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Downloaded from
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
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Hmm. Yes.
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00:00:32,583 --> 00:00:35,750
Well, here we are now
in the hut where I write.
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00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,875
I've been in this hut for 30 years now.
6
00:00:40,750 --> 00:00:42,958
Well, it's important, uh, before I start,
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00:00:42,958 --> 00:00:48,000
I like to make sure I have everything
around me that I'm going to need. Um...
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00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:52,208
Cigarettes, of course.
Some coffee, chocolates.
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00:00:53,958 --> 00:00:57,875
And always make sure
I have a sharp pencil before I start.
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00:00:59,833 --> 00:01:03,458
I have six pencils,
and then I like to clean my writing board.
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00:01:05,666 --> 00:01:07,083
See how many bits of rubber.
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00:01:08,833 --> 00:01:09,666
There.
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00:01:11,958 --> 00:01:13,875
And then, finally, one starts.
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00:01:17,125 --> 00:01:20,708
It's, uh...
usually a few corrections needed.
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00:01:23,458 --> 00:01:24,291
Yeah.
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It's, um...
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00:01:34,250 --> 00:01:38,041
Henry Sugar was 41 years old,
unmarried and rich.
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He was rich because
he had a rich father who was now dead.
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Was unmarried because he was too selfish
to share any of his money with a wife.
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00:01:45,791 --> 00:01:47,583
He was 6'2" tall,
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00:01:47,583 --> 00:01:50,291
and not perhaps as handsome
as he thought he was.
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00:01:50,291 --> 00:01:52,958
He paid a great deal
of attention to his clothes.
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00:01:52,958 --> 00:01:55,250
He went
to an expensive tailor for his suits,
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00:01:55,250 --> 00:01:58,666
to a shirt maker for his shirts,
and to a boot maker for his shoes.
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00:01:58,666 --> 00:02:01,583
His hairdresser trimmed his hair
once every ten days,
26
00:02:01,583 --> 00:02:04,458
and he always took a manicure
at the same time.
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00:02:04,458 --> 00:02:06,083
He drove a Ferrari motor car
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00:02:06,083 --> 00:02:08,666
which cost him about the same
as a country cottage.
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00:02:10,208 --> 00:02:11,583
All his friends were rich
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00:02:11,583 --> 00:02:14,000
and he had never done
a day's work in his life.
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00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:19,500
Men like Henry Sugar can be found
drifting like seaweed all over the world.
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00:02:19,500 --> 00:02:23,291
They're not particularly bad men,
but they're not good men either.
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00:02:24,458 --> 00:02:26,416
They're simply part of the decoration.
34
00:02:28,375 --> 00:02:30,625
All rich people
of Henry's type, of course,
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00:02:30,625 --> 00:02:34,875
have one peculiarity in common:
a terrific urge to make themselves richer.
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00:02:35,791 --> 00:02:38,625
The 10 million is never enough.
Nor is 20 million.
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00:02:38,625 --> 00:02:41,583
Always they suffer
the insatiable longing for more money
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00:02:41,583 --> 00:02:45,250
and the terror of waking up one morning
and finding nothing in the bank.
39
00:02:45,250 --> 00:02:48,541
{\an8}They employ various methods
to increase their fortunes.
40
00:02:48,541 --> 00:02:51,333
{\an8}Some buy stocks and shares,
watch them go up and down.
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00:02:51,333 --> 00:02:56,333
{\an8}Some buy land or art or diamonds.
Some bet on roulette, blackjack, horses.
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00:02:56,333 --> 00:02:58,416
{\an8}Some, indeed, bet on anything.
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00:02:58,416 --> 00:03:02,541
{\an8}Henry Sugar was one of those,
and not at all above cheating, by the way.
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00:03:03,500 --> 00:03:04,458
{\an8}One summer weekend,
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00:03:04,458 --> 00:03:08,166
{\an8}Henry drove from London to the countryside
to stay with Sir William W.
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00:03:08,166 --> 00:03:10,583
The house was magnificent.
So were the grounds.
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00:03:10,583 --> 00:03:14,166
But when Henry arrived that Saturday,
it was already pelting with rain.
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00:03:14,166 --> 00:03:17,750
The host and his other guests
whiled away the afternoon playing games,
49
00:03:17,750 --> 00:03:21,708
while Henry glumly stared out at the drops
splashing against the windows.
50
00:03:21,708 --> 00:03:25,041
Henry wandered out of the drawing room
and into the front hall.
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00:03:25,041 --> 00:03:29,375
He drifted through the house, aimless.
Then finally mooched into the library.
52
00:03:32,250 --> 00:03:35,916
Sir William's father was a book collector,
and the walls of this huge room
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00:03:35,916 --> 00:03:39,291
were lined with antiquated
leather bound volumes floor-to-ceiling.
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00:03:39,291 --> 00:03:40,708
Henry wasn't interested.
55
00:03:40,708 --> 00:03:44,166
He only read detective novels
and thrillers. Nothing like that here.
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00:03:44,166 --> 00:03:45,333
He was about to leave
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00:03:45,333 --> 00:03:48,500
when his eye was caught and held
by something quite different.
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00:03:48,500 --> 00:03:50,458
So slim, he never would've noticed it
59
00:03:50,458 --> 00:03:53,541
if it hadn't been sticking out
from the books on either side.
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00:03:53,541 --> 00:03:55,166
He pulled it from the shelf.
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00:03:55,166 --> 00:03:56,291
It was nothing more
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00:03:56,291 --> 00:03:59,166
than a cardboard exercise book,
the kind children use at school.
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00:03:59,166 --> 00:04:01,833
The cover was dark blue,
with nothing written on it.
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00:04:01,833 --> 00:04:05,750
On the first page, hand-printed
in black ink, clear and neat, it said:
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00:04:08,666 --> 00:04:12,416
Strange. Weird. What is this?
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00:04:13,291 --> 00:04:16,750
He settled himself into an armchair
and started from the beginning.
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00:04:16,750 --> 00:04:20,708
The following is what Henry read
in the little, blue exercise book.
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00:04:24,958 --> 00:04:28,916
My name is Z.Z. Chatterjee. Head surgeon
at Lords and Ladies Hospital, Calcutta.
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00:04:28,916 --> 00:04:31,083
On the morning of 2nd December, 1935,
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00:04:31,083 --> 00:04:33,291
I was in the doctors' rest room
having a cup of tea.
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00:04:33,291 --> 00:04:36,916
Three other doctors were present with me.
Doctors Marshall, Mitra, and Macfarlane.
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00:04:36,916 --> 00:04:38,500
- There was a knock.
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"Come in," I said.
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00:04:41,458 --> 00:04:44,750
Excuse me, please.
May I ask you gentlemen a favor?
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00:04:44,750 --> 00:04:46,500
"This is a private room," I said.
