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! - 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 15 years later...
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.
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 you ever 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...
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!
- 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!
Maybe look on that side!
Over here!
Whoa. Whoa.