Paul Frees: John Beresford Tipton

Quotes 

• Michael Anthony : [Anthony enters the study to find Tipton seated in a high backed chair at his desk examining a file folder. Only Tipton's right arm is visible to viewers]  You sent for me, sir?

  John Beresford Tipton : [Holding and waving his eyeglasses]  Beautiful day, isn't it, Mike?

  Michael Anthony : Indeed it is, sir.

  [Anthony glances off camera as if looking out a window] 

  Michael Anthony : It is a beautiful view from here, sir.

  John Beresford Tipton : The world, Mike. A man's world is his horizon. What he can see, touch, think, or dream about. There's his hope, his reason for being.

  Michael Anthony : In that sense, every man makes his own world.

  John Beresford Tipton : Well, it's strange that you should say that, Mike.

  [Tipton hands envelope to Anthony] 

  John Beresford Tipton : Our next millionaire has practically no horizon left at all.

  [Anthony examines the name and address on the envelope, is startled and confused. Anthony places the envelope in his breast pocket and leaves] 

• Michael Anthony : [Anthony enters his office on the Tipton estate at night and slumps into the chair at his desk. The door opens and Tipton enters]  You startled me, sir.

  John Beresford Tipton : [Tipton sits in a chair in front of Anthony's desk. Only his left arm is visible to viewers]  I'm sorry, Mike. I heard you come in and I wanted to talk to you. What's the matter, Mike? You seem unusually stressed these last few days.

  Michael Anthony : Sir, I can't get Hugh Waring out of my mind. I've studied his case thoroughly. I believe he's innocent.

  John Beresford Tipton : Oh?

  Michael Anthony : I almost wish I didn't. There's nothing I can do about it. The Warden won't call the Governor - and he's right. There's no new evidence. Sir, what good is a million dollars to a man who is about to die?

  John Beresford Tipton : Thank you, Mike, that is a very pertinent question.

• the Governor : [With a driving rainstorm howling outside, the Governor is visiting Tipton in his study. The Governor is seated and Tipton is standing off-screen with just his right arm visible to viewers]  I tell you, Mr. Tipton, it's impossible.

  John Beresford Tipton : Impossible, Governor?

  the Governor : There's been a fair trial, a jury verdict, an appeal denied. And I have my responsibilities.

  John Beresford Tipton : Among them, your responsibility to a human being.

  the Governor : For a man guilty of murdering his wife. If I signed a stay of execution, the papers would murder me!

  John Beresford Tipton : Yes, I suppose they would - if you were wrong. But if he proved to be innocent, you'd be a hero.

  the Governor : Proved, proved! But who is going to prove it?

  [a lightning strike knocks out the electricity] 

  John Beresford Tipton : Power failure. Don't worry, I have a standby generator.

  [Moments later, electricity is restored. Tipton chuckles] 

  John Beresford Tipton : I guess I could make something of the point that good ideas are like a bolt of lightning - but I won't. Governor, we all believe that there is nothing more important than human life. It's the basic principle of our way of living.

  [the scene changes to outside a window, with the rain pelting against the building and thunder booming. The Governor and Tipton continue to talk but further words are inaudible] 

• Michael Anthony : [the scene is in the conference room of Attorney Taylor with a large conference table with Taylor and Tipton present. Tipton is seated in a high backed chair with only his right arm visible to viewers. He is just putting out a cigar. Anthony enters the room]  I'm sorry I'm a bit late, sir.

  John Beresford Tipton : We still have a little time left for what we have to do.

  Vincent Taylor : I must admit I was staggered by the amount of money Waring had left. I had no idea.

  Eleanor Waring : [the door opens and Eleanor Waring enters]  I'm Eleanor Waring.

  Vincent Taylor : So he was right.

  Eleanor Waring : [to Taylor]  I went to see the Warden but he said I should see you. I didn't know. I didn't know about Hugh's execution. Now he's dead and it's all my fault. I wanted to hurt him. That's why I went away.

  Vincent Taylor : Where have you been?

  Eleanor Waring : I think I've been in a world all of my own. There were nightmares there, too. But this was the worst. I left him in anger, but I was planning to come back. I wanted him to worry, not wonder where I was.

  Vincent Taylor : But where have you been all this time?

  Eleanor Waring : On a mountaintop in Colorado, overlooking a ghost town. No People alive for miles, no radio, no papers.

  [Hugh Waring, the Warden, and the Prosecutor discreetly enter the room, but Eleanor, whose back is to the door, is unaware of their presence] 

  Eleanor Waring : The day I went to Silver, I saw the headlines. Terrible headlines.

  [Anthony now notices Hugh Waring] 

  Eleanor Waring : He was dead. I killed him.

  Vincent Taylor : According to the terms of the will, you are to inherit a great deal of money.

  Eleanor Waring : How can you talk about money? What good does it mean to me?

  Hugh Waring : [Interrupting]  You were always greedy for money.

  Eleanor Waring : [Startled and shocked as she now notices Hugh]  You!

  Hugh Waring : It was a nice try, Eleanor, but it didn't work.

  Eleanor Waring : The papers! It was in the papers!

  [Turns vengeful] 

  Eleanor Waring : You tricked me! You cheated me! How could you do this to me? You made me the laughingstock of the world. I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!

  [the Warden and Prosecutor begin to escort Eleanor out of the room] 

  Eleanor Waring : You can't prove anything! Let go of me! I haven't done anything!

  [the Warden and Prosecutor wrestle Eleanor out of the room] 

  Hugh Waring : [Closing the door]  It's the end of a nightmare.

  [to Tipton] 

  Hugh Waring : Well, it's good to be alive, but I wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for you. If you hadn't gambled on my story being true.

  John Beresford Tipton : I didn't gamble. We have a very courageous Governor who gambled on your innocence. He gave you a stay of execution, jeopardizing his entire political career by keeping it a secret.

  Michael Anthony : Even I didn't know.

  John Beresford Tipton : [to Anthony]  Ah, but it was really you who did it. Your faith, your concern, your zeal.

  Michael Anthony : It was?

  John Beresford Tipton : [Chuckling]  Of course.