Houdini (2014) s01e01 Episode Script
Part 1
Harry? Can you hear me? One way or another, we all want to escape.
When ordinary life shackles us, we need to get away.
Get away from boredom.
From pain.
From fear.
But not me.
Fear is how I know I'm alive.
Unlike other people, I don't escape life.
I escape death.
Hell of a way to make a living.
They say when you're gonna die, your whole life flashes before your eyes.
My name is Erich Weiss.
But no one's called me that in a long time.
I can escape from almost anything Handcuffs, straightjackets You name it.
But the one thing I can't seem to escape from Is me.
Harry? Are you there, Harry? Harry? Can you hear me? I'm the great Houdini! Harry? 17 years before I jumped off that bridge was the year everything changed.
Where are the cuffs? Uh, right, let's go.
Oh, we're the entertainment.
- You know you're late.
- Yes, it's our mistake.
We were We got lost.
Very sorry.
Up until then, my wife Bess and I performed in a two-bit magic act on the back roads of America.
You booked us into a brothel.
Let's you and me go upstairs, huh? Let's go, we're not doing this.
- They hired us.
- Well, I'm unhiring us.
- Come on, let's go.
Guys.
- No, no, no, we No, no, hold on.
Ladies and gentlemen.
The great Houdini will escape from this trunk, confined by these handcuffs.
Yeah.
His handcuffs.
Fake.
That's right.
Well, if I had a pair of cuffs from these premises, I would happily Now you do.
May I ask how it is that you came to possess I'm a cop.
Never mind the trunk.
Let's see you get out these.
You mean like this? I'll be damned.
At that moment, I was no longer just a common magician.
I became something else: An escape artist.
So I came up with a shtick that seemed to impress a crowd.
But if I did it without any clothes, well, then folks really went nuts.
You been drinking, honey? One glass.
- You got whiskey breath.
- You always make such a big deal out of everything.
Oh, Harry.
Yes, babe? We've been at this for two years.
You ever think maybe it's time to pack it in? Honey, I want you to listen to me.
I'm not going back to piecework in a necktie sweatshop.
Or be a locksmith.
No.
Not gonna live like my old man.
Like I was never here.
I loved my father.
But He was nobody.
I'm not gonna be like him Just disappear.
Not unless a million people are watching.
As far back as I can remember, I've always wanted to escape.
My brother Dash and I would get away whenever we could to check out the traveling shows that came to Appleton.
No, not again.
No, stop.
Stop! No! Help! These will make appetizing treats for my dogs.
Now, I forewarned that things could get messy.
Dash couldn't look, but me? I was hooked.
Mesmerized by the illusion.
Now.
I will require some assistance from the audience.
How about you, young man? Me? Yes, please, come up.
Now, if you'll just - pull this table with me.
- Mm-hmm, okay.
This is a very delicate part.
Whoa.
I think she's dead.
Why don't you give her a tickle? Thank heavens.
Pull yourself together.
One, two, three.
Voilá.
And applause for my young assistant.
And suddenly, just like that, I was somebody.
A boy that knows no fear.
I was going somewhere.
And illusion was my ticket.
Mama! Mama! Look what I got, mama.
Oh.
Take it.
It's real.
Look.
I got another one.
I earned it.
It's magic.
Mama, shake me.
Shake me.
Harder, mama.
Harder.
Shake me.
Harder.
If not for my mother, I would have gone nowhere.
Money for nothing, ma.
- One day, they'll be gold, mama.
- She always believed in me.
Trick or treat! It's Halloween, papa.
You're supposed to give 'em something.
Erich, papa's gonna say the brachot! Come down.
Take that off before papa sees it.
Listen.
"A magician is not really a magician.
" He is an actor, pretending to be a magician!" An actor.
Eree! 50 years ago, Robert Houdin was the greatest magician of all time.
Now it's gonna be me, Howdini! Do you have a minute? We need to talk to you.
Is there a problem? Can we talk in private? You are six years our rabbi now, and you still haven't learned to speak any English.
With all due respect, rabbi Weiss, this isn't Budapest.
This is Wisconsin, and that is why we can no longer employ your services as our rabbi.
Some things can hit you in the gut worse than any punch.
I made sure I'd never be that weak.
I've made some impossible escapes in my life, but my greatest escape was leaving Appleton, Wisconsin.
My travels were short-lived, but I learned my trade before reuniting with my family in Brooklyn.
My father died soon after.
Dash and I teamed up to support ma with the meager earnings from our new, not-so-spectacular magic act.
Come one, come all.
Prepare to be mesmerized by - the Houdini brothers.
- Excuse me, sir.
- May I borrow your hat? - Why? Oh, so I can give you back your watch.
You will now give me your hat.
Thank you.
Dash, will you clear the contents of this hat? Pick a card, any card.
Six of spades.
The only thing more devastating than a punch to the gut is an arrow through the heart.
I never even saw it coming.
Bravo! So, this Hungarian Duke made a play for my mom, and my dad challenged the Duke to a duel, right? Bullet went right through the Duke's brain.
Finished.
And my father had to flee for his life, and, uh, you know, that's how our whole family wound up in America.
- It's kind of romantic.
- Yeah.
And then he died.
- Poor man.
- Oh.
Is Harry Houdini your real name? It is now.
- What about you? - Hmm? Are those two girls you sing with Are they really your sisters? No.
We just started performing together this summer.
Yeah? Pick a hand.
No, not that one.
Here, open your palm.
- It's pretty.
- Hmm.
Hmm.
You're gonna have to do better than that if you want to be the greatest magician in the world.
- Oh, yeah? - Mm-hmm.
How about this? Blow on it.
Oh, look at him go.
Bess Rahner, will you marry me? A week later, we tied the knot.
That's swell.
I guess you could say I want to show you something.
Our wedding night was perfectly suited for us.
Harry, what are you doing? - Get in.
- Harry? Get in, get in.
Come on.
Now, crouch down.
Now, look at that.
You're perfect.
I knew it.
Harry.
See, Dash is way too big.
All right, now, watch your head.
Harry.
Ow! - All right, now, lift up the latch.
- What are you doing? - It's right here in the middle.
- Wedding night.
- You find it? - What? Where? It's right here.
Push it.
There you go.
Harry! Are you out of your damn mind? Honey, don't talk like that.
And you don't need to wear so much makeup when you're off stage, do you? You're too cute for that.
You don't need that.
- What about your brother? - He'll understand.
He'll understand.
He knows.
He's too big.
Anyway, you know what I was thinking? We don't even need to change the billing.
The Houdinis.
May I now have my key back? Thank you.
Mrs.
Houdini.
So Bess and I hit the road with our new collection of Eccentric friends.
Hmm.
Look at that.
Now everybody and his brother's doing handcuff escapes.
Including my brother.
There's got to be a better way to make a living.
To really hit it big time, I had to step off the stage into the real world.
Come on, sheriff.
What do you got to lose? I don't lock folks up less'n they break the law.
Yeah, well, maybe you just don't have a whole lot of confidence in your jail.
Huh, sheriff? Run along, Mr.
hoo-ha.
This is a college town.
I pull a stunt like that, all the fraternity boys'll be after me to do the same with them.
I couldn't afford to advertise, so I just used those mavens of mass spectacle, the press, to spread the word.
Not if you tell 'em they have to post bail first.
Here's a hundred dollars, cash on the barrel-head, says you can't hold the incomparable Houdini.
- Quote.
- Harry, that's all we have.
It's a hundred bucks.
It's all yours.
Plus, you get to take a free punch.
