Original subtitles

BORDEN:

Are you watching closely?

(birds chirping)

CUTTER:

Every magic trick consists

of three parts or acts.

The first part is called

"The Pledge."

The magician shows you

something ordinary--

a deck of cards, a bird, uh...

or-or a man.

(applause)

He shows you this object.

Perhaps he asks you

to inspect it...

to see that it is, indeed,

real-- yeah, unaltered, normal.

But, of course,

it probably isn't.

Oi, where d'you think

you're going?!

I'm part of the bloody

act, you fool!

Ah.

(electricity crackles)

CUTTER:

The second act

is called "The Turn."

(crackling, deep rumbling)

(loud cracks and pops)

CUTTER:

The magician takes

the ordinary something...

...and makes it do

something extraordinary.

Now, you're lookin'

for the secret,

but you won't find it.

Because, of course,

you're not really looking.

You don't really wanna know.

You want to be fooled.

But you wouldn't clap yet,

because making something

disappear isn't enough.

You have to bring it back.

That's why every magic trick

has a third act.

The hardest part.

The part we call

"The Prestige."

(muffled):

Help! Help! Help!

(thumping and muffled yells)

PROSECUTOR:

The Prestige?

And did Robert Angier,

the Great Danton,

your employer,

get to that final part

of his trick that night?

Uh, no, sir.

Something went wrong.

PROSECUTOR:

What went wrong?

I saw someone

making their way below stage.

I followed him.

It was Borden,

watching Mr. Angier drown.

PROSECUTOR:

Wou-Would you please

describe your occupation

to the jury, Mr. Cutter?

I'm an ingenieur.

I-I design illusions

and construct

the apparatus necessary

for performing 'em.

PROSECUTOR:

So, Mr. Cutter,

was this water-filled

tank beneath the stage

part of Mr. Angier's illusion?

No, no. It-It was--

Look, the tank was brought on

for the first trick

and then taken off stage.

Borden must've placed it

under the trap door

after the interval.

How large was this tank?

Oh, it's-it's a normal tank

for escape underwater,

about 400 or 500 gallons.

DEFENDER: How do you

think Mr. Borden

was able to move the tank

under the trap door

without anyone noticing?

He's the magician, ask him.

(everyone laughing)

DEFENDER: I ask again that

this man explain the mechanics

of Mr. Angier's

illusion.

The Real Transported Man

is one of the most sought-after

illusions in this business.

I have the right to sell it on.

If I reveal the method here,

then the trick is worthless!

DEFENDER:

How, then, can we know

that the tank wasn't simply

some part of the trick

that went wrong?

JUDGE:

Mr. Cutter,

I see your predicament,

but Alfred Borden's life

hangs in the balance.

If you were prepared

to disclose the details

to me in private,

I might be able to judge

their relevance to the case.

Might this be

an acceptable compromise?

CAPTAIN:

I'm gonna have to ask you

to turn out

your pockets.

Not my idea, sir.

The warden saw his show

in Manchester last year

where he vanished

into thin air.

He's convinced

he'll try an escape.

(men yelling)

I told him the only the way

that Borden's gonna disappear

is if I leave him out there

with the other inmates.

Check the locks.

Twice.

My name is Owens.

I'm a solicitor.

I represent Lord Caldlow,

an accomplished amateur magician

and historian of magic--

How much?

Lord Caldlow is interested in--

How much for my tricks?

5,000 pounds.

Talk with Fallon, my ingenieur,

money's for 'im.

Yes, I did.

Uh, he offered to sell me

your tricks.

All except the most valuable

one: The Transported Man.

Well, I wouldn't forgive myself

for sellin' my greatest trick.

Even for your daughter?

Now, if the newspapers are right

and you are for the drop,

your daughter is going

to need looking after.

Yeah, Fallon will

take care of her.

(chuckles):

Bernard Fallon?

A man with a past

almost as obscure as your own.

The courts have motioned

that the girl is to be

removed from his care.

No, the girl

will be an orphan.

I know you're no stranger

to the workhouse.

It's better than here?

I'm offering you a way

to wrap up your affairs

with dignity.

And I'm offering your daughter

a future.

As Lord Caldlow's ward,

she will want for nothing. Ever.

Well, think it over.

And Lord Caldlow would like you

to have this.

As a show of good faith.

Thought it might

be of interest.

It's Robert Angier's diary.

Including the time

he spent in Colorado

learning your trick.

He never learned my trick.

Really? On his return from

Colorado, he mounted a version

of The Transported Man

that the papers said

was "better even"

than your original.

If you want Angier's secrets,

you go dig 'im up

and ask him yourself.

I want your secret, Mr. Borden.

Consider your daughter.

ANGIER:

A cipher. An enigma.

(laughs)

ANGIER:

A search.

A search for answers.

Even if Colorado is

the end of my journey,

it'll take much longer

to unravel the rest

of Borden's secrets.

See, the cipher in his notebook

is unlocked by a single word,

but it'll still take months

to translate his writing...

and to know his mind.

Well, my passion is equal

to the task.

(steam whooshing)

(bell clanging)

MAN:

Mr. Angier?

Welcome to

Colorado Springs.

♪ ♪

The whole town has electricity.

Yes, sir.

(sighs)

Well... quite a reception.

You're our first guest

of the season, Mr. Angier.

Your, uh, telegram

didn't indicate

how long you'd be

staying with us.

As long as it takes.

I will need a coach

tomorrow to take me

up the mountain.

Well, the Peak's closed, sir.

For scientific experimentation.

Yes, I know.

That's why I'm here.

Whoa! Whoa!

You'll have to walk the

rest, I'm afraid, sir.

(slow, suspenseful theme plays)

(deep rumbling in distance)

(deep, intermittent

whooshing in distance)

♪ ♪

(electricity sizzles)

(yells)

(door slamming)

MAN:

I'm amazed

how many of you

newspaper writers

can't read my sign!

(Angier panting)

Not the welcome

I was expecting.

I-I know you.

You're the Great Danton.

I saw your show

in London seven times.

You guessed

every object

the audience had

in their pockets.

I'm Alley.

Sorry about the fence.

People keep interfering

with our work.

I've come to see Tesla.

Why?

He made a machine for a...

for a colleague of mine

some time ago.

Can you get me

a meeting with him?

Impossible, I'm afraid.

I've brought a lot of money.

I'm sorry, Mr. Angier.

I simply can't help you.

I'll be staying at the hotel.

Indefinitely.

Hey, what-what am I holding?!

Your watch.

(chuckles)

ANGIER:

Borden's journal entry

for April 3, 1897, describes

a show at the Orpheum Theatre.

That was just... that was days

after he first met me.

BORDEN:

We were two young men

at the start of a great career.

Two young men devoted

to an illusion.

Two young men who never

intended to hurt anyone.

MILTON:

Which of you

brave souls is willing to bind

this lovely young woman?

(overlapping shouts,

laughter and exclamations)

(applause)

(applause dies away)

If you would

tie her wrists.

Bind her feet.

Around the ankle.

Are either of you two

gentlemen sailors?

No.

No.

I'm sure you can both

tie a strong knot.

(drum tapping out

military rhythm)

(hook clicks shut)

(claps twice)

(winch clanking)

(drumbeat stops)

(drumroll)

(gasps and cheers)

BORDEN:

He's complacent,

he's predictable, he's boring!

I mean, Milton has gotten

success, whatever that means,

and now he's scared.

He won't take

any risks at all!

I mean, he's squandering

the goodwill of the audience

with these tired,

second-rate tricks--

They're old

favorites, please.

Favorites?!

Come on, give me

something fresh.

He won't even try

a bloody bullet catch.

A bullet catch is suicide.

All it takes is

some smart-ass volunteer

to put a button in the barrel.

Fine, use a plant.

ANGIER: You can't use

plants for every trick.

Then there'll be

no seats left for the punters.

All right, no bullet catch.

Whatever.

But the point is

that a real magician

tries to invent something new

that other magicians

are gonna scratch

their heads over, you know?

Yeah, and then you sell it

to 'em for a small fortune.

All right.

Eh? I suppose you have such

a trick, Mr. Borden, huh?

Actually, I do.

Ooh!

Would you care

to sell it to me?

No.

No one else could do my trick.

Any trick can be duplicated,

right, Mr. Cutter?

Wrong.

If Mr. Borden has invented

his masterpiece,

might be

only he's prepared to do it.

Milton is a great showman,

but Borden is right,

he won't get

his hands dirty.

If you wanna see what it takes

to make real magic,

go to the Tenley.

There's a Chinaman there,

and he really has what it takes.

Chung Ling Soo.

Tickets are pricey.

I can't afford that.

I know the bloke on the door.

You two go and see that show,

and whichever one

of you can tell me

how he does the goldfish

bowl trick gets a prize.

All right.

Which is?

Ten minutes on stage with

my old friend Mr. Ackerman.

Really?

Who's Ackerman?

The top theatrical

agent in London.

I saw you, uh,

drop the knot again.

I think I turned my wrist.

Some nights,

you just don't get it, do you?

