Relic Hunter (1999–2002): Season 1, Episode 16 - A Vanishing Art - full transcript

Accompanying Max the magician, Sydney and Nigel journey to Atlantic City, New Jersey, searching for Hungary's lost, allegedly cursed Royal Sceptre.

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING]

[CROWD GASPING]

[FLUTTERING, CLAPPING]

Happy anniversary,
my dear.

It delights me to see
you enjoying this.

He is widely regarded.

Deservedly.
This entire evening...

my mind has been
magically free of our
country's grievous woes.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

And now, may it please
your highnesses,



and members
of the court,

I shall endeavor to defy
the laws of nature...

by levitating in this
very room.

First, I must enter
the trance,

to render my body
as light as air.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

WOMAN: Young man,
are you all right?

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

Your highnesses,
forgive me.

Something so unexpected.

Whilst I was in my trance,

I was approached...
visited...

by a being from
the spirit world.

She called herself Sophie.



Empress Sophie?
Your dead mother.

She had a message,
urgent, for your highnesses.

What sort of message?

The Royal Sceptre
of Hungary is cursed.

It has been the sole cause
of Hungary's troubles.

And so, in order to protect
you and the country from
further harm,

she has removed it.

[MURMURING]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

How do you do that?

Where do they,
I mean...

how do they th-there's
so little space in there,
but you keep...

Magic, Nigel.

I mean, it would have to be,
really, wouldn't it?

Claudia, these need
to be filed under last names,

not first names...

Rex?

[FLUTTERING]

SYDNEY: No matter how
many times I see that trick,
it's still amazing to me.

Hello, Sydney.

The dove.

Just like the first time
we met in Marrakesh.

You've come a long way
from doing coin tricks

for tourists
outside my hotel.

A Dirham.
Don't tell me that...

the same one you tossed
into my hat that day.

I was ready to give up
my dream and
you convinced me not to.

Ah, it was just lunch
and a pep talk, as I recall.

It changed my life,
Sydney. I've never
forgotten it.

That's strange,
there's something moving
around in here.

What is this?

Something valuable coming out
of there? Now that's magic.

What are you doing
here, Rex?

Well, I need
your help again.

An expert at making things
disappear needs an expert
at making things reappear.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

REX: The Great Brodsky.

Does that mean
anything to you?

A magician?

Had something to do with
Hungary's cursed Scepter?

That's right.

The Sceptre vanished
during a magic show
hoax for the royal family.

He fenced it
somewhere in Europe.

So the world
has always assumed.

But I have reason
to believe differently.

John Curtin's
case book.

The famous
Scotland Yard detective?

REX: I found that
at an auction
in San Francisco.

NIGEL: What's in it?

The usual. Interviews
with palace guards,
theories about the trick.

There's something else.

Something that no one has
ever paid much attention to.

Pick a page,
any page.

A dove.

Now the dove was
Brodsky's insignia.

But look at the number.

SYDNEY: 20446.

Everyone's always
thought it was a
phone number.

And it was, by some bizarre
coincidence, the number
of a pub in London...

which is why
no one ever thought
twice about it.

But it stands for
something else as well?

After the hoax,
Brodsky came back
to Atlantic City.

There he bought
a small house,

tore it down,
and built a new one.

The new house was so big,

it spilled over
onto the next street.

That next
became the new address,

but the original address
of that smaller house

20446.

You think he
brought the Sceptre
back to America?

Yes. And hid it somewhere
in that house.

If we find it...

network special for me,
and you return the Sceptre
to the people of Hungary.

[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]

SYDNEY: This magic mansion

had to have been
explored a million times.

Yes, but never by
an expert with a
specific object in mind.

SYDNEY: But how do you
know that he didn't just sell
the Scepter's gems?

They must have been
worth a fortune.

Nigel, please.

Because rich men don't default
on their house payments
and then flee the country.

Is that when the
International Brotherhood
of Magicians

took over and turned
it into a private club?

REX: That's right. They rescued
it from the bank 65 years ago.

Amazing.

[CREAMING ON TV]

[MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING]

The world's
largest illusion.

