On the graveyard shift one lengthy night, Chief Clifford and much of the staff are out with the flu, the American Brotherhood Movement is blowing up buildings, Chris Coughlin is writing a story with a feminist angle on the NYPD, a robbery suspect's brother (an addict) tries to break him out (and both are sons of an Albany bigwig) by kidnapping the Acting Watch Commander (Sgt. Broadhurst), McCloud pulls in New York's top drug dealers in a citywide search for a junkie whose addicted newborn infant needs urgent treatment, and Sgt. Phyllis Norton is the Acting Deputy Watch Commander in charge.