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Henry's got to be
down here somewhere.
Get me out of here.
Hey, wait.
You're never going
to get away with it.
Wait, do you hear that?
Help, help, can
anyone hear me?
Henry? Henry, where are you?
Help, HELP!
That's him, that's
Henry's voice.
Wait, wait, wait.
What's on the other
side of this wall?
Help, help me.
Uh, it's got to
be the doom rooms.
This way, this way.
[grunting, struggle]
It's the iron maiden.
We have to get
him out of there!
No, no, no don't touch it.
It's too dangerous.
Hey Henry, want a seedling?
Thanks.
Ah, cool can I get one too?
Okay.
Hey, you gotta check
out the anime table.
They're handing out free Manga.
Who has time to eat?
What's up Griffith?
Hi.
This place is busier
than a Bangkok Bazaar.
No, Manga's not
a food it's a
Hey Henry.
Hi.
Nevermind.
Hey, how'd you get
all this free swag?
Well, I guess everybody wants
me to join their clubs.
Speaking of, which one
are you going to join?
Oh no, I'm all clubbed up.
I just popped by
for the freebs.
But you hate your clubs.
Hi Henry.
Hi.
I know.
You complain about
them all the time.
I know, so what?
Hi Henry, want a free drive.
Um, sure but I really
don't mind paying for gas.
If you need a little help
Linux lab I can do it
any day or night.
Anyway.
Henry was just telling me I
should be joining a club just
for the mere pleasure of it.
Huh.
Now, I realize that in a
while most of your decisions
were driven be your instincts
to, say, find fresh meat but
here in the urban jungle we
use a little thing called
cost benefit analysis.
Help.
Well the time Jasper
wastes on club activities
out-weigh how good it looks
on his college apps.
What if the benefit is
just about having fun?
Griffinator!
Hi.
Join the Meta-monster
wrestling club.
No radiation exposure required.
Can we get buttons too?
When are you so popular?
Yeah, I just noticed that too.
Hey Henry.
Hi Your kind of bathing in
the glow of total acceptance.
How is that possible?
You said it yourself, people
would accept me in due time.
Guess now is the time.
What's in here?
Wow, now this is ***.
Agreed, and
no swag.
Let's leave.
I think he means "dope".
No ***, magic club?
In some tribal societies
magicians are rock stars.
They are respected and revered
and they get the girls.
Maggie, what's up guys?
Hey, I thought your mom
ordered you to quit magic club
and join the junior
law maker's society.
Yeah, she's still trying
to groom me for
the family business.
Matt's moms a senator.
Well, thankfully between
fundraising and committees and
my step sister's wedding,
she's utterly clueless about
what I'm doing.
Must run in the family, face
it Matt spellbinders is so
lame it needs crutches.
Oh really, thanks.
Well is this lame?
O-M-G, don't tell me
it's behind my ear.
Ask Jasper, it's in his pocket.
Wow.
Yawn, let me know when you've
been entombed in a block of
ice for three weeks.
Oh yeah, for sure man.
I'll ah, send you a letter
by bunny express.
Huh, your bunny just
expressed himself alright.
I'm gearing up my
own magic club.
The Freak Illusionists so come
see me if you want to be a
part of the future of magic.
[small explosion]
Wow, that was
nearly impressive.
Yeah, Lance is a really good
magician but lately his best
trick is making all of
his old friends disappear.
Anyway I don't think the
future of magic will ever
compare to its past.
You guys want to check it out?
***!
Dope!
The great Houdini, it
all started with him.
All those over blown shows
they do in Vegas,
All their tricks
originated with this guy.
He's the greatest
illusionist that ever lived.
Hmm, freaky museum exhibit.
So this stuff is
like Houdini's
All this stuff is Houdini's.
These are the very same props
that made him a worldwide star
a hundred years ago.
A hundred years ago
they had celebrities?
It all looks brand new.
The museum has acquired it
over the years; it's just
taken forever to
restore them all.
Summer internship division
of historical rejuvenation.
It's all finally going on
exhibit but as you can see
guys with Spellbinders we
don't need lazers
to dazzle people.
The maiden of death.
