Paul Frees: John Beresford Tipton

Quotes 

• Michael Anthony : [Anthony enters the Tipton study, where he finds Tipton seated in a high backed chair reading a book. Only Tipton's right hand is visible to viewers]  You sent for me, sir?

  John Beresford Tipton : Mike, I've been reading one of the modern poets. Wonderful - listen to this:

  [Tipton reads from the book] 

  John Beresford Tipton : "The quality of mercy is not strained."

  Michael Anthony : Modern poetry? But that's Shakespeare.

  John Beresford Tipton : [Chuckles]  Yes, Mike. But he's so modern, we still haven't caught up to him.

  [Anthony smiles] 

  John Beresford Tipton : Yet in the sixteenth century, he wrote about a woman lawyer ending up in court - an equal to the men around her.

  Michael Anthony : Portia, the most famous woman lawyer of all time.

  John Beresford Tipton : It's still a novelty in today's courts to see a woman standing up in court and arguing her defendant's case. Yes, Shakespeare was ahead of the times when he wrote this. He still is.

  [Tipton hands over envelope to Anthony] 

  John Beresford Tipton : Our next millionaire, Mike.

  [Anthony bows and departs]