- A magician is asked by the mother of a plane-crash victim to check into a possible conspiracy; he discovers that the plane crash was staged.
- Wealthy Tony Dorian, who lives on his jet called the Spirit, is an illusionist, who performs a nightclub magic act. At one of his shows, a young man named H. October dies seemingly of a heart attack in front of a middle aged woman in the audience. Tony can see that she is spooked beyond seeing the man die in front of her, Mr. October who she did not know. In wanting to help her, Tony learns her story. She is Nora Coogan, and was scheduled to meet a man - probably the dead man - who she did not know at the show, and who told her that not meeting would threaten the life of her daughter, Mary Rose Coogan. The issue is is that Mrs. Coogan believed that Mary Rose already died, three weeks ago in a company plane accident, the company in question being Seattle-based Baker Aviation, owned by wealthy Joseph Baker. The four victims aboard the plane included two flight crew, Mary Rose, and Lucian Baker, who was Mary Rose's fiancé and Joseph Baker's son. However, the plane and thus the bodies were never recovered. With the help of his good friend, columnist and Renaissance man Max Pomeroy and Max's wheelchair-bound researcher son Dennis Pomeroy, Tony learns that the dead man is not H. October as his identification claims, but rather Lucian Baker. Others also seem to be looking for Mary Rose and will kill for information on her whereabouts. As such, Tony believes that Mary Rose may still be alive, and goes about trying to find her and why others are after her. Tony knows that Joseph Baker is somehow involved, but does not know if the seductive younger Mrs. Joseph Baker - Sally - is also, if the rumors are true that their one year marriage is on the rocks, or if she has other motives for seemingly helping him. A little Tony Dorian smoke and mirrors may assist in discovering all the answers.—Huggo
- At a hotel in Los Angeles, magician Anthony Dorian performs the Levitating Woman illusion. Outside, a cab pulls up and Nora Coogan gets out. She looks around nervously and goes inside, and October watches her go. A man in a car down the street, Adams, watches October,
Nora enters the room where Tony is performing and the maître d leads her to a reserved table. She orders a ginger ale for a drink, and glances around the room rather than looking at the stage. Meanwhile, Tony has his assistants bring a glass capsule shaped like a rocket on the stage and calls for a collaborator from the audience. The spotlight picks out a volunteer, Lorraine Ellis, but first it shines on Nora, who nervously says that she can't. Tony notices, but selects Lorraine. As he leads Lorraine up to stage, Tony notices Nora nervously wiping her sweaty face.
Outside, October checks his watch and confirms that it's 9:30. He goes in, and Adams goes in after him.
Tony has Lorraine lock him in the capsule.
As October goes up the stairs to where Tony is performing, he clutches at his chest in pain. Despite that, he keeps going.
Smoke fills the capsule, obscuring Tony.
Adams goes up the stairs, brushing past bypassers.
October sees Nora, and a cloud of smoke appears by the band. Tony appears briefly and then disappears, reappearing and disappearing around the room. He finally appears in the middle of the audience and takes a bow, goes back on stage, and opens the capsule to reveal another female assistant. Nora sees October, still clutching at his chest. He reaches out to her and then collapses, and the maître d calls for a doctor and confirms that October is dead. Tony approaches Nora and asks if she'd like to get out of the crowd, and she goes with him while Adams watches from the doorway.
Tony takes Nora to his dressing room and figures that Nora knew October. She nervously starts to go, and Tony addresses her by name since he knows she had a reservation under the name Mallory. Nora insists that she didn't know October, and Tony figures that she was expecting him. She says that it's about her daughter, Mary Rose. A man called her that afternoon and told her that she had a reservation, and if she told anyone it could cost Mary Rose her life. However, Nora believes Mary Rose has been dead for three weeks. She was on a company airplane with Baker Aviation that disappeared in Seattle, and Mary Rose worked in the PR department. The man who called her would recognize Nora by the beads she's wearing, but only Mary Rose knows Nora has them.