So what's the trick?
No don't!
[slam]
[laughs] Getting out alive.
Houdini was locked inside, he
only had a minute until the
spikes closed but he still
made it out without a scratch.
How?
See, no one knows.
That is why they still call
him the great Houdini.
Check out this weird jacket.
Pfft.
Woo, wouldn't want
to lose these.
Oh.
Are those the grand
prize tickets from the
senior class raffle?
You won the raffle?
Wait, you entered the raffle?
Well, I found a piece of paper
on the floor and I thought
I was putting it in the recycle
bin next thing I know
I was handed these.
It's for something at
the Kennedy Centre.
Those are front row seats
to the sold out U2 concert!
U2 who?
The world famous Irish rock
band, you cave dweller.
I'm kidding!
I saw U2 with my
parents in Mumbai.
Ohhhh, and Muse is
opening for them.
Well, who are you taking?
His cousin, obviouslythe
guy who magnanimously agreed
to share his bedroom with him.
Didn't you already
get a car for that?
Not from Henry!
Are we joining the
Spellbinders or not?
I'm in!
Me too!
On one condition
I love this part.
AAAAHHHHH!
[cheers, applause]
[background cross-talk]
Did you hear all
those people cheering?
Well, when you give
the people what they want.
I know you Jasper,
joining this club isn't
because of liking magic,
this is about those tickets.
Henry is giving them to me!
You don't even like U2, you're
just going to sell them.
They're meant to be enjoyed.
Yes, do you have any idea how
much enjoyment they are worth
in cold hard currency?
The Maiden of death and the
Magic Box, to commemorate the
opening of the museum's
Houdini exhibit we'll be using
an illusion performed by
the great Houdini himself.
And, to help me recreate
this act, please welcome
Griffin the Great!
[applause, cheering]
Wow, they like me.
They really really like
me and I haven't
even done anything yet.
Alright Smithson, thank you!
Today I will be making
one very unfortunate soul
disappear inside
Houdini's magic box.
And not just any unfortunate
soul but our own Matt Palmer.
[applause]
Now look closely and observe
there are no means of escape.
The latch door is the
only way in or out.
Say goodbye Matt.
Tadaaa!
[applause, cheering]
And now as performed by
Houdini hundreds of times.
Viola!
[laughter, cross-talk]
As I said, as performed by Harry
Houdini hundreds of times
[Audience yelling]
What's going on?
I can't believe no
one's found Matt yet!
That's some vanishing
act alright.
Yeah, and they think it's ours.
[police radio]
Ah, the junior magicians.
Special Agent Fitzgerald
of the FBI,
thanks for sticking around.
We didn't have a choice.
Which one of you is
Griffin the Great.
Okay, Henry.
Deep breath, walk me
through it, take your time.
We rehearsed it over and over.
The box was right
there, where it is now.
And then we helped Matt inside.
When the doors locked,
he pulls this latch.
Secret compartment.
It's only big enough
for Matt to hide in.
How long was he
supposed to be in there?
Just long enough for me to
show the audience an empty box.
Then I closed it
and said his cue.
Which was?
And now as performed by
Houdini hundreds of times.
And then he was supposed to
come back round to the front.
I opened the door.
People clap.
That's it.
You're absolutely sure
there's no other way out.
You know Matt
Palmer is the child of
a United States Senator?
You understand that his
disappearance could have
national security consequences?
They understand Smithson High
is filled with the children of
public officials and rocket
scientists and spies and in
the case of Miss
Winik here war heroes.
Hello, Maggie.
Hello Senator Palmer.
So, this sort of
thing doesn't happen in the
Junior Law Makers club.
Now, I'm just going to ask you
a very blunt question,
is this a hoax?
Senator Palmer, we have
no idea what happened?
I'm asking because this isn't
the first time Matt
has disappeared.
You think he ducked
out on purpose?
Ever since he was a boy, Matt
has had a long and, for me,
a trying history of pranks.
Which doesn't change our need
to respond aggressively
every single time.
So we'll clear this place
out and I'll do a thorough
search of the theater.
Anything else?
Oh!
I found this in this the box.
His grandfather's eagle?
