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_
So, what do you reckon?
It's extraordinary.
I've been working on it for a couple of years.
I call it A Chair Raising Experience.
May I, erm...?
No, help yourself.
Oh, thank you, sir. Thank you.
- Well, it's not wires. - No.
- Can you use any chair? - Er, no.
The sightlines are good. Can you do it surrounded?
About 100 degrees.
Is it hydraulics? Can't be.
You know I can't tell you.
How much do you want for it?
It's not for sale.
Whatever Wayne Dobson has offered you, I'll double it.
Honestly, it's not for sale.
This is my ticket onto the cruise ships.
Last year, I nearly got on the Queen Mary to Mombasa.
You can't waste this on cruise ships.
This is Vegas level.
It's a game-changer.
Look, Neville... is it?
I'm very flattered you took an interest in my little trick.
You're clearly a passionate student of the magic arts,
but I'm happy doing my balloon animals
and making my grandson smile at his birthday party.
- Who built it for you? - I did.
- On your own? - Yep.
You don't realise what you've got.
Oh, I do.
The world should know about it. It deserves to be seen.
It will be seen!
I've got a princess party tomorrow morning at the Methodist church.
What if you're on one of your cruises and you hit an iceberg?
What, in Mombasa?
All I'm saying is that the secret goes down with you.
That it does.
I take it everywhere with me.
What is that?
Well, it was nice meeting you, anyway.
Cheers.
I think I know how it's done.
It's to do with the fold in the chair, isn't it?
Are there mirrors in the legs? Is it motorised?
Well, I'm glad it's got you thinking, anyway.
I should be off, they don't like you coming in after ten, so...
OK, well, erm...
You know where I am now, so, er,
do feel free to pop your head in any time.
And if you ever do decide to sell, you'll..
you'll come to me first, yes?
Well, you know, maybe I could see me way clear to doing it
just one more time for you.
Then I can perhaps have one for the road, eh?
Of course! Thank you so much!
I really appreciate it.
- Stick out the foot. - It's out.
- _ - Is it? - Yes!
Right, OK. I'm gonna take out the middle now. Here we go.
Wiggle your fingers.
Well, the biggest deception
will be creating the illusion you're enjoying it.
I told you it was a bad idea anyway. Just get me out!
It's not a bad idea. Classic illusion.
This is why I retrained,
so I didn't have to be your warm prop.
Well, don't do it, then.
It's only a photograph for a student magazine.
I'm sure they won't be bothered.
I'm only doing it to sell a few more copies of the book.
- Is that what you're wearing? - What do you mean?
For the interview. You look like a devil worshipper.
It's all part of the mystique.
Be careful with those blades!
Why? You've had a tetanus, haven't you?
Why can't you just wear a hoodie like Dynamo?
If I was going to sell drugs in Aldi car park, then I would, yes.
- People like him. - People like me!
He's got five million followers on Facebook.
Don't start.
2.2 million Twitter followers.
Houdini didn't have Twitter.
- Just put a T-shirt on. - No.
A T-shirt with a bow tie printed on it, then!
Rodney Bewes? No.
I'm happy with my image.
Stop trying to change me.
Ok.
I bow down to you, Satan, my lord and master.
I'll call you from the hotel. What time will you be in?
Well, late, probably. I want to work on that spirit cabinet.
OK. Well, your dinner's going to be in the utility room fridge.
Have fun.
And don't slag off other magicians.
I still get blanked by Geoffrey Durham in Sainsbury's.
Piff, paff, poff!
Let him in, would you?
His name is Gabriel something.
Mr Griffin?
Call me Neville.
You must be Gabriel.
It's such an honour to meet you.
Wow, so many awards.
Well, one or two, yes.
I just use them as paperweights.
Thank you for agreeing to do this.
My pleasure.
It's good to see a new generation getting into magic.
Really important.
I do a few tricks myself, actually.
Yes, I could tell that.
Can I have my ring back, please?
Sorry about that, I just...
I wanted to see how long it would take you to notice.
About three seconds, I would say.
The secondary misdirection was a little obvious,
using the awards, appealing to my vanity.
Wow, so many awards.
Ah, one or two, yes.
I just use them as paperweights.
- Oh, I didn't mean to imply that... - No, no, it's fine.
The steal itself was deftly done.
Take a seat.
So this is the famous Unit 9.
You've had this place for years, haven't you?
I have, many years.
- Do you mind if...? - No.
Can I take you back to where it all started for you,
which probably would be the...
floating chair trick?
A Chair Raising Experience.
Yes, that was a... a game-changer.
And you created that in here?
Not very far from where you're sitting now.
And nobody else knows how it's done?
Not another living soul.
I'm so sorry about this.
Should have turned it off.
Actually, I'd better take it.
Hello?
Yeah, but I can't really say at the moment.
Could you, er... could you spell that for me, please?
Yeah.
OK. Great.
OK, I'll give you a call in an hour or so.
Sorry about that.
So, I notice you have quite a hi-tech security system.
Does it worry you that people could
steal your intellectual property?
It does.
In this community, the theft of an idea is worse than murder.
