Everything had been going according to plan for fast-talking New Yorker Zoe Hart (series star RACHEL BILSON). Beautiful, privileged and talented, she was on her way to becoming a heart surgeon, just like her father. But when she's told she doesn't have the requisite bedside manner to get an important fellowship she was counting on getting that she doesn't have the heart to be a heart surgeon Zoe's devastated. Desperate, she decides to finally accept the offer of a kindly stranger, Dr. Harley Wilkes (guest star NICHOLAS PRYOR Beverly Hills, 90210), whom she met at her medical school graduation, and who had proposed she join his small medical practice in Bluebell, Alabama.

Hoping it might help the residents of BlueBell accept her as one of their own, Zoe Hart agrees to join Mayor Lavon Hayes on his float during the Founder's Day parade, but, unfortunately, accidentally crashing the float doesn't exactly help Zoe win over Lemon Breeland and the residents of BlueBell. To make matters worse, the town's golden boy, George Tucker, informs Zoe that contractually she needs to bring in 30 percent of the business or Dr. Brick Breeland (recurring guest star TIM MATHESON) will have the option to buy out her half of the medical practice.

Zoe is determined to win BlueBell's gumbo contest and prove to everyone that she is a part of the community and hopefully land some patients. Lavon develops a crush on Brick (recurring guest star TIM MATHESON) and Zoe's new receptionist, Didi (recurring guest star NADINE VELAZQUEZ My Name Is Earl), but things get a little messy after Lemon catches wind of the news. Zoe and Brick find themselves having to work together to perform a life-saving surgery.

As BlueBell is hit by an intense heat wave, Zoe discovers that the hot weather makes everyone act differently and with a lot less inhibition. In fact, it takes all of Zoe's strength to ignore her heat-induced attraction to Wade until it gets the best of her. Meanwhile, Lemon prepares for the arrival of George's family, determined to win them over, but her emotions get the best of her when Lavon shows up to the same restaurant with his date, Didi (recurring guest star NADINE VELAZQUEZ).

Zoe discovers something shocking about the local minister (guest star PETER MacKENZIE It's Complicated, The Mentalist) and his wife (guest star KERRY O'MALLEY Brotherhood), causing quite a stir amongst the residents of BlueBell. Lemon is determined to find the funds to renovate the town's historic bridge that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, but first she is put in the extremely awkward position of having to convince Lavon to choose her proposal over so many other worthwhile submissions.

Driving home late one night from a house call, Zoe accidentally hits a man but can't find any signs of him when she gets out of her car. Later, she sees the man's photo hanging in the Rammer Jammer, and George has to break the news to her that the man in the picture died over a year ago. Meanwhile, Lemon and George are ready to buy their dream home until Lavon steps in and refuses to authorize the purchase because it is one of Bluebell's historic properties. Zoe's mom (recurring guest star JoBETH WILLIAMS The Big Year, Private Practice, Frasier) shows up in BlueBell hoping to reconcile with her daughter after keeping the identity of Zoe's real father a secret Zoe's entire life.

When Nascar's BRIAN VICKERS (appearing as himself) has to drop out of hosting BlueBell Junior League's annual turtle race, Lemon is reluctantly convinced that the mayor is the perfect replacement as her co-host. Meanwhile, Zoe is asked out on a date by a handsome local veterinarian, Dr. Judson Lyons (guest star WES BROWN True Blood), and Wade has an unexpected visitor who stirs up all kinds of trouble for him.

Noticing that Zoe is feeling homesick, Lavon suggests that she host his annual pre-game Homecoming party to help her feel more connected to BlueBell. Zoe jumps at the opportunity and decides to enlist the help of her friend Gigi (guest star MEGAN STEVENSON Californication) from New York, but, as it turns out, New York and BlueBell have very different ideas of what makes a good party. Meanwhile, George and Wade hatch a plan to get even with their high school nemesis, Jimmy (guest star SEAN CARRIGAN The Event); when Lemon catches wind of their scheme she wants in on the action, too.

While the residents of BlueBell prepare for their annual Planksgiving celebration, Zoe anxiously counts the days until her return home to New York for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, getting out of town may be a bit trickier than Zoe anticipated due to the fact that she has to meet her 30 percent quota of patients by midnight or lose her share of the practice to Brick (recurring guest star TIM MATHESON). Meanwhile, Lavon encourages Wade to be honest about his feelings for Zoe, and George's father (guest star ERIC PIERPOINT Parks and Recreation) offers him an opportunity to join his law firm in Montgomery, which isn't exactly music to Lemon's ears.