I know you're itching.
Come on.
Come on, sheriff.
Make it count.
Like the man says, that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Will wonders never cease? Did you get it? Let me check your pockets.
Sure you want to do this now, sheriff? It's your funeral.
Harry? - For luck.
- Thank you.
Hey, open your mouth.
Ah One more thing.
You don't get out, I keep you here overnight for disturbing the peace.
- Fair enough.
- Let's go, folks.
It was the kiss that was seen across the country.
Oscar Wilde, Cy Young, John Philip Sousa They had nothing on me.
Soon, the papers weren't even calling me an entertainer anymore.
They were calling me something else.
But no matter how big I got, I always knew that my next escape would have to be bigger.
I also knew that along the way someone else was keeping track of all the headlines for me.
Bess and I were on a roll.
But I was still missing one key ingredient to take my act to the next level.
These look impressive.
State of the art.
New York City police are using them.
I hear chief Rohan's got a pair he plans to clamp on you in Chicago.
You're Houdini, right? Look at this.
It's a rounded key.
I've never seen that before.
I made it myself.
- You made it yourself? - In my workshop.
And look.
Hides in a shirt cuff, too, see? Unbelievable.
What else you got? Looks like regular picture wire, totally flexible, but it has teeth.
It's a hacksaw.
You just destroyed your chair.
What's your name, Buster? Jim.
Jim Collins from Macon, Georgia.
That's where I caught your act.
- Right, Georgia.
- You changed my life.
Jim You think you can make an elephant disappear? - Sir? - Can you get me out of a block of ice? I could make you catch a bullet.
Harry, we got a matinee.
Give me time and I'll figure out the elephant.
I'll give you time.
Full-time.
- Deal? - Deal.
Honey, this is Jim.
- Pleasure.
- Amazing.
Dearest ma, next week, I have a big surprise for you.
I wish I could be there when you see it, but, at the moment, I'm a little Tied up.
- Well, I don't know how they do things in Detroit, Mr.
H.
, but here in Chicago, when we lock a man up, we mean him to stay locked up.
Yeah.
Seems like I've heard that speech before, chief.
You boys having fun? Come on.
I'll need some help carrying him.
Yeah, great.
Good shot, fellas.
Good? Now, just to be sure There's this.
Smile for the birdie, fellas.
Well, sir, I believe I'll leave you to your prayers.
Okay.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
Let's go.
Move it.
Clear out.
Houdini! Houdini! Dearest ma, we've come a long way from Appleton, Wisconsin.
Welcome to Brooklyn.
This is the home you've always deserved.
Welcome.
What do you think? No, no.
Not with you as the shooter.
Not in a million years.
All right, where is it? Let's see it.
Come on.
Jim had been working on what I had hoped would be my greatest escape yet.
The Chinese water torture cell.
Huh? This was the big time, the stunt that would finally put me over the top.
- Let me try it.
- Now? Boss, you just performed three shows.
You're beat.
Tomorrow.
I'll get the boys.
We'll set it up.
Right now.
All right.
All right, boys, lower him.
All right, take it easy.
Come on.
Lock it in there.
Something's wrong.
- Whoa, whoa.
- Pull him up! Hurry up.
Get him out! Lift him up! Hurry up! It's stuck! Hey! Pull him up! Up! Get him up! Get him up! Come on! Quick! Break the glass.
Break the glass! Look out! Boss! Boss! - Harry?! - Come on! - Harry! - You all right? Fantastic.
Ladies and gentlemen, how long can a man hold his breath? Shall we experiment? On the count of three, try to hold your breath, ladies and gentlemen.
One Two Three.
As you can see, seconds tick by very slowly.
While they do, I shall disrobe.
My ankles will be shackled in a secure set of stocks.
Prepare the stocks.
After being immobilized, I will be immersed headfirst in the Chinese water torture cell.
Captain O'Hare of the Chicago fire department is standing by with an axe in the event something goes wrong.
And let's face it, ladies and gentlemen, there's always that possibility.
Raise it up, boys.
The only way to beat death is to put your life on the line.
But why was I so compelled to beat death? What was I trying to escape? Bring out the screen! One minute! Two minutes.
What's going on? Something's wrong.
Three minutes! You have to help him! 3:15.
Stop it! Captain O'Hare, come on! Get in there.
Hurry, hurry.
Enter.
Do you have it? "Houdini ideal for our purposes.
"Commencing European tour.
Suggest you contact - melville soonest.
" - Hmm.
Houdini speaks German? He's an immigrant, yes.
German-speaking Hungarian Jew.
Mr.
Wilkie, Houdini's the most famous man in America, sure.
He now makes more money than the president.
But when all's said and done, he's just a magician, - not - Well, what more natural cover than a traveling entertainer? God only knows what the Kaiser is planning.
We don't.
It would be advantageous to have someone next to that unpredictable brain of his.
- What else? - Houdini's very devoted to his mother.
Sends her money every week, even when he was broke.
I like a man who looks after his mother.
Contact Melville.
Set it up.
Way before anyone knew it, America had teamed up with England to keep an eye on the emerging threat from Germany, an unexpected eye: Me.
And so, one of the strangest illusions I was ever asked to pull off was something called espionage.
Not a bad fit, since a magician can never reveal his secrets.
I take it you weren't followed, Mr.
Houdini.
I made sure that I wasn't.
As instructed.
"Your country needs you.
Come alone.
" That's very dramatic.
You were recommended to us by John Wilkie.
Never heard of him.
Well, that's as it should be.
He's director of the United States secret service.
I'm sir William Melville, his British counterpart in MI-5.
- How do you do? - Uh, may I have that? Oh, I'm definitely gonna need some of those.
Are you saying you want me to Keep your eyes and ears open, that's all.
Depend on it If war comes, the United States will fight on the British side.
What you learn might help postpone that war.
Maybe prevent it.
Of course, you could never reveal your services, but you would have the satisfaction of knowing that you had served Perhaps even saved Your country.
That's a tall order for a vaudevillian.
I By the by, we took the liberty of revising your passport.
Yeah? What was wrong with my old passport? We made a slight adjustment to your place of birth.
- Appleton, Wisconsin.
- Kaiser bill has only one good arm, as you may already know, but it can reach as far as Budapest.
We thought it prudent to make you, shall we say, uh, all American.
From now on, your place of birth is officially the United States.
You could run for president, sir.
Sir, I-I can't begin to tell you what this means to me.
We'll think of something.
In the meantime, think of me in loco parentis.
A sort of father in residence, no? Where were you? Uh With Jim.
Jim didn't know where you were, either.
Is it a girl? Girl? No.
Honey Where did this come from? Y-you know me better than that.
- Who is she? - There is no "she.
" - Then where were you? - I can't tell you, but I'm sorry.
I wish I could.
I can't.
- You gotta trust me.
- I have trusted you, Harry.
Bess Honey.
Honey Trust me.
Trust me.
When does illusion become a lie? With illusion, I could be somebody Escape from who I really was.
But when did running away become so essential to me? Is that why I was still running? From him? I guess there are some things in life you never escape.
Not long after I left Appleton, I became a sorcerer's apprentice.
What a load of laughs that was.
Come on.
Good, kid.
Very good.
Now, I'm gonna teach you the floating virgin.
The thing about the floating virgin of Arkansas She was a beautiful girl.
She was a pale girl.
But she loved to sleep.
And when she slept, she floated.
Come.
Come Come Float! Float, my sweet little beauty.
Come to me! Come to me now! Look at that kid's face.
