Zoey's Extraordinary Confession

**Zoey's Extraordinary Confession** is the seventh episode of NBC's musical dramedy *Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist*. It aired on March 22, 2020.

## Episode Summary

Zoey is forced to admit some hard truths to Max. Tobin worries his friendship with Leif is on the rocks. Mo struggles to communicate with the new man in his life.

## Plot

At Zoey's apartment, she and Max finish watching a movie together and then joke around as they sit on the couch next to each other. Mo enters, turns the lights on, and sits between Zoey and Max on the couch. Mo turns the movie off, and Max protests that he wanted to see the after-credits scene. Mo says he needs help because he slid into Eddie's DMs and Eddie only replied with "K", leading Max to tout his wingman skills. Then, Max thanks Zoey for reinstituting their Movie Night and that he missed hanging out with her. As Max heads out, Zoey thanks him for being so helpful with Mitch and says she needs more Max in her life while touching his shoulder. Max jokes that Zoey needs better popcorn and playfully punches her on the arm. After Max leaves, Mo says Zoey is giving him the wrong impression. Zoey insists that just because Max might have feelings doesn't mean he's going to act on them. Later, Mo says he responded to Eddie "K" and says that if Eddie wants to play games, they'll play games.

At the Clarke home, Zoey, Maggie, and David help move Mitch onto the couch. David starts arguing with Zoey over her meddling in his marriage. Maggie pulls them into the other room and sings them "A Little Less Conversation." After the song ends, Maggie says that Zoey and David have to get over their argument and stop fighting in front of Mitch. Maggie also tells them that she has decided to hire a caregiver, which she says is the right decision but also hard to accept. Zoey and David reassure Maggie and tell her not to feel guilty. David says he'll try to let go of his annoyance at Zoey since she helped him and Emily talk through some things. Both Zoey and David say they just want to see Maggie happy.

At SPRQ Point, Max and Zoey walk in together as Zoey asks Max if they're still on for lunch. Max says they should try something different for lunch and suggests a food court. Simon gets on the elevator with them, and they stand in silence for a bit. Max and Simon start making awkward small talk, and then Zoey makes an awkward remark about the burnt roses at the party. When they exit the elevator, Simon asks Zoey if she has a minute to talk. Simon says he has been leaning on Zoey too much with his dad stuff and says they have to be professional and go back to just being coworkers. Zoey agrees and then leaves.

Max is talking with the coders when Zoey walks up. Max says he can't believe Joan and Charlie are getting a divorce and is surprised when Zoey says she already knows. Meanwhile, Leif and Tobin mourn Joan and Charlie's divorce. Joan walks up to the coders and chastises them for gossiping, but she then says she had her publicist plant the divorce along with a good picture of her. Joan then announces that she and Leif came up with an idea and calls the coders into the conference room.

In the conference room, Joan reveals that during Simon's engagement party, she and Leif came up with a new device they call the Chirp. Joan and Leif explain that the Chirp is a Bluetooth device that uses a high-res camera and AI to search databases, filter results, and relay them back to the user. Zoey asks what she wants the team to do to help, but Joan assures Zoey that she and Leif are fine working alone for now. After the other coders leave, Zoey pulls Joan aside and reminds Joan that she's Leif's supervisor and asks if they want her help with the Chirp. Joan says they’ll let her know if they need her, but Zoey is skeptical.

Tobin approaches Leif and says he's proud of him but asks why Leif didn't tell him he was working with Joan. Leif explains that they were keeping the project on the down-low, but Tobin insists that he and Leif always tell each other everything. Leif promises Tobin he'll make it up to him when they celebrate Spell-iversary, the day they both won the National Spelling Bee at age 11. Zoey and Max start poking fun at Tobin and he starts telling them off but realizes Leif went off to talk to Joan. Max makes fun of him.

While Zoey and Max eat lunch at the food court, Zoey complains about Leif being smug. Zoey sees Max glancing around nervously and asks him if he’s ok. Max says he’s actually really happy, and out of nowhere, he stands up and starts singing "If I Can't Have You." The other people in the food court start singing and dancing along. At first, Zoey thinks it's just another heart song, but when she rhetorically asks Max why he had to sing, Max replies that Zoey said she wanted more Max in her life, and he wants that, too. In shock, Zoey remarks that Max can actually hear her, and Max, confused, asks what that means. After the song is over, Zoey realizes Max sang to her in real life. Max explains to Zoey that he hired a flash mob service, and Zoey exclaims that it was unexpected and amazing but she's confused and has to go. Zoey runs away.

