THE SECRET
Isn't it great? - Yes.
How does he do that?
Must be with a trapdoor. - Can't be. It goes too fast for that.
Not so loud. The twins are asleep.
I want to know how he does it? - Geez. As if that's so interesting.
It's an illusion, after all.
What's an illusion?
That you see something, but what you see you don't really see.
So you see something different from what you see in reality.
Or that you think you see.
Get it?
Hey, do you know what time it is?
Maybe his website says how he does it. - I don't think so, Ben.
It's time to go to go to sleep now. Come on.
I want to become a magician. - That's funny.
Do you know I'm quite good at it? Here. Look at this.
This is 10 cents, right?
Watch carefully. A disappearing trick.
Dad?
Dad, you're in the closet.
How do you know that? - Come on out.
I can't...
That door... Ben...
Ben, give me a hand.
Well, we need another door. - I'll fix it myself.
Of course, honey. - I don't understand why it sticks.
It must be the heat. - Or the damp.
Come on. Time to go to sleep. - Or will you renovate some more, Dad?
I still don't get it, because the only thing I did...
Come on, go to bed everyone. To bed. Come on.
Dear Mr. Hans Smid...
...we went to your show and thought it was awesome.
But I'd really like to know what the secret of the disappearing act is.
Could you please e-mail me the answer? Bye, Ben.
Hurry up, Ben!
No liverwurst. It's gross.
Two slices of cheese with mayonnaise or it's too dry.
At your service, madam.
Where are my shoes? - Where you left them.
Is there a school for magicians? - Of course not, weirdo.
Have a nice day, sweetie.
Are you nervous? - Not at all.
Go get them.
Teacher Laura, we made you a drawing. - Thank you. It's beautiful.
This is Sylvie.
She'll be joining us.
She's lived in a lot of different places and she's very nice. Right, Sylvie?
Fine. Your chair is over there.
You're lucky Sylvie, because it's time for another presentation.
Last week Arthur told us about his architect mother.
The week before that, Marlies told us about her famous lawyer father.
And now it's Ben's turn.
Go ahead, Ben.
My father is a forest ranger.
He takes care of the trails.
And the trees. - No, he doesn't!
He's not a forest ranger anymore. - Well, actually...
He was fired. - Martin, Ben just started.
He was fired. He fell out of a tree for three times.
Come on, guys.
My mother told me. - Be quiet, guys.
What a snooty bunch here. Are you like that?
No. - Is it true about your Dad?
I'm good at climbing. - I'm good at magic tricks.
Or at least, I'd like to be. I want to learn it.
Ladies and gentlemen...
And go.
There we go.
And go.
Yes? And now?
That's exactly what I don't know.
That's the secret.
Sylvie!
Come down immediately.
Where's Aunt Coby?
There were some important business relations here.
I wanted to offer them something with their tea.
Quickly, or I'm going to get incredibly angry.
And you are? - Ben.
I'm Mylene Bussemakers.
What were you doing? - Magic tricks.
Funny.
Aunt Coby, where were you. I couldn't find you.
This is the very last time.
Next time, Aunt Coby will be taken straight to the animal shelter.
What do you think of my mother?
Nice.
Bye, Ben.
That huge, white house? - Yes.
Her mother has an important job at a bank. She's an only child.
Her parents are divorced. - I would love that.
What do you mean? - Why don't we live in a big house like that.
Are we going to have pancakes? - You want those every day, but you can't.
She has a real nanny from Romania. - With her own room probably.
Excuse me. Your sweet, caring and handsome father found something out.
Yes?
So I have to teach you magic tricks?
Yes, but I actually want to know the secret of the big disappearing act.
I really don't want speak of 'magic tricks'...
...but of 'illusionism' or 'magic. '
You know what that is, right? - Yes.
Our whole life is filled with illusions.
Some people say that we live in one big illusion.
But not everything can be understood.
There is magic in our life...
...for those who see it.
I've performed with success in all the major cities of the world.
But that's in the past.
Now I spend my time training young talent.
They're all very successful now.
By the way: How did your presentation go?
Fine. Can we afford magic tricks lessons?
Of course. But tell me...
They probably thought it's cool that I'm a forest ranger?
Dad, you're not a forest ranger anymore.
Everyone knows.
And why.
Basje and Betty, dinner.
