2006
In late 19th-century London, rival magicians Robert Angier and Alfred Borden become obsessed with outdoing each other after a tragic accident during a water tank escape illusion kills Angier's wife, Julia, for which Angier blames Borden. Borden develops a seemingly impossible trick called 'The Transported Man,' where he appears to teleport across the stage, driving Angier to seek its secret, first by hiring a look-alike and then by traveling to Colorado to enlist the eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla to build a duplicating machine. Tesla's machine successfully creates a duplicate of Angier, but each performance of his new 'New Transported Man' illusion requires one Angier to drown in a hidden tank beneath the stage while a clone appears elsewhere, leading to a growing number of drowned bodies. Borden, who is secretly one of two identical twin brothers alternating as 'Borden' and 'Fallon' to maintain the illusion and their complex personal lives, infiltrates Angier's show, witnesses an Angier drowning, and is framed and sentenced to death for Angier's murder.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Two rival magicians, Angier and Borden, engage in an escalating battle of one-upmanship as they perfect their signature illusions.
Open full beat sheetRobert Angier is listed as Magician. An ambitious and obsessive American magician who seeks to create the ultimate illusion. In the parsed data, Robert Angier is connected to 73 scenes, 69 dialogue lines, 69 text mentions, first appearing around scene 33.
73 scenes / 69 dialogue linesAlfred Borden is listed as Magician. A talented and secretive magician who performs the 'Transported Man' illusion. In the parsed data, Alfred Borden is connected to 57 scenes, 34 dialogue lines, 35 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
57 scenes / 34 dialogue linesJohn Cutter is listed as Ingenieur. A designer of illusions who works for Angier. In the parsed data, John Cutter is connected to 36 scenes, 46 dialogue lines, 46 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
36 scenes / 46 dialogue linesBernard Fallon is listed as Ingenieur. Borden's ingenieur and secret twin brother. In the parsed data, Bernard Fallon is connected to 23 scenes, first appearing around scene 7.
23 scenes / 0 dialogue linesOlivia Wenscombe is listed as Assistant. Angier's assistant who later works for Borden. In the parsed data, Olivia Wenscombe is connected to 19 scenes, 19 dialogue lines, 19 text mentions, first appearing around scene 35.
19 scenes / 19 dialogue linesSarah Borden is listed as Borden's Wife. Borden's wife who struggles with his secretive nature. In the parsed data, Sarah Borden is connected to 11 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 21.
11 scenes / 6 dialogue linesNikola Tesla is listed as Scientist. An eccentric inventor who builds a machine for Angier. In the parsed data, Nikola Tesla is connected to 7 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 46.
7 scenes / 5 dialogue linesJess Borden is listed as Borden's Daughter. The young daughter of Alfred and Sarah Borden. In the parsed data, Jess Borden is connected to 7 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 13.
7 scenes / 1 dialogue linesJulia McCullough is listed as Magician's Assistant. Angier's assistant who dies during a performance. In the parsed data, Julia McCullough is connected to 4 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 20.
4 scenes / 1 dialogue linesTwo black cats chase each other through a cluster of top hats.
Cutter explains the three parts of a magic trick to a young girl.
John CutterAngier performs an illusion with an electrical machine while Borden infiltrates the stage.
Robert Angier, Alfred Borden, John Cutter, Olivia WenscombeBorden runs into a stagehand while trying to navigate beneath the stage.
Alfred BordenBorden discovers a water tank beneath the stage.
Alfred BordenCutter testifies in the trial of Alfred Borden regarding Angier's death.
Alfred Borden, John CutterOwens visits Borden in prison to offer a deal on behalf of Lord Caldlow.
Alfred Borden, Bernard FallonBorden begins reading Angier's journal.
Alfred BordenAngier attempts to meet Tesla at his compound.
Robert AngierFlashback to Angier and Borden as young men watching a performance.
Robert Angier, Alfred Borden, John Cutter, Julia McCulloughAngier, Borden, and Cutter discuss magic and the future.
Robert Angier, Alfred Borden, John Cutter, Julia McCulloughBorden watches a performance by Virgil.
Alfred BordenBorden watches Virgil perform a bird trick that upsets a young boy in the audience.
Alfred Borden, Jess BordenBorden reveals the gruesome reality behind his bird trick.
Alfred BordenBorden meets Sarah and her brother, performing a coin trick.
Alfred Borden, Sarah Borden, Jess BordenBorden and Sarah share a moment at her flat.
Alfred Borden, Sarah BordenSarah finds Borden waiting inside her flat.
Alfred Borden, Sarah BordenAngier and Borden watch Chung Ling Soo perform.
Robert Angier, Alfred BordenBorden and Angier discuss Soo's commitment to his act.
Robert Angier, Alfred BordenAngier practices the goldfish trick while talking to Julia.
Robert Angier, Julia McCulloughSarah confronts Borden about his work and Fallon.
Alfred Borden, Sarah Borden, Bernard FallonAngier reads Borden's notebook.
Robert AngierBorden reads Angier's journal.
Alfred BordenCutter and the Judge inspect Angier's equipment.
John CutterFlashback to the night Julia died during a performance.
Robert Angier, Alfred Borden, John Cutter, Julia McCulloughBorden is sentenced to death.
Alfred Borden, Bernard FallonBorden speaks with Fallon.
Alfred Borden, Bernard FallonAngier meets Alley.
Robert AngierAngier witnesses a demonstration of Tesla's technology.
Robert AngierAngier prepares for a performance.
