Marvin Miller: Michael Anthony

Quotes 

• Michael Anthony : [Anthony enters the Tipton study, to find Tipton seated in a high-backed chair at a desk, reading a book. Only Tipton's right arm is visible to viewers]  You sent for me, sir?

  John Beresford Tipton : Mike, some of the greatest love stories ever told were written about war. 'A Farwell to Arms' for instance. Have you read it?

  Michael Anthony : Yes, indeed. The trouble is, most war-time love stories end so sadly.

  John Beresford Tipton : Let's see if we can write a different end to this war-time romance.

  [Tipton hands envelope to Anthony] 

  John Beresford Tipton : There's our next millionaire.

  [Anthony accepts envelope] 

• Michael Anthony : [Anthony enters Reilly's shuttered restaurant]  Mr. Reilly? Mr. James Reilly?

  Jimmy Reilly : [thinks that Anthony is a creditor]  Look, bud, don't come bothering me here. File your claim with the others.

  Michael Anthony : I don't think you understand. I don't want any money from you, Mr. Reilly. I've come to give you some.

  [Anthony opens his briefcase and hands Reilly a check] 

  Jimmy Reilly : [Wide-eyed]  One million smackers!

  Michael Anthony : It's yours, free of all encumbrances. A gift from an anonymous benefactor who insists on remaining unknown.

  Jimmy Reilly : He's giving me this? He must to be nuts!

  Michael Anthony : [Insulted]  Mr. Reilly, I assure you, anyone who could afford to give away a million dollars can hardly be classified as nuts!

  Jimmy Reilly : You mean to say there's no catch to this?

  Michael Anthony : [Withdrawing a document from his briefcase]  No catch, uh, except one. You are prohibited from telling anyone, except your wife at such time as you may acquire a wife, the amount of money you have received or the way you received it. If you fail to adhere to this stipulation, the balance of the money will be reclaimed. Agreed?

  Jimmy Reilly : Agreed!

  Michael Anthony : [Offering the agreement]  Then If you'll, uh, sign right here, please.

  [Reilly signs and Anthony retains the promise] 

  Jimmy Reilly : Wife? You did say wife?

  [Anthony nods] 

  Jimmy Reilly : Excuse me.

  [Reilly grabs the phone] 

  Jimmy Reilly : Operator, give me Western Union.

• [first lines] 

  Michael Anthony : [to the viewers]  My name is Michael Anthony. Until his death a few years ago, I was executive secretary to the fabulously wealthy John Beresford Tipton. This is Silverstone, Mr. Tipton's 60,000-acre estate. Here he had ample time to indulge his many hobbies, the most unusual of which was his habit of giving away to total strangers, the anonymous gift of one million dollars.

• Michael Anthony : [Reviewing a file, to the viewers]  This is the case history that developed after Mr. Tipton gave me this envelope that night in his library.