Abby Stone helps a man, Arlo, remove some jewelry while in line to clear security at the court house. She meets her bailiff, Donna Gurganus, aka Gurgs. Gurgs connects her to Judge Harry Stone, her father who used to work there.

Dan Fielding is now working as a barista. He’s recognized by a lawyer, Barry, who remembers him from Night Court. Once Dan identifies Barry by his full name, he serves him with papers, having worked there for three weeks in order to serve those papers.

Gurgs announces the start of court but is nervous and messes up Abby’s name several times. Abby meets Neil, the court clerk; Olivia, the district prosecutor; and Paul Grossman, the public defender.

The first case is against an alleged psychic, Esmeralda the Magnificent. Abby gives her the chance to prove her powers. Esmeralda falls for Abby’s con artist trap and gets fifty hours of community service.

Abby questions how little Paul fought for his client. He quits.

Gurg brings some boxes of Abby’s father’s stuff into her office, which is his old office. Gurg’s leaves to investigate some vandalism.

Neil informs Abby that Legal Aid will send another public defender over. Abby decides she can find someone who cares more than Paul did about the job.

Abby goes to visit Dan at his apartment. After mistaking her for a Girl Scout, he invites her in when he learns she’s Harry’s daughter.

They talk briefly, Dan revealing that he’s a widower now that his wife, Sarah, has passed. Abby tells him about being the new night court judge and asks him to be the new public defender. He’s not receptive to the idea. Abby reminds him of the night her father nearly quit being a judge. Dan found him at a pool hall and convinced him he did more good as a judge than most and shouldn’t throw his career away over one difficult judgment.

Dan’s still not interested. Abby invites him to the courthouse to advise her. After some thought, he agrees to stop by.

Gurg is trying to figure out who vandalized the directory board. Neil offers some perspective.

The court is hearing the case of twins who assaulted each other. When Dan walks in, Abby calls a recess. She introduces him to Olivia who doesn’t think he’ll sign on as the public defender.

Abby and Dan have an argument in the corridor and Dan storms away.

Gurgs is at a loss as to who caused the vandalism. She admits her frustration to Neil and leaves the commissary in despair. Abby asks Neil if he’s going to confess.

He admits he does things to keep his brain engaged. Abby admits she’s always digging into people’s motivations and that it’s always been her way of understanding the world.

He relents on his need to speed through the court cases and says he’ll look for some time so she can do her digging.

Dan stops by Abby’s chambers that used to be Harry’s. He finds a custodian clearing out a dead bird and poses a hypothetical scenario to him. The custodian tells him the story is too long and leaves.

Dan refuses to accept Abby’s assessment that he’s afraid to open a box and opens the second box of Harry’s things on Abby’s desk and is startled by prank spring snakes that jump out. He takes that as a message from Harry and agrees to think about Abby’s proposal.

In court, Neil brings up all the cases of public urinations at once to save time.

Dan enters and announces himself for the defense. He tells Abby this is only a temporary set-up. He gets prepped for the next case, one of lewd conduct, but takes a moment to get his brain around defending instead of prosecuting. Everyone gets flashed by the defendant.