Robert AngierAngier confronts Borden during a performance.
Robert Angier, Alfred Borden, Bernard FallonAngier meets Cutter at a pub.
Robert Angier, John CutterAngier meets Cutter at a pub to discuss a new booking and the death of Julia McCullough.
Robert Angier, John CutterAngier and Cutter prepare their new workshop and discuss hiring an assistant.
Robert Angier, John CutterOlivia Wenscombe auditions as an assistant for Angier.
Robert Angier, John Cutter, Olivia WenscombeSarah tends to Borden's injured hand while he remains secretive.
Alfred Borden, Sarah BordenAngier and Cutter develop a bird cage illusion.
Robert Angier, John CutterAngier rehearses the bird cage trick with Merrit.
Robert Angier, John Cutter, Olivia WenscombeAngier and Cutter refine the bird cage trick mechanics.
Robert Angier, John CutterAngier performs the bird cage trick, but Borden sabotages it.
Robert Angier, Alfred Borden, John Cutter, Olivia WenscombeAngier and Cutter deal with the fallout of the sabotaged performance.
Robert Angier, John CutterAngier performs a show before being fired.
Robert AngierAngier prepares for his performance.
Robert Angier, John Cutter, Olivia WenscombeAngier performs on stage.
Robert Angier, Olivia WenscombeAngier attends a technical exposition.
Robert AngierAngier watches Nikola Tesla's demonstration.
Robert Angier, Alfred Borden, Nikola TeslaAngier follows Borden.
Robert Angier, Alfred Borden, Sarah BordenAngier reads Borden's journal.
Robert AngierBorden reads Angier's journal in prison.
Alfred BordenBorden interacts with the guard in the prison library.
Alfred BordenAngier discusses Borden with Olivia.
Robert Angier, Olivia WenscombeAngier watches Borden perform a new trick.
Robert Angier, Alfred BordenAngier describes the trick to Olivia.
Robert Angier, Olivia WenscombeCutter watches Borden perform.
Alfred Borden, John CutterAngier and Cutter discuss how to steal Borden's trick.
Robert Angier, John Cutter, Olivia WenscombeAngier walks up the mountain road toward Tesla's laboratory.
Robert AngierAngier meets Nikola Tesla and Alley at the laboratory.
Robert Angier, Nikola TeslaAngier, Alley, and Tesla discuss the machine Angier wants built.
Robert Angier, Nikola TeslaAngier, Cutter, and Olivia meet Gerald Root, a man who looks exactly like Angier.
Robert Angier, John Cutter, Olivia Wenscombe, Bernard FallonBorden surprises Sarah with a new house.
Alfred Borden, Sarah Borden, Jess BordenAngier and Olivia test the mechanics of the new trick.
Robert Angier, Olivia WenscombeRoot performs as Angier for the first time.
Robert Angier, John Cutter, Olivia Wenscombe, Bernard FallonAngier performs the Transported Man trick.
Robert Angier, Bernard FallonAngier and Olivia celebrate, but Angier remains obsessed with Borden.
Robert Angier, John Cutter, Olivia Wenscombe, Bernard FallonTesla tests the machine for Angier.
Robert Angier, Nikola TeslaOlivia approaches Borden for a job.
Alfred Borden, Olivia Wenscombe, Bernard FallonRoot confronts Cutter.
Robert Angier, John Cutter, Bernard FallonAngier and Cutter discuss the blackmail.
Robert Angier, John CutterAngier and Root prepare for the show.
Robert Angier, Bernard FallonAngier reads Borden's diary.
Robert AngierBorden meets Root at a tavern.
Alfred Borden, Bernard FallonAngier performs his act, but Borden sabotages it by appearing on the lift and humiliating him.
Robert Angier, Alfred Borden, John CutterCutter tends to Angier's broken leg while Root remains hanging.
Robert Angier, John CutterAngier observes the success of Borden's show.
Robert AngierAngier confronts Olivia about her relationship with Borden and demands the notebook.
Robert Angier, Olivia WenscombeBorden and Fallon discover the wreckage of their shop.
Alfred Borden, Bernard FallonFallon follows Borden, while Angier follows both.
Robert Angier, Alfred Borden, Bernard FallonFallon is trapped by Angier and Cutter.
Robert Angier, John Cutter, Bernard FallonAngier and Borden meet to exchange the notebook for the secret.
Robert Angier, Alfred BordenAngier and Cutter decode the notebook.
Robert Angier, John CutterNothing? You never understood, did you? Why we did this? The audience knows the truth- that the world is simple. Miserable. Solid all the way through. But if you could fool them, even for a second, you could make them wonder. Then you got to see something very special... You really don't know?
I don't know how Borden does it, Robert. So either you wait for Borden to retire and buy his secret, or you can listen to how I would do this trick. Ang the only way I know is to find you a bloody good double.
It's done, John. I've hired a comedian. You know I hate comedians, which should indicate the may I felel about your friend's future as a stage magician.
Science is just a name for the art of rendering the exotic mundane. It has no boundaries- its very purpose is to destroy boundaries.
-get you attention. Then quietly SAY- "are you wacthing closely"... perhaps say a magic word or two... then I'll be gone.
Then stay off the stage. You're a magician, not a wizard- you have to get your hands dirty to achieve the impossible.
Some of the card pulls, prop tricks... And the trick I've been telling you about. The trick they'll remember me for.
I'll perform this feat in a manner never before seen by yourselves or by any other audience anywhere in the worth...
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