Zoey's Extraordinary Trip

**Zoey's Extraordinary Trip** is the fifth episode of Season 2 and the seventeenth episode overall of NBC's musical dramedy *Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist*. It aired on February 2, 2021.

## Episode Summary

Zoey decides to explore her rebellious side with her neighbor from growing up, Aiden. Max's dad comes to visit.

## Plot

In her neighbors' garage, Zoey defeats Aiden in a tennis video game and then asks Aiden about his time backpacking through Thailand. Aiden plops down on the couch with a beer and acclaims the ancient culture. Zoey asks if he visited the Grand Palace and Buddhist temples, but he replies that he mostly just did shrooms on the beach. Zoey asks him about his plans for the future, and Aiden nonchalantly replies that he doesn't worry about that stuff, which confuses Zoey. Aiden tells Zoey she should go with the flow and starts singing "Unwritten." Zoey marvels at his free-spirited energy and says she thinks she needs a little of what he's got.

Zoey shows up at Mo's apartment the next morning dressed leisurely and announces that she is taking a personal day. Max emerges from a door in the back, and Zoey asks how the restaurant is going. Max says they're waiting to hear back on potential financing after meeting with some investors Mo knows. Mo says the investors are his "A-gays," rich, powerful gay men. Max says he wishes they would find out already so he could rub the good news in his father's face upon his arrival. Zoey impassively mentions that it sounds like Max is really looking forward to his dad's visit, and Max deadpans that he can't wait for his dad to tell him everything he's doing wrong with his life and bother him about joining the family practice. Max asks Zoey if she'll come to breakfast tomorrow since his dad loves her, and Zoey agrees.

Later, Zoey and Mo walk around when Zoey says that Mo is probably wondering why she took the day off work. Mo says not really, but Zoey announces that she has decided to become a rebel. Mo asks where all of this is coming from. Zoey mentions how hanging out with Aiden, who lives his life without thinking of the consequences, made her realize that that is what she needs to be doing more of. She says she told Aiden she's skipping work and made a list of rebellious things for them to do. Mo sarcastically remarks that nothing screams rebel more than a thorough to-do list.

At SPRQ Point, Simon answers his phone, and Tatiana answers. She asks if the rumors are true that Danny Michael Davis got out of house arrest on a technicality. Simon is unsurprised by this but says he hasn't heard anything. Suddenly, upbeat electronic music starts playing, and Simon ends his phone call and looks outside his office. Danny Michael Davis walks onto the fourth floor to flashing lights and a booming announcement while being followed by a cameraman. The fourth floor employees all gather around as Danny announces that the charges against him were dropped. After scattered applause from the employees, Danny announces that he will be spending more time in the San Francisco office going forward and tells Simon to come talk with him.

The men walk into Simon's office, and Simon welcomes Danny back. Danny thanks him and laments his uncomfortable time spent under house arrest, making a tone-deaf comment that he now knows how Nelson Mandela felt. Simon furrows his eyebrows in response. Danny tells Simon that the SPRQ Point R&D team is reporting problems with the Chirp's facial recognition of people of color. Danny tells Simon that the situation could be potentially damaging to the company and asks him to call a press conference and smooth everything over. Simon agrees, though he seems perturbed by the task.

Aiden toys with his guitar as Zoey paces around his garage, reading off her list of rebellious things for them to do. Aiden says he has a better idea and pulls a canister of whipped cream and a bottle of water out of his fridge. Aiden unscrews the bottom of the canister and pulls out a small plastic bag with pills inside, which catches Zoey off guard. Aiden offers up a pill to Zoey. She seems hesitant at first, but after Aiden takes his pill and Zoey thinks it over, she swallows the pill. After she takes the pill, Zoey's phone buzzes. She spits out her water upon seeing that Danny Michael Davis is calling and starts to panic. Zoey nervously answers the phone, and Danny tells her that there is a situation brewing and that she should come to the twelfth floor ASAP. Zoey says she's busy, and Danny says he'll come to her and that he pinged her location on his phone. Zoey hangs up and starts freaking out about being high when Danny arrives. Zoey gets another phone call from Simon and answers frantically, asking if he is fine. Simon replies dejectedly and tells her about his conversation with Danny. When he starts telling Zoey about the Chirp's issues recognizing people of color, Zoey rambles through a response and hangs up. Zoey sighs and hopes that Danny shows up before the drugs kick in. However, the drugs kick in soon after.