Every lesson Every knock across the chops, was a building block towards what I wanted to be.
But was it worth it? You doing all right out here? Be reading about the bullet catch.
Oh, yeah? Think we should put it in the show.
It'd put you back on top.
You're good, kid.
Very good.
But not as good as you think.
Why won't you do it? It's dangerous, as I have reason to know.
That's why people will eat it up.
And who would catch the bullet? Me.
Say another damn word about that bullet catch and I swear, I'll leave you behind in the nearest ditch.
My son He died doing the catch.
Did you load the gun? And pulled the trigger, too.
Blew the back of his head off and his brains with it.
No! My own boy - You're a liar.
- Come again? That story's straight out of Houdin's book.
How he met a traveling magician, Torrini, who'd killed his son doing the bullet catch.
You're a liar.
Your hero, Houdin, was a liar, too.
And by the way, it's "who-Dan," not "how-din.
" Houdin never ran into any magician who killed his son, and that book you treat like the gospel? There's only enough truth in it to make you believe the lies.
Because that's how magic works.
Magicians are liars, and the best magicians are the best liars.
Was the dream I was chasing based on nothing more than lies? I was afraid, terrified of what I might become.
I embraced it anyway.
I became Harry Houdini, accepting that truth was just a story made up from a lie.
It was a hard lesson, but it would serve me well.
My act became the cover story for my spying.
After five sold-out shows in Berlin, the Kaiser requested a private performance.
Very private.
With your majesty's indulgence, I I propose a demonstration of famous German marksmanship.
Would you kindly loan me the use of your most accomplished rifleman in the royal box? You're sure about this, right? What? You're sure, right? I thought you said it was foolproof.
What? I-I said, you said Never mind.
Go.
Go get it.
Your majesty may wish to observe through his opera glasses.
No.
Okay.
Friedrich, oberstleutnant der kaiserlichen armee.
Herr oberstleutnant.
Are you a good shooter, herr oberstleutnant? - Jawohl, mein herr.
- Great.
Hand him the rifle.
I'm sorry it's so old.
It's all we can afford.
Now as you can see, the bull's-eye stands about, oh, shall we say, 35 feet from the shooter? Herr oberstleutnant, do you believe that you can hit the bull's-eye, or shall I move you closer? Child's play, huh? Very well.
Fire when you're ready, lieutenant.
Wonderful shooting, lieutenant.
Wonderful.
I would trust you with my life.
Bravo.
Now, let us reload.
It's quite a production, these old guns.
As you can see, first, take a measure of powder, we pour it down the barrel.
This is followed by a wad of paper, and then the bullet.
Will you inspect the bullet, lieutenant? Thank you, lieutenant.
The bullet is now pressed down with the ramrod, like so.
Does that look all right, lieutenant? Jawohl.
Now one last bit of child's play.
Jim, hand the lieutenant the musket.
Lieutenant, please take aim at the bull's-eye again.
I will now attempt to catch the bullet with my teeth.
I said, I trust you with my life, lieutenant.
Now you have to trust me.
Ready? Fire the gun.
Fire! Fire the gun! Pull the trigger! Pull the trigger.
Pull the trigger! Wunderbar! Is that the bullet? Jawohl.
Thank you.
Excellent shooting, lieutenant.
Excellent shooting.
Thank you, your majesty.
Once you know the secret, most tricks are simple I owe you.
Including this one.
The bullet is now tamped down with a ramrod, like so.
- Does that look all right, lieutenant? - Jawohl.
All it took was a magnet at the end of the ramrod.
Thank you.
Catching bullets in my teeth was one thing, but espionage remained my European mistress, an altogether different kind of escape.
Welcome to Budapest, Mr.
Houdini.
My name is Reilly.
Does your hometown bring back many memories? Remember, you've never been here.
Don't look around.
You're merely conversing with an old friend.
How was Berlin? I understand the Kaiser was impressed.
Yeah, enough to invite me to watch his cavalry maneuvers.
I overheard a few things.
They're building seven new battleships.
They're not ready yet, but they're definitely planning for war.
They call it the Schlieffen plan.
Schlieffen.
Our friend in London will be most interested.
Meantime, he sent you a book.
He knows you love to read.
Russian grammar? "Harry, thought this would come in handy for your upcoming trip to Moscow.
Melville.
" You have a performance? Sort of.
My mother arrives on the afternoon train from Paris.
A trip back to the old country.
How could I possibly explain what I had in mind? Oh, look at this.
Honey.
Sometimes a guy can't even tell his own wife about the plans he has for a new dress.
But ma deserved the best, because the best is what she inspired me to become.
And I was finally given the chance to thank her for it.
What's going on? Queen for a day.
Harry told me people around here thought his mother married beneath her to a failed rabbi.
And she goes along with this? Of course.
To her, Harry is magic.
Like I told you, ma Money for nothing.
Didn't I promise, huh? Didn't I tell you, one day, it'd be gold? Hey, hello, young man.
For you.
Your majesty, it's an honor - to play the palace.
- So kind.
I'd love to see if I could make one of your family's wishes - come true.
- Oh.
Would each of you write a special wish on these slips of paper? I see your majesty has a faberge egg.
It's very beautiful.
Would you mind if I place the wishes inside of it? - Not at all.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
And now, grand Duchess Anastasia.
Will you draw one out and hand it to me? I just realized I can't read Russian.
Would your majesty mind translating for me? I'm afraid you will never be able to grant the wish, Houdini.
Well, let me give it a shot, your majesty? - What does it say? - One of us wishes you would make Kremlin Bells ring again.
Impossible, Houdini.
The Kremlin Bells have not rung - for uh - Hundreds.
Hundreds years.
The ropes are long rotted - and the stairs are falling away.
- Well, if magic were easy, your majesty, every fool would be doing it.
What did he? Uh, I'm sorry, I I don't know the gentlemen name.
Rasputin.
Rasputin says you are full Uh Full of Ah.
I get the general idea.
Well, we'll see.
Grand Duchess Anastasia, come.
Pull the rope.
Pull it again.
Pull the rope.
Pull it.
So even Rasputin, a man obsessed with religion and mysticism, couldn't see through my little Parlor trick.
Will wonders never cease? Huh? Hey, big guy, I bet you'd love to give me a punch, huh? Punch? You know you're itchin'.
One thing I learned a long time ago Never let 'em know what's really going on inside.
Yeah.
Thank you.
After that, I could do no wrong.
We stayed for dinner and they talked their heads off.
The Tsar thinks he's going to war with Japan.
If he does, he'll lose.
Russia lose against little Japan? 'Cause they all take orders from that Rasputin character.
They do whatever he says.
It's crazy.
A mad monk in command? Why? Well, it seems he's got a little magic act of his own: He's the only one who can keep the tear's son from bleeding.
Of course.
The boy's a hemophiliac.
They'd do anything to keep Rasputin happy.
He's not their only problem.
There's Social unrest everywhere.
One of these days, the whole place is gonna explode.
So we hear.
Very good, Harry.
Most instructive.
So, tell me, how did you get the Kremlin Bells to ring? Well, that was the only wish I was ready for.
And now, grand duchess Anastasia, will you take one out and hand it to me? So then I said to her, "I just realized I can't read Russian.
" Uh, would your majesty mind translating for me? It was snowing so hard I was worried Jim wouldn't be able to see the rope.
Pull the rope.
Pull it.
They were convinced I had spiritual powers.
And do you? Yes, I know.
What are your plans? Uh Will you return to the States? Well, not until I figure out something new.
