Zoey's Extraordinary Outburst

**Zoey's Extraordinary Outburst** is the tenth episode of NBC's musical dramedy *Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist*. It aired on April 19, 2020.

## Episode Summary

Zoey surprisingly finds herself getting into major conflict with Simon, Max, Mo and even Howie. Tensions arise at SPRQ Point when the fourth and sixth floors compete over an important piece of code. Mitch and Maggie try to celebrate their anniversary.

## Plot

Zoey shows Mo a picture Simon posted on his Instagram with a vaguely hopeful caption, and Mo sarcastically marvels that Simon is alive. Zoey says she was getting worried because she hadn't heard a word from Simon since seeing him get on the elevator with Jessica. Mo tells Zoey that Eddie said Jessica and Simon's breakup was very amicable. Zoey says she does not know how to be around Simon now. Mo says he knows that Zoey knows that Simon is going to run and tell her about his breakup at work. Zoey agonizes over how to approach Simon at work. Mo suggests that she play it cool and be comforting, and Zoey practices different ways to say hey. After several awkward attempts, Zoey resolves to just wing it when she sees Simon.

Zoey walks into her parents' home and gives Mitch a kiss on the cheek. She notices that Mitch is tired and asks him if he’s okay. David and Maggie walk, discussing Maggie and Mitch's yearly reservation for their anniversary at Medici. David advises that they cancel, but Zoey reminds them that Mitch might still want to go. Maggie and David say it will be difficult to take Mitch to the restaurant and ask for Howie's guidance. Howie says that Mitch is slowing down but says he is willing to help. David remarks that the restaurant is tiny and wonders if Mitch's wheelchair will fit. Zoey says she will call and ask the restaurant. Maggie says it is up to Mitch, and Mitch gives a soft grunt in agreement. Zoey says she has it handled.

As Zoey gets off the elevator at SPRQ Point, she yells on the phone at Mr. Michele about the restaurant not accommodating Mitch's wheelchair. Just then, Zoey runs into Max holding a box of his things. Zoey asks if Max is really moving to the sixth floor that day, and he sarcastically retorts that nobody even noticed or said goodbye. Zoey says she was going to give him a gift, and Max halfheartedly replies that it's the almost-thought that counts. Zoey says it's going to be weird not seeing Max every day as they stand awkwardly apart. Zoey and Max then agree that they're being silly since it's only two floors, and Zoey leans in for an awkward hug as Max fumbles his box of stuff. As Max turns to leave, he starts singing “Here I Go Again,” at first sounding apprehensive but then sounding determined. Max gets on one elevator as Simon gets off the other elevator and continues singing the rest of the song with an air of independence.

Zoey goes into Joan's office and asks how her weekend was. Joan mentions that she was at a conference, and Zoey says she couldn't help but notice that Leif called in sick the same days as that she was gone. Zoey asks if they were canoodling, and Joan says they may have been. Zoey says she thought Joan was going to end her relationship with Leif, but Joan downplays the relationship as light and casual. Joan sees that the Bread Bar has been changed to an Oatmeal Bar and gets annoyed. Joan asks Zoey how the team is doing on the Chirp and asks why the workspace is so empty. Zoey tells her that Max moved up to the sixth floor, greatly upsetting Joan, who loathes Ava.

On the sixth floor, Max gives his first speech to his new team, introducing himself and making some not very well-received jokes. As he starts talking about his process for effective leadership, the team looks unimpressed. Max loosens up and says he wants to foster an environment where everyone feels like they are valued. After Max starts hyping up his new team, they all clap and pat him on the back. Ava looks on, impressed, and Max smiles.

Zoey tries some oatmeal when Simon approaches behind her and says good morning. Zoey greets him with her mouth full. Simon says he's sorry they didn't talk earlier and that he was in his own world because he and Jessica broke up. Zoey gasps, but Simon says her surprised face is terrible. He reassures Zoey that the breakup wasn't her fault and that he and Jessica had issues they couldn't resolve. Zoey tells Simon that there are zero expectations on her end, but Simon interrupts her and asks if she wants to have dinner that night. Zoey asks Simon if it's too soon, but he reassures her that it will be good to sit down and discuss. Zoey agrees and smiles to herself. Immediately after Simon leaves, she calls Mo and tells him.

