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The Magician Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
22 Episodes 1973 - 1974
Episode 0
Pilot
Sat, Mar 17, 197370 mins
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.
Episode 1
The Manhunters
Tue, Oct 2, 197345 mins
While Tony accompanies Max on an interview for a story on shipping magnate Manning Hargrove, an accident occurs which almost kills Max, the accident which was no accident as an obvious attempt on his life. As death threats are par for the course for him, Max refuses to get the police involved if only for the disruption it would cause to his busy public schedule over the next few days. Dennis believes that this attempt may have to do with one of Max's current controversial stories. Based on the car the perpetrator used to get away, Tony believes that this attempt on Max's life indeed has to do with one of his stories, on illegal gambling, the head of the ring the only piece of the puzzle Max does not know, that person who probably ordered the hit. Tony enlists the help of Diane Thomson, a socialite, alcoholic and compulsive gambler, who probably knows more about what's going on based on the company she keeps than she realizes. As Tony investigates, Max's life may still be in danger as he refuses to deviate from his very public schedule.
Episode 2
The Vanishing Lady
Tue, Oct 9, 197345 mins
Tony is sharing a bill with his friend, singer Julie Carter, for a run at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. Julie is recovering from physical and emotional trauma from being in a fire two years ago, which almost killed her. As such, this performance is considered the beginning of her comeback, its success or failure which could determine if she makes it in the business. After the successful first show, Julie goes missing. A note found in her dressing room addressed to Julie's manager and boyfriend Ray Weaver indicates that she was abducted. The kidnappers eventually telephone with a $500,000 ransom request, implying they will kill her if the ransom is not paid or if the police are called. Based on general history of kidnapping cases, Tony and Max do call in the Las Vegas police, Lt. Phil Corcoran, and plan not to pay the ransom - which they plan not to tell Ray, who only wants to do what he thinks will bring Julie back, which to him means paying - but enact a plot to pretend paying to flush out the kidnappers, with Tony being the one to drop off the supposed moneys. In trying to find a still safe and alive Julie, Tony has two puzzles to solve: (1) decipher what he believes was a coded message from Julie as to who is behind the plot, and (2) discover who is the mole among their team as the kidnappers seem to know a little too much about what's going on.
Episode 3
Illusion in Terror
Tue, Oct 23, 197345 mins
After two weeks of dating, Tony and his girlfriend Joanna Marsh, who works in public relations at Zion Memorial Hospital, have fallen in love much to their own surprise. She is the victim in what looked like a deliberate hit and run, she DOA at the hospital where she worked, with a relative unknown to Tony - an uncle named Walter C. Marsh - having taken away her dead body before he could see her. Tony knows that something is not right as Joanna always mentioned that she had no family in Los Angeles, her records are missing from the hospital, and as a person who largely kept to herself, no one in the hospital knows anything else about her. As Tony goes on a journey of discovery to find out more about Joanna, he finds some things that are a surprise, but also that some people are willing to kill to prevent him from finding out the entire truth behind her and her death.
Episode 4
Lightning on a Dry Day
Tue, Oct 30, 197345 mins
While Tony performs his act at Kenbrook Institute, a private hospital in North Carolina, Ian Keefer, a young male patient, is traumatized by Tony's assistant seemingly caught in some flames. Tony learns from Ian's doctor, Dr. Sebring, that Ian has only been in the hospital a few weeks during which time he has been basically silent, unable to communicate coherently. All Dr. Sebring knows is that Ian was headed up to Elm Ridge, the local mountainous rural back country area, trying to locate a Mrs. Gilpin, a collector of local mountain music, but got lost and was missing for three days before he was found in his traumatized state. Upon his arrival in Elm Ridge, Tony quickly learns that it is a closed community with many secrets only known by locals, who will lie, and some kill, to keep those secrets hidden. Those people include the local sheriff, Platt. The only person who seemingly bucks that trend is Sheriff Platt's daughter, Maggie Platt, who detests the back woods way of life and tries to help Tony in any way she can to find out what fire-related incident traumatized Ian, with a possible risk to her own life.