I mean, if that knot slips

and Julia's on the hoist,

she'll break a leg.

It's the wrong knot.

Like I said, the Langford double

will hold tighter.

The Langford double

isn't a wet knot.

It's too dangerous.

If the rope swells up,

she won't be able to slip it!

I can slip

a Langford underwater.

She can slip it,

we can practice.

Hey, Borden, he said no.

Oh, what--?

Yeah, what, you know knots

better than me, do ya?

Listen,

no more mistakes.

All right.

Yeah, do ya?

You wanna take over?

Just leave it.

I didn't think so.

Hey, Cutter,

where's he from?

Where are you from?

He shifts props for

Virgil at the Hall.

Well, aren't you worried

he'll steal your tricks?

He doesn't deal in methods.

And how do you know?

Because I hired him

to find out how Virgil

does the orange trick.

Well, I don't trust him.

He's a natural magician.

(chuckling):

Course you can't trust 'im.

I think he's all right.

Well, you think

everyone's all right.

Yeah, even you.

CUTTER: Angier.

Watch your sightlines.

If I can see you kissing

your wife's leg every night,

so can the blokes at the ends

of row three and four!

(drumroll)

(Asian-style music begins)

(applause)

ANGIER:

You're wrong, it can't be.

BORDEN:

No, it is.

Look at the man.

This is the trick.

This is a performance.

Right here.

This is why no one

can detect his method.

Total devotion

to his art.

Utter self-sacrifice.

You know?

It's the only way to escape...

all this, you know?

(chuckles):

All right.

I can barely lift this thing

and it's not even

filled with water.

Or fish.

Look.

I don't know.

Hang on a second.

(humming)

He must be strong as an ox.

He's been pretending to be

a cripple for years?

Mm. Any time

he's in public.

Any time he goes out.

It's unthinkable.

Borden saw it at once, but...

I couldn't fathom

livin' my whole life

pretending to be someone else.

You are pretending

to be someone else.

I don't think

changing your name compares.

Mm. Not just your name.

It's who you are

and where you're from.

'Cause I promised my family

I wouldn't embarrass them

with my theatrical endeavors.

I thought of a name for you.

Ooh.

The Great Danton.

(chuckles)

Do you like it?

But it's sophisticated.

It's French.

ANGIER:

Borden writes

as if no one but he understood

the true nature of magic.

But what does he know

of self-sacrifice?

(whispering):

You bloody fool.

(applause)

(quiet, suspenseful theme plays)

(gasps from the audience)

He killed it!

What?

What's wrong?

BOY:

He killed it.

Shh. No, he didn't.

See, look,

now he'll bring it back.

See?

No, he killed it.

No, he didn't.

No.

Look. See?

He's all right.

He's fine.

Look at him.

But where's his brother?

(chuckling):

He's a sharp lad, your son.

Oh, he's, uh, he's my nephew.

Ah.

You're the lucky one today.

(birds chirping)

(indistinct voices)

Are you watching closely?

Look closer.

Never show anyone.

They'll beg you and they'll

flatter you for the secret,

but as soon as you give it up

you'll be nothing to 'em.

You understand?

Nothing.

The secret impresses no one.

The trick you use it for

(whispering):

is everything.

Well, uh...

thank you for

lunch, Mr. Borden.

You're welcome.

Alfred. It's Alfred.

Alfred.

So I, um... I could use

a cup of tea.

I'd scandalize the landlord.

I think not.

Right.

You think that's, uh...

is that enough

to keep me out?

I... I think so.

So I'll... I'll...

I'll see you again?

BORDEN:

Milk and sugar?

(laughing)

(slow, ominous theme plays)

What's in there?

Angier's machine.

You built this, Mr. Cutter?

Oh, no, sir.

This wasn't built by a magician.

This was built by a wizard.

A man who can

actually do

what magicians pretend to do.

Tell me, Your Honor,

what happens with these things

after the trial?

Oh, they've been sold

to a Lord Caldlow.

An avid collector, apparently

very interested in the case.

Yeah, well,

d-don't let him take this.

Why ever not?

It's too dangerous.

(scoffs): I'm sure beneath

its bells and whistles,

it's got a simple

and disappointing trick.

Most disappointing

of all, sir.

(door creaks)

It has no trick.

It's real.

(scoffs)

This is the tank

Angier drowned in?

Yes.

This is the, uh...

place where the performer's

hand reaches through

to the trick padlock.

A standard magical

apparatus for escapes?

Yeah, with one important

difference.

This isn't a trick lock.

It's been switched

for a real one.

What a way to kill someone.

They're magicians, Your Honor.

Showmen.

Men who live

by dressing up plain

and sometimes

brutal truths

to amaze, to shock.

Even without

an audience?

There was an audience.

You see, this... this water tank

was of particular significance

to these two men.

Particularly

awful significance.

MILTON:

Which of you brave souls

is willing to bind

this lovely young woman?

(martial drumroll plays)

If you would

tie her wrists.

Bind her feet

around the ankle.

(drumbeat continues)

MILTON: Are either of you

two gentlemen sailors?

No.

(audience chuckling)

I'm sure you can

both tie a strong knot.

(shackles clanking)

(claps twice)

(pulley clacking)

(sharp clang)

(ticking)

(drumroll playing)

(ticking continues)

(gasps and murmurs)

Robert!

(muffled gasp)

(muffled gasp)

(woman screams)

No, no, no. No, no.

(muttering)

Julia! Julia!

Ju...!

(panting)

(rushing water trickling)

(shudders)

(ominous theme plays)

(sputtering)

♪ ♪

CUTTER:

I knew an old sailor once.

He told me he went overboard...

tangled in the sails.

They pulled him out,

but it took him five minutes

to cough.

He said it was like

going home.

What do you want, Borden?

I'm sorry for your loss, Angier.

Which knot did you tie?

I keep asking myself that.

And?

And, uh...

I'm sorry, I-I...

I just don't know.

You don't know?

I'm sorry.

You don't know?!

You don't know?!

Alfred? Oh.

Good news.

We got our first booking

today.

I don't think we've

had the pleasure.

Ah, Mr. Fallon is

my ingenieur.

Where did you get all the...?

Begged, borrowed

and, uh, don't ask.

He's a very enterprising

soul is, uh... is Mr. Fallon.

So, the...

Oh, we-we can't

afford to pay him.

The money will come

when we get the audience.

Yes, but what about

until then?

I mean, what-what I earn,

it's barely enough for-for us.

Don't worry about it. I mean,

I'll share half my food with him

or something.

(chuckles)

You're already going to be

doing that with someone else.

No.

You're pre...?

Uh...

Having a baby.

Oh, my God.

We should have told Fallon.

That is great.

We're havin' a baby.

We're having a baby.

Oh, come here.

(laughing)

Oh...

Alfred, what...

what is this?

That... Oh, this is just

the-the-the-the trick to wake

Ackerman up at

the end of my act.

Is it the...

the masterpiece?

The-The great trick?

No, no, no.

The world...

The world is not ready

for that one yet.

No, this is just your

run-of-the-mill daring,

spectacular bullet catch.

A bullet catch.

Yeah, but it's safe.

I promise.

Look.

Shoot me.

(chuckles):

What? Shoot you?

Go on, shoot me.

(sighs)

Right there.

No, I can't.

No, no, not there!

Shoot me here.

Shh.

Don't...

(shot fires)

Oh!

(panting)

(laughs)

How's that?

It's very good.

Well, tell me how you do it.

No, I can't do that.

Well, then you can't do it.

Alfred...

I can't do it?

I'm sorry, Alfred, but I...I

can't raise a child on my own.

You don't tell anybody

that I told you.

Okay.

Gunpowder.

Wadding.

Then the bullet.

Ramrod.

Hold out your hand.

The bullet is not

even in the gun

when the charge is fired.

Once you know, it's

actually very obvious.

(chuckles)

Well, I mean,

you still get...

It's dangerous.

I mean, people still

get killed doin' that.

Well, how?

Well, you know, I mean,

sometimes you get a smartass.

He can put a penny

or a button or...

I mean, God forbid, Sarah,

somebody could put

a bullet down there.

Don't worry.

Don't worry.

Because I'm not gonna

let anything happen.

Everything's gonna be

all right, because...

I love you

very much.

Say it again.

I love you.

Not today.

What?

Well, on some days

it's not true, and...

today you don't mean it.

Maybe today you're... you're

more in love with magic than me.

I like being able to...

to tell the difference.

It makes the... the days

it is true mean something.

All right.

(indistinct voices)

(audience hooting)

Metal rings,

ladies and gentlemen.

If there are any ladies

or gentlemen here.

Solid metal.

MAN:

Seen that already.

(laughing and heckling)

Get out your gun, mate!

Who threw that?

WOMAN:

I did, down here!

MAN:

You can't catch a bullet?

Get out your gun,

'cause you're gonna need it!

Yeah!

Oh, get off.

Gun!

That's right.

Gun!

Show us the big one.

(crowd booing and hooting)

This is what you

came for, is it? Huh?

