The Illusionist Page #2

It will be paler every time.

Oh. Oh, I like that very much.

Please take it with my compliments.

Why, thank you.

Eh, the blood drains.

Now, Inspector...

if you don't mind, I've got to prepare

for tonight's performance.

Ah.

Please stand for His Imperial Highness...

Crown Prince Leopold.

I thought we might end this evening

with a discussion of the soul.

All of the greatest religions...

speak of the soul's endurance

beyond the end of life.

So, what then

does it mean... to die?

I need a volunteer

from the audience.

Someone not afraid of death.

Please, someone?

I assure you,

no tragedy will befall you.

It's an honor, Duchess von Teschen.

Do you know me?

No.

You're quite certain

that we've never met before?

Yes, of course.

Now please gaze

directly into my eyes.

Look nowhere else.

Wave to yourself.

Turn in a circle.

Now bow to yourself.

Away.

They must have liked you. They've

waited for you nearly five minutes.

Your Highness, may I introduce

Eisenheim the Illusionist?

- Well done.

- Thank you for coming. I hope you enjoyed it.

Oh, we more than enjoyed it.

Stimulated great debate

amongst us, hasn't it?

Except of course for your assistant,

Duchess von Teschen.

You seemed to have struck her

quite speechless. A feat in itself.

- Did you hypnotize her?

- In a fashion.

I'd like to learn that trick.

Rainier here thinks you have

supernatural powers.

Do you claim supernatural powers?

I've never said anything

of that kind.

- Then you won't mind a question or two.

- Now let's not ruin it.

You needn't divulge

anything I can't guess.

As you wish.

Your assistants

are behind the mirror...

somewhere in robes obviously.

Lights in the frame perhaps

to illuminate them, or angled mirrors?

That would be one way to do it.

I think I understand it all

except the ghost.

That was very, very good.

Another viewing perhaps?

You must come to the Hofburg next time.

We'll make an evening of it.

That will be my pleasure.

So be it.

Sophie?

And we'll gather

our best minds next time.

You'll really have a challenge then.

Then I'll prepare something special.

Perhaps I'll make you disappear.

My God.

When he volunteered her...

I heard the crashing sound

of money falling on me in piles.

Every lady of means in Vienna will

want to get up there with you now.

- Mmm.

- What a show-off.

His father would have died

if he had seen such a display.

- She didn't seem too happy about it either.

- She'd better get used to it.

- How's that?

- Word is she'll marry him soon.

- Really?

- Taking her chances if you ask me.

- Why?

- He likes to give his lady friends...

a good thrashing now and again.

People say he pushed one of them

off a balcony...

just to cover

the beating he'd given her.

For Herr Eisenheim.

Hello, Sophie.

When I was on the stage,

you knew me right away.

It took me a moment...

but, yes, I knew.

You could have said something.

I thought you'd figure

it out eventually.

Yes, I would have.

I would have come another night,

volunteered...

walked right on stage

and said, "Hello."

And then you'd really

have had to move quickly.

I suspect you would have.

I don't understand why.

Perhaps for the same reasons you

find it prudent to meet in a carriage.

It's just a game

I have to play with them.

I'm followed everywhere. It's-

It's supposed to be for my protection.

Yes.

So, I hear congratulations

are in order.

What for?

They say you'll be the princess.

- It's not decided at all.

- Ah.

It makes a certain sense, I suppose.

We've known each other for years,

and of course, our families.

He's very intelligent.

A little too intelligent

for his own good.

You're lucky, you know...

to have broken free as you did.

I often wish that I had-

Wished what?

Wished that I would see you again.

And now you have.

Yes, now I have.

I look forward to seeing you

again at the Hofburg.

Until then.

Here's the report

on Duchess von Teschen.

Mmm. Anything interesting?

See for yourself.

The magician?

They drove around for half an hour.

Then he got out near the theater.

What do you want us to do?

Join us for a drink?

Please.

You like something to eat,

something to drink, hmm?

- No, thank you.

- Herr Eisenheim...

I'm going to ask you a question...

that may not seem friendly...

but I assure you, in fact, is.

What is your relationship

with the Duchess von Teschen?

You're right,

that doesn't seem friendly.

Oh, but that is precisely my point.

For, you see,

where others might judge...

a discreet carriage ride

for what it seemed to be...

I am willing to find out

what it actually was.

All right. We were

childhood acquaintances.

Acquaintances?

Childhood friends.

My father was a cabinetmaker.

He made the furniture for her family's house.

I see, the cabinetmaker's son

friends with a-

- Has there been a complaint?

- Oh, no, no. If there'd been a complaint...

well, we'd be having a very, uh,

different sort of conversation.

Yes. He relies on you for

that sort of thing, does he?

I'm a simple public servant,

Herr Eisenheim.

That's not what I hear.

I hear you'll be

the chief of police very soon.

- Maybe mayor of Vienna? Party secretary?

- All subject to his whim.

You better hope he doesn't dissolve

the parliament before you get there.

Now the prince has some progressive ideas,

but he will make a fine emperor.

Well, they say you're very close to him,

so I'm sure you'll do fine.

Look. Yes, indeed, they say

that I'm very close to the prince.

But the simple truth of the matter is,

Herr Eisenheim, I'm the son of a butcher.

He's the heir to the empire.

How close could we be to such as him?

Hmm? Do you see my point?

Don't fool yourself that

you can play in their game.

I've served on the edge of it...

for... many, many years...

and I can tell you with certainty...

there's no trick they haven't seen.

It's not worth it.

My guest tonight...

is not a showman at all,

but rather a wizard...

who has sold his soul

to the devil...

in return for unholy powers.

Or so at least some of our friends here

would have us believe.

But fear not.

Everything can

and will be explained.

- All mysteries penetrated.

- Hear! Hear!

Well said! Well said!

- Is that the emperor?

- Ah, yes, your father.

I didn't think he was invited.

Bravo.

A fair likeness of the old man.

Too modern a style for him, of course.

I'm afraid I'm not much

of a painter.

It's true. There are no brushstrokes

in this painting.

I can see that clearly.

So to achieve the color...

some sort of chemical must

be interacting, presumably.

Some sort of sprayer up your sleeve?

- May I?

- If you feel you must.

- I do.

- Oh, let the man do his show.

You want me to just sit there

when it's so obvious?

I do.

He tries to trick you.

I try to enlighten you.

Which is the more noble pursuit?

May we have the lights, please...

so His Highness can better see?

- See here, Leopold, let's have the show.

- Hear! Hear!

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