Continued from Sequence C

The carriage is seen coming up the street toward an arched bridge spanning a canal.

We can see that the water in the canal is completely frozen over. A large group of people are standing on the bridge and on both sides of the canal.

Some men have cut a hole in the ice. On the bridge is a wooden crane-like affair and a block and tackle which is suspended over the hole in the ice.

Houdini dressed in a bathing suit is chained, manacled, placed in a packing box, lowered and with a splash disappears in the hole of ice.

After six minutes, a reporter tells Powers something is wrong and to pull him up.

Powers tells the reporter he is not to do anything until ten minutes pass.

Another reporter tells him it is impossible for him to be living, and a third reporter tells Powers that Houdini has earned himself a nice German funeral and that’s what he is going to tell his editor.

Just as Powers orders the box brought up, Houdini is seen treading water with one hand and waving to the people with the other hand.

Houdini tells Powers that getting out the chains was easy, but when he got out of the box the current had taken him beyond the hole in the ice. Looking for the hole, he discovered the air space between the water and ice and kept taking deep breaths until he eventually found the hole.

Meanwhile, Bess thought Harry had drowned, until she opens the window to the sound of a trumpet and sees Houdini with a smile waving his hand and throwing Bess a kiss.

Later, Houdini is in his dressing room and there is a knock at the door.

In the doorway is a Lieutenant of Police, two officers, and a rival magician, Constantine. They have an order for Houdini’s arrest on the charges of fraud, that he used prepared locks and confederates to aid his escape. The Lieutenant places a pair of handcuffs on Houdini, which Houdini throws on the ground as they walk out the door.

We next see Houdini standing in front of the judges bench in the Kaiser’s courtroom, where the judge asks Houdini if he pleads guilty or not guilty of the charges.

Houdini pleads not guilty, and maintains he does not use prepared locks or the aid of confederates in making his escapes and that he would like his accuser, Constantine, to challenge him to a test so he can proof his innocence.

An attendant sets an arm chair in front of the bench and Constantine begins to chain him to the chair.

Houdini’s only request is that he be left alone in the room. The judge honors the request and has his attendants carry Houdini into a room (with no other door and only a small window high up on the wall), shut the door with two guards standing outside to make sure nobody can get in.  Constantine tells the judge he is satisfied that Houdini can receive no outside aid and that Houdini will be forced to admit defeat and have Constantine liberate him.

Suddenly, you hear Houdini call for Constantine’s help and Constantine walks toward door with a triumphant grin. Powers put his arm around Bess and pats her on the shoulder.

The guard opens the door and Constantine steps in and closes door behind him. Instantly as Constantine gets in the room, there is a sound of noise from inside, the clanking of chains. The lock of the door is turned from inside. There is a the sound of struggle.

The judge orders that the door be opened.  The guards put their shoulders to the door and the door splinters under their strength and the guards are shocked by what they see.

In the chair in which Houdini was chained, is now seated Constantine, pretty heavily manacled and fettered.

The guards come out of the room, holding Constantine in the chair and exhibit him to the judges. There are shrieks of laughter.

Houdini is no where to be found, then suddenly he comes into the courtroom thru another doorway fully dressed and says: Your honor, the defense rests.

Houdini is found not guilty and the case is dismissed.

Newspaper headline reads:

HOUDINI MYSTIFIES COURTROOM! COURT APOLOGIZES TO HOUDINI! KAISER GRANTS HOUDINI AUDIENCE

The Kaiser tells Houdini he has vindicated himself and is always welcome in Germany and if he ever goes to Russia, he would like Houdini to perform for his cousin, The Czar Nicholas.

Houdini gets back to his hotel room to share the news of his Kaiser meeting with Bess and Powers.

Houdini senses something is wrong as Bess hands him a cablegram that his Mother’s dead.

Houdini doesn’t want any more bookings, but Bess tells him he has to go on, that’s what Mama would want.

Next stop – Russia.

To be continued…Sequence  E