Tony tells Nora to wait there and goes to the maître d, Maurice,
Adams finds Tony's dressing room and discovers the door is locked. He jimmies the lock, goes in, and tells Nora not to scream. He draws a gun and tells her to cooperate with him.
Tony goes to the room where October's body is being kept, and the house doctor Fryer is there. Fryer congratulates Tony on his show, and says that he believes October died of a heart attack. The doctor has October's name from his ID, and Tony notes Fryer putting October's personal effects in an envelope. He asks to see the body, suggesting he might know him, and Fryer agrees. As he examines the body, Tony switches the envelope, and then leaves. Out in the hallway, Tony looks at October's belongings, including an air ticket from Seattle to LA.
Adams assures Nora that no one wants to hurt Mary Rose and asks where she is. Tony comes back and hears Adams talking through the door, as Adams asks Nora what October told her before he died. As he threatens to kill Nora since she knows nothing useful, they both hear someone at the door. Adams goes over to investigate, and finds Tony there. He tells the magician at gunpoint to come in slowly, and Tony throws doves in Adams' face. Adams runs out and makes good his escape, and Tony confirms with Nora that she has no idea who Adams is. She wonders if there's a chance Mary Rose is alive, and Tony invites her to spend a couple of days in San Francisco.
As they drive to the airport, Tony confirms with Nora that four people were aboard the airplane when it disappeared: Mary Rose, the CEO Joseph Baker's son Lucian, a pilot, and a co-pilot. Mary Rose and Lucian were in love, but Nora never met him. Nora gives Tony a photo of Mary Rose, and notes the shackle scar on his wrist. She points out that she doesn't know anything about him, and Anthony tells her to just sit back and late him do his act.
When they arrive at the airport runway, Tony's pilot Jerry Wallace sees Tony's car and lowers the ramp at the back of the plane so Tony can drive aboard. The pilot takes the plane up and Adams watches it go. Once they're aloft, Tony tells Nora that the plane is his home and does a sketch of October, but Nora still doesn't recognize him.
When they arrive in San Francisco, Anthony drives Nora to the home of Max Pomeroy. Max's live-in mate Lulu greets them at the door and ushers them in, and Max greets Tony and Nora. Nora says that Mary Rose was a great admirer of Max's column, and Lulu takes Nora to her room.
Once they're alone, Max tells Tony what he's learned about October. A heart specialist in Seattle saw October earlier that day for the first time, and October had a congenital heart defect. October declined to be hospitalized and one of Max's people are watching the LA morgue. Tony shows Max his sketch of October's face, and Max calls his son Dennis and tells him to get any media photos of Max's time in Seattle and any contact he had with Baker Aviation.
Later, Tony and the others meet with the wheelchair-bound Dennis in his study. Max explains that he keeps microfilm records of all of his travels. There is a photo of October at a 40-year service award, with Max present with Joseph. The photo identifies "October" as Lucian, and Nora points out that Lucian couldn't have disappeared with the plane if he was in LA.
Tony asks Max to trace the call that Lucian made the airplane reservation from. Richard Wilson in LA calls Max and tells him that "Mrs. October" claimed Lucian's body and is flying back to Seattle with it in the morning. Nora is sure Lucian wasn't married, and Tony figures he should fly to Seattle and see what happens to Lucian's body. Once Tony leaves, Dennis tells Nora that Tony identified her name from her wallet that he pickpocketed,
Jerry flies Tony to San Francisco and confirms where Lucian's body is being kept awaiting delivery to the morgue. "Mrs. October" arrives at the airport to pick up Lucianlu's body, and Tony has her summoned to a courtesy phone. She takes the phone but there's no caller. Tony is watching and follows the women. She drives to the docks an assistant, Jim, greets her. She board a boast, and Tony parks next to her car and sees the boat pulling out. Jim comes over and refuses to say who the boat belongs to. Tony bribes him with a bill produced from his air, and Jim says that the boat belongs to Joseph and the woman is Joseph's wife Sally.
