- Michael Anthony: [Anthony enters a Tipton estate annals containing hundreds of front pages of newspapers. As he approaches Tipton, Anthony pauses to glance at headlines such as "Roosevelt Landslide" and "Lusitania Sunk." Tipton is seated in a high-backed chair with only his right arm visible to the viewers] You sent for me, sir?
- John Beresford Tipton: Mike,
- [Pointing at a newspaper]
- John Beresford Tipton: do you remember that headline?
- Michael Anthony: [Anthony peruses a Chicago Globe newspaper Extra with the headline "Hughes Elected US President!"] Yes, sir, that was a very famous headline.
- John Beresford Tipton: That is was, Mike. Charles Evans Hughes ran against Woodrow Wilson, and for a few hours, it looked like he'd won. In Chicago, this Extra hit the streets and had to be pulled back.
- Michael Anthony: Like the false Armistice headline in World War I?
- John Beresford Tipton: That's right, Mike. And it was about this time that a pernicious disease called 'yellow journalism' began to spread. It still flourishes unchecked in some places.
- [Tipton hands over an envelope to Anthony]
- John Beresford Tipton: Let's see what kind of headline this will get us.
- [Anthony bows]
- Michael Anthony: [Reviewing a case history, to the viewers] Matt Kirby was part owner of the influential daily paper his father had built up. He was also managing editor, with his own very definite policy.
- [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, Mr. Tipton's 60,000-acre estate. Here he had ample time to indulge his many hobbies. One of his hobbies was giving away a million dollars, tax-free, to people he didn't know. One night, when I was informed that Mr. Tipton wished to see me, I found him perusing one of his most interesting collections.
- Matt Kirby: [Kirby's secretary has invited Anthony into Kirby's newspaper office to await him] Okay, what's on your mind?
- Michael Anthony: This is a personal matter, Mr. Kirby.
- Matt Kirby: I have no personal matters here. And if I had, this wouldn't be the time to discuss it.
- Michael Anthony: [Opening his briefcase] I have something for you.
- Matt Kirby: If it's a subpoena, I've already got one.
- Michael Anthony: [Displaying a check] It's a cashier's check for $1,000,000, made out to you. It's yours, tax-free, without any strings. There's just one little condition.
- [Anthony returns to his briefcase to withdraw a document]
- Matt Kirby: Somebody wants us to back 'im for mayor? Tell 'im the job's not worth a million.
- Michael Anthony: The condition is that you sign this
- [showing Kirby the document]
- Michael Anthony: , agreeing not to tell anyone, except your wife if you should marry, how you received this gift or the exact amount.
- Matt Kirby: [Reviews the check] Why, this is a cashier's check.
- Michael Anthony: I said it was.
- Matt Kirby: [Staring at check] A million dollars? To do with as I like? No strings attached?
- Michael Anthony: That's right.
- Matt Kirby: [laughs] I know what I'll do with this! Buy me a morning paper!
- Michael Anthony: You can buy a morning paper for a dime.
- Matt Kirby: Not this morning paper.
- Michael Anthony: Surely that would take more than a million.
- Matt Kirby: I'm a minority owner now. I think I can swing it. Here, let me sign this. I've got a lot of things to do.
- [Signs the pledge]