Marvin Miller: Michael Anthony

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.'

• Michael Anthony : [to the viewers]  I was just reading a story I've read many times before. It's that kind of story. There are nineteen people in this world who are worth 500,000 million dollars or more. I was employed by one of these men - John Beresford Tipton. I was his Executive Secretary. The story I am about to tell you is about another person who received $1,000,000 tax-free from John Beresford Tipton. This is Silverstone, 60,000-acres of privacy. You've probably never heard of Silverstone or John Beresford Tipton because that's the way he wanted it, and a multibillionaire usually got what he wanted. I could not tell you about his hobby of giving away a million dollars until his death. He was sunning himself on the veranda. His vast holdings included orange groves, apple orchards, banana plantations. But the only fruit he ever saw was in a fruit bowl.

• Michael Anthony : [to the viewers]  I have no idea how John Beresford Tipton selected his millionaires or as Mr. Tipton called them, his bananas. But let me tell you the story.

• Joe Iris : [Entering his house with police sirens blaring in the street below]  Julie?

  [He sees Anthony siting in an easy chair and instinctively reaches inside his jacket for a nonexistent gun] 

  Joe Iris : Look, Officer,

  [to Anthony] 

  Joe Iris : it was just a reflex action. I was startled.

  [Opens his jacket] 

  Joe Iris : You see, I'm not even healed.

  Michael Anthony : [Anthony, not in his usual good humor, clearly dislikes Iris]  You are Joseph Iris?

  Joe Iris : Yeah, Joe. Iris. It's like the flower.

  Michael Anthony : Joseph A. Iris?

  Joe Iris : Joseph A. Iris? Yeah, I know. It's good for a laugh. A for Adonis. You know how mothers are.

  Michael Anthony : [Opens his briefcase and withdraws a document]  Will you please sign this form?

  Joe Iris : [Suspicious]  Are you a new parole officer? What happened to Sgt. Dunn?

  Michael Anthony : I am not a policeman. I have a form for you to sign. It's a receipt for this

  [Anthony hands Iris an envelope] 

  Michael Anthony : Will you please read it?

  [Iris shoves the envelope into his jacket pocket without reading it] 

  Joe Iris : [Suspiciously]  I don't get this. Who let you in here? Where's Julie?

  Michael Anthony : Your wife stepped out to the delicatessen for a moment, I believe.

  [Police sirens continue to sound on the street outside] 

  Michael Anthony : Mr. Iris, I do need you to sign this.

  Joe Iris : Sure.

  [Signs] 

  Joe Iris : So long, Mister. I know you are in a hurry.

  [Guides Anthony towards the door] 

  Michael Anthony : Just a minute. Don't you want me to explain? Read this receipt. It's highly important.

  Joe Iris : Whatever it is, it can't get me into any more trouble than I am. Be seein' you.

  Michael Anthony : Very well. Good night.

  Joe Iris : Yeah, good night.

  [Iris hurries Anthony out of the door]