(gasping and murmuring)

So...

who wants to volunteer?

(excited shouts)

(clamoring)

These two.

Right there, stop.

(chatter stops)

Are you man enough, sir?

Yes.

Which knot did you tie, Borden?

Which knot did you tie, Borden?

I don't know.

(shot fires, woman screams)

(wailing)

(crowd murmuring)

(wailing continues)

(chortling)

BORDEN:

He came in to demand an answer

and I told him the truth.

That I have fought with myself

over that night.

One half of me swearin' blind

that I tied

a simple slipknot...

the other half convinced that

I'd tied the Langford double.

I can never know for sure.

How can he not know?!

How can he not know?

He must know what he did.

He must.

Sarah, that bloody hurts.

I'm sorry.

I don't understand how

it can be bleeding again.

It's as... It's as bad

as the day it happened.

I have to get a doctor back.

We can't afford

the bloody doctor back.

(baby fussing in distance)

You've woken her.

Great.

I'm sorry. I need this to heal

so I can get back to work.

Alfred, you've got to face

things. What tricks can you

possibly perform with

this kind of injury?

I can still do...

I can do card pulls.

I can do some prop tricks.

I can still do that,

and I can do the trick

that I've been

telling you about.

The one that they're gonna re...

remember me for.

Come on.

(indistinct voices)

(low, indistinct conversation)

Never thought I'd find an answer

at the bottom of a pint glass.

Hasn't stopped you looking.

Heard about a bookin'.

Nice little theater.

Young, up-and-coming

magician.

Who?

You.

You got me a booking?

Why?

I wanna keep on working.

And who's gonna hire

the ingenieur that killed

Julia McCullough

in front of a sellout crowd

at the Orpheum?

Someone who knows

it wasn't your fault.

Someone who knows Alfred Borden

and his repertoire

of exotic knots.

I hear he had a spot of bad luck

catchin' a bullet

south of the river.

That's a dangerous trick,

that one.

We'll have to

whitewash the windows,

confound the more curious

members of the public,

but it will do.

(loud thumps)

Well, we should see

about an assistant.

I've made some arrangements.

Have you settled

on a name?

Yes, I have.

The Great Danton.

It's a bit

old-fashioned,

isn't it?

No, it's sophisticated.

Cutter, the birdcage

can't be our climax.

Everybody knows it.

Not like this, they don't.

Anyway, I don't

wanna kill doves.

Then stay off the stage.

You're a magician,

not a wizard.

You've gotta get

your hands dirty

if you're gonna achieve

the impossible.

(cooing)

In here, Miss Wenscombe.

No point in meeting

Mr. Angier if you don't fit.

On the right.

What's so hard about this?

Nothing, but you're going...

down here.

This... Hold it...

Hold it there.

This has gotta

go around there.

And this will

conceal it?

Yeah, oh, sure.

Right?

Yeah. Now take

that one there.

Yeah.

Okay?

Pin this under.

Mm-hmm.

And this ties up here?

That ties at the front.

Mm, that's good.

(boards creaking)

Breathe as little

as possible.

Mm-hmm.

(dove cooing)

Now, you see?

That'll go.

It'll flatten.

I see. Yeah.

Okay.

She's not experienced...

but she knows

how to present herself.

A pretty assistant is the most

effective form

of misdirection.

Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen,

for my final trick,

I will require the assistance

of two volunteers.

Mr. Merrit,

if you would oblige me?

Yeah.

Go like that.

Bring your hand round.

Under?

Under, yeah.

There.

I put it round its foot.

Hey, careful.

He's all right,

isn't he?

(quiet dramatic theme plays)

You get a volunteer

to put a hand there.

Yeah.

Another one there.

Mr. Merrit,

if you'll place your hands

on either side

of the cage, please.

Thank you, Olivia.

You best not be intendin' to

hurt this animal, Mr. Angier.

Of course not.

You ready?

Mm-hmm.

Right. One...

two...

two...

three.

three.

Go.

(chuckles)

Well, that's bloody

marvelous, Cutter.

Very nice.

And the best part is...

(cooing)

(chuckles)

I thought you said I had

to get my hands dirty.

Well, someday,

perhaps, you will.

I just had to

know that you can.

Very nice, very

nice, indeed.

Thank you, Mr. Merrit.

I, uh... haven't had the

chance to compliment you

on your beautiful

theater yet.

Well, it'll be

a lot more beautiful

when it's full, Mr. Angier.

(chuckles):

Don't worry.

Oh, you all say that.

Why should I worry?

If your tricks don't get

'em in, somebody else's will.

Maybe somebody willing

to do a bullet catch

or a water escape, hmm?

Cheap thrills, Mr. Merrit.

People hoping for an accident,

likely to see one, too.

What would that do

for your business?

(chuckles)

You got a week, John.

Thank you, Mr. Merrit.

(chuckles)

(brisk orchestral music playing)

(applause)

Thank you.

Uh, sir?

In the third row there.

Please stand up and show us

your handkerchief.

(audience giggling)

This isn't mine.

Perhaps you'd be so good

as to return it to the lady

in the aisle of the second row.

I believe she has yours.

(murmuring and applause)

Thank you.

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.

I'm making so many mistakes.

It's fine.

I'm so nervous.

The audience doesn't seem

to be responding much, Cutter.

They've seen a lot of tricks

before, but not this next one.

(dove cooing)

(piano playing classical music

in auditorium)

Put a cloth over.

Uh, fingers crossed.

I'll have the

champagne ready.

(music stops, applause)

(chuckles)

(audience groaning)

Oh, you've seen

this one before?

MAN: We've seen

'em all before, mate!

I'll make it a little harder,

then, shall I?

Two volunteers please,

a lady and a gentleman,

to hold this cage with me.

I'll perform this feat in

a manner never before seen

by yourselves or any other

audience anywhere in the world.

(drumroll begins)

Madam, if you'll place one hand

on the back of the cage,

one hand on the front.

Thank you. Sir, one hand

on the bottom of the cage,

one hand on the top.

(dove cooing)

(drumroll continues)

(snapping, woman screams)

(gasping and murmuring)

(screaming continues)

I should have

spotted him.

You had a lot

of plates going.

I don't suppose they'll

let us do this again.

No.

So what's the climax

of our show?

MERRIT:

Show? You don't have a show.

Mr. Merrit, we have

a week's engagement.

To perform magic,

not butcher birds

and break

my customers' fingers.

Clear out-- anything here

in the morning gets burned.

Mr. Merrit...

It's done, John.

I've hired a comedian.

You know I hate

comedians.

Well, there's, uh, plenty

of good theaters, so...

If we can come up

with a new trick,

change the name

of the act...

The name stays.

Right. Well, then the, uh,

the new trick's gonna have

to be irresistible, then.

I have a couple

of methods to try out,

and then we need a new angle

on the presentation.

Oh, and if you need

some inspiration,

there's a technical exposition

at the Albert Hall

this week.

Engineers, scientists,

you know?

That sort of thing captures

the public's imagination.

(thunder rumbling, rain falling)

(thunder rumbling)

Mind if I join you?

Tesla sends me down here

during the storms.

Perfect excuse to come join

the Great Danton for a drink.

(quiet chuckle)

Two of 'em.

Beautiful, isn't it, huh?

God, I miss

New York, though.

So why are you here?

The lightning

lives here-- and,

uh, not much else.

Our work is secret.

That a cipher?

It's a rotating transposition

that shifts

every day of the diary.

It's simple

but time-consuming to translate,

even when you have

the five-letter keyword.

Which is?

We magicians have

a circle of trust.

You have a circle of trust

with someone whose diary

you stole?

Maybe I bought it.

And you're hoping to find

a great secret in there.

I've already found it.

That's why I'm here.

Tesla built one

for another magician.

But why would you

want the same thing?

Call it a professional rivalry.

Mr. Tesla has built unusual

machines for unusual people...

but he would never

talk about it.

I understand discretion.

I just want the machine.

Finish your drink.

I want to show you something.

I think you'll have a...

special appreciation

for our work.

I thought it was a secret.

(chuckles):

You're a magician--

who's gonna believe you?

Not long now.

Our equipment requires

a great deal of current.

Tesla electrified the whole town

in exchange for using

the generators when we need to.

We do our tests when the

townspeople are asleep.

Mr. Tesla doesn't want

to scare anyone.

(soft electrical buzzing)

Where are the wires?

Exactly.

And where's the generator?

You saw it last week.

That must be ten miles

from here.

15-- and I have to ride

all of them before I get to bed.

I'll send word for you

in a few days, Mr. Angier.

ANGIER:

Magic.

Real magic.

MAN:

Only here

at London's Royal Albert Hall!

One of the miracles of our age!

A technological marvel!

You've never seen anything

like it in your lives!

Your eyes will not believe

what they're witnessing!

The miracle of Nikola Tesla,

ladies and gentlemen!

Free, clean power! Would you

like to know the future, sir?

The man who's speaking

right now is

going to change the world.

Ladies and gentlemen,

come one, come all!

Immediate seating,

no waiting!

