The opening scene of Episode 1 of "The Rainmaker" unfolds with a dramatic flair as a man awakens to the horror of his house engulfed in flames. Desperately, he呼喊 for his mother, unaware that she has tragically perished in the inferno. With sheer willpower, he manages to wriggle free just in time, narrowly escaping as his home crumbles to ashes around him.
The narrative then shifts to introduce Rudy Baylor, a young lawyer-in-training, at a bustling free legal clinic. Alongside him are his fellow aspiring attorneys from law school, including his girlfriend, Sarah. Together, they offer pro bono legal guidance to those in desperate need.
Their latest client, Mrs. Black, arrives with a heart-wrenching tale. She recounts the harrowing death of her son, who had been admitted to North City Hospital with what began as a mere flu. To her dismay, the hospital sought to silence her grief by offering a meager $50,000 in compensation.
Sarah, with a heavy heart, informs Mrs. Black that they are unable to take her case due to their impending employment at the very law firm hired by North City Hospital to resolve such matters. Mrs. Black desperately needs the expertise of a seasoned legal eagle.
Later that evening, Rudy clocks in for his final shift as a bartender before embarking on his new journey at Tinley Brit Corporate. His mother's complaints about his stepfather, Hank, ignite a storm of emotions within him. A confrontation ensues, escalating into a fierce fistfight between Rudy and Hank.
To stem the tide of conflict, Rudy's mother pleads with him to leave their home. Unperturbed, Rudy claims that he had been searching for a new place anyway and sets off for his new job. Sarah thoughtfully saves a seat for Rudy, who arrives fashionably late on his first day. Upon his entrance, he is promptly singled out and ridiculed by Leo Drummond, the firm's domineering managing partner.
Leo confronts Rudy over his tardiness, a conversation that escalates into a passionate debate about the unequal treatment of domestic violence victims by the legal system. Leo's provocation prompts Rudy to cite numerous examples of domestic abuse cases disproportionately affecting women, bolstering his arguments with compelling statistics. However, Leo goads Sarah into engaging with Rudy, lauding her for her upcoming rebuttal. Yet, Rudy surprises Leo by retorting with one of his own cleverly twisted quotes.
After the meeting adjourns, Sarah, having recently become privy to Rudy's altercation with Hank, gently reminded him of the importance of knowing when to walk away from unnecessary conflicts. Soon after, Rudy finds himself dismissed from the firm and forced to return to his former life behind the bar. Desperate for new opportunities, he takes his old boss's advice and considers working for Jocelyn "Bruiser" Stone. There, he crosses paths with Deck Shifflet, another lawyer under Jocelyn's employ.
With limited options, Rudy reluctantly agrees to join Jocelyn's team for a monthly salary of $5,000. Meanwhile, Sarah impresses a high-profile client so profoundly that he requests her to lead his account. Leo, taken aback by Sarah's prowess, ponders the kind of lawyer she is destined to become.
Later that evening, Sarah lends a helping hand as Rudy settles into his new apartment. Rudy, conscious of the stark differences between his life and Sarah's, who still enjoys the financial security of her parents' trust fund, politely declines her offer to cohabit.
The following morning, Deck took Rudy under his wing, showing him the ins and outs of securing a client for themselves. They ventured to North City Hospital, hunting for potential clients in need of legal representation. In parallel, Sarah attempted to broker a conversation with Leo about Rudy, pleading for him to reconsider and give the young man another shot. Leo swiftly dismissed her, making it clear that he would not tolerate her meddling in his affairs.
Elsewhere, Rudy wielded his charm and persuaded a victim of a hit-and-run incident to engage him as their legal counsel. Meanwhile, Rodd, a rival of Deck and Bruiser's, was also prowling the halls of North City Hospital in search of clients. He stumbled upon Melvin Pritcher, the man whose house was ravaged by the fire that claimed his mother's life, and successfully secured his services as Melvin's lawyer.
Concurrently, Rudy, unable to wait any longer for a case to materialize, resolved to meet with Mrs. Black. He revealed to her that he was no longer aligned with Tinley Brit and assured her that his services would come at no cost unless she prevailed in court. Through his persuasive prowess, Rudy secured her case.
That evening, Sarah discovered Rudy's involvement in Mrs. Black's case and was incensed. She confessed that Leo had assigned her the same case and warned Rudy that they would be adversaries in court. She urged him to relinquish the case, but Rudy stood firm in his refusal.
The following dawn, Mrs. Black's dog unearthed something in her yard that aroused her suspicions of being tailed. Meanwhile, Rudy and Deck found themselves being tailed by a mysterious woman and man. Outside the courthouse, Rudy and Deck confronted Rodd and unveiled that Melvin had been working as a nurse at North City Hospital on the fateful night of Mrs. Black's son's demise.
When Rudy and Deck presented their case to Jocelyn, she meticulously scrutinized it and pointed out a critical flaw: Mrs. Black's son was an opioid addict. Rudy, however, countered by asserting that the opposition's eagerness to settle out of court hinted at underlying malpractices. Jocelyn granted Rudy permission to proceed with his investigation but stipulated that he must uncover the truth at all costs.
Elsewhere, Melvin attempted to break into an abandoned house when he was interrupted by a woman. In a moment of desperation, Melvin injected her with an unknown substance, causing her to lose consciousness, thus bringing the chapter to a cliffhanger.