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00:04:46,500 --> 00:04:48,750
I know. I'm sorry to burst in like this,
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00:04:48,750 --> 00:04:51,791
but I have a most, I think,
interesting thing to show you.
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00:04:51,791 --> 00:04:54,208
We were pretty annoyed
and didn't say anything.
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00:04:55,208 --> 00:04:59,375
Gentlemen, I'm a man
who can see without using his eyes.
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00:05:00,208 --> 00:05:01,666
He was a small man, about 60,
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00:05:01,666 --> 00:05:05,375
white mustache and a matting of black hair
over the outsides of his ears.
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00:05:05,375 --> 00:05:08,291
You may bandage my head
with 50 bandages in any way,
83
00:05:08,291 --> 00:05:10,500
and I'll still be able to read you a book.
84
00:05:10,500 --> 00:05:14,166
He seemed perfectly serious.
I felt my curiosity beginning to stir.
85
00:05:14,166 --> 00:05:15,250
Come in, please.
86
00:05:22,166 --> 00:05:25,791
All right. How many fingers
is Dr. Marshall holding up?
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00:05:25,791 --> 00:05:27,291
- Seven.
-"Once more," I said.
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00:05:27,291 --> 00:05:28,750
- Nine.
-"Once more," I said.
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00:05:28,750 --> 00:05:29,833
- Three.
- Once more--
90
00:05:29,833 --> 00:05:31,291
- Three again.
- Once more.
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00:05:32,250 --> 00:05:33,166
No fingers.
92
00:05:34,625 --> 00:05:36,333
Hmm. What's the trick?
93
00:05:36,333 --> 00:05:40,333
There's no trick. This is a genuine thing
I've managed after years of training.
94
00:05:40,333 --> 00:05:41,708
What sorts of training?
95
00:05:41,708 --> 00:05:44,208
Forgive me, sir,
but that is a private matter.
96
00:05:45,125 --> 00:05:46,291
What can we do for you?
97
00:05:46,291 --> 00:05:49,333
I work in a traveling theater.
We arrived in Calcutta today.
98
00:05:49,333 --> 00:05:52,791
Tonight we give our opening performance
at the Royal Palace Hall.
99
00:05:52,791 --> 00:05:54,375
I am billed on the program as:
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00:05:54,375 --> 00:05:56,708
Imdad Khan,
the Man Who Sees without His Eyes.
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00:05:56,708 --> 00:05:58,750
When our company arrives in a new town,
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00:05:58,750 --> 00:06:00,250
I go to the largest hospital
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00:06:00,250 --> 00:06:03,791
and ask the doctors to bandage my eyes
in the most thorough fashion.
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00:06:03,791 --> 00:06:06,125
It is important this job
is done by doctors,
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00:06:06,125 --> 00:06:08,208
otherwise people may think I'm cheating.
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00:06:08,208 --> 00:06:11,041
Then I go out into the streets
and do a dangerous thing.
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I looked at the others.
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00:06:12,333 --> 00:06:15,458
Mitra and Macfarlane
had to go back to their patients. Go on.
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00:06:15,458 --> 00:06:18,541
- But Dr. Marshall said...
- Why not? Let's do the job properly.
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Make it absolutely certain
he can't see anything.
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00:06:20,708 --> 00:06:23,208
You are kind. Please do whatever you wish.
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00:06:23,208 --> 00:06:25,000
"Before we bandage him," I said,
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00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,250
"fill his eye sockets
with something soft, solid."
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00:06:27,250 --> 00:06:29,500
- Dough?
- Perfect. Go to the hospital bakery.
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00:06:29,500 --> 00:06:31,375
I'll take him and seal his eyelids.
116
00:06:31,375 --> 00:06:33,916
I led Imdad down
the long corridor to the surgery.
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00:06:33,916 --> 00:06:35,250
"Lie down there," I said.
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00:06:35,250 --> 00:06:37,666
I took a bottle of collodion
from the cupboard.
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00:06:37,666 --> 00:06:39,916
I'll glue your eyelids shut
with this stuff.
120
00:06:39,916 --> 00:06:41,291
How do I remove it later?
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00:06:41,291 --> 00:06:44,833
Just dab some alcohol carefully
below the lashes. That'll dissolve it.
122
00:06:44,833 --> 00:06:47,583
Keep your eyes closed
while we wait for it to harden.
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00:06:47,583 --> 00:06:48,625
Two minutes passed.
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00:06:48,625 --> 00:06:51,041
"Open your eyes," I said. He couldn't.
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00:06:51,041 --> 00:06:55,000
I took some of Dr. Marshall's dough
and plastered it over one of Imdad's eyes.
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I filled the whole socket
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00:06:56,333 --> 00:06:59,000
and let the dough
overlap onto the surrounding skin.
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00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:00,791
I did the same with the other eye.
129
00:07:00,791 --> 00:07:02,500
I pressed the edges down hard.
130
00:07:02,500 --> 00:07:05,416
-"Isn't too uncomfortable?" I asked.
- Not at all. Thank you.
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00:07:05,416 --> 00:07:07,458
"Do the bandaging," I said to Marshall.
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00:07:07,458 --> 00:07:09,000
My fingers are too sticky.
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00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,833
Pleasure. We'll just pop these here...
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00:07:11,833 --> 00:07:15,333
Dr. Marshall laid thick cotton-wool
on Imdad's dough-filled eyes.
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00:07:15,333 --> 00:07:16,375
It stuck in place.
136
00:07:16,375 --> 00:07:17,416
Sit up please.
137
00:07:18,125 --> 00:07:21,416
Dr. Marshall rolled a three-inch bandage
round the face and head.
138
00:07:21,416 --> 00:07:23,833
Please do leave
my nose free for breathing.
139
00:07:23,833 --> 00:07:25,083
Of course.
140
00:07:25,750 --> 00:07:28,500
Sorry, it's going to be
a pinch on the tight side.
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00:07:31,166 --> 00:07:32,083
How's that?
142
00:07:32,083 --> 00:07:33,125
"Splendid," I said.
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00:07:33,125 --> 00:07:35,708
Looked like he suffered
a terrible brain operation.
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00:07:35,708 --> 00:07:36,666
How does it feel?
145
00:07:36,666 --> 00:07:37,833
It feels very good.
146
00:07:37,833 --> 00:07:40,916
I must compliment you gentlemen
on doing such a thorough job.
147
00:07:40,916 --> 00:07:44,166
Imdad Khan stood up off the bed
and walked straight to the door.
148
00:07:51,291 --> 00:07:54,458
Great Scott! See that?
He put his hand right on the doorknob!
149
00:07:54,458 --> 00:07:55,958
Dr. Marshall stopped grinning.
150
00:07:56,541 --> 00:07:59,583
Imdad was walking normally,
quite briskly along the corridor.
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00:07:59,583 --> 00:08:03,000
We followed five yards behind him.
