In L.A., Solo has writer's block after a successful first book he's ashamed of. He's broke, thanks to a year in analysis; in their final session, his shrink suggests a pet. Solo buys a scrawny terrier who adds to his problems: the dog isn't house-trained; Solo owes money to a thug who's angry Solo's spent money on a dog; at a dog park, the dog is bitten and Solo begs a woman he's just met to pay the vet bill, so now he owes her; and, his friend Casper has introduced him to a persistent rich girl who decides she wants the dog. He could sell, settle his debts, and return to life with a clean carpet. Or, he could figure out why he doesn't want to part with the dog.