A major earthquake hits Los Angeles, and damaging Ellen's bookstore Buy the Book. Ellen tries to get her friends to rally around to her fix up the store, but they are more interested in their own problems, such as Adam taking photos of the damage and Paige trying to get into the dry cleaners store next door for a dress suit. Meanwhile, Ellen's cousin, Spence Kovak, a doctor, arrives and moves in with her after revealing that he has been kicked out of his New York medical practice.