Spooky it was to watch this man
152
00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:06,000
with an enormous,
totally bandaged head strolling casually...
153
00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:07,166
"He saw it!" I cried.
154
00:08:07,166 --> 00:08:09,875
"He saw that trolley!
This is unbelievable!"
155
00:08:09,875 --> 00:08:11,333
Dr. Marshall didn't answer.
156
00:08:11,333 --> 00:08:14,166
His whole face was rigid
with shocked disbelief.
157
00:08:14,166 --> 00:08:16,708
Imdad went down the stairs
with no trouble at all.
158
00:08:16,708 --> 00:08:18,208
Didn't even hold the stair-rail.
159
00:08:18,208 --> 00:08:21,166
Several people were coming up.
You can see how they reacted.
160
00:08:21,875 --> 00:08:25,750
At the bottom of the stairs, he turned
and headed out the doors to the street.
161
00:08:25,750 --> 00:08:28,166
Dr. Marshall and I kept close behind him.
162
00:08:28,166 --> 00:08:31,416
Below us, a crowd of 100
barefoot children shouted and surged
163
00:08:31,416 --> 00:08:33,166
towards our white-headed visitor.
164
00:08:33,166 --> 00:08:35,500
He greeted them
with his hands above his head.
165
00:08:35,500 --> 00:08:38,833
He walked to a bicycle,
mounted it, and pedaled a figure-eight.
166
00:08:38,833 --> 00:08:41,708
The barefoot children chased him,
cheering and laughing.
167
00:08:41,708 --> 00:08:44,583
He sped straight out
into the traffic of the busy street
168
00:08:44,583 --> 00:08:47,916
with honking motor-cars
whizzing around him in every direction.
169
00:08:47,916 --> 00:08:49,625
He rode superbly.
170
00:08:49,625 --> 00:08:51,708
For a minute, we kept him in sight.
171
00:08:51,708 --> 00:08:53,750
Then he turned a corner and was gone.
172
00:08:53,750 --> 00:08:57,375
-"I can't believe it," Dr. Marshall said.
- I can't believe it.
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00:08:57,375 --> 00:08:58,958
"I can't either," I said.
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00:08:58,958 --> 00:09:01,250
I think we just witnessed a miracle.
175
00:09:01,250 --> 00:09:03,875
For the rest of the day,
I was busy with patients.
176
00:09:03,875 --> 00:09:06,541
In the evening,
I went to my flat to change clothes.
177
00:09:06,541 --> 00:09:08,000
I took a long, cool shower.
178
00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:11,500
I drank whisky-soda on the veranda
with only a towel around my waist.
179
00:09:11,500 --> 00:09:14,416
At ten minutes to 7:00,
I arrived at the Royal Palace Hall.
180
00:09:14,416 --> 00:09:16,000
The show lasted two hours.
181
00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,458
To my surprise, I enjoyed it. The juggler,
the snake-charmer, the fire-eater,
182
00:09:19,458 --> 00:09:22,625
the sword-swallower who pushed a rapier
down his throat into his stomach.
183
00:09:22,625 --> 00:09:24,666
Lastly, to a great fanfare of trumpets,
184
00:09:24,666 --> 00:09:27,000
our friend Imdad Khan
came out to do his act.
185
00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,041
Members of the audience
were called onstage to blindfold him
186
00:09:30,041 --> 00:09:32,250
before he threw knives around a boy's body
187
00:09:32,250 --> 00:09:34,541
and shot a can off his head
with a revolver.
188
00:09:34,541 --> 00:09:38,458
Then, finally, a metal barrel was fitted
over his already bandaged head.
189
00:09:38,458 --> 00:09:42,291
The boy placed a needle in Imdad's hand
and some cotton thread in the other.
190
00:09:42,291 --> 00:09:44,708
A large magnifying glass
was placed in front of him,
191
00:09:44,708 --> 00:09:46,375
and with no false moves,
192
00:09:46,375 --> 00:09:49,458
he neatly threaded the thread
through the eye of the needle.
193
00:09:54,208 --> 00:09:55,208
I was flabbergasted.
194
00:09:57,583 --> 00:10:00,125
Backstage, I found Imdad
sitting quietly on a stool
195
00:10:00,125 --> 00:10:01,625
while he removed his stage makeup.
196
00:10:01,625 --> 00:10:03,416
You're curious, doctor, correct?
197
00:10:03,416 --> 00:10:04,666
"Most curious," I said.
198
00:10:04,666 --> 00:10:08,583
Again, I was struck by the matting
of black hair on the outsides of his ears.
199
00:10:08,583 --> 00:10:10,916
I'd never seen anything like it
on another person.
200
00:10:10,916 --> 00:10:13,458
I have a proposal:
I'm not a writer by profession.
201
00:10:13,458 --> 00:10:15,875
But if you tell me
how you developed this power
202
00:10:15,875 --> 00:10:18,833
of seeing without your eyes,
I'll take it down faithfully.
203
00:10:18,833 --> 00:10:21,833
I'll try to get it published
in the British Medical Journal
204
00:10:21,833 --> 00:10:23,125
or in a famous magazine.
205
00:10:23,125 --> 00:10:25,375
Would that help you?
To become better known?
206
00:10:25,375 --> 00:10:27,416
- It would help me very much.
- Splendid.
207
00:10:27,416 --> 00:10:30,333
I have a shorthand
for taking down medical histories.
208
00:10:30,333 --> 00:10:33,500
I believe I got everything
Imdad said to me, word for word.
209
00:10:33,500 --> 00:10:35,750
I give it to you now
exactly as he spoke it.
210
00:10:42,708 --> 00:10:45,791
I was born in Kashmir State in 1873.
211
00:10:45,791 --> 00:10:48,916
My father was a ticket inspector
on the national railway.
212
00:10:48,916 --> 00:10:52,291
One day, a conjurer came to our school
and gave a performance.
213
00:10:52,291 --> 00:10:53,833
I was spellbound.
214
00:10:53,833 --> 00:10:55,833
Two weeks later, I took all my savings
215
00:10:55,833 --> 00:10:58,375
and ran away
to join a traveling theater company.
216
00:10:58,375 --> 00:11:01,708
That was in 1886. I was 13 years old.
217
00:11:01,708 --> 00:11:02,791
For three years
218
00:11:02,791 --> 00:11:05,500
I traveled with this group
all over the Punjab.
219
00:11:05,500 --> 00:11:08,125
By the end of it,
I was playing top of the bill.
220
00:11:08,125 --> 00:11:10,666
All the time, I was saving money,
221
00:11:10,666 --> 00:11:14,541
which finally added up
to just over 3,000 rupees.
222
00:11:14,541 --> 00:11:17,625
At this moment,
I heard tell of a great, famous yogi
223
00:11:17,625 --> 00:11:19,958
who had acquired
the rare power of levitation.
