Speechless – R-a-y-c-Ray-cation

By starrymag | December 3, 2016

By: Taylor Gates

 

Ray (Mason Cook) brings an important issue to the breakfast table. His class is going on a field trip to the Channel Islands in a month and they need to be on time for school that day. He desperately needs a Ray-cation. The next day, they do practice run #1 to get him to school on time, but Maya (Minnie Driver) falls back asleep, making him late.

 

At school, Kenneth (Cedric Yarbrough) sees Claire (McKaley Miller) and asks JJ (Micah Fowler) when he’s going to set up his date with her. She wheels herself over to JJ, telling him that she watched Rocky over Thanksgiving. However, she loved it and trusts him to pick another film for them to watch together.

 

Jimmy (John Ross Bowie) unloads a giant bag of toys on Dylan’s (Kyla Kenedy) floor. He assigns her the task of figuring out what the “it” toy of the year will be so he can buy a bunch, jack up the price and make a profit.

 

JJ tells Maya and Jimmy that Claire will be coming over to watch a movie that Friday. They act excited, but in bed that night they discuss how they don’t want him to get his heart broken. It will take a special person to be with JJ and the chances that she’s both hot and special are slim. Maya considers yelling at Claire’s mother in order to make her love him, but Jimmy convinces her that would be catastrophic.

 

Dylan admits to Ray that she has lost her touch—all of the toys seem pretty fun. When Jimmy comes in to ask her what the hot toy of the season will be, she panics and blurts that Big Top Junie—a clown that laughs for no reason—is it.

 

Maya and Jimmy sneak in the back of the house, as they don’t want to disturb JJ on his date. Kenneth is in the kitchen, trying to give him space, which Maya nails him for. JJ has no chance with Claire unless Kenneth is in there to be his wingman. Maya realizes that the act of dating is simply an accessibility issue for JJ, which is something she can help him with. JJ begs her for some assistance.

 

Practice run #2 goes just as horrifically as the first. On the way to school, Jimmy insists on stopping at a store that sells Big Top Junie.

 

Maya proposes a plan to Jimmy, Kenneth and JJ. JJ’s date is going to be like Disney World—it will appear effortless, but behind the scenes it will be all preparation and precision. She forces Ray to pop a squat in a wheelchair and don a wig in order for everyone to practice the logistics of the date. It includes a perfectly timed bathroom break, an air horn and a light that says, “Can I kiss you?”

 

Jimmy tells Dylan and Ray that someone just bought five Big Top Junies online. Dylan bought them on Ray’s account in order to trick Jimmy into thinking they will be a big hit. Dylan promises to pay him back, but that’s not good enough for Ray. Ray swears to keep quiet as long as Dylan fully cooperates during their next practice run.

 

Claire and Dylan’s date is going well. He’s making her laugh and she likes the movie. She goes to the bathroom so Maya, Kenneth and Jimmy rush out to gauge where the situation is. After she comes back, JJ gives them the signal that he wants to try and kiss her. However, Claire’s mom arrives to pick her up before he gets the chance. He couldn’t do it with everyone watching, which puts him in a bad position. Can’t do it with them; can’t do it without them.

 

Practice run #3. It looks like they’re going to make it on time, but they get cocky and stop for breakfast, which makes them late.

 

Dylan decides to tell Jimmy the truth before Ray does it for her—she didn’t like any of the toys since she is too old now. Jimmy tells her not to worry. She’s still special and he was only able to find a few of the dolls anyway. Once she leaves, he opens the closet to reveal hundreds of the dolls. This is why people save receipts.

 

Maya joins JJ in the living room. He reveals that Claire won’t be over again anytime soon and she apologizes for going overboard and messing up his date. He says that, next time, he’s going to try things his way and see how it works out. She admits that leaving things alone is difficult for her.

 

JJ wakes up Ray the night before his trip to ask if he can talk. Claire gets her cast off the next day, which means he won’t see her as much. He needs to tell her he likes her alone, but he doesn’t know how to get to her. Ray tells him he can help with that. Ray has rented a car to drive him to his field trip and they’re going to swing by the hospital so JJ can talk to Claire beforehand.

 

Dylan tells the rest of the family where JJ and Ray have gone. Maya feels like they have to go stop this from happening so JJ doesn’t get hurt.

 

At the hospital, JJ tells Claire how he feels. However, it doesn’t go well and she doesn’t feel the same way. Feeling bad, Ray ditches his Ray-cation to take JJ to the beach. Ray comforts him by telling him his tragic, failed love stories. He gets over it by remembering that this way, he has no regrets. High school girls aren’t mature enough for them anyway. Their time to shine will be in college or grad school at the latest.

 

Maya watches the sweet interaction from the van, happy that Ray is there for his brother. Impressed with Ray’s selflessness, Kenneth lets him relax in his hot tub.