The Prestige

T H E P R E S T I G E FADE IN: TOP HATS. Clustered in a small glade. As we SUPER TITLES, a BLACK CAT slinks its way through them. As TITLES END- BORDEN (V.O.) Are you watching closely? A SECOND BLACK CAT races into frame, HISSING, SPITTING, CHASING the first cat into the woods beyond and we- CUT TO: INT. CLUTTERED WORKSHOP -- DAY Moving along a row of CANARIES in CAGES. CUTTER (V.O.) Every magic trick consists of three part, or acts... Stop at a cage. Weathered HANDS envelope the canary. Hands and voice belongs to a man in his 60's- CUTTER. CUTTER (V.O.) (CONT'D) The first part is called the Pledge... A LITTLE GIRL pershes on a chest in the workshop, watching. CUTTER ...the magician shows you something ordinary- Cutter moves to a small ORNATE CAGE resting on a prop table. CUTTER (V.O.) (CONT'D) A deck of cards, ar a bird... INT. SCALA THEATRE, LONDON -- NIGHT A packed house. Many hands raised. Move in on a BEARDED MAN, his gloved hand tentatively rising into the air. CUTTER (V.O.) ...or a man. A GLAMOROUS ASSISTANT beckons Bearded Man from the aisle. He shuffles along his row towards her. Embarrassed. CUTTER (V.O.) (CONT'D) He show you this object, and pledges to you its utter normality... Bearbed Man and four other VOLUNTEERS follow the Assistant down towards the stage... 2. On which stands the magician, leaning on his cane, smiling. This is ROBERT ANGIER, 35, an American.