Again no pancakes. - How about tomorrow?
You know what I'll do? I'll take magic tricks lessons as well.
He said: Young talent. - There is some older young talent.
Hey, we'll become a duo.
I'll do the big tricks and you'll be my assistant.
You can't mean that. I'll be so mortified that I won't be able to bring my friends home.
Do you know what Hans Smid earns in one evening?
I won't make that much at first, but a good magician can find work anywhere.
Will we buy a new house? - Yes.
And will I get a bigger room? - Of course.
And my own bathroom?
We'll start with a simple trick: Making a small object disappear.
Here it is.
Can I be your assistant with those cool dance steps?
I don't think so. You have to be very agile for that.
I've been taking gymnastics for a long time. Come and have a look.
I have a newspaper.
I rip it to pieces.
And I'll put it in this hat. - Is that a hat?
Is it a paper hat?
Hocus pocus water vapor...
...fix this ripped newspaper.
Another trick.
Another trick!
Dear Ben, I'm glad you enjoyed the show.
But I can't tell you the secret behind the big disappearing act.
Magicians never do that.
Come and have another look. You might see how I do it.
With Magical greetings, Hans Smid.
Where are they going to? - I'm going to eat you.
Are you sure you can stay for dinner? - The nanny said it was all right.
Why is she wearing my ballet costume? - To be an assistant.
Do you know that three guys asked me to date them? Very tiresome.
Eat up, guys. It's parent-teacher night.
Hurry up and eat, because she has to meet the parents.
Don't sing during dinner. Don't pay attention to all these silly people, Sylvie.
It must be cool to have divorced parents. - Selma!
With syrup I'll write the initial of the person I want to marry.
That's embarrassing, Dad.
Chips!
Sorry. My mistake.
THIS AFTERNOON: MAGIC SHOW STIKKER & SON
Nervous, Dad? - Nervous? Me? Of course not.
The very idea! I'm Mr. Cool Customer.
You can recognize nervous people, because they talk a lot.
I don't talk a lot. There's hardly a peep out of me.
I'm focusing on the show. I'm getting prepared in peace and quiet.
Concentration is important.
You can't disturb other people's concentration by talking too much.
OK. Are you finally ready?
Come on!
Good afternoon...
...everyone.
Good afternoon, everyone. We are...
...Stikker & Son.
Pay attention, everyone.
Does anyone in the audience have a purse?
Yes, that lady at the back.
Just to be clear: We don't know each other.
Yes! We did it!
They loved it!
We were great, kids. My gosh.
Hello, magicians.
It was kind of wicked. - It was wonderful. I'm so proud of you.
Pose for a picture. - Photo!
One, two, three...
STIKKER & SON MAGIC SHOW
Here it comes.
Very good.
I feel sorry for Sylvie. Her mother never comes to watch the show.
Why not? - Her job keeps her busy.
That's why she earns so much money. - Yes, they have lots of money.
But because of it Sylvie is always by herself.
What about her father? - He's abroad a lot.
And her parents are divorced.
Dad, you guys will never do that, will you?
No, son. Your parents will always stay together.
Really? - Yes.
We need that for our show.
Hello. That's a great trick.
How does it work?
Welcome to the world of the supernatural and the inexplicable true magic.
Right. But how much does it cost?
That much. - It's top-notch magic.
It's one of the best and most secret tricks in the world.
How much? - Never mind. We can't afford it.
Not in ten thousand years. - Are you sure?
Can't he just explain how it works?
They don't do that. It's take it or leave it.
You know what? We'll stay here for a while and watch carefully...
...and then... - Then what?
Then I'll find out. - It's not that easy, you know.
It's the most secret trick in the world. - So what?
If I watch it for five times, I'll get it. - That's impossible.
It's not. - There you go again.
What do you mean? - You're not that handy.
That so? You don't know what I... - You fell out of a tree three times.
You know what? Don't believe it then. Mr. Know-it all.
Go walk around for a bit and we'll see if I can't copy that trick.
Fine.
Thank you.
Ben, will you help? - No.
Oh, chips!
My Dad built a closet, so now he knows.
Is that true? - Yes.
He knows the secret? - So he says, but I don't believe it.
He wants to ask you to participate. - I already am.
With the disappearing act, he means.
Is that your father?
He lives abroad.
