Paul Frees: John Beresford Tipton

Quotes 

• Michael Anthony : [Anthony enters the veranda in the garden where he finds Tipton seated in a high backed outdoor chair with only his right arm visible to the viewers. To the right of his chair is a small glass table containing a bowl of fruit]  Yes, Mr. Tipton?

  John Beresford Tipton : Mike,

  [Picking a banana out of the fruit bowl] 

  John Beresford Tipton : why do people peel bananas?

  Michael Anthony : Well, that's fairly simple. We all know what's inside but we can't get at it until we remove the peel.

  John Beresford Tipton : Exactly, Mike.

  [Returns the banana to the fruit bowl] 

  John Beresford Tipton : And that's why I like to peel people - to remove the outer peel and get down to the most important thing: what's inside that peel.

  Michael Anthony : I don't quite understand what you're getting at, sir.

  John Beresford Tipton : I've selected another person to whom I'm going to give one million dollars.

  [Tipton hands an envelope to Anthony] 

  John Beresford Tipton : I'm anxious to see what this man does with it and how he emerges from his peel.

  Michael Anthony : I'm beginning to understand.

  John Beresford Tipton : Watch him carefully. Give me a complete, written report on this particular 'banana.'