224
00:11:19,958 --> 00:11:21,666
It was said that when he prayed,
225
00:11:21,666 --> 00:11:25,208
his whole body left the ground
and rose up 18 inches into the air.
226
00:11:25,208 --> 00:11:27,250
At the very least, a terrific effect.
227
00:11:28,375 --> 00:11:29,208
Mustache?
228
00:11:31,125 --> 00:11:33,208
- Oh. I quit the theater company...
- Mmm-hmm.
229
00:11:33,208 --> 00:11:36,375
...and made my way to the small town
on the banks of the Ganges,
230
00:11:36,375 --> 00:11:38,375
where rumor said this yogi was living.
231
00:11:38,375 --> 00:11:40,833
One day,
I overheard a traveler mention a hermit
232
00:11:40,833 --> 00:11:44,583
he had encountered not so very far away,
in the densest jungle, all alone.
233
00:11:44,583 --> 00:11:45,958
That was enough for me.
234
00:11:45,958 --> 00:11:48,166
Um, I dashed out to hire a horse and cart.
235
00:11:49,083 --> 00:11:50,708
As I negotiated with the driver,
236
00:11:50,708 --> 00:11:53,291
a man appeared and said
he was going in the same direction,
237
00:11:53,291 --> 00:11:56,291
and suggested we share the ride
and split the cost.
238
00:11:56,291 --> 00:11:59,166
Well, what truly fantastic luck!
239
00:11:59,166 --> 00:12:00,541
Talking to my companion,
240
00:12:00,541 --> 00:12:03,625
I found that he was a disciple
of the great yogi himself,
241
00:12:03,625 --> 00:12:06,541
and on his way,
at that very moment, to visit his master.
242
00:12:06,541 --> 00:12:07,458
I blurted out,
243
00:12:07,458 --> 00:12:10,416
"This is the man I'm looking for!
Please, may I meet him?"
244
00:12:10,416 --> 00:12:13,291
My companion looked at me long and slow.
245
00:12:13,291 --> 00:12:15,458
"That is impossible," he said.
246
00:12:15,458 --> 00:12:18,750
From this point forward,
he refused to answer my questions.
247
00:12:18,750 --> 00:12:21,416
However, I managed
to learn one small thing:
248
00:12:21,416 --> 00:12:24,625
the time of day
the great yogi commenced his meditation.
249
00:12:24,625 --> 00:12:28,958
My companion signaled to halt the cart,
dismounted, and was gone.
250
00:12:28,958 --> 00:12:31,625
I pretended to drive on.
But just around the corner,
251
00:12:31,625 --> 00:12:33,875
I jumped down
and snuck back along the path.
252
00:12:33,875 --> 00:12:36,375
Already, the man
had disappeared into the jungle.
253
00:12:36,375 --> 00:12:38,750
- I heard a rustling in the undergrowth.
254
00:12:38,750 --> 00:12:41,125
"If that's not him," I thought,
"it's a tiger,
255
00:12:41,125 --> 00:12:43,750
and I'm about to be
pounced upon, thrashed,
256
00:12:43,750 --> 00:12:46,583
and eaten in little, torn morsels
of bloody flesh."
257
00:12:47,958 --> 00:12:49,125
It was him.
258
00:12:51,041 --> 00:12:54,791
There wasn't even a shadow of a trace
of a path where the man was walking.
259
00:12:54,791 --> 00:12:57,000
He was pushing his way
between tall bamboos
260
00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:58,875
and every kind of heavy vegetation.
261
00:12:58,875 --> 00:13:02,833
I crept after him, very quiet,
keeping at least 100 yards behind.
262
00:13:02,833 --> 00:13:05,916
Whenever I lost sight of him,
which was most of the time,
263
00:13:05,916 --> 00:13:08,458
I was able to follow
the sound of his footsteps.
264
00:13:08,458 --> 00:13:11,750
For half an hour, this tense game
of follow-the-leader went on.
265
00:13:11,750 --> 00:13:14,666
Then, suddenly,
I no longer heard the man in front of me.
266
00:13:14,666 --> 00:13:16,375
I stopped and listened.
267
00:13:16,375 --> 00:13:18,583
All at once,
through the thick undergrowth,
268
00:13:18,583 --> 00:13:21,166
I saw a little clearing
and two small huts.
269
00:13:21,166 --> 00:13:22,458
My heart jumped.
270
00:13:22,458 --> 00:13:24,833
There was a water-hole
next to the nearest hut
271
00:13:24,833 --> 00:13:26,916
with a prayer-mat beside it, and above,
272
00:13:26,916 --> 00:13:31,208
a large baobab tree
with beautiful, thick, leafy branches.
273
00:13:31,208 --> 00:13:33,583
All through
the great noontime heat, I waited.
274
00:13:33,583 --> 00:13:36,500
On through the heavy wet heat
of the afternoon, I waited.
275
00:13:36,500 --> 00:13:37,958
As five o'clock approached,
276
00:13:37,958 --> 00:13:41,416
I quietly climbed up my tree
and hid among the leaves.
277
00:13:41,416 --> 00:13:43,625
Finally, the great yogi
came out of his hut
278
00:13:43,625 --> 00:13:45,541
and sat cross-legged on the mat.
279
00:13:45,541 --> 00:13:48,208
Each movement he made was calm and gentle.
280
00:13:48,208 --> 00:13:50,791
He put his hands
palm downward on his knees
281
00:13:50,791 --> 00:13:53,041
and took a long breath
through his nostrils,
282
00:13:53,041 --> 00:13:56,875
and already I could see
a sort of brightness was melting over him.
283
00:13:56,875 --> 00:14:00,291
For 14 minutes, he remained
perfectly still in this position.
284
00:14:00,291 --> 00:14:04,000
And then, as I watched,
I saw, quite positively,
285
00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:06,166
his body slowly lifting off the ground.
286
00:14:07,666 --> 00:14:11,333
Twelve inches. Fifteen. Eighteen. Twenty.
287
00:14:12,083 --> 00:14:14,166
Two feet above the prayer-mat.
288
00:14:14,166 --> 00:14:15,958
Up in the tree, I said to myself,
289
00:14:15,958 --> 00:14:19,125
"There before you
is a man sitting in the air."
290
00:14:20,458 --> 00:14:24,416
Forty-six minutes, by my watch,
his body remained suspended.
291
00:14:24,416 --> 00:14:26,708
And then he slowly descended
back to earth,
292
00:14:26,708 --> 00:14:29,333
until his buttocks
rested again upon the mat.
293
00:14:29,333 --> 00:14:31,916
I climbed down from my tree
and ran straight over.
294
00:14:31,916 --> 00:14:34,291
The great yogi
was washing his hands and feet.
295
00:14:34,291 --> 00:14:36,583
"How long have you been here?"
he said sharply.
296
00:14:36,583 --> 00:14:39,208
Suddenly, he picked up a brick
and threw it at me so hard
297
00:14:39,208 --> 00:14:41,791
it broke in two
as it struck my leg below the knee.