Episode 5
Ovation for Murder
Tue, Nov 6, 197345 mins
While rehearsing for an extended charity gig at the Los Angeles Fair, Tony is approached by Albie Allikolos to perform that evening at a private party - a birthday celebration for his artist girlfriend, Susanna - complete with home cooked Greek food by Albie himself. Tony later learns that Albie is a food importer, but whose passion was his race horse, Retsina, who needed to be put down a week ago due to a mysteriously broken front hoof, that incident which was just before a race. Two incidents occur with Albie. First, he is attacked at the fairground by two thugs, from which he is saved by Tony. And second, while Tony is performing his act at the party, Albie, in plain sight off in the distance, argues with a man who he shoots dead. The man is Casey Tolliver, a bookie. Behind bars, Albie claims that although he owed Tolliver money, it was as a friend, and not as a bookie or loan shark. And Albie, despite this incident being in front of several witnesses including Tony, claims that he had a blackout - the second within three days - and has no recollection of the shooting, with Tolliver being a good friend he would never want to hurt. Tony believes him, and believes that Retsina's broken hoof was no accident. Tony searches for why someone would want to hurt Albie, including framing him for murder by drugging or hypnotizing him into these blackouts.
Episode 6
Man on Fire
Tue, Nov 20, 197345 mins
Tony is helping eighteen year old Danny Ryerson with his magic act, which he is performing at a benefit show in a few days. Danny more than anything wants to please his father, Paul Ryerson. Danny learns that his father is being blackmailed by a so-called friend, Matt Matthews, but doesn't know the nature of the blackmail beyond it having to do with incriminating photographs. They are of Paul carrying the lifeless body of his girlfriend, Carol Spain, who he accidentally killed, and whose body he and Matt disposed of together. Matthews had been following them as Carol was apparently seeing him as well. Much like Tony does, Danny wants to use his magic skills, as limited as they are, to help his father out of this situation. Tony knows that Danny is up to something as he has taken some of his magic apparatus. As Tony gets involved, he discovers that not all seems right with Matthews' story, Matthews who will go to any length to maintain his plan against Paul, including murder.
Episode 7
Lady in a Trap
Tue, Nov 27, 197345 mins
While Tony is at the Buchman Library doing research, a blackout in the building occurs. In the aftermath when the lights come back on, the assistant curator, Stacy McGranahan, notices that a new acquisition, a rare and valuable book, a Machiavelli, has gone missing. Two of the perpetrators are apprehended, but they refuse to talk, including not telling the location of the missing book, which she figures must still be somewhere in the building as no one would have been able to get it past security in the current lock-down. Stacy learns the hard way that the book has indeed made it out of the building - in her bag in a secret compartment - as the mastermind behind the theft is Ralph Turner, her supposed boyfriend who believes he has killed her. Tony however manages to save her. Tony and Stacy have to figure out why Ralph stole this particular book when there are seemingly much more valuable ones in the library, which may lead them to where and to who the book is intended. Tony may have a bigger problem in Stacy, who is determined to clear her good name doing whatever required without Tony as she is somewhat implicated in the book's disappearance.
Episode 8
The Man Who Lost Himself
Tue, Dec 11, 197345 mins
While Tony is setting up his act for an earthquake relief benefit, a man literally comes crashing into the act, sending both Tony and the man to the hospital with minor injuries. The man, who was being chased by two other men who fled the scene, suffered a head injury which has resulted in amnesia, he not having any identification or remembrance of his name. Tony eventually learns that he is George Blaisdell, an ex-con who was in prison for a 1942 robbery in Hawaii, and just released after thirty years of his life sentence for good behavior. Tony recognizes two of the three others convicted for the robbery as the men chasing him, the three who received much lighter sentences for what was the relatively minor total take of $24,000. The two Tony recognizes are Jonathan Gordon, president of sales of New York-based Empire Records, and Stan Lubie, a Hawaii-based wholesale butcher. Of the three other robbers, the man Tony didn't see is Timothy Dunagan, designer of the Dunagan spark plug and an auto racing aficionado. If Dunagan knows anything, he isn't telling Tony. They may have to wait for Blaisdell to regain his memory to figure out what Gordon and Lubie want with him after all these years, that is if Gordon and Lubie don't get to him first.
