As Tanya's shift comes to a close and she finally heads home, she's confronted by the man from room 104. He reveals that the woman he was hiding inside his room was his daughter, who is dying of cancer and refusing treatment. He apologizes for being evasive with Tanya and gives her a generous tip. Tanya is moved by his story and glad to have made a connection with someone she had previously judged.

Overall, "Night Shift" is a brilliant character study of a hardworking woman simply trying to make ends meet. The episode sheds light on the often overlooked world of hotel service workers and the struggles they face on a daily basis. As Tanya goes about her work, she's forced to confront her own past and ultimately makes choices that reflect the person she wants to be moving forward. The episode is emotionally powerful and a prime example of what Room 104 does best - telling human stories in a unique and creative way.