It's his lucky coin.
Matt hasn't gone
anyplace without this
since seventh grade.
Thought so, it's
a text from Matt.
Mom, okay.
ah.
I don't know where I am but
they haven't hurt me, I'm safe.
They want five million dollars
at midnight tomorrow or
they say I'll never see you
again.
Mom, I'm really scared!
Why didn't they just move all
this stuff back to the
main exhibit hall?
They're pulling every
Houdini artifact.
They don't want it to seem
like they're exploiting
Matt's kidnapping.
How can someone kidnap
him in front of us?
In front of all those people
and then get him out of the
theater without being seen?
It wasn't your fault Henry.
I was in charge of the trick.
I asked him if I could
do it that makes it my
responsibility.
But what could you
have done differently?
That's exactly what
I'm going to ask Lance.
Lance Bellini?
Do you know any
other magicians?
Henry, over here,
you first, come on.
Oh ah, look cuz.
I don't want to harsh you
mellow but there is something
you should consider.
It's possible that some of the
attention you're getting is
because of those tickets.
So it's just because I
have something they want?
Well, yeah but I mean it's not
all badit just makes
it easier for you to
get what you want.
Ow!
Hey Mike.
You gonna order
something or you just gonna
stand there?
Actually, we need to talk to Lance
Bellini, is he on caf duty?
Can we speak to him? It's
important.
You know what's important? My
time, which you're wasting.
Next!
Back in line,
Lance get out here!
Veggie garden
wrap for the road?
What!
It's about Matt.
Give me a sec.
So Henry, G man!
We should chill sometime.
Forget it Mike, you're
not even in the running.
What are you insulating (sic)?
I'm not insinuating anything.
Speaking of running!
Henry! Stop him!
So what about Matt?
We've seen what's in your bag
of tricks, seems you're an
expert on making
people disappear.
I had nothing to
do with it, okay?
Then why did you run?
Because everybody knows
Matt and I don't get along.
I'm sick of people
hassling me like I had
something to do with it.
Look Lance, you must know how
all of these tricks work.
What do you think
really happened?
I'd tell you if I knew, to be
honest when I heard about it
I thought he was just punking
his mom but now who knows?
Hey Lance?
What's that on your wrist?
Oh, it's just a random
tattoo, what's on yours?
What!
Hey!
So can I go back to work now?
Before Mike steals all my tips.
He's lying about something.
I know what that something is.
Primum Orbis, the crimson ring.
Yeah, the robes take it kind
of over the top for me.
What's the crimson ring?
A secret magic society or
at least they used
to be a long time ago.
Lance was obsessed with them.
When we were chem partners he
talked about them all the time.
So why would he lie
about the tattoo?
Maybe he thought I'd forget.
We should tell agent
Fitzgerald about Lance.
Okay, I'll stay and see what
else I can find out
about this book.
Well, he never went back to
the café and none of his
teachers have seen him.
So now Lance Bellini
has disappeared too?
Didn't you say he was being
harassed by class mates?
That's what he told us.
He's probably just
ducking scrutiny.
Well, what about that creep I
saw in the audience when
Matt disappeared.
The guy in the hat.
He may be a member of a
French political group,
that's threatened the
Senator in the past.
We're investigating them now.
We only have 36 hours to find
Matt so have to follow the
most solid lead we have.
This group has a
dangerous history.
We can't take any chances.
Without Lance what have we got?
Just the crimson ring,
whoever they are
Let's see what
Jasper's found out.
Well, it would be great if we
could talk to whoever wrote
this but there's no name
which I guess isn't a problem
considering it was written
about eighty years ago.
Yes it was written eighty
years ago but it wasn't
donated until last year.
It arrived right after the
museum announced it was
restoring all of
Houdini's artifacts.
No note, no letter nothing!
But it ended up being a big
help to the restoration team.
Did you save the
envelope it came in?
Not the envelope.
The wrapping paper?
What?
It's really pretty!
Am I not allowed to have
some feminine qualities?
I knew I remembered
the address.
Bellington Hill, no
name just an initial.
E.
W.
Is it close?
Right outside the district.
