Tray Melbert

"*Man, you ain't nothing but a f\*cking liar, bro. All day--all day you been talking about coming back home. For our team. For our block. For me. But f\*ck us, right? You got yours, so f\*ck Philly.*"
—Tray to Will[src]
**Tray Melbert** is a recurring character on Peacock's modern-day reinterpretation, *Bel-Air*. He is portrayed by SteVonté Hart. He is based off of the one-time character "Ice Tray" from the original series episode "Homeboy, Sweet Homeboy", where he was played by Don Cheadle.[1]

Tray is Will's best friend and basketball teammate from West Philly, who he's known since they were kids. Due to Will's sudden departure to Bel-Air, Tray risks falling victim to the streets. Tray comes out to Bel-Air to visit Will following Rashad Denton's death, under the impression that Will would be returning to Philly. However, upon realizing that Will intended to stay in LA, their friendship fractured.

## Biography

### The fight on the ball court

Tray dunks on Will as he exits the house, and the two of them walk to school, where they both score well on their tests before the big game, during which Will scores a buzzer beater to win the game. Tray, Will, and the rest of the team head into the locker room to celebrate, where they remind Will never to forget where he's from and recite lyrics from Meek Mill's *Dream and Nightmares* intro. Tray and Will then grab some cheese steaks and post up outside of Cesario's Supermarket, where they are approached by Darnell, who offers to put them on as dope boys, before flashing a gun and challenging them to a game on the court.

Three hours later, Will's encounter with Darnell still has him mad enough to accept his challenge, though Tray fears things could go left and brings a gun for protection, which he keeps tucked in his bag. They arrive at the court and play a game of 11 against Darnell and Rod, though Rashad has a proposal: if the boys when, he'll give them $2,000 to split, but if his guys win, then Will and Tray work as dope boys for him. Fortunately for Will and Tray, they secure the victory. However, a brawl breaks out after Rashad is hit with a ball. Tray is stomped out on the ground until Will grabs the gun from his bag and lets off several shots. The police come, and while Tray manages to escape, Will is apprehended. Tray doesn't hear from Will until a couple of days later, only to learn that he was sent to Bel-Air, which is good for Will, but Rashad has a bag on both of their heads.

### Getting shot

Tray gets shot and taken to the hospital. Fortunately, it's only a shoulder wound, and he will survive. Once he's released from the hospital, he and Will FaceTime, and Tray reveals that Rashad is still looking for him, under the impression that Will is in Philly. Tray got caught outside of Papi's, though he is healing and assures Will that he's fine.

Tray calls Will and informs him that Rashad knows he's in Bel-Air and that there are people looking for him. The next time they talk, Will reveals that he's spoken to his Aunt Viv, and she has agreed to fly him out to visit. Tray has some good news of his own. He reveals Rashad is dead. He got shot in the club. Tray doesn't know who, but he doesn't care either.

### Visiting Bel-Air

Trey is flown out by Will's Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil to stay with them for a week, and he gets one look at their Bel-Air mansion and can't believe how well they're living. However, with Rashad dead, Tray concludes that Will intends to give it all up to come back with him to Philly. He greets Will's aunt and uncle, as well as Carlton, before going to Will's room and browsing through his belongings as dinner nears. Will explains that they have to wear suits, but Trey is reluctant to adapt to Bel-Air's luxurious ways. Nevertheless, he gets dressed and attends the dinner, where he sneaks a few drinks of alcohol and drunkenly reveals to Carlton the real reason Will's in Bel-Air.

The next day, after finally meeting Lisa, who Will has talked so much about, they go to the D Smoke concert, where Tray learns that Will is leaning towards staying in Bel-Air. He accuses Will of trying to turn his back on where he came from. By the time they return home, Tray is no longer certain that he even wants to stay for the rest of the week, accusing Will of leveling up and leaving him behind while he goes off to be great. This all stemmed from that night on the court, and while Will got rich, all Tray has to show for it is a gunshot. He shoves Will, and Will shoves him back before pushing Tray to the floor and telling him to get out. And Tray does just that. They arrange for him to leave, and Will joins him in the driveway as an SUV pulls up. Unlike Will, Tray can't buy into this Bel-Air life and return home soft. Will replies that he's not soft and that there's more to the world than West Philly. "Not to me, bro," Tray replies, before leaving.

## Appearances

### Season 1

* Dreams and Nightmares
* Keep Ya Head Up
* Canvass
* PA to LA

## References

1. ↑ Season 1, Episode 1: ***Dreams and Nightmares***
2. ↑ Season 1, Episode 2: ***Keep Ya Head Up***
3. ↑ Season 1, Episode 4: ***Canvass***
4. ↑ Season 1, Episode 5: ***PA to LA***
5. ↑ Season 1, Episode 6: ***The Strength to Smile***