The Gift

Oh, thank you.

They're pretty peaches.

- Yes, ma'am.

- So, how you been?

I'm pretty good,

I reckon.

You had any health problems

since I saw you last?

- Ma'am?

- Have you been sick?

Well, back's been

hurtin' a little.

No, no, it's not your back.

Have you been

bleeding somewhere?

Well...

- Yes, ma'am, a little.

- Yeah.

- Have you been to a doctor?

- Oh, I...

I don't much like

going to no doctors.

Well, I think

maybe you should go.

No, it's not

a venereal disease.

I just think it's some kind of

kidney or some bladder infection.

But it's been around

for a while.

Could lead to some

more serious problems.

Do you want me

to call a doctor for you?

- All right.

- Okay.

You kids get on to bed now.

It's nearly 9:
00.

Ah, Mama, can I stay up

just a little bit?

No.

You heard me, mister.

Mama?

What does "f***" mean?

It's a bad word, hon,

for something nice.

But what does it mean?

Well, it means making love.

It's how your daddy and me

made your brothers and you.

Take his turtles off, hon.

- Mike, did you hear me?

- What?

I said get to bed.

Oh, Mike, your lip's

dragging the floor.

- It's gonna freeze like that.

- You act like I'm a kid.

You are a kid, honey.

Valerie, you may as well

take your glasses off.

I know he's been hitting you again.

- I see your lip.

- Oh, no.

Oh, it...

it just embarrasses me.

It's okay.

Come on.

He got worse.

I went to the store yesterday

'cause we's out of some things.

And he got home from work early,

before I could get back.

He was waiting with a razor strap.

My legs are all cut up.

And I got welts the size of

footballs on my back and my legs.

I feel guilty, you payin' me money

to tell you to get away from him.

You got to get help.

- Legal help.

- You don't know Donnie Barksdale.

He'll kill me if I leave him.

He'll find me.

He said he would.

No, he's not crazy enough

to kill anybody.

He's just

an insecure redneck.

What?

I think he's got

a woman on the side.

Yeah, he's been

laying out at night.

Excuse me,

but the school's on the phone.

They say Mike's

in some kind of trouble.

Mrs. Wilson.

Hi. Come on in.

Have a seat.

- Where... where's Mike?

- He's in the infirmary.

Now, it's nothing to get

worked up about. He's fine.

He's got a few...

Sit down.

He's got a few,

nicks and bruises.

I think he might have a... have

a pretty good black eye by tomorrow.

But he's...

he's okay.

- He was in another fight?

- Yes, he was.

His grades are... are getting

worse too. How's he doing at home?

Not much better.

He's real distant.

Well, Mrs. Wilson,

I don't pretend to be

a psychologist, but,

it's obvious to me that your boy's

got a lot of anger in him.

Well, it's about this time

last year his daddy passed away.

He's still real

messed up over it.

Yeah. I never knew your husband.

I understand he was a fine man.

Yes, he was.

Well, I don't know how you

feel about therapy, but...

If you think Mike needs somebody to

talk to, I know a gentleman over...

Mike doesn't need a therapist,

Mr. Collins. He can talk to me.

Do you think he will, though?

I'm sorry, Wayne. I didn't know

you had anybody in here.

- Oh, hi.

- Ruby wasn't at her desk.

Yeah, she's out sick today.

Mrs. Wilson, this is Jessica King,

- my fiancee.

- Nice to meet you.

You too.

We're just going to be

a couple of minutes. Okay.

I gotta go anyway.

I got people waiting.

Thanks a lot,

Mr. Collins.

- I'm real sorry about all this.

- Oh, it's my job.

He's just a boy,

that's all.

You're not that Wilson that's

a fortune-teller, are you?

I don't call myself that.

- I'd love you to read my fortune.

- I'm pretty booked up.

Do you think we'll live

happily ever after?

What's the matter?

You see something bad?

Of course not.

No, I'm sure you'll

be real happy together.

- Hey, how you gettin' along today?

- I'm fine, Buddy.

Except the fact I can't keep my car

door from just flying right open.

Have you got the time

to fix it?

I can get to it,

about an hour or two.

You wanna wait?

No. I got to get home.

I got people coming.

Hey, you just want...

you just wanna leave it here,

and I'll...

I'll carry you on home?

I can have it to you by... probably

by 6:
00. That gonna be all right?

- Yeah, yeah, that's fine.

- All right. All right.

- Buddy?

- Yeah?

I'm a little... I'm

a little low on my money this week.

- I was just wondering if...

- Don't you worry about... No, really.

- No, stop it. Oh, come on, look.

- I feel bad.

For all that

you've done for me,

I just... I just think

the world of you.

You're about the only one

I call a friend to me.

Thank you.

Yeah, you know.

Annie.

I'll get the truck.

Take your time.

How you been, Buddy?

I've been having some...

some bad thoughts lately.

But I, you know...

Yesterday, I was feeling so happy.

- Yeah?

- I was feeling on top of the world.

Good on you.

I didn't even feel

like I needed my medicine.

I took it anyway.

You know, I'm getting...

I'm getting hooked on that stuff.

Well, I think you're gonna have

a lot of happy days, Buddy.

Yeah, you're gonna

get better and better.

Well, I believe you

when you say so.

Buddy?

Honey?

Honey, what's wrong?

You have to tell me.

You have to tell me now.

I'll... I'll tell you, hon.

If I look

into a blue diamond...

and I think

a negative thought,

am I gonna die?

No.

You're not gonna die.

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