As promised in a previous post, I am sharing escape scenes from my script for a Houdini movie that was never made:

• Russia Transport Prison Van
• WATER TORTURE CELL
• Berlin Bridge Jump
• Buried Alive

This week, I share the Water Torture Cell scene:

The curtain opens, revealing BESS standing next to a tall glass-fronted cabinet filled with water. Iron bars enclose the inside. An over-sized clock with a second hand hangs stage left.

HOUDINI fills his lungs as he is lowered, water splashing around the cabinet. Atop a ladder, an assistant padlocks an iron grille over the yoke.

We hold on HOUDINI, naked, submerged and manacled. The audience is literally holding its breath. A uniformed New York FIREMAN takes up his position in front of the cabinet, gripping a fire axe.

The light beneath the cell goes off. Spotlights sweep over the stage. All we can see inside the cabinet are momentary glints of bubbles. Then, timed to avoid the swirling spotlights:

HOUDINI, submerged, smacks the cuffs against the iron bars; they fall open.  He violently contorts his body…

Deftly avoiding the spotlights, HOUDINI climbs down behind the cabinet, … He drops to his knees; a hand lifts the curtain behind him. He quickly slips underneath.

ONSTAGE: COLLINS stands near the FIREMAN, watching the clock.

COLLINS (calls: Cockney accent) One minute…

QUICK CUTS: Audience members holding their breath.

INT. ORPHEUM THEATRE — BACKSTAGE — NIGHT

HOUDINI wears a robe, a towel over his head as he reads the newspaper. BESS is nearby with a schedule of engagements.

BESS (quietly) We have Detroit tomorrow and Thursday. Then Chicago for the weekend…

HOUDINI (over his glasses) How many shows?

BESS Seven… one’s a benefit for the Elks.

Click on images to enlarge for reading.

HOUDINI (through his teeth) Thank You.

A TIME CUT:

BESS (dashes onstage) For God’s sake, break the glass! It’s been seven minutes!

The crowd is screaming. The FIREMAN rears back with his axe — smashes the glass. The lights flash on as a thousand gallons of water pour onto the stage: the torture cell is empty. Gasps.

The doors at the back of theater are thrown open. HOUDINI jogs down the center aisle, dripping wet. He leaps onto the stage, raises his arms. Then he throws back his head and laughs. And the crowd goes crazy.