02E09 - The Gift

It's Frank's 65th birthday. For the last number of years, the family didn't give presents on their birthday, but because it was his 65th, Robert and Marie got him something and Ray didn't. Robert laughs when he finds out Ray didn't buy his father anything. Marie got him a sweater and Robert got him the Remote Boat. Ray, on the other hand, lies and says he special ordered something but it hasn't arrived yet. While in bed that night, Ray remembers that his father always liked the large fish tank at Wo-Hop's Chinese Takeout. So, he decides to get a large fish tank with some tropical "specially ordered" fish. With the tank finally set up in Frank and Marie's living room, Frank just stares at the tank all day instead of the TV. Ray is then worried because he knows he has to top himself next year and get an even better gift. Then when one of the fish dies, Frank becomes upset. Debra suggests that, since Frank is getting older, the dead fish could be somewhat symbolic of his own mortality. So Ray confronts his father about it. As it turns out, Frank was only upset because he found out how much money Ray had spent on it: a $40 fish in a $600 aquarium. So finally, they get rid of the tank and donate it to Wo-Hop's restaurant.