The boat arrives at a private dock on an island, and Sally goes to the Baker manor and starts to go upstairs. Joseph asks if it's done, and Sally says that it went without problems except having to look at her dead son. She suggests that they call off their anniversary party, but Joseph warns her that everyone thinks Lucian has been dead for three weeks and they can't call off the party because he has business partners that he can't make more nervous.
Tony calls Max and tells him about Sally. Max know Sally as a Hollywood starlet, and confirms that she and Joseph aren't happily married. Lucian made the appointment with the cardiologist from a Laura Billing. After hanging up, Max tells Nora that Tony will find Mary Rose. He explains that ten years ago, Tony was imprisoned in South America on a trumped-up espionage charge. Tony escaped from the prison and took his elderly cellmate with him, and the cellmate was so grateful for his few weeks of freedom that he left Tony a fortune.
Tony goes to the Billings apartment and when there's no answer, picks the lock and breaks in. A woman comes in and Tony hides. The woman--Sally--pours herself a drink and starts to undress. Tony steps out and introduces himself, and says that Joseph doesn't know Lucian made a call from the apartment. He says that he wants to help Mary Rose if she's still alive, and figures that their interests coincide. As she gets wine, Sally says that Lucian was her stepson and a friend. He could have been more, but Lucian was in love with Mary Rose, and Sally says that she doesn't know if Mary Rose is alive. She doesn't know why Joseph is interested in Sally, and sent her so she wouldn't attract media attention to Lucian's death.
Tony drives back to his jet and finds Joseph and Adams waiting for him. Joseph asks where Nora is, and Tony assures him that she's safely hidden away. The magnate offers Tony $50,000 for Nora's whereabouts, then ups the offer to $100,000. Tony makes it clear he's not interested, and his visitors leave.
Later, Tony drives through San Francisco and spots Adams following him. The magician brakes to a halt and rolls down his window. When Adams stops, Tony gets out, walks over, sprays shaving cream on Adams' windshield so the man can't continue following him, gets back in his car, and drives off.
That night, Tony meets Sally at an El station as they arranged earlier. Tony asks the body was taken from the mortuary to the Baker manor, confirms that security is tight, and asks what color the draperies are. He tells her to put a light in her window and kisses her on the cheek, then leaves.
Later, Madame Parga and Radder drive to the Baker dock with one of Joseph's armed thugs, Carl. They take the boat to the island, and Tony takes a private boat there as well. Joseph's boat arrives, and Tony slips past the guards and goes to the study window, as Joseph greets Radder and the others, then leads them to the study. The magnate opens a hidden door in the room leading to a concealed fallout shelter, and leads the others down.
Once the group goes down, Tony slips in and goes down to the fallout shelter. Inside, Joseph shows Radder, Parga, and Carl the coffin holding Lucian's body. He says that his plane was supposed to meet Radder's people and the crew would give them the part, then it would continue out to sea and fall prey to a bomb. The government would have investigated and been convinced that it was a real bombing. Lucian double-crossed Joseph, and Lucian and Mary Rose it for their own profit. Parga points out that Joseph came to them with the deal for them to pay him $50 million in advance for a prototype of a laser-controlled bomb that Baker Aeronautics was developing for the Air Force. Joseph insists that it wasn't his fault he can't make good on the deal, and doesn't have the $50 million anymore to return it to them. He promises to deliver the weapon as soon as he finds Mary Rose. He figures that when Mary Rose is convinced Lucian isn't coming back, she'll emerge from hiding.
Parga agrees to wait for Joseph to deliver, and the group leaves. Tony listens at the secret door as Parga and the other leave. Joseph then calls his people and asks if Mary Rose has tried to get in contact with her friend. She hasn't, and Joseph tells his people to do whatever they have to do. Joseph leaves and Tony comes up. When Joseph comes back to finish his drink, Tony is forced to hide in the shadows. Once Joseph leaves, Tony departs the way he came.