Too bad he can't come and watch either.
Just like your mother.
Tell you're father I'm in. - What?
You shouldn't, because he can't do it. - I'll help him.
Why? - He always cheers me up.
STIKKER & SON WITH A SPECTACULAR NEW ACT
What's wrong?
I'm not participating anymore.
Why not?
If you don't tell me what the secret is... - But you said...
Just tell me. - Just participate.
Watch carefully and I'll tell you after the show.
Honest.
Deal?
Come on, Ben. Deal?
There is no show without you, Ben.
Today here. In a month in the big theater.
A few private shows. Next year: International.
Welcome to our dazzling show full of magic and mystery.
It will make your heart beat faster and leave you speechless...
...with amazement and bewilderment.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's time...
...for tonight's, I mean this afternoon's highlight...
...the climax, the crowning touch...
...the final act.
Ladies and gentlemen, Sylvie is now in limbo.
But don't be afraid. Since my frequent trips through the Orient...
...I've managed to crack the secret of limbo.
Watch carefully.
I'll count to three.
One, two...
...three...
You can see that the secrets of the Orient aren't that easy to unveil.
Two... and three.
And four.
Hold on.
And four.
Sylvie!
Have you seen a girl in a ballet costume? - No.
Can we have a cookie? - No.
But there are lots.
Have you seen a girl in a ballet costume? - Pardon?
A girl in a ballet costume. - A broom?
They're asleep. And now?
Have you phoned her mother and the police?
No. - Why not?
I thought: What if she turns up? - What do you mean 'turn up'?
Where is she? - I don't know.
You must know.
In limbo. - Stop it with that nonsense.
How does that trick work? - A real magician never tells...
Koos!
What?
She was going to crawl into the double wall.
Is that it? Is that the secret?
She practiced. She was very good at it. You couldn't tell.
How narrow?
Man, she's skinny. - But she didn't do that. Now what?
Maybe it's magic, after all. That you can't quite understand...
Sure. We'll go see her mother now. We have to.
It's not possible. She's away on business.
How do you know? - Sylvie told me.
She's very strict and gets angry very quickly.
Maybe she won't be allowed to participate anymore, or they'll move again.
We could phone the nanny to say that Sylvie is sleeping over. She won't mind.
If she shows up, her mother will have been worried for nothing.
She'll turn up. Of course.
What diet is she on, to be that skinny? - Stop it, guys.
It will be fine. I'm sure of it.
I'll give you one more day.
What about school?
Sylvie is staying with me.
But she got ill.
My father wrote this note.
Let's see. Machteld, it's your turn.
My father is a brain surgeon, so he's very smart.
She's not here anymore.
Honest.
Had you just bought that trick? - Yes.
Well, in the sense that I didn't pay for it and that you didn't sell it to me...
...but I saw how it worked. - Saw?
That's impossible.
Is it? - It's magic, illusionism.
You have to handle that carefully or it can turn against you.
That double wall. - Which double wall?
What are you talking about?
She's back.
I told you, didn't I? - No, Sylvie's mother.
I just don't know anymore.
The community center, the dressing room.
I don't know where else to look. - Surprise, surprise.
Why are you acting this way? - It isn't the first time you got us into trouble.
I'm getting sick and tired of it. - Don't fight.
Are the pancakes ready yet? - 'Don't fight. ' Why not?
Do we always have to approve of Dad's actions?
Even when he breaks everything, or loses his job, so we might have to move again.
Or he lets innocent girls disappear.
Dad has his good sides too. - Does he? What are they?
Well...
He's nice and he makes you laugh.
I admit he's nice. In fact, he's the sweetest guy in the world.
He makes me laugh too, but now he made a girl disappear.
How do we get her back? Maybe by having a good laugh.
No, that didn't work.
I usually fix things that your father breaks.
But that's complicated in this case.
OK, then. Whatever is necessary.
I'm coming with you.
It's nice of you to come with me.
What's that nanny called? - I don't know.
She's Romanian and she speaks English.
Dad, that's...
So why do you speak English?
Dad, that's... - Let me, Ben.
You no speak Dutch. No understand.
I'm not the nanny.
I'm Mylene Bussemakers.
Fine. How can I help you?
Well...
Sylvie and I are friends.
I know that. But Sylvie is away for a sleep-over.
