"Trapped" is the ninth episode of the first season of 9-1-1. It was written by Adam Glass, the teleplay by Aristotle Kousakis and directed by Gwyneth Horder-Payton. It aired on March 14, 2018.
Synopsis[]
The first responders race to help a homeless man crushed in a garbage truck, a mother and son in a crashed elevator and extreme hoarders entombed in their house. Meanwhile, Athena jumps into to the dating pool, as Buck and Abby's relationship is tested by her ailing mother.[2]
Full Synopsis[]
As Abby delivers a monologue, a police car drives up a bus stop and drives away a homeless man. Walking in the rainy night, he takes refuge in a dumpster. The next morning, he is violently woken by a garbage truck throwing him inside its hold. As the crew member was wearing earmuffs, his cries of help went unanswered, and he somehow dials 9-1-1 as the compactor closes in on him, with a positive police response.
The 118 pursues a suspected garbage truck. When it refuses to yield, Bobby orders Buck to intercept it. Bobby angrily confronts the driver until he informs the crew his vehicle was empty. Bobby reports back, and Athena updates them with the correct vehicle she just approached as they return and proceed, finding it close to their current location. She immediately exits and gets the crewman to disable the compactor, alerting him to the situation just as the 118 disembark. After doing so the man panics, though Athena assures he would not be held responsible. The team discover it operates around 2000 PSI, able to destroy vehicles with ease. Chimney, Hen and Buck access the vehicle, with Buck joking they should get a shovel from Chimney, only to be immediately retorted upon by Hen. They start emptying the vehicle's contents as bystanders gather around. Athena backs off as Bobby joins the search, explaining to the garbage crew on how the call possibly came through. Hen finds the trapped man and Bobby asks Chimney to fetch neck collars, speculating an abandoned chair protected him from death. The man identifies himself as Sam, and Hen assures they will extract him safely, which occurs on the crew's ladder, to the applause of bystanders.
Abby plans to go on another date with Buck after work and so informs Carla she may need to work for extra hours, though Carla claims she will always make it clear if she couldn't, which they agree on. As Patricia's condition has escalated, she fails to recognize Abby and slaps her. She insists on staying, yet Carla advises her to stick with the plan, so she heads off to work in a terrible mood.
Athena and Hen discuss on the latter's family issues with Eva's lawsuit. Karen was already aware, and Hen worries Denny would be given to a hostile environment, away from the family he knew. Athena asserts she will help whenever possible, putting divorce as the last resort, which she is planning with Michael. She brings up her encounter with Aaron, and mentions another appointment after her next shift ends. The two then laugh heartily.
As Majorie Daniels and her son Todd ascend in an elevator at Wilshire Bedford Medical Center, its cord snaps and she is knocked out. The 118 arrives and learn Car 3 was in distress, dropping from 8 as it heads to 14. The elevator is currently stuck in the basement's third flood for the month, attributable to pipeline aging, and they were about to replace the cords after getting the flood sorted. As they cannot access from below, they will have to attempt the aerial solution. Bobby demands the location of the shaft, Chimney gets the winch while Buck and Hen carry out the rescue. With water seeping into Car 3, Todd and Majorie start lamenting and they blame themselves, during which Majorie reveals her husband left them due to responsibility, which was why she had been strict on Todd, believing he could do better.
Bobby and the team establish their equipment, after which Hen and Buck descend. They secure Majorie first and rescue her, but soon Buck reports the water is dragging them and he will have to seize another harness. He denies Bobby's order as the single cord cannot support both people, and starts pulling up as Bobby drops another cord. Todd is evacuated, and while Buck appears to drown in front of Hen, he manages to get himself out safely. Todd reunites with Majorie, where Hen informs him hospital staff will examine the injuries (a mild concussion) in detail and they reconcile.
Meanwhile, Athena and Aaron try to have sex, but are accidentially handcuffed to a bed and the keys were on her belt, out of reach on the floor, along with her cell phone. Aaron decides calling a friend, but Athena stops him and dials 9-1-1 for Abby to get Hen's assistance. Abby decides to ask for Buck since she doesn't have Hen's number, and Athena forbids her from spilling the beans. Hen does arrive, and was extremely amused, especially when Aaron claims his assistance was refused, which Athena cites out of embarassment. Hen drags the belt closer and appears to take a selfie with them before running outside.
