Episode 1 of The Madison begins with Preston and Paul fishing along the picturesque Madison River. Paul shares his expertise with his brother, teaching him the art of fishing. As they converse about their different lifestyles, Preston, for the first time, catches a fish. Excitedly, he tells Paul that he will be the one to cook it.
Meanwhile, we meet Paige, who is robbed while walking down the street. The perpetrator not only steals from her but also punches her. A bystander records the crime on his phone instead of offering assistance. She calls her mother, Stacy, who is attending a Washington Heights Women's Center event with Charlotte as the speaker.
Stacy urges Paige to get a car and visit Dr. Steele's office. However, before heading to the hospital, Paige spots a police car and reports the incident. The officers start asking her about the perpetrator's race. Later, they inform her that she needs to file a report.
At the hospital, Paige is worried about the scar on her face, but Stacy encourages her. She asks her mother to call her father, but Stacy insists that he can't pick up the call since there's no network.
Paul and Preston return to Paul's cabin, where Preston reveals that he has planned a special trip for Preston's 64th birthday. Preston muses about how quickly time passes, claiming he might only have 15 years left to enjoy life. He narrates how he took his family to a Caribbean beach and watched old couples unable to fully appreciate their surroundings. According to Preston, many people spend their lives working towards achieving a comfortable lifestyle, but by the time they attain it, their bodies are often too tired to enjoy it. He urges Paul to at least have a girlfriend or a dog to create lasting memories with. However, Paul insists that he's creating memories with his brother Preston.
Back in New York, Stacy, Paige, Russell, Abigail, and their two daughters, Macy and Bridgette, are having dinner when Preston calls. Stacy goes out to pick up the call.
During the call, Preston shared his excitement about the cabin and the surprise trip Paul had planned. He requested to extend his stay by another day to partake in the exclusive fishing trip Paul had arranged. He was taken aback by the news of Paige's mugging and questioned why she hadn't used the car. She reassured him that they would handle it when they returned. Stacy stepped in and urged everyone to put their phones aside, asking that they communicate as a family. Russell then informed her about his company's investment in a Dutch Cargo Ship.
The next day, Paul and Preston flew to the mountains to fish at the Madison River. They spent hours fishing, unaware that a storm was brewing. Paul suggested they leave, but Preston was reluctant and returned to the river. As thunder began to rumble, they realized they needed to leave immediately. While airborne, the weather worsened significantly. Paul reached out to air control, who provided him with new orders. Unfortunately, due to the foggy weather, Paul ended up crashing into a hill.
Meanwhile, Stacy was having a drink with a friend, discussing their desire to escape from New York City. She spoke of how her husband enjoyed being in the mountains. She then received a call from Officer Shepherd, who works with the U.S. Department of Forestry. He informed her that Preston and Paul had been involved in a plane crash and asked her to travel to Idaho to identify their bodies and plan for their transfer to their final resting places.
Upon their arrival, Stacy was taken to identify the bodies. Before going to view them, Stacy asked if there was any other way to identify them. She wanted to remember Preston as he kissed her goodbye with a smile on his lips for the last time.
Unfortunately, they force her to identify the bodies. The experience traumatizes her, as well as Abigail. Later, Lillian calls Stacy, suggesting they bury Paul and Preston in the city rather than the ranch. This way, friends can visit their graves anytime they want. Stacy seems overwhelmed and asks for more time to make a decision.
At night, Stacy sobs as she reminisces about Preston. Abby and her daughters join her in bed to console each other. A few minutes later, Russell and Paige join them as well. Stacy shares more about her happy marriage and is relieved that Preston died doing what he loved most, not tied to a hospital bed. She wishes Abby could experience that kind of love.
The next day, the family visits the cabins. They have bathrooms but no toilets since the sewage system can't be built due to their proximity to the river. After recalling Preston's words about using river water and firewood to make coffee, she decides to make herself a cup.
Abby goes to her father's cabin and shares coffee with her mother. Stacy blames herself for never traveling with Preston to the mountains and feels like she denied the family a quiet moment in those cabins. Abby suggests they leave, but Stacy insists on staying. Paige is angry that her mother chooses to stay behind, but Abigail reminds her that their mother knew their father since she was 19.
They have lost a cheerleader, a therapist, and a bank, but their mother has lost her lover. Stacy is disappointed to think that's how the girls viewed their fathers. She and her grandchildren visit the garden, spotting different vegetables but also a snake. They enjoy the sunset and later cook a meal. Stacy and Paige argue about whether polenta is the same as grits.
Russell tells Stacy that the meat in the freezer isn't beef but elk. She warns him to keep it a secret lest hell break loose when Paige finds out. Initially, Paige enjoys the meat but is disgusted and angry that Russell knew what they were eating and kept the truth from her. Macy thinks the elk tastes delicious. Stacy confronts Paige for being too demanding while doing nothing to help. She was hoping to enjoy a good family dinner, but Paige ruined it.
At night, Abigail goes to her mother, who is outside reading Preston's journal. She says it's half a journal and half a how-to guide. In the journal, Preston wrote about a spot and named it Stacy's Valley because the tall yellow grass reminded him of her hair. She says that the next morning she'll visit the Valley and then the other places he wrote about. She promises to do what Preston begged her to do for the past 30 years. Abby asks if she needs company, and she allows her to tag along.
The next morning, Stacy prepares to go find the spot. Outside, the entire family is waiting to accompany her. However, Russell thinks they're underdressed, under-armed, and unprepared for the exploration ahead. Nevertheless, they go anyway.
