Episode 1 of *Task* whisks us into the contrasting worlds of Tom Brandis and Robbie Prendergast. Tom, an FBI agent, juggles his duties as a devoted father to his daughter Emily while spending long hours manning the FBI booth at a bustling career fair. Meanwhile, Robbie is a garbage collector who shares his home with his two children, Wyatt and Harper, as well as his niece Maeve. By night, Robbie and his colleague Cliff secretly stake out one of the houses on their garbage route, which happens to belong to a notorious drug dealer.
As dawn breaks, Robbie and Cliff engage in a lighthearted discussion about dating. Robbie, who has been single for nearly a year since his wife Karen left him, confesses that he's ready to open his heart again. Later, they decide to take a bold step and target the house they've been observing for days, knowing full well that the drug dealers are sitting on a substantial stash of cash.
At work, Tom shares an intriguing tidbit with a recent graduate: before joining the FBI as a field agent, he spent eight years as a priest. His day takes a more serious turn when he meets with his lawyer, Matt, to discuss the case of Tom's son, Ethan. We learn that Ethan is incarcerated, though the reason remains unclear. The judge has set a sentencing date, and Matt is hopeful that a letter from Ethan's family will bolster his defense. Tom agrees to approach Emily about writing the letter, as she had been considering doing so.
Tom visits Emily at the dessert shop where she works and broaches the subject of the statement for her brother. Emily requests more time to think it over, and Tom, understanding, doesn't press her. During a family dinner, it comes to light that Tom has recently suffered the loss of his brother, Bill—Maeve's father.
That same night, Robbie, Cliff, and a third friend named Peaches embark on a daring heist. They don masks, break into the drug dealer's house, and coerce one of the occupants into revealing the location of the money. Within minutes, they emerge triumphantly, cash in hand.
After another night of revelry, Tom is jolted awake by a message from his boss, Kathleen. She informs him that she needs him back in the field to investigate a series of robberies targeting drug dealers from a gang known as the Dark Hearts. Nine robberies have already occurred, and the surveillance photos show Robbie and his friends wearing the same masks from the previous night's heist. Kathleen tasks Tom with leading a special task force to apprehend the thieves before a full-blown turf war erupts.
Meanwhile, Robbie receives a text message from someone identified only as "MZ," containing the address of a new house. Declaring it a fresh lead, he teams up with Cliff to scope out the location. That very night, Robbie stealthily slips into Maeve's room, intent on snagging a joint, only to inadvertently crash her intimate moment with her date, Tripp. As Tripp scurries off in a panic, Maeve and Robbie find themselves locked in a heated argument. Through their exchange, it's revealed that the house in question actually belongs to Maeve, a legacy left to her following Billy's passing. She had allowed Robbie and his family to move in, but she's adamant about not shouldering the burden of caring for two additional children.
In the meantime, Tom busies himself with transforming the dilapidated house he's been tasked with into a fully functional and secure headquarters for the task force. Soon after, his teammates Aleah, Anthony, and Elizabeth arrive on the scene. That same night, a priest by the name of Father Daniel pays Tom a visit, bringing along some dinner. It's evident that they share a history, and their conversation sheds light on Tom's ongoing battle with his faith. The evening ends with Tom inebriated, necessitating Daniel and Emily to help carry him to bed.
Robbie and his companions execute a stealthy infiltration of their latest target's residence. However, their plans quickly unravel. One of the drug dealer's associates unexpectedly shows up, sparking a violent shootout. In the aftermath, Peaches, the drug dealer, along with his wife and a friend, meet their demise. As Robbie and Cliff make their escape, they stumble upon the dealer's young son. Against their better judgment, they decide to take the boy with them. Later on, the task force gathers at the house, only to discover that the boy is missing.
