Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called "The Pledge". The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course...it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn". The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige".
The Prestige (2006) · 26 quotes
Tied for 3rd most-quoted character in The Prestige (2006): in 6 of its 26 quotes
Most scenes with: Robert Angier (2)
Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it... because you're not really looking... You don't really want to know... You want to be fooled.
More lines from Cutter
2 quotesEvery magic trick consists of three parts, or acts. The first part is called the pledge, the magician shows you something ordinary. The second act is called the turn, the magician takes the ordinary something and makes it into something extraordinary. But you wouldn't clap yet, because making something disappear isn't enough. You have to bring it BACK. Now you're looking for the secret. But you won't find it because of course, you're not really looking. You don't really want to work it out. You want to be fooled.
Scenes with Cutter
3 scenesWhat a way to kill someone.
They're magicians, your honor. Men who live by dressing up plain and simple truths to shock, to amaze.
Even without an audience?
There was an audience. You see, this water tank was of particular significance to these two men. Particularly awful significance.
I thought you said I'd have to get my hands dirty.
Maybe someday you will; I just needed to know that you could.
Take a minute to consider your achievement. I once told you about a sailor who described drowning to me.
Yes, he said it was like going home.
I was lying. He said it was agony.
Other characters in The Prestige
More Michael Caine characters
Finn McMissile
Peachy Carnehan
Jack Carter
Victor Melling
Nigel Powers
Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead
Dr. Royer-Collard
Alfred Pennyworth