More hidden rooms
and secret passageways
than a rabbit warren.

Well, let's make
like bunnies.

REX: Ah, there is something
I've been
meaning to mention.

Yes?

I was afraid to tell you
earlier, in case you backed out.

Yes?

No one's actually
allowed in the magic
mansion unless they're...

a magician?
Or a magician's assistant,
of course.

Of course.
Which you both are, now.

Your memberships
to the magic mansion.

[FLUTTERING]

I don't know
about this, Rex.

You don't have to do a thing.
Just act like you know
what you're doing.

We don't know
the first thing
about magic.

Just smile a lot,
and look paranoid.

Paranoid?

Nowhere does a magician
have to be more careful
about guarding his secrets...

than when surrounded
by other magicians.

You'll be fine,
I promise.

NIGEL: Depends what
he means by fine,
I suppose.

Well, if you'd pulled
them out of my pants,
that've been special.

Ah, why don't
we just...

We'll get our keys
from Malcolm.

He manages
the mansion.

Where do we find
this Malcolm?

Rex!

Hey. I thought that was you
on my monitor.

Welcome back.

Malcolm.

Oh, welcome to you.

So, you're doing a show?
No one told me.

No, no, just rehearsing
an illusion.

My new assistants,
Sydney and Nigel.

I don't
recognize them.

Canadian.

Oh. What part?

Vancouver.
Toronto.

Toronto.
Vancouver.

I'm from Toronto,
he's from Vancouver.

Yeah. We met
in the middle.

Calgary. It's not much
of a magic city, Calgary.

It's too cold.

Hands get stiff,
the bunnies freeze up,
and the wand, well...

so, you're a husband
and wife team?

No, we just bicker like one.
It's part of the act.

I'm very,
very much single.

Oh. Oh, then maybe
we could have
a drink sometime.

You know, pull something
out of a hat.

[LAUGHING]

I'd like that.

Yeah, good.
Okay, then.
Enjoy your stay.

Erica, The Erotic,
the house magician.
Quite entertaining.

The Erotic?
I don't understand.

Why would she bill herself
as Erica, The Erotic?

I mean, I don't mean to be
unkind, but there's nothing
in particular that's very...

How'd she do that?

Do what?

That.

You got the best
two-bedroom suite
in the club.

Now you two get comfortable,
and we'll meet
in the bar in an hour.

Right.

And don't get
caught off guard
by this place, Sydney.

Things aren't quite
what they seem.

They never are.

Where are you going?

I'm going
to poke around.
See you in the bar.

One hour?

[EERIE MUSIC PLAYING]

It's not a mirror.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[WHIRRING]

[GASPS]

[HINGE CREAKING]

[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]

Whoa!

I think I'll go round.

[CRASHING]

[LAUGHING]

It took me six
visits to locate
that passageway.

Bravo.

[CLAPPING]

Erica. We passed
in the hallway.

Hi, Sydney.
Thanks for...

Oh, don't mention it.

I remember what it's like
to be new around here.

Sometimes they take their club
a little too seriously.

So, you're assisting Rex?

That's right.

Malcolm likes to try
and wave his magic
wand a lot.

Got to watch
his sleight of hand.

I get that feeling.
Thanks for the warning.

Well, I got a show.
Er...Maybe we can
get together some time.

I'd like that.

MALCOLM: You enjoy yourself.

Let me know if you
need anything.

REX: That was a close call.

I'm sure the knife was just
a mechanical malfunction.

SYDNEY: Yeah, maybe.
Thankfully Erica was in
the member's dining room...

otherwise I'd be getting
the third degree
from Malcolm right now.

I warned you
about this place.

You know, Brodsky
used to love to
play tricks on his guests.

But it was nothing
compared to his final exit.

During his last performance,
he vanished from the stage,
never to be seen again.

Trap door?

And a getaway car out back,
no doubt. But nobody knows
what happened to him.

Some think it was the curse
of the Sceptre that got him.

Do you know where Brodsky's
bed chamber was?