(loud electrical crackling,

zapping, buzzing)

(loud crackling,

zapping continue)

Ladies and gentlemen,

(people gasp, shriek)

I'm sorry, but...

objections have been raised

They should be raised!

concerning the safety...

Does that look safe to you?

Part of Thomas Edison's

smear campaign

against Mr. Tesla's superior

alternating current.

MODERATOR:

Mr. Alley, please.

We have asked Mr. Tesla

to reconsider

ALLEY: Which he will not.

his presentation.

(people gasping)

But I've been told

he refuses to appear

under any such restrictions.

MAN:

Clear the hall!

This thing's gonna blow!

Clear the hall!

Ladies and gentlemen, please...

(crackling, zapping continue)

(people gasping)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

BORDEN:

Hey.

(chuckles):

Hello,

Jess!

(groans):

Ah...

Have you had a nice day

with Mummy? Huh?

(Sarah laughs)

Sarah.

I love you.

See? Today it's true.

Yeah.

Hello.

ANGIER:

I saw happiness.

Happiness that

should have been mine.

But I was wrong.

His notebook reveals that

he never had the life

that I envied.

The family life

that he craves one minute,

he rails against the next,

demanding freedom.

His mind...

his mind is a divided one.

His soul is restless.

His wife and child tormented

by his fickle

and contradictory nature.

So, what do you think?

What do you think

you'll call her?

I don't know.

Everybody needs a name.

So what's hers?

Baby Sarah.

That's a lovely name.

That's a lovely name.

Well, you talk about

what you want to do

for the rest of the day.

All right? Go on,

you talk with her.

They're taking her away?

To the workhouse?

Now, you keep talking.

Tell Owens I've reconsidered.

Take it. Go on, take it.

It's for the best.

Let me see.

I'm gonna learn

all the professor's secrets.

Only if I teach you

how to read.

They're just stupid

tricks, right?

Haven't helped you get

out of here, have they?

Or can't you undo

real locks, Professor?

Well, maybe

I'm just biding my time.

Maybe one day I'll, uh...

open my hand,

get your attention, ask,

"Are you watching closely?"

Maybe a magic word or two.

And then I'll be... gone.

(laughing)

How'd you get so

famous, then, eh?

Magic.

(chain clatters)

Oi! Borden, get back here!

(laughter)

(laughing):

Thank you!

Shut up!

Get him down!

Thank you!

(laughter continues)

Who's got a bloody key?!

(deep humming in distance)

ANGIER:

February 8, 1899.

Today, finally a breakthrough.

Tesla's agreed to see me.

(deep mechanical rumbling,

clattering)

It's perfectly safe.

(rumbling, clattering continue)

(electrical zapping)

(zapping continues)

(zapping stops)

So, this is the Great Danton.

Mr. Alley has effused about

your act to me on any number

of occasions.

Hold out other hand.

(footsteps approaching)

What's conducting

the electricity?

Our bodies,

Mr. Angier, are

quite capable of conducting

and, indeed, producing energy.

Have you eaten, Mr. Angier?

(chuckles)

I need something impossible.

You are familiar with the phrase

"Man's reach exceeds his grasp"?

It's a lie.

Man's grasp exceeds his nerve.

Society only tolerates

one change at a time.

The first time I tried

to change the world,

I was hailed as a visionary.

Second time,

I was asked politely to retire.

(chuckles)

So here I am,

enjoying my retirement.

Nothing is impossible,

Mr. Angier.

What you want

is simply expensive.

If I were to build

for you this machine,

you would be presenting

it merely as illusion?

Well, if people actually

believed the things I did

on stage, they wouldn't clap,

they'd scream.

I mean, think of

sawing a woman in half.

Mr. Angier, have you considered

the cost of such a machine?

Price is not an object.

Perhaps not, but have you

considered the cost?

I'm not sure I follow.

Go home.

Forget this thing.

I can recognize

an obsession.

No good will come of it.

Well, hasn't good

come of your obsessions?

Well, at first.

But I have

followed them too long.

I am their slave,

and one day,

they will choose to destroy me.

If you understand an obsession,

then you know

you won't change my mind.

So be it.

Will you build it?

I have already begun

to build it, Mr. Angier.

I hope you enjoy

the mountain air.

This will take some time.

♪ ♪

Uh...

I thought you'd gone.

I don't really have

anywhere to go.

You-you've been

sleeping here?

Yeah, Cutter said it

would be all right

till we get another booking.

What are you doing?

Uh, research.

Part of a m-magician's job

is to-to watch his competition

to see what illusions...

You're going to do

something to that man,

aren't you?

Cutter's hoping that

you'll let things lie.

He says that if

Borden thinks

things are even

between you two...

Even?

My wife for a couple

of his fingers?

He has a family now,

all right?

And he's performing again.

Borden is out there living his

life just as he always intended,

as if nothing had happened.

Now, look at, look at me.

All right? I'm alone,

and no theater

will touch me.

Us.

You're going to need

a better disguise.

(rings clanking together)

(scattered applause)

Need a volunteer.

OLIVIA:

What happened?

Did you hurt him?

(grunts softly)

What happened,

Robert?

You, sir.

Just a rubber

ball, yes?

Thank you.

Just a rubber ball, no.

Not normal.

Not a normal rubber ball.

It's magic.

He had a new trick.

♪ ♪

OLIVIA:

Was it good?

It was the greatest magic trick

I've ever seen.

(scattered applause)

ANGIER:

Did they applaud

when you saw it?

The trick

was too good.

It was too simple.

The audience hardly

had time to see it.

He's a dreadful magician.

No, he's a

wonderful magician.

He's a dreadful

showman.

He doesn't know

how to dress it up,

how to sell

the trick.

Well, how does he do it?

He uses a double.

No, no, no, no.

It's too simple.

This is a complex illusion.

You only say that because

you don't know the method.

It's a double

that comes out at the end.

It's the only way.

I've seen him perform the trick

three times now, Mr. Cutter--

The Prestige is the same man.

No, it's not.

The same man comes out

of that second cabinet,

I promise you.

It's the same man.

He wears padded gloves

to hide his damaged fingers,

but if you look closely,

you can tell.

He doesn't know how to sell

his trick to an audience,

but I do.

Yeah, well, we can use it

as a climax to the show.

Yes.

The man stole my life,

I'm gonna steal his trick.

We've got to find someone

who looks like you on stage.

He doesn't use a double.

Robert, I don't know

how Borden does the trick,

you either...

Aha!

...you either

wait for him to retire

and buy the secret

or you listen to

how I would do it.

And the only way that

I know how to do it

is to find you a

bloody good double.

All right.

Take a good look.

Let's get out there and find me.

BORDEN: Whoo.

(Sarah chuckling)

Look. Look.

(blows softly)

What's that?

That... is for you.

What's this for?

Come here.

What?

(chuckles)

Did you...?

I asked you last week, you

said we couldn't aff...

You caught me

in a wrong mood.

But you went over

all the-the...

Sarah, I'm allowed to change

my mind, aren't I?

The act is taking off, soon

we'll be in a bigger theater,

things will work out.

(laughing)

I can't believe it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It's beautiful.

Gerry?

(gasps)

Darling, look at you.

OLIVIA:

Mr. Cutter, Mr. Angier,

I'd like you

to meet Gerald Root.

Mm.

(whispering)

(Olivia chuckles)

A pleasure. Pleasure to

meet you fine gentlemen.

(sniffs)

Would you like for me to tell

you a little joke? Come here.

Yes! Are you laughing now?!

(chuckles)

(gasps):

Oh, dear.

I have to take a piss.

He's out of his mind.

Of course he is.

He's an out-of-work actor.

He's perfect.

He needs a little help,

but when I get done with him,

he could be your brother.

I don't need him to be my

brother, I need him to be me.

Give me a month.

Go in.

So you open the door...

and...

(chuckling)

(sighs)

Come on.

Ooh!

(chuckling)

Couldn't you have

found a softer one?

Well, it's not

for sleeping on.

So if you come down

through there...

Mm-hmm.

...does Root go

up through there?

Yep.

Hmm.

It's going to be

amazing, Robert.

Well, it has to be.

Borden's trick is

getting noticed.

The place was

packed today.

You went and saw

his show again.

CUTTER:

Ready to meet yourself,

Mr. Angier?

(exhales)

(Root clearing throat)

(chuckling)

All I have to do is keep

myself stinking drunk,

and no one'll be able

to tell the difference.

Have a little faith, sir.

All right.

Now, would you favor us

with a performance, Mr. Root?

(chuckling)

(whispers):

Jesus.

♪ ♪

(clapping)

ROOT:

Yes, you would drink, too,

if you knew the world

half as well as I do.

Did you think you were

unique, Mr. Angier?

I have been Caesar.

I've played Faust.

How difficult could it possibly

be to play the Great Danton?

CUTTER:

You can go back

to being yourself now,

Root, for nothing.

I'd rather be him for now.

I find it, uh, amusing.

(chuckling)

My liege, I did

deny no prisoners.

(laughing):

But...

You look wonderful.

Oh, thank you.

