Mitch, Cody, Jessie and Alex are helping the kids from the Special Olympics prepare for their annual competition. One of the kids is a twelve year old named Kayla, who is deaf. Her father, Gavin, is a friend of Alex’s from way back. Unfortunately, Gavin is called back to San Diego on business, so Alex offers to have her stay with her so she won’t miss the big day. Gavin is thrilled and immediately starts giving Kayla a bewildering number of instructions, which cause all enthusiasm to drain from the girl’s face. Later, Kayla falls while practicing her bar routine. Alex tries to help her, but Kayla pushes her away. She wants to be independent. Mitch decides to introduce Kayla to Amy Walker, a top gymnast who is also deaf. Amy does an impressive routine.
Meanwhile, on the boardwalk, carnival man Herbert Crane is berating Morton, his adorable orangutan. Herbert is upset that Morton isn’t fiercer and threatening, like the painting of him that adorns his attraction. Jessie and Cody bring some of the Special Olympics children by, and they fall in love with Morton immediately.
This only serves to anger Herbert more.
Later, Herbert gets drunk and starts yelling at Morton. Herbert gets behind the wheel of his truck and drives wildly. As he careens around a curve, the cage falls out of the truck and Morton escapes. While trying to recapture Morton, Herbert is caught in a wave and thrown into the sea. Mitch unworthy Herbert an sends him in for a possible DUI. Morton, knowing he is going to be in for serious abuse, hides in the bushes. Unbeknownst to him, he is being watched by Kayla. When she sees him, he puts his fingers to his lips in a “ssshhh” motion. She agrees to keep quiet.
Herbert is carted off to jail. He keeps babbling about his orangutan Morton, but everyone except Kayla thinks he is just babbling. Later, Mitch hears Jessie and Cody talking about Morton and he realizes that maybe there really is an orangutan on the loose. Cody and April want to do what is best for the orangutan, and they agree that probably means taking Morton away from Herbert. Kayla didn’t want anyone to know she had seen Morton, but she is worried that he might be in danger so she confesses. April comes up with a plan.
The next day, Jessie and Cody begin their search by the cliffs. Jessie has put together a cooler of fruit to entice Morton out of hiding. But while they search, Morton begins to ape the lifeguards, putting on red trunks and running down the sand. When he sees Jessie’s cooler of fruit, he can’t resist taking some. Jessie rushes over and she tells him the lifeguards will make sure he is taken care of. She asks Mitch if he will take Morton until she can get someone from the Ark Trust to take control of his case. Mitch says absolutely not.
Kayla is still struggling with her need to be independent and has pulled out of the Special Olympics. Alex tries to convince her otherwise, but Kayla’s mind is made up. Of course, Mitch backs down from his vow not to have Morton stay with him and takes him home with Kayla. That night, Morton sneaks downstairs and trashes Mitch’s kitchen, and Mitch ends up putting him in the garage for the rest of the night so he can get some sleep.The next morning Mitch suggests once again that they go to the Special Olympics. Kayla is still resistant — until Mitch suggests that Morton can be their mascot. When they arrive at the event, Morton spots Herbert. Not wanting her friend to be hurt any more, Kayla and Morton go to hide. Cody and Jessie waylay Herbert by warning him that orangutans are on the endangered species list, and if he doesn’t have the appropriate paperwork, he will be in trouble. Herbert skulks off, swearing vengeance.
Mitch and Alex notice that Kayla and Morton are missing. Without wasting any time, they rush off to find them. Kayla and Morton are holed up in a cave, and as the tide starts coming in. Kayla panics. Morton, seeing light from above, climbs out and starts gesturing and screeching wildly. The tide comes in and soon, Kayla is up to her neck in water. She slips under…
Mitch and Alex see Morton and rush to the top of the cave, but Mitch can’t fit in the small space. Morton shows him the way to the cave’s mouth. Mitch tells him not to worry and goes in. The water is up to Kayla’s neck, and she slips under again. Mitch dives into the water and rescues her from the cave. When Kayla sees Morton up on the rocks jumping up and down with joy, she realizes that Morton didn’t desert her, but was looking for help. Kayla asks why they’re all just standing there when there’s a Beach Olympics to watch, and they all head for the games.
With Jessie and Cody’s help, Morton will be sent to an orangutan preserve in Hawaii. Before Morton leaves, Herbert shows up and asks his forgiveness, and Morton plants a big kiss on him. Kayla is sorry to see her friend leave, but Gavin promises they can always visit him.
Guest Star List:
Herbert Crane Danny Woodburn
Morton Sam
Amy Walker Herself
Kayla Marlo Lovitch
Gavin Rex Smith
