We open in the psychiatric wing of the Wharton Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles. Senior attending physician Dr. Carl Belle reminds two residents that despite the arrival of the new Director of Mental Health Services he is still in charge of their training. Carl discusses the new boss (who will be arriving that day) with another psychiatrist, Nora Skoff. They both seem to feel they were passed over for the job.
Police tell them a man in custody, Vincent Martin, was found naked and screaming. We can see that Vincent, a schizophrenic, believes many of the people in the hospital are aliens. He tears off his jacket and holds out a metal chair, patting his naked body to show them he is human. Carl tries to give Vincent an injection but is knocked aside. When the cops draw their weapons another man takes off all of his clothes and stands next to Vincent. This man convinces Vincent they are outnumbered and helps get him into custody. The man then gives security orders for Vincents care. What? This nude gentleman is actually Dr. Jack Gallagher, Wharton's new director.
Jack and hospital administrator Nora Skoff discuss the unique beginning of his tenure at Wharton. She shows him that someone has already posted his nude antics on the hospital intranet. He makes a comment about how good she looks which seems to indicate they know each other personally.
The two residents, Dr. Arturo Suarez and Dr. Cloe Artis, talk about Jack. It is clear Arturo has a thing for Chloe.
In the elevator Veronica and Jack make awkward small-talk.
Jack meets with Vincent who tells him he "forgot" to stop taking his medication. While Vincent notices an alien ship just outside the window Jack points out he has been on meds for 12 years. Vincent wants to be put back on them so he can get back home.
Veronica meets with Grayson Emerson, a man who has acute anxiety disorder manifesting itself in his placing his dead cats in the freezer. He can't bring himself to bury them.
Jack runs into Vincent's sister, Elodie. She wants to Vincent committed immediately. Jack thinks it's a mistake but she tells him she has power of attorney. Legally he has 72 hours to observe Vincent.
Veronica asks Jack about the department's budget. The funding for her resident day clinic is about to expire.
Nora officially introduces Jack to the department. Jack has decided to start including the patients in the treatment meetings. This bothers the other doctors. Jack performs a card trick and tells them that since unlocking the human brain is so difficult they should "experiment, break the mold."
