Ep 5. Responsible Parties

In Third Watch season 1 episode 5, titled "Responsible Parties," the officers of NYPD's 55th precinct must handle various emergencies and crises throughout the night.

The episode opens with Officer Faith Yokas (Molly Price) and Officer Maurice Boscorelli (Jason Wiles) responding to a call about a car accident. The driver, a young woman named Abby, is trapped in the wreckage. As the officers work to free her, they learn that she had been drinking and driving. Abby's boyfriend, who was also in the car, is uncooperative, leading Bosco to suspect that he may have been physically abusive towards Abby. The situation escalates when Abby's parents arrive on the scene and a fight breaks out, causing Bosco and Yokas to take them all to the precinct.

Meanwhile, rookie Officer Kim Zambrano (Kim Raver) responds to a call about a woman who has jumped from a rooftop. Upon arriving at the scene, she is shocked to see that the woman is still alive and conscious. Kim tries to calm her down and keep her talking until the paramedics arrive, but the woman becomes unresponsive and goes into cardiac arrest. Kim is forced to perform CPR in an attempt to save her life.

Elsewhere, paramedics Doc Parker (Michael Beach) and Carlos Nieto (Anthony Ruivivar) respond to a call about a man who has been beaten and left for dead. The victim is homeless and has a severe head injury, but he refuses to go to the hospital. Doc tries to convince him to seek medical attention, explaining that his injuries could be life-threatening. In the end, the man agrees to go with them to the hospital, but only after they promise to take him to a shelter afterwards.

As the night wears on, the officers' personal lives begin to intersect with their work. Yokas is dealing with the fallout from her recent separation from her husband and the stress of caring for their two children on her own. Bosco, who has feelings for Yokas, makes an attempt to comfort her, but she rebuffs him. Kim, who is struggling with her own personal demons, finds solace in her work as a police officer.

The episode ends with the officers reflecting on the events of the night and the responsibilities they have to the people they serve. Despite the challenges they face, they know that they have each other to rely on and that their work is important.

Overall, "Responsible Parties" is a tense and emotional episode that highlights the difficult and often thankless work of first responders. Through its carefully crafted storylines and complex characters, the episode explores themes of responsibility, trauma, and the importance of community. It is a compelling and thought-provoking addition to the first season of Third Watch.