I just got back from a business trip. - She's not having a sleep-over.
I'm a magician.
I'm actually just an amateur magician.
I'm actually a forest ranger, but I was fi... That's not important.
My wife is a teacher. I'm looking for another... That's not important.
Did Sylvie ever talk about our magic show?
Magic show? Yes, she mentioned it.
So, Ben and I have a magic show and Sylvie is our assistant. She's great.
She's so agile. She puts her leg like... - Hold on.
If she isn't away on a sleep-over, where is she?
Sir...
I'm afraid... - She disappeared.
She's in limbo. - Limbo?
We've only lived here for a while. So where is that?
In a wooden box. An extra space.
A wooden box?
No, it's a magic act.
She was going to disappear and then return again.
The disappearing part worked well.
But she didn't return. - She didn't?
Are you telling me that my kitty-cat just disappeared?
Your... kitty-cat?
We are, in fact, I think.
How did she take it? - Not bad, considering.
She's just going to sue me, go to the police to have me thrown in jail...
...and she wants me to pay for damages. Other than that, not bad. Right, Ben?
Laura, come on. Wait a minute. - I'm sick and tired of it.
It's all your fault. You and your stupid magic tricks.
Maybe they'll get a divorce.
I'm through with it. - It's not easy for me either, you know.
It's your fault. You and your stupid mistakes and bungling.
You've made that clear. OK?
I just don't like your tone.
You must be Ben Stikker. Could you go and get your father?
Hello. Are you Koos Stikker? - Yes.
The magician. - Yes.
The girl in the closet. So it was a trick.
Just a trick.
Can you explain that trick? - No. That's impossible. It's a secret.
But in this case...
Ben, come over here.
I recorded a bit of last night's TV news.
To my astonishment...
...a magic show with a friend and his father. The boy's name is Ben.
Some ridiculous disappearing act...
...where my daughterjust vanished.
Not a trace of her for two days.
While they told me she had gone for a sleep-over.
In a few days it will be Christmas.
It can't be true that I have to spend it without my Sylvie, can it?
A police team is working on this case. Where is Sylvie?
Is she the victim of a crime or a failed magic trick?
Anyone with information...
You said she was ill.
Caught the flu while she was staying with you.
I can't wait to hear your explanation.
He lied. - Don't you have anything to say?
Fine. Go the principal. He'll suspend you.
Don't come back until you can tell us what's going on.
Where are you going?
I've been suspended. - On top of everything else.
We were on the news. Now everyone knows.
Where were you? I've been here a 100 times.
What's going on? I saw the news.
She disappeared, but not between your father's boards.
She vanished into thin air.
She was conjured away.
It's a secret, just like Hans Smid's. You never find that one out too.
What the secret is.
Sometimes you just don't know.
When you overplay your hand as a magician, strange things can happen.
Magic, you know.
What should we do? - I don't know.
But think carefully.
Illusionism means that you think you see something...
...but you actually see something else.
What do you see?
An angry lady. - Look at it from all sides.
Did what you see...
...really happen?
Or did you just think it did?
There he is. That's the son. Stop him.
Where's Sylvie? - Do you have any idea where she is?
Selma, please. Get away from that window.
Since we're on TV, I have to look good. OK?
Where's Dad?
WHO HAS SEEN SYLVIE? NOT A TRACE SINCE MAGIC ACT
It's not coming along. - What are you doing?
I...
I'm sleeping here tonight.
Are you getting a divorce?
I don't know.
Maybe.
Come on, son.
Don't despair.
Somewhere it's always... - Dad.
...a glimmer of... - Dad.
The pump is not attached to the air mattress.
Quiet, dummy.
What are you doing here? - I'd better ask you.
You disappeared. - No, I didn't.
Yes, you did. Everyone is looking for you.
Hold on.
How's Aunt Coby? - Aunt Coby?
We were worried and you're just in your own room.
What happened?
Tell me.
You can't tell anyone. - Just tell me.
Well? - I practiced the trick with your father.
But what he didn't know...
Ladies and gentlemen, Sylvie is now in limbo.
But why? We looked like fools. We searched everywhere for you.
Darn it all to hell. Go up. Hurry.
Climb. Come on.
Come on.
Why, Sylvie?
My mother never came to watch.
Neither did my father. Never.
They never came to gymnastics either.
They never came to anything, actually.
