Violet, Klaus and Sunny get new guardians in a fashionable building, where stairs are in -- and the elevator's out. Jacques Snicket trains a recruit.
While a citywide manhunt for Count Olaf is underway, Mr. Poe takes the Baudelaires to the penthouse of Jerome Squalor, an old friend of their parents who is now married to the wealthy and trendy financial advisor Esme. While being introduced to the Squalors, they find Olaf has already arrived, posing as a wealthy suitor for Esme named Gunther.
The Baudelaires theorize that Olaf is trying to kill Jerome so that he can marry Esme and become their legal guardian again. They search the penthouse for the Quagmires to no avail, but Klaus becomes suspicious of an extra elevator that only seems to serve the penthouse.
Meanwhile, Olivia tries to convince Mr. Poe about Olaf's scheme, showing him the book on secret organizations; this leads Jacquelyn to contact Jacques, who enlists Olivia into their society. Esme suggests they go out for lunch at a fashionable salmon-themed restaurant, where Larry works to prolong their visit, giving Jacques and Olivia time to search the Squalor's building for the Quagmires. During the meal, Klaus gets the idea to look into the curious elevator, and the Baudelaires sneak away back to the penthouse.
There they learn that it is merely an empty shaft. With a makeshift parachute, they descend it to find the Quagmires locked in a cage at its bottom.