298
00:14:41,791 --> 00:14:44,000
I have the scar still.
I'll show it to you.
299
00:14:46,916 --> 00:14:48,708
This was actually a stroke of luck.
300
00:14:48,708 --> 00:14:51,791
A great yogi isn't meant
to lose his temper and fling bricks.
301
00:14:51,791 --> 00:14:56,250
The old man was humiliated, remorseful,
and deeply disappointed in himself.
302
00:14:56,250 --> 00:14:59,625
He explained that though
he could not take me on as a disciple,
303
00:14:59,625 --> 00:15:02,541
he would, nevertheless,
give me some informal instruction
304
00:15:02,541 --> 00:15:04,708
in order to make amends for attacking me,
305
00:15:04,708 --> 00:15:07,125
an attack I fully deserved, by the way.
306
00:15:07,125 --> 00:15:09,041
This was in 1890.
307
00:15:09,041 --> 00:15:11,041
I was nearly 17 years old.
308
00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,250
Now, what was
the great yogi's instruction?
309
00:15:15,250 --> 00:15:16,875
Here it comes.
310
00:15:16,875 --> 00:15:18,458
The mind is a scattered thing.
311
00:15:18,458 --> 00:15:21,541
It concerns itself
with thousands of different items at once.
312
00:15:21,541 --> 00:15:24,250
Things you see around you.
Things you hear and smell.
313
00:15:24,250 --> 00:15:27,208
Things you think about.
Things you try not to think about.
314
00:15:27,208 --> 00:15:29,250
You must learn to concentrate such that
315
00:15:29,250 --> 00:15:32,916
you can visualize at will one item,
one item only, and nothing else.
316
00:15:32,916 --> 00:15:35,958
If you work hard, you may be able
to concentrate your conscious mind
317
00:15:35,958 --> 00:15:37,458
on any one object you select
318
00:15:37,458 --> 00:15:39,458
for around three and one-half minutes.
319
00:15:39,458 --> 00:15:42,625
This will take
about 20 years of diligent, daily effort.
320
00:15:42,625 --> 00:15:44,291
"Twenty years!" I cried.
321
00:15:44,291 --> 00:15:46,083
Twenty years. It may take longer.
322
00:15:46,083 --> 00:15:48,875
That's the usual time,
if you are able to do it at all.
323
00:15:48,875 --> 00:15:50,541
I'll be an old man by then!
324
00:15:50,541 --> 00:15:53,416
The time varies.
Some take ten years, some take thirty.
325
00:15:53,416 --> 00:15:56,333
On extremely rare occasions,
a special person comes along
326
00:15:56,333 --> 00:15:59,250
who's able to develop the power
in only one or two years,
327
00:15:59,250 --> 00:16:01,250
but this is one in a billion. Not you.
328
00:16:01,250 --> 00:16:03,625
Is it that difficult
to concentrate the mind--
329
00:16:03,625 --> 00:16:08,166
Almost impossible. Try it and see.
Shut your eyes and think of something.
330
00:16:08,166 --> 00:16:11,291
Think of just one object.
Visualize it. See it before you.
331
00:16:11,291 --> 00:16:13,458
In a few seconds, your mind will wander.
332
00:16:13,458 --> 00:16:16,541
Other thoughts will creep in.
It's a very difficult thing.
333
00:16:16,541 --> 00:16:18,625
Thus spoke the great, wise, old yogi.
334
00:16:20,708 --> 00:16:23,500
And so my exercises began.
335
00:16:24,083 --> 00:16:25,458
Each evening, I sat down,
336
00:16:25,458 --> 00:16:28,916
closed my eyes, and visualized the person
I loved best in the world,
337
00:16:28,916 --> 00:16:32,333
which was my elder brother
who died, age ten, from a blood disease.
338
00:16:32,333 --> 00:16:36,208
I concentrated on his face,
but the instant my mind began to wander,
339
00:16:36,208 --> 00:16:39,166
I stopped the exercise,
rested for several minutes,
340
00:16:39,166 --> 00:16:40,458
then I tried again.
341
00:16:40,458 --> 00:16:42,291
After five years of daily practice,
342
00:16:42,291 --> 00:16:45,208
I was able to concentrate
absolutely on my brother's face
343
00:16:45,208 --> 00:16:46,750
for one and a half minutes.
344
00:16:46,750 --> 00:16:48,166
I was making progress.
345
00:16:51,791 --> 00:16:52,625
In the meantime,
346
00:16:52,625 --> 00:16:55,833
I began to earn quite good money
giving conjuring performances.
347
00:16:55,833 --> 00:16:58,041
By nature,
my sleight-of-hand is very good,
348
00:16:58,041 --> 00:17:00,708
but always, I continued my exercises.
349
00:17:00,708 --> 00:17:04,583
Every evening, wherever I was,
I settled myself down in a quiet spot
350
00:17:04,583 --> 00:17:07,333
and concentrated my mind
on my brother's face.
351
00:17:07,333 --> 00:17:10,583
Sometimes, I lit a candle
and began by staring at the flame.
352
00:17:10,583 --> 00:17:14,041
A candle flame, as you know,
has three separate parts:
353
00:17:14,041 --> 00:17:16,541
the yellow at the top,
the mauve lower down,
354
00:17:16,541 --> 00:17:17,875
and the black inside.
355
00:17:17,875 --> 00:17:20,833
I placed the candle
16 inches away from my face,
356
00:17:20,833 --> 00:17:22,458
absolutely level with my eyes,
357
00:17:22,458 --> 00:17:25,708
so I didn't have to make
even tiny adjustments of my eye muscles
358
00:17:25,708 --> 00:17:26,916
by looking up or down.
359
00:17:26,916 --> 00:17:31,041
I stared at the black part in the center
until everything around me disappeared.
360
00:17:31,041 --> 00:17:32,458
Then I shut my eyes
361
00:17:32,458 --> 00:17:35,000
and began to concentrate
on my brother's face.
362
00:17:35,916 --> 00:17:40,750
By 1907, when I was 34 years old,
I could concentrate for three minutes
363
00:17:40,750 --> 00:17:43,125
without any wandering
of my mind whatsoever.
364
00:17:43,125 --> 00:17:46,458
It was also at this time
that I became aware of a slight ability,
365
00:17:46,458 --> 00:17:48,291
just a queer, little feeling,
366
00:17:48,291 --> 00:17:51,375
that when I closed my eyes
and looked at something hard,
367
00:17:51,375 --> 00:17:52,750
with fierce intensity,
368
00:17:52,750 --> 00:17:55,541
I could see the outline
of the object I was looking at.
369
00:17:55,541 --> 00:17:57,583
I thought of a thing the yogi had said:
370
00:17:57,583 --> 00:18:01,250
"Certain holy people have been known
to develop so great a concentration
371
00:18:01,250 --> 00:18:04,000
they can see without using their eyes."
