- Michael Anthony: [Anthony enters the Silverstone estate hothouse to discover Tipton pruning, clipping and trimming some flowers in a flowerbox. Tipton is off-camera with only his gloved hands visible to the viewers] You sent for me, sir?
- John Beresford Tipton: What do you know about camellias, Mike?
- Michael Anthony: Not much, sir.
- John Beresford Tipton: [Holding up a single plant] Take this pretty young thing. Most people would want to leave it alone, to let it grow.
- Michael Anthony: Isn't that the general idea, sir?
- John Beresford Tipton: If you want something big, strong, and beautiful, you have to give it room to grow.
- [Tipton removes the pot in which the camellia was growing, freeing the roots and placing the plant into soil in a larger environment]
- John Beresford Tipton: Then one day soon, I'll show you a strong, healthy, and possibly perfect camellia. Sometimes, people have to do the same thing in their lives.
- Michael Anthony: I see what you're driving at, sir.
- John Beresford Tipton: So,
- [Tipton hands an envelope to Anthony]
- John Beresford Tipton: here is the name of my new millionaire, Mike. Let's see if he has the courage to grow.
- Michael Anthony: [to the viewers] Everyone has his hobby. I worked for a man unique in all the world. He liked to give people $1,000,000. My name is Michael Anthony. For many years, I was Executive Secretary to John Beresford Tipton, who could give such money away often. You never heard of him? That's the way he wanted it. He lived at Silverstone, 60,000-acres of privacy, from which nothing was remote to him. His fingertips felt the pulsebeat in a hundred cities in dozens of countries. A man who was pleased to give $1,000,000 to someone who was never to know who or why; would have to be like that. For example, John Beresford Tipton grew camellias. Like everything else in his life, they had to be perfect.
- Andrew V.. McMahon: [In the office of bank president McMahon] I'm glad you could make it, Mr. Fowler.
- Ken Fowler: I wish I knew what this is all about.
- Andrew V.. McMahon: You'll find out.
- Ken Fowler: Is this about the loan I applied for? I'm trying to add a room to our house.
- Andrew V.. McMahon: Our local bank could have handled that. Besides, my hunch is that you won't want to add a room, Mr. Fowler.
- Ken Fowler: [Suspiciously] What do you mean by that? What are you driving at, Mr. McMahon?
- Andrew V.. McMahon: You've lived in that house how long? Five years?
- Ken Fowler: [Getting perturbed] Look, Mr. McMahon, I don't know what you have in mind. But why don't you spill it instead of playing games?
- Andrew V.. McMahon: I'm sorry, I wasn't playing games. I was just trying to prepare you a little, Mr. Fowler.
- Ken Fowler: Prepare me? For what?
- Andrew V.. McMahon: [Reaching into his desk drawer and withdrawing a check] For this.
- Ken Fowler: [Looks at check, scoffs] A check for a million dollars made out to me. What does it mean?
- Andrew V.. McMahon: That it's yours. It's as simple as that.
- Ken Fowler: What do you mean, it's mine? Who would... Why is it mine?
- Andrew V.. McMahon: Because it was given to you, tax-free. No strings, no conditions, except no one but your wife must know.
- Ken Fowler: That's a condition.
- Andrew V.. McMahon: The only one. This is agreeable?
- Ken Fowler: Can't you tell me anything more than this?
- Andrew V.. McMahon: If I could, Mr. Fowler, I would.
- Ken Fowler: What do you do with a million dollars?
- Andrew V.. McMahon: You might begin by depositing the check into an account until you make up your mind..
- Ken Fowler: Yes, yes, I guess I better.
- Andrew V.. McMahon: I'll make out a deposit slip. You can draw on it right away.
- Ken Fowler: A million dollars, right out of the blue. You can do anything with a million dollars.
- Michael Anthony: [to the viewers] They were a quiet family. Good citizens. He worked hard and sought favors from no man. Their name was Fowler - or that's the way he and his wife were known in this town now.