My name is Jane Vasco.
I could use you on my team.
I work for a secret government agency that hunts Neuros.
People who can do dangerous things with their minds.
On my first assignment...
something a little weird happened,
okay, something really weird.
Until I get some answers I'm getting on with my life,
doing my job...
stocking up on aspirin...
because I gotta tell ya,
pain's a bitch!
He's actually pretty good.
It's child's play. Cheap tricks.
Maybe.
All any of us have to do is... better.
- So, what're you guys doing tonight? - Levitation.
Wow, ambitious!
But... isn't there something in the rules against that?
I don't recall any rules about that.
Yeah, the rules strictly prohibit any pre-rigging of the stage.
- How you guys're gonna set up your wire rig? - Wire rig?
Yeah.
How else are you going to perform levitation?
Magic.
Next, Howard Morris. The amazing Howie!
Marcia!
Gentlemen, as you know,
the rules for tonight's audition strictly forbid any use of stage apparatus.
I assure you gentlemen, there is none.
And now, if you expected any gimmicks,
prepare to watch in wonder...
as you experience true magic.
True magic.
What do you make of that, Andre?
Some things carry over from childhood.
Okay, using my teddy bears for target practice,
wasn't particularly childlike.
But I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up.
For some kids it was music,
others wanted to be police officers.
And sometimes our childhood dreams don't work out the way we planned.
Come to think of it, entering the subway in the morning,
feels kind of like going into a kid's secret clubhouse.
Only in adulthood, the other kids in the clubhouse...
are professionals on a team...
Well, at least we pretend we are.
Morning.
- Is it? - Have you been here all night?
What are you working on?
Maybe I don't want to know.
Last night I saw a woman levitate into the air.
And then you woke up?
It wasn't a dream. It was a magic trick.
- I see. - Jane, I know this trick.
Ok, I know how it's done, but this guy, Howie, he didn't do it like that.
I mean this woman, she really levitated.
- Okay... - What is okay?
What the heck is okay about a real live human female levitating,
with no gimmicks involved, nothing?
I'm sorry.
Jane, don't you see what this means?
No, what does it mean?
Oh, great.
Either this guy Howie is smarter than I am, which we all know is impossible,
or it's something else that should be very obvious to all of you.
Howie's a Neuro.
Because he performed a magic trick that you can't figure out.
There's no other explanation.
Mental meltdown, yours?
- Ok, guys, you weren't there last night. - Where exactly is there?
The Magician's Palace. It's a very exclusive club.
Once a year, they hold auditions for amateur magicians who want to join.
And what were you doing there?
Research.
Is there something that came up on your radar that I'm unaware of?
No. I just figured, you know, the more we know the better prepared we are.
Yeah, you know, boss, just in case a Neuro wants to saw one of us in half.
Hey, boss, I know we were dealing with a bunch of comedians.
How'd the tryout go, Ri?
- Who said anything about me trying out? - Wait a second.
You do magic?
- Why am I not surprised. - Ok, yes! I do magic, ok?
And last night I made it to the final round of auditions.
And so did this guy, Howie.
Ok, boss, This trick that he did, it was impossible.
- Or just a really good trick. - No.
No, I mean, I've been working on this thing all night.
- There's only one explanation. - He's better than you.
Are you guys dense?
You guys can't even spot a Neuro when all the evidence is right there in front of you.
Well, maybe we need a volunteer from the audience to help us out.
Madam, you, you come help us please!
Okay, it's not going to be on my shoulders, when Howie's powers escalate, ok?
I mean, who knows what he's capable of.
- Yes, just, Connor, shut up. - Yeah.
This is not enough evidence to move forward. You're gonna have to let it go.
Oh, if only the blind could see.
We've got a new lead on that... what did you call it?
It's a shape-shifter - Right, the one we lost in Virginia...
Right now that's top priority. Let's roll.
Boss, when we find this guy, you chip him.
We'll get Riley to pull a quarter out of his ear.
Ok, I heard that!
He pet.
oh!
- Hi. - Hey! How we...
- Looking for this? - Look,
I realize that probably shouldn't be here.
No. You really shouldn't.
Look Howie, I'm really sorry. It's just... I got so nervous about tomorrow's audition,
I know you're going to have something amazing,
I just came here to find what I'm up against.
You're that desperate to get into the magician's palace?
- Yeah, it's pathetic, I know. - I could have you disqualified.
If I were you, I would.
