Continued from Sequence G.

The next day, Houdini is in his living room, working at his desk, when the Butler announces that Sir Conan Doyle is here to see him.

Doyle asks Houdini to reconsider before his performance tonight, but Houdini tells him he believes in what he has to say.

The two part ways without shaking hands.

Later, Houdini, Powers and Bess are standing on the stage, Houdini is in street clothes. He is finishing the arrangements for the act.

The stage is draped with black curtains.  A rope painted white hangs from the loft.  Below the rope is a contrivance on which are two huge shiny swords that a path through the air in the cadence of the metronome. Houdini tells Powers that after he is placed in the straight jacket, he will be lifted to the flies and has he descends, that the swords need to keep moving.

Bess asks Erich if he plans to go through with the things he planned to say, tonight.  And Houdini says of course I am — I’d say it if it was the last thing I ever said on this earth.

Houdini goes off the stage down a dimly lit corridor and walks into his dressing room and closes the door behind him.  He senses  something.

Suddenly from the very dark shadows steps a figure of a man. He appears almost wraith-like.  He is dressed in black.  His very white and angular face stands out sharply from the black around him.  His eyes are cold and dark and piercing. He takes a step toward Houdini.

Houdini asks who he is and the man replies that it makes no difference, but that there are millions who believe in God and Houdini has no right to tell these people that there is no God.

The man looks at Houdini a minute, then turns, crosses to the door, locks it and then suddenly faces Houdini. As he does so, he puts his right hand in his pocket and slowly takes out a gun.

The man tells Houdini he is going to kill Houdini and then himself, because his work will be finished and he believes there is a God, but if Houdini is right and there is no God, then he doesn’t want to live any more.

Houdini takes a quick step toward the man, and as he does, the man fires.  Houdini staggers under the impact of the bullet and puts his hand on the left side of his stomach.

As he stands there, stunned by the shock and pain, there is the sound of two more shots.

Powers, Bess and a few attendants burst into the room and ask Houdini what happened.

Houdini says he has just seen a man kill himself for his God.

Bess asks if Houdini is hurt and replies, No, and to leave him alone so he can dress and get everything ready for the show.

The Master of Ceremonies introduces the worlds greatest magician and escape artist, THE GREAT HOUDINI

Bess tells Erich not to go through with his trick tonight, but Houdini tells her that he is alright.

Houdini addresses the audience:

Ladies and gentlemen all of you know that I’ve promised to give you a message tonight.  A message that is the result of my study and research. That message has been a little bit altered by something that happened tonight. I believe that there can be no contact in a material way between spirits and living humans. But I do believe there is a God — that, you must all believe.  There is a high destiny that governs all of our lives.

If I ever doubted that, believe me.  I’m sorry for it.  But you people must never let yourselves be fooled by fakers — by leeches — that not only bleed you of money but bleed you a faith you must have.  Bring these fakers out of their holes, expose them to the light and don’t let blind you and rob you and fool you.  There are many people who are honestly looking, trying to find that secret.  That is denied to us and that only comes to us, I believe, with death.

Suddenly a small group starts applauding.  Others pick up the applause.

A group of assistants are now grouped around Houdini and he is being put in a straight-jacket.  The white rope is lowered and tied to Houdini’s foot and he lifted up to the flies.

A burst of martial music begins.  The swords begin their steady beat, swishing through the air.  The rope is suspended.  Houdini is hanging, head down.

Hanging. His face is contorted with pain.

As Houdini is lowered closer and closer to the swords.

Hanging head down. We can see a dab of blood appear on his shirt and seep onto the straight-jacket.  Houdini is working feverishly.

Two drops of blood drop on the swords.

Suddenly there is a burst of applause.  He has freed himself from the straight-jacket.  He has lifted his body and is holding onto the rope by his hands.  The swords stop and Houdini is lowered to the stage.

Houdini reaches the stage, stands there a moment, bows and then suddenly collapses.

The curtain drops quickly.

Bess is kneeling beside Houdini.  She holds his head in her lap.  Powers and some of the assistants are grouped near him.  Powers has sent for a doctor.

Houdini tells them that the doctor won’t be able to help and that he is dying.

Houdini tells Bess that there is a secret that we all someday will find out, but we must die to find out that secret.

There is a pause. Bess cries.

Houdini looks up at her a moment, then closes his eyes, shudders and then his head drops and he dies. Bess bends down and kisses his head.

In the back can be heard the audience, still applauding and the music playing.

THE END