The Silence

Archie Taylor, who wants his men's club quiet, offers Jamie Tennyson half a million dollars to remain silent for one year. To insure his unbroken silence, he will live in the club's basement. In debt, and with a wife that has expensive tastes, Tennyson agrees. During the year, Taylor tries every trick in the book to get Tennyson to talk, however he remains silent. Finally, the year is up and Tennyson emerges from the basement to collect his money. Taylor then reveals that he lost his fortune ten years before, and never intended to pay off the bet. Tennyson remains silent, but writes a note to Taylor. It says: "I knew I would not be able to keep my part of the bargain, so one year ago I had the nerves to my vocal chords severed!"