Marvin Miller: Michael Anthony

Quotes 

• Michael Anthony : [Anthony enters a large living room to discover Tipton standing before a roaring fireplace. His back is to the viewers]  You sent for me, sir?

  John Beresford Tipton : Mike, I've been seeing all kinds of interesting things

  [Points to fireplace] 

  John Beresford Tipton : in the flames.

  Michael Anthony : I know. It's fascinating - it's almost like hypnosis.

  John Beresford Tipton : [Chuckles]  Whatever you call it, when you get along to my age, you begin to think about hot places.

  Michael Anthony : [Wide grin]  Oh, now, really, sir.

  John Beresford Tipton : But there are some people who, for one reason or another, seek out hot places. Sometimes they find it difficult to get out.

  [Tipton retrieves an envelope from his pocket and hands it over to Anthony] 

  John Beresford Tipton : Deliver this to our next millionaire, Mike. It'll take you out of the country. You'd better wear something cool.

  [Anthony bows and departs] 

• Michael Anthony : [to the viewers]  The check Mr. Tipton gave me that night was made out to Betty Hawley, who lived in Los Fuentes. In this age of jet travel, the town of Los Fuentes is only a few hours from the southern border of the United States. But for Betty Hawley and her husband John, a young engineer, it might as well have been a million light years away. Los Fuentes proved to be a hot, sordid trap, which threatened even their love.

• Michael Anthony : [Anthony is on the street, looking up at a landing outside an apartment]  Pardon me, I'm looking for a Mrs. John Hawley.

  Betty Hawley : I'm Betty Hawley.

  Michael Anthony : [a local woman is standing nearby, listening to the conversation]  Oh, ah, if I could, uh... If I could have a word with you in private?

  Betty Hawley : [as she descends the steps to meet Anthony]  Maria? She doesn't understand a word of English.

  [the woman and Anthony exchange glances as she gives Anthony a dirty look, then leaves] 

  Betty Hawley : Or maybe she does.

  [They chuckle] 

  Michael Anthony : Is your husband at home?

  Betty Hawley : No, he's at work. Is there anything I can do for you?

  Michael Anthony : [Anthony reaches into his briefcase]  No, Mrs. Hawley, but I believe there's something I can do for you

  [pauses] 

  Michael Anthony : and for your husband.

  Betty Hawley : I don't believe I've met you before. Are you with the mining company?

  Michael Anthony : No. My name is Michael Anthony. I've come a long way to give you this.

  [Anthony hands Betty a check] 

  Betty Hawley : A million dollars? Oh, but this couldn't... Whadda you mean? What is this?

  Michael Anthony : It's a gift to you and your husband from an anonymous donor.

  [to a puzzled Betty] 

  Michael Anthony : Oh, I's real. It's a cashier's check.

  Betty Hawley : But why?

  Michael Anthony : That's an interesting question, Mrs. Hawley, but one I'm afraid I cannot answer. In any event, it +is* yours, tax-free and without consideration, with only one stipulation.

  Betty Hawley : Stipulation?

  Michael Anthony : By signing this,

  [Displaying a document] 

  Michael Anthony : you merely agree that neither you nor your husband will ever reveal the exact amount of this gift or the manner in which you received i. If you do, you will forfeit whatever remains.

  Betty Hawley : [Reading some of the agreement aloud]  '... reclaimed by the donor's accredited agent, Michael Anthony.'

  [Betty signs the promise] 

  Betty Hawley : A million dollars. Oh, Mr. Anthony, you can't know what this means to us.

  Michael Anthony : [Putting the document back into his briefcase]  I should rather imagine it means a great deal.

  Betty Hawley : [Putting the document back into his briefcase]  It means that we can go home. It means that my baby will be born back home. Oh, Mr. Anthony, I don't know who you really are or who sent you, but next to my husband, you're the most wonderful man in the world!

  [Betty hugs an embarrassed Anthony] 

  Michael Anthony : [Composing himself]  Thank you, Mrs. Hawley.

  Betty Hawley : Thank *you*, Mr. Anthony. I... I must tell John right away.

  [Arriving at her Jeep] 

  Betty Hawley : Can I drive you someplace?

  Michael Anthony : My business is completed. I was going to the airport.

  Betty Hawley : Well, I'll drive you there. Come on.

  Michael Anthony : Thank you.

  [they both board the Jeep] 

• [first lines] 

  Michael Anthony : [to the viewers]  My name is Michael Anthony. Until his death a few years ago, I was executive secretary to the fabulously wealthy John Beresford Tipton. This is Silverstone, the 60,000-acre estate on which Mr. Tipton lived out the last years of his life. Here he had ample time to indulge his many hobbies, the strangest of which was his habit of giving away to total strangers the anonymous gift of one million dollars.