Somehow, don't you know it's
going to look just like this?
I really hate being
right all the time,
okay most of the time,
once in a while?
Well its obvious nobody's
home, we should probably just
turn around and
okay, okay, could
be on a timer.
What?
You guys are aware this
is trespassing right?
Kidnapping trumps trespassing.
Maggie's right, we can't just
do nothing and wait for the
FBI follow a single lead.
We need to find Matt.
Ring or knock.
Well ringing is definitely the
most polite way of calling on
a neighbor but can sometimes
be jarring, where as knocking
expresses a more urgent
need which this is but can
sometimes be perceived
as assaulting.
Ringing it is.
[shock sound] Ouch!
Are you okay?
Yeah, just a little
jolt that's all.
Geez, that's one way to
discourage drop ins.
Did I just do that?
Hello?
Mr.
E.
W.
?
You know maybe we should
try around the back.
Oh it won't matter.
Front or back, you die in a
grizzly pit of spikes and your
last pitiful thought is "why
didn't I go the other way?"
Then it will be my
last pitiful thought.
Hellooooo?
Is anybody home?
Mr.
E.
W.
?
[heavy footsteps]
Did somebody shut the door?
Did somebody put a brick
wall behind the door?
J
A
S
P
E
Are you kidding me?
How does it know my name?
I think it wants
to talk to us
Um, okay.
What do we do?
We ask a question, it answers.
Whether we like it or not.
Who is the crimson ring?
Now
you
die!
Oh geez!
[screaming]
Henry
now you die!
[evil laughter]
Henry? Henry? Henry!
What happened to him?
He's not breathing.
Henry, quit fooling around!
There's no pulse!
Jasper, there's no pulse!
Okay, Henry, can you hear me?
Henry wake up, wake up!
Henry wake up! Wake up! Henry
wake up! Wake up!
Henry?
Move aside.
I'm a doctor.
No wait!
It's impossible!
You did this!
This is your fault.
I meant only to frighten
you, to scare you away.
You jasper call the 911.
.
And ask for the police,
I'm sure they'd be very
interested in this.
You were dead; I checked
your vitals myself!
You tricked me?
You tricked me!
The only way to stop
you from scaring us was to
scare you back.
The cold sleep is
no parlor trick.
Where did you learn it?
Incredible, I trick worthy of
the great Houdini himself.
Here you go, no
pulp for Jasper.
Maggie gets an ice cube
and Griffin the Great takes
his juice barbarian style.
So, it was you at
the Houdini exhibit.
Magic and illusions
have been a passion of mine
for a long time.
We noticed!
Yes, I am sorry.
My apologies for
frightening you.
What is your interest
in the crimson ring.
You tell us, you were a member.
I was long ago.
From the beginning
they were the crimson orb,
Society of magicians.
Dedicated to sharing and
perfecting they're talents but
over time the group changed.
More and more of the member
used their skills to commit
crimes, to amass
wealth, influence.
We think they may have
taken one of our friends.
Would they do
something like that?
If they still exist, oh yes!
They have a long history of
targeting the children of
the rich and powerful.
Make no mistake, they
are extremely dangerous.
Let Houdini's fate
persuade you of that.
Houdini?
I thought he died of
a ruptured appendix?
His autopsy was inconclusive.
Some say that he confronted
the Crimson Ring and
they poisoned him.
Others say he escaped them by
faking his own death and thus
he pulled his greatest trick.
But even Houdini needed
help from time to time.
In the event that he could not
escape from one of his traps,
Houdini always had a
secondary escape route.
And if you are up against the
Crimson Ring, you will
need one too.
Here, take it.
It may be useful
to you sometime.
The Crimson Ring never forgives
and they never forget.
You going to eat
your [inaudible] kabob?
How can you not be hungry?
Especially after dying
and everything.
I lost my appetite.
Look just because everyone
was sucking up to you to get
those tickets doesn't mean
they don't like you.
I'm really glad I don't
have to worry about
you two having an agenda.
What's with that
key thing anyways?
No idea, E.
W.
didn't say.
He just said that even
Houdini had a back up plan.
[knocking, urgent knocking]
My dad back already?