372
00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:08,416
Each night after I performed
my exercises with the candle flame,
373
00:18:08,416 --> 00:18:11,333
I drank a cup of coffee,
then I blindfolded myself
374
00:18:11,333 --> 00:18:13,875
and sat in my chair
trying to see without my eyes.
375
00:18:13,875 --> 00:18:16,125
I started with a deck of playing cards.
376
00:18:16,125 --> 00:18:18,333
I studied the backs. I guessed the values.
377
00:18:18,333 --> 00:18:20,583
Immediately, I had a 60% success rate.
378
00:18:20,583 --> 00:18:22,833
Later, I bought maps
and navigational charts
379
00:18:22,833 --> 00:18:24,625
and pinned them up around my room.
380
00:18:24,625 --> 00:18:29,083
I spent hours looking at them blindfolded,
trying to read the small lettering.
381
00:18:29,083 --> 00:18:33,291
Every evening for the next eight years,
I proceeded with this kind of practice.
382
00:18:33,291 --> 00:18:36,000
By 1915,
I could read a book straight through,
383
00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:37,958
cover to cover, blindfolded.
384
00:18:37,958 --> 00:18:39,291
I had it!
385
00:18:39,291 --> 00:18:41,291
At last, I had this power.
386
00:18:42,833 --> 00:18:45,541
As you know,
it became my entire conjuring performance.
387
00:18:45,541 --> 00:18:48,791
Audiences loved it, but no one
believed it to be genuine. Still don't.
388
00:18:48,791 --> 00:18:52,333
Even doctors, like you, who blindfold me
in the most expert fashion,
389
00:18:52,333 --> 00:18:55,375
refuse to believe
anyone can see without his eyes.
390
00:18:55,375 --> 00:18:58,708
They forget there are other ways
of sending an image to the brain.
391
00:18:58,708 --> 00:19:00,208
Imdad Khan fell silent.
392
00:19:00,208 --> 00:19:01,208
He was tired.
393
00:19:01,208 --> 00:19:02,666
"What other ways?" I asked.
394
00:19:04,750 --> 00:19:06,333
Quite honestly, I do not know.
395
00:19:08,083 --> 00:19:10,958
The seeing is done
by another part of the body.
396
00:19:10,958 --> 00:19:12,458
Which part?
397
00:19:22,125 --> 00:19:23,666
That night I didn't go to bed.
398
00:19:23,666 --> 00:19:26,833
This man would have scientists
turning somersaults in the air.
399
00:19:26,833 --> 00:19:28,875
He must be the most valuable man alive.
400
00:19:28,875 --> 00:19:32,625
I had to find out exactly how it was,
biologically, chemically, magically,
401
00:19:32,625 --> 00:19:35,375
an image could be sent to the brain
without using the eyes.
402
00:19:35,375 --> 00:19:38,833
Blind people might be able to see.
Deaf people to hear. Who knows what else?
403
00:19:38,833 --> 00:19:41,541
"This incredible man
must not be ignored," I thought.
404
00:19:41,541 --> 00:19:45,333
I started transcribing with care
everything Imdad had told me that evening.
405
00:19:45,333 --> 00:19:47,416
I wrote for five hours without stopping.
406
00:19:50,125 --> 00:19:53,583
At eight o'clock the next morning,
I finished the most important part:
407
00:19:53,583 --> 00:19:55,041
the pages you've just read.
408
00:19:55,041 --> 00:19:57,958
I didn't see Dr. Marshall
until we met for our tea-break.
409
00:19:57,958 --> 00:20:00,291
I told him what I could
in the time we had.
410
00:20:00,291 --> 00:20:02,916
"Back to the theater tonight," I said.
Can't lose him now.
411
00:20:02,916 --> 00:20:04,291
I'll come with you.
412
00:20:04,291 --> 00:20:06,875
At 6:45,
we drove to the Royal Palace Hall.
413
00:20:06,875 --> 00:20:09,458
I parked the car,
and we walked to the theater.
414
00:20:09,458 --> 00:20:11,250
"There's something wrong," I said.
415
00:20:11,250 --> 00:20:13,625
There was no crowd,
and the doors were closed.
416
00:20:13,625 --> 00:20:17,666
The poster for the show was in place,
but someone had printed across it...
417
00:20:17,666 --> 00:20:19,833
"Tonight's performance canceled."
418
00:20:20,875 --> 00:20:24,208
I asked an old gatekeeper
by the locked doors: "What happened?"
419
00:20:24,208 --> 00:20:26,500
- Someone died.
-"Who?"
420
00:20:26,500 --> 00:20:27,958
Of course, I already knew.
421
00:20:27,958 --> 00:20:30,583
The man who sees
without his eyes.
422
00:20:30,583 --> 00:20:32,208
"How?" I cried.
423
00:20:32,208 --> 00:20:34,708
He went to sleep
and never woke up.
424
00:20:35,208 --> 00:20:36,375
These things happen.
425
00:20:39,750 --> 00:20:41,416
We walked slowly back to the car.
426
00:20:46,125 --> 00:20:48,500
I felt an overwhelming sense
of grief and anger.
427
00:20:48,500 --> 00:20:50,583
I should never have allowed him
out of my sight.
428
00:20:50,583 --> 00:20:52,500
I should've given him my bed,
taken care of him.
429
00:20:52,500 --> 00:20:54,000
Imdad Khan was a maker of miracles.
430
00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:58,333
He'd communicated with mysterious forces
far beyond the reach of ordinary people.
431
00:20:58,333 --> 00:21:00,083
Now he was dead.
432
00:21:00,083 --> 00:21:01,833
"That's that," Dr. Marshall said.
433
00:21:02,625 --> 00:21:03,541
That's that.
434
00:21:04,500 --> 00:21:05,500
"Yes," I said.
435
00:21:06,833 --> 00:21:07,750
"That's that."
436
00:21:12,625 --> 00:21:15,083
This is a true and accurate report
of everything
437
00:21:15,083 --> 00:21:17,291
concerning my two meetings
with Imdad Khan.
438
00:21:20,416 --> 00:21:21,625
Well, well, well.
439
00:21:22,708 --> 00:21:24,791
Now that is extremely interesting.
440
00:21:26,166 --> 00:21:28,333
This is a terrific piece of information.
441
00:21:29,916 --> 00:21:31,333
This could change my life.
442
00:21:51,125 --> 00:21:53,541
The piece of information
Henry was referring to
443
00:21:53,541 --> 00:21:57,333
was that Imdad Khan had trained himself
to read the value of a playing-card
444
00:21:57,333 --> 00:21:58,833
from the reverse side,
445
00:21:58,833 --> 00:22:01,541
and, being,
as mentioned, a dishonest gambler,
446
00:22:01,541 --> 00:22:03,000
Henry realized at once,
447
00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:05,083
he could make a fortune.