Tobin asks Leif how Max got a job on the sixth floor and wonders if he is hooking up with Ava. Zoey asks Tobin why he would say that, and Tobin declares that sleeping with the boss is a great way for career advancement. In a high-pitched voice, Leif offers that sleeping with the boss is actually bad for your career since they can't play favorites. Joan walks in and interrupts, saying that she just got off the phone with Danny Michael Davis, who asked for a progress update on the Chirp. Joan goes from coder to coder, deriding them and telling them to work harder. Joan decides that it is time for one of her famous speeches. Leif starts singing “Let's Stay Together” to Joan as she yells at the coders.

When Leif's song finishes, Zoey goes into Joan's office and tells Joan that Leif is madly in love with her. Joan is taken aback and asks Zoey how she knows. Zoey says she gathered that Leif is in it for the long haul and says she wants Joan to be careful since workplace relationships are dicey. Just then, Simon walks into Joan's office and asks Zoey if 8:00 is okay for their date. Zoey agrees, and Simon leaves. Zoey redirects her attention to Joan and advises her to protect herself. Leif walks up to the doorway of Joan's office, leading Zoey to leave. Joan tells Leif they need to talk, but Leif alerts Joan that all of Max's files for the Chirp have been deleted. Joan tells Leif to go up to the sixth floor and get them. Leif says he needs an access card and suggests that they go up together, since Joan has one. Joan stammers and says she has to work, and she gives Leif her access card.

Leif goes up to the sixth floor and brings Tobin with him, who exclaims that he's always wanted to go up there. Tobin is impressed by the seafood bar on the sixth floor and goes to check it out. Max notices Leif and asks what he is doing there, and Leif tells him that they can't work on the Chirp because Max's files are gone. Ava approaches, noticing that Leif is one of Joan's programmers. Leif boasts that he is Joan's best programmer and says he is there to get Max's Chirp files. Ava asks how the Chirp is going, and Leif says it is incredible and delves into the details. Meanwhile, Ava sends a text message. Leif then asks Max for the files, but Ava tells Max not to give him the files. Ava announces that she texted Danny Michael Davis and convinced him to let the sixth floor work on the Chirp as well, starting a bake-off between the floors. Tobin walks up to Leif with shrimp in tow and asks what just happened.

That night, Zoey knocks on Simon's apartment door, and Simon says she looks nice. Zoey says she brought Simon a fern since it seemed neutral enough. Zoey admires Simon's apartment, and he asks her if she wants wine. After pouring them both glasses, Simon toasts to looking forward, and they both awkwardly sip their wine. Zoey sits on the couch with Simon. Simon says he couldn't find his pasta strainer so he has to use a tennis racket, and Zoey makes a bad joke. Simon goes off to finish the pasta and tells Zoey to make herself at home. Suddenly, Zoey hears "Mad World” playing and follows the sound into the kitchen, where she sees Simon mournfully singing and dancing. After the song is over, Zoey says she thinks she should go. She grabs her purse and starts rushing out, saying that it is not the right night for them to hang out. Simon asks if he did something wrong, and Zoey says she thought he was ready for something new, but he's just singing the same old song. Simon looks bewildered and confused as Zoey leaves.

Mo opens the door of Zoey's apartment and marvels at the fact that Zoey heard her first reprise. Zoey says she wishes the reprise was of "True Colors." Zoey laments that even after everything they have been through, nothing has changed with Simon. Mo insists that Simon has been drama since the beginning, but Zoey says she could help him even more and that she can't desert him. Mo retorts that it is emotionally exhausting watching Zoey doing so much when Simon is clearly emotionally unavailable. Mo is adamant that we won't help Zoey with Simon anymore. Zoey angrily says fine, and they both slam their doors.

At SPRQ Point, Zoey sheepishly knocks on Simon's door and enters his office. Simon jokes that normally people try his cooking before they run off, and Zoey admits that she didn't handle the night well. Simon asks Zoey what was going on there, and she says she could tell he wasn't in a place to focus on them that night. Simon says that he wanted it to be a nice night but right before Zoey came over, his mom called and said she was getting remarried that weekend and wanted him to come. Simon says he knows his mom was not responsible for his dad's suicide, but he feels like he should stick up for his dad. Zoey says that Simon just seems totally stuck in his grief, upsetting Simon. Suddenly, Joan enters and takes Zoey with her.

Joan tells Zoey that she sent Leif up to the sixth floor to get Max's Chirp files, but now they are in a bake-off with Ava's team. Joan explains that the first team to get a working prototype of the Chirp to Danny Michael Davis gets a bunch of perks, so they need to get the files back from Max. Joan grumbles that Ava has her hooks in Max, but Zoey notes that Ava never signed Max's transfer papers. Joan gets her access card from Tobin, who announces that there is going to be a smackdown on the sixth floor.

