Marvin Miller: Michael Anthony

Quotes 

• Michael Anthony : [Anthony enters the Tipton library, where he observes Tipton seated in a high-backed chair at his desk, playing solitaire. Only Tipton's hands are visible to the viewers, as he plays the solitaire hands]  You sent for me, sir?

  John Beresford Tipton : [Tipton continues to play solitaire]  Mike, do you like solitaire?

  Michael Anthony : Well, I've always thought of it as a rather lonely game, sir.

  John Beresford Tipton : Lonely? Well, perhaps. For there are so many different kinds of loneliness. A man can feel very lonely even among many other people when he stands out alone against their opinions. A solitary game like that is a very difficult one.

  [Tipton hands over an envelope to Anthony] 

  John Beresford Tipton : Our next millionaire, Mike.

  [Anthony bows and turns to leave] 

• Michael Anthony : [the doorbell rings at the Bannister home. Wally responds]  Mr. Wally Bannister?

  Wally Bannister : Yeah.

  Michael Anthony : My name is Michael Anthony.

  [Anthony stops as he notices Jeanne Bannister] 

  Michael Anthony : Mrs. Bannister?

  Jeanne Bannister : Yes.

  Michael Anthony : [Opening his briefcase]  I've brought you a check.

  Wally Bannister : Look, Mr. Anthony, I've already told other newspapers that I'm not interested in telling them the story of a jury holdout.

  Michael Anthony : This has nothing to do with newspapers or juries, Mr. Bannister.

  [Holding up a check] 

  Michael Anthony : This is a cashier's check for one million dollars - a gift to you, tax-free.

  Jeanne Bannister : [Looking at the check]  A million dollars?

  Michael Anthony : Look at it, Mr. Bannister. It's a real check.

  Jeanne Bannister : It looks real.

  Wally Bannister : [Holding check]  I've never seen a check for a million dollars before.

  Michael Anthony : [Bemused]  Very few people have. But this one is yours, a gift from an anonymous benefactor, and there are no strings attached.

  Jeanne Bannister : Wally.

  Wally Bannister : [Reading the check]  Wallace Charles Bannister. Well, almost nobody knows my middle name.

  Michael Anthony : Well, the bank will know it when you present it to them.

  [Producing a document from his briefcase] 

  Michael Anthony : This is all you have to sign.

  Wally Bannister : I thought you said there were no strings.

  Michael Anthony : You and your wife must promise not to tell anyone the exact amount you have received and the circumstances under which you have received it. Uh, sign here, please.

  [Wally signs] 

  Michael Anthony : If you do tell anyone else, the money will be reclaimed by the donor.

  [Retrieves the signed pledge] 

  Michael Anthony : Thank you.

  Jeanne Bannister : I can't believe it. I can't believe it.

  Wally Bannister : Well, it's true. It's a cashier's check.

  Michael Anthony : The best of luck to both of you.

  [Anthony departs] 

• Michael Anthony : [Reviewing a file folder, to the viewers]  This is the case history that developed after that night in Mr. Tipton's library: the case history of Wally Bannister, who was involved in a very difficult kind of solitaire.

• [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 way to total strangers, the anonymous gift of $1,000.000.