448
00:22:05,083 --> 00:22:07,500
He went downstairs to the butler's pantry
449
00:22:07,500 --> 00:22:10,208
and asked for a candle,
a candlestick, and a ruler.
450
00:22:10,208 --> 00:22:12,041
He took them to his bedroom,
locked the door,
451
00:22:12,041 --> 00:22:14,041
drew the curtains,
and turned off the lights.
452
00:22:14,041 --> 00:22:16,625
Put the candle on the dressing-table.
Pulled up a chair.
453
00:22:16,625 --> 00:22:20,083
He noticed with satisfaction
that his eyes were level with the wick.
454
00:22:20,083 --> 00:22:24,000
Using the ruler, he positioned
his face 16 inches from the candle,
455
00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:25,541
as indicated in the book.
456
00:22:25,541 --> 00:22:29,125
Imdad Khan had visualized
the face of the person he loved best,
457
00:22:29,125 --> 00:22:31,666
which, in his case,
was his deceased brother.
458
00:22:31,666 --> 00:22:33,458
Henry didn't have a brother.
459
00:22:34,041 --> 00:22:36,958
He decided instead
to visualize his own face.
460
00:22:43,666 --> 00:22:46,875
As Henry stared into the black area
at the center of the flame,
461
00:22:46,875 --> 00:22:48,583
an extraordinary thing happened.
462
00:22:48,583 --> 00:22:51,791
His mind went absolutely blank,
his brain ceased fidgeting,
463
00:22:51,791 --> 00:22:55,083
and all at once he felt as if
his entire body had become encased,
464
00:22:55,083 --> 00:22:56,000
snug and cozy,
465
00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,708
within that little black area
of burning nothingness.
466
00:22:59,291 --> 00:23:01,500
Admittedly, this lasted only 15 seconds.
467
00:23:01,500 --> 00:23:03,791
Then, no matter where,
or what he was doing,
468
00:23:03,791 --> 00:23:07,291
he made a point of practicing
with the candle five times a day.
469
00:23:07,291 --> 00:23:11,583
For the very first time, he threw himself
into something with genuine enthusiasm,
470
00:23:11,583 --> 00:23:14,083
and the progress he made was remarkable.
471
00:23:14,083 --> 00:23:15,166
After six months
472
00:23:15,166 --> 00:23:18,625
he could concentrate absolutely upon
the image of his face for three minutes
473
00:23:18,625 --> 00:23:21,541
without a single outside thought
entering his mind.
474
00:23:21,541 --> 00:23:23,166
"It's me," Henry thought.
475
00:23:23,166 --> 00:23:25,416
"I'm the one-in-a-billion with the ability
476
00:23:25,416 --> 00:23:27,791
to acquire yoga powers
at incredible speed!"
477
00:23:27,791 --> 00:23:31,291
By the end of the first year,
he'd exceeded five and a half minutes.
478
00:23:32,250 --> 00:23:33,375
The time had come.
479
00:23:37,375 --> 00:23:39,833
{\an8}The living room
of Henry's London flat. Midnight.
480
00:23:39,833 --> 00:23:42,083
He shakes with excitement as,
for the first time,
481
00:23:42,083 --> 00:23:44,291
he places a deck of cards
upside down before him
482
00:23:44,291 --> 00:23:46,041
and concentrates on the top card.
483
00:23:46,041 --> 00:23:49,833
All he sees initially is the ordinary
design of thin red lines on the back,
484
00:23:49,833 --> 00:23:52,750
perhaps the most common
playing-card design in the world.
485
00:23:52,750 --> 00:23:56,375
He now shifts his concentration
to the other side of the card.
486
00:23:56,375 --> 00:24:00,500
He focuses with great intensity
upon the invisible underneath of the card.
487
00:24:00,500 --> 00:24:03,416
Thirty seconds elapse.
One, two, three minutes.
488
00:24:03,416 --> 00:24:04,916
Henry doesn't move a muscle.
489
00:24:04,916 --> 00:24:07,500
His now highly-developed concentration
is absolute.
490
00:24:07,500 --> 00:24:09,500
He visualizes the reverse of the card.
491
00:24:09,500 --> 00:24:12,000
No other thought
is permitted to enter his mind.
492
00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:14,375
During the fourth minute,
something starts to happen.
493
00:24:14,375 --> 00:24:16,333
Slowly, magically, but distinctly,
494
00:24:16,333 --> 00:24:20,125
a black blob becomes a spade,
a twisty squiggle becomes a five.
495
00:24:20,125 --> 00:24:21,708
The five of spades.
496
00:24:21,708 --> 00:24:25,083
Fingers quivering,
he picks up the card and turns it over.
497
00:24:25,083 --> 00:24:27,250
"I've done it," he says.
498
00:24:28,333 --> 00:24:29,541
Henry becomes a fanatic.
499
00:24:29,541 --> 00:24:32,291
He never leaves his flat
except to buy food and drink.
500
00:24:32,291 --> 00:24:34,250
All day and often far into the night,
501
00:24:34,250 --> 00:24:36,583
he crouches over the cards
with the stopwatch.
502
00:24:36,583 --> 00:24:38,833
- Reducing his time, second by second.
503
00:24:38,833 --> 00:24:41,791
In a month, he's at a minute and a half.
Six months, 20 seconds.
504
00:24:41,791 --> 00:24:43,708
Seven more months, ten seconds flat.
505
00:24:43,708 --> 00:24:45,000
His target is five.
506
00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,708
Unless he can read through
a card in five seconds,
507
00:24:47,708 --> 00:24:49,875
he won't work the casinos successfully.
508
00:24:49,875 --> 00:24:53,916
Yet the nearer he gets to his target,
the more difficult it becomes to reach it.
509
00:24:53,916 --> 00:24:56,166
Four weeks
to get from ten seconds to nine.
510
00:24:56,166 --> 00:24:58,083
Five more to get from nine to eight.
511
00:24:58,083 --> 00:24:59,791
Hard work no longer bothers him.
512
00:24:59,791 --> 00:25:02,375
He's able to work
12 hours straight, no trouble.
513
00:25:02,375 --> 00:25:04,791
He knows with certainty he'll get there.
514
00:25:04,791 --> 00:25:07,333
The last two seconds
are the hardest, 11 months.
515
00:25:07,333 --> 00:25:09,041
But late one Saturday afternoon...
516
00:25:16,708 --> 00:25:20,583
Five seconds. Henry goes through the pack,
timing himself with every card.
517
00:25:20,583 --> 00:25:24,458
Five seconds. Five seconds. Five seconds.
518
00:25:25,500 --> 00:25:27,833
How long has it taken him
to reach this moment?
519
00:25:28,666 --> 00:25:31,666
Three years and three months
of uninterrupted effort.
520
00:25:33,208 --> 00:25:35,625
There were over
100 legitimate casinos in London.