Now everybody's copying my routine.
And my name.
Blondini, Handini, Berlini.
I think you need a new challenge.
The Adelphi Theatre is just a stone's throw from the German embassy.
- So? - So We're reliably informed there's a copy of the Schlieffen plan in the safe in the ambassador's office.
What an extraordinary stroke of luck it would be for us if you managed to lay your hands on it.
You'd have a perfect alibi Handcuffed on stage.
Safe, huh? Which is how I happened to wind up in one.
But not that safe.
It was a different safe.
The one inside the German ambassador's office.
But let me start from the beginning.
Soon after the act started, I wasn't even inside the safe anymore.
Jim had told the audience I had about ten minutes of air.
Audiences go nuts for a ticking clock.
Where is he? He didn't tell me, Mrs.
H.
, but he promised he'd be back in time to finish the show.
Back from where? Uh, I really don't know.
Oh, I can't do this anymore.
This is killing me.
Get him out! Tonight is our tenth anniversary, and I know he's going to forget.
I know it.
Right in here.
Voilá! Oh! Mm-hmm.
- Mm.
- Oh! Get him out! Jim stalled for time like the pro he was.
But we both knew I had to be back for the grand finale.
Mr.
Houdini? Mr.
Houdini! The grand finale that even had a special surprise for Bess.
All I had to do was get out of a safe I'd never been in before.
And there wasn't any air in this one, either.
My brain is the key that sets me free.
My brain is the key that sets me free.
Try to remember the arrangement of locks, gears in a Jarvis safe.
Open it! Joe, bring the tools! Bring the tools! Open up! Get him out! All right.
Finally, that old ambassador remembered where the bedroom was.
Hey.
Got into the German safe.
Literally.
Sorry, I'm late for celebration.
A letter! Crazy! Is that addressed to my wife? Mrs.
Houdini.
Mrs.
Houdini! Mrs.
Houdini! All that time Mrs.
Houdini! Fantastic! What does it say, honey? Read the note, nice and loud.
"Thank you for the ten most wonderful years of my life.
" "Your loving husband, Harry.
" Congratulations.
Happy anniversary, honey.
Happy anniversary.
And she thought I forgot.
Anyway, thanks for sticking around for the grand finale, folks.
Thank you.
Bravo! Aw, that was swell, honey, huh? That was a surprise.
That was all for you.
No.
No, it was not for me.
It's never just for me.
- What? - It's for them.
It's for the act.
It is always for the act - and you and I both know it, Harry.
- No.
What are you trying to prove, Harry? How brave you are? How American you are? I just tell me what it is.
Tell me, what? I don't mean to intrude, but the car's here.
Uh You still going to Lady Butler's? Ugh Honey, I'm sorry.
I know.
It's it's It's in our honor.
- It is in your honor.
- Sweetheart, let's just make an appearance, okay? I promise, 30 minutes, tops.
It's Lady Butler.
That Rasputin character packed quite a wallop.
I tell you, he was a regular John l.
Sullivan.
I could take the punch, but he knocked me out with his vodka breath, you know? - Really? - Yeah.
Ooh, I say.
- Mind if I make myself comfortable? - By all means.
That's the true truth, isn't it? Very likely.
You are very pretty.
Yes, sir.
Some things can hit you in the gut worse than any punch.
I'm sorry, what did you say? Actually, give me a moment.
Hi, Harry.
Oh, Harry.
I'm gonna kill myself.
Well, that's what I'm always saying.
What, is that funny? Is that funny?! Oh, for heaven's sake.
What are you so upset about? You were kissing him.
You were kissing him! No, I wasn't.
- Yes, you were! - No, I was not! And until you looked over, you didn't know where I was at that party and you didn't care.
- So stop being dramatic.
- You're my wife.
You're the wife of the great Houdini! Really? I thought I was just a woman you put in a trunk and took out when you felt like it.
What do you do when you hit rock bottom? You keep digging.
Divine creature See If you can escape.
Would you like me to release you? By this point, I really wasn't up for this.
Shh.
Be right back.
That's when I discovered my next escape.
What is it? I don't know.
A glorious one.
Will wonders never cease? Houdini I don't know how these things work in America, but in London it's considered impolite - Huh? - To keep a lady waiting.
Yeah.
You Where are you? Start without me.
What? Where are you going? - Keep the chains.
- What about the key?! What are you doing here? I had a feeling you'd be leaving.
Get me one of those.
What do you want an airmobile for? You know how it is when you fall in love.
Flying was all I could think of.
This time, Bess's only rival was an airplane And for years, it was our carriage to the world.
Harry! Harry! - Do you trust me? - Shit, Harry! Language, honey, please.
But everything changes.
Even flying lost its novelty.
I was falling back to earth, and on earth, things were changing, too.
But audiences had grown numb to the thrill.
I hadn't played to a sold-out house in quite some time.
But I wasn't finished escaping.
Not quite.
You didn't grease the collar! Sure I did.
Like hell! Your disloyalty cost me ten seconds.
Disloyal? I It's when you do it with the water instead of the milk.
Don't give me that.
Just 'cause there's nobody out there doesn't mean that the ones that are don't deserve the best of the great Houdini.
You're fired.
Again? Vaudeville's in trouble.
Nowadays folks are going to moving pictures.
Ah, movies! If it was a tough escape, the whole movie would be finished by the time I made it.
And the suspense wouldn't be the same.
Maybe you could fill a smaller theater.
"A smaller theater"? Me? Sol, what are you saying? The writing's on the wall, Harry! No! I write the damn writing! There's your new competition.
He's not doing anything.
He's making them laugh.
That's all right.
My audience loves me.
They'll come back.
I just need something new.
What about the elephant? It's not an escape.
It needs to be an escape.
Laugh again and you're fired.
"Smaller theater.
" Please.
Escapes can get smaller, they have to get bigger.
People expect more from the great Houdini.
Not less.
Maybe people are tired of escapes.
Huh? You've done enough of them.
What kind of tobacco is that? Mexican.
- Pepe gave it to me.
- Who? "Pepe"? What? From the band? Smells weird.
Well, he said it would help with my nerves.
He's right.
What the heck is bigger? Play the grand canyon, why don't you? Yeah, get me room 202.
Jim? Bring up some ice.
No.
I mean a lot of ice.
Evening, Mrs.
H.
What the hell is going on in here? - Language, honey, please.
- What are you doing?! - Uh, thanks, Jim.
- You got it, boss.
If I can't bring the folks to the theater, I got to bring the theater to the folks.
What does that mean? Well, movies can outdoors, so can I.
Oh, Christ, Harry.
Harry? - I got to pee.
- Yeah, five more minutes, honey.
It's all yours.
We've been married 19 years.
You can watch me pee.
Yeah, I don't want to watch you pee.
I expected the Mississippi to be cold, but this was ridiculous.
Well, that's that.
Maybe they could cut a hole in the ice.
Harry, no.
Are you kidding? You'd kill yourself.
Well, 12, 15 feet should do it.
Honey, don't worry.
Oh, "honey," my ass.
You want me to stick around to find out if I'm a widow.
You may be crazy, Harry, but I'm not.
Sweetheart, please.
Go to hell, Harry! - 15 feet? - Make it 12.
Honey? It's just a li-little ice.
Put an ad in the paper and tell people you're gonna do something crazy Tuesday at noon, and a thousand people will show up Tuesday at noon.
Throw in a chance of me getting killed - Come on, Harry! - Hi! You have to beat them back with a stick.
It was the wrong moment to start thinking.
