At a charity dinner in San Francisco, the Ritz-Carlton ballroom is ravaged by an earthquake. In the aftermath, four stranger's lives are entwined forever.

Sarah Sloane's perfect life falls apart when her husband is exposed as a fraudster. Grammy winner Melanie Free realises what is important in life. Photographer Everett Carson finds a new purpose to live and nun Sister Maggie Kent, frantically works to rebuild the city and try to hide her feelings of love from her new friend.