Why not? - Every time I have a performance or show...
...she has to go to a conference or on a trip.
It's always the same story.
She says she has to earn money. Very important.
But your family is always there.
Always.
I thought you didn't mind. - She has to get really scared.
She has to feel what's it like not to have me anymore.
You have to leave. - You have to return.
Come on. Hurry.
You can go down here.
I can't. - Yes, you can.
Climbing is not my family's strong point. - Hurry, or you'll be stuck here.
I'm not as agile as you. - Boys can be agile too, you know.
Go on.
Good. Nice and fast.
Very good.
No one is allowed to know. - Why not?
No one. Promise?
One more thing: Aunt Coby?
HAVE YOU SEEN SYLVIE?
Still no trace of eight-year old Sylvie Bussemakers...
...who disappeared under mysterious circumstances during a magic act.
We managed to get amateur footage made during the magic show.
According to witnesses, it concerned klutzy amateur magician Koos S...
...who hadn't mastered the trick and made a fatal mistake.
The police interviewed him thoroughly to no avail.
Now all the kids in my class know. I'm not going to school tomorrow, Mom.
I want to have another name.
I'm Selma Stikker and I want to be a model.
Or an actress. One or the other.
I'm going crazy with worries.
I don't sleep anymore. I'm doing half of my usual job.
My ex-husband calls me all the time from abroad.
Where's my kitty-cat?
Is this a trick gone wrong, or is there more between heaven and earth?
Almost.
Pull it up.
My sweetheart. - Syl, you have to turn up.
Do you hear me? The police is breathing down our neck.
TV people are camped out in front of our door.
And I think that my parents are getting a divorce.
When my Mom finds out what I did, she'll be furious.
Women! - What?
You should have thought of that before. - You know what she'll do?
Put Aunt Coby in an animal shelter.
Your Mom won't do that. - She will.
When animals can't find a home for a long time, they might kill them.
They won't. - They will.
I can't come back anymore. Never ever, I think.
Hey, guys.
I just walked into her room.
Merry Christmas to you to.
No, they're looking everywhere she might possibly be. School. Friends.
The gymnastics club?
Yes... I went there, but nothing.
Yes, you too. I'll call you.
Do you know where the gymnastics club is? - Pardon?
You don't know where it is, because you've never been there.
Well... - You do want to go and have a look.
But you're afraid, right?
You love Sylvie so much. It's wrong to be afraid.
She might break an arm or a leg.
The magic man too. You're afraid they'll start sawing...
...and something will go wrong, right?
That's why you always lied to Sylvie.
Since when do you speak Dutch?
I still have soup downstairs. If you want some.
It's Christmas, after all.
Great Christmas.
You can have pancakes at Christmas too.
Enjoy your dinner.
...with a house underneath the roots of a big birch.
The house has green shutters.
A pretty path of white stones has been made in front of the door.
And there's a mat in front of the door.
Dad, Mom...
...I...
Another journalist. Don't open the door.
What were you going to say? - That I'm...
Chips! This has to stop!
Get lost. Don't you have anything better to do? Go away.
You try doing a magic trick. See how far you...
...get.
Hello. I'm Hans Smid. Could I come inside?
Inside? You mean here?
No. Yes. Of course.
At Christmas you let in every homeless person who...
Not that you're homeless.
Thank you.
Good evening.
Everyone.
Merry Christmas.
Shall I sit down? - Of course.
Would you like something to drink or eat?
I'm Laura, by the way. - Hans.
These are my children: Selma, Bas, Betty. And this is Ben.
You sent me an e-mail once, right?
I see you on TV all the time.
And I wouldn't mind a drink.
Is it true what the media say about that girl?
If they say it's my fault that she disappeared then that's not right of course.
But if they say that I hadn't mastered my disappearing trick yet...
...and that she's gone because of that...
...then that might remotely possible.
What happened? - What I think Mr. Smid... Hans...
...that there's more between heaven and earth.
And that this is a case of true magic. She ended up in a kind of limbo.
The point is that everywhere I go people talk to me about it:
"Be careful letting girls disappear and stop doing certain tricks. "
When I ask for a volunteer, no one comes forward.
I can't work like this.
My profession is frowned upon right now, Mr. Stikker.
And you're partly to blame.
That girl has to come back. - Of course.
