- Michael Anthony: [Anthony enters a sort of museum of history, which contains four figures in suits of armor. Anthony glances at an empty, high-backed chair and looks around the room but sees no one. He tentatively asks] You, ah, sent for me, sir?
- John Beresford Tipton: [One of the figures in a suit of armor, visor down, steps off a riser onto the floor and approaches Anthony] Yes, Mike.
- Michael Anthony: Mr. Tipton!
- John Beresford Tipton: [Chuckles] This just came today
- [meaning the suit of armor]
- John Beresford Tipton: , Mike, and I couldn't resist seeing how it felt to be a medieval man.
- Michael Anthony: Well, what's it like, sir?
- John Beresford Tipton: I must admit I feel the weight of the ages - the heavy load of years of tradition.
- Michael Anthony: It, ah, does seem to make your progress difficult, sir.
- John Beresford Tipton: Yes, tradition usually holds back progress.
- [Tipton points to desk]
- John Beresford Tipton: Our next millionaire, Mike.
- [Anthony retrieves an envelope and studies the name of the recipient]
- John Beresford Tipton: But first, you better get me out of this.
- [Anthony places the envelope in his suit pocket]
- Michael Anthony: [Anthony steps to Tipton and tries to dislodge the suit's headpiece] I'll, uh, do my best, sir.
- Michael Anthony: [Anthony has traveled to a ramshackle old English castle to meet William Courtney] William Courtney?
- William Courtney: Yeah?
- Michael Anthony: My name is Michael Anthony.
- William Courtney: ****
- [Courtney is sitting in his drafty castle with his feet in a bucket of hot water. He is trying to keep warm]
- William Courtney: Well, take off your shoes and join me, Mr. Anthony. The only way you're gonna get warm around here.
- Michael Anthony: Well, my business here shouldn't take more than a few minutes.
- [Opening his briefcase]
- Michael Anthony: I have something to give you.
- William Courtney: ****Ah, no no, no. No thank you. The last time somebody gave me something, it was a castle. So no gifts, thank you.
- Michael Anthony: ****The gift I have for you
- [Displaying a check]
- Michael Anthony: is a cashier's check for $1,000,000, tax-free.
- William Courtney: ****
- [Ignoring the check as he stokes the fireplace]
- William Courtney: Gifts. Somebody gives me a castle, turns out to be a shambles. I finally find a girl I can fall in love with, and she gives me the air. Now you want to give me a...
- [It dawns on him]
- William Courtney: a million bucks?
- Michael Anthony: ****
- [Still holding out the check]
- Michael Anthony: Tax-free, and a cashier's check.
- William Courtney: ****Well... is it from the estate? Oh no, no, it couldn't be, the estate's broke.
- Michael Anthony: ****This million dollars is a gift from my employer, who must remain anonymous.
- William Courtney: ****
- [Accepts the check]
- William Courtney: A million dollars. What's the catch?
- Michael Anthony: ****None at all, Sir William, except that you sign must this document agreeing never to divulge the source or the amount of the gift, to any other person. Should you do so, you forfeit whatever is left of the million dollars.
- William Courtney: ****That's all I have to do? Just never tell anybody where I got the money?
- Michael Anthony: Except your wife, if you marry.
- William Courtney: If I marry.
- [Signs the agreement]
- Michael Anthony: [Placing the document back into his briefcase and preparing to leave] Thank you.
- William Courtney: Mr. Anthony, I just don't how to... don't know how to say... "Thanks".
- Michael Anthony: Oh, you're welcome.
- [as Anthony walks to the recepti;on area, Courtney sneezes]
- Michael Anthony: Gesundheit, Sir William.
- William Courtney: [Courtney walks briskly towards the reception area and sees Anthony approaching the front door] Hey, thanks. Thanks again, Mr. Anthony.
- [Anthony exits]
- [first lines]
- Michael Anthony: My name is Michael Anthony. For many years, I was executive secretary to the late John Beresford Tipton, whose practice it was the bestow gifts of $1,000.000, tax-free. I was also, you might say, the official biographer of the Tipton-made millionaires, carefully chronicling their lives. These accounts were as precious to Mr. Tipton as Silverstone itself. Silverstone - the magnificent 60,000-acre estate in the grand tradition, where he devoted the major part of his time to intellectual pursuits. Of all his varied interests, the most searching one was his preoccupation with the mystery of man.
- Michael Anthony: Our next millionaire was William Courtney of Kansas City. Although he worked with high tension wires, there was no tension about him. Indeed, he was perhaps the most relaxed man young in all Missouri.