Episode 1 of Season 1 of "The Glass Dome" kicks off with a youthful Lejla making a quick trip to the store to pick up cigarettes for her mother on her way back home. Her mother, still at work, leaves Lejla to head back alone. Upon arriving home, she is abruptly abducted by a mysterious man. Later, Lejla awakens in a dimly lit room, realizing she's enclosed in a glass cell.
Now, Lejla finds herself in America, engrossed in her research on the psychological motivations behind child abductors. Following her presentation, a call shatters her focus, informing her of her adoptive mother's passing. Without hesitation, she books the next flight home and arrives by her adoptive father, Valter's, side by the day's end.
Determined to support her dad, Lejla does everything in her capacity to be present for him. Prior to the funeral, they embark on a fishing trip, where Valter fills her in on the latest developments concerning the mines. It appears that many townsfolk are dissatisfied with the mines' expansion. During her errands around town, Lejla encounters a few of these dissatisfied individuals, as well as some old acquaintances. She carefully navigates the town, keeping a discreet profile.
A couple of days later, the funeral unfolds, a somber and melancholic affair. As Lejla spends more time back in her hometown, memories of her abduction haunt her. Valter, too, is consumed by worry and self-blame, as the former police inspector who never apprehended her abductor.
At the funeral, Lejla notices her best friend, Louise, in a heated argument with her husband, Said. Louise unleashes her frustrations to Lejla about the politics surrounding the mine expansion. Her husband works for the company, and since their return, she's been ostracized by the town's residents. As they converse, Louise's daughter, Alicia, interrupts them. Louise invites Lejla to visit before she returns to America.
The next morning, Lejla prepares to depart. She bids farewell to her dad and heads to Louise's house. The door stands slightly ajar, with loud music echoing through the halls. Lejla calls out to Louise as she steps inside, methodically checking each room. Tragically, she discovers Louise lying lifeless in the bathtub, her arm slashed open. In a rush, Lejla dials her dad, and within moments, he arrives with the police at their side.
Shortly thereafter, Louise's mother, Kristina, arrives on the scene, leaving Lelja astounded that she isn't accompanied by Alicia. Kristina firmly asserts that Alicia was not with her. Lelja, filled with concern, bursts into the house, shouting Alicia's name. But to her despair, there is only silence in response. Swiftly, the police and the local community rally together to comb the woods for any sign of Alicia. Said, driven by an urgent need to find his daughter, takes charge of the search.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed police inspector, Tomas, is hastily summoned to the site where one of the volunteers has discovered something crucial. Tomas dashes to the location and discovers fragments of Alicia's clothing, prompting the police to immediately secure the perimeter. Concurrently, Valter returns to Louise's house to re-examine the scene for any overlooked clues.
Back in the dense woods, Lelja attempts to console Said, whose worry deepens as he fears time is running out. Their conversation is abruptly interrupted when Tomas and another officer approach, placing Said under arrest and escorting him to the precinct. Lelja, desperate for an explanation, pleads with Tomas for an answer, but he remains silent. On her way back home, Lelja phones Valter, who enlightens her on the reason behind Said's arrest. The realization dawns on Lelja that Alicia has been abducted, and she is plunged into a panic attack, her mind revisiting her own harrowing experiences.