If I started to think, I might forget who I was.
The great Houdini.
Is he still down there?
When ordinary life shackles us, we need to get away.
Get away from boredom.
From pain.
From fear.
But not me.
Fear is how I know I'm alive.
Unlike other people, I don't escape life.
I escape death.
Hell of a way to make a living.
They say when you're gonna die, your whole life flashes before your eyes.
My name is Erich Weiss.
But no one's called me that in a long time.
I can escape from almost anything Handcuffs, straightjackets You name it.
But the one thing I can't seem to escape from Is me.
Harry? Are you there, Harry? Harry? Can you hear me? I'm the great Houdini! Harry? 17 years before I jumped off that bridge was the year everything changed.
Where are the cuffs? Uh, right, let's go.
Oh, we're the entertainment.
- You know you're late.
- Yes, it's our mistake.
We were We got lost.
Very sorry.
Up until then, my wife Bess and I performed in a two-bit magic act on the back roads of America.
You booked us into a brothel.
Let's you and me go upstairs, huh? Let's go, we're not doing this.
- They hired us.
- Well, I'm unhiring us.
- Come on, let's go.
Guys.
- No, no, no, we No, no, hold on.
Ladies and gentlemen.
The great Houdini will escape from this trunk, confined by these handcuffs.
Yeah.
His handcuffs.
Fake.
That's right.
Well, if I had a pair of cuffs from these premises, I would happily Now you do.
May I ask how it is that you came to possess I'm a cop.
Never mind the trunk.
Let's see you get out these.
You mean like this? I'll be damned.
At that moment, I was no longer just a common magician.
I became something else: An escape artist.
So I came up with a shtick that seemed to impress a crowd.
But if I did it without any clothes, well, then folks really went nuts.
You been drinking, honey? One glass.
- You got whiskey breath.
- You always make such a big deal out of everything.
Oh, Harry.
Yes, babe? We've been at this for two years.
You ever think maybe it's time to pack it in? Honey, I want you to listen to me.
I'm not going back to piecework in a necktie sweatshop.
Or be a locksmith.
No.
Not gonna live like my old man.
Like I was never here.
I loved my father.
But He was nobody.
I'm not gonna be like him Just disappear.
Not unless a million people are watching.
As far back as I can remember, I've always wanted to escape.
My brother Dash and I would get away whenever we could to check out the traveling shows that came to Appleton.
No, not again.
No, stop.
Stop! No! Help! These will make appetizing treats for my dogs.
Now, I forewarned that things could get messy.
Dash couldn't look, but me? I was hooked.
Mesmerized by the illusion.
Now.
I will require some assistance from the audience.
How about you, young man? Me? Yes, please, come up.
Now, if you'll just - pull this table with me.
- Mm-hmm, okay.
This is a very delicate part.
Whoa.
I think she's dead.
Why don't you give her a tickle? Thank heavens.
Pull yourself together.
One, two, three.
Voilá.
And applause for my young assistant.
And suddenly, just like that, I was somebody.
A boy that knows no fear.
I was going somewhere.
And illusion was my ticket.
Mama! Mama! Look what I got, mama.
Oh.
Take it.
It's real.
Look.
I got another one.
I earned it.
It's magic.
Mama, shake me.
Shake me.
Harder, mama.
Harder.
Shake me.
Harder.
If not for my mother, I would have gone nowhere.
Money for nothing, ma.
- One day, they'll be gold, mama.
- She always believed in me.
Trick or treat! It's Halloween, papa.
You're supposed to give 'em something.
Erich, papa's gonna say the brachot! Come down.
Take that off before papa sees it.
Listen.
"A magician is not really a magician.
" He is an actor, pretending to be a magician!" An actor.
Eree! 50 years ago, Robert Houdin was the greatest magician of all time.
Now it's gonna be me, Howdini! Do you have a minute? We need to talk to you.
Is there a problem? Can we talk in private? You are six years our rabbi now, and you still haven't learned to speak any English.
With all due respect, rabbi Weiss, this isn't Budapest.
This is Wisconsin, and that is why we can no longer employ your services as our rabbi.
Some things can hit you in the gut worse than any punch.
I made sure I'd never be that weak.
I've made some impossible escapes in my life, but my greatest escape was leaving Appleton, Wisconsin.
My travels were short-lived, but I learned my trade before reuniting with my family in Brooklyn.
My father died soon after.
Dash and I teamed up to support ma with the meager earnings from our new, not-so-spectacular magic act.
Come one, come all.
Prepare to be mesmerized by - the Houdini brothers.
- Excuse me, sir.
- May I borrow your hat? - Why? Oh, so I can give you back your watch.
You will now give me your hat.
Thank you.
Dash, will you clear the contents of this hat? Pick a card, any card.
Six of spades.
The only thing more devastating than a punch to the gut is an arrow through the heart.
I never even saw it coming.
Bravo! So, this Hungarian Duke made a play for my mom, and my dad challenged the Duke to a duel, right? Bullet went right through the Duke's brain.
Finished.
And my father had to flee for his life, and, uh, you know, that's how our whole family wound up in America.
- It's kind of romantic.
- Yeah.
And then he died.
- Poor man.
- Oh.
Is Harry Houdini your real name? It is now.
- What about you? - Hmm? Are those two girls you sing with Are they really your sisters? No.
We just started performing together this summer.
Yeah? Pick a hand.
No, not that one.
Here, open your palm.
- It's pretty.
- Hmm.
Hmm.
You're gonna have to do better than that if you want to be the greatest magician in the world.
- Oh, yeah? - Mm-hmm.
How about this? Blow on it.
Oh, look at him go.
Bess Rahner, will you marry me? A week later, we tied the knot.
That's swell.
I guess you could say I want to show you something.
Our wedding night was perfectly suited for us.
Harry, what are you doing? - Get in.
- Harry? Get in, get in.
Come on.
Now, crouch down.
Now, look at that.
You're perfect.
I knew it.
Harry.
See, Dash is way too big.
All right, now, watch your head.
Harry.
Ow! - All right, now, lift up the latch.
- What are you doing? - It's right here in the middle.
- Wedding night.
- You find it? - What? Where? It's right here.
Push it.
There you go.
Harry! Are you out of your damn mind? Honey, don't talk like that.
And you don't need to wear so much makeup when you're off stage, do you? You're too cute for that.
You don't need that.
- What about your brother? - He'll understand.
He'll understand.
He knows.
He's too big.
Anyway, you know what I was thinking? We don't even need to change the billing.
The Houdinis.
May I now have my key back? Thank you.
Mrs.
Houdini.
So Bess and I hit the road with our new collection of Eccentric friends.
Hmm.
Look at that.
Now everybody and his brother's doing handcuff escapes.
Including my brother.
There's got to be a better way to make a living.
To really hit it big time, I had to step off the stage into the real world.
Come on, sheriff.
What do you got to lose? I don't lock folks up less'n they break the law.
Yeah, well, maybe you just don't have a whole lot of confidence in your jail.
Huh, sheriff? Run along, Mr.
hoo-ha.
This is a college town.
I pull a stunt like that, all the fraternity boys'll be after me to do the same with them.
I couldn't afford to advertise, so I just used those mavens of mass spectacle, the press, to spread the word.
Not if you tell 'em they have to post bail first.
Here's a hundred dollars, cash on the barrel-head, says you can't hold the incomparable Houdini.
- Quote.
- Harry, that's all we have.
It's a hundred bucks.
It's all yours.
Plus, you get to take a free punch.
I know you're itching.
Come on.
Come on, sheriff.
