Ep 9. The Gift

Ray and Debra's 10th Anniversary is coming up, and Debra is hinting for a party. Ray doesn't want a party, so Debra decides to give him a present instead. She buys him a brand new state-of-the-art watch that Ray has had his eye on for a while. Ray is ecstatic and can't wait to show it off to all of his friends, but things take a turn when he realizes that his parents didn't get him a gift.

Ray is noticeably upset and hurt that his parents didn't get him a gift for his anniversary. Debra suggests that Ray talks to his mother about it, but Ray is too prideful. Debra then suggests that they give Frank and Marie a gift to begin with which would prompt them to return a gift, but she quickly realizes that this is a bad idea. Instead, she suggests that they just let it go and that Ray should just be happy about the beautiful gift she gave him.

But Ray can't just let it go. He invites Frank and Marie over to show them his new watch, hoping that his parents will notice that a gift was not given and that they may feel guilty and embarrassed for not getting him a gift. But the plan fails, and Ray's parents don't seem to understand the significance of the watch.

Later, Ray talks to his brother, Robert, and tells him about his situation. Robert tells Ray that his parents may not have gotten him a gift because they don't know what to get him. He relates to Ray that their parents always bought him inappropriate gifts that he didn't want or use, and their father actually got him a bowling ball that had the name "Roy" on it.

The conversation with Robert gives Ray a new perspective, and he realizes that the reason he didn't get a gift wasn't because his parents didn't care, it was because they probably didn't know what to get him. He decides to make it right by telling his parents that he doesn't care if they didn't get him anything, he just wants to spend time with them for his anniversary. Frank and Marie are touched by this sentiment, and they all enjoy a lovely evening together.

The episode ends with Ray happily showing off his new watch to his family, content with the fact that he doesn't need material things to make him happy.