Everybody makes mistakes, Ri.
May the best man win.
Really.
Okay. Thanks.
Hey, Ri. Any hot dates float your way?
- What do you want? - I need a favor.
Can you hack into Seth's database?
Yes. Why would I want to?
Seth ran some tests on me last week,
and every time I ask for the results, he says he doesn't have them yet.
Well, I think he does and he's keeping something from me.
- I just want to know the truth. - Okay... why would I want to?
- I'll owe you one? - You already owe me one.
Besides, I'm busy. I got to prepare for my audition.
Which I'm not going to win because Howie is a Neuro.
Okay, okay. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important.
My job's important.
- Besides, if Andre finds out about this... - All right, fine.
Don't help me.
I'm just the girl who can heal from anything.
Jane, wait!
- I'll make you a deal. - I'm listening.
I'll get the test results from Seth.
But you have to do me a favor in return.
And what might that favour be?
- You can't be serious. - Quit your complaining.
This is what all the best assistants are wearing.
So, you got your stuff covered? You know what to do?
Riley, if you make me go over this one more time...
I just want to make sure it goes off without a hitch.
Oh man, these judges are going to be blown away.
- I thought that was my job. - Ladies and gentlemen, Riley Jensen.
How do I look?
It's show time!
For my next illusion,
I'll need some help from my lovely assistant, Jane.
A 38-caliber revolver.
Please examine it to confirm that hasn't been modified in any way.
The ammunition, please.
And if you wouldn't mind loading it, sir.
Solid steel, six inches thick.
Are you satisfied that the gun and the ammunition are genuine?
They appear to be.
Excellent.
Is this, in fact, a spent 38 caliber slug?
It's still warm. And there's blood.
Very impressive, Mr. Jensen.
Howard Morris.
All the best assistants are wearing them?
Wait. If I may...
The illusion I had planned will pale in comparison to Riley's,
so instead I'd like to repeat what you just witnessed,
and turn it up a notch.
- Howie, you can't do this. - It's the ultimate challenge,
performing another magician's trick with no preparation, no rehearsal,
and the same props.
Howie, you don't understand. It's Jane... she...
- She knows the trick! - I have Marcia.
No, but Marcia, she... Look, please Howie, you can't do this.
Look, he cannot do this trick.
Each entrant is entitled to perform the illusion of their choosing, Mr. Jensen.
But you don't understand, he'll kill her!
No!
Bravo! Well done!
You walked out on me.
After I put on the star spangled tap dancing costume...
and let you shoot me in the gut. I think I held up my end of the bargain.
- So, you didn't see what happened? - What was there to see?
- You won, Howie lost, case closed. - No. Howie won.
But how is that possible?
Because he did the same trick. With my gun and with a normal assistant!
I was talking about Marcia. You know what I mean.
- But that's impossible. - Yeah? Not, no, for a Neuro it isn't!
Ri, you've got to let this go.
Yeah, what if I get a DNA results?
- Would that finally convince you? - I'm serious.
You're going to get yourself in trouble if you keep obsessing about this guy.
All right, fine.
I won't ask for your help any more.
Riley...
My end of the deal.
I got into Seth's computer.
You were right. He has the results of your tests.
And are you going to share?
You can take a look yourself. It was written in doctor-ese mumbo jumbo.
I have no idea what it means.
Then I guess I'm gonna have to ask someone who does.
- You lied to me. - I'm sorry?
You lied to me.
- About what? - My test results.
You told me you didn't have them yet.
Did you break into my files?
Is that bad?
Do you think I can't handle it?
Jane, the results aren't bad at all. They're just surprising.
- Andre thought... - You talked to Andre?
Yes, he agreed that I should recheck my procedures...
and look for any possible errors before telling you what I found.
- Which is? - All right,
you remember taking an IQ test in high school?
Since then, your score has gone up...
by 35 points.
- And? - Well, that simply doesn't happen.
Someone might gain five, or even ten points at most.
But a jump like yours it's astonishing.
The amazing Jane.
It's hardly bad news.
Your spatial processing, pattern recognition, analytical skills,
short and long-term memory they've all vastly improved.
- The question is why? - I'm not sure, but it's...
possibly related to your healing.
You see, in a normal brain, neurons are forming new connections all the time,
but most of those die off...
unless they're reinforced through practice and repetition but yours...
yours seem to survive. Can't believe you broke into my files.
So what happens now? I just...
keep getting smarter until, what, my brain explodes?