CUTTER: Root has to

keep a low profile.

Anyone sees him,

the game's up.

I don't know how you do

these things, Cutter.

I'm not sure I

want to know.

CUTTER:

Have you thought

what we should

call the trick?

There's no point

being coy.

ANGIER:

Borden calls his trick

The Transported Man...

(applause)

Ladies and gentlemen,

much of what you've

seen tonight may be termed

as illusions or...

(drumroll, cymbal crash)

entertaining trifles.

(applause)

Alas...

(drumroll)

I cannot claim

this next feat as illusion.

Watch carefully.

(drumroll continues)

You'll see no trickery,

for no trickery

is employed.

Merely a technique

familiar to certain citizens

of the Orient

and various holy men

of the Himalayas.

Indeed, many of you

may be familiar

with this technique,

but for those of you who aren't,

do not be alarmed,

what you're about to see

is considered safe.

(cheering and applause)

(laughter)

(applause)

To our achievement.

The manager says he's never

seen a reaction like it.

Well, at least he got to see it.

I spent the ovation

hiding under the stage.

No one cares about the man

who disappears, the man who

goes into the box,

they care about the one

who comes out the other side.

I care about the man in the box.

Thank you.

I don't know.

Maybe...

Maybe we could switch

before the trick.

That way, I could be

The Prestige

and Root ends up below stage.

No, the anticipation

of the trick is everything.

We need your showmanship

to build up the suspense.

Once Root opens

his mouth, it's over.

He can't introduce

this trick.

ROOT:

Of course I can.

I'm the Great Danton.

Root, you bloody fool!

Get out of that

wardrobe and makeup!

Anyone could

walk in here

at any minute!

Congratulations, all.

Life is not full of

these moments, Robbie.

We worked hard.

We need to celebrate

properly.

What's wrong?

Is it your wife?

No. No, it's the trick.

It isn't good enough.

Borden's trick is nothing

compared to ours.

He has no style.

Well, he doesn't spend the

finale hiding under the stage.

I need to know

how he does it.

Why?

So I can do it better.

I need you to go

and work for him.

Work for him?

Are you joking?

You'll be my spy.

We just got our start,

now you want me to leave?

Well, that's

how we advance.

Think of it,

Olivia, think.

We got people excited

by Cutter's version

of the trick,

but imagine

what we could do

with the real illusion.

We'd have the greatest magic

act anyone's ever seen.

He knows I work for you.

Exactly why he'll want to hire

you, he'll want my secret.

Why would he trust me?

Because you're gonna

tell him the truth.

Hmm?

Good girl.

You must be curious to see

what so much money has

bought you, Mr. Angier.

It's fitting

you should be here

for our maiden voyage.

Your hat.

ALLEY: You, uh, you might

want to stand back.

(loud electrical

sizzling and popping)

(loud electrical

sizzling and popping)

I don't understand.

Perhaps it would be,

uh, best

if you left us to it.

Is there a problem, Mr. Tesla?

Yeah, no, no, no, no.

Come back next week, uh...

Next week?

Next week, it'll be fine.

Tesla!

It's just a little

temperamental sometimes.

(door opening and closing)

(birds chirping)

Interesting workshop.

Yeah, we make do.

My name is Olivia Wenscombe...

Yeah, I know

who you are. You here to steal

the rest of my show?

No, I'm here to give your

show what it's missing.

Yeah? What might that be?

Me.

(laughs)

I was just saying that,

wasn't I, Bernard?

Woman's touch.

OLIVIA:

I've left Angier.

All right.

I want a job.

Yeah?

I know you've

no reason to trust me.

Why wouldn't I

trust you?

I mean, you're only

the mistress of my enemy,

why wouldn't I trust you?

Mr. Borden...

Alfred.

I'm going to tell you the truth.

Now, that is a

slippery notion

in our line of work,

isn't it, Miss Wenscombe?

I am here because

he sent me here.

He wants me to come and work

for you and steal your secret.

Well, what does

he need my secret for?

His trick is

top-notch.

He vanishes,

and then he

reappears instantly

on the other side of the

stage-- mute, overweight

and, unless I'm mistaken,

very drunk.

(chuckles)

It's-it's astonishing.

How does he do it?

And-and tell me,

Olivia, does he enjoy

taking his bows under the stage?

No, it's killing him.

He's obsessed with

discovering your methods.

He thinks of nothing else,

he takes no pleasure in our

success, and I've had enough.

There is no future with him.

He sent me here

to steal your secrets,

but I've actually come

to offer you his.

This is the truth...

is it?

Think you'd better

get dressed, sir.

Root, you're late and

more drunk than usual.

Now, get down below

stairs right away.

No.

No, we need to have

a little chat, Mr. Cutter.

We have a problem.

Cutter, Borden's performing

right across the street.

Yeah? We have a bigger problem:

Root.

He's realized

he can make demands.

Wha--? He's blackmailing us?

I was surprised,

to tell you the truth.

It usually takes them

a lot longer

to figure it out.

And how much does he want?

Well, it makes no difference.

We got to stop doing the trick.

Stop the trick?

Cutter, look at this.

Well, look at yesterday's,

look at last week,

where they said you were

the premier stage performer

in London.

Not magician, mind you.

Performer of any kind.

Well, what's your point?

My point is, Robert,

is you've climbed too high

to get away with

professional embarrassment.

We don't do

any tricks

we can't control.

Just pay him whatever

he wants for now.

We keep doing the trick

until Borden opens,

and then we'll phase it out.

All right.

ANGIER:

Cutter was always surprised

how fast Root turned bad.

To what do I owe

the pleasure

of this rather welcome

pint of ale?

You're the Great

Danton, aren't you?

Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.

Of course I am, but don't

advertise it, because

I'll be mobbed with fans.

Oi.

ANGIER:

We paid him enough to keep him

in beers, so you wouldn't

expect him to rock the boat.

Indeed, many of you may be

familiar with this technique,

but for those of you who aren't,

do not be alarmed,

what you're about to see

is considered safe.

And who are you?

I am a humble

admirer and a, uh...

a fellow

practitioner.

Mm.

Very good.

(grunts)

Another?

Oh, if you insist.

Another.

I'm not performing tonight.

But, well, uh, I'm only doing

one show, but to be frank,

my people pretty much

run things these days.

(whispers):

Get up there!

(whispers):

Get up!

Your illusion, The

Transported Man,

I'm not claiming to know

your methods or anything,

BORDEN:

but I had a similar trick

in my act, and, uh,

(whispers):

I used a double.

Uh-huh. I see.

Very good.

Well, it was, and

then it went bad.

What I didn't

count on

was that when I incorporated

this bloke into my act,

he had complete power over me.

Complete power, you say.

(laughter)

(scattered applause)

(laughing)

Whoa!

BORDEN:

Be very careful

giving someone that power

over you.

(chuckles)

Well, thank you.

Um...

Yes, thank you for the warning.

Hmm. Cheers.

(drumroll)

I cannot claim

this next feat as illusion.

What you're about to see

is considered safe.

(screams)

(groaning)

(grunting)

(laughter)

(applause)

(scattered laughter)

(laughter)

(applause)

(melodramatic gasp)

The Great Danton.

(laughter and applause)

I apologize.

There simply is

too much magic for my stage

at the Pantages

across the street.

(applause)

Pardon my intrusion!

(applause)

And go easy on the poor chap!

He does try so very hard!

I don't know how

Borden found him.

Kept him under wraps.

I was careful.

Yeah, well, he did.

Do you think it was her?

You weren't expecting me?

I was expecting you sooner.

Your message said afternoon.

Well, it takes a bit for me

to get around these days.

He's taken everything from me.

My wife,

my career,

now you.

What do you mean?

You sent me to...

I sent you to steal his secret,

not to improve his act.

That's my job.

Or to fall in love with him!

I did everything you asked!

Yes? Yes?

Then how does he do it?

Cutter was right,

he uses a double.

Course Borden said that.

He didn't

say anything.

I've seen things--

makeup, glasses, wigs.

We don't use any of it

for the show,

but I've seen it

hidden backstage.

It's misdirection.

He leaves those things

lying around

to make you think

he's using a double!

All the time?

He doesn't know

when I'm looking.

All the time, Olivia!

That's who he is!

That's what it takes!

He lives his act!

Don't you see?!

Just because

you're sleeping with him

doesn't mean he trusts you.

You think you can see

everything, don't you?

But the Great Danton

is a blind fool!

His notebook.

You stole it?

I borrowed it for tonight.

I thought you could

translate some of it,

but now I know...

I can't.

You can't?

Olivia, no one can.

It's a cipher.

Even with a keyword, it

would take months to decode.

And without the keyword?

Perhaps never.

We'll see.

We will not see.

If I don't get that back to him

by tomorrow morning,

he'll know I took it.

Leave him.

I can't.

He knows where I live.

(chuckling)

This is his

diary, Olivia.

All of his secrets are

right here in my hands.

It won't bring your wife back.

I don't care about my wife,

I care about his secret.

♪ ♪

Look, I'll, um...

I'll go to his workshop

and stage a break-in.

