Paul Frees credited as playing...
John Beresford Tipton
- Michael Anthony: [Anthony enters the study to find Tipton seated in a high backed chair at his desk examining a file folder. Only Tipton's right arm is visible to viewers] You sent for me, sir?
- John Beresford Tipton: [Holding and waving his eyeglasses] Beautiful day, isn't it, Mike?
- Michael Anthony: Indeed it is, sir.
- [Anthony glances off camera as if looking out a window]
- Michael Anthony: It is a beautiful view from here, sir.
- John Beresford Tipton: The world, Mike. A man's world is his horizon. What he can see, touch, think, or dream about. There's his hope, his reason for being.
- Michael Anthony: In that sense, every man makes his own world.
- John Beresford Tipton: Well, it's strange that you should say that, Mike.
- [Tipton hands envelope to Anthony]
- John Beresford Tipton: Our next millionaire has practically no horizon left at all.
- [Anthony examines the name and address on the envelope, is startled and confused. Anthony places the envelope in his breast pocket and leaves]
- Michael Anthony: [Anthony enters his office on the Tipton estate at night and slumps into the chair at his desk. The door opens and Tipton enters] You startled me, sir.
- John Beresford Tipton: [Tipton sits in a chair in front of Anthony's desk. Only his left arm is visible to viewers] I'm sorry, Mike. I heard you come in and I wanted to talk to you. What's the matter, Mike? You seem unusually stressed these last few days.
- Michael Anthony: Sir, I can't get Hugh Waring out of my mind. I've studied his case thoroughly. I believe he's innocent.
- John Beresford Tipton: Oh?
- Michael Anthony: I almost wish I didn't. There's nothing I can do about it. The Warden won't call the Governor - and he's right. There's no new evidence. Sir, what good is a million dollars to a man who is about to die?
- John Beresford Tipton: Thank you, Mike, that is a very pertinent question.
- the Governor: [With a driving rainstorm howling outside, the Governor is visiting Tipton in his study. The Governor is seated and Tipton is standing off-screen with just his right arm visible to viewers] I tell you, Mr. Tipton, it's impossible.
- John Beresford Tipton: Impossible, Governor?
- the Governor: There's been a fair trial, a jury verdict, an appeal denied. And I have my responsibilities.
- John Beresford Tipton: Among them, your responsibility to a human being.
- the Governor: For a man guilty of murdering his wife. If I signed a stay of execution, the papers would murder me!
- John Beresford Tipton: Yes, I suppose they would - if you were wrong. But if he proved to be innocent, you'd be a hero.
- the Governor: Proved, proved! But who is going to prove it?
- [a lightning strike knocks out the electricity]
- John Beresford Tipton: Power failure. Don't worry, I have a standby generator.
- [Moments later, electricity is restored. Tipton chuckles]
- John Beresford Tipton: I guess I could make something of the point that good ideas are like a bolt of lightning - but I won't. Governor, we all believe that there is nothing more important than human life. It's the basic principle of our way of living.
- [the scene changes to outside a window, with the rain pelting against the building and thunder booming. The Governor and Tipton continue to talk but further words are inaudible]
- Michael Anthony: [the scene is in the conference room of Attorney Taylor with a large conference table with Taylor and Tipton present. Tipton is seated in a high backed chair with only his right arm visible to viewers. He is just putting out a cigar. Anthony enters the room] I'm sorry I'm a bit late, sir.
- John Beresford Tipton: We still have a little time left for what we have to do.
- Vincent Taylor: I must admit I was staggered by the amount of money Waring had left. I had no idea.
- Eleanor Waring: [the door opens and Eleanor Waring enters] I'm Eleanor Waring.
- Vincent Taylor: So he was right.
- Eleanor Waring: [to Taylor] I went to see the Warden but he said I should see you. I didn't know. I didn't know about Hugh's execution. Now he's dead and it's all my fault. I wanted to hurt him. That's why I went away.
- Vincent Taylor: Where have you been?
- Eleanor Waring: I think I've been in a world all of my own. There were nightmares there, too. But this was the worst. I left him in anger, but I was planning to come back. I wanted him to worry, not wonder where I was.
- Vincent Taylor: But where have you been all this time?
- Eleanor Waring: On a mountaintop in Colorado, overlooking a ghost town. No People alive for miles, no radio, no papers.
- [Hugh Waring, the Warden, and the Prosecutor discreetly enter the room, but Eleanor, whose back is to the door, is unaware of their presence]
- Eleanor Waring: The day I went to Silver, I saw the headlines. Terrible headlines.
- [Anthony now notices Hugh Waring]
- Eleanor Waring: He was dead. I killed him.
- Vincent Taylor: According to the terms of the will, you are to inherit a great deal of money.
- Eleanor Waring: How can you talk about money? What good does it mean to me?
- Hugh Waring: [Interrupting] You were always greedy for money.
- Eleanor Waring: [Startled and shocked as she now notices Hugh] You!
- Hugh Waring: It was a nice try, Eleanor, but it didn't work.
- Eleanor Waring: The papers! It was in the papers!
- [Turns vengeful]
- Eleanor Waring: You tricked me! You cheated me! How could you do this to me? You made me the laughingstock of the world. I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!
- [the Warden and Prosecutor begin to escort Eleanor out of the room]
- Eleanor Waring: You can't prove anything! Let go of me! I haven't done anything!
- [the Warden and Prosecutor wrestle Eleanor out of the room]
- Hugh Waring: [Closing the door] It's the end of a nightmare.
- [to Tipton]
- Hugh Waring: Well, it's good to be alive, but I wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for you. If you hadn't gambled on my story being true.
- John Beresford Tipton: I didn't gamble. We have a very courageous Governor who gambled on your innocence. He gave you a stay of execution, jeopardizing his entire political career by keeping it a secret.
- Michael Anthony: Even I didn't know.
- John Beresford Tipton: [to Anthony] Ah, but it was really you who did it. Your faith, your concern, your zeal.
- Michael Anthony: It was?
- John Beresford Tipton: [Chuckling] Of course.