Michael clashes with his new administrator (Barbara Tyson) over his bookkeeping, with the way he handles the kids. and seeks the trust of a former gang leader.
A friend's death prompts Pin to join an outreach center. Michael and Eleanor deal with a teen who is a date rape victim and won't accept that she's pregnant.
Michael is at risk of losing the ranch after Vic is charged with the attempted murder of a ranch kid. Michael hears varied stories when trying to exonerate Vic of the attempted murder.
Michael is the one who needs help when ranch pressures and the suicide of a close friend cause Michael to start drinking again.
Michael discovers his ex-wife's nephew is being abused by his new stepfather.
To help a girl who is using drugs and alcohol as a way of coping with a reoccurring nightmare, Michael has everyone at the ranch recall their dreams.
A teen and his friends see themselves akin to the superhero group in a comic; but use violence to environmental destruction of the valley.
Reid denies that his daughter is anorexic. Recently promoted Eleanor may have to leave the ranch.
Michael and Pin try to save a crack addict-informant, who wants to leave the streets, but the cop who controls him won't allow it. Michael and Pin race to protect a policeman's snitch who has disappeared from the ranch.
A terminally ill young woman meets a ranch resident who rekindles her zest for life. Micheal helps a teen runaway cope with the fact that she is dying. Meanwhile, Vic falls for a nurse. Eleanor is called a "pimp" after her and Fox's plan to earn money for the ranch is revealed.
The tables are turned when Michael is badly injured in a car wreck and desperately tries to break through to a schizophrenic teen. A ranch kid is dead and a severely injured Michael must rely on a schizophrenic boy to save his life.
A teen finally gets his life in order only to have it fall apart again after a drug-related accident that severely burns him and kills his father.
Michael breaks his own rules by giving money to help out a ranch kid, only to discover the money was spent on drugs. Pin tries to help a heroin addict by getting her busted. Pin must take drastic and unpleasant measures to help a girl with a severe heroin addiction. Michael is faced with the same dilemma when he tries to help a former ranch kid whose repeated attempts at making it in society are dismal failures.
Walt, Pin and Kevin work to reconnect a Mother with her runaway prostitute daughter. It's parents day at the ranch, which comes with it's own set of challenges. Walt is attacked by someone he was trying to help, and that'll change his life forever. Siblings are divided on dealing with Parents' Day. Meanwhile, Pin and Walt search the streets for runaways.
