Benji views the discovery of the wallet as compensation for being paired with the rule-following Felix. When Felix demands that he return the $20, Benji insists that they are just borrowing it. He examines the driver’s license and discovers that the wallet belongs to Laura Marie Friendly, the tech billionaire who founded the company known as Friendly Connect. Benji pockets the wallet and uses the $20 to order food. He spends $18 on hot dogs, sodas, chips, and ice cream despite Felix’s protests that he is stealing.

Felix grows increasingly anxious while Benji fantasizes about a reward. Felix finally insists that they return the wallet immediately, so he runs to tell Ms. Chenoweth. Benji confirms the story and hands over the wallet. Ms. Chenoweth takes them to a nearby police officer, who becomes interested only after hearing Laura Friendly’s name. When Benji worries that the officer will forget them, Ms. Chenoweth writes a note with their names and school information and slips it into the wallet.

On the bus ride home, Felix worries about the stolen money, believing that bad decisions lead to bad luck. When Benji discusses spending his reward money, Felix snaps at him, asserting that they were stealing, but Benji dismisses their actions by saying they were just bending a rule.

Felix’s older sister, Georgie, who is engaged to a woman named Michelle, picks Felix up and tells him that their mother is working an extra shift at the nursing home. They arrive at their apartment complex, where Felix and his mother live in a one-bedroom unit. Entering the dark, empty apartment makes his heart race, so he performs his ritual of checking every room for a murderer. He finds a note from his mother telling him to make soup and do laundry. Needing money for laundry, he dumps out the contents of the family change jar and counts only $8.25, which is not enough to repay his half of the $20.

While Benji is in his underwear, his mother enters his bedroom without knocking, then refuses his request for a lock for his door. She gives him his social studies essay, which is marked up in red ink, and although she insists that he spend more time on his work, Benji knows that more time would not help him to improve.

Meanwhile, Benji records a journal entry on his iPad, crafting a highly edited version of the day’s events that portrays him as a compassionate friend who convinced Felix to turn in the wallet; his account omits any mention of the stolen money. Although the journal is supposed to be private, Benji knows that his parents make it a point to access his cloud recordings. He mentions playing basketball with his father, a former high school star, and notes that his mother received a college basketball scholarship. Benji feels pressure to make it onto the school team even though he lacks natural basketball skills.

During the team selection for open-gym basketball, Benji picks Felix, who plays point guard effectively and helps his team to dominate. During a water break, Benji asks if Felix has received a reward for the wallet. Felix continues to worry about the stolen money, connecting it to his recent bad luck.

In the second half, Benji yells for Felix to shoot from beyond his range. Felix misses badly, resulting in an air ball that a boy named Aidan Rozman mocks, along with Aidan’s entire team. As Felix leaves the gym, Aidan steps on his sneaker, causing him to fall and injure the fingers on his left hand. Benji helps Felix, who insists that they pay Laura Friendly back. Benji walks Felix to the car line and asks his mother for $20, claiming that he owes Felix money from the field trip. She hands him the money without question, and Benji gives it to Felix. When Georgie arrives and tells Felix that her truck has broken down again, Felix interprets this development as more bad luck related to the stolen money.

Benji is called to the principal’s office, where he finds his parents, Felix, Felix’s mother, Laura Friendly, and her assistant Tracey. Tracey announces that Laura is giving each boy a scholarship worth $20,000 and will also donate $10,000 of technology to the school. Reporters are ready for a school assembly.

Laura insists on speaking with the boys alone, then confronts them about stealing $20 from her wallet; she explains that she always carries an emergency $20. Felix immediately confesses, and Benji tries to return the money, but Laura refuses it. She poses the penny-doubled riddle, and Benji calculates that it equals over $5 million dollars. Laura offers them a choice: the scholarships or $5 million, with the condition that they must spend all the money in 30 days. She tells a story about stealing candy as a child and being forced by her mother to eat 17 chocolate bars as punishment. She then formalizes the offer; the boys must spend $5,368,709.12 in 30 days, adhering to her rules, in order to win $10 million each. The first rule is that they cannot acquire assets like houses or stocks. Benji enthusiastically accepts. Laura also forbids them from telling anyone about the challenge or its conditions. Felix hesitates, then asks Laura why she is doing this. When she replies that it will be fun to watch, he tentatively agrees to the challenge.

Felix can hardly believe that he agreed to Laura Friendly’s offer; equating her to a “cartoon villain,” he fears that he and Benji have “walk[ed] right into her evil trap” (33). Later, at a school assembly, Laura publicly announces the $5,368,709.12 as a gift. Benji dances on stage and speaks to reporters while Felix stands in shock.

Felix’s mother takes him to Red Lobster to celebrate. She begins planning to buy a house and suggests giving a loan to Georgie and Michelle, but then she recalls a rule from Felix’s deceased maternal grandfather: Never spend over $100 without sleeping on it first. Felix resolves that if he wins the $10 million, he will buy houses for his family.

The next morning, Felix and his mother see the story on national news. Felix silently wonders if his estranged father, Mark, will see the broadcast. His mother receives a phone call and tells Felix that they are going to the bank to get his money.

At the First Bank of New York, Benji and his parents meet Roger McDowell, Laura’s lawyer, and Leonard Trulz, an accountant. Felix and his mother arrive shortly afterward. McDowell explains that the money is in a single custodial account that is accessible only to the boys and only via debit cards. The parents are upset to learn that they will have no access to the money, but McDowell states that this condition is non-negotiable. The parents reluctantly agree and sign the paperwork, and Benji and Felix receive black debit cards.

The parents leave so that McDowell can privately review the formal rules of the contest with the boys. They must spend the entire $5,368,709.12 by midnight on December 1 in order to win $10 million each. They cannot give money away or buy gifts for others, but shared experiences are allowed. They must also use everything they purchase. McDowell reiterates that they cannot tell anyone about the challenge, then adds that everything the boys purchase will be repossessed after the end of the 30 days. The boys are also given a “No List” of specific items that they are forbidden from buying. Benji signs immediately and encourages Felix to do the same. Felix hesitates but finally signs. Leonard Trulz explains that as their accountant and rule-enforcer, he will monitor and approve all of their spending. He then tells the boys to enjoy the game.