- Michael Anthony: [Michael Anthony enters a science room on the Tipton estate, where he observes John Beresford Tipton, seated in a high backed chair at his desk, handling a small round plastic object. Only Tipton's arm is visible to the viewers] You sent for me, sir?
- John Beresford Tipton: [Handing over the plastic object to Anthony] Mike, have you ever seen one of these?
- Michael Anthony: [Examining the object] Why, it seems to be a plastic disk.
- John Beresford Tipton: I was referring to what's inside of it.
- Michael Anthony: [Still inspecting the object] It looks like ordinary mustard seed, sir.
- John Beresford Tipton: It is a mustard seed, Mike. But its significance is far from ordinary.
- [Picks up a religious book]
- John Beresford Tipton: In this book, a man named Matthew reported his teacher saying, "If ye have faith in the grain of mustard seed, nothing shall be impossible unto you."
- Michael Anthony: Yes, sir; I know the quotation well.
- John Beresford Tipton: We all should be, Mike, but too often we forget, like having a signed cashier's check in our hand and forgetting to cash it. Speaking of checks,
- [Tipton hands over an envelope to Anthony]
- John Beresford Tipton: here's one for our next millionaire.
- [Anthony accepts the envelope]
- John Hardin: [In the church parsonage, Hardin holds a cashier's check, just given to him by Anthony] Well now, this is a mighty fine surprise.
- Michael Anthony: Is that all you have to say? No questions about the check's being good or why you're getting it or from whom?
- John Hardin: Why should I question anything? You don't look like a man who plans cruel, practical jokes.
- [Anthony smiles]
- John Hardin: I can see that this is a certified cashier's check on our local bank.
- Michael Anthony: [Anthony laughs] You'll have to pardon me, sir, but this is the first time this rather unusual gift has been accepted calmly and in good faith.
- John Hardin: Perhaps, but that's my line of work, you see. Does anyone have to know I received this money?
- Michael Anthony: No. In fact, that is one of the stipulations. You can't tell anyone, not even your daughter.
- John Hardin: Good. But, well, let's see. First, I want to buy the church property. Then I want to outfit our boys' baseball team, and, uh, yes, Ted will need some money for new laboratory equipment and, uh, and a surprise wedding.
- Michael Anthony: Tell me, sir, aren't you even slightly curious about where this money came from?
- John Hardin: No. You see, I know where it came from.
- Michael Anthony: You do?
- John Hardin: Yes - from a mustard seed.
- Michael Anthony: I understand I... I think the man who sent you this check understands, too.
- Michael Anthony: [Reviewing a case history folder] This is where I met the man to whom Mr. Tipton sent me, an unpretentious House of God in the small, midwestern town of Lanesville. The Reverend John Hardin practiced what he preached: tolerance, faith, and the Golden Rule.
- [first lines]
- Michael Anthony: [Viewers see Anthony at his desk, reading a very large book. To the viewers] How do you do? My name is Michael Anthony. I've been reading a favorite book of mine. This particular edition, a very rare and valuable one, was given to me by my late employer, John Beresford Tipton. As you may recall, Mr. Tipton was a most unusual man. He gave away $1,00,000, tax-free, to various people, as a hobby. Actually, it was more than a hobby. It was a practical demonstration of his faith in human nature. Many times, during my years as his executive secretary, I heard Mr. Tipton say of this book, that it held the solution to every human problem.
- [Holding up the book]
- Michael Anthony: You know it well: the Holy Bible. Here at Silverstone, his 60,000-acre estate, John Beresford Tipton directed his worldwide interests. These interests were not always gigantic as we accept the word. Sometimes, they actually appear to be minute.