Speechless – N-O-Nominee

By: Taylor Gates

Kenneth (Cedric Yarbrough) excitedly announces that JJ’s (Micah Fowler) film has been accepted into two festivals: one in Orange County and one in Vancouver. The one in Vancouver comes with two first-class accommodations, and JJ wants to take Maya (Minnie Driver).

JJ is excited that the movie has given people a way to see him beyond the chair, but when he gets to the festival, he quickly learns he got in purely because of his disability—the festival chairman hasn’t even watched his film. He points JJ and Maya in the direction of the Vanguard Award reception, and they realize everyone there is in a wheelchair. Maya and JJ are insulted at the festival’s tokenism and vow to leave. While the other recipients are slightly annoyed, they don’t want to leave, knowing there’s probably money involved with the prize.

JJ is stuffing his face with room service, wanting to know who told the festival about his disability. Mr. Powers (Jonathan Slavin) shows up at their hotel door to surprise them, and JJ gets suspicious. Maya admits that she was the one who told all the festivals, saying that JJ deserves to win and should have all the advantages. She didn’t realize that’s not what JJ wanted. He feels stupid to have thought anyone would ever see past the chair.

Jimmy (John Ross Bowie) calls the bank, desperate for a loan since the landlord is trying to sell their house out from under them. If they can’t figure it out by Friday, they’re screwed. Dylan (Kyla Kenedy) overhears Jimmy yelling at the construction workers measuring their yard. Jimmy lies and says he was scaring away a coyote, and Dylan gushes about his bravery.

Dylan takes matters into her own hands and ends up catching a coyote. Realizing things have gone too far, Jimmy tells Dylan the truth about their lease agreement and impending eviction. Dylan is furious that Jimmy lied to her and storms away.

Later, Jimmy finds her hiding in her closet. Dylan asks Jimmy if he thinks she’s dumb and unable to handle the truth. Jimmy says she’s smart about most things but somehow is dumb enough to believe he’s a hero—he just didn’t want that to go away. Dylan tells him everyone can see he’s a hero since he can handle anything. She says she’s not little anymore, and while she may not be able to help him, she can at least listen to him. The two talk before falling asleep, and when they wake up, all of their stuff is outside on the lawn.

Ray (Mason Cook) sees Taylor (Sedona James) at Lafayette High, there to watch her friend’s boyfriend play basketball. Ray begs Kenneth to teach him how to play so he can impress Taylor and win her back. Kenneth ignores Ray’s pleas until he sees Ray get plowed over by another kid in the hallway. Impressed that Ray managed to just stand there and take it, Kenneth goes to bat for him with the coach. The coach allows Ray to join the team, and he proves to be a valuable asset on the court. Taylor even comes to watch him play.

On the court, Ray has a realization. The whole time he was with Taylor, he was worried about losing her. Now that she’s gone, he’s spending all his time trying to get her back. He decides not to take the last charge, leading the other team to win and all of his classmates to hate him. Kenneth, on the other hand, is proud he stayed true to himself. After the game, Taylor checks on Ray to see if he is okay. The two reconcile, but Ray admits he needs to find himself again.

Maya, JJ, Jimmy, and Dylan all sit on the furniture outside. Dylan wants dinner, and JJ says it’s appetizer time at the other film festival he was invited to. Maya is surprised he wants to go, but JJ figures they might as well get some free food out of the disaster.

The DiMeos are appalled when they find out there is no ramp at the festival. However, when the chairman (Mark Daugherty) says he loved JJ’s film and had no idea he was in a wheelchair, they quickly forgive him and get over it. They all scramble to accommodate JJ so he can make it inside for the awards ceremony. Although they have to use a garbage ramp and carry JJ onstage, he makes it in time to accept the award for Best Short Film. That night, they all sleep peacefully under the stars. They’ll figure out a plan for the house tomorrow—they always do.