The ABC Family original series The Foster is a one hour drama about a unique family and their lives. The family is comprised of two mothers who have two fosters children, Jesus and Mariana. The mothers are Lena and Stef, who are partners. Lena is played by Sherri Saum and Stef is played by Teri Polo. Stef has a biological son from her previous heterosexual marriage. Her son Brandon lives amongst them too.
In the premiere Lena was called by Bill who is from Child Protection Services. He knows that her and Stef are good people and good foster parents. He asks her to take a new foster child, just for a night as she is being released from juvenile detention. The child's name is Calle, played by Maia Mitchell. Callie is taken back to the family home. Once there she is abrupt and abrasive, but not maliciously. Callie just is having a tough break in life. During the introduction of Callie the viewer is introduced to the family members formally and the viewer learns more about each character. For example Lena is a vice principal at a charter school. Callie is made to attend school the following day with the other children. But she has other plans then at tenting school. She approaches her foster sister Mariana, and asks where there is a bus stop. Mariana is not helpful at first until Callie confesses that she saw Marianna take her brother's pills the night before. Marianna appreciative that Callie did not say anything to anyone regarding the pills, tells Callie how to get off campus. Marianna took the pills in order to sell them, the money made is for her biological mother. Who she plans to meet secretly.
Brandon sees Callie escaping off campus and follows her. He confronts her, and she explains that her brother Jude is still trapped at her home with their abusive father. Brandon decides to aid Callie, and skip his scholarship piano recital in order to do the right thing. Callie and Brandon go to her father's home. which is close to Tijuana. Meanwhile, Lena, Stef and Brandon's father and the kids realize Brandon and Callie are missing. Luckily Stef had phone locator app on all the children's phones that she can view from her phone. She realized where they are, all three adults hop in the car and go off to reclaim Brandon and Callie. While this is going on Marianna confronts her biological mother who just wanted money form her and not a relationship. Also Brandon pretends to be lost and knocks on Callie's family home to distract her father as Callie goes in the back to take Jude. However, Callie father sees her and assaults her then draws a gun on the children.
Mike (Brandon's Father, whom is a cop too), Stef and Lena arrive. Mike and Stef enter the house and detain Callie's father at gun point. Lena and Stef decide to take Callie and Jude in for a temporary bias, because they aren't ready to go back into the system. The episode ends with a reunion of Callie and Jude in the car, while Brandon stares longingly into Callie's eyes.