The opening scene of Episode 1 in Season 1 of "Long Bright River" unfolds with a homeless woman emerging from her makeshift tent, greeted by the first light of dawn. She trudges to the nearest storefront, her destination the humble sanctuary of its public restrooms where she endeavors to cleanse herself of the grime of the streets. Returning to the curb, she hesitantly enters the vehicle of a stranger, her unease escalating instantaneously as he slams the door shut behind her. Her attempts to cry out for assistance are swallowed by the indifference of the passing crowd.
Elsewhere, Mickey, a police officer, cruises to her son's school with the melodies of classical music filling the car. She weaves the tale of Faust into their morning routine, emphasizing the gravity of making the right choices in life. Once her son is safely dispatched to his educational endeavors, Mickey transitions into her professional persona, heading to the precinct. She endeavors to acquaint her new partner with the names and faces of the women forced into prostitution on their beat, yet her efforts meet with disinterest.
Their patrol takes a solemn turn as they witness Nicole being pestered by a harassment. They intervene swiftly, only to be diverted by a report of a deceased individual nearby. Arriving at the scene, Mickey is momentarily paralyzed upon beholding the corpse. Recognition sets in, and shesprings into action. She tasks her partner with gathering witness statements while awaiting reinforcement. The preliminary assessment by fellow officers concludes an overdose as the cause of death, but Mickey's instincts whisper homicide.
Later, Mickey seeks solace from the bustling day, while Eddie strives to forge a connection with her. He opens up about his late-blooming career in law enforcement, following the loss of his construction job at the age of 45. They find common ground in their eclectic career paths that led them to the force. Back at the station, Sergeant Kevin Ahearn rebukes Mickey for her moment of paralysis in the field, urging her to seek therapeutic guidance and perhaps reconnect with her former partner, Truman.
The day concludes with Mickey returning home to prepare a meal for her son, Thomas. Over dinner, they exchange tales of Thomas's day, with his school project on family unexpectedly arising. Though caught slightly off-guard, Mickey assures Thomas she will enlist the help of her father to contribute to his assignment.
The following day, Eddie attempts to broach the subject of Truman with Mickey, only to find her clamping down and adopting a defensive stance. A flashback takes us back to a time when Truman was akin to her guiding light, teaching her the names of the women on the streets and the art of empathy towards them.
As dusk descends, Mickey and Thomas return to their abode, where their neighbor, Mrs. Mahon, informs them of a visitor who had dropped by. Mickey's immediate assumption is that it was her estranged lover, prompting Thomas to inquire if they could reach out to his father for support. The evening passes by unremarkably until Mickey spots a red pickup truck parked outside. It speeds away, perhaps after the driver catches her watching from the window, leaving Mickey unsettled by the encounter.
The subsequent day, Mickey accompanies Thomas to spend time with his grandfather. Their conversation drifts to Mickey's ex, who earns a stern admonition from the grandfather to keep him at arm's length. Mickey is convinced that her ex harbors ulterior motives, given his prolonged absence and the trouble his reappearance portends.
During the next shift, Sergeant Ahearn announces a surge in overdose cases, suspecting a contaminated batch of drugs circulating in the area. Mickey challenges his assertion, questioning whether they are indeed overdoses and proposing an autopsy to ascertain the cause. Ahearn brushes her concerns aside, insisting on the overdose narrative.Mickey persists with her inquiries about the victims, but the police have only managed to identify one out of the three.
Determined to uncover the truth, Mickey heads to the morgue to converse with the medical examiner. As she surveys the deceased women, her mind flashes back to a time when she and Truman discovered Kacey in a store, clutching a one-year-old birthday card and rocking back and forth in a fetal position. Presently, Mickey voices her suspicions to the medical examiner, who reveals a startling truth: the first victim they found did not perish from a natural overdose but was fatally administered an insulin overdose.
Later, Mickey and Eddie ventured into the makeshift street encampments, their mission to inform the homeless community of their impending relocation. However, Mickey seized the moment to grill the boyfriend of one of the affected individuals, skillfully extracting information about the last known sighting of the woman and uncovering a crucial clue. It dawned on her that these women, typically confined to their familiar streets, were last seen in proximity to an airport-adjacent restaurant. This anomaly puzzled Mickey, as it deviated from their usual haunts.
Eddie, noticing Mickey's deviation from their task, confronted her. Yet, Mickey remained unperturbed, continuing to brush him off as she attempted to engage Paula in conversation. It became evident that Mickey was on the hunt for Kacey. A flashback revealed a harrowing tale where Kacey had narrowly escaped death from an overdose, saved by the combined efforts of Paula and Mickey.
Regrettably, Paula shut the door on Mickey's inquiries, leaving Eddie to persist in his harassment. Mickey's patience wore thin, especially when Eddie questioned her intense involvement in the case, suggesting the women didn't warrant such dedication. This only reinforced Mickey's belief that she couldn't entrust him with anything of importance.
After her shift, Mickey observed Simon from a distance, restraining herself from confronting him directly. She retreated to her home, where she grilled Mrs. Mahon further about the enigmatic visitor. Mrs. Mahon disclosed that the man who had paid them a visit didn't arrive in a Mustang but in a red pickup truck. This revelation stirred Mickey, yet she maintained a veneer of calm. Inside the house, Thomas opened up about his father's minor scrape with the law, a fortunate turn out to be a mere misunderstanding.
The following day, Mickey escorts Eddie through the familiar streets of their neighborhood, weaving a tale of sentimental attachment and her earnest desire to safeguard its womenfolk. She recounts her upbringing in these very streets, her voice tinged with nostalgia and determination. With a heartfelt plea, she requests to handle her duties solo, and though reluctantly, Ahearn concedes. As she exits his office, her gaze catches a glimpse of a woman沉浸在泪水之中, her sorrow a palpable presence. It transpires that relatives of one of the deceased have arrived to identify their loved one. The Medical Examiner confirms Mickey's suspicions – the women were indeed murdered. The sterile environment of the morgue brings back haunting memories of Kacey and the day she and Truman apprehended her. Mickey had pleaded with Truman to spare Kacey, and he, moved by her plea, had agreed. In a poignant confession, tears streaming down her face, she reveals to Truman that Kacey is her sister, struggling valiantly against addiction's clutches. Now, with an ache in her heart, Mickey is determined to track down Kacey, who has been missing for far too long, albeit with a shiver of dread at what she might uncover.
As dusk descends, Mickey ventures back onto the streets, her mission singularly focused on finding her sister. Her phone buzzes, the kind store owner's voice breaking through with news that Paula has been spotted nearby. Though Paula's demeanor is less than welcoming, she still lends a cooperative ear. She reveals that Kacey was last seen on the fateful night of October 6th, stepping into a red pickup truck. With urgency, Mickey contacts her babysitter, instructing her to prepare some essentials for Thomas. She then speeds home, scoops up her son, and races to Truman's residence, seeking his assistance.
In a vivid flashback, the red pickup is parked outside a house, its presence ominous. Inside, Kacey lies sprawled on the cold floor, a picture of helplessness. The episode culminates with Kacey's eyes fluttering open, a glimmer of hope piercing through the darkness.