[loud knocking]
Hey guys, let me in please!
That's Lance.
Oh hi.
Lock it!
Won't make any difference
but lock it anyway.
Wha, why?
Can I see your dad?
No, he's at his
fraternity reunion trip,
pretending to catch fish.
I don't know where else to go,
my own parents don't believe me.
Is this about Matt?
Of course it is, what
else could it be about?
Hey calm down.
I'm sorry Maggie, I'm sorry.
As you can see I'm kind
of having a bad night.
Lance what happened? Where's
Matt?
I don't know.
They played me, they tricked
me like a five year old kid
at a birthday party.
Who tricked you?
Them!
The Crimson Ring.
Okay, I'm calling the police.
Oh come on,
where is it? Where is it?
Henry, how many times have
I told you to put back the
cordless phone!
Oh ah, I think I left it
underneath the sofa or maybe
it's in the laundry room.
It just kept
ringing and ringing.
That's it's job!
Found it!
[smash]
[screaming]
[struggle]
[struggle]
[struggle]
Lance! Lance!
I know, I know.
Yes, yeah dad everything
is totally fine.
Yeah, yeah Colonel [inaudible]
invited us to stay the night
at his house, well he
kind of ordered us.
Okay, I'll see you tomorrow.
Yeah, yes
[whispers]: yes,
I love you too dad, bye!
Okay, he'll be on the first
flow plane leaving the lake.
Good!
I'm not sure what you kids
have gotten yourselves into
but it's in everybody's best
interest that we get you out.
I saw a tattoo, and it was
definitely the Crimson Ring.
Do you believe us?
I don't disbelieve you but I
have to consider that
all this is being driven
by Lance Bellini.
So you think he was faking it?
What, the break in was staged?
From the Intel I have he wants
to be the greatest magician
who ever lived and who
knows what he would pull
off a big trick.
Look I'll get somebody to
check out the Crimson Orb but
my focus remains on finding
Matt Palmer and for the
record I apologize for
calling you kids.
Clearly your well
past the kid phase.
I don't buy that Lance
was pulling a trick.
Me either, no one can
fake that kind of fear.
Well if he was faking it,
he's mastered the illusion of
wetting his pants.
But somebody did
trick us last night.
What's the key to illusion?
Get your audience to look at
one thing while you're
doing something else.
That's why those
guys attacked us.
While we were fighting them
They were taking Lance.
Classic misdirect.
They got Lance by
distracting us,
maybe that's how they got Matt.
On the day of the trick maybe
we weren't looking in the
right place.
I don't follow.
Well remember what E.
W.
said,
Houdini always
had a second way out.
But the only other way Matt
could have gone was through
the bottom of the box
and under the stage.
And we were all standing there;
there was no other trap door.
Well maybe we missed it because
we weren't looking for it.
Sounds like you also miss the
part where the FBI agent
told us to but
out of this whole thing?
And she also said that the
whole entire theater has been
picked apart be their
forensics team.
Then they won't mind
us taking a peak.
How do we even know we
can trust what this
E.
W.
guy says.
Well for one thing he
hasn't tried to kill us.
Maybe that's all part
of an elaborate trap.
I couldn't help but over hear
you're conversation, I hope
I'm not intruding but based
solely on a few comments you
made, I've been able to crunch
some numbers and statistically
speaking, whoever this person
is you have a 74% chance
you can trust him.
Hang on a second.
Look, I know why you're
being so nice to me.
It's because you want those
concert tickets so let's just
cut to the chase, okay?
Okay, but I have no idea
what we're talking about.
Come on, the tickets for U2
What?
Come on Henry, there's a giant
pit of spikes
with our name on it.
Thank you!
For what?
For restoring my faith in
Smithson High and anytime
you want to go on that
free drive, I'm in!
I still don't know what
we're talking about.
None of this makes any
sense, I don't understand.
Really, Sherlock?
The box was right here.
There's no trap door,
where could he have gone?
Hey, maybe he actually
Actually vanished?
Come on Jasper!
Hey, check that out.
There's always a
logical explanation.
Well then lets here it.
Well I don't know it yet!