I wish I could tell you but...
this is uncharted territory for both of us.
But I think the chances of cranial detonation are low.
Thanks. That's reassuring.
No problem.
Now, I'll just reset my password.
A toast to the newest member of the Magician's Palace.
- Congratulations. Thank you.
I really appreciate you coming tonight.
I know I haven't exactly been a gracious loser,
but I'm telling you, the trick you did last night was mind-blowing.
Come on, Riley, you can drop the act.
What do you mean?
You know exactly how I did the trick with the gun, because you did it the same way.
You got to wonder how many of us there really are out there.
How many of us... what?
Real magicians.
People who don't need gimmicks or slight of hand...
People who can truly perform magic.
Right. Right, true magic, yeah.
I mean, I didn't want to be the first person to say it.
You know how some people are.
- I thought I was the only one. - No, no, no, no. There's...
Well, me and my dad.
When did you first know that you were... special?
After I inherited my dad's wand.
I'd been studying magic all my life but...
I only got good enough to do birthday parties or amateur nights,
but I was just doing the same fake tricks as everybody else.
But after I got the wand, it's like the conduit of real magic,
Everything changed.
You should've seen my face when that first rabbit actually materialized in that hat.
- That must have been something. - Yeah. So, what about you?
When did you first, you know, achieved your gift?
My gift, yeah.
- Could I get some more... - Oh, god!
- Spilt my water... I'm sorry. - Everything all right?
Fine.
- We'll clean it up right away. - That would be great.
- Are you okay? - Did I get you?
Don't worry about it, it's okay.
I'm sorry. I'm just...
No, it's okay.
What were you saying?
What was I saying?
- Oh, about my gift. - Yeah.
Yeah. Well, I was walking in town,
Chinatown actually, I was in Chinatown. And there was this little store,
This little store, and I went inside and there was this statue,
a Buddhist statue.
And the owner, he didn't want to sell it to me, right?
But there was something about it. I just felt like it was meant for me.
You know what that feeling is like, right?
- I did not really know. - Not really know.
Well, anyway, one thing led to another, I convinced him to sell it to me.
Buda-bing, buda-boom, that was that.
Gift.
- Did you switch cups? - What? No.
No.
- Are you trying to drug me? - No, of course not.
I am not trying to drug you.
You're after my wand.
No. I'm not after...
I thought you were a kindred spirit, Riley.
- I thought I could trust you. - No, but you can trust me.
Ok, I don't want your wand!
The truth is I work with some people...
that might be able to figure what's really happening to you.
I know exactly what's happening to you.
Howie?!
Ahhhh!
Howie!
Seth, I need you to run a DNA sample.
On what?
You'll see here.
- Egg shells? - Yeah.
You've encountered the first Neuro chicken, have you?
Cute.
These came out of Howie Morris' mouth.
So, basically all you need to do is get a saliva sample and run the test. Right?
- Well, theoretically. Ok, then let's do it.
Riley, I can't do anything without Andre's authorization.
Give me a break, Andre? We don't need to let him know.
I mean, we just run the DNA tests and that's it.
Sorry.
Do you... Do you want to take your magic egg shells with you?
...one of my team members has the right to follow hunches...
The right to follow their intuition, but when we are working on a single case,
Riley, I need you to keep your head in the game.
You want to follow this up? Do it at home!
Hey!
- He's still on the magician thing? - Yeah.
Now he wants a DNA test on an eggshell.
- Why not let him have it? - Why, you think he's onto something?
No. But you know Riley.
He's not going to let this go until he gets proof, one way or the other.
We have confirmed cases, they take priority.
Yes, we need Riley on those confirmed cases.
And while he's got his head wrapped up in this, he'll be so distracted that...
He's a professional, he'll have to get over it.
- I agree. - Good.
That's why I'm saying, why not show him the results from the DNA test,
and when they come back negative, we can get back to business as usual.
- Waste our resources to humor Riley. - it's a favor for a friend.
And before you argue with me, let me remind you...
that new and improved IQ number in my file?
It's higher than yours.
Who's there?
It's Riley.
What do you want?
Listen, Howie, I just want to explain what happened at the restaurant.
Ok? It's not what you thought.
You wanna come in?
Thanks.
Riley be gone!
Why don't you go over his place and look around?
I've already been there. The lunatic's probably off on his Neuro hunt.
Actually, that lunatic might be in a bit of trouble.
Those eggshells tested Neuro positive.
