The Night Of

Nasir 'Naz' Khan is a Pakistani-American college student who lives with his family--father Salim, mother Safar, and younger brother Hasan--in Queens, NY. An avid fan of his school's basketball team, Naz is thrilled when a player invites him to a party that night in Manhattan. When his friend Amir bails on driving him into the city, Naz decides to lift the keys to the taxi his father co-owns, taking the cab without telling his parents. Driving downtown, Naz is detoured when a young woman, Andrea, jumps into his cab and convinces Naz to take her on a trip around Manhattan--one that ends with the two of them in the woman's Upper West Side brownstone. But what started out as a fantasy tryst ends up being a nightmare for Naz, as he's arrested for murder shortly after leaving Andrea's place. Following an interrogation in Precinct 21 by homicide detective Dennis Box, Naz asks for a lawyer--and finds one when John Stone, a world-weary, eczema-afflicted defense attorney hustling small-time cases in the city, shows up at the precinct and offers Naz his services.

Instructed by Stone not to talk to anyone, Naz breaks his promise when his parents arrive at the precinct. Later, he's transferred to Central Booking and, after pleading not guilty at his arraignment, to Rikers Island. Detective Box talks to Don Taylor, Andrea Cornish's stepfather, about the victim's troubled past. At his apartment, Stone bonds with his son Gooden before Kara, Stone's ex and Gooden's mom, drops by to pick up the boy. Helen Weiss, a prosecuting attorney, meets with Box to discuss the evidence against Naz.

As word of his notoriety spreads across Rikers, Naz quickly learns that the key to his survival--or perhaps his demise--may rest with a hardened inmate and former boxing champion named Freddy, who has many of the guards under his thumb. After meeting with Stone about his fee for Naz's defense, Salim and Safar get a tempting counteroffer from A-list attorney Alison Crowe, who brings to their meeting a young associate with Indian roots, Chandra Kapoor. Meanwhile, Salim faces a dilemma in his efforts to retrieve the impounded taxi he co-owns with his partners, Yusuf and Tariq.

At Rikers, an inmate named Calvin takes Naz into his confidence as Freddy continues to make protection overtures. On the outside looking in, Stone plays detective and uncovers some important information about Andrea's troubled past. Alison and Helen discuss a possible plea deal for Naz as Chandra counsels the accused.

Stone takes on a commission and rescues a detainee on death row. Naz is pulled further into Freddy's sphere of influence at Rikers. Box reconstructs Naz's whereabouts the night of the murder, while Helen maps out a prosecution strategy.

Chandra has an unsettling encounter with a person of interest. Naz enjoys the perks of his alliance with Freddy. Stone finds relief from his eczema, and follows an intriguing new lead. Helen and Chandra make their opening statements as Naz's trial begins.