The Ultimate Gift Page #3

I always thought it was because of me.

It doesn't matter.

Do you have any extra spending cash?

I would love

to help you.

-But I can't.

-You can't?

They told me specifically that you would be

comin' around for money

and that I was not

to give you anything.

But I'm your son, Mom.

That's what you're supposed to do.

If l violate

their instructions

I am out everything

everything.

So for the sake

of the greater good

I must insist

that you leave.

I'm not gonna upset

the whole applecart

just because you're facing

a few challenges.

I'm sorry. I just

cannot help you.

Thanks.

Ow!

Hey, man. You're

You're on my bench.

You're on my bench.

Beat it.

-A simple no would have sufficed.

-Fine. No.

-No, what?

-No, you cannot sit on this bench.

This is not your bench.

This is a city bench.

-Go sit on another bench.

-But it's my bench.

I've got just as much

right to it as anybody.

It's a free country, you know.

See, that's where

you're wrong.

Name one thing

in this country that's for free.

You need money for everything.

Without money, you're nothing.

Look at you.

No money. No food.

No family. No friends.

Nothing.

Besides, I'm sitting

on this bench now.

This is my bench.

Okay?

I'll flip you for it.

Fine.

I have a quarter.

Thanks.

Oh.

Well, aren't you gonna

chase him for it?

Beat it, kid.

I've been watching you.

You're not a real bum.

We saw you at a funeral.

Quite the entrance.

-What were you doing at

-My mother and I come here for lunch every day.

Except, right now,

she doesn't know where I am.

-Emily!

-Whatever.

Emily!

Oh! Emily.

-You must really be having a bad life.

-Come on. Right now.

I was just having a pleasant conversation

with this gentleman.

-Leave us alone, please.

-Dear, don't be ridiculous.

Sorry to disturb you. Come on.

That's okay. I'm not the one

who's disturbed.

Some friend you are.

Thanks a lot, poser.

You know what I've said

about talking to strangers.

-He's not a real bum.

-Hey. Whoa, whoa. Wait, wait, wait.

Okay, this is gonna sound

really, really strange

but I'm just gonna

come out and say it.

I'll make a deal with you.

I need a friend.

But only for a little while,

and, uh

in return, I don't know,

I'll take you both to Disneyworld.

Excuse me?

-I need a friend.

-Explain yourself.

-It's complicated.

-No, it's not.

It's pathetic.

-Come on. Now, just because

-Mom, I told you.

-He's not a real bum.

-Okay.

Oh, dude, come on.

She doesn't even like

Chateauneuf du Pape.

Thank you.

Miss Hastings,

bring me the Stevens file.

Looks like our boy's not even

gonna make it through round two.

But, sir

doesn't he have until

the end of today?

Well, from what I hear

he could have another month

and still get the same result.

Yes, sir.

-So, what do you think? Is this a good spot?

-Yeah, perfect.

You can see everything

under the perfect tree.

-Hey! Hey! Give that back!

-I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm just hungry.

-Sir, you need to step back.

-Don't you have a sandwich?

-You need to step back.

-Leave her alone.

Get back! Get back!

I've got 911 all dialed in.

All I have to do is press Send.

Sweetheart, get back.

-Ow! No!

-Hey! Hey! Leave 'em alone.

Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo!

Whoo! Yeah.

My bench.

Mwah!

-So, you have a bet with a dead guy?

-Mm-hmm.

-Cool.

-Emily. Be polite.

Wait. How can you have a bet with a

deceased person?

See, that's the part

that's complicated.

So you come up

with a friend.

What do you get if we

go along with this?

-Emily.

-No, it's okay. I don't know.

Something about an ultimate gift

or something.

But you're not sure

what that is.

Yeah, that about

sums it up.

So what do we get

if we agree to do this?

-We need money. How much are you willing to pay?

-Emily!

I'm sorry. You're gonna

have to excuse my daughter.

Sometimes she tends to be

a little outspoken.

I can't promise you anything.

Now, that's better.

But what if

we really did

become friends?

-Emily, it's not polite

-Shh.

-So you're Jason's friend?

-Yes, I am.

-True friend?

-Absolutely.

Pinky promise.

So, how long have you

known Mr Stevens?

We go way back.

We're like this.

Now, where do I sign?

And, uh

he hasn't promised you

any compensation for this friendship?

Look at him.

Does he look like

he has anything to offer?

So, uh

you expect this friendship

to continue?

I plan on knowing Jason

for the rest of my life.

Tomorrow lunch at noon,

our usual spot in the park.

Sure.

Just a minute, pal!

You owe me.

Emily. Wait.

They go back a long way, don't they?

There was a time when Mr Hamilton

was quite ill

and needed

a kidney transplant.

Your grandfather went out of his way

to help him find a donor.

You could even say, I think,

that Mr Hamilton's alive today

because of Red Stevens.

Um.

In the, um, basement

of this building

there's a small apartment

for a custodian.

It isn't being used right now.

Perhaps you'd, um, like

to take a look at it?

Thank you.

Jason, you have no concept whatsoever

of the value of money.

Money has always been available to you,

like the air you breathe.

I tell you, let's, uh, review some highlights

of your recent past.

A $25,000-per-night suite

in Paris

with a personal chef

whom you tipped heavily.

Toured the Bordeaux region

in chauffeured hot-air balloons.

That was amazing.

A week of heli-skiing

in Saint Moritz.

A small fleet

of exotic cars.

The latest in everything,

including women.

But the past is the past

and I figure you've probably had

a pretty tough month.

Well, it's about time.

Thank you very much.

And if l ever

see you two again

it'll be too soon.

Well, seeing how you've never

held one of those before

let me explain what it is.

That's a paycheck.

That's for what you earned at Gus's ranch.

Of course, the I. R. S. ravaged it first.

I hate those guys.

In your pocket

every step of the way.

You start out in business,

and then you have to make a payroll.

And just when you think

you're gonna make a

Mr Stevens, this is

the Gift of Money, please.

Yeah, all right. Sorry.

Look at me.

I'm carrying on about death and taxes

even after I'm dead.

Now, you have to take that money and?

as much as you need it yourself

spend it on someone

experiencing a real problem.

What can they teach you?

Put yourself

in their shoes.

Jason, would you like us

to cash it for you?

Please.

I think we know you

well enough

that we won't need

any I. D.

How will you know

how I spent it?

We'll know.

Hey.

I didn't

take anything.

Nothin'. Nothin'.

Oh, no.

Great.

Naturally.

A young blonde woman

and her little girl.

-Just down the hall.

-Thanks.

Paging Dr Howard. Dr Howard.

Paging Dr Kline.

Dr Kline.

Paging Dr Howard.

What are you doing here?

-You saw her.

-Yeah.

Did you talk to her?

-So, what's wrong with her?

-That depends.

-On what?

-On who you really are.

Maybe I can help you.

Emily has leukemia.

We thought she was in remission after

her bone marrow transplant

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