As Max drives his father, he offers for him to stay at his place, but Alan doubles down on staying at the hotel. Max says he's glad Alan was able to make the trip, and his father pointedly replies that one of the perks of working with family is that Max's brother and sister can cover for him. Alan not-so-subtly mentions that they could use a good IT guy for the family business, but Max pleads for him to not try to convince him to move back home again. Alan maintains that he is just concerned about Max's new business, but Max insists that they are about to secure some major financing. Mo calls and tells Max that he just spoke to the investors and they're out. Max brushes this off and says they'll just make someone else rich, especially when the article on him in *WIRED* comes out. When Mo says Tatiana told her they nixed the article, Max abruptly ends the phone call. Max and his father sit in silence, and Max tries to distract his father by pointing out Alcatraz.

Maggie walks with Roger in the garden and shows him where she is planning on putting a rabbit topiary. Unimpressed, Roger says he doesn't remember a rabbit. Jenna listens in from afar as Roger belittles Maggie's ideas. When Maggie shows him the wall and Roger says he was expecting more, Jenna walks by and says they all know what he was expecting. Taken aback, Roger walks off to take a phone call. Jenna walks up to a frustrated Maggie and expresses her disapproval of Roger's actions. Jenna suggests that Maggie tell Roger to go to hell, and Maggie thanks her for her support. Jenna glances back at Roger over her shoulder and says nobody messes with Maggie.

Back inside Aiden's garage, Aiden dances on the couch while Zoey kneels on the ground looking through the glass door. Visibly high, she says maybe Danny isn't coming. Seconds later, there is a knock at the door, and Zoey scrambles to shut the blinds. Zoey and Aiden lie on the couch out of view, but Danny stands outside he window and says he knows she's in there. Aiden hands Zoey a corduroy pillow for protection and tells her not to worry. Zoey answers the door and rapidly tells Danny that she's aware of the issues with the Chirp before shutting the door in his face. Danny talks to Zoey through the glass and asks what she's doing, and Zoey and Aiden laugh about corduroy. Danny walks into the garage and asks if they're on drugs. Though they initially try to deny it, Zoey admits to Danny that they're on drugs. Danny asks Aiden where his stash is, and Aiden hands him the bag of pills.

Later, Zoey, Aiden, and Danny walk outside. Danny mentions that he is craving popsicles and says he'll never take his freedom for granted again. Zoey hears a shimmering tone and says she just got to a whole new level. The world turns upside down, and Zoey starts hearing music. She starts singing "Starships," and Danny and Aiden join in. Suddenly, Zoey is pulled from her hallucination when she hears a car horn honking. Danny tells her get out of the street, and Zoey says sorry and returns to the sidewalk. Danny says he doesn't want to walk anymore, and Zoey says she just remembered that her mom has popsicles. They all start running toward Zoey's mother's house.

At Mo's apartment, Max lays out on the couch and panics about his and Mo's trouble finding investors. Mo's phone buzzes with a call from Simon, who asks if he wants to get dinner tomorrow and talk about a work thing. Simon clarifies that he is also inviting Tatiana, and Mo says he can host. After ending the call, Mo returns to the conversation with Max. Max wonders what they should do, and Mo suggests that they ask Max's father to invest. Max seems opposed to the idea, but Mo reminds him that Alan has money, which they need to pay their lease, contractors, and suppliers. Max says they could try but seems nervous about the possibility of rejection. Mo encourages him, and Max agrees to give it a shot, noting that Zoey will be there and his dad always says she's a ray of sunshine.

Back at her mother's house, a sniffling Zoey declares that they're just specks of dust on a rock hurtling through cold, dark, empty vastness. Danny remarks that the comedown from their high is harsh as he, Zoey, and Aiden eat popsicles in the kitchen. Aiden wonders how long they could live on popsicles and pulls out his phone to look it up. Zoey says they have plenty and recalls that popsicles were one of the few things her dad could eat. She remarks that her mom didn't deserve what she went through last year, and Danny asks what happened. Zoey tells him about her father, and Danny expresses his condolences. Zoey says that they cared about her dad so much, but all it led to was everyone being devastated. Danny agrees that caring is exhausting and tells Zoey about how lost he has gotten while caring about SPRQ Point. Zoey says there's no point to anything if the universe can just take it away, and she lies on the dining table and declares to the universe that she is done caring. Aiden sits up suddenly and announces that they could live for about a month on popsicles.

