The Illusionist Page #3

- Come on, Leopold.

- Get on with it.

Very well. I propose a challenge.

Why don't you astonish us...

if you can...

without all the... gadgetry?

As you wish.

Your sword is very beautiful.

Might I see it?

Certainly.

May I?

Where does power flow from?

Skill or destiny, or divine right?

We all know the story

of a sword called Excalibur.

Excalibur's blade

was fixed in stone...

and there it stayed.

Many worthy knights tried to

pull the sword from the stone.

Only Arthur succeeded...

proving his right to rule.

Who can take this sword?

You, sir, can you take the sword?

No surprise there.

Perhaps you, sir.

Not so eager, cousin.

Come on. You can do it.

- Do it! Do it!

- Come on!

You shall live a long life.

Thank you for your indulgence.

Come now. If you can't pull it out,

you'll never be emperor.

Your father will live to be a hundred.

The sword to its rightful owner!

That's enough light entertainment

for this evening.

For more serious discussion,

please join me for a drink.

Shut him down.

Well, he's very popular,

Your Highness.

I'm sure you'll find a way.

- What did you do to him?

- I gave him what he asked for.

What would possess you

to do something so foolish?

Duchess von Teschen,

you must come along, my dear.

We don't want to keep

the prince waiting.

- Did you enjoy the show?

- It was wonderful, wasn't it?

It was amusing.

Who told you where to find me?

Your manager. I told him if he wants

to stay in Vienna, you need my help.

Ah, so I'm to be driven

from the city, is that it?

- Good. I shall relish it.

- Stop it!

I came here to try to help you.

Why? Why should you possibly

care what happens to me now?

You were my friend.

I am your friend.

We knew each other very briefly

a long time ago. You don't know me at all.

Then why did you speak to me?

Why did you even bother talking-

And you kept it all this time.

I used to sit and stare

at your picture...

trying to imagine where you were.

At night I'd have dreams

I had gone with you...

and then I'd wake up

and realize where I was.

But in my dreams you

had shorter hair and no beard.

Where did you go when you left?

To my uncle's farm near Prague.

How exotic.

I went to Russia...

then Asia Minor...

and then the Orient for many years.

So long.

I always meant to return.

I just- I kept thinking I'd find it

around the next corner.

What?

A real mystery.

I saw remarkable things...

but the only mystery

I never solved was...

why my heart couldn't let go of you.

He wants me to go to Budapest...

with him next week

to announce our engagement.

He wants the Hungarians behind him.

They're going to crown him king.

I'm sure his father will have

something to say about that.

He plans to overthrow his father.

That could go very badly for him...

and for you.

You shouldn't be involved.

I am part of his plan.

He only gets Hungary by

aligning himself with my family.

- Leave him.

- It's not that easy.

Call it off and come away with me.

Or don't say anything

and we'll just go.

As long as we're alive...

he'll hunt us.

And when he finds us, he'll kill us.

Look at me.

Do you truly want to leave with me?

Yes, I do.

There you are. As I predicted,

they've shut us down.

Are you happy now, hmm?

You made your point.

It doesn't matter that we were

sold out for the whole run!

No, look. You got it off your chest.

- Do we have money?

- What?

- Do we have any money saved?

- Yes, we have some.

But we could have had

much, much more.

Mmm, it will have to do.

And the second account, all of it.

Of course, Herr Eisenheim.

Thank you.

And you have no doubt

it was Duchess von Teschen?

I'd stake my life on it.

What was in this suitcase?

I don't know.

He's by the first car.

The map will show you where to meet.

When it's done, you'll travel ahead

with her and I shall follow.

And she understands

everything this entails?

Completely. There's not a lot of time.

As you know, we sometimes follow...

Duchess von Teschen

for her protection.

Yesterday she was seen

in the company of another man.

What man?

Eisenheim the Illusionist.

What were they doing?

- Well, they were meeting and, uh-

- Touching? Kissing?

Fornicating?

Not that we observed, no.

However, I have reason to believe that

they may be planning something together.

It's possible they may be leaving.

I'm not certain of anything yet,

Your Highness.

Thank you, Inspector.

We can, of course, acquire more information-

He spent the afternoon

in Vienna with his father.

He's expected shortly.

What a surprise.

I thought you didn't like it here.

I suppose you think

you're very clever...

and very democratic

in your friendships.

- Aren't you?

- What are you talking about?

Your magician friend.

I know you've been with him.

It's true. We've been

friends since childhood.

You sleep with all

your childhood friends?

I will not be spoken to this way.

- You'll be spoken to as I wish to speak to you!

- You're drunk.

You're getting quite old,

aren't you?

You know, my mother was 16 years old

when she married my father.

And you? Can you even bear children?

Are you any use at all?

- Are you trying to embarrass me?

- It has nothing to do with you.

It has everything to do with me!

You will not share my bed

if you've slept with him!

You don't understand.

I'm not going to share

your bed at all.

I'm not going to Budapest with you.

I don't want to be part

of what you're planning.

And I will not marry you.

I assume you haven't been so stupid

as to tell him anything.

'Cause if you disrupt my plans, I will have

no further use for you. Do you understand?

Now, you will travel

to Budapest tomorrow.

I recommend that you are here early,

packed and ready to go.

Do nothing more to embarrass me.

Good-bye.

What do you mean, "Good-bye"?

Come back here.

Come back here!

Don't disobey me again.

Whore!

Out of my way.

Please, don't.

No, leave that.

Leave all the lanterns.

Duchess von Teschen!

Duchess von Teschen!

Maybe look on that side!

Over here!

Whoa. Whoa.

I thought you saw her

get on the train with him.

No, sir. We were waiting in Vienna

for them, but they left from Baden.

We assumed she was with him.

Should I wire

the crown prince in Budapest?

It's been done.

- Who are you?

- I'm the family's doctor.

Are you the chief inspector?

Yes, I am. You understand

this is a police matter now?

- Of course I understand.

- Good, good.

- You have determined the cause of death?

- She bled to death.

There's a wound on her throat...

just above the left collarbone.

Perhaps from a knife or a sword.

May I take a look?

Inspector, I-I will

not stand for it.

The crown prince

will not stand for it.

This is not some circus sideshow.

My apologies, of course.

Thank you, Doctor.

Probably robbed.

Gypsies, maybe.

Saw all those diamonds,

couldn't say no.

Chief Inspector,

there's one thing you should know.

- Yes, what is that?

- In the folds of her dress...

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