Richard Anderson: Rod Matthews

Quotes 

• Michael Anthony : [a perspiring, tired Anthony approaches Matthews on an island]  May I talk to you a moment? My name is Michael Anthony.

  Rod Matthews : [Surprised but civil]  Well, that's good a name as any. Mine's John Smith, Peter Adams, George Wilson, depending on what island I happen to be on.

  Michael Anthony : But you're Rod Matthews!

  Rod Matthews : [Suddenly darkly]  I was - once.

  Michael Anthony : Mr. Matthews, I've come an awfully long way to see you.

  Rod Matthews : Well, now you've seen me.

  [Starts to walk away] 

  Rod Matthews : And it's just as long a way back.

  Michael Anthony : [Reaching into his briefcase to remove a check]  I've bought you something, something very important - a check.

  Rod Matthews : [Barely glancing at check]  I've got nobody to leave me checks. My father died eight years ago, cut me off without a cent.

  Michael Anthony : [Holding up check]  Well, this is for more than a cent. It's a cashier's check for a million dollars.

  Rod Matthews : You want to give me a million dollars?

  Michael Anthony : Oh, I'm not the benefactor. You'll never know who is. But the money is yours, tax-free, if you agree to the conditions.

  [Matthews scoffs] 

  Michael Anthony : You merely agree not to tell anyone the exact amount or the circumstances under which you received the gift. No one but your wife, if you have a wife.

  Rod Matthews : No, I haven't got a wife, I haven't got a family, I haven't got anything.

  Michael Anthony : [Offers the check]  You have a million dollars.

  Rod Matthews : [Takes the check and laughs]  Okay. Hey, listen, this is ridiculous. Why me? What can it buy me here? Bigger ocean? Bluer skies? I got all of the food I can eat; all the fermented coconut milk I can drink.

  [Takes a sip from a coconut and tosses it away] 

  Rod Matthews : What more could it buy?

  Michael Anthony : It, uh, could help you go back.

  Rod Matthews : Back to what? Look, you traced me this far. You must know all about me.

  [Anthony nods] 

  Rod Matthews : Where do you start after you've been court-martialed and kicked out of the Army for neglect of duty and cowardice? And your West Point father and friends slam the door in your face? See the girl that you love marry the guy that's supposed to be your best friend? It's an awful lot of money. But it'll never bring me back the last ten years.

  Michael Anthony : Perhaps it can buy a future for you.

  [Matthews laughs] 

  Michael Anthony : I see the past still means something to you.

  Rod Matthews : Huh?

  Michael Anthony : [Pointing]  Your West Point ring.

  Rod Matthews : Oh. Well, I just keep this to remind me, so I'll never forget John McKuehn and what he did to me.

  [There is a brief, flashback court-martial scene, then a return to the present] 

  Rod Matthews : I'd give a million dollars to get even with him.

  [Turns to Anthony, who produces the agreement, which Matthews signs and returns to Anthony, who has a worried face. Matthews, to himself] 

  Rod Matthews : I'd have to find him first. Now I think I know just how.