He'll know you took it.

Yes, me.

Not you.

Understand?

Robert.

I have fallen in love with him.

Then I know how hard

this has been for you.

Notebook?

Then he's just getting started.

(applause)

(drumroll)

(cymbal crash)

(electrical sizzling

and popping)

(applause)

(people clamoring)

Good evening.

I, uh...

I'm walking tonight.

Let him come.

I don't care.

MAN: Professor!

WOMAN: Professor!

(people continue clamoring)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(man shouts)

(suspenseful theme plays)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(hammer pounding)

(muffled gunshot, Cutter groans)

You all right?

I'm alive.

Saves me cutting you

an airhole!

I'm impressed.

Why's that?

You're finally getting

your hands dirty.

It's what a good trick

costs, Angier.

Risk.

Sacrifice.

The sacrifice, I'm afraid,

is all gonna be yours,

unless you give me what I want.

Which is?

Your secret.

My secret?

Your method for

The Transported Man.

Fallon wouldn't tell me.

In fact, he doesn't

seem to talk at all.

You have my notebook.

Useless without the keyword.

Write down your method,

Mr. Borden.

Describe it in full.

♪ ♪

I want the whole method,

not the keyword.

I don't even know if your

secret's in your notebook.

The keyword is the method.

Where's my ingenieur?

Alive?!

How fast can you dig?

Fallon!

You hear me?!

Fallon!

ANGIER:

How's the arm?

Still attached.

Did you find your answer?

Our answer, Cutter.

I haven't looked yet.

I wanted you to share this.

I already know

how he does it, Robert.

The same way he always has.

The same way

as we do.

It's just that you-you want

something more.

Well, let's find out then,

shall we?

What does it mean?

(chuckling)

It means, Cutter, we have

a journey ahead of us.

To America.

Robert.

Mm-hmm.

Listen to me.

Obsession is a young man's game.

Oh, come on.

I can't follow you

any further in it.

I can't.

I'm sorry.

Well, then the rest is up to me.

I'm sorry.

BORDEN:

Good evening.

Hello, darling.

(chuckling)

Champagne, your finest.

I didn't know we were

going to be joined for dinner.

Absolutely.

We are celebrating.

SARAH: Miss Wenscombe.

Mr. Fallon.

Well, what are

we celebrating?

Well, we've hit

upon a new trick,

haven't we, Fallon?

What trick, Freddy?

Yes, Freddy, what trick?

I am going to bury myself

alive every night,

and then someone will

come along and dig me up.

Wonderful.

No, I think my husband's

had quite enough.

No, pour the champagne.

Come on,

pour the--

That's right. Sarah,

don't talk to me like that.

I'm not a bloody child.

Perhaps it would be better...

SARAH:

Perhaps if, Mr. Fallon,

you might escort

Miss Wenscombe home.

My husband's being a...

being a bore.

I see no reason why

Oh, please.

the two of you should

Don't ruin this evening.

have to suffer as well.

(chair legs screeching

over floor)

Good night, Mrs. Borden.

Good night, Freddy.

Good night.

Freddy?

Well, that's my name.

Not at home.

Well, I'm not always

at home, am I?

(chuckles)

Well, couldn't you have at least

taken off the... the beard?

Sarah, I just came from

the bloody theater, just now.

All right?

And I'm out in public.

Everybody else loves it.

Why are you being

like this, Alfred?

I had a terrible ordeal today.

I thought that

something very precious...

had been lost to me.

So I just wanted to celebrate.

Just a little.

All right, what?

What did you lose?

I see. More secrets.

Sarah, secrets are my life.

Our life.

No, Alfred, stop.

This isn't you.

Stop performing.

(birds cawing)

Well, I thought I had

the place to myself, Mr. Brent.

Unexpected guests.

Not very polite.

A lot of questions.

First, I thought they might

work for the government.

No?

Worse.

They work for Thomas Edison.

BORDEN:

Today, a most

curious development.

His assistant came to us

with a proposition.

Obviously, Angier has sent her

and told her to admit as much.

Does he enjoy taking his

bows under the stage?

He sent me here

to steal your secrets,

but I've actually

come to offer you his.

This is the truth...

is it?

No, that's what

he told me to tell you.

The truth...

is that I loved him,

and I stood by him,

and he sent me to you

like he would send a stagehand

to pick up his shirts.

I hate him for that.

I can spot

Angier's methods from

the back of the theater.

So, what could you possibly

have to offer me?

You may know how

he does his tricks,

but you can't understand

why no one can see

that yours are better.

You hide this.

I had to look very closely to

spot it when you were performing

The Transported Man,

but this makes you unique.

It shows the audience

you aren't using a double.

You mustn't hide it, you

must display it proudly.

I'm sure it takes great skill

to perform illusions

with one good hand.

Yeah, it does.

So let people know.

You can be so much more than

he is, and I can show you how.

BORDEN: I think

she's telling the truth.

Although we cannot trust her.

But I love her.

I need her.

To open myself

to such a relationship,

to the dangers

of such an affair,

I need assurances of fidelity,

of love.

But how to be sure?

I know a way.

It's the only way

to know her mind.

How could he send you away?

BORDEN: She must help me

rid ourselves of Angier.

BORDEN:

Today, my mistress

proves her truthfulness.

Not to me, you understand.

I've been convinced

since she led me to Root.

Today, Olivia proves

her love for me

to you, Angier.

Yes, Angier.

She gave you this notebook

at my request.

And, yes, "Tesla" is merely

the key to my diary,

not to my trick.

Did you really think

I'd part with my secret

so easily, after so much?

Good-bye, Angier.

May you find solace

for your thwarted ambition

back in your American home.

Tesla!

Tesla!

Alley!

Alley!

Tesla never made the machine

like the one I asked for.

We never

said he had.

But you let me believe

that he had.

You stole my money because

your funding

had been cut off.

You've been...

shooting sparks at my top hat,

laughing at me all along,

while using my money

to stave off ruin!

Now, I have seen Edison's men.

Where?

In the hotel.

And I have every mind

to bring them up here myself.

TESLA: That would be

unwise, Mr. Angier.

It is true that you are

our last

remaining financier.

But we have not

stolen your money.

Sir, my, uh, my cat.

When I told you

I could make your machine,

I spoke a simple truth.

Then why isn't

the machine working?

Because exact science,

Mr. Angier,

is not an exact science.

The machine simply does not

operate as expected.

It requires further examination.

So where did my top hat go?

Nowhere.

We tried the damn thing

a dozen times.

The hat went nowhere.

We need to try

a different material.

It may provoke

a different result.

(cat meows)

Copernicus, come on.

You are responsible

for whatever happens

to this animal,

Doctor.

(cat meows)

(electrical sizzling

and popping)

(exhales)

Well, I hope that whatever

you were really doing with

my money was more worthwhile,

Mr. Tesla.

(cat meows)

(cat meows)

(cat yowls)

(cat yowling)

(hissing)

(meows)

(quiet, suspenseful theme plays)

Alley!

So the machine was working.

ALLEY: I never bothered

to check the calibration

'cause the hat never moved.

These things never quite work as

you expect them to, Mr. Angier.

That's one of the principal

beauties of science.

I'll need a

couple of weeks

to iron out the problems

with the machine.

We'll send word

when it's ready.

Don't forget your hat.

Well, which one is mine?

They're all your hat,

Mr. Angier.

(footsteps running)

Mm.

You look so pretty in

this new dress of yours.

Are we going to the zoo

this afternoon, Daddy?

No, no, no, no, no, remember,

Daddy has some errands to run.

But you promised.

I promised, did I?

Then go to the

zoo we shall.

So Daddy will go

run his errands,

and I'll be back before you know

it, so you go get ready.

We'll go see

those chimpanzees.

(imitates

chimpanzee)

Sarah.

What are you doing?

We each of us have our vices.

Sarah, whatever

you may think...

your only competition for my

affections is our little girl.

I love you.

I will always love you

and you alone.

You mean it today.

Absolutely.

Which makes it so much

harder when you don't.

Is that more shopping?

She does love the smell

of money, doesn't she?

Uh, the little lady

wants to go to the zoo,

so I thought you could take her.

Yeah?

I mean, I can do it

tomorrow, if not.

And, uh, Sarah...

she knows.

Uh, she, I mean,

at least she knows

that something's

not right, so...

if you can just do whatever

you can to help me with her.

Talk to her.

Just convince her that...

I do love her.

What is it, Freddy?

Just don't call me that, please.

It's nothing.

It's just, you know,

there's sometimes,

sometimes it seems wrong.

I've told you before, when

you're with me, you're with me.

Leave your family at

home where they belong.

I'm trying.

I'm trying, Olivia.

I'll get dressed.

Yeah.

I saw Fallon hanging

around again.

There's something about

that man I don't trust.

You trust me?

Then trust Fallon.

He protects the things

that I care about.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

We're sorry to see

you go, Mr. Angier.

We were sorry to see

Mr. Tesla leave, as well.

He was very good to

Colorado Springs.

Mr. Angier...

