The Illusionist

It's her! I know it's her! She wants to tell us something!

We must do something ! Sit down!

Please! Hey!

In the name of his imperial majesty and the city of Vienna,

I hereby arrest eduard abramovicz,

Also known as eisenheim the illusionist,

on charges of disturbing public order,

Charlatanism and threats against the empire!

- Leave him alone! -

They're arresting him ! They're arresting eisenheim!

Chief inspector uhl.

- You're late. - My apologies, your highness.

I was attending to the loose ends of the case.

- Are there still loose ends? - Very few.

Did he do it again?

How does he do it?

I'm afraid I still don't know.

Did you ask him?

He's not talking at this point.

Well, I'm sure you have... methods...

For that kind of thing.

I want you to put an end to it.

Surely you have something on him.

Something from his past?

Yes. Yes, I think I do.

In fact, we know all about his life.

We've spoken to almost everyone who ever knew him.

As a boy, I'm told he had a chance encounter...

With a traveling magician.

Boy.

One version of the story was that the man himself...

Then vanished...

Along with the tree.

Who knows what actually happened?

People began to think he had some kind of special power,

or at least that he was a bit different.

And then he met her.

Don't drop it. Careful, you're going to trip.

Drop it, you muck snipe. Oh ! Watch out for that hole, alley rat!

Drop it! Come on.

Pick a card.

Put it back in the deck.

Now, watch.

Duchess von teschen, you can't be in a place like this. They're peasants.

Remember who you are.

She was brought back to the castle...

And they were forbidden to see each other.

But soon, they were doing just that.

Over the next few years, they could always find a way to be together.

Quick, come on.

In china there's a magician that could make anything disappear--

A house, a wagon, anything.

We'll go visit him. They can't stop us if we want to be together.

They'll never find us.

Do you promise you'll take me with you?

One day I will.

One day we'll run away together.

We'll disappear.

There's a secret way to open it.

I wanted a picture.

Sophie, are you there?

We must hurry! They're coming ! Duchess von teschen!

Duchess von teschen!

Duchess von teschen ! [ Man #2 ] Duchess von teschen!

Make us disappear. Make us disappear.

Duchess von teschen!

Stop. Stop.

Don't do this. Let go!

- Let me go. Let go! - Your father's waiting for you.

Let go! No!

- Eduard ! - Please, let go!

- No! - Let me go!

Let her go, please!

Let go! Stop it! Sophie!

Eduard!

Sophie! Eduard!

Sophie.

Stay away from her, or next time...

We'll arrest you and your family.

What happened next remains a mystery.

We do know that he traveled the world,

that he began to perform his magic in public,

that he changed his name to eisenheim.

And then almost

he appeared in Vienna.

Life and death,

space and time,

fate and chance.

These are the forces of the universe.

Tonight, ladies and gentleman,

I present to you a man who has unlocked these mysteries.

From the furthest corners of the world...

Where the dark arts still hold sway,

he returns to us to demonstrate...

How nature's laws may be bent.

I give you... eisenheim.

- -

Might I borrow a handkerchief from someone?

You, madam.

Thank you.

Ah, be patient.

Now, if you please.

I would like to continue with an examination of time.

From the moment we enter this life, we are in the flow of it.

We measure it and we mark it, but we cannot defy it.

We cannot even speed it up or slow it down.

Or can we?

Have we not each experienced the sensation...

That a beautiful moment seemed to pass too quickly...

And wished that we could make it linger?

Or felt time slow on a dull day...

And wished that we could speed things up a bit?

I assure you, they're quite real.

Is it real? Let's see.

And you, madam, where is your handkerchief?

Bravo!

Very good.

Give us something, please.

Please, give us something. Please. What's all this?

We're poor.

Do you think you're poor? Yes.

I want to show you something.

You're not poor.

You have everything that you need right here.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And that's yours.

And this too.

I've got the magic one!

Good morning. Good morning.

Coffee? No.

Strudel? I have two. Nothing, thank you.

You look very pleased with yourself. How are the receipts?

Not bad. A three-quarter house. Well done.

But we're going to do better than that. Listen to this.

Listen. "There is no argument that his uncanny displays...

"Separate him from the ranks of garden-variety stage wizards.

"Some of his effects transcend mere illusion...

"And approach the realm of art.

He is very young to be so masterful."

Do you see? We'll pack the house with this review.

We are going to make more money than ever you dreamed of.

But if it was mechanical.

Maybe he had it wrapped in some kind of bark?

Oh, I know, of course I thought of that.

It's the butterflies I'm trying to work out.

Oh, for pete's sake. Invisible wire.

Too obvious. How many men have you detailed for tonight?

We have eight men inside, another eight out front.

Perhaps you'll get another look at your butterflies.

Mmm.

Come on in. Check the last 10 rows there.

You ! Don't touch that!

Put that down! Ah, herr eisenheim.

Who are you and what do you think you're doing?

I'm chief inspector Walter uhl and I'm inspecting your theater.

I've seen you perform. Very impressive.

Very impressive. How can we help you, inspector?

You will be honored to know the crown prince...

Plans to attend your performance tonight.

- The crown prince? - Yes!

So, obviously we have to inspect the theater.

I think that one's small for an assassin, don't you?

Yes, the orange tree.

You know, I have seen things like this before,

but never one like that.

Extraordinary. Thank you.

I have been puzzling over how it works,

especially how the butterflies fly.

I assure you, your secret is safe with me.

I'm an officer of the law after all, and a bit of an amateur conjurer.

Are you really? Yes.

Well, card tricks, coins, uh, sleight of hand, yes.

Hmm.

But nothing fancy. Perhaps you'll give me a tip.

Yes, all right.

I'll show you one I'm very fond of. Are you a gambling man?

On occasion, yes. I will bet you the secret of the orange tree...

That I can guess which hand you place this in every time.

Excellent.

Put it in your fist, raise your hand against your forehead,

concentrate on it, form a mental picture.

Yes. Have you got it?

Yes. Put your hands in front of you.

It's in your left.

Well-- a lucky guess, perhaps.

You have a confederate who signals you.

No. It's more primitive than that. Uh-huh.

When you raise your hand to your head, the blood drains from it.

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,