Unfortunately, yes.
It's now Malcolm's office.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

Check the knob.
See if it's unlocked.

It is unlocked,
but the door won't open.

Must be dead bolted
from the inside.

Ugh...
I can't see anything.

[DOOR CREAKS]

Wait a minute,
there's movement.

There's someone coming
there's someone coming
towards us!

It... it looks like a...

[THUD]

What are you doing?

Sydney.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[CLICKING]

[CROWD APPLAUSE]

MALCOLM:
I'll catch you later.

Hide.

Where?

Anywhere.

I'd almost
given up on you.

Given up?

I've been waiting
to see you,
so that I could...

apologize for my
behavior earlier.

The wall was unlocked.

Look at me.

I'm here to apologize,
and all I'm doing is rambling.

Well...

you're probably still,
you know,

suffering from your ordeal.

I knew you'd
be understanding.

Would you
like a drink?

I'd love one.

Excellent.

[POURING DRINK]

[GASPS]
Is that the time?

That's not the time,
is it?

Tell me it's a trick.
It's not a trick.

No.

Rolands is going
to kill me.

I've completely
lost track of... the time.

Rain check?

Hmm.

[LOUD HELICOPTER SPUTTERING]

[SCREAMING]

[WHIRRING]

Thank God.
Excuse me.

I'm afraid
I've been completely
turned around...

[SCREAMING]

[APPLAUSE]

MAN 1: Bravo.

[ALL CHEERING]

MAN 2: Smashing!

Sydney?

SYDNEY: I'm in the shower.

There are definitely
bad things going on here.

I practically
got killed.

SYDNEY: Someone's trying
to scare us away.

Well, it's working.
I'm scared.

SYDNEY: I have to talk
to Rex about the stage.

Right.

SYDNEY: From Malcolm's window
overlooking the stage...

I could see a design
painted on the floor.

What kind of design?

SYDNEY: A dove in a hat.

Matches the sketch in the
detective's case book.

Great.

Oh my God,
what did I do?

What?

Nothing.

[BREATHING NERVOUSLY]

[TAPPING]

See the mirror in here?

The design
is really cool.

Very cool. Very cool.

It's a little foggy.

No, no!

What?

Nothing, nothing.

You know what? I can't hear
a word you're saying.
I'll be out in a sec.

No. I mean,
there's no rush.

[GASPS]

Are you okay?

Sydney, this is not
what it seems.

Of course,
nothing... here... is.

Put yourself in my place.
But not naked.

I would be naked.

I mean, why would
I be taking a shower
with my clothes on?

What are you
talking about?

Oh!

I... babble sometimes.

I don't know why.

This place, um...
makes me nervous.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[RIPPING]

[APPLAUSE]

How did it go
with Malcolm?

He seemed
pretty good, I think.

Don't encourage him, Sydney.

How's Erica's act?

Great.

Erica...

your act
is sensational.

Do you
really think so?

Magnificent.

I believe you ran into
Sydney at dinner.

Hello again.

Hello.

And this is?

Nigel... Bailey.

Oh, right. I believe we ran
into each other in the hallway.

Yeah.

Well, I really
must be going.

Mm...

SYDNEY: This is the room
I was talking about.
Let's get a closer look.

[CLANGING]

[SHUSHING]

Sorry.

Remember we were talking
about how Brodsky must have...

used the trap door
in the stage?

Yeah?
Do you know for sure
that there is one?

Of course. It's used
all the time in performances.

Where does the passage
that's connected to it lead?

There is no passage.

Are you sure?

Yes. It's just a space.

The only way in or out
is through the stage floor. Why?

Well, the picture of the dove,
that the detective had sketched
in his book,

the one you said
was Brodsky's logo?
I think it's more than that.

I think it's another clue.
How do you mean?

Well, from Malcolm's office

I could see the top
of the stage.

That same image is inlaid
on the floor, right where
the trap door would be.

I think that detective Curtin
thought that's where
the Sceptre is hidden.

I'm going to take
a closer look.

The stage is used practically
around the clock for rehearsals
and performances...

and when it's not
it's well secured.