I didn't think it was necessary

to tell Edison's men

about the box.

What box?

(suspenseful theme plays)

TESLA:

I apologize for leaving

without saying good-bye.

But I seem to have outstayed

my welcome in Colorado.

The truly extraordinary

is not permitted

in science and industry.

Perhaps you'll find

more luck in your field,

where people are happy

to be mystified.

You will find what you are

looking for in this box.

Alley has written you

a thorough set of instructions.

I add only one suggestion

on using the machine:

Destroy it.

Drop it to the bottom

of the deepest ocean.

Such a thing will

bring you only misery.

ANGIER:

Tesla's warning is as unheeded

as he knew it would be.

Today, I tested the machine,

taking precautions in case

Tesla hadn't ironed out

the kinks in its operation.

I mean, if it went wrong,

I would not want to live

like that for long.

(electrical sizzling

and popping)

(electrical sizzling

and popping)

ANGIER:

But here at The Turn,

I must leave you, Borden.

Yes, you.

Sitting there in your cell,

reading my diary,

awaiting your death...

for my murder.

Angier's journal, that gesture

of good faith, that's a fake.

I assure you it's not.

The provenance of the journal

is clear and under no doubt.

And it's written

in Angier's own hand,

of which we had

numerous examples.

It don't matter.

So... my tricks.

All of 'em.

Including The Transported Man?

Oh, well...

(chuckles)

uh, Lord Caldlow will be

very pleased indeed.

No, he won't.

'Cause they're not complete.

It's just The Pledge

and The Turn for each.

Well, without The Prestige

for these tricks...

these are worthless.

Yeah.

You get the rest of it

when you bring my daughter here.

I want to say good-bye.

BORDEN: Do we have

to go through it now?

SARAH: Do you listen?

We have to go through it now.

Now, listen to me!

Deny it all you want!

Olivia means nothing.

Olivia?!

I need an assistant.

I can't not have an assistant.

No, I'll go to her!

I'll tell her I know what you...

You'll tell her what?

I know what

you really are, Alfred.

I...

I know and I...

Sarah, Sarah.

I can't keep it in.

Sarah, you can't talk like this.

Sarah, shut up.

I can't anymore. No, no.

Sarah, shut up! I don't want

(from distance):

to hear it anymore!

You can't talk like this!

SARAH: And you can't

hide it anymore,

because I know, Alfred, I know.

I know what you really are!

Alfred, I...

I can't live like this.

Oh, well, you think

I can live like this?!

You think I bloody enjoy

living like this?!

SARAH:

Stop it and listen!

BORDEN: No! We have

this beautiful house,

lovely little girl,

we're married!

What is so wrong

with your life, Sarah?

Alfred, I can't live like this!

Well, what do you want from me?

I...

I want...

I want you to be

honest with me.

No tricks.

No... lies.

And no secrets.

(whispers):

Do you...

Do you love me?

Not today.

No.

(birds chirping)

(birds chirping)

(quiet, melancholy

theme playing)

(clank, birds shrieking)

♪ ♪

(birds chirping, screeching)

(low, indistinct chatter)

(chatter continues)

(seagulls calling)

(banner fluttering)

(pigeons cooing,

wings fluttering)

(quiet, somber theme plays)

Who's there?

I'm looking for an old friend.

I heard about

a booking.

Nice little theater.

Good up-and-coming magician.

You're back.

It's good to see you, John.

Good rehearsal space.

Blind stagehands--

I like it.

You always had

a good eye for publicity.

I need your

help, John.

It's my last show.

A limited engagement.

Your last show?

A wise man once told me

obsession

was a young man's game.

I'm almost done.

There's one thing left.

The Real Transported Man.

You wanna design

a show round it.

Yeah, I don't

want you backstage.

I need you front of house,

managing.

I need you to

call in any favors

or connections

you have left

to get us the right booking

for the run.

What sort of booking you after?

The sort

that Borden can't ignore.

Oh. What an honor it is

to see you again, sir.

You told me you only wanted

to show me one trick.

It piqued

my interest.

Well, it's a-- it's a very

clever trick, Mr. Ackerman.

Pleased to meet you,

Mr. Ackerman.

Likewise, I'm sure.

Well, let's get on, shall we?

ANGIER:

Turn it on, gentlemen.

Very pretty.

That's it, Cutter?

He simply disappears?

That's not a trick.

Well, he has to come back.

There has to be a--

ANGIER: A Prestige?

Exactly.

Pardon me.

It's very rare to see...

(exhales nervously)

real magic.

Yes, it's-it's been many years

since I've seen--

Are you interested

in helping us?

Yes.

But you'll have

to dress it up a little.

Disguise it.

Give them enough reason

to doubt it.

You haven't spoken about

her, Freddy. Not once.

Why would I talk...

about her to you? Hmm?

Because she was a

part of your life.

And now she's gone.

You know, the day

before she killed herself,

she said she wanted to meet me.

That she had something

to tell me about you.

I was such a coward,

I couldn't bring myself

to face her.

But... what would she have said?

You wanna know

the truth about me?

Truth is that...

I never loved Sarah.

I never loved her.

You married her.

Yes.

You had a child with her.

Yes. Part of me.

Part of me did, but...

the other part didn't.

The part that found you.

The part that's

sittin' here right now.

I love you.

No, Olivia, I love you.

That's the truth.

That is the truth that matters.

You could be

in some other restaurant

with some other woman right now,

talking about me that way.

(whispering):

No.

Yes.

It's... inhuman to be so cold.

He's back.

After two years.

He's got a new trick.

They're saying it's

the best London's ever seen.

(chuckles): You should see the

look on your face, Professor.

You should go to him.

You two deserve each other.

MERRIT:

But I'm afraid I'm booked.

The Moscow Ballet-- they'll

be playing through next year.

Then get rid of them.

There'll be

a hundred performances.

No more, no less.

Five performances a week.

No matinees.

(paper rustles)

And that's what you'll be

charging for each ticket.

Good day.

(applause)

(footsteps on stage)

Ladies and gentlemen,

my first trick of the evening

is one that involves

considerable risk.

Anyone in the audience

who would be irrevocably damaged

by seeing a man drown

should leave now.

For when I tell you

the young lady

who taught me this illusion

actually died performing it,

you will understand

the seriousness

of the dangers involved.

Let's begin.

(applause)

In my travels,

I have seen the future...

and it is

a strange future indeed.

The world, ladies and gentlemen,

is on the brink of new

and terrifying possibilities.

(taps cane on stage)

(slow, suspenseful theme plays)

(applause swells)

What you're about to witness...

is not magic...

it is purely science.

I would like to invite you

to come up on stage now,

so that you can examine

the machine for yourselves.

♪ ♪

(electricity snaps and crackles)

(crackling and sizzling)

(electricity whooshes and stops)

(footstep taps)

(audience exclaims and murmurs)

Man's reach

exceeds his imagination.

MAN:

Bravo!

(crowd cheers and whistles)

Bravo. Bravo.

One hundred performances.

Why?

Does his method dictate that?

Is it a publicity move?

What is it?

He's a no-talent magician

and they're callin' him

the bloody best in England. Why?

50 yards in a second.

In a second!

And all that we know

is he uses a trap door.

Ah, brilliant.

What is goin' on

under that stage?

Huh?!

Why can't you outthink him?

(quiet, ominous theme playing)

BORDEN:

They do this every night

after each performance, yeah?

(sighs)

(cart creaking)

♪ ♪

BORDEN:

Huh.

(birds chirping)

We're done.

(crumpling paper)

All right?

Let 'im have his trick.

I don't need...

I don't need his secret.

So...

don't go back there.

You leave 'im alone.

Both of us,

just leave 'im alone.

We're done.

ANGIER:

I told you, John,

I don't want you backstage

on this one.

ANGIER: I would like to invite

you to come up on stage now,

so that you can examine

the machine for yourselves.

(quiet, ominous theme playing)

♪ ♪

Here, where do you

think you're goin'?

I'm part of the

bloody act, you fool.

(electricity crackling)

Who was that?

(machinery whirring)

(electricity crackling)

(machinery whirring)

(intense crackling)

(electricity whooshes and stops)

(gurgling)

(muffled):

Help!

Hey!

Where's the bloody key?!

Where's the bloody key?!

(distant yelling)

Where's the bloody key?!

He's bloody drowning!

Hold on!

(yells)

What've you done?!

(sheet rustles)

JUDGE:

Alfred Borden,

you have been found guilty

of the murder of Robert Angier.

You will be hanged by the neck

until dead.

May the Lord

have mercy on your soul.

Mr. Cutter?

Owens.

Oh. Thank you for

coming, Mr. Owens.

It has fallen to me to dispose

of Mr. Angier's equipment.

But I noticed

from this manifest

that Lord Caldlow has purchased

the bulk of the items.

Mr. Cutter, if you

needed to know

where to deliver

these items, surely--

No, no. It-It-It's just

there is one particular item.

Uh, this, uh, item, in fact...

that I would

like to, uh--

You would like to...?

Bu-Buy.

Buy yourself.

