Dancers perform a delightful springtime-themed musical number on a soundstage -- "Everything Goes." One of the women (dressed as a flower) gets stuck, and the number stops.

Susie, watching, approaches Frank and Nicky. Frank and Nicky ask for a favor -- they have a show opening at the expo, but their lead is missing. They want Midge to take the role of a narrator. Susie doesn't think Midge would go for it, even when Frank and Nicky offer her a significant fee.

Susie refuses, and Frank and Nicky are disappointed. They go to tell their boss the bad news. Susie insists Midge isn't an actor. Nicky and Frank ask her for this as a favor and say how many favors they have done for her. Susie agrees to talk to Midge.

At The Gordon Ford show, everyone is hungover, tired, and sore from the ice skating party. Secretary Marge is handing out hair of the dog to all the employees who come in. Midge refuses the offer.

The writers are all trying to figure out who kissed Betty Porter, and Midge tells them (while handing out coffee) that Betty Porter had a baby a week prior. Trudy tells Midge that Gordon wants to see her in the studio.

In the studio, Gordon is testing out his new chair. Midge notes that he is faring better than the rest. He admits he was drunk and wants to ensure she is okay about the kiss. She assures him she's fine.

He asks her out for dinner. She refuses, citing that he is not Jewish, he's her boss, and he's married. He explains he has an open marriage. She tells him it would be too complicated, as she wants to be on his show. Midge leaves to take a phone call.

On the phone, Susie pitches the industrial expo show to Midge and explains that it's a "favor" for Frank and Nicky. Midge asks what Susie knows about Gordon Ford's wife. Susie is nervous and evasive. Midge reluctantly agrees to do the show.

Abe, Rose, and Midge eat a delicious "old world" stew made by Zelda. Midge tries on her mother's heirloom jewelry.

Rose and Abe tell Midge about the show they are going to see, written by a former colleague of Abe's at the Voice. Zelda brings out a special babka, which Janusz made. Midge notes it smells strongly of booze, but Janusz says it is all cooked off.

Midge wakes up with her face on her plate and sees her parents asleep at the table. Janusz carries the children, also asleep, off to bed.

Midge arrives at the Building New York Expo and watches a "dream kitchen" musical number. Frank and Nicky greet Midge and express their gratitude. They introduce her to Jerome, the writer, and give her a costume. Jerome gives Midge the pages.

They show her the stage -- she will be hawking Private Demolition and Waste Disposal, which disappoints her somewhat.

Susie arrives and sees Midge in costume handing out flyers. Midge complains about the costume and shows Susie the terrible script. Susie says at least they will be "reciprocated" after this. Frank and Nicky arrive, noting how adorable Midge is. Jerome comes to tell them it's time.

Jerome leads Midge away, worrying about Midge not being off-book.

Susie buys a hotdog, and the show begins: A little boy says his prayers and then goes to sleep. Four garbagemen appear behind him. They start singing about all the things trashmen do. They dance with garbage cans, even tapping with the lids on their feet.

Midge narrates a little stiffly while looking at her pages. The citizens of a clean New York street go about their day. As the little boy cartwheels behind her, Midge explains that the city is only responsible for a small amount of trash cleanup -- for the rest, they need private waste management.

An older man appears, complaining about a bill for hazardous waste he must dispose of. He says he'll burn it if the city doesn't take it.

The scene changes to a burning pile of garbage. Tess is in the center, singing about how good life used to be. Chorus girls covered in trash emerge from the pile.

The old man enters, weeping, carrying the little boy, who is "dead," with a big nail through his forehead. Midge says she tried to warn him about burning his garbage.

Midge educates the audience about the importance of proper waste management, citing all the diseases trash can bring. The old man weeps, saying Private Demolition and Waste Disposal is the way to go.

The trash pile recedes, the clean street reappears, and the happy cast of characters ends with a rousing kickline. They receive enthusiastic applause from the audience.

At dinner after the show, Rose and Abe discuss the show they just saw. The playwright sits nearby, and Abe raises his glasses to him. Rose notes how normal he looks.

Gabe is surprised that Abe liked the show. Abe insists it was very thoughtful and filled with metaphor, but Rose didn't see any of the subtext, only that it was about a boy and his dog.

Gabe says art is open to interpretation, but Abe insists it's not. Rose says she saw what she saw. Abe responds that it's okay if she didn't get it.

