 Harriet Delong helps open a new art gallery on the Sparta square to benefit pregnant teenagers, as the Sparta High School track team prepares for an upcoming meet with Capt. Bubba Skinner and Lt. Lonnie Jamison as volunteer coaches. The team is racially mixed, evidencing the peaceful "new South" of the time. During a practice, Marissa Rask, a Caucasian girl, and David Collins, an African-American boy, embrace and kiss. The moment is cut short by a sniper s bullet into Marissa s back. The sniper turns out to be ultra-racist Brent Lunay (episode #5.15, "Odessa"), who is seen by Skip Coopersmith leaving the area. Marissa may not walk again. The high school principal accuses Lonnie of neglect in allowing the shooting to occur. A major question for investigators is: who was the target?