After Stu Hoffman's, the VP Creative Director of Chicago's Rothman, Greene & Mohr Advertising, campaign for Arc Mobile is rejected he is found dead in his office and the Group Creative Director Tony Mink wastes no time in appointing Art Director Mason McGuire to Stu's old job which causes a conflict with his friend and work partner copywriter Conner. Meanwhile, new copywriter Sarah Krajicek-Hunter, who found Stu dead on her first day, begs for her old job back at DDB after a disastrous presentation but they don't want her back.
After Conner inadvertently uses a copy-line designed by another copywriter for the Arc Mobile campaign, Mason has to find a way to change the focus groups liking of the line so that the line is killed before the original copywriter finds out and sues the firm. Meanwhile, Sarah adds to Mason's stress by canvassing for a window office like she was promised in her interview and disliking Mason's choice of partner for her now that Stu is gone. Elsewhere, Conner eventually persuades Mason to take Stu's old office.