- Michael Anthony: [Anthony enters a garden of sorts filled with many caged tropical birds. He sees Tipton seated in a high-backed wicker chair with only his right arm visible to viewers] You sent for me, sir?
- John Beresford Tipton: Mike, have you finished cataloging my tropical birds?
- Michael Anthony: Yes, sir. I have the list right here.
- [Anthony reaches into his pocket, produces the inventory and places it on a round, glass table before Tipton]
- John Beresford Tipton: Good. And what, if anything, did you learn from all of this?
- Michael Anthony: [Anthony wrinkles his brow. It is evident from both this request and previously aired dialog that he found this assignment less than pleasant] Well, for one thing,
- [Pointing to a bird]
- Michael Anthony: that's the scarlet macaw - genus Ara macao.
- [Pointing to another bird]
- Michael Anthony: This is a particularly fine specimen of fellow yellow-headed Amazon parrot - Amazona ochrocephala oratrix. Over here,
- [pointing to yet another bird]
- Michael Anthony: - should I continue, sir?
- John Beresford Tipton: [Chuckles] No, you've convinced me you should get along very nicely with Russell Herbert.
- [Anthony furrows his brow quizzically]
- John Beresford Tipton: Our next millionaire, Mike. He happens to be also one of the greatest bird painters in the world.
- [Tipton hands an envelope to Anthony]
- Michael Anthony: I see. Where do I find him?
- John Beresford Tipton: That's going to be a bit of a problem. Herbert is a recluse - a man of mystery. No one knows what he looks like or where he lives except his business representative - a man named, uh, Jonathan Noble.
- Michael Anthony: If I may say so, sir, you're not giving me much to go on.
- John Beresford Tipton: Mike, find Noble. My last report was that he's somewhere in the Hawaiian Islands. And through him you may find Russell Herbert.
- [Anthony places the envelope in his suit coat pocket and turns to depart]
- Michael Anthony: Yes, sir.
- [first lines]
- Michael Anthony: [Viewers see Anthony sitting at his desk, with a tropical bird sitting upon his finger. To the viewers] Unusual little fellow, isn't he? My name is Michael Anthony; and this is a Philippine hill myna, Gracula religiosa palawanensis. If it weren't for him, I might not be alive today.
- [Anthony returns the bird to his perch]
- Michael Anthony: Being executive secretary to a man with as many varied interests as my late employer, John Beresford Tipton, had, was to say the least, a full-time job. Apart from his eccentric habit of giving a million dollars anonymously to various people in all parts of the world, he had many minor hobbies in which he took a passionate interest. He lived here at Silverstone, his 60,000-acre estate, where he brought to his stamp collections, his charities, his educational endowments, the same energetic enthusiasm, which had enabled him to amass his vast fortune. There were times when Mr. Tipton's minor hobbies became a trifle wearisome.
- Michael Anthony: [to the viewers] Of all the assignments Mr. Tipton had given me, this was, perhaps, the most difficult: Find a man whom nobody knew, represented by a man whose address was unknown. It took me several weeks of searching, and then one night in Honolulu...
- Bruce Lesser: [Anthony arrives via taxi at the Herbert home. He rings the doorbell] Don't answer that.
- Madeleine Herbert: I have to answer. Once in a great while, Noble comes to see us.
- Bruce Lesser: Noble?
- Madeleine Herbert: [Motioning to a side room] You'd better get in there.
- [Doorbell rings again. Bruce hides in the side room while Madeleine walks to the door and opens it]
- Michael Anthony: I beg your pardon. Is this Russell Herbert's residence?
- Madeleine Herbert: Who are you?
- Michael Anthony: I might ask you the same thing.
- Madeleine Herbert: I'm Mrs. Herbert.
- Michael Anthony: [Anthony starts to enter the house] Well, in that case...
- [Anthony is blocked by Madelene]
- Madeleine Herbert: You haven't told me yet who you are.
- Michael Anthony: I'm Michael Anthony. Didn't your husband inform you I have an appointment with him?
- [Glancing at his wristwatch]
- Michael Anthony: I'm sorry, I am a few minutes late.
- Madeleine Herbert: I can't bother my husband unless I know what you want.
- Michael Anthony: I can tell you one thing. My mission concerns a matter of great financial benefit to him, very great financial benefit.
- Madeleine Herbert: Please wait a moment.
- [Madeleine closes the door, leaving Anthony on the stoop, and returns to the living room to consult Bruce]
- Madeleine Herbert: You heard?
- Bruce Lesser: Every word. I'd like to hear more about this mysterious fortune
- Madeleine Herbert: What can I do?
- Bruce Lesser: He wants to see Russell Herbert, doesn't he? Mrs. Herbert,
- [bowing]
- Bruce Lesser: allow me to introduce Mr. Herbert. And if he makes any trouble,
- [holding a revolver]
- Bruce Lesser: two can be buried as easily as one.
- Bruce Lesser: [the scene changes to several minutes later, after Anthony has explained the gift to Bruce, posing as Herbert. Bruce reviews the check] I... I... I just can't believe it.
- Bruce Lesser: GET RID OF LINE 19
- Michael Anthony: Fortunately for you, it's true.
- Bruce Lesser: A million dollars. Why should anyone give
- [catches himself]
- Bruce Lesser: me a million dollars?
- Michael Anthony: I can't tell you that, Mr. Herbert.
- Bruce Lesser: [Still staring at check] A million dollars. And you say it's tax-free.
- Michael Anthony: That's right. There are just the two points I've already mentioned. If you tell anyone, except your wife, the exact amount of this gift or how you came into possession of it, you must return it.
- Bruce Lesser: A cashier's check. I can cash this anywhere in the world, can't I?
- Michael Anthony: Any time, any place.
- [Offering the pledge]
- Michael Anthony: If you'll, uh, just sign here, please.
- [Bruce signs and Anthony places the document into his briefcase The birds begin squawking in unison]
- Bruce Lesser: [to the birds] Oh, shut up! Shut up!
- [catches himself again]
- Bruce Lesser: Even though I... I do love them, they... then get to be an awful nuisance sometimes.
- Michael Anthony: I can believe it. This concludes our transaction, Mr. Herbert. Congratulations and good luck.
- Bruce Lesser: Thank you.
- [Anthony departs to his waiting taxi]