Make it count.
Like the man says, that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Will wonders never cease? Did you get it? Let me check your pockets.
Sure you want to do this now, sheriff? It's your funeral.
Harry? - For luck.
- Thank you.
Hey, open your mouth.
Ah One more thing.
You don't get out, I keep you here overnight for disturbing the peace.
- Fair enough.
- Let's go, folks.
It was the kiss that was seen across the country.
Oscar Wilde, Cy Young, John Philip Sousa They had nothing on me.
Soon, the papers weren't even calling me an entertainer anymore.
They were calling me something else.
But no matter how big I got, I always knew that my next escape would have to be bigger.
I also knew that along the way someone else was keeping track of all the headlines for me.
Bess and I were on a roll.
But I was still missing one key ingredient to take my act to the next level.
These look impressive.
State of the art.
New York City police are using them.
I hear chief Rohan's got a pair he plans to clamp on you in Chicago.
You're Houdini, right? Look at this.
It's a rounded key.
I've never seen that before.
I made it myself.
- You made it yourself? - In my workshop.
And look.
Hides in a shirt cuff, too, see? Unbelievable.
What else you got? Looks like regular picture wire, totally flexible, but it has teeth.
It's a hacksaw.
You just destroyed your chair.
What's your name, Buster? Jim.
Jim Collins from Macon, Georgia.
That's where I caught your act.
- Right, Georgia.
- You changed my life.
Jim You think you can make an elephant disappear? - Sir? - Can you get me out of a block of ice? I could make you catch a bullet.
Harry, we got a matinee.
Give me time and I'll figure out the elephant.
I'll give you time.
Full-time.
- Deal? - Deal.
Honey, this is Jim.
- Pleasure.
- Amazing.
Dearest ma, next week, I have a big surprise for you.
I wish I could be there when you see it, but, at the moment, I'm a little Tied up.
- Well, I don't know how they do things in Detroit, Mr.
H.
, but here in Chicago, when we lock a man up, we mean him to stay locked up.
Yeah.
Seems like I've heard that speech before, chief.
You boys having fun? Come on.
I'll need some help carrying him.
Yeah, great.
Good shot, fellas.
Good? Now, just to be sure There's this.
Smile for the birdie, fellas.
Well, sir, I believe I'll leave you to your prayers.
Okay.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on.
Let's go.
Move it.
Clear out.
Houdini! Houdini! Dearest ma, we've come a long way from Appleton, Wisconsin.
Welcome to Brooklyn.
This is the home you've always deserved.
Welcome.
What do you think? No, no.
Not with you as the shooter.
Not in a million years.
All right, where is it? Let's see it.
Come on.
Jim had been working on what I had hoped would be my greatest escape yet.
The Chinese water torture cell.
Huh? This was the big time, the stunt that would finally put me over the top.
- Let me try it.
- Now? Boss, you just performed three shows.
You're beat.
Tomorrow.
I'll get the boys.
We'll set it up.
Right now.
All right.
All right, boys, lower him.
All right, take it easy.
Come on.
Lock it in there.
Something's wrong.
- Whoa, whoa.
- Pull him up! Hurry up.
Get him out! Lift him up! Hurry up! It's stuck! Hey! Pull him up! Up! Get him up! Get him up! Come on! Quick! Break the glass.
Break the glass! Look out! Boss! Boss! - Harry?! - Come on! - Harry! - You all right? Fantastic.
Ladies and gentlemen, how long can a man hold his breath? Shall we experiment? On the count of three, try to hold your breath, ladies and gentlemen.
One Two Three.
As you can see, seconds tick by very slowly.
While they do, I shall disrobe.
My ankles will be shackled in a secure set of stocks.
Prepare the stocks.
After being immobilized, I will be immersed headfirst in the Chinese water torture cell.
Captain O'Hare of the Chicago fire department is standing by with an axe in the event something goes wrong.
And let's face it, ladies and gentlemen, there's always that possibility.
Raise it up, boys.
The only way to beat death is to put your life on the line.
But why was I so compelled to beat death? What was I trying to escape? Bring out the screen! One minute! Two minutes.
What's going on? Something's wrong.
Three minutes! You have to help him! 3:15.
Stop it! Captain O'Hare, come on! Get in there.
Hurry, hurry.
Enter.
Do you have it? "Houdini ideal for our purposes.
"Commencing European tour.
Suggest you contact - melville soonest.
" - Hmm.
Houdini speaks German? He's an immigrant, yes.
German-speaking Hungarian Jew.
Mr.
Wilkie, Houdini's the most famous man in America, sure.
He now makes more money than the president.
But when all's said and done, he's just a magician, - not - Well, what more natural cover than a traveling entertainer? God only knows what the Kaiser is planning.
We don't.
It would be advantageous to have someone next to that unpredictable brain of his.
- What else? - Houdini's very devoted to his mother.
Sends her money every week, even when he was broke.
I like a man who looks after his mother.
Contact Melville.
Set it up.
Way before anyone knew it, America had teamed up with England to keep an eye on the emerging threat from Germany, an unexpected eye: Me.
And so, one of the strangest illusions I was ever asked to pull off was something called espionage.
Not a bad fit, since a magician can never reveal his secrets.
I take it you weren't followed, Mr.
Houdini.
I made sure that I wasn't.
As instructed.
"Your country needs you.
Come alone.
" That's very dramatic.
You were recommended to us by John Wilkie.
Never heard of him.
Well, that's as it should be.
He's director of the United States secret service.
I'm sir William Melville, his British counterpart in MI-5.
- How do you do? - Uh, may I have that? Oh, I'm definitely gonna need some of those.
Are you saying you want me to Keep your eyes and ears open, that's all.
Depend on it If war comes, the United States will fight on the British side.
What you learn might help postpone that war.
Maybe prevent it.
Of course, you could never reveal your services, but you would have the satisfaction of knowing that you had served Perhaps even saved Your country.
That's a tall order for a vaudevillian.
I By the by, we took the liberty of revising your passport.
Yeah? What was wrong with my old passport? We made a slight adjustment to your place of birth.
- Appleton, Wisconsin.
- Kaiser bill has only one good arm, as you may already know, but it can reach as far as Budapest.
We thought it prudent to make you, shall we say, uh, all American.
From now on, your place of birth is officially the United States.
You could run for president, sir.
Sir, I-I can't begin to tell you what this means to me.
We'll think of something.
In the meantime, think of me in loco parentis.
A sort of father in residence, no? Where were you? Uh With Jim.
Jim didn't know where you were, either.
Is it a girl? Girl? No.
Honey Where did this come from? Y-you know me better than that.
- Who is she? - There is no "she.
" - Then where were you? - I can't tell you, but I'm sorry.
I wish I could.
I can't.
- You gotta trust me.
- I have trusted you, Harry.
Bess Honey.
Honey Trust me.
Trust me.
When does illusion become a lie? With illusion, I could be somebody Escape from who I really was.
But when did running away become so essential to me? Is that why I was still running? From him? I guess there are some things in life you never escape.
Not long after I left Appleton, I became a sorcerer's apprentice.
What a load of laughs that was.
Come on.
Good, kid.
Very good.
Now, I'm gonna teach you the floating virgin.
The thing about the floating virgin of Arkansas She was a beautiful girl.
She was a pale girl.
But she loved to sleep.
And when she slept, she floated.
Come.
Come Come Float! Float, my sweet little beauty.
Come to me! Come to me now! Look at that kid's face.
Every lesson Every knock across the chops, was a building block towards what I wanted to be.