Maybe Henry has an idea.
Okay then
Wait, Henry?
Henry!
Henry! Henry,
where are you?
Henry, did you find something?
Henryyyyy!
Henry!
Okay, this is awesome.
Now Henrys vanished too.
[gasp]
Holy, hole in the floor.
[door shutting in background]
Oh, man, no wonder
we missed it.
The trap door is harder to find
than my dads petty cash stash.
Obviously Henry found it.
Oh yeah, how can you be sure?
Because he dropped his tickets.
Oh, give me those!
Why? Possession is
nine tenths of the law.
You see that?
Don't try to
change the subject.
You mean change the subject to
finding your missing cousin?
Oh, you're
good! This isn't over!
There's a light up ahead.
Lance!
I'm sorry!
I swear I didn't know Matt
was going to get kidnapped.
Matt, Matt are you okay?
Who did this.
I don't know, I
didn't see his face.
It's because they
never show them.
Who? The Crimson Orb?
The Crimson Ring, nobody
calls it the Crimson Orb.
Except E.
W.
And Agent Fitzgerald!
I'll get somebody to
check out the Crimson Orb.
Why would she use the
original name when she'd
never heard of them?
This is what we
call the penny drop.
Lance kidnapped Matt but you
exposed him and the grandiose
poser he is, he lost all
control which in our business
always results in tragedy so
he killed Matt but before
taking his own miserable
frustrated life
[coughs]
he decided to
have a little bit of fun.
No!
Where's Henry?
We don't know.
We heard a struggle and
somebody being dragged out.
Okay you guys call for help.
Call the Senator
But not the FBI
Where are you going?
To help Henry.
Here you might be
able to use this.
Thanks.
Yeah.
Ironically, no one ever finds
the ransom money which,
of course I advised the
Senator to pay and in the end
I walk away free and rich.
Enjoy your time in the maiden.
So long Griffin the Great.
[grunts]
Get me out of here!
You're never going
to get away with it.
Wait, do you hear that?
Help, help, can
anyone hear me?
Henry? Henry, where are you?
Help, HELP!
That's him, that's
Henry's voice.
Wait, wait, wait.
What's on the other
side of this wall?
Henry!
Henry are you in here?
Henry!
It's the Iron Maiden,
there's no time!
We have to get
him out of there!
No, no, no don't touch
it.
It's to dangerous.
Behind you!
You guys are like cockroaches!
Go, I'll be okay!
Here take it, it might be
useful to you sometime.
Houdini always had a
secondary escape route.
[coughs]
There, there!
[yelp]
No, don't, don't, don't.
.
Go go go!
[grunt]
[struggle]
Nice trick huh!
[struggle]
Looking for you gun?
I just want to thank
you all personally.
Not only did you save my
son but you helped expose
a criminal organization.
Kidnapping, grand theft,
attempted ***, extortion.
Ah will you excuse
me for a second?
E.
W.
thanks
for helping me out.
How did you know
this would work?
It's a punch key.
Same kind as the orb used.
You know Henry, I could
help you even more
Help me?
How?
I know you've traveled the
world and you've seen many
wonders but Henry there is a
whole world of wonders that
no one gets to see.
Unless they are invited, it is
open only to a select few who
possess unique gifts like
courage and the ability
to cheat death.
Like Houdini.
That why people loved him.
He gave them hope.
Hope? For what?
When their time came, they too
might be able to cheat death.
That's what gave him power.
You too can have that power
Henry and if you have it
there's no limit to
what you can gain.
It's tempting but I
have everything I need.
Well young man,
until we meet again
keep playing tricks.
Oh, was that?
E.
W.
E.
W.
?
That's strange Houdini's
real name was Erik Wiess.
Thanks again for
everything guys.
Yes, if there is anything
we can do for you
Well
Actually, there is.
U2 tickets?
You should go together.
Ha, no Henry, I can't!
Henry, he's right you can't.
.
Now.
Thanks Henry.
We both will thanks.
Come on guys, you know how
I felt about those tickets.
We're better off without them.
And besides how could I have
possibly chosen between you two?
You know what?
Next time just give the
tickets to me and Maggie.