Episode 1 of The Crowded Room kicks off in the bustling streets of New York, sometime in the vibrant decade of the 1970s. Danny Sullivan and his close friend, Ariana, board the metro near the illustrious Rockefeller Centre. A glimpse of a firearm in Danny's grasp hints at a brewing drama, which soon unfolds as they chase a mysterious figure through the teeming crowd. The urgency in their conversation suggests that Ariana is urging Danny to eliminate this unknown man, but the reasons remain shrouded in mystery.
As the chase intensifies, Danny's resolve falters, allowing the man to slip away. Ariana attempts to shoot, but her aim falters, striking the man's shoulder. She drops the gun and rushes after him, but the police arrive swiftly, their attention fixed on Danny. He picks up the discarded weapon and flees, only to find himself back at home, confronted by Yitzhak, a menacing bald man with a fearsome presence. His menacing inquiries about Ariana's whereabouts are met with Danny's ignorance, but Yitzhak presses a passport and cash into his hands, ordering him to "find his father."
Just as Danny is about to leave, the police descend upon the house, surrounding it and arresting Danny on the spot. The cops seem to sense that this arrest could be a career-defining moment, suspecting Danny of being a serial killer. To confirm their suspicions, they call upon Professor Rya Goodwin, who remains skeptical of their hasty conclusions. Though she doesn't see the definitive signs, she agrees to speak with Danny.
During their interview, Danny recounts how he met Ariana in the spring of 1977. He was a withdrawn, melancholic teenager, grappling with issues at home with his stepfather, Marlin. His mother, Candy, had exhausted all options and had to settle for the brute. Yet, Danny found solace in his friends, Jonny and Mike, who deeply cared for him. Thankfully, the narrative avoids clichéd high-school tropes in this opening episode.
At a party, Danny's eyes are drawn to a transfer student, Annabelle. Intrigued by his reserved demeanor, she invites him to "get high," but the plan is thwarted by their lack of marijuana. Their conversation reveals that Danny had an identical twin brother, Adam, who perished in his youth. Across their home stood a boarding room, dubbed the "ghost house" by Danny. It was here that Yitzhak settled, introducing himself as an Israeli. Rya mentions unresolved assaults stemming from that time and place, but Danny cannot confirm if Ariana was involved.
Jonny devised a cunning strategy to spark Danny's romance with Annabelle. It entailed stealing Marlin's card and PIN code, withdrawing cash from ATMs, using it to purchase marijuana, selling most of it for a handsome profit, and leaving Danny with enough to share a high with his desired Annabelle. Reluctant as they were, they pushed forward with the plan. The mission nearly unraveled, but ultimately, they pulled it off.
At the park, they encountered Angelo, a shady drug dealer. However, suspicion clouded Angelo's gaze as he scrutinized them. Luckily, Mike's quick wit diffused the tension, and the boys fled with their precious packet of weed.
Now, the onus of selling the contraband fell on Jonny's shoulders. He and Mike disposed of the stash in a matter of afternoons. Empowered by a newfound courage, Danny summoned the nerve to ask Annabelle out. However, her boyfriend, Bill, the school's athletic star, intervened and warned Danny to steer clear. Rumors spread like wildfire about Danny hiding drugs in his locker, prompting the principal to demand a search. Fortunately, Jonny and Mike had already spirited the drugs away, leaving the principal empty-handed. Instead, Bill fell under the principal's scrutiny and faced severe reprimand.
Danny dared to hope and found Annabelle waiting beneath the bridge, just as she had promised. She seemed to warm to him, and soon, their lips met in a tender embrace.
Danny harbored a passion for painting, and he was quite adept at it. He created a painting for Annabelle, but Eden, her friend, relayed Annabelle's message that their relationship was destined to fail. Undeterred, Danny slipped a joint into the envelope containing the painting. Unfortunately, the principal stumbled upon it on the floor. Frightened, Danny fled to his home, where he heard Marlin's voicemail inquiring about missing funds from his account.
Outside, Danny spotted Bill and his athletic cronies advancing towards his house, intent on administering a brutal beating. He tried to outrun them, but they caught up, and Bill unleashed a merciless assault. Just then, Yitzhak intervened, saving Danny and laying waste to Bill's friends. Traumatized by the encounter, Danny feared returning to school and fled home. This chain of events led him to the boarding house, where he encountered Ariana. They welcomed him with open arms, and he felt a sense of belonging.
Rya persisted in grilling Danny about Yitzhak and Ariana's whereabouts, repeatedly asking if he believed they were with Yitzhak. Danny repeatedly deflected her inquiries, but Rya warned him that he would face jail time if he did not confess and shoulder the blame. In a dizzying climax, Rya relentlessly probed Danny about Yitzhak and Ariana's fate, even misnaming him Adam once.