But there's a magician's code
that generally prevents such things, as I'm sure you know.
You've made some comments in the past about street magic...
you're not a fan, are you?
I'm not.
To me, this hit-and-run style sort of strips the mystique,
the showmanship, from the true illusionist.
It's the ultimate trivialisation of the craft
to reduce it to the effect only.
Well, what do you mean? I mean, isn't that what people want?
Let me show you.
A brand-new deck of cards.
Open them up.
Give them a shuffle.
Cut the deck...
and deal off the top five cards, just in a row.
Point to one.
Eight of clubs.
Impressive.
Now watch this.
My grandfather was stationed in Strasbourg during the Second World War.
One night, his regiment was sent
on a mission into the Black Forest.
In the gloom of the trees,
and becoming separated from the rest of his men,
my grandfather came across an old man dressed in a cowl,
hunched over a small fire.
Suddenly, there was a tremendous explosion,
and my grandfather was thrown to the ground.
When he recovered, the old man had disappeared,
leaving only this box,
which contained these cards
and an inscription,
What does that mean?
You can't cheat death.
Shuffle the cards.
They are, of course, the 22 Major Arcana
from the traditional Tarot deck
and they represent life's spiritual lessons.
Now, before we begin,
look through and find the one card
nobody wants to see in a reading...
Death.
Put him in here.
Back in the box,
out of the way.
Like the old man by the fire.
Now, cut the deck and deal off the top five cards,
forming the shape of the Celtic cross, like so.
And, as you do, think very carefully about your future.
What kind of life do you see for yourself, Gabriel?
Now let's see what you have chosen.
The Wheel of Fortune...
you're putting yourself in the hands of fate.
The Hierophant - a figure representing wisdom.
A teacher, perhaps?
Could be my grandad.
Possibly.
Justice - you wish to right a wrong from your past,
rebalance the scales.
And...
the Magician. Well, we all know they can't be trusted.
And this final card represents your future.
At least we know it can't be the Death card, since...
Oh, dear.
Reveal your fate, Gabriel.
Sie konnen den Tod nicht betrugen.
So, essentially, it's the same trick,
a rough and smooth deck with a slip card force.
The added theatrics of the switch box,
with the music giving you the atmosphere.
The misdirection is the elaborate narrative
that allows a simple trick to hide in plain sight.
I know which one I prefer.
And does it cut both ways?
Could you use the magic to distract from a story?
Particularly a story you want to be kept secret?
I'm not sure I follow.
Could I show you something I've been working on?
Of course. You'll find I am the perfect audience member.
I never spot a thing.
So, first of all, it's safe to say
that I can't actually read your mind.
I hope not.
Good.
Now, I would like you to think of a five-digit number.
It can be any combination,
just something that only you know and I don't.
Really lock it in.
Ok.
Good.
So, erm, this experiment is slightly easier for me
if I can imagine the numbers written down,
so if you wouldn't mind doing that for me.
There you go.
You want me to write the numbers down?
If you would, yeah.
But, obviously, don't let me see.
And once you're finished,
just fold up the piece of paper and hold it in your left hand.
Now, I noti...
So sorry about this.
Sorry.
Now, I notice you have a bowl of fruit over there.
If you wouldn't mind going over and grabbing me a piece?
If you could just hold that out in front of you, carefully.
Very sharp and very real. Agreed?
Agreed.
You've still got the numbers in your left hand?
Could you just hold it out in front of you?
2, 6, 3, 4, 9. Are those the numbers you wrote down?
They are. Bravo.
Good.
Now, would you like to wash your hands?
Yes, please.
There's a sink over there.
So it's electronic.
I assume the pen is fitted with a tracking chip
which relays my hand movements to an app via your phone,
which you conveniently checked
when you got your imaginary phone call during the demonstration.
Once you have the numbers,
you have me scurrying off into the corner
to fetch you a banana,
whilst you use a wax thumb tip
to write the digits down on your pad.
It wasn't a thumb tip,
it was just a small candle.
Close enough.
Then you use a real razor to slice the banana
before switching it with a replacement, rigged with blood,
for the grand finale.
Am I close?
No.
You see, unfortunately,
you put the real razor back in the wrong pocket.
May I?
The trick itself was diverting enough,
but, sadly, the misdirection was not.
The offering of your own pen, the pantomime of the phone call,
the "Go and get me fruit", the clumsy razor switch.
It all feels so flagged.
It's a catalogue of How-Not-Tos, I'm afraid.
Useful if you're still starting out.
I hope this helps.
It does. Thank you.
I'll work on it.
I don't mean to sound negative,
it's merely constructive criticism.
You're clearly a very passionate student of the magic arts.
Where does it come from?
I suppose it's from my grandad.
He used to do magic shows for me when I was a kid.
He invented a lot of his own tricks, actually.
A bit like you.
Although he never had the success that you've had.
Is he still with us?
No. Ironically enough, he disappeared almost ten years ago.
Although, I received a package recently from his lawyers.
How very Dickensian!
A letter of wishes.
