Marvin Miller: Michael Anthony

Quotes 

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

  John Beresford Tipton : Mike, do you know anything about glassware?

  Michael Anthony : Enough to know those are valuable pieces of crystal, sir.

  John Beresford Tipton : Oh?

  [Tipton picks up one goblet and drops it to the floor, where it shatters into dozens of pieces. Anthony is surprised. Tipton chuckles] 

  John Beresford Tipton : Don't worry, Mike. That was an imitation of this expensive piece. I was merely demonstrating something. The same would go for this one if I dropped it. Even a million dollars couldn't put it together again exactly right.

  Michael Anthony : That's true.

  [Anthony glances at the broken goblet on the floor] 

  Michael Anthony : I'll see that it's cleaned up, sir.

  John Beresford Tipton : Some men's lives are smashed in just the same way. Even a million dollars can't put them back where they were.

  Michael Anthony : I'd say that was an exception, sir.

  John Beresford Tipton : Well, let's take a look at one of these exceptions.

  [Tipton hands over an envelope to Anthony] 

  John Beresford Tipton : Let's see what Roy Delbridge does with his life.

  [Anthony bows] 

• Michael Anthony : [Anthony rings the buzzer to the Delbridge apartment. Vicki Delbridge responds]  How do you do? Mrs. Delbridge?

  Vicki Delbridge : Yes.

  Michael Anthony : My name is Michael Anthony. I've come to see Mr. Delbridge for a moment. Is he at home?

  Vicki Delbridge : Yes. Won't you come in please?

  Michael Anthony : Thank you.

  [Anthony enters and follows Vicki into the next room] 

  Vicki Delbridge : Ah, this is my husband.

  Roy Delbridge : If it's insurance you're selling, I got all I can handle.

  Michael Anthony : No, I'm not selling anything. I've come to give you something.

  [Looks around the apartment] 

  Michael Anthony : There's no one here but you and Mrs. Delbridge?

  Roy Delbridge : No. Why?

  Michael Anthony : Because the only condition to this gift is that it remain confidential. You and Mrs. Delbridge may know the amount and how you received it, but no one else may.

  Roy Delbridge : What is the amount?

  Michael Anthony : [Anthony opens his briefcase and withdraws a check]  One million dollars.

  Roy Delbridge : [to Vicki]  Well, it's a gag.

  Michael Anthony : No, it's not a gag, Mr. Delbridge.

  [Hands Roy the check] 

  Michael Anthony : And the tax has already been paid.

  Roy Delbridge : Come off it, will ya?

  Vicki Delbridge : [Examining check]  No, honey. Now... now look, It's a cashier's check.

  Roy Delbridge : Now why are you giving this to us?

  Michael Anthony : I'm not doing this myself, and the man whose name is on the check isn't either. He's an officer of the bank where the money has been deposited.

  Roy Delbridge : Well, who is giving it to us?

  Michael Anthony : [Anthony returns to his briefcase to obtain a document]  He wishes to remain anonymous. All you have to do is sign this paper, agreeing to the conditions I've already mentioned.

  [Roy signs the pledge] 

  Michael Anthony : Thank you.

  [Anthony returns the paper to his briefcase] 

  Michael Anthony : I hope this will bring you something you really want. It usually does.

  Roy Delbridge : I'm very grateful, Mr. Anthony, to the man who gave me this money. It'll give my wife a lot of happiness, I'm sure. But there's only one thing I want, and a million dollars can't buy it.

  Michael Anthony : Are you sure? You can have the finest doctors in the world.

  Roy Delbridge : I've had them. The United States government has done its best, and it has a great many million dollars.

  Michael Anthony : I'm sorry. Well, goodbye, Mr. Delbridge, Mrs. Delbridge.

  [Anthony turns toward the door] 

  Vicki Delbridge : Goodbye.

  [Anthony departs] 

• [first lines] 

  Michael Anthony : [to the viewers]  My name is Michael Anthony. Until his death, I was executive secretary to one of the world's richest men - John Beresford Tipton. He had what was perhaps the strangest hobby in the world, and one of the few fortunes large enough to indulge it. This is Silverstone, Mr. Tipton's fabulous 60,000-acre estate. Here, after his retirement from the world of business and high finance, he pursued this hobby, which was nothing less than, every now and then, giving away to a total stranger the sum of $1,000,000. And, because he insisted on remaining anonymous, I was the man who actually delivered the check.

• Michael Anthony : [reviewing a case history, to the viewers]  Roy Delbridge's life had indeed been shattered. It happened in a season that saw a great many other lives shattered - the spring of 1945. Roy was in a little town in Germany called Kleinwald. The word had been passed to the troops in the field that the war was over.