Magic

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Did you knock 'em dead Corky?

I did everything right.

You mean it went perfect?

You're first time on your own.

Me not there to see.

Don't make it|more than it was.

Now don't give me|that inferiority crap.

Now, did the lift go okay?

I never did it better.

Open.

Now, when you're|rich and famous,

don't you forget me.

I'll never forget you.

Open.

There are not|three guys alive

that can do what you|can with those cards.

I'm tellin' ya kid,

you're as good as the game.

Sure, sure, sure.

Another Houdini.

Where you scared?

I sure was when I started.

Well I wasn't calm.

But then,

I wasn't all that worried.

I figured I'd uh...

done all the practicing|I could so what the hell.

Were you the only magician?

Yes sir.

The men all wanted|to be Bob Dylan

and the girls did mostly|Barbara Walters imitations

or sang Dolly Parton songs.

Some of them panicked

before they got up to perform.

Not you though?

No, not me.

See, the guy who was|in charge of everything

ran things so well.

He had one of those|hourglass egg timers

and when he turned|it over you started,

and when the sand was finished

so were you.

Good evening.

Tell me kid,

did you begin with|some flourishes?

Yeah.

You always taught me

that they were the|best attention grabbers.

Was I, was I right?

It was amazing.

Everybody quick|shut up and watched.

No more whispering.

Nothing.

And once you had 'em Corky,

then what did you do?

Well I quick told this|pudgy lady at the ringside

to please pick|any card she wanted

as long as it was|the big casino,

the ten of diamonds.

Okay, would you please|show the card to the audience?

And I forced it|on her perfectly.

Everybody loved it|a lot and laughed.

And then I went|straight into rising aces.

Did the lift work great?

Yes sir.

The sand was really running|out of that hourglass.

And I told myself to forget it

and just concentrate|on the moves.

So I took my time|and made it work

and everybody|applauded like crazy.

So I just took|a couple of bows

and I got off.

Oh kid.

Don't bullshit me.

I really did|do everything right.

Really.

Only nobody much cared.

And?

And?

Go on.

I guess I just cracked.

"You stupid sons of|b*tches, "I said,"

"Don't you know|how hard that was?"

"That's a thousand hours|of my life you just saw."

They don't care|from heart kid.

They just want|to be entertained.

I guess I didn't do|you proud all in all.

But did you|talk to the people?

Did you use your charm?

I can't, and you know that.

Corky?

You want to be

as good as the game.

Don't you?

You know I do.

Then you gotta find yourself

some charm kid.

How?

You'll think of something.

Hey man, why don't you...

Hi, I'm George Todson, NBC.

I'm to meet Mr. Ben Greene.

Oh, yes sir.

He's right inside.

Thank you.

Say my man, how come|he goes ahead of us?

I guess this boy Withers

is your latest sensation, hmm?

Oh yeah, sit down.

Yeah, since you booked him|into a very classy spot Ben.

And I found him here.

You know, it's not easy|getting him to move.

You want a beer?

It's safe.

Sure.

He likes this place?

Well, he bombed here

his first time out, you know?

But he didn't get...

hey, get him a beer garcon.

Sure, Budweiser?

But he didn't give up.

He just worked his|ass off for a year.

He come back.

And he hit it big.

There's never been|a magician like him.

You dragged me down|here for a magician?

Come on Ben.

I run a goddamn network.

We can't book those guys

on kiddy shows anymore.

Now listen,

your old man got his|start working for me

you little fart.

Don't tell me what bombs.

Magic is misdirection.

That's all it is.

And misdirection is|getting the people to look

in the wrong place|at the right times.

So?

So naturally,

magic has had a little|trouble on the tube.

Why?

Because you can't misdirect

the goddamn camera.

Ladies and gentlemen,

a warm welcome for|Mr. Corky Withers.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Ordinary deck of cards.

Loaded with stage presence.

I can't decide,

does he remind me|more of Errol Flynn

or Valentino?

Thank you.

Young lady, would you please|pick any card you want?

As long as it's|the big casino,

ten of diamonds?

Will you show|the audience please?

Dynamite opening Ben.

Does he actually get better?

That's hard to believe.

Well he got a little nervous

on account|he knows we're here.

My teacher was a great man.

His name was Merlin, and uh...

No, seriously his|name was Merlin, Jr.,

and this is his version|of the rising aces.

And here were are,|here are the four aces.

One,

two,

three,

four.

I'm going to place them|back on top of the deck.

And would you|please pick any card?

Just pick any card.

Good.

Look at the card, remember it,

and cover the aces.

Thank you.

All right uh...

I'm sorry, I did that wrong.

You're not supposed to|cover the aces in this trick.

Um, I'm sorry.

One sec.

He's gonna pull|a five card left.

Watch him,

just watch him, will ya?

Goddamn drunks.

He's not liftin'|just the top card.

He's gonna grab five.

Sir, if you think|you can do better,

you're welcome to try.

Just gimme a hand|getting up there schmucko.

And step aside.

Okay, you're on.

Okay.

What's going on.

Thank you.

You really think|you're that good do you?

I'll|guaran-f***in'-tee ya I am.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Ahhh...

You ruined the rising aces.

So what, screw it.

You see the broad|with the big jugs?

You mean the ah,|young lady in the feathers?

Yeah, I see her so what?

Wonder if she'ld like a|roll in the shavings with me?

I don't think|you're very funny.

Well they do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

A nice gimmick, the dummy.

What's his name?

Fats.

Don't encourage him.

I will now change|a diamond into a heart.

I guess the reason|I'm such a great lover is um...

I don't want to hear|about your sex life

if you don't mind.

Tell us all about yours then.

Everybody likes short stories.

Shhh, Don't encourage him|please ladies and gentlemen.

That's really|a clever shtick.

Thank you.

All right,

pick a diamond.

Huh?

I said pick a diamond.

All right.

It can change into a|heart while I'm holding it.

Well, go on,|show the audience.

If you're so great,

change it while|I'm holding it.

You won't give it back to me?

Well that's another|trick you've ruined.

Let's see,

I'll just have to|think of something else.

You mean you're not gonna|change my diamond into uh...

Jesus Christ.

What?

It turned into a heart

while I was holding it.

How'd he do that?

How'd he do that?

How did he do it?

How many times|do I have to tell you.

Do you want to|get out of here alive?

The kids good,|I'll give him that.

Sure he's good.

I got me maybe the best|magician in 50 years.

Team'd with the first|X-rated dummy on the block.

Eat your heart out.

You say he really|bombed here first time?

Yes.

Of course he didn't have|the dummy with him then.

The dummy helps.

No question.

Right.

Local talent?

No.

He was brought up near|Grossinger's in the Catskills.

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