He requested that, when I reached the age of 25,
I be given his notebook,
which contained detailed explanations of all of his tricks.
Unfortunately, I never received it.
Ah, so he... he took his secrets with him to the grave.
Never said he was dead.
Sometimes with magic, it's better when you don't know.
So, time's ticking on. Do you have everything you need?
I think so, yeah.
Good. Well, I'll, erm...
I'll go and get you a copy of my book.
I can sign it for you with your magic tracker pen.
You didn't actually think
I was going to give you the code to my safe, did you?
Psychologically nudging me toward it with "It's safe to say",
"Any combination", "Lock the numbers in".
It's early Derren Brown, at best.
You killed him, didn't you?
Who?
My grandfather, Willy Wando.
You stole his trick and then you murdered him.
Now, why would you think that?
Cos among his personal effects
was a list of all the tricks he'd invented,
and on top of that list, his latest creation...
A Chair Raising Experience!
And where's your proof, Gabriel?
Oh, I've got proof, don't you worry about that.
Proof that's gonna put you away for life.
You know how many accusations like this I face every year?
Dozens.
"I invented that in my bedwoom,
And now I've seen him do it on the television!"
I've got the patent!
You can't patent a magic trick.
Well, you can, but then it becomes a matter of public record,
and no magician is ever going to want that.
Exposure, that's... worse than stealing.
All right, then, prove it. Come on.
Let's open up the safe and see what's in there.
No.
If you read this book,
you'd learn that I change the combination once a week
and not even my wife knows it.
You think I would reveal
my secrets to a dirty little chancer like you?
Fine.
I'll be back with a search warrant,
and let's see what the police have to say about it.
I look forward to it.
Ta-ta!
'Could you, er, spell that for me, please?'
Is there anybody there?
You get checked in OK?
- What's the matter? - What do you mean?
Why do you keep ringing me?
I haven't rung you. When did I ring you?
Neville, the hotel said you keep ringing the front desk
and leaving abusive messages!
- What?! - That's what they said.
I mean, why would you embarrass me like that?
I don't know what you're talking about. That wasn't me.
I've been doing that interview.
OK. Well, that's just weird, then.
How did it go?
Well, he wanted to show me a magic trick.
I wasn't fooled.
Charming as ever. Look, I'd better go,
I've got a mountain of prep to do before tomorrow.
Yeah, speaking of mountains, have you ever heard of Mountweazel?
Mountweazel, all one word?
- Yes. - Yeah, course I have.
It's a copyright trap.
What do you mean?
It's a deliberate piece of fake information hidden in a reference work
to guard against the stealing of IP.
How?
There was a famous case of
Trivial Pursuit being sued by an encyclopaedia.
They'd stolen a question regarding Columbo's first name.
They'd invented the fact that Columbo's first name was Philip,
then, lo and behold, it turns up in Trivial Pursuit,
thereby proving...
Plagiarism. Yes, I understand now.
Look, I... I've really got to go.
My client's going to be here any minute.
OK, bye.
_
This is Jennie.
I can't get to the phone right now, so please leave a message.
Mr Griffin?
Yes?
Sorry to startle you.
Door was open.
Detective Inspector Phillip Hewson.
Like to ask you a couple of questions, if I may.
Look, if this is about a patent issue,
then you'll have to speak to my lawyers.
No, it's about your wife, Mr Griffin.
Can I ask when was the last time you spoke to her?
Yesterday. She... She was working away. She had a hotel.
You tried to call her several times, I believe.
You were quite agitated.
No. No, we were fine.
What's all this about? Can you...?
Tell me your whereabouts between 10pm last night and 3am this morning?
I was here and then I went home.
Has something happened?
I'm sorry to have to tell you, Mr Griffin,
but a woman matching your wife's description has been found dead.
Right.
Sorry, what?
We believe she was murdered last night...
In the vicinity of her hotel.
Murdered?
Would you like to take a seat, Mr Griffin?
Er, don't touch that!
I can't...
I can't believe it. She was...
She was only here yesterday.
You said you were here last night. Can you prove it?
Er, yes. Yes, I have it all logged on...
According to your security company,
you deleted yesterday's footage.
You got a particular reason for that?
No, er...
No, not really.
Am I correct in thinking you're the only person
who knows the combination to this safe?
Absolutely.
There's no way anybody else could know it?
Not at all. Not even Jennie knows.
Er, knew.
You never wrote it down?
No, it's in my head, and that's it.
Why?
Could you open it for me, please?
Of course.
Sorry, I-I'm just... I'm a bit shaken.
We have reason to believe
there might be an object of interest inside.
Ok.
'I assume the pen is fitted with a tracking chip.'
I do a few tricks myself, actually.
Yes, I can see that.
Could I have my ring back, please?
'All right, then, prove it.'
Come on. Let's open up the safe and see what's in there.
'Which relays my hand movements
to your phone via an APP.'
I'll ask you not to touch anything, Mr Griffin.
We need to test it for prints.
Yes.
I see now.
Neville Griffin, I'm arresting you on suspicion of murder.
You do not have to say anything,
but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned,
something you later rely on in court.
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