- Michael Anthony: [Viewers see Anthony enter the greenhouse, where he finds Tipton pruning a plant. Tipton is off-camera with only his right arm visible to viewers] You sent for me, sir?
- John Beresford Tipton: [as he continues pruning, Tipton quotes from act 2, scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet] "Within the infant rind of this small flower, poison has residence and medicine power."
- Michael Anthony: Shakespeare, sir?
- John Beresford Tipton: He always saw into the heart of the matter, didn't he, Mike?
- Michael Anthony: Yes, sir.
- John Beresford Tipton: [Indicating the flower to Anthony] This is Solanum delcamaras, more commonly known as the deadly nightshade. Properly used, this blossom has curative benefits. Improperly used - poisonous.
- Michael Anthony: Isn't that true of most things, sir? Almost everything has either the power of good or evil.
- John Beresford Tipton: Exactly, Mike.
- [Tipton hands an envelope to Anthony]
- John Beresford Tipton: Suppose we see how the power is used in the case of our next millionaire.
- [Anthony accepts the envelope, bows, gives a final glance at the flower, and turns to leave]
- Michael Anthony: [to the viewers] Although I was John Beresford Tipton's confidant, he never revealed to me at the outset how or why he selected the recipients of his millions, but there was always a valid reason,
- [Picking up a case history file]
- Michael Anthony: as you will see in this particular case history - the story of Mildred Kester.
- Michael Anthony: [Anthony buzzes the doorbell of the Denson household and Mildred responds] Is this the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Denson?
- Mildred Kester: Yes. Mr. Denson's out of town, though, and Mrs. Denson isn't in for the moment.
- Michael Anthony: Then, you'll be the one I'm looking for. Miss Mildred Kester?
- Mildred Kester: Yes. What is it?
- Michael Anthony: A personal matter. May I come in?
- Mildred Kester: Yes.
- Michael Anthony: [Anthony enters while opening his briefcase and withdrawing a check, which he displays to Mildred] This cashier's check will explain.
- [Anthony gives Mildred a check]
- Mildred Kester: [Looking at check] A million dollars?
- Michael Anthony: Tax-free, payable to you.
- Mildred Kester: A million dollars for me?
- Michael Anthony: To do with as you please.
- [Anthony removes a document from his briefcase]
- Michael Anthony: There are two conditions, as this agreement explains. First, you are to tell no one how or where you got this money. Second, no one is to know the exact amount of the gift.
- Mildred Kester: But why for me?
- Michael Anthony: I don't know that, believe me. There is one exception to your not telling anyone. You are permitted tell your husband, after your marriage.
- [Mildred remains silent]
- Michael Anthony: Miss Kester? You heard?
- Mildred Kester: Yes, I heard.
- [first lines]
- Michael Anthony: [to the viewers] My name is Michael Anthony. For years I was executive secretary to John Beresford Tipton, whose peculiarity was to give away, seemingly at random, $1,000,000, tax-free. But these gifts were not the aimless whims of a multibillionaire. For Mr. Tipton was a sincere student of human behavior.
- [displays a stack of files]
- Michael Anthony: In these files are some of the results of Mr. Tipton's observations and experiments, the minutely detailed case histories of Tipton-made millionaires. This is Silverstone, where John Beresford Tipton died some years ago, a 60,00-acre estate in the great tradition of the financial barons of a past era. I remember one particular day, as I crossed the velvet lawns to the greenhouse, speculating as to why Mr. Tipton had summoned me. He was interested in plant life as well as human life, and was fascinated by the remarkable parallels between the two.