Tony then goes to Sally's room. As she greets him, Joseph knocks on the door and demands to speak to Sally. He tells her to meet him downstairs, and Tony calls Max. Max says that Lulu took Nora to a movie, and Tony asks Max to find out the name of Mary Rose's closes friend in Seattle and call him back. He also tells Max to clear his schedule. Once Tony hangs up, he asks Sally to invite Max to the anniversary party. Sally asks if Joseph is in a lot of trouble, and smiles when Tony says that Joseph's partners could make her a rich widow. As she kisses Tony, Joseph calls to Sally and she goes downstairs.
Tony returns to shore by his rented boat and takes a call on his car phone. Max has talked to Nora and confirmed the girl's name is Francine Powers. Tony drives to Francine's address and passes Adams as he goes to her apartment. The door is unlocked, and Tony finds Francine laying on the floor, moaning in pain. She begs Tony not to hurt her and gives him the address of the houseboat where Mary Rose is staying. Tony calls 911 and drives to the houseboat. He finds the place torn up and no sign of Mary Rose.
Adams and his men take Mary Rose to the fallout shelter where Joseph is waiting. They've drugged her to keep her quiet, and Joseph tells her that she doesn't have to worry about protecting Lucian anymore. The thugs show her Lucian's body, and Mary Rose screams in grief before passing out. Adams warns Joseph that they gave her too much of the drug, and Joseph insists that she can't die.
Later, Max brings a large present to the dock and his deliveryman tells the crew that the present is for Sally. At the party, Joseph and Sally greet their guests. He introduces Sally to Ragger and Parga, and leaves Sally alone to talk business with his "partners". Max approaches Sally and introduces himself, and says that Tony asked him to give her an important message. After getting the message, Sally has the crew send the package up.
The servants move the package into the manor, and Max gives the musicians music to play. The guests gather around and Joseph and his partners come out as Sally announces that the present is for her husband. She pulls on the ribbon and the present opens on its own. Tony is inside in the capsule, and emerges as Sally introduces him. He produces a champagne glass and offers a toast to the Bakers.
In the fallout shelter, Mary Rose wakes up.
Tony has Sally lock her in the capsule. Tony performs the same illusion as in LA, and Tony emerges through the present walls providing a backdrop and goes into the shelter. He interrupts the thugs questioning Mary Rose, secretly drops cigarettes on the floor, and says that he can tell them where the bomb is once they've negotiated his and Mary Rose's departure.
The thugs figure Tony is bluffing and prepare to shoot him, and the cigarettes explode. Tony gets Mary Rose out and locks the door behind them, and has Mary Rose change into a showgirl's costume.
Up above, Tony appears outside of the capsule. The masked Mary Rose emerges from the cabinet, but Joseph realizes who she is. He goes over as Tony and Mary Rose run for Tony's private boat. Joseph sends his guards after them, but the duo makes their escape. The guards pursue them in another boat and open fire. Jerry flies down in a seaplane, lands on the water but maintains speed with Tony's boat, and Tony gets aboard the seaplane. He tells Mary Rose to jump and she does, as the gunshots hit the boat's fuel line and set it afire. As Jerry flies clear, the boat explodes.
Later on the jet, Max joins Tony and Mary Rose. He confirms that they found the bomb where Mary Rose said it was, Joseph has disappeared, and Sally Well. Mary Rose says that she never knew what Lucien was planning and she thought she was preventing a new weapon from coming into the world. Tony assures her the authorities will believe her.
When they return to San Francisco, Tony and Max take Mary Rose to Max's home. Mary Rose is reunited with her mother, Nora thanks Tony, and he kisses her on the cheek, then thanks his friends and drives off.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content