It's clear.
No sign that he's been here.
You gotta wonder what this Howie guy could've done to him.
For all we know he could be levitated over the East river by now.
I'm glad you find this amusing.
- He is a Neuro! - I know, but, c'mon!
What's the guy gonna do? Pull a rabbit out of his hat?
We still got to find him. And Riley too.
Howie, what have you...?
- Where are we? - The Magician's Palace.
If you're thinking of calling for help, don't bother.
This whole wing is being renovated.
- What did you do to me? - The disappearing sack trick.
I wish you could have seen it. It was very impressive.
What did it feel like?
Why don't you try it on yourself and find out?
You know, I didn't want it to come to this.
But you didn't give me much of a choice.
Lying to me, trying to steal my wand.
And who are these "people you work for?"
Government? Military?
People who want to use my gift for their own nefarious purposes?
It's not like that.
I know why you're doing this, Riley.
Is because you're jealous. Because I'm the real McCoy.
You're not the real McCoy, Howie, you're not a magician. You're cheating.
- Cheating? - Illusions take time and skill...
years of practice. Your "gift" just fell in your lap.
Hey, I earned this.
I spent my entire life proving myself worthy of my father's legacy.
This wand is my reward.
Enough with the wand, it's a stick.
And it has nothing to do with your ability.
What would you know about it?
You're what we call a Neuro.
You have a genetic mutation and that's what gives you your power.
- That's absurd! - It's what my team does.
We track down Neuros.
Some can control people's minds, start fires...
bring back the dead. You, you can do magic.
- You're delusional. - It's in your mind, Howie.
Your father's wand just gives you the confidence that you need.
No!
Your magic, when did it begin?
After my dad died,
I didn't have the heart to perform for a while.
When I started again, I decided to use his wand in my act as a kind of a...
as a tribute.
Nothing special happened, not for weeks.
When that rabbit first appeared in the hat,
I hadn't changed anything. I didn't do anything different,
I didn't even eat a decent breakfast.
So you thought of the wand.
I would have done the same.
I thought maybe it didn't work at first because...
I was out of practice, or I wasn't good enough.
And when the real magic came, I thought maybe it was...
a final gift from my father, to show that I deserved it.
Now you're telling me that's not true?
That the only thing my father left me was...
an old stick with chipped paint.
And that if it wasn't for some random mutation, I'd still be...
a marginally talented hack pulling a quarter out of nine years old's ear.
That's what you're telling me?
Yeah. Pretty much.
Okay, I've got Howie's recent credit card activity.
Mostly online purchases of books and magic supplies.
- Several charges for pizza delivery. - What a life!
- Plane tickets? Car rentals? Hotel rooms? - No.
Come on, what would genius boy do to find himself? Think!
Wait! Try checking traffic cameras near Howie's apartment.
That's a great idea.
I have no clue how to do that.
Come on! Even with that oversized IQ of yours?
Since none of you guys were taking me seriously,
I had to take matters into my own hands.
If you're watching this, it means I've been missing now for about twelve hours.
If I were sitting there, with you guys, which I'm obviously not,
I might be able to help you. So...
He's thorough. You gotta give him that.
I've hooked up my heat signature to the database...
and linked into N.S.A.'s satellites.
The red dot you see should indicate where my location is.
Hopefully one of you guys can read a map...
and I'm not at the bottom of a river somewhere by the time you get to get this.
So come find me.
Where is that?
I'd say it's way at the end of Old Post road.
Let's rock and roll.
Maybe you're right. Maybe my abilities did come from some... mutant gene.
The thing I'm realizing, Riley is... it doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter? Of course it matters.
Why?
- Because you'll know the truth. - But magic is all about hiding the truth.
- Using an illusion to complete the trick. - Your life isn't a trick, Howie.
If you have a genetic anomaly, it needs to be dealt with.
Dealt with? What do you mean?
Riley, how would you like to spend the rest of your life in a rabbit cage?
- We can chip you! - Chip me?
It's a small chip that emits an electrical charge.
- That puts an end to my magic? - It's not magic, Howie.
My whole life, I grew up watching my father bring a sense of...
mystery and wonder to people's lives.
Finally, I can do the same.
I don't understand you or your team, Riley.
Why would you want to "chip" somebody like me? I'm not dangerous.
It's not what we want.
It's just over time we've realized that every Neuro is potentially dangerous.
Why? Because I'm different?
Because I can do things that most people can't?