Episode 9
Nightmare in Steel
Tue, Dec 18, 197345 mins
One of Tony's new assistants is involved in a couple of life-threatening incedents. Her estranged husband been forced to help hijack a tanker. Tony must figure a way to rescue the young woman and her husband and prevent the crime before it's too late.
Episode 10
Shattered Image
Tue, Jan 8, 197445 mins
Willoughby, a dwarf friend of Tony's who works as an attraction at a carnival, believes a nine year old girl he has just met is in trouble. Calling herself Princess Wexlar, she, obviously scared about something which she won't divulge, said that her father told her to stay with Willoughby's Uncle Jay. With Uncle Jay out of town, Willoughby has since asked his assistant, Lydia, to look after her in the meantime. Tony is able to discover with Max's help that the girl's name is Paula Mitchell, and her father, Frank Mitchell, was implicated in the murder of high stakes criminal Daniel Barber, whose syndicate associates now want Frank dead, chief amongst them being Larry Malone. They get more information from the police who want solely to question Mitchell as the evidence as to who killed Barber is inconclusive. All the while, both Frank and Paula may be in more danger than they or Tony realize as unknown to them someone within Willoughby's social circle has connections to Malone.
Episode 11
The Illusion of the Curious Counterfeit: Part I
Mon, Jan 14, 197445 mins
During the middle of his act at the Magic Castle, Tony notices an old girlfriend, artist Janet Keegan, in the audience, looking scared. Using his act, he is able to whisk her away from the two men who broke into her apartment and are now chasing her, she not knowing who they are or what they want with her. She suspects it has something to do with her estranged father, Charles Keegan, an old prohibition era big time criminal who she has not seen in a year, but who she knows still keeps tabs on her via a guard named Harry Oakland. Charles' business was a major factor in Tony and Janet's break-up. Because of her father's business, she doesn't feel she can turn to the police. Confronting her father, Janet finds time does not heal old wounds, he who says he has no idea who they are or what they want, however not ruling out that they indeed are going through her to get to him. Janet is still in danger as long as she and Tony don't know what's going on. But Charles may know more than he let's on...
Episode 12
The Illusion of the Curious Counterfeit: Part II
Mon, Jan 21, 197445 mins
Tony is able to escape from Paul Gunther's compound, but without any information about Gunther's operation and not with his old girlfriend, Janet Keegan, who Gunther kidnapped in an effort to keep her father, Charles Keegan, from going to the police about he planning a new grand heist, although Charles doesn't know the specifics about the plan either. It entails the printing of money using stolen authentic plates and paper. Gunther and his men are able to move onto the next phase of their plan with Janet in tow. Tony's actions, which also includes calling in the police to locate Janet, don't sit well with Charles, who goes through his street network to locate Janet while keeping Tony, who he doesn't want interfering, under guard. Tony, however, believes that newer methods, an illusionist's smoke and mirrors, may be a more effective method of discovering Gunther's plan to report to the police and to find a still alive Janet.
Episode 13
The Illusion of the Stainless Steel Lady
Mon, Jan 28, 197445 mins
Tony is approached by a young woman named Victoria Hunter, who claims to be the long lost granddaughter of Tony's friend, retired and reclusive movie star Irene Denore. Victoria is looking to meet her grandmother. The official records indicate that Irene's only daughter, Gloria, never had any children, but Tony is aware, based on Gloria's history, that anything is possible. When Tony tries to contact Irene, he gets word from her business manager, Brad Nicholson who Tony has never met, that she is not speaking to anyone at the present time except him as she is in ill health. Tony can tell that something is not quite right, and purportedly not just with Irene's health. So he has to figure out what is happening with Irene, while determining if Victoria's story is fact or fiction, and if fiction what Victoria wants to get out of contact with Irene.