Buck meets Abby at the date and surprises her with a loaded hot air balloon. However, their date is cut short when Patricia relapses and Abby is forced to return home, much to Buck's dismay of circumstances. He later discusses this with Bobby after his early return. Bobby knows Buck can't be blamed, as desirable people often have their own stuff, too, and while Buck respects Patricia as well, he doubts the relationship, yet he doesn't wish his former self to return. Bobby advises him to work with the issue, not around it, meaning he should help whenever possible.
While crawling through their house of hoarded items to bring bread, Cecil Farrier's brother Winslow accidentally causes them to collapse, forcing Cecil to dial assistance, suspecting Winslow set off one of their traps. The 118 arrives, with Bobby ordering Buck to take a saw, insisting access from the main door. Instead of a proper gateway, the crew was confronted by many items and a tunnel. They talk to a woman, Betsy, who claims they are hoarders, one of which would occasionally shop supplies and the other never even leaves. Hen reports the back also inaccessible so they were forced to proceed with the windows, with Chimney and Buck smashing some. Buck was briefly attacked by a makieshift wrecking ball composed from a cord and bowling ball, but regains his composure quickly. Abby connects Cecil with Bobby, who learns Cecil is blind and can't disable the traps himself. The only way through is the front tunnel, 25 feet long with a saw blade in the middle. Cecil adds if it's gone, so would the remaining traps, and offers to walk them through on radio. Buck reveals he cannot fit through, and Chimney volunteers instead. He finds the trap and the tripwire, working through it with Cecil's tips who warns it may also set off others. An object is then thrown in his direction to no effect. He adjusts the clock to 11:11, reducing the wire's tension for him to pass, eventually finding Cecil inside the house. He mentions they inherited the estate from their parents and have been protecting it ever since. When he panics, Chimney informs him they will look for Winslow. More LAFD units arrive to empty the house, eventually discovering Winslow with a broken leg and head injuries. They perform their procedures to preserve blood flow and take him to the ambulance. Though Winslow insists staying behind, Cecil instead comes with him, and leaves the house with Chimney's assistance.
At yet another date where Buck picked a less elegant option, he and Abby discucces Patricia's extenuating condition. She doesn't want to bother Buck over it, but he isn't annoyed either and vows to accompany her.
Athena and Aaron have dinner, with the latter mentoning a weekend getaway. Athena declines, as she isn't ready to enter another relationship and doesn't want to be bound, though she does praises Aaron. He is curious whether if she would stay for the night, the answer of which is left ambiguous.
Hen angrily confronts Eva for her acts of sabotage, manipulating the law on her side for another relationship. Eva repeatedly tries to convince Hen, who doesn't take these taunts without retorting Eva's continuial, destructive antics. She makes her stance clear that she will do anything to prevent Denny from being surrendered, and despite Eva's pleas, swears revenge before barging her way out.
As Abby delivers another monologue, the victims make further appearences. Sam leaves the homeless shelter and starts wandering around again, Majorie helps Todd moving out to his rental apartment, while Cecil and Winslow return to their residence and begin repairing damage caused by the LAFD during the rescue.
Abby breaks down crying after discovering Patricia's death.
Cast[]
Starring[]
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Guest Starring[]
Co-Starring[]
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Trivia[]
- Athena Grant is mentioned as being 50 years old. It was later revealed in "The Devil You Know" that she was born in 1968, making this statement accurate.
Soundtrack[]
Song | Artist | Timestamp* | Storyline |
---|---|---|---|
"Trapped (Live at Meadowlands Arena, E. Rutherford, NJ - August 1984)" | Bruce Springsteen | Beginning, Abby talks about how it's hard for some people to move on; Homeless people are rousted from sleeping at a bus stop. | |
"I Dare You" | The XX | Abby drives to meet up with Buck. | |
"Sunny" | Stevie Wonder | The hoarder's brothers are helped out of the house to go to the hospital. | |
"Home To You" | Tom Rhodes | Athena and Aaron have dinner and talk. | |
"Melt" | Tender | Athena and Aaron are drinking in his house. | |
"I Of The Storm" | Of Monsters And Men | End montage. |
*Timestamps are rounded to the minute.