The Magician

Albert Vogler and his troupe leave Copenhagen and travel by carriage through the wilderness toward Sweden. From the trees they hear eerie screams and discover Johan Spegel, a former vaudevillian who is ill and joins the group. Albert watches Johan closely as he appears to die in the carriage before they reach their destination.

Johan Spegel is taken in by the troupe as he grows progressively ill after traveling with them. Albert keenly observes him during the journey, and Johan seemingly dies in the carriage. The group continues onward, uncertain of what is happening to him.

The troupe arrives in a village and is met by Consul Egerman and his wife Ottilia, who are curious about the occult. Tubal informs them that Albert is mute, which heightens suspicion about the act. The townspeople begin to question the nature of Vogler's magic show.

During a dinner with Sara and Sanna, Tubal peddles love potions made by Granny. Sofia, the head cook, is impervious to Tubal's bravado but finds him attractive. The night underlines the troupe's use of illusion and flirtations that fuel their fragile dynamics.

As a storm brews, Sanna grows frightened when Granny declares she is a 200-year-old witch. The claim unsettles the girl and gnaws at the troupe's carefully curated image. The tension hints at the fear and superstition surrounding their act.

Simson flirts with Sara and the two share a drink of aphrodisiac potions. They become intimate, blurring lines between consent, performance, and personal desire. The moment deepens the troupe's web of relationships.

Ottilia tells Albert she believes in his powers and hopes he can contact her deceased daughter. She argues that the townsmen mock him out of fear and misunderstanding rather than disbelief. The conversation cements her as a sympathetic observer before the darker events unfold.

After Ottilia's visit, Johan reappears, lamenting his unused life to Albert and dies in Albert's arms. Albert secretly hides Johan's body in a hidden compartment of a large trunk, foreshadowing the deception to come. The troupe's secret burden intensifies.

Dr Vergerus approaches Manda in her room and learns that the troupe's act is a fraud, that Albert is the mute partner behind the show. Albert overhears the confrontation and, when goaded, assaults Vergerus. He removes his wig to reveal his disguise.

The troupe performs a public magic show for the townspeople. Tubal enlists Henrietta Starbeck as a volunteer and Manda uses a magnet-based trick to extract humiliating admissions from her husband. The crowd witnesses the manipulation, building tension for what comes next.

During the show, Antonsson volunteers for a trick in which Albert appears to manipulate his body. Albert suddenly collapses and dies, shocking the audience. Antonsson flees in horror and later kills himself.

After the deaths, Albert's body is placed in the trunk—with Johan's body also concealed inside—and carried to the attic for autopsy. The double burden deepens the troupe's need to hide their ruse. The audience remains unaware of the true events.

Vergerus carries out a full autopsy but is terrified when Albert emerges from the shadows alive. He asks whose body he has examined and receives the grim answer that it was a 'poor actor.' The illusion collapses, exposing the ruse.

Angered by Vergerus's dismissal, the doctor calls the troupe 'miserable' and pays Albert with a single coin. Manda and the others face the consequences of their deception as they decide what to do next.

Police Superintendent Starbeck informs them that the king wants them to perform at the Royal Palace. The troupe accepts the royal invitation and prepares to depart for Stockholm. The journey signals a new chapter as they head toward national recognition.