Magician's paranoia again?
That's right.

There has to be
another way.

Well, there is...
one way...

[DRUMBEAT]

Malcolm!

Ah. Hello there.

Did you enjoy
the late show?

Malcolm, I was wondering.
I know I didn't book the stage

but I was hoping to do
a test run for a live audience.

Are there any
slots available?

Oh, it's a little
tight, Rex...

but... I might be able
to find you an hour tomorrow.

You're one of a kind,
Malcolm. I appreciate it.

I don't know exactly
how you did that,
Sydney, but thanks.

What exactly
did I do?

Well, you just cleared
the way for you and Nigel

to become my
assistants for real.

No. I am not wearing this.

It's the only way to get you
on that stage, Sydney.

The only way.

[SIGHING]

What are you .
looking at?
Nothing.

Why do I have to wear
the costume for rehearsal?

Because I want you to
get the feel for it.

You have to look comfortable
on that stage.

You know, like you've
worn it before.

Okay, I guess.
Where's his?

The one the costume house
sent over didn't fit. They're
working on something else.

Are we ready?

Ready.
Ready.

Right. Now, the object
is to get you two

into the pit under
the stage...

long enough
to have a good look around.

Now, this illusion here
should do the trick.

One more time,
just the finale.

Ready?

Yes! Excellent.
Now you look like assistants.

I thought they
were assistants?

Diamonds in the rough.
They just needed
a little polishing.

Is that right?

Well, I'm sure
you wouldn't have hired them
unless they were qualified.

REX: Thanks again for the
stage time, Malcolm.
I really appreciate it.

You can thank Erica.
It's her slot.

Erica?

Yes.

Yes, she seems to have
taken a liking to you.

And we all know how
likable you can be, right?

Well, good luck.

Thanks.

I'll be watching.

Nigel, where are you?
Come on, we have
to be downstairs soon.

[ARABIC MUSIC PLAYING
]

Not a word. It's all
they had left in my size.

Well, the important
thing is, you can pull it off.

Elton John
couldn't pull this off.

The second we find
that Sceptre,
I'm...taking it off.

I know
what you mean.

Malcolm doesn't want
us here, does he?

I don't think so.

He'd have
intimate knowledge...

of the corridors
and the secret spaces,
wouldn't he?

Yes.

NIGEL: How to program
that mechanical man,
and other assorted tricks.

Yes...

He'd also have access
to the props, wouldn't he?

The props that we're going
to be going on stage with
in just a few minutes.

Yes.
Well, that's
a lot of yes'es.

Yes. Just be careful, Nigel.

You know, that hat's kind
of cute on you.

[APPLAUSE]

There you are.
I thought you'd
changed your mind.

No, no, can't wait
to get out there.
Raring to go.

Come on. Let's go.

[LAUGHTER]

MALCOLM: You're too kind.
You're way too kind.

And now,
ladies and gentlemen...

the magic mansion is proud
to welcome back one of its most
talented members.

Now, give it up for
the amazing Rex Rolands.

[APPLAUSE]

[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]

[UPBEAT MUSIC CONTINUES]

[CHAIN JINGLING]

You know, it's so
hard to find
good help these days.

You give them everything
and then you turn your back,

and they stick it to you.

[LAUGHTER]

Backstabber's, all of them.

Ugh!

[UPBEAT MUSIC CONTINUES]

What's going on?

He's still in there.

You see what I mean?
Grandstanding.

What's the matter, honey?
You got an itch you can't reach?

Hyah!

[APPLAUDING]

[GRUNTS]

Ah. Ooh, Nigel.
Right here.

Okay, what happened?

The catch on the bottom
of the box got stuck.

It must have been tampered
with since this afternoon.

Someone is
definitely on to us.

You think now more than ever
that the Sceptre is here?

Absolutely.

Why would anyone go to
so much trouble to stop us?

You catch on
quick, Nige.

Thanks.

There's got to be another
passageway out of here.

Well, we better
move quickly.

We haven't got that much time
till the end of the act.

Wait a minute.

What?

[GASPS]

Bingo.

I need a lift.