Zoey walks back into SPRQ Point when Simon runs into her. He asks if she's okay and says she looks shaken. Zoey starts explaining but then says they're keeping it professional and walks away. Joan calls Zoey into her office. Joan says Zoey she knows Zoey's upset about not being included with the Chirp, but she will be soon. While Joan starts rambling on about her love life and bad behavior, Zoey glances towards the elevator nervously and sees Max has arrived.

At the Clarke home, David, Maggie, and Mitch start interviewing different candidates to be Mitch's caregiver. The first candidate is a creepy man who says he takes a whole-body approach to caregiving. The second candidate is a neurotic woman who says she senses dark energies in the house. A third candidate is a man who makes a lot of jokes that make Mitch laugh. Finally, David and Maggie are impressed by the fourth candidate, a registered nurse named Nancy, and ask her when can she start.

Zoey sits in a chair, listening to something with headphones on, when Max turns the chair around and asks if she's hiding from him. Zoey says she's working, but Max listens to her headphones and says she's listening to a podcast on the Golden State Killer. Zoey reassures Max that the flash mob was an amazing gesture, but Max says he really put himself out there and asks Zoey to say something. Zoey says she is not good with feelings and emotions. Max, hurt, says that Zoey has been acting weird for months and asks her to tell him what's going on. Zoey blurts out that she has a superpower. In disbelief, Max tells Zoey to forget it, but Zoey insists that she's telling the truth and that people sing their inner thoughts to her.

Zoey pulls Max aside and explains her power to him. Max says he did a whole flash mob for Zoey and that her telling him stories of earthquakes and magical MRI machines doesn't make him feel any better. Zoey pleads with Max to imagine how she feels. Zoey insists that her superpower is no joke and that it has taken over her entire life. Max asks Zoey what he's singing right at that moment, but Zoey protests that her power doesn't work that way and that she can't just make it happen. Max dismisses this as being too convenient for Zoey and walks away.

At the Clarke home, Mitch's new caregiver, Nancy, takes his vitals. Maggie tells Nancy that it's great to have her there and that she felt so helpless, but Nancy interrupts Maggie by handing her a list of medical equipment. Maggie asks Nancy if they really need all that equipment, especially since Mitch doesn't want their home to feel like a sick house. Nancy insists that the patient’s health is the priority. Taken aback, Maggie says to call him Mitch. Maggie asks Mitch if he thinks they should get the equipment, and he types ok. However, Maggie does not seem happy.

Tobin gets off the phone and announces to Leif that he got the best table at Club Chaos for Spell-iversary, but Joan calls Leif over. Tobin halfheartedly lets the coders know that they're all invited. Zoey says she needs a raincheck, and Tobin says he's going to pretend Zoey was part of that invite. Suddenly, Tobin starts singing “Don't Speak” while looking sadly at Joan and Leif as they talk in the conference room. While Tobin sings, Zoey runs off to find Max and prove to him that she has powers. Zoey tells Max that Tobin is singing his feelings out loud to Leif, but Max retorts that Tobin doesn't have feelings. Zoey insists that Tobin is very sad about Leif's and his relationship. Max replies that Tobin doesn't have a care in the world, though Zoey insists that Tobin is heartbroken. Max asks Tobin if he's good, and Tobin replies your mama thought so last night. Max says Zoey can't convince him about her powers, but Zoey says she knows who can.

Zoey, Max, and Mo sit together in Mo's apartment, and Mo affirms to Max that Zoey has powers. Max asks Mo if Zoey put him up to this and if they're pranking him. However, Mo assures Max that Zoey's powers are very real. Mo says he's been keeping tabs on the rules and reads them out to Max. Max interrupts Mo in disbelief and sarcastically says that Zoey can bend the laws of physics, too. In spite of Mo's evidence, Max says he needs more concrete evidence and proof to believe Zoey. Zoey says she can do that, but they have to go clubbing with Tobin.

