Ep 11. Alone in a Crowd

Alone in a Crowd is the eleventh episode of the first season of Third Watch. It aired on January 17, 2000, on NBC. The episode was directed by Christopher Chulack and written by David Mills.

The episode opens with a backstory on Detective Yokas. We see her getting her family ready for the day. This includes her daughter, Nicole, who is deaf, and her son, Kyle. Her husband, Fred, is a recovering alcoholic and is currently working as a truck driver. He is not home when the scene opens. After Yokas drops her kids off at school, she goes to work.

At work, Yokas and Bosco respond to a call about a woman who is causing a disturbance at her office. When they arrive, they see that the woman is deaf and that no one at the office knows sign language. Yokas is able to communicate with the woman and learn that she has been recently laid off. Yokas and Bosco offer the woman a ride home but before they can leave, an angry mob forms outside the building. Some people are racial, and it's astonishing how they can see.

Meanwhile, Kim and Jimmy are walking the beat when they see several homeless people in cages. They discover that a man has put them there to perform a "social experiment" to see if anyone will help them. Kim is appalled by the man's actions and calls for back-up. Cruz and Sully arrive and they begin to question the man responsible.

Elsewhere, Fred returns home and discovers that his cousin, who he is living with, has been evicted. He calls Yokas, but she is too busy to talk. This leads Fred to fall back into his old habits and start drinking again.

Later in the day, Yokas and Bosco respond to a call about a gunshot victim. When they arrive, they find a man who has been shot in the head. Yokas recognizes the man as a coworker of her husband's. They rush the man to the hospital and later learn that he has died from his injuries.

The episode ends with Yokas coming home to find Fred drunk. She is clearly upset and frustrated with him. The episode leaves us wondering what will happen with their relationship and how it will affect Yokas and their children in the future.

Alone in a Crowd is a powerful episode that tackles a number of important social issues, including homelessness, unemployment, and alcoholism. The episode is an example of the show's commitment to portraying the complex lives of its characters while also exploring the larger societal issues that impact them. The episode also showcases the impressive acting abilities of the show's cast, particularly that of Molly Price, who delivers a heartfelt performance as Yokas. Overall, Alone in a Crowd is a standout episode that is sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers.