Zoey's Extraordinary Silence

**Zoey's Extraordinary Silence** is the ninth episode of NBC's musical dramedy *Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist*. It aired on April 5, 2020.

## Episode Summary

Zoey tries to help Mitch's caregiver, Howie, reconnect with his estranged daughter. Max must make a decision about his future at SPRQ Point.

## Plot

Zoey feverishly makes breakfast at Mo's place while Mo exercises to an old 80s workout video. Mo remarks that the whole reason he pulled out his out old workout equipment was to boost Zoey's endorphins, but Zoey dejectedly says she's too depressed since she ruined her life the day before. Zoey notes that though her power is back to normal, she doesn't know how to approach Max and Simon. Zoey asks Mo if it is possible to like two guys at once. Although Zoey believes the universe is pointing her towards Max, she confesses that she can't stop thinking bout Simon, even though he is engaged. Mo advises Zoey to ask for clarity from Simon. As Zoey eats her eggs, says resolves to visit her dad and then go get clarity from Simon. On her way out of Mo's apartment, Zoey slips and hurts her finger.

At the Clarke home, Maggie is tending to plants in the greenhouse when Emily brings her the air mattress she asked to borrow. Maggie laments that she has been sleeping in an office chair for over a week in order to be in the same room as Mitch since they have slept in the same bed for 40 years. Maggie notes that they don't have Howie carry Mitch up the stairs because it feels too demeaning and unsafe. Emily expresses her admiration of Maggie and confides that she kicked David out of bed once because his feet touched hers. Maggie advises Emily that intimacy is very important in a marriage, and Emily confesses that she and David have not had sex in months. Emily admits that she is used to David initiating sex, but Maggie tells Emily that she is a modern woman and that she does not have to wait for David to initiate.

Zoey walks into her parents' house and approaches Mitch, dozed off on the couch. She asks Mitch how he is feeling and says she is going to start dropping by more often. Howie enters and asks Zoey how it's going, to which she replies that her finger could be broken and shows Howie her duct tape and popsicle stick splint. Howie pulls out his first-aid kit and puts a splint on Zoey's finger. Mitch kisses Zoey’s jammed finger, and Zoey says that dads have a way of making you feel better. With a forlorn look on his face, Howie leaves the room. Zoey asks her dad what she said wrong, and then she hears Howie singing “The Sound Of Silence.” Zoey enters the kitchen and sees Howie singing sadly, with Mitch later joining in. After the song ends, Zoey tells Mitch she heard him and Howie sing and asks if he knows what's going on. Mitch starts typing out his answer and then hits his buzzer when Zoey figures out that Howie has a daughter. Mitch signals to Zoey that Howie and his daughter are having issues, and he wants Zoey to help.

Zoey goes into the kitchen, and Howie asks if she's hungry. Zoey asks Howie if something is bothering him with a family member, namely a daughter. Howie says he's just there to make their lives easier, but Zoey says she owes Howie and reminds him that she is a daughter. Howie expresses that seeing Zoey and Mitch reminded him of him and his daughter, Abigail. Howie explains that they had a fight a few months ago and have not talked since. Zoey suggests that he reach out again and assures him that daughters always love their fathers. Howie jokingly says that the whole reason he likes taking care of patients like Mitch is that they keep secrets.

Max gets on the elevator at SPRQ Point, and Zoey rushes in behind him just as the doors are about to close. Max asks Zoey how her talk with Mitch went the night before, and Zoey recounts that it was emotional but necessary and thanks Max for encouraging her. Max quietly acknowledges Zoey and then looks away. Zoey reveals to Max that she is not singing anymore, and Max discreetly scoffs that now Zoey can go back to reading people's souls whether they want her to or not. Zoey gets a text message and pointedly tells Max that Leif called in sick on the same day that Joan is at a tech conference. However, Max brushes this off and then retorts that he is not trying to think about anyone else’s romantic feelings at the moment. As Zoey and Max walk, Simon passes by. Max glances at Simon and tells Zoey to do her before walking off. Zoey goes after Simon and asks if she can talk to him. Simon agrees, and they go into his office.

Zoey tells Simon she wants to talk about the kiss they shared after she sang "I Want You To Want Me." Simon says he wanted to talk to her too, and Zoey tells him to go first. Simon tells Zoey that he made a mistake and that it was inappropriate of him to do that, though he admits that he got lost in the moment. Though Simon says the kiss should not have happened, Zoey protests that it did happen and that it seemed like they both wanted it to happen. Simon says they might have a connection, but he shouldn't have kissed Zoey because he is engaged. Simon says it's best they dont connect anymore, but even he seems unsure. With a confused look on her face, Zoey thanks Simon for the clarity then leaves his office.

On the floor of her apartment, Zoey is tinkering with her microwave when Mo enters and asks what's going on. Zoey reveals that she took her microwave apart just to put it back together to help her feelings of sadness. Zoey laments to Mo that Simon has no clue what he wants and says that might be worse than him saying he does not want to be with her. Zoey attempts to start her microwave, but it sputters and sparks. Zoey lies down on the floor in exasperation. Mo declares that what Simon is doing to Zoey and Jessica isn't right and reveals that Eddie invited him and Jessica over for brunch the next day. Mo says he is going to give Simon a piece of his mind, but Zoey doubts this will help.

Max is working on something at night at SPRQ Point when a formidable-looking woman says his name, startling him. The woman announces herself as Ava Price, from the sixth floor, and Max says he knows who she is and is surprised that she knows his name. Ava says she knows all the star players at SPRQ Point, and Max confusedly questions whether he is one. Ava tells him to meet her the next day at 11 AM sharp on the sixth floor. Max reminds Ava that the next day is Saturday, but Ava says she will make coming in on his day off worth his while. Max further protests that he doesn't have security accesst to the sixth floor, to which Ava replies that he should check his pocket. As Ava walks off, Max pulls a key card out of his pocket.

At the Clarke home, David and Zoey are going over Mitch's papers, including his will, medical directives, and power of attorney. Zoey murmurs that it is weird seeing all the papers laid out, and David jokingly tells her that Mitch is giving him everything. Emily walks up behind David and tells him she is ready for bed and to go home as she rubs his shoulder pointedly. David remarks that it is early and asks Emily if she feels sick. Emily says she is fine and emphasizes that her and David have not had a lot of alone time lately. Zoey watches the exchange, slightly taken aback. Though Emily persists, David brushes her off and says he'll be home soon. Emily walks away, annoyed. Suddenly, Zoey looks over and sees Emily singing “Buttons.” Zoey holds back laughter as Emily sings and dances around David. After the song ends, Emily tells David his window is slowly closing and leaves. David asks Zoey what that meant, and Zoey says it seems like Emily wants some before walking away awkwardly.

Howie runs into Zoey and asks her how her finger is. After Zoey assures Howie she is healing, Howie tells Zoey she is better at caregiver stuff than him. He recounts that he reached out to Abigail and that their conversation went well when he mentioned Zoey. Zoey asks why, and Howie explains that Abigail is a computer science major at UC Berkeley. Howie sheepishly reveals that he told Abigail that Zoey works at SPRQ Point and asks if Zoey would be willing to meet with Abigail. Howie tells Zoey that if she visits with him he'll give her anything. Zoey glances at Mitch for input before agreeing to help Howie.

Zoey and Howie walk on the Berkeley campus looking for Abigail's dorm. Howie intercepts a frisbee that was was headed for Zoey's face. Zoey admires his quick reflexes and asks Howie if he played ultimate frisbee in college. Howie says no and reveals that he fought in Afghanistan. Zoey notes his positivity and asks Howie how he experienced so much suffering without letting it break him. Howie says Mitch is lucky to have had such a full life with a happy home and a family loves him. Zoey says it is hard to maintain perspective when they know Mitch is dying. Howie tells Zoey he loves caregiving because it shows him how great of a gift life is.

Mo walks in with mimosas as Jessica, Simon, and Eddie gather in his apartment for brunch. Jessica compliments Mo on the vibe of his apartment, and they all get to talking about Jessica and Simon's honeymoon. Mo asks Jessica and Simon when their wedding is, and they beat around the bush about trying to find venue and picking a date. Jessica pointedly reminds Simon that it would be helpful to pick a definitive date, and Simon briefly agrees and then asks if anyone needs help in the kitchen. Eddie pulls Jessica away to check on the quiche and get more mimosas. Mo confronts Simon and tells him to stop playing games and that Zoey told him that they kissed. Mo sits next to Simon, who insists that the kiss just happened. Mo reminds Simon that he has been essentially having an emotional affair with Zoey for months, which is unacceptable. Simon agrees with Mo but counters that he and Zoey connect on a very deep level. Simon insists that he is not a bad person because he cares about Jessica's feelings, and she has tried very hard to help him through his grief. Mo tells Simon he needs to figure something out, and Simon looks pained.

Max ventures onto the dimly lit sixth floor of SPRQ Point, which appears cold and desolate. Ava startles him and welcomes him to the sixth floor. Though Ava calls him Maxwell, Max asks her to call him Max, to which Ava replies that she doesn't do nicknames. Ava tells Max that everyone was impressed by his participation in the Chrip presentation and that she need his bold creative vision on her team. Ava recalls how Max designed the escape room at the holiday party and compliments his creativity. She offers him the opportunity to manage his own team on the sixth floor. Max says he is flattered but has no plans to make a move since things are fine on the fourth floor. Ava asks Max if he is waiting for something to happen that maybe never will. Max says he needs time to think, and Ava tells him her offer will last 72 hours.

As Zoey and Howie walk through Abigail's dorm, Zoey remarks that it is very quiet, and Howie informs her that it is a deaf dorm. They enter a room and see Abigail, and Howie gives her an awkward hug. Howie signs while he speaks to Abigail and says though it has been a while he is happy to see her. Howie introduces Zoey to Abigail, and Zoey compliments her Ada Lovelace shirt. Abigail expresses interest in Zoey's work at SPRQ Point, and Zoey says she should apply for an internship. Abigail says she will once she returns from Kenya. Howie interrupts their conversation and reminds Abigail that they decided she was not going on the trip as Abigail rolls her eyes. Though Abigail persists, Howie says he doesn't care that she got a grant to pay for the trip. Abigail scoffs and explains to Zoey that she is going to set up computers to teach kids sign language while getting them excited about STEM. In anger, Howie asks Abigail why she would hide this from him and insists that it is too risky for someone like her. Abigail starts signing "Fight Song" as an instrumental plays, and the other students in the dorm sign with her. After the song ends, Howie says he knows she is angry, but Abigail sputters angrily and walks away. Howie storms off in frustration.

Mo is looking through his records when Zoey enters his apartment and asks what he is going. Mo tells Zoey that his records were organizes but year, but he wants to organize them by color. When Zoey tries to talk to Mo, he says he is going to make tea and that Eddie made banana bread. Zoey asks Mo how the brunch went, but Mo just asks Zoey what kind of tea she wants and says he has to run to the store. Zoey asks why Mo is running away from her and presses him for how his talk with Simon went. Mo starts telling Zoey what happened, but he instead starts singing “The Trouble With Love Is.” Right as the song ends, Mo asks Zoey if he just sang to her, and Zoey asks what changed with Simon. Mo insists that he doesn't want to make the situation more confusing, but says that Simon is tortured by the situation.

Emily is assembling a bassinet when David approaches and mentions that Emily has not talked to him for a day and that he doesn't know what he did. Emily recounts how David came home the night before when she was already asleep, sat down next to her, and said "wanna do it." David admits that it was a poor choice of words but says that Zoey told him Emily was in the mood. Emily scoffs, but David reassures her that he is just not used to her being forward. Emily asks if knows how long it has been since they had sex, and David says two months, three weeks, and four days. Emily asks if he's not attracted to her anymore, and David explains that he is, but he just wants to be respectful as her body goes through changes. Emily tells David to have sex with her after they finish the bassinet.

Zoey walks into SPRQ Point and sees Abigail is signing to someone Tobin. Tobin tells Zoey that they have to get Abigail an internship. Zoey, surprised that Tobin can sign, asks how he knows, and Tobin recounts how he learned to sign for Tegan Schloss, a deaf girl, during his junior year of high school, and then fell in love with ASL. Later, Zoey sits across from Abigail and Tobin helps translate. Abigail thanks Zoey for inviting her, and Zoey prefaces the conversation by saying they need to talk about Howie. Abigail is taken aback by this, but Zoey insists that Howie means a lot to her family and that she wants to see him happy. Abigail recounts how her father has always tried to shelter her and make her better, but in college, she met people who empowered her to not view her deafness as a weakness. Tobin starts tearing up while Abigail signs.

Later, Zoey enters Simon's office and says she never had the chance to say how she was feeling when they discussed their kiss, but she is ready to. Simon says he is listening. Although Zoey insists that she refuses to be a homewrecker, she also ventures that she cares about him a lot and that she believes they have chemistry. However, Zoey says that she can't sit around, waiting and hoping that something will happen between them. Zoey informs Simon that she can't and won't continue pining after him. As Zoey leaves, Simon looks a little shaken and sighs.

At the Clarke home, Emily brings Maggie flowers to thank her for helping her and David with their issues. Emily playfully recounts that if she wasn't already pregnant, she is now. Maggie looks down at the hospital bed wistfully, and Emily asks if she is okay. Maggie insists that she is happy for Emily and David, but she also went down memory lane with Mitch. Zoey enters and asks where Howie is, and Maggie points her to the kitchen.

Zoey sits down next to Howie and asks if they can talk. Howie asks if she wants half of his fluffernutter, and Zoey accepts. Zoey tells Howie that she spoke to Abigail at SPRQ Point and that she has a real chance to intern with them after she gets back from Kenya. Howie, frustrated, says he thought he made it clear that he disapproved of Abigail going to Kenya. Zoey tells Howie that she has also been more of a caregiver lately, and it's challenging knowing the right way to take care of somebody. Howie says that people aren't always their own best advocates, but Zoey says that Abigail is since she knows exactly what she wants. Howie says that Zoey has no idea what it is like to raise a deaf child. Zoey reminds Howie that he said every day is a gift and Abigail is not a little girl anymore. Zoey grabs her half of the sandwich, and Howie looks off pensively.

At SPRQ Point, Max glances over at Zoey while she works and walks over to her desk. Max tells her about his job offer on the sixth floor and recounts how he was recruited by Ava. Zoey congratulates him, and Max says it's a great opportunity and asks Zoey if he should he take it. Zoey says that as his boss, it would be hard to lose Max, but as his friend, she couldn't tell him not to take it. Max asks what the Zoey who sang "I'm Yours" to him would think, and Zoey says she is going to miss sitting across from him every day but would never stop him from going after what he wants. Max nods, and Zoey asks if she gave him the right answer. Max says no, but she just gave him his, and he walks off pointedly.

Inside Mo's apartment, Zoey and Mo work out to an 80s exercise video together. Zoey says she feels the endorphins kicking in, and Mo notices that she seems better. Zoey says she hung out with Abigail, whose life seems like it would be hard because she's deaf, but she has it all figured out. Zoey scoffs at herself for being upset when she occasionally sings out loud or hears someone else singing, and Mo digs at her about white privilege. Zoey says talking with Abigail motivated her to go speak her truth to Simon. Mo asks how he reacted, and Zoey says she has no idea. Zoey says shes bummed, but maybe Simon was just a passing flirtation. Zoey says she is definitely broken, but she looks at her jammed finger and says she is starting to feel better. Maggie texts Zoey and tells her to come over and see something.

Zoey arrives at the Clarke home and sees David riding a chairlift down the stairs. Maggie tells Zoey that Emily bought them the chairlift so Mitch could safely go up the stairs without being carried. Maggie appreciates that she and Mitch can sleep in the same bed together again. Zoey tells Emily the chairlift is amazing, and Maggie says it is too much. However, Emily insists that she sold her soul into corporate law to buy her family gifts and remind David that she is the breadwinner. David slowly rides the chairlift upstairs.

Zoey walks into the kitchen and sees Howie and Abigail discussing flashlights. Zoey asks them what is going on, and Howie tells her that they are fighting over whether Abigail should bring infrared goggles to Africa. Zoey asks if Kenya is back on, and Abigail recounts that she agreed to video chat with Howie once a week. Howie tells Zoey he told Abigail they could do it every other week, but Abigail could tell he was dying inside. Zoey glances at Mitch, who nods at her in apparent approval.

Max is talking to Ava in her office, and they shake hands. Maggie lies down next to Mitch in bed. Emily and David finish their bassinet and then kiss. Simon looks at Jessica in bed and turns away.

Zoey gets off the elevator at SPRQ Point and looks over and sees Simon singing "Happier" as he walks away from his office in apparent agony. Jessica follows him out and then joins in the song. Simon and Jessica sing and dance a mournful duet as Zoey looks on sadly. As the song ends, Jessica goes into the elevator, and Simon follows her. Zoey takes a deep breath as she looks on.

## 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
* **Kapil Talwalkar** as Tobin Batra
* **Andrew Leeds** as David Clarke
* **India de Beaufort** as Jessica
* **Alice Lee** as Emily Kang
* **Zak Orth** as Howie
* **Sandra Mae Frank** as Abigail
* **Patrick Ortiz** as Eddie

## Gallery

* Pictures
* Videos

1/28