At the club, Zoey carries drink for Tobin and asks Max if he thinks Tobin will like it, and Max says that Goldschlager is the drink of douche bros trying to be classy. Mo tells Zoey and Max that says Eddie's coming, too, though his messages continue to be cryptic. They see Tobin celebrating, and Max asks Zoey if she's sure he's hiding emotional pain, to which Zoey replies that it's obvious. Tobin seems slightly annoyed that they showed up, but he says he'll let them stay since they brought him his favorite drink. Zoey asks Tobin where Leif is, and Tobin says he's running late but insists he'll be there. Zoey says that's odd and asks Tobin if everything is alright. Tobin acts defensive and insists he and Leif are fine, but Zoey insists that something is bothering Tobin. Just then, Tobin gets a text and looks hurt. Max asks him if everything is okay, but Tobin just leaves to go to the bathroom. Max sarcastically tells Zoey that talking to Tobin that really convinced him of her powers.

Eventually, Max remarks that Tobin has been gone for four songs, and Zoey wonders if she was too hard on him. Zoey tells Max that she's usually more subtle, but she was really trying to prove her powers to Max. Zoey asks Max to check on Tobin, but Max retorts that men don't check on men in restrooms. Mo walks up to them and says he saw Tobin leave but Eddie arrived. Eddie asks Mo if he wants to dance, and they go off to the dance floor. Max tells Zoe he only came to see if Tobin was a mess but now that he left, Max is leaving. However, Zoey hears music start playing and says it's Mo and Eddie. Mo and Eddie start singing "Bailamos" together while they dance. Zoey says Mo didn't know where he stood with Eddie but bets Max that they will kiss. Even after Mo and Eddie kiss, Max says that doesn't prove anything and that if Zoey keeps sticking to the story of her superpower, they have to stop hanging out.

As Max walks out, Zoey pleads with him that she can prove her power. Max says there's no way that's possible, but Zoey reveals to him that she saw inside his heart. Zoey lets slip that Max sang love songs to her, and Max asks why she didn't do anything. Zoey says she did something, and Max realizes that she set him up with Autumn to get her away from him. Max says now he knows Zoey is telling the truth because she could never lie about something so heartless. Though Zoey insists she cares about Max, Max retorts that couldn't care when she knew how he felt about her and didn't say anything. Max says he and Zoey are not friends anymore then walks off with a pained expression on his face.

The next morning, Zoey knocks on Mo's door. Zoey tells Mo that she heard Eddie sing and that she can tell he's really into Mo. Zoey suggests that Eddie might be shy and that he communicates with body, and Mo says they figured that out the night before. Then Eddie walks into the room in his underwear and asks Mo if he wants breakfast. Zoey tells Mo that Max hates her and doesn't want to be friends with her. Zoey laments that hearing people's thoughts always ruins everything, but Mo says Zoey shouldn't blame the fight on her powers. Mo says the power is a gift that helps Zoey make connections and have hard conversations. Mo says Max organized an entire flash mob, and Zoey told him about powers to avoid saying how she feels. Zoey insists that she doesn't know how she feels, but Mo says to start there. Eddie tells Mo he's hungry, and Mo asks Zoey to leave.

Maggie walks into the house and sees a hospital bed. She asks Nancy why she didn't ask before she got the hospital bed. Nancy says she thought they agreed to make some changes, but Maggie says this is a drastic change. Nancy says that as a healthcare professional, she is only doing what's best and that it's time for Mitch to rest. Mitch grunts as Nancy reaches to turn off the TV, and Maggie tells her to leave the TV on. Mitch says he's thirsty and wants a milkshake. Nancy asks Maggie if she wants Mitch's blood sugar to spike and she needs to give him what he needs. Mitch looks imploringly at Maggie, and she retorts that she knows what her husband needs.

Tobin takes a shot of hot sauce from a bottle with his face on it. Zoey approaches and tells him the waitress at the club dropped off custom Spell-iversary vodka after he left. Zoey apologizes if she made him leave, but Tobin says he didn't leave because of her. Zoey says he and Leif are best friends, but Tobin blurts out that a best friend wouldn't bail out on Spell-iversary. Tobin says it's obviously not as important to Leif as boosting his career, but Zoey says he and Leif owe each other a conversation. Tobin says Leif is too busy.