Episode 14
The Illusion of the Queen's Gambit
Mon, Feb 4, 197445 mins
With Tony and Max's help, husband and wife Ed and Sandra Cassidy, Tony's long time friends, are hosting a hospital benefit fund-raiser. As Ed is an ex-casino owner and reformed gambler, the fund-raiser, aboard the cruise ship, the Queen Mary, docked in port, is in the form of an Old West gambling den. Fourmen, dressed as masked cowboys, proceed to rob the benefit of the night's take of $500,000. Because of Ed's background, the authorities, based on circumstantial evidence, suspect Ed as the mastermind of the robbery. As Tony follows leads as to the robbers' whereabouts, what he and his friends eventually learn is that someone double crossed the robbers who did not walk away with the money, they also believe that Ed is the culprit. Tony's discoveries on the matter lead to a difficult situation concerning his friendship with the Cassidys, who may have individual thoughts of their own on how they should handle the possible recovery of the money.
Episode 15
The Illusion of Black Gold
Mon, Feb 11, 197445 mins
Russian Dr. Alex Pochek, a geological scientist who has just defected to the United States and whose work on extracting oil from shale rock is groundbreaking, is assassinated during his first American press conference... or so he wants the world to believe. His seeming public execution was orchestrated by his brother - Carl Pochek - Tony and the CIA so that he can continue his scientific research without the watchful eyes of the Soviets. However, there is an apparent leak or mole as Dr. Pochek is abducted shortly thereafter. Based on conversations he had with his brother before his abduction, Carl is certain that oil businessman Nelson Paradine, who buys whatever he wants such as the movie career of talentless actress Stacey Hyatt, is behind Alex's abduction, he the person also largely responsible for his defection. Tony also gets Jerry to follow-up on another lead, a distinctive tattoo adorned on the arm of one of the kidnappers. Based on information from Jerry and what he is able to ascertain from Paradine, Tony believes he knows what has happened to Dr. Pochek. He just has to figure out a way to get Pochek back, while also figuring out who the leak is, that person who Tony has not to give any information in the process.
Episode 16
The Illusion of the Lost Dragon
Mon, Feb 18, 197460 mins
Tony visits his old magician friend, Chao Liu, after learning from his granddaughter, Dawn, that he is close to death. Chao asks Tony for a favor: help him retrieve a priceless heirloom, a Szechuan dragon statue, that the people of his home province in Taiwan have revered spiritually for a millennium. It has been Chao's life mission to find the statue, which was stolen a century ago. Three weeks ago, the statue was located and Chao purchased it using a fund raised by the people of his province for such purpose, but in shipment it was once again stolen. Dawn's brother, who went on a hunt for the statue, has gone missing in the process, and is presumed murdered by whoever stole the statue because he got too close. Using what leads Chao and Dawn are able to provide him, Tony learns that the statue is in the possession of a Eurasian man named Hon Chi Kai. Upon this news, Chao asks Tony to stop trying to get the statue back as Hon is the most ruthless man Chao knows who will torture and kill to protect his property, and Chao feels it unfair to ask Tony to risk his life. Regardless, Tony continues his quest to retrieve the statue from Hon, but the news also places Dawn's life in danger as she too takes up the task, believing it her duty as a member of the family.
Episode 17
The Illusion of the Deadly Conglomerate
Mon, Feb 25, 197445 mins
Tony's magician colleague, Frank Denbo aka the Amazing Denbo, has become a down-and-outer due to turning to the bottle, he who has since sponged off people like Tony. However, Frank is turning his life around, working at a soup kitchen at the Brotherhood House run by Sister Janet. He asks Tony for a favor, to find his friend, Johnny McVey, who has gone missing. The authorities won't do anything because Johnny is another down-and-outer who has been sleeping most recently at another shelter, the Bentley Street Mission, its so-called head, Reverend Wally, who claims to have never heard of Johnny. As Tony follows leads, which takes him to a conglomerate called Horizon Enterprises which owns among others an abandoned restaurant, an extermination company, a travel bureau, a medical supply company and a dental lab, Frank may place his own life in danger by checking into the Bentley Street Mission against Tony's advice not to. Dominick's guess on why Horizon would want to abduct a man like McVey may be slightly altered when Tony reads a specific newspaper headline. As such, Frank may befall the same fate as Johnny unless Tony can find him before it's too late.