The same about Einstein or Hawking.
And what about Mozart?
He was composing when he was four. You gonna chip him too?
Somehow, I doubt that Mozart was a Neuro.
What if he was?
You know what your problem is, Riley?
- I'm still tied to a chair? - You're scared.
Scared? Scared of what?
Anything. Anything you don't understand.
Instead of enjoying the ride, you try to figure it out and make it all logical.
Of course.
It's probably why you love your computers so much.
- They're reliable. - Is that all that matters in life?
Reliable?
What about the joy of mystery?
Love?
Don't you remember the first time you saw someone turn a tiger...
into a beautiful woman in the blink of an eye?
Before you started calculating it and explaining it all to yourself?
Wasn't there a moment where your jaw dropped...
and your heart stuck in your throat and all you could think of was...
Wow.
You want to take that away?
From children? From adults? From yourself?
- My heat signature! - Excuse me?
Howie, you nee to go. You need to get out of here.
- Why? - My teammates, they'll be coming.
I gave them a way to find me. You have to go now!
- Conner, wait...! - Ahhh!
You can't hold me.
Into thin air!
No!
Yes!
Riley,
- ... you okay? - Yeah. Great.
- We made a mistake! - Yes.
I was just about to say that we should have trusted your instincts more. Good job.
Howie is not a threat.
Ok? We should de-chip him and let him go.
De-chip? Is that possible?
The doctors at NICO have done some surgeries.
It's not conclusive but they're suggesting it's possible.
There's a step backward for the world.
- And why would they want to do this? - I don't know. It's not my department.
If anyone deserves to be de-chipped it should be Howie.
He's harmless. He just wants to make people happy.
He's a Neuro, Riley. The path to hell is paved with good intentions.
Howie's only on the path to the Magician's Palace.
Sorry, we can't take the risk.
Then you better chip me, too.
What are you doing?!
You see, you can take the risk.
There's always a choice.
But then, you might need me to save your asses. Again.
- That's not funny. - The debate is over.
Howie is chipped and he goes to NICO. Connor.
Thanks for trying.
Is there any way you could de-chip him on your own?
No. Seth would have to operate, and...
you know Seth. Without Andre's authorization...
What?
When I first joined the team, Seth and I we ran some tests on the Neuro chip,
to find out if anything might disrupt its function.
- And? - If I can create...
- ... a strong enough electromagnetic field. - Can you do that?
If anyone can...
This is your deal, Riley.
You're on your own.
- You got a pick up for us? - Yeah.
- When did this happen? - Last month.
They upgraded everything.
They've already been chipped, they don't pose any threat.
I don't make the orders. I drive the freaks.
Where is it?
What do you want?
Look, I've got to get you out of here.
Why bother?
You've taken away the one thing from me that ever truly mattered.
You think I could ever go back to a normal, boring, life?
It's not that bad, is it?
Only by comparison to a world filled with magic.
I think I can disable your chip.
What?
Just get ready.
For what?
Trust me.
Howie!
Are you okay?
You've electrocuted me?
We don't have much time.
Try your magic.
Try to disappear.
- It's no use. - No, you want to try!
Please,
try it.
Come on.
I will vanish...
Now!
You need to concentrate.
Okay?
Look, just pretend like I'm the audience.
Ok, Howie, amaze me.
Amaze me!
Come on, Howie!
I can't.
The chip's still working.
The jolt that I gave you has got to work.
I'm telling you I can't!
- I've got to get you out of here. - Don't, don't!
- I'm willing to accept my fate. - Yeah, well, I'm not.
Come on!
- What is this place? - Someplace I have to get you out of.
What the hell happened here?
What do you know about this?
I don't.
And where the hell is Riley?
Come on, Howie! We have to hurry!
Howie, you need to try it, try it again!
- Riley, I told you that... - Howie, we're running out of time!
Take this.
Just try again for your dad.
Come on.
The amazing Howie will now... be gone!
Riley.
Hey, boss.
Beautiful day, huh?
Where's Morris?
Howie? Isn't he in his cell?
You know damn well he's not in his cell!
No, I have no idea.
How does a chipped Neuro get out of his cell without setting off security?
Magic?
Magic.
It always amazed me how Riley was able to pull a rabbit out of his hat...
when it came to computer information,
I never dreamed he was able to do it literally as well.
In the end Howie was right,
it didn't matter to the non-magicians in his audience how he did his tricks.
They were there to be entertained and amused.