Tobin walks up to Leif with the custom vodka and says that they missed him last night. They chuckle over the misspelling in the vodka. Tobin tells Leif he's going to get deep and says that when they met at the Spelling Bee, Leif made him feel cool and that's why Spell-iversary means so much to him. Leif says he had to work and lost track of time, but Tobin Leif has been flaking on him for a while. Leif says he's trying to make serious moves in his career and that Tobin has to be more serious if they're going to run the place. Zoey looks on happily as Tobin and Leif hug, and then she sees Max on the mezzanine and nods.

Zoey approaches Max on the mezzanine, and Max asks her if she is there to salt his wounds. Zoey says she should have done this months ago and that she didn't answer him after the flash mob because her answer is complicated. Zoey says she hasn't even allowed herself to consider a romantic relationship with Max because she could lose his friendship. Max asks Zoey if she's afraid to even try, but Zoey says she's already losing Mitch and can't lose Max, too. Max says it's an awesome rejection, but Zoey insists it's not a rejection but coming from a place of love. Zoey asks if they can stay best friends and not change. However, Max says their relationship already changed since she can hear his feelings, so it's not a fair friendship. Zoey says she’ll be an open book, and though Max says that won't solve everything, Zoey says it's a start. Though Zoey wants everything to stay the same, Max says they should pause stuff like Movie Night. Zoey nods, and Max walks off.

Mitch is playing online poker with the caregiver candidate who made numerous jokes during his interview. Maggie looks on happily, and Howie says they're going to take the money Mitch is winning to buy Maggie something. Howie says that Mitch is thirsty and gets up to go make him a chocolate shake. Maggie is happy, and Mitch looks over and shrugs. When Maggie approaches Howie in the kitchen and thanks him, he says he doesn't always make the best first impression. Howie sneaks some spinach into Mitch's milkshake for vitamins and minerals, but Maggie reminds him not to forget the whipped cream.

At SPRQ Point, Simon gets on the elevator and soon after, Max also gets on and greets him. Simon says he noticed Max and Zoey hanging on again and that he noticed they weren't for a while. Max says he and Zoey are pretty tight and asks Simon if he's keeping tabs. Simon asks if Max and Zoey were ever a thing and says Zoey is special and should be with a good guy. Max says she will be one day and smiles subtly to himself.

Zoey walks out of the relaxation room and sees Joan and Leif talking. Joan tells Leif she's going to loop Zoey in on their project tomorrow. Leif says he has had a blast working with Joan and says that she's beautiful. Joan looks down sheepishly as Leif starts singing “I Put A Spell On You” while Zoey watches. When the song is over, Leif says he thinks there's something special with him and Joan that could go all the way. Joan says that something should not happen, though Leif says it seems inevitable. Joan reminds Leif that she's in a position of power over him and it's not professional. Leif says he couldn't agree more, but they start making out. Zoey is shocked by this and walks away.

## 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

* **Michael Thomas Grant** as Leif Donnelly
* **Kapil Talwalkar** as Tobin Batra
* **Andrew Leeds** as David Clarke
* **Patrick Ortiz** as Eddie
* **Patrick Rinehart** as Handsome Man
* **Madeleine Kelders** as Caregiver Applicant
* **Zak Orth** as Howie
* **Rebecca Wisocky** as Nancy Wellington

### Co-Starring

* **Nevada Banks** as Baby Wearing Mom
* **Kane Nelson** as Brogrammer #1
* **Jared Outten** as Brogrammer #2
* **Billy Mustapha** as Brogrammer #3
* **Jarrett Carlington** as Brogrammer #4
* **Kevin Fraser** as Brogrammer #5
* **Gabriel Richard** as Brogrammer #6

#### Uncredited

* **Randa Barrett**
* **Shae Bourne** as Dancer
* **Nicholas Dohy** as Club Dancer
* **Halle Gall** as Dancer
* **Charlotte Kavanagh** as Dancer
* **Jared Khalifa** as Chorus Performer
* **Janessa McGrath** as Chorus Performer
* **Hayden Rivas** as Dancer

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