Marvin Miller: Michael Anthony

Quotes 

• Michael Anthony : [Anthony enters the Tipton estate garden, to find Tipton, whose body is concealed from the viewers by a huge garden statue, observing a large caged bird]  You, uh, sent for me, sir?

  John Beresford Tipton : Mike, look at our new little pet.

  Michael Anthony : It's a vulture, isn't it, sir?

  John Beresford Tipton : Yes, a vulture. This one's from Africa, but we have them in America, too.

  Michael Anthony : They're certainly ugly, aren't they?

  John Beresford Tipton : As ugly as the qualities they symbolize: Greed, vivacious, eagerness for life to end so their feast may begin. Sometimes, they're so greedy, they don't even want to wait until their victim is dead.

  [Tipton reaches into his pocket, pulls out an envelope and hands it over to Anthony] 

  John Beresford Tipton : Our next millionaire, Mike.

  [Anthony bows and departs, eager to get away from the vulture] 

• William Vaughn : [Anthony has had an extremely difficult time getting to see William Vaughn, Tipton's new millionaire, who has had a mild heart attack and is being tended by a diligent but pleasant nurse. Finally, Anthony slips in through an unlocked side door, goes upstairs undetected, and enters Vaughn's bedroom. He is greeted by a pillow tossed at him by the bedridden Vaughn]  Out, I said. No visitors! One relative's enough for a day.

  Michael Anthony : I'm not a relative, Mr. Vaughn. My name is Michael Anthony,

  [Anthony picks up the pillow and places it behind Vaughn's head. Anthony opens his briefcase to retrieve some documents] 

  Michael Anthony : and I come here to bring you this check -

  [Displaying check to Vaughan] 

  Michael Anthony : a cashier's check made out in your name for a million dollars. It's yours, tax-free, a gift of $1,000,000.

  William Vaughn : Hey look, I just had a little heart attack. I... I didn't lose my mind.

  Michael Anthony : Please, Mr. Vaughn, take it. You see, it's yours on this one condition: That no one else except your wife - and I know you're not married - ever knows the exact amount or the circumstances under which you received it.

  William Vaughn : Well. it's a cashier's check - as good as money. Who'd give me...

  Michael Anthony : Your benefactor must be anonymous.

  [Anthony keeps looking back at the door, worried that someone may enter at any moment] 

  Michael Anthony : Now, if you'll sign this paper, agreeing to the condition.

  [Anthony drops his pen and while he picks it up, Vaughn muses] 

  William Vaughn : I wonder if it coulda been that crazy old prospector I grub-staked once

  Michael Anthony : If you want to think so. Only sign this please, agreeing that if you do tell anyone, the money will be reclaimed.

  [Checking the door again] 

  Michael Anthony : Uh.

  [Taps pen against document] 

  Michael Anthony : right here.

  [Vaughn signs] 

  Michael Anthony : Thank you.

  [Replaces the agreement into his briefcase] 

  Meg Andrews : [Entering]  How did you get in here?

  Michael Anthony : I must admit, I sneaked in through a side door.

  [Anthony prepares to leave] 

  Meg Andrews : Well, you can sneak right back out again. Look how you've got my patient all upset.

  William Vaughn : Now, don't be too hard on him.

  Michael Anthony : I'm only too glad to leave now

  [Anthony departs] 

• [first lines] 

  Michael Anthony : [to the viewers]  My name is Michael Anthony. For many years, I was executive secretary to the late multibillionaire John Beresford Tipton. Among my duties was the unique job of delivering $1,000,000, which Mr. Tipton frequently gave away, tax-free, to a total stranger. From his fabulous 60,000-acre estate, Silverstone, Mr. Tipton carried on his study of human nature. Every subject in his vast store of knowledge was material for close analysis and was always related to the behavior and destiny of man.

• Michael Anthony : [to the viewers]  William Vaughn was very old, very hard to get along with, and very rich. I wondered what he would possibly do with $1,000,000.