But was it worth it? You doing all right out here? Be reading about the bullet catch.
Oh, yeah? Think we should put it in the show.
It'd put you back on top.
You're good, kid.
Very good.
But not as good as you think.
Why won't you do it? It's dangerous, as I have reason to know.
That's why people will eat it up.
And who would catch the bullet? Me.
Say another damn word about that bullet catch and I swear, I'll leave you behind in the nearest ditch.
My son He died doing the catch.
Did you load the gun? And pulled the trigger, too.
Blew the back of his head off and his brains with it.
No! My own boy - You're a liar.
- Come again? That story's straight out of Houdin's book.
How he met a traveling magician, Torrini, who'd killed his son doing the bullet catch.
You're a liar.
Your hero, Houdin, was a liar, too.
And by the way, it's "who-Dan," not "how-din.
" Houdin never ran into any magician who killed his son, and that book you treat like the gospel? There's only enough truth in it to make you believe the lies.
Because that's how magic works.
Magicians are liars, and the best magicians are the best liars.
Was the dream I was chasing based on nothing more than lies? I was afraid, terrified of what I might become.
I embraced it anyway.
I became Harry Houdini, accepting that truth was just a story made up from a lie.
It was a hard lesson, but it would serve me well.
My act became the cover story for my spying.
After five sold-out shows in Berlin, the Kaiser requested a private performance.
Very private.
With your majesty's indulgence, I I propose a demonstration of famous German marksmanship.
Would you kindly loan me the use of your most accomplished rifleman in the royal box? You're sure about this, right? What? You're sure, right? I thought you said it was foolproof.
What? I-I said, you said Never mind.
Go.
Go get it.
Your majesty may wish to observe through his opera glasses.
No.
Okay.
Friedrich, oberstleutnant der kaiserlichen armee.
Herr oberstleutnant.
Are you a good shooter, herr oberstleutnant? - Jawohl, mein herr.
- Great.
Hand him the rifle.
I'm sorry it's so old.
It's all we can afford.
Now as you can see, the bull's-eye stands about, oh, shall we say, 35 feet from the shooter? Herr oberstleutnant, do you believe that you can hit the bull's-eye, or shall I move you closer? Child's play, huh? Very well.
Fire when you're ready, lieutenant.
Wonderful shooting, lieutenant.
Wonderful.
I would trust you with my life.
Bravo.
Now, let us reload.
It's quite a production, these old guns.
As you can see, first, take a measure of powder, we pour it down the barrel.
This is followed by a wad of paper, and then the bullet.
Will you inspect the bullet, lieutenant? Thank you, lieutenant.
The bullet is now pressed down with the ramrod, like so.
Does that look all right, lieutenant? Jawohl.
Now one last bit of child's play.
Jim, hand the lieutenant the musket.
Lieutenant, please take aim at the bull's-eye again.
I will now attempt to catch the bullet with my teeth.
I said, I trust you with my life, lieutenant.
Now you have to trust me.
Ready? Fire the gun.
Fire! Fire the gun! Pull the trigger! Pull the trigger.
Pull the trigger! Wunderbar! Is that the bullet? Jawohl.
Thank you.
Excellent shooting, lieutenant.
Excellent shooting.
Thank you, your majesty.
Once you know the secret, most tricks are simple I owe you.
Including this one.
The bullet is now tamped down with a ramrod, like so.
- Does that look all right, lieutenant? - Jawohl.
All it took was a magnet at the end of the ramrod.
Thank you.
Catching bullets in my teeth was one thing, but espionage remained my European mistress, an altogether different kind of escape.
Welcome to Budapest, Mr.
Houdini.
My name is Reilly.
Does your hometown bring back many memories? Remember, you've never been here.
Don't look around.
You're merely conversing with an old friend.
How was Berlin? I understand the Kaiser was impressed.
Yeah, enough to invite me to watch his cavalry maneuvers.
I overheard a few things.
They're building seven new battleships.
They're not ready yet, but they're definitely planning for war.
They call it the Schlieffen plan.
Schlieffen.
Our friend in London will be most interested.
Meantime, he sent you a book.
He knows you love to read.
Russian grammar? "Harry, thought this would come in handy for your upcoming trip to Moscow.
Melville.
" You have a performance? Sort of.
My mother arrives on the afternoon train from Paris.
A trip back to the old country.
How could I possibly explain what I had in mind? Oh, look at this.
Honey.
Sometimes a guy can't even tell his own wife about the plans he has for a new dress.
But ma deserved the best, because the best is what she inspired me to become.
And I was finally given the chance to thank her for it.
What's going on? Queen for a day.
Harry told me people around here thought his mother married beneath her to a failed rabbi.
And she goes along with this? Of course.
To her, Harry is magic.
Like I told you, ma Money for nothing.
Didn't I promise, huh? Didn't I tell you, one day, it'd be gold? Hey, hello, young man.
For you.
Your majesty, it's an honor - to play the palace.
- So kind.
I'd love to see if I could make one of your family's wishes - come true.
- Oh.
Would each of you write a special wish on these slips of paper? I see your majesty has a faberge egg.
It's very beautiful.
Would you mind if I place the wishes inside of it? - Not at all.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
And now, grand Duchess Anastasia.
Will you draw one out and hand it to me? I just realized I can't read Russian.
Would your majesty mind translating for me? I'm afraid you will never be able to grant the wish, Houdini.
Well, let me give it a shot, your majesty? - What does it say? - One of us wishes you would make Kremlin Bells ring again.
Impossible, Houdini.
The Kremlin Bells have not rung - for uh - Hundreds.
Hundreds years.
The ropes are long rotted - and the stairs are falling away.
- Well, if magic were easy, your majesty, every fool would be doing it.
What did he? Uh, I'm sorry, I I don't know the gentlemen name.
Rasputin.
Rasputin says you are full Uh Full of Ah.
I get the general idea.
Well, we'll see.
Grand Duchess Anastasia, come.
Pull the rope.
Pull it again.
Pull the rope.
Pull it.
So even Rasputin, a man obsessed with religion and mysticism, couldn't see through my little Parlor trick.
Will wonders never cease? Huh? Hey, big guy, I bet you'd love to give me a punch, huh? Punch? You know you're itchin'.
One thing I learned a long time ago Never let 'em know what's really going on inside.
Yeah.
Thank you.
After that, I could do no wrong.
We stayed for dinner and they talked their heads off.
The Tsar thinks he's going to war with Japan.
If he does, he'll lose.
Russia lose against little Japan? 'Cause they all take orders from that Rasputin character.
They do whatever he says.
It's crazy.
A mad monk in command? Why? Well, it seems he's got a little magic act of his own: He's the only one who can keep the tear's son from bleeding.
Of course.
The boy's a hemophiliac.
They'd do anything to keep Rasputin happy.
He's not their only problem.
There's Social unrest everywhere.
One of these days, the whole place is gonna explode.
So we hear.
Very good, Harry.
Most instructive.
So, tell me, how did you get the Kremlin Bells to ring? Well, that was the only wish I was ready for.
And now, grand duchess Anastasia, will you take one out and hand it to me? So then I said to her, "I just realized I can't read Russian.
" Uh, would your majesty mind translating for me? It was snowing so hard I was worried Jim wouldn't be able to see the rope.
Pull the rope.
Pull it.
They were convinced I had spiritual powers.
And do you? Yes, I know.
What are your plans? Uh Will you return to the States? Well, not until I figure out something new.
Now everybody's copying my routine.
And my name.
Blondini, Handini, Berlini.