Yeah, I suppose so.

This is the machine?

Yes.

Yeah, well, I'm afraid

Lord Caldlow was adamant

about purchasing

this particular item.

Do you think I could talk

to Lord Caldlow in person?

Out of the question,

I'm afraid.

Of course, I suppose

if, in the course

of your delivery arrangements,

your paths were to cross...

...I can't stop you

speaking your mind.

Thank you.

(clanking, door creaking)

Still here, Borden?

For now.

Got a visitor.

Lord Caldlow.

With a little girl.

Jess?

(chuckling):

Hello, my love.

How are you?

I've missed

you so much.

Fallon's missed you, too.

We both have.

Daddy, can I come in there?

Not right now.

Not right now, darlin'.

No, but everythin'

is gonna be all right.

You must be Lord Caldlow.

Call-dlow.

Yes, I am.

I always have been.

They flatter you

with all those chains, Alfred.

Don't they know

you can't escape

without your little

rubber ball?

I pulled you out.

Out of that tank.

You know,

all I wanted to do

was prove that I was

a better magician,

but you couldn't leave me alone.

I don't know what you've done...

...but you're not afraid

to get your hands dirty

anymore, are ya?

No, not anymore.

And I win.

'Cause no one cares

about the man in the box,

the man who disappears.

You win?

This ain't a bloody competition

anymore, Angier.

This is my little girl's life.

And don't you dare

put her in the middle of this.

Oh, I know

how hard it is to have someone

so special taken away from you,

don't I, Borden?

And you can't take her

with you, now, can you?

Oh, she'll be looked after.

Good-bye, Professor.

Come on, darling.

BORDEN: No, no, no, no.

Stop!

Come on, darling.

Stop, stop, stop! Look!

Here.

That's what you're after.

That's what this is about.

Take it.

Your secret?

Yeah.

You always were

the better magician.

We both know that.

But whatever your secret was,

I mean, you have to agree--

(chuckling):

mine is better.

Don't do this.

Don't do this, Angier, no!

Jess, Jess, Jess.

Jess... I'm gonna take you

home soon, I promise.

For God's sake.

I promise. Look.

(whispering):

I promise.

I love you, Jess.

I love you.

ANGIER:

Come on.

Come on.

I love you.

I love you, Jess.

Angier.

Angier!

What, you think

this place can hold me?!

Angier!

They're gonna

bloody hang me!

They're gonna bloody hang me!

You can put a stop to this now!

Listen! Listen! That man--

Just shut up,

Professor.

Listen, that man is the one

I'm meant to have killed.

Keep it down!

You dumb bastard, listen to me!

Keep it quiet!

Do not touch me!

If he's alive,

I'm not guilty!

Guards!

I'm not guilty!

I don't care!

Angier!

Get hold of 'im!

Good-bye, Professor.

Angier!

(birds chirping)

Run along now.

Sir?

Mm-hmm.

There's

a gentleman waiting.

Dear God.

Hello, Cutter.

You're s... You're still alive.

How is it you're

still alive, Robert?

I saw you on a slab,

for God's sake.

Go on, child.

Good night, sir.

Good night, Jess.

I've seen her before.

I saw her in court with...

Fallon.

(whispers):

What have you done?

Well, she needs looking after.

She needs her father.

You're letting him hang,

and I helped you.

I came here to beg

Lord Caldlow

to let me destroy

that machine.

I am not gonna beg you

for anything.

You don't have to.

I'm gonna make sure that machine

is never used again.

Then, Lord Caldlow...

where do you want me

to deliver it?

My theater. It belongs

with The Prestige materials.

John. I tried

not to involve you.

So... (chuckles)

We go alone now...

both of us.

Only I don't have

as far to go as you.

(scoffs, chuckles)

(key turning)

Don't.

You were right. I should have

left him to his damned trick.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry for a lot of things.

I'm sorry about Sarah.

I didn't mean to hurt her.

I didn't.

You go live your life

in full now, all right?

You live for both of us.

Good-bye.

(slow, somber theme playing)

♪ ♪

(heavy doors creaking)

(chains rattling)

(whispering):

Are you watching closely?

(door creaks open)

(gears clicking)

(suspenseful theme plays)

Put it down the end.

(chamber clattering)

(wheels rattling)

(chains jangling)

Take a minute to consider

your achievement.

I once told you about a sailor

who described drowning to me.

Yes, he said

it was like going home.

I was lying.

He said... it was agony.

(suspenseful theme plays)

♪ ♪

WARDEN:

Alfred Borden,

this day,

in the name of the king

and the high court of England,

you will meet your end.

(whispering): No one cares

about the man in the box.

(rustling)

Cutter?

Cutter?!

WARDEN:

Do you have anything to say?

(whispering):

Abracadabra.

(trapdoor thuds)

(ball bounces lightly)

(gunshot echoes)

(gasping)

(groans)

(Angier gasping, groaning)

(whispering):

A brother. A twin.

(whispering):

You... were Fallon...

(stammers)... the whole time.

No. We were both Fallon.

And we were both Borden.

(panting)

Were you... Were you the one

who went into the box

or the one who came back out?

We took turns.

The trick is

where we would swap.

(knocking)

(panting)

Cutter knew. Cutter knew.

But I told him

it was too simple, too easy.

No.

(knock)

Simple maybe, but not easy.

There's nothin' easy

about two men sharin' one life.

(screaming)

I don't understand how

it can be bleeding again.

(whispering): Well, what...

What about Olivia?

And your... And your wife?

We each loved one of them.

I loved Sarah.

He loved Olivia.

We each had

half of a full life...

really, which was enough for

us. Just.

But not for them.

See, sacrifice, Robert,

that's the price

of a good trick.

(Angier gasps)

But you wouldn't know anything

about that, would you?

(pants, chuckles softly)

(whispering): I-I've m...

I've made sacrifices.

No.

Yes... (gasps)

It takes nothin' to steal

another man's work.

(whispering):

It takes everything.

(electrical humming,

crackling)

(ominous chords playing)

No. No, no, wait!

I'm the...!

(gunshot echoes)

It took courage... (gasps)

Mm... It took courage to climb

into that machine

ev-every night...

not knowing...

if I'd be the man

in the box...

or in The Prestige.

Do you wanna-wanna see...

what it cost me?

You didn't see where you are,

did you?

Look. Look.

(whispering):

I don't care.

You went halfway

around the world.

You spent a fortune.

You did terrible things.

Really terrible things, Robert.

And all for nothing.

(whispering):

For-For nothing?

(whispering):

Yeah.

(panting)

You never understood...

why we did this?

(scoffs)

The audience knows the truth.

The world is simple.

It's miserable.

So... (inhales)

Solid all the way through.

But if you could fool them,

even for a second...

then you could make them wonder.

And then you....

then you got to see something

very special.

(panting)

You really don't know?

(gasping)

It was the...

(whispering):

It was the look on their faces.

(gasping)

(quiet moan)

(exhales)

(glass shatters)

(flames crackling)

CUTTER:

Every magic trick consists

of three parts or acts.

The first part is called

The Pledge.

The magician shows

you something ordinary.

The second act is called

The Turn.

The magician takes

the ordinary something

and makes it into something

extraordinary.

But you wouldn't clap yet,

because making something

disappear isn't enough.

You have to bring it back.

Hey!

(noble orchestral theme

crescendos, then quiets)

(flames crackling)

CUTTER:

Now you're looking

for the secret.

But you won't find it

because, of course,

you're not really looking.

You don't really want

to work it out.

You want to be... fooled.

(musical theme ends abruptly,

exotic pop beat begins)

♪ A self-fulfilling prophecy ♪

♪ Of endless possibility ♪

♪ Your warning rings

across the street ♪

♪ In algebra, in algebra ♪

♪ The fences

that you cannot climb ♪

♪ The sentences

that do not rhyme ♪

♪ In all

that you can ever change ♪

♪ The one you're looking for ♪

♪ It gets you down ♪

♪ It gets you down ♪

♪ There's no spark ♪

♪ No light in the dark ♪

♪ It gets you down ♪

♪ It gets you down ♪

♪ You travel far ♪

♪ What have you found? ♪

♪ That there's no time ♪

♪ There's no time ♪

♪ To analyse ♪

♪ To think things through ♪

♪ To make sense ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Like candles in the city ♪

♪ You'll never look so pretty ♪

♪ While power cuts

and blackouts ♪

♪ Sleeping like babies ♪

♪ It gets you down ♪

♪ It gets you down ♪

♪ You're just playing a part ♪

♪ You're just playing

a part ♪

♪ You're playing a part ♪

♪ Playing a part ♪

♪ Oh, there's no time ♪

♪ There's no time ♪

♪ To analyse ♪

♪ Analyse ♪

♪ Analyse ♪

♪ Analyse ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Ah... Ah ♪

♪ Ahh... ♪

♪ Uh-ahh-ahh ♪

♪ Oh... ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Hmm ♪

♪ Ooh-ooh ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh. ♪

♪ ♪

(song ends)

(foreboding, melancholy

theme plays)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(music ends)