Episode 18
The Illusion of the Fatal Arrow
Mon, Mar 4, 197445 mins
Linda Casey, Tony's friend who he knows from taking hang gliding classes together, had a vision of a murder. The victim, Brian McNeil, who she did not know, ended up being murdered just as she saw, by bow and arrow. She has known all her life that she had psychic abilities, but she had never had a vision this "big". Why she feels she had to tell Tony and not the police is later that night, she had another vision of her own death happening as she is standing next to a cop. Also in her vision are the words "Wonder View", which they discover is the name of an area campground. There, they meet a suspicious looking man, who seems to want to know all about Tony and Linda, as much as they want to know about him. As Linda continues to see visions of death, the connection between McNeil and a new potential victim, a Walter Moran, becomes known with a clear motive for wanting them dead. However, Tony has to figure out who the mysterious man at the campground is, and what his connection to the dead and potential dead are, all without informing the police about Linda for her own peace of mind.
Episode 19
The Illusion of the Lethal Playthings
Mon, Mar 18, 197445 mins
Dominick's poker playing companion, Jackson Wyndham, has been receiving death threats, those threats which will be carried out unless he coughs up $500,000, which he is able to do, but which he refuses to do, not wanting to give into anyone, especially extortionists. The extortionists seem to be able to carry out heir threats if and when they so choose. As a successful businessman, Wyndham admits that he may have made a few enemies in his life, but none he knows would have any reason to kill him. Wyndham's executive assistant, Maggie Jones, hopes Tony can help in finding out who the extortionists are. One lead, Scott Joplin "Peacherine Rag" playing on what sounds like an old piano roll brings up other leads in the form of a curio shop owner named Millotson, and the Pinocchio Toy Company. Tony has to find the connection between these two and why those behind them chose Wyndham specifically as the target.
Episode 20
The Illusion of the Cat's Eye
Mon, Mar 25, 197445 mins
Simon Russell has as the centerpiece of his new exhibit the Ramses Cat appraised by local expert Derek Sheffield at $3 million for insurance purposes. Legend has it that there is a curse attached to the cat. It is on display against the wishes of Mssrs. Hassid and Mustufa, who believe the cat's rightful place, as an object of worship, is back in Egypt. Despite what seems to be the impenetrable security system installed by Larry Ford - known as the best in the business - the cat is nonetheless stolen right under security's nose. Hassid and Mustufa, who were in the museum at the time of the theft, are the lead suspects. Shortly following, Sheffield is found dead, seemingly mauled by a large cat, bringing up the possibility of the curse at play. Suzanne Kelly, representing Trans-Republic, the insurance company underwriting the statue for the museum, asks Tony for his professional advice if the cat could have disappeared as part of a magical illusion. After examining the security system, Tony knows how the cat disappeared and at least one of the people involved. Tony has to piece together the entire puzzle quickly as the curse of the cat seems to be striking again, with Tony a potential target.
Episode 21
The Illusion of the Evil Spikes
Mon, Apr 15, 197445 mins
Tony is on set of "Millennium 12", a Braden International studios picture, when Harry Ingram, a fellow magician, is critically injured performing what was supposed to be death defying stunt, escaping from the table of death. The stunt was developed between Tony and Harry, and performed by Harry thousands of times without incident. This accident is only the latest in a jinx-ridden shoot thus far, this picture which is supposed to be the studio's saving grace from potential financial ruin and resulting shut-down. Max Braden, Marian Tripp, and Brooks Rosenthal - the longtime studio head/longtime friend of Tony's, the new studio financial controller, and the film's director, respectively - each have their own concerns about what happens now. Max is most concerned about Harry's well-being and showing sensitivity in the situation. Brooks wants to know what Max wants to do about the creative aspects of the picture, specifically concerning the magic sequence. And Marian wants to know how they can continue as is without losing money on what has already been shot, meaning keeping the magic sequence but replacing Harry as the magician escaping from the table of death, the suggestion being that Tony be that magician. Tony agrees as the only other person who knows the secret behind the feat, and as he knows someone rigged the failure of the stunt, probably to ruin the studio. Tony believes the inside man is Jack Quinn, the film's special effects man. Tony has to figure out who Quinn is working for and why they want to see the studio fail, or else Tony may befall the same fate as Harry.
