Marvin Miller: Michael Anthony

Quotes 

• Michael Anthony : [Anthony enters the Tipton study to discover Tipton seated in a high backed chair at his desk, playing Solitaire]  You sent for me, sir?

  John Beresford Tipton : One moment, Mike. Just one moment.

  Michael Anthony : [Perusing the hand on Tipton's desk]  Excuse me, sir. If you put the red nine over there on the black ten...

  John Beresford Tipton : You know, Mike, you're a very satisfactory person.

  Michael Anthony : [Anthony grins]  Well, sir, I just happened to...

  John Beresford Tipton : One of the rules of Solitaire, which you have just so ably demonstrated, is that

  [Tipton's voice becomes irritated] 

  John Beresford Tipton : it is impossible to play without a second person barging in and pointing out the most obvious move.

  Michael Anthony : [Taken aback]  Oh.

  John Beresford Tipton : However, if I ignore your disastrous suggestion and move this instead,

  [Tipton moves a row of cards] 

  John Beresford Tipton : I can do this,

  [Tipton moves another row of cards] 

  John Beresford Tipton : and the game is almost over. That's another rule of Solitaire, Mike: when the cards are all up, the game is over.

  Michael Anthony : I imagine a good many other games follow that pattern, don't they, sir?

  John Beresford Tipton : But suppose they don't, Mike. Suppose two people start playing a game, then can't figure out how to stop playing.

  [Tipton hands over envelope to Anthony] 

  John Beresford Tipton : Our next millionaire, Mike.

  [Anthony bows and, after one final glance at the Solitaire cards, departs] 

• Michael Anthony : [At the front door of the Hayes' apartment]  Good evening. Are you Mr. James Hayes?

  Jim Hayes : Yes. What can I do for you?

  Michael Anthony : My name is Michael Anthony. I came here to...

  [Anthony glances back to the apartment corridor] 

  Michael Anthony : Excuse me, Can I step inside?

  Jim Hayes : I'm rather busy now.

  Michael Anthony : This will only take a minute.

  Jim Hayes : Can't it wait?

  Michael Anthony : [Anthony gently slips into the apartment and closes the door]  It could. But when you hear what I've got for you

  [Opens his briefcase] 

  Jim Hayes : I said I was busy.

  Michael Anthony : But I have a gift for you. A check for a million dollars.

  [Anthony hands the check to Hayes] 

  Jim Hayes : [Ignores check]  Thank you very much. Now if you'll excuse me...

  Michael Anthony : Will you just look at it?

  [Hayes looks closely at check] 

  Michael Anthony : It's a cashier's check.

  Jim Hayes : A check for a million dollars.

  Michael Anthony : With your name on it, Mr. Hayes.

  Jim Hayes : [Stunned, repeating]  It's a check for a million dollars.

  Michael Anthony : And the tax has already been paid.

  Jim Hayes : [Still repeating]  It's a check for a million dollars.

  Michael Anthony : The donor wishes to remain anonymous.

  [Opens his briefcase and retrieves a document] 

  Michael Anthony : Now, they only requirement of you is to sign this paper stating that you are not to reveal to anyone, except your wife, the amount of his gift or the way in which you received it. Should you tell, you will forfeit whatever money remains.

  Jim Hayes : Is that all?

  [Anthony nods] 

  Jim Hayes : This is a check for a million dollar.

  [Anthony nods] 

  Jim Hayes : That's a thousand thousand - all the money in the world!

  Michael Anthony : [Anthony chuckles]  Now, if you will just sign here

  [Anthony offers a pen to Hayes but Hayes has grabbed his own pen and quickly signs. Anthony returns the agreement to his briefcase] 

  Jim Hayes : Oh, I've got to tell me wife!

  [Starts for the bedroom door, then stops] 

  Jim Hayes : Shelley! Oh, I forgot - it's her day off.

  [Anthony is shocked] 

  Jim Hayes : I mean, she's out, shopping.

  Michael Anthony : [as he prepares to depart]  Well, you'll certainly have something to tell her when she gets home, won't you, Mr. Hayes? Good bye and good luck.

  [Anthony leaves] 

• Michael Anthony : Jim and Shelley Hayes were a very entertaining couple. In fact, entertaining was so much a part of Jim's job, he brought people home to dinner almost every night. Then, as the day follows the night, there is always the next morning.

• 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, a 60,000-acre estate where Mr. Tipton lived out the last years of his life. Here he had time to indulge his many hobbies, the strangest of which was his habit of giving way to a total stranger the anonymous gift of $1,000.000.