But how? I'm afraid that somehow...
...I have magical powers. - There's no such thing as...
Could I talk to you in private?
Why?
Please.
So... what would you like to tell me?
I might have a solution. - Do you?
That somehow...
...we bring her back. - I'd love that.
What if I help? - That will work.
Would you then tell me the real secret of the disappearing trick?
I'm sorry. A magician never tells his secrets.
If she doesn't return, you might never be able to do that trick again.
So do you know what's going on? Do you know how she disappeared?
Why are you whispering? - To be on the safe side.
It's difficult and a bit dangerous. - Do you want to come back...
...and still be able to keep Aunt Coby? - Yes.
Then this is the only way.
Do you still it would be cool if Mom and Dad got a divorce?
No, actually. - Then you have to do me a favor.
...to be a special guest at my New Year's Eve show.
Kind regards, Hans Smid.
No way. He must be kidding.
Dad, we have to do this. - Why, for heaven's sake?
Maybe we can bring Sylvie back. - No, Ben.
I won't do it. Never again.
Maybe it will work. - I don't believe in it.
No, son. I have to accept it.
I can't do magic tricks.
I'm not even sure I can do anything.
No, Ben. It's not a good idea.
I'm going to run an errand. I might just be able to do that.
Koos! Koos Stikker!
Hello, Koos.
How's it going? - Not so well.
Right. That girl who disappeared. - What a to-do.
It's too bad you can't do that show one more time.
What do you mean? - I've seen it happen before.
Problems that occur on the line between the real and the unreal.
When you get the opportunity to do the same thing one more time...
...you might be in for a surprise.
Do you mean that? - Of course.
It's none of my business, though. I have to go.
Good luck. - Thank you.
Hey Dad, I had to get some milk.
I've been given that performance some more thought and...
...it might not be such a bad idea, after all. - That's weird.
Hey, Ben. Come here.
Yes?
I'm Selma. My father is the crazy magician, to put it that way.
It's a weird story, but someone sent me here.
And it's completely insane. I don't believe it at all.
But the thing is that Sylvie might return.
This is the moment. - The secret!
Usually, nobody, absolutely nobody is allowed to know this.
But because this is an emergency and we're colleagues...
...do I have your word of honor that this stays between us?
Here it goes. I'm over here...
This is what happens...
This one...
...goes here.
Go around it like this.
At that point... Watch.
And she's gone.
That's how it's done.
Now it still has to work with you father.
Is he handy?
I never told you how it came about.
I thought: Forest ranger, a nice profession.
Always outside, in a nice village, fresh air for you guys...
...it came with a house, Mom could get a job as a teacher.
I thought: Perfect.
The first time...
...I just slipped.
The second time...
You can't know everything when it's a new job.
It felt like I was doing something wrong, but I didn't know what.
Three times, Dad. Three times!
The third time I was extra careful.
Extra careful.
Koos!
Strictly speaking, I didn't fall out.
I just didn't see that it had already been chopped into.
Go! You're fired.
It seems a lot easier than it is, you know.
Did you ever climb?
I mean really high, so that you look down and think: Whoa?
Well? - No.
Forest rangers shouldn't fall out of trees.
Dad?
Absolutely nothing can go wrong tonight.
You understand, don't you? - Of course.
The very idea that it could go wrong. It can't fail.
What if it does fail?
What? - Get Sylvie back.
But how can it fail? - Of course not. It won't fail.
How could it fail? I'm there, aren't I?
Dad. I'll help you. Just do exactly as I say.
You have to go on with that show, OK?
When this turns out well, I mean.
But without me.
You might not be that good at climbing trees, or...
...magic tricks and, well, almost everything else...
...but you're good at something else, something very special.
Like what?
You make people laugh.
Is that so? - Almost no one can do that as well.
It's very important. Especially at a magic show.
Do you mean that?
Mom?
No, sweetie. - Why not?
I just can't watch how my husband and son...
...try to get that girl back with idiotic tricks.
Half the country hasn't managed so far. The consequences have been disastrous.
Mom?
Come on.
Dad! - Cameras!
The letter didn't mention that. I'll look like a fool again on TV.
I can just hear it: Did you see that dorky magician on TV?
I'll never get a job again this way. - But Dad...
Stand on your head for all I care: I'm not going to perform.
Darn it all to hell.
