Ep 1. Day 1: Fade In

Jane Sadler is a successful television producer and a single mother to her young daughter, Lake. Jane is working on a new television show when she receives a call from her ex-husband, Pete, who wants to spend time with their daughter. Although Jane is hesitant to let him take Lake for the night since Pete has been unreliable in the past, she ultimately agrees.

That same night, Jane's writing partner, Matt, comes over to work on the show. Meanwhile, Lake is asleep in her room, and Jane is working in her office. She takes a break to feed her cat and smoke a cigarette on her balcony when she hears Lake yelling. She rushes to Lake's room and finds that she is missing.

Jane immediately calls 911 and a full-blown search for Lake ensues. Law enforcement officers as well as Jane's colleagues and friends are interviewed in hopes of finding any clues as to Lake's whereabouts. However, the circumstances surrounding Lake's disappearance are unclear, and as more information is revealed, it becomes apparent that Jane's life is more complex than what it seems on the surface.

As Jane struggles to hold herself together, she navigates through multiple personal and professional challenges. Her relationship with Pete is strained, and he becomes a person of interest in the investigation. Her colleagues and superiors at work question her focus and commitment to the show she is producing. Meanwhile, the stress of Lake's disappearance triggers memories of a traumatic event from Jane's past that she has been trying to keep buried.

With each passing hour, the situation becomes more and more dire. The search for Lake continues, but false leads and dead ends set the investigation back. As the tension builds, Jane becomes increasingly desperate to find her daughter, and tensions rise amongst her colleagues and friends.

The first episode of Ten Days in the Valley sets a tense and emotionally charged tone for the series. Viewers are left wondering what happened to Lake and who is responsible for her disappearance. The show portrays a woman who is trying to balance the demands of a high-stress career with being a mother, all while struggling with her own personal demons. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that everyone has secrets, and no one is quite who they seem. The first episode is gripping and sets the stage for a season that promises to be full of twists and turns.