I think you need a new challenge.
The Adelphi Theatre is just a stone's throw from the German embassy.
- So? - So We're reliably informed there's a copy of the Schlieffen plan in the safe in the ambassador's office.
What an extraordinary stroke of luck it would be for us if you managed to lay your hands on it.
You'd have a perfect alibi Handcuffed on stage.
Safe, huh? Which is how I happened to wind up in one.
But not that safe.
It was a different safe.
The one inside the German ambassador's office.
But let me start from the beginning.
Soon after the act started, I wasn't even inside the safe anymore.
Jim had told the audience I had about ten minutes of air.
Audiences go nuts for a ticking clock.
Where is he? He didn't tell me, Mrs.
H.
, but he promised he'd be back in time to finish the show.
Back from where? Uh, I really don't know.
Oh, I can't do this anymore.
This is killing me.
Get him out! Tonight is our tenth anniversary, and I know he's going to forget.
I know it.
Right in here.
Voilá! Oh! Mm-hmm.
- Mm.
- Oh! Get him out! Jim stalled for time like the pro he was.
But we both knew I had to be back for the grand finale.
Mr.
Houdini? Mr.
Houdini! The grand finale that even had a special surprise for Bess.
All I had to do was get out of a safe I'd never been in before.
And there wasn't any air in this one, either.
My brain is the key that sets me free.
My brain is the key that sets me free.
Try to remember the arrangement of locks, gears in a Jarvis safe.
Open it! Joe, bring the tools! Bring the tools! Open up! Get him out! All right.
Finally, that old ambassador remembered where the bedroom was.
Hey.
Got into the German safe.
Literally.
Sorry, I'm late for celebration.
A letter! Crazy! Is that addressed to my wife? Mrs.
Houdini.
Mrs.
Houdini! Mrs.
Houdini! All that time Mrs.
Houdini! Fantastic! What does it say, honey? Read the note, nice and loud.
"Thank you for the ten most wonderful years of my life.
" "Your loving husband, Harry.
" Congratulations.
Happy anniversary, honey.
Happy anniversary.
And she thought I forgot.
Anyway, thanks for sticking around for the grand finale, folks.
Thank you.
Bravo! Aw, that was swell, honey, huh? That was a surprise.
That was all for you.
No.
No, it was not for me.
It's never just for me.
- What? - It's for them.
It's for the act.
It is always for the act - and you and I both know it, Harry.
- No.
What are you trying to prove, Harry? How brave you are? How American you are? I just tell me what it is.
Tell me, what? I don't mean to intrude, but the car's here.
Uh You still going to Lady Butler's? Ugh Honey, I'm sorry.
I know.
It's it's It's in our honor.
- It is in your honor.
- Sweetheart, let's just make an appearance, okay? I promise, 30 minutes, tops.
It's Lady Butler.
That Rasputin character packed quite a wallop.
I tell you, he was a regular John l.
Sullivan.
I could take the punch, but he knocked me out with his vodka breath, you know? - Really? - Yeah.
Ooh, I say.
- Mind if I make myself comfortable? - By all means.
That's the true truth, isn't it? Very likely.
You are very pretty.
Yes, sir.
Some things can hit you in the gut worse than any punch.
I'm sorry, what did you say? Actually, give me a moment.
Hi, Harry.
Oh, Harry.
I'm gonna kill myself.
Well, that's what I'm always saying.
What, is that funny? Is that funny?! Oh, for heaven's sake.
What are you so upset about? You were kissing him.
You were kissing him! No, I wasn't.
- Yes, you were! - No, I was not! And until you looked over, you didn't know where I was at that party and you didn't care.
- So stop being dramatic.
- You're my wife.
You're the wife of the great Houdini! Really? I thought I was just a woman you put in a trunk and took out when you felt like it.
What do you do when you hit rock bottom? You keep digging.
Divine creature See If you can escape.
Would you like me to release you? By this point, I really wasn't up for this.
Shh.
Be right back.
That's when I discovered my next escape.
What is it? I don't know.
A glorious one.
Will wonders never cease? Houdini I don't know how these things work in America, but in London it's considered impolite - Huh? - To keep a lady waiting.
Yeah.
You Where are you? Start without me.
What? Where are you going? - Keep the chains.
- What about the key?! What are you doing here? I had a feeling you'd be leaving.
Get me one of those.
What do you want an airmobile for? You know how it is when you fall in love.
Flying was all I could think of.
This time, Bess's only rival was an airplane And for years, it was our carriage to the world.
Harry! Harry! - Do you trust me? - Shit, Harry! Language, honey, please.
But everything changes.
Even flying lost its novelty.
I was falling back to earth, and on earth, things were changing, too.
But audiences had grown numb to the thrill.
I hadn't played to a sold-out house in quite some time.
But I wasn't finished escaping.
Not quite.
You didn't grease the collar! Sure I did.
Like hell! Your disloyalty cost me ten seconds.
Disloyal? I It's when you do it with the water instead of the milk.
Don't give me that.
Just 'cause there's nobody out there doesn't mean that the ones that are don't deserve the best of the great Houdini.
You're fired.
Again? Vaudeville's in trouble.
Nowadays folks are going to moving pictures.
Ah, movies! If it was a tough escape, the whole movie would be finished by the time I made it.
And the suspense wouldn't be the same.
Maybe you could fill a smaller theater.
"A smaller theater"? Me? Sol, what are you saying? The writing's on the wall, Harry! No! I write the damn writing! There's your new competition.
He's not doing anything.
He's making them laugh.
That's all right.
My audience loves me.
They'll come back.
I just need something new.
What about the elephant? It's not an escape.
It needs to be an escape.
Laugh again and you're fired.
"Smaller theater.
" Please.
Escapes can get smaller, they have to get bigger.
People expect more from the great Houdini.
Not less.
Maybe people are tired of escapes.
Huh? You've done enough of them.
What kind of tobacco is that? Mexican.
- Pepe gave it to me.
- Who? "Pepe"? What? From the band? Smells weird.
Well, he said it would help with my nerves.
He's right.
What the heck is bigger? Play the grand canyon, why don't you? Yeah, get me room 202.
Jim? Bring up some ice.
No.
I mean a lot of ice.
Evening, Mrs.
H.
What the hell is going on in here? - Language, honey, please.
- What are you doing?! - Uh, thanks, Jim.
- You got it, boss.
If I can't bring the folks to the theater, I got to bring the theater to the folks.
What does that mean? Well, movies can outdoors, so can I.
Oh, Christ, Harry.
Harry? - I got to pee.
- Yeah, five more minutes, honey.
It's all yours.
We've been married 19 years.
You can watch me pee.
Yeah, I don't want to watch you pee.
I expected the Mississippi to be cold, but this was ridiculous.
Well, that's that.
Maybe they could cut a hole in the ice.
Harry, no.
Are you kidding? You'd kill yourself.
Well, 12, 15 feet should do it.
Honey, don't worry.
Oh, "honey," my ass.
You want me to stick around to find out if I'm a widow.
You may be crazy, Harry, but I'm not.
Sweetheart, please.
Go to hell, Harry! - 15 feet? - Make it 12.
Honey? It's just a li-little ice.
Put an ad in the paper and tell people you're gonna do something crazy Tuesday at noon, and a thousand people will show up Tuesday at noon.
Throw in a chance of me getting killed - Come on, Harry! - Hi! You have to beat them back with a stick.
It was the wrong moment to start thinking.
If I started to think, I might forget who I was.
The great Houdini.
Is he still down there?