In "Wayward Pines'" Episode 1 of the first season, Secret Service Agent Ethan Burke (Matt Dillon, "Crash," "City of Ghosts") drives from his headquarters in Seattle to the rustic town of Wayward Pines, Idaho, searching for two missing federal agents.

Ethan was chosen for the mission because he is one of the best Secret Service agents available, plus he knew missing agent Kate Hewson (Carla Gugino, "Watchmen," "Entourage"). They were partners at work, and their intimate relationship almost destroyed Ethan's marriage.

Ethan's life changes in a heartbeat -- a truck slams into his car. He wakes up in the Wayward Pines Hospital under the care of an intense and unpredictable nurse named Pam (Melissa Leo, "The Fighter," "Treme"). Pam seems to be more interested in harming Ethan than healing him. The two become adversaries, and her role in the strange town is much more significant than anyone realizes.

The information he receives within the town clashes with his version of the car accident and recent events. He begins to question his own sanity.

The mysterious and charismatic Dr. Jenkins (Toby Jones, "The Girl," "Harry Potter"), a psychiatrist who treats Ethan at Wayward Pines Hospital, attempts to help him collect his thoughts.

In Seattle, Ethan's wife, Theresa Burke (Shannyn Sossamon, "40 Days and 40 Nights," "How to Make It in America"), a former Secret Service Agent trainee, receives a phone call from Ethan's boss, Adam Hassler (Tim Griffin, "Prime Suspect"). He tells her that, according to forensic testing, Ethan was never in the crashed car that was recovered near Wayward Pines.

While he assures her the investigation continues, Theresa and their teenage son, Ben (Charlie Tahan, "The Harvest," "Charlie St. Cloud") set out on their own search for Ethan.

Meanwhile, Ethan leaves the hospital and continues his investigation. He meets local residents, including toymaker Harold Ballinger (Reed Diamond, "24," "Much Ado About Nothing") and Beverly (Juliette Lewis, "Cape Fear," "Secrets & Lies"), a sassy bartender who is wary of Wayward Pines as well.

Can Beverly help Ethan find answers in Wayward Pines?

Many of the residents prove to be challenging for Ethan to deal with, like the town's sheriff, Sheriff Arnold Pope (Terrence Howard, "Crash," "Hustle & Flow," "Empire"), who takes offense at a Secret Service agent coming into town and telling him what to do.

Ethan's investigation turns up more questions than it does answers, and it reveals mysteries buried deep in the creepy town, leading him to wonder if he'll ever get out alive.

The 10-episode TV series is directed and produced by M. Night Shyamalan ("The Sixth Sense," "The Village"), and is based on the novel "Pines" by Blake Crouch.

Watch the "Wayward Pines" series premiere Thursday, May 14, at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.