[STRAINING]

Hidden in plain sight.
Come on.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

Oh...

Ah. We can jump it.

Sydney, I'm not exactly
in track shoes.

Here, give me a hand.

What are you doing?

You'll see.
Just give me a hand.

[PANTING]

You can't be serious?

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

Okay, come on.

I can't.
I know you're afraid.

Of course I'm afraid!
Afraid of having
every bone in my body...

crushed on impact by
this unmeasurable fall!

You won't fall.

How do you know
I won't fall?

I fall a lot.
I'm a chronic faller!

Nigel, it's at least
a half mile wide!

[WHISPERS]
Come on...

That's it. That's good.

You're all right.
Just the few short feet.

Okay. Keep coming.

Just don't look down.
Huh?

[MUMBLING]

I said don't look down!

[SCREAMS]

Nigel!

I think I just aged...
fifty years.

Mirrors.

[DOOR CREAKING]

Nigel.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

It's a recreation of the
Hungarian throne room
Brodsky took the Scepter from.

NIGEL: Why would he do
something like that?

That... that's not Brodsky,
is it?

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC, CRASH]

A dummy.

Must be the one Brodsky used
to fool everyone during
the hoax.

Sydney.

The Sceptre.

At last. The audience
this place was always missing.

Erica.

That's right.
Erica Brodsky.

Brodsky's
great granddaughter?

I don't like
to advertise that.

My great grandfather's name
doesn't exactly open doors
in this business.

It was you who rigged
the mechanical man.

ERICA: I was hoping
that you would go away,

but you didn't.
You've come to rob his grave.

We're not robbing
a grave, Erica.

We're retrieving something your
great grandfather stole.

My great grandfather was
a master illusionist...

and he should
have been celebrated.

He took advantage of people.
That's why he suffered.

You can repair
his memory.

I will remember my
great grandfather the way
he wanted to be remembered.

And you? You will both
be forgotten.

Scream your lungs out.
No one will hear.

What are you going to do
when Rex comes looking?

He's not going
to come looking.

He is going to go looking.

Mexico, Bahamas, Spain.

Wherever he thinks the two
double-crossing thieves
have run off to.

It's no use.

We're going to need
something sharp
to pick the locks.

Could your teeth find
a bone in a bustier?

[MUSIC CRESCENDO]

Pass it back.

[GROANING]
Good.

This should come in handy
for the cage lock, too.

After all we've
gone through,

I'm not going to leave
this behind.

[APPLAUDING]

[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]

Bravo!
Bravo!

WOMAN: She's found
the Sceptre.

Bravo! Bravo!

Bravo, Bravo.

Well done!
Bravo!

Encore.
[APPLAUSE]

[GASPED]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CONTINUES]

[GROANING]

Bravo!

[APPLAUSE]

Bravo! Bravo!

[ALL CHEERING]

So Brodsky was buried
with the Sceptre after all.

In a way, only he
could have conceived
a memorial to his greatest feat.

A memorial we almost
became a part of.

But it was all worth it,
wasn't it?

The real Sceptre now
back in its rightful place?

Not to mention
your TV special.

There is that.

You know, you and Nigel
weren't half bad on stage.

I could use a couple
of assistants for the special.

Thanks, but I seem
to have my hands full
with my own assistant here.

[FLUTTERING]

[RUNNING FOOTSTEPS]

I still can't believe you
haven't caught that thing.

Well, I did, but then
I lost it again...
working on my act.

Your act?

Yeah. Well, I was so amazed
by those tricks that I decided
I'd give it a shot.

Here. Pick a card.

Claudia, I really
don't think...

No, no. I can do this.
Just pick one.

Now, look at it,
and don't show me.

Put it back.

Okay.

It was a
black card, right?
Red.

Face card?
Numbered.

Between five and ten.
Between ace and four.

Diamond?
Heart.

Four.
Lower.

Two.
Higher.

This isn't working.
No.

Well, that's okay.
I'll just try the next trick.

You like it?

Very fitting.
You certainly amaze me.

Yeah? Well, wait
until you see this.

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]