The great San Francisco earthquake destroys vast swathes of the city including the small apartment where his parents were sleeping.

At the dinner, Dan enjoys the company of Wo's daughter, May Ling, laughing and feeling more at ease than he had since his first days with Jean.

Dan broaches the idea to Jean, but is flatly declined as divorce is not something the Seldon family participates in.

Doing so before the cargo market collapses, the company greatly profits and uses the money to start a classy department store.

Unable to honor his deposits due to the bank run, his friend dies of a heart attack.

As the heir and subsequent chairwoman of the Seldon Bank, Jean calls the loans that are keeping Levy and Lavette afloat.

Bereft of all his money and torn inside by the emotional destruction of his world, Dan wanders the streets as a vagabond in search of work and even spends three months in prison after fighting off some muggers.

In 1978, the book was adapted as a four-hour, two-part miniseries, directed by Alan J. Levi, and starring Stephen Macht as Daniel Lavetta, Sharon Gless as Jean Seldon, and Aimee Eccles as May Ling.

The cast also included Richard Anderson, Kevin Dobson, Roddy McDowall, Pernell Roberts, John Saxon, Susan Strasberg, Barry Sullivan, Ina Balin, Lloyd Bochner, Michael Durrell, Yuki Shimoda and Aharon Ipalé.