Why are we doing this?
Why do we always show up when Dad will look like an idiot?
Why don't we just stay home? - Because he's our Dad. We belong together.
We don't even know for sure he will look like an idiot.
OK. The odds are against him.
But still, the idiot is my father and your husband.
Isn't it cool that he does this? That he dares to?
Can we have chips? - Later.
Excuse me. Did it start already? - Yes.
I mean the magic show. I'm here especially to see Stikker & Son.
I don't think that will go on. - Why not?
Because...
...because... - Maybe Stikker & Son is scared.
In Romania we say...
And that means? - It means something like...
...in short: "When magician is scared, the vanished girl might never come back. "
"His son will feel abandoned and his wife will stay angry at him. "
"While he misses the opportunity to make up for everything. "
"Besides, he doesn't need to be scared. "
That's what it means? - It's been a while since I was in Romania.
I'm going inside. I don't want to miss a thing.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for a much-discussed act.
A father and a son who elevated magic shows into big news.
They brought their own vision to comic magic shows.
She can't make it. It's off.
That's not possible. You have to go on stage. - I can't.
Here they are: The much-talked about Stikker &Son.
Yes.
We can do it.
Come on.
Welcome everyone to our dazzling show on the last day of the year.
It's full of magic and mystery that will make your heart beat faster...
...and leave you speechless with amazement and bewilderment.
Wonderful! They're my students.
Didn't he make that girl disappear? Did he learn that from you too?
It's time for this evening's highlight...
...the crowning touch, the climax...
...the final act.
Ladies and gentlemen, that's why we need a volunteer.
No one?
No one at all? I don't believe it.
The gentleman over there with the blond hair.
Please step onto the stage.
Hello, sir. Thank you for participating.
Could you tell us your name? - Sure. My name is Hans.
Did you say Frans? - Hans.
Nice name. Let me explain what's needed.
Ladies and gentlemen, these two big men will go in here...
...and then will make them disappear.
Weight or length doesn't play a part in this.
They will vanish into thin air.
You probably read in the newspaper that this can be dangerous.
Please be quiet so I can concentrate.
Don't look now.
You see no hidden trapdoors. You see no hidden compartments.
Hand and Dad, may I request...
Wait. I almost forgot something.
One, two, three, four...
And one, two and three and four...
Chips! - Cool.
Well, I never...
Ladies and gentlemen, finally returned from limbo...
...our wonderful assistant Sylvie!
Oh, kitty-cat!
Wonderful!
Mom!
Anything is possible in the world of magic.
Did you find it scary? - You bet I did.
Listen, sweetheart...
...guess who else is here.
Dad! Daddy!
Honey, I wanted to come and have a look for a long time.
Ladies and gentlemen...
...Ben is one of the best young illusionists I've ever seen.
But there's one thing...
...everything comes at a cost, even in the world of magic and mystery.
Ben delivered an amazing feat bringing Sylvie back...
...but it came at a high cost.
His father: Disappeared. - Dad.
Too bad it has to end this way and that on New Year's Eve.
Ben had just discovered the secret of this trick.
And some tricks just don't work.
Maybe Koos Stikker is much happier in limbo than he was with us.
This can't be happening. - Maybe our world didn't suit him...
...and he chose another one.
I propose we hold a minute of silence...
...for the man who was willing to trade places...
...with Sylvie.
Honey, it was difficult at first, but I'm really getting the hang of it now.
So now you know? - What?
The secret.
The secret?
I don't really believe in all their big talk: Limbo and magic.
But I haven't the faintest idea how it does work.
I think there are places where teams try to solve...
...the subject of matter.
They can expect a big investment.
You understand that I can't tell you anything.
But it's a combination of magic, dexterity and illusion.
But then real life is like that too, don't you think?
In Romania we say...
I'd like to leave it at that.
I couldn't care less.
So now you know how it works: Duh! There are more important things like...
I get it. They're just invisible.
Is not. Someone hid them.
Did you think I would just reveal that here?
OK. Watch.
Did you see? It's obvious, isn't it?
As a member of the international magician elite, I can't be expected...
...to give away secrets.
It's a matter of skill, dexterity, persuasion...
...insight into supernatural matters. You name it.
I'm just flapping my lips.
No comment.
Five, four, three, two, one...
Happy New Year!