- Michael Anthony: [Directly facing the viewers from his office] My name is Michael Anthony. There are 2,400,000,000 people in this world. Nineteen of them are worth $500,000,000 or more. I worked as Executive Secretary for one of these men. His name was John Beresford Tipton. He was a bachelor. He was a billionaire. You never heard of John Beresford Tipton. He avoided publicity - bought and paid for privacy. He is now dead.
- [Camera pans the extensive gardens of the Tipton estate grounds. Workman are raking, weeding, hoeing and planting]
- Michael Anthony: This is Silverstone, the 60,000 acre estate from which John Beresford Tipton ran his world-wide empire. Again, seclusion.
- [Anthony is again in his office]
- Michael Anthony: These reports,
- [Anthony holds up several folders]
- Michael Anthony: which could only be revealed after his death, are complete. Each one tells the story of what happened when John Beresford Tipton gave someone $1,000,000. That's right - $1,000,000. I'll never forget one day when I was called into the Old Man's study. He was toying with an ivory chessman.
- [Anthony enters the study and discovers Tipton seated in a high backed chair at his desk, with a chessboard before him. Tipton is smoking a cigar. Only Tipton's right arm is visible to the viewers]
- Michael Anthony: You called me, sir?
- John Beresford Tipton: You know, Mike, these chessman were the first luxury I allowed myself.
- Michael Anthony: [Smiles] An excellent relaxation, sir.
- John Beresford Tipton: I've just decided to make my hobby a chess game - with human beings.
- Michael Anthony: [Startled] Human beings, sir?
- John Beresford Tipton: I'm going to choose a number of people for my chess game and give each one $1,000,000.
- Michael Anthony: A million dollars?
- John Beresford Tipton: The bank will issue the checks. I've told McMahon at the bank he'll hear from you. No one is to ever know that I am the donor.
- Michael Anthony: What about McMahon? He'd know.
- John Beresford Tipton: McMahon is president of the bank and he'll only know what I want him to know. I want a complete report on what happens to each person's life - in writing. I don't care how you get it. Now, here are the rest of the instructions.
- [Tipton hands the instructions to Anthony]
- John Beresford Tipton: Here's chessman #1 -
- [Tipton chuckles]
- John Beresford Tipton: she gets $1,000,000.
- Michael Anthony: [Back in his own office] To this day, I don't know how Mr. Tipton selected his chessman. The first was a woman - Amy Moore.
- Amy Moore: [Standing before Andrew V. McMahon, president of the Gotham City Trust and Savings, who is seated at his desk. Amy is barking at the bank officer] Mr. McMahon, this advertising scheme of yours is a very cruel one. My husband was killed in the war. My son is an asthmatic. I stand on my feet all day behind the counter at Gray's. For you to call me in on my lunch hour for a thing like this.
- [Scoffs]
- Amy Moore: A cashier's check for $1,000,000 made out to me. It's clear your advertising men can keep this check and cash it.
- Andrew V. McMahon: We'd be very glad to cash it for you. It's a bona fide check. You're being given $1,000,000, free and clear. The donor pays the tax.
- Amy Moore: I don't know anyone with $1,000.000. It must be some kind of publicity stunt.
- Andrew V. McMahon: You are to reveal to no one that you received this gift. If you were married, you might confide in your husband. But as a single person, no one must know. The donor is determined to remain anonymous.
- Amy Moore: Not even Joe, my son?
- Andrew V. McMahon: No, Mrs. Moore. If you tell anyone how you came into this money, whatever portion of the $1,000.000 you may have at that time will be reclaimed by the bank on behalf of the donor.
- Amy Moore: I
- [Feeling faint]
- Amy Moore: think I better sit down.
- [Amy sits while McMahon gets her a glass of water, which she sips]
- Amy Moore: Thank you. What am I allowed to do with this money?
- Andrew V. McMahon: Make sure you spend it as you see fit.
- Amy Moore: But what if I want to do something absolutely crazy? Like, but a yacht or gamble with it?
- Andrew V. McMahon: Well, I think you could.
- [McMahon hands Amy a document]
- Andrew V. McMahon: Now, you read this simple statement, sign it, and the check is yours.
- Amy Moore: [Amy scans the paper] I don't understand this
- [the whole situation]
- Amy Moore: I don't understand it at all.
- Andrew V. McMahon: We'd be glad to open up an account for you in our bank.
- Amy Moore: Oh, yes, please.
- Andrew V. McMahon: How would you like the principle amount divided between checking and savings?
- Amy Moore: Couldn't I put it all in one checking account?
- Andrew V. McMahon: [Surprised] $1,000,000 in a checking account. Just as you'd like Mrs. Moore.
- [McMahon hands Amy the enrollment card for her checking account]
- Amy Moore: Do I have to sign this, too?
- Andrew V. McMahon: I thought perhaps you'd like to draw a check now.
- Amy Moore: A check?
- Andrew V. McMahon: In case you wanted to make some purchases or have a little celebration?
- Amy Moore: Yes, I could - couldn't I?
- Andrew V. McMahon: [Referring to the enrollment card] I'll make this out for you. How much would you like, Mrs. Moore?
- Amy Moore: Twenty, please.
- Andrew V. McMahon: $20,000.
- Amy Moore: Mr. McMahon, what would I do with $20,000? Twenty dollars!