Don and his team investigate a trail of illegal waste disposal after a sinkhole, which collapses in a school playground, kills an elderly woman and injures several children.

This episode introduces Kathy Najimy as Dr. Mildred Finch, Charlie Eppes' new department chair. At her welcoming reception, Dr. Finch immediately hits it off with Charlie's father, Alan. She then proceed to irritate Charlie, Amita, and Larry by assigning them additional academic committee obligations.