Michael Westen, a spy, is 'burned' while on assignment in Nigeria. Spies are not fired; they're issued a burn notice to let the agent know their services are no longer required.

Laura, one of Madeline's friends, is tricked and beaten up by a con artist. Michael agrees to help Laura at Madeline's insistence in exchange for information on two men that were asking about him.

A single mother witnesses a drug dealer brutally beating up a man. Oleg asks Michael to help the woman, who is his best waitress Cara, after she stops showing up for work.

Michael's friend Bill asks for the spy's help in freeing his daughter from a prostitution ring. Meanwhile, Michael dodges multiple assassination attempts.

Michael must recruit a spy within a lethal and tightknit family of gun runners in order to save a couple.

Michael gets on the wrong side of Jamaican smugglers when he repossesses a boat for Sam's old friend.