The mood at the table shifts. Abe and Rose continue to argue, with Rose suggesting that it wasn't a deep metaphor for anything and that it was just a simple play. Abe insists it's not.

Rose gets up and goes over to Carl, the playwright, brings him over and asks him to tell the table what his play is about. Carl explains that when he was young, he had a dog who died, which was a scarring experience.

Abe is silent all the way home. As they enter, the apartment is candlelit, with rose petals strewn about. Zelda announces that Janusz has proposed, and she accepted. Rose hugs Zelda. Abe shakes Janusz's hand. Rose and Abe go to their bedroom, leaving Janusz and Zelda to their romantic meal.

Abe is still silent, even as they get ready for bed. They lie in their beds, in the dark, quiet, awake. Abe gets up and grabs some of the rose petals, and strews them about Rose's bed. Rose doesn't respond.

Abe goes back to bed. Neither says anything. Abe gets up again, kneels beside her bed, and lays his head on her lap.

At The Gordon Ford Show, Midge shows the writers the script for her garbage show. Trudy comes in, asking if the script is ready yet, as she needs to type it up. Alvin reminds Midge they need to do their actual work.

They hear Gordon yelling at George. George insists he will fix things. It's 20 minutes before air, and the comedian has vanished. Gordon orders Mike on it and continues ranting. George suggests extending the two previous guests or hoping people will have tuned out by the final slot.

Gordon goes to the writers and asks them to bring in any stand-up comic they know that has a tight six minutes, then heads out and back upstairs with Mike and George.

Susie constructs a birdhouse for the pigeons outside her office window. Midge calls Susie, asking how bad it would be if she didn't do the garbage show, citing a possibility that she could be on Gordon Ford tonight. Susise has mixed feelings.

Mike keeps making calls, but there are no comics available.

Midge comes in and asks Gordon to put her on the show. He tells her it's not going to happen. She asks if it's because she won't go out with him. He explains that it's a rule -- no one who works on the show can be on the show.

She insists he breaks the rule. He says there are no exceptions. He tells her that all the writers are stand-up comedians, and none of them will ever be on the show. He tells her the paycheck should be enough. She leaves to go to the garbage gig.

Midge arrives at the expo, telling Susie about Gordon Ford's rule. Susie is furious.

Midge puts on her hat. Joel, Ethan, and Esther appear, there to watch the show. Midge tells them she had a bad day but to enjoy the show. Ethan and Esther run off.

The show begins, with Ethan and Esther in the front row. Midge interrupts the little boy praying. The first musical number begins. Midge eats an entire apple during the opening number. Midge narrates with no effort, sardonically inserting insults.

Susie grows nervous. Frank and Nicky are displeased.

Midge goes off script, ad-libbing. During Tessie's trash number, Midge yawns on the sidelines and sits on the big trash pile, reading a newspaper.

Frank and Nicky approach Susie, threatening her, saying that next time they ask for a favor, she needs to do better. Susie protests that this was the favor. Frank and Nicky explain to her that they own her and 30% of everything that's hers. Susie asks for how long. They say as long as she's alive. They tell her to get Midge in line.

Joel approaches Susie and asks why Midge is giving up on stage, who those guys are, and why they are threatening her. Susie is evasive, but Joel persists. He asks if she's in with the mob, how deep, and if she needs help. Susie walks away, and Joel swears to find out what's going on.

Gordon is about to endure a third segment with Hart Buckley (the animal handler) when Sophie Lennon appears. Gordon greets her warmly, mouthing "Thank you" to Mike, and leads Sophie over to his couch, where she sits beside Hart and the sloth.

Gordon introduces Sophie as the host of the hit game show "Seconds Count" and notes it's the first time she's come to visit since her big interview with him.

Susie shows up and accosts Mike, asking why he didn't tell her about the "rule." Mike tells her it's Gordon's rule. Susie storms down the hall. At the elevator, she runs into a pretty blonde lady -- Gordon's wife, Hedy -- who calls her "Susan."

Susie runs off, and Mrs. Ford chases her. On the street, Susie angrily tells Heddy to leave her alone. It's been 15 years since they last saw each other. Hedy is pleasant and calm, offering to buy Susie a drink so they can catch up.

Susie gets emotional, telling Hedy how she felt discarded. Hedy keeps insisting, offering to apologize, saying she was in college, but it still meant something. Susie, still emotional, bids her goodbye and heads away down the street.