The following morning, Max and Mo give their presentation to Alan and Zoey over breakfast. After they finish, Alan asks how they'll make real money off of the restaurant. Max explains that most of their money will come from drink sales. While Alan explains his qualms with the business, Max sings "Numb," expressing his feeling of disconnect from his father. When the song ends, Alan says he'll mull it over and leaves to give a panel on gum disease. Max looks dejected and frustrated. Mo reassures him that at least Alan is considering giving them the money, and Max says he wishes everything didn't have to be so hard with him. Zoey points out to Max that if he didn't care so much, it wouldn't hurt so much and explains that she is trying a new philosophy. In disbelief, Max reminds Zoey that she cared more about her relationship with her father than anyone. Zoey stands firm, but Max says she should go back to her old philosophy. He says that the fact that she cares so much is one of the things he loves most about her and then walks away.

While Jenna browses though photos on her camera, Maggie storms into the greenhouse and tells her that she just had an upsetting phone call with Roger. She tells Jenna that someone dumped fertilizer in Roger's Porsche, and Jenna innocently says she wouldn't know anything about that or about the cactus planted in the driver’s seat. Maggie calls Jenna childish, but she insists that it's artistic and shows Maggie a photo of the cactus on her camera. Maggie gapes at Jenna and tells her that Roger said if she didn't fire Jenna, he would fire her. Jenna asks what she said, and Maggie says she told Roger he was being unprofessional and that she didn't want to work with him anymore. Jenna marvels at Maggie for choosing her over Roger, but Maggie angrily cuts her off and tells her she is firing her. In disbelief, Jenna insists she was just trying to protect Maggie. They get into a heated argument, and Maggie tells Jenna that her sister was right and it was crazy to take a chance on her. Jenna storms off.

At SPRQ Point, Danny walks into Zoey's office and asks if she has a second. Zoey asks how he looks so fresh when she feels like she's been run over by a truck, and Danny says he has a live-in herbalist. Danny sits down and tells Zoey he thought a lot about their talk last night and that he needs to live his life away from SPRQ Point. Zoey asks if he's thinking about a vacation, but Danny clarifies that he's going to sell his stake in the company. Zoey nervously reminds Danny that if he sells his stake, everyone will lose their jobs. Danny ignores this and tells Zoey to keep changing the world, and he walks away.

That night, the Clarkes commiserate over their problems. Zoey starts talking about Danny's sudden decision, but David tells her they're not on her thing yet. Emily expresses confusion as to why Jenna is suddenly leaving town and "heading east," and Maggie says she thinks it's her fault and mentions their fight. The doorbell rings, and David stands up to answer the door. Emily says she really felt like Jenna was heading in the right direction this time, and Zoey agrees that it's terrible. Maggie says she knows but what was she supposed to do, but Zoey says she's back on her thing and laments leading Danny down the wrong path. Jenna walks in sheepishly along with David and returns some gardening tools to Maggie. Maggie thanks her, and a tearful Jenna says she guesses this is goodbye. Maggie says goodbye completely devoid of emotion, and Jenna quickly leaves. David sits down, but when Emily says they should make sure Jenna is okay, he immediately he stands back up, and they go after her. Maggie walks away. Looking up, Zoey tells the universe she does care.

Simon, Mo, and Tatiana sit together in Mo's apartment, and Simon thanks Tatiana for coming on such short notice. Mo asks Simon why he brought them all there, and Simon says he wanted them to weigh in on something. Simon tells them that SPRQ Point's new tech isn't recognizing Black and brown folks, and Danny wants to use him to smooth it all over. Mo shakes his head, and Tatiana deadpans that it is shocking that a corporation with not a single person of color on its board would use a Black person as its shield. Mo says that is what they do and tells them that he's still on the brochure for a summer camp he went to for one afternoon when he was nine. Simon says they want him to defend a company that can't even recognize its nonwhite users, and Tatiana notes that she did a piece on Black people being falsely arrested as a result of biases in AI. Simon tells them that there are only two people of color in managerial positions in all of SPRQ Point globally. He then corrects himself and says there is only one because Ava Price left when Joan got promoted over her. He asks them what he should do. Mo says he should quit rather than being the board's mouthpiece, but Tatiana argues that quitting won't solve anything. She tells Simon he could have real power in the company in a few years, and Mo asks if he's just supposed to be their puppet in the meantime. Tatiana says Simon should work his way up to get a seat on the board one day so he can effect real change. Torn between the two possibilities, Simon ponders the decision.

Max arrives at the dentist convention to pick up his father, but Alan says he has some good news to share with him first. Alan tells Max he is going to give him the money for the restaurant and hands him a check. Max looks surprised and says this is amazing. He tells his father he won't regret the decision and says that given their current projections, Alan could see a profit by the end of the year. Alan maintains that if things don't go well, he can take the hit. Max says he only wants the money if his father truly believes in the restaurant and thinks Max could pull it off. Alan insists that Max wanted his support and he's supporting him, but Max says money and support aren't the same thing. Max says he believes in what they're doing and wants people involved who feel the same way, and Alan says he's trying. Max hands the check back and says he shouldn't have to try so hard. He walks off to drive Alan to his flight, and his father follows.