The fourth-floor team walks up to the sixth floor, and Ava menacingly approaches Joan. Joan says that Max is coming with them, but Ava is adamant that he stays. Max, confused, asks what's going on. Joan says that Ava never applied for a transfer, but Ava insists that Max wanted to work with them because they value him. Joan says Ava only recruited Max because of his Chirp files, but Ava just says she has an eye for talent. Amidst the fighting, Joan and Ava start singing "The Boy Is Mine," and the fourth and sixth-floor teams have a showdown. After the song, Max says that since it's his code, it should be his decision, and Zoey agrees. Max says his first instict was to go back to the fourth floor, but not one person fought to keep him until they needed something, so he decides to stay on the sixth floor. Ava gloats as Joan leads her coders out.

That night at the Clarke home, Maggie notices that Zoey isn't eating and asks why. Zoey confides that she and Mo are fighting, Max is being a jerk, and she is frustrated with Simon. Maggie reminds her that she also yelled at Michele. Maggie asks Zoey if she thought about taking something or getting a massage to calm down, but Zoey says she's fine and steers the conversation to Maggie and Mitch's anniversary dinner. Maggie says she hopes she can make up for the mess from last year and explains that she got a speeding ticket and let it ruin the whole evening. Maggie laments that she just assumed the next year would be better. They hear Mitch coughing and run over to check on him, and Howie says it is getting even harder for him to swallow. In defeat, Maggie says they can't go to the restaurant.

At SPRQ Point, Joan is working in her office when Leif comes into her office and notes that they're the last ones there. He asks if Joan if she wants to play him Tarzan, her Joan, but Joan says she needs to talk to him. She says Zoey seems to think he is in love with her and laughs it off. Leif grumbles that Zoey always knows exactly what's in his head. Joan says they agreed their relationship was light and fun, but Leif says things change. Joan tells Leif their relationship cant happen and that it’s over, and Leif looks crushed.

Zoey sees Max on the fourth floor and asks if he's lost. Max says he forgot his lumbar support, and Zoey sarcastically jokes that it's fourth-floor property, which Max sarcastically says is very funny. Zoey tells Max that what he did yesterday was really rough, but Max insists it wasn't personal. Zoey retorts that she thinks it is personal and that he's mad at her for not giving him the response he wanted. Zoey wonders out loud why else Max would take the sixth floor's side, and Max counters that people actually like him there and that it is a big career opportunity. Max starts to walk away until Zoey says nobody understands why Ava wanted him in the first place. Max turns around retorts that maybe it's because he's a good person, but Zoey says he's selfish. In anger, Max says he said he has spent too much time worrying about others' happiness instead of his own, especially Zoey's, and he wants to focus on himself for a change. Zoey looks after him, upset.

Later, Zoey sits with Mitch and tries to talk to him. Zoey asks him to hit his buzzer once if he is with her, which he fails to do. Zoey then asks for Mitch for him to blink, which he barely accomplishes. Zoey pleads for Mitch to sing her a heart song so she can know what is going on and starts crying. She yells for Howie and asks him if something is going on with Mitch. Howie tells Zoey he gave Mitch a sedative, and Zoey bursts out at him. Zoey yells that they don't have much time left to communicate with Mitch. Howie replies that he and Maggie thought Mitch could use good night's sleep, but Zoey keeps yelling that it's stupid since they can't communicate with Mitch. Howie looks sad, and Maggie asks to speak privately with Zoey for a moment.

Maggie pulls Zoey aside and tells her that they do not speak to people that way in their house. Zoey says maybe they should and that she is tired of people acting sweet and polite. Maggie retorts that there is nothing wrong with being polite. Apparently unmoved, Zoey leaves.

Later, Simon knocks on Zoey's door, asks if she is okay, and mentions that she sounded really upset on the phone. Zoey pulls Simon into her apartment and starts making out with him. Zoey brings Simon to her bed, and Simon asks what is happening. Zoey says she doesn't want to talk and that they've done enough talking. They keep making out, but Simon pulls away and says that the last time they talked, Zoey said Simon was stuck and needed to get over it. Simon tells Zoey to finish her thoughts. Zoey says that Simon's endless grieving is boring, angering him. Zoey says Simon should move on, but Simon says her father is still alive and she has no idea what it's like. Zoey retorts that Simon's grief already cost him one relationship, but Simon says that Zoey has a trail of destruction following her and that Max even moved to the sixth floor to get away from her. Zoey snaps that Simon can't even be happy for his own mother. Simon yells that Zoey bringing him to her apartment, making out with him, and then ambushing him is manipulative. Zoey and Simon continue yelling until Simon opens the door and Mo says enough and demands that they come with him.