In the kitchen, Zoey tells Maggie she's being stubborn and that she and Jenna have a special bond. Maggie says she thought so, but she's over it. Zoey tells her mother not to pretend like she doesn't care, and Maggie asks what she should do. Zoey says she doesn't know but asks Maggie if she really wants things to end like this. Zoey opens the freezer and asks Maggie is she threw out all the popsicles. Maggie says Aiden came over and asked if he could have them, and Zoey says she has to go. Zoey walks into Aiden's garage to find him and Danny in here eating popsicles. Danny says she's too late, and Zoey asks if he already sold the company. Danny says no that's going to take months and clarifies that they ate all the popsicles. Aiden raises his hands in the air with a sheepish smile.

Zoey sits and talks to Danny while Aiden plays a dancing video game in the background. Danny tells Zoey he's sorry but there's nothing she can do to change his mind. Zoey says she knows he feels like he's not doing what he loves anymore, but he created a multinational corporation that needs him. She points out that SPRQ Point has been going downhill, and they have a major problem to address with the Chirp. Zoey promises to help Danny get his passion back, and he agrees to give it a few months before thinking about selling the company.

Jenna walks into the room with Emily, all packed up. Emily says she doesn't have to leave just because of her fight with Maggie, but Jenna insists that it's time. The sisters hug, and Jenna tells Emily that when she comes back from her walk, there might be a gift waiting in Miles' nursery. David opens the door, and Maggie walks in and walks up to Jenna. Emily tells David to come on a walk with her and Miles, and they leave. Maggie tells Jenna she didn't want to leave things how they left them, and Jenna apologizes for her behavior. Maggie thanks Jenna for helping her find her passion again and tells her she should continue pursuing her art no matter what.

Max and Mo sit together in their restaurant, and Max tells Mo he couldn't take the money from his father. He tells Mo he knows they're partners and it also puts Mo in a difficult position, and he apologizes. Mo comfortingly lays a hand on his arm and says they'll figure it out. Max nods.

Rocking Miles, Emily walks into his nursery and looks for Jenna's gift. Confused when she finds nothing, Emily turns around and sees the photo wall Jenna made. Captivated by the gift, she smiles at Miles and looks at the photos.

Simon looks over a paper before stepping off the elevator and walking into a press conference full of cameras and people. Music starts playing, and Zoey looks over to see him singing “Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood” with a tortured look on his face. Zoey closes her eyes and is abruptly pulled out of the heart song, seeing Simon approach the podium. As he walks up to the podium, Simon sets his notes down and starts giving the speech prepared for him about the Chirp's glitch in recognizing people of color. He looks at the audience, and Tatiana looks up at him. Simon says the coding error has been identified, and a fix is underway.  He hesitates, folds up his notes, and starts talking off the cuff. Simon says what has not been fixed is the environment that led to this error. Tatiana looks up intently. Simon says the Chirp couldn't see Black and brown faces because there are no Black and brown people in positions of power at SPRQ Point. Simon says their leadership is comprised overwhelmingly of white men, on a board of ten directors there are only two women and zero people of color. Tatiana smiles and nods subtly. Simon says if they don't start talking about this now, nothing is ever going to change.

## Cast

### Starring

* **Jane Levy** as Zoey Clarke
* **Skylar Astin** as Max Richman
* **Alex Newell** as Mo
* **John Clarence Stewart** as Simon Haynes
* **Mary Steenburgen** as Maggie Clarke
* **Andrew Leeds** as David Clarke
* **Alice Lee** as Emily Kang
* **Michael Thomas Grant** as Leif Donnelly (credit only)
* **Kapil Talwalkar** as Tobin Batra (credit only)

### Guest Starring

* **Jee Young Han** as Jenna Kang
* **Felix Mallard** as Aiden
* **Chip Zien** as Alan Richman
* **Alvina August** as Tatiana Morris
* **Rob Stewart** as Roger
* **Noah Weisberg** as Danny Michael Davis

### Co-Starring

* **Beta Chan** as Cass
* **Kai Alan Chiu-Sheffer** as Miles
* **Melanie Hidalgo-Cruz** as Yasmeen
* **Arkie Kandola** as Dentist Sanjay

## Gallery

* Pictures
* Videos

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Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist 2x05 Promo "Zoey's Extraordinary Trip" (HD) Jane Levy series