Zoey and Simon follow Mo into his apartment, and Zoey asks how he heard them fighting. Mo says that everyone could hear them. Mo says they are going to do the only rational thing at the moment and orders Zoey and Simon to not hold back. Mo starts blasting “I Love It” by Icona Pop and dancing. When Zoey and Simon don't start dancing, Mo tells them the song is not for him and demands that they start dancing. Simon and Zoey start dancing furiously and getting out their frustrations, and Mo dances with them.

Later, Zoey sits with Simon as they both drink water and exhales. Simon asks if she feels better, and she says she feels exhausted and exhilarated. Simon says they said some things earlier he wished they hadn't, and Zoey says she is sorry and doesn't know where it came from. Simon empathizes with Zoey's uncontrollable anger and reminds her that it is one of the textbook stages of grief. Simon says the day after his dad died, he made a girl scout cry because she ran out of Samoas. Simon consoles Zoey that the anger will dissipate, or she can channel it into something else, and Zoey points out his anger at his mother. Simon says Zoey is right; he's not angry at his mom, he's just jealous that she moved past her grief and found joy. Simon says he wants that too, and Zoey tells him to go after it and leans in for a kiss. Simon pulls away before they kiss and sighs. He tells Zoey that he wants it, too, but she deserves someone who can be fully present. Simon asks Zoey if she can be patient with him, and Zoey remarks that she's waited this long. Simon tells Zoey that he is going to go to Las Vegas and attend his mom's wedding. Simon kisses Zoey on the cheek and then leaves.

Max gets on the elevator at SPRQ Point, and Leif gets on behind him at the last minute. Leif says hey and presses the button for the fourth floor before asking Max how he is. They stand in silence for a moment, and then Leif tentatively asks Max if there is room for a new coder on the sixth floor. Max asks him who he had in mind, and Leif says himself. Leif says he could be helpful in creating a new working prototype for the Chirp since it was his idea. The elevator doors open on the fourth floor, but Leif doesn't get off. Max says he's listening, and the elevator doors close.

At the Clarke home, Zoey goes into the kitchen. Howie notices her and asks if she's playing hooky. Zoey says she is taking a day off from work to spend time with family and to apologize for talking to him like she did. Howie says it's okay and that at the very least, she didn't throw anything. Zoey sees Maggie and hugs her. Zoey says happy anniversary and then kisses her father on the cheek. Zoey asks her parents if they want to do anything special for their anniversary, but Maggie says they're just gonna hang out and watch some movies. Zoey asks about their dinner plans, and Maggie says they will just heat up some leftovers. Zoey glances at Mitch, who closes eyes in pain. She walks over to Howie and asks him if he can help her with something.

That night, Howie tells Mitch he looks sharp as he wheels him into the Clarkes' greenhouse. Maggie greets Mitch and says they were able to get their favorite table after all. Zoey and David look on happily. After Howie wheels him to the table, Maggie kisses Mitch on the cheek. Maggie sits down with Mitch, and Zoey looks at them happily and starts to walks off until she hears music start playing. Maggie starts singing "Perfect" and Mitch joins in. They slow dance together as they sing and celebrate their anniversary.

## Cast

### Starring

* **Jane Levy** as Zoey Clarke
* **Skylar Astin** as Max Richman
* **Alex Newell** as Mo
* **John Clarence Stewart** as Simon Haynes
* **Peter Gallagher** as Mitch Clarke
* **Mary Steenburgen** as Maggie Clarke

### Guest Starring

* **Renée Elise Goldsberry** as Ava Price
* **Michael Thomas Grant** as Leif Donnelly
* **Kapil Talwalkar** as Tobin Batra
* **Andrew Leeds** as David Clarke
* **Zak Orth** as Howie

### Co-Starring

* **Kevin Fraser** as Brogrammer Dancer #5
* **Gabriel Richard** as Brogrammer Dancer #6

## Trivia

* This episode features the first full reprise of a heart song ("Mad World," sung by Simon).

## Gallery

* Pictures
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