521
00:25:35,625 --> 00:25:39,750
Henry was a member of no less than ten.
Lord's House was his favorite.
522
00:25:39,750 --> 00:25:43,041
It was the finest in the land,
in a magnificent Georgian mansion.
523
00:25:43,041 --> 00:25:44,166
Good evening, Mr. Sugar.
524
00:25:44,166 --> 00:25:46,916
...said the man
whose job it was to never forget a face.
525
00:25:46,916 --> 00:25:50,125
Henry ascended the marvelous staircase
to the cashier's office.
526
00:25:50,125 --> 00:25:52,250
He wrote a check for £10,000.
527
00:25:52,250 --> 00:25:56,416
Well-fed women circled the roulette wheel
like plump hens around a feeding hopper.
528
00:25:56,416 --> 00:25:58,708
Men with crimson faces,
cigars between their lips
529
00:25:58,708 --> 00:26:01,125
counted their chips,
eyes glittering with greed.
530
00:26:02,541 --> 00:26:04,541
Odd. For the first time in Henry's life,
531
00:26:04,541 --> 00:26:07,583
he looked with distaste upon a room
full of horrible rich people.
532
00:26:07,583 --> 00:26:10,500
He searched for a vacant seat
directly on the dealer's camera left
533
00:26:10,500 --> 00:26:12,166
at any of the blackjack tables.
534
00:26:12,166 --> 00:26:15,250
The dealer took Henry's plaque
and dropped it into a slot.
535
00:26:15,250 --> 00:26:18,458
He was a young-ish man
with black eyes and gray skin.
536
00:26:18,458 --> 00:26:20,791
He never smiled
and only spoke when necessary.
537
00:26:20,791 --> 00:26:23,583
He had slim hands.
There was arithmetic in his fingers.
538
00:26:23,583 --> 00:26:26,875
He picked up a wedge of £25 chips
and placed them in a pile.
539
00:26:26,875 --> 00:26:29,708
He didn't need to count them.
Those nimble fingers were never wrong.
540
00:26:29,708 --> 00:26:31,250
He slid the pile to Henry.
541
00:26:31,250 --> 00:26:32,708
As Henry stacked his chips,
542
00:26:32,708 --> 00:26:34,875
he glanced at the top card
in the dealer's shoe.
543
00:26:34,875 --> 00:26:38,375
In five seconds he read it as a ten.
He pushed out eight chips, £200,
544
00:26:38,375 --> 00:26:40,583
the maximum stake allowed at Lord's House.
545
00:26:40,583 --> 00:26:43,083
He was dealt the ten.
His second card was a nine.
546
00:26:43,083 --> 00:26:44,333
Nineteen all together.
547
00:26:44,333 --> 00:26:45,416
On 19, you stick.
548
00:26:45,416 --> 00:26:49,083
You sit tight and hope the dealer
doesn't get 20 or 21. It's a given.
549
00:26:49,083 --> 00:26:51,708
- When the dealer came to Henry, he said...
- Nineteen.
550
00:26:51,708 --> 00:26:54,333
...and passed to the next player.
"Wait," said Henry.
551
00:26:54,333 --> 00:26:55,958
The dealer came back to Henry.
552
00:26:55,958 --> 00:26:58,333
He raised his eyebrows,
looked with cool eyes.
553
00:26:58,333 --> 00:27:00,583
- You wish to draw to 19?
- ...he asked crisply.
554
00:27:00,583 --> 00:27:04,208
There were only two ranks that
wouldn't bust a 19, the ace and the two.
555
00:27:04,208 --> 00:27:08,250
Only an idiot would risk drawing on 19,
especially with £200 on the table.
556
00:27:08,250 --> 00:27:11,375
The back of the next card lay visible.
The dealer hadn't touched it.
557
00:27:11,375 --> 00:27:14,833
"Yes," Henry said. "Another card."
The dealer shrugged and dealt it.
558
00:27:14,833 --> 00:27:18,083
The two of clubs landed in front of Henry
alongside the ten and the nine.
559
00:27:18,083 --> 00:27:19,708
- 21.
- ...the dealer said evenly.
560
00:27:19,708 --> 00:27:21,750
He glanced up again into Henry's face,
561
00:27:21,750 --> 00:27:24,500
and rested there,
silent, watchful, puzzled.
562
00:27:25,583 --> 00:27:29,208
Henry had unbalanced him. He'd rarely,
if ever, seen anyone draw on 19.
563
00:27:29,208 --> 00:27:31,500
This fellow had
with a calmness and certainty
564
00:27:31,500 --> 00:27:33,750
that was quite staggering, and he'd won.
565
00:27:33,750 --> 00:27:37,166
Henry caught the dealer's look,
realized he'd made a silly mistake.
566
00:27:37,166 --> 00:27:39,500
He'd attracted attention.
"I beg your pardon."
567
00:27:39,500 --> 00:27:41,000
He must never do that again.
568
00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:44,125
He must be very careful,
even make himself lose occasionally.
569
00:27:44,125 --> 00:27:45,250
The game went on.
570
00:27:45,250 --> 00:27:47,041
Henry's advantage was so enormous,
571
00:27:47,041 --> 00:27:49,583
he had difficulty
keeping his winnings reasonable.
572
00:27:49,583 --> 00:27:51,291
In an hour, he'd won £30,000.
573
00:27:51,291 --> 00:27:52,416
There he stopped.
574
00:27:52,416 --> 00:27:54,916
It could just as easily
have been a million.
575
00:27:54,916 --> 00:27:56,208
Thank you.
576
00:27:56,208 --> 00:27:58,958
Henry was now
almost certainly capable of making money
577
00:27:58,958 --> 00:28:01,458
faster than any other person
in the entire world.
578
00:28:03,666 --> 00:28:04,500
Interesting.
579
00:28:09,041 --> 00:28:11,333
Had this been a made-up story
instead of a true one,
580
00:28:11,333 --> 00:28:12,833
it would have been necessary
581
00:28:12,833 --> 00:28:15,583
to invent a surprising
and exciting end for the thing.
582
00:28:15,583 --> 00:28:17,250
Something dramatic and unusual.
583
00:28:17,250 --> 00:28:20,416
For example, Henry could go home
and start counting his money.
584
00:28:20,416 --> 00:28:23,333
While doing this,
he might suddenly begin to feel unwell.
585
00:28:23,333 --> 00:28:24,875
He has a pain in his chest.
586
00:28:25,875 --> 00:28:28,333
He decides to go to bed.
He takes off his clothes.
587
00:28:28,333 --> 00:28:30,250
Walks naked and puts on pajamas.
588
00:28:30,250 --> 00:28:33,458
He passes the full-length mirror
against the wall. He stops.
589
00:28:33,458 --> 00:28:36,541
Automatically, from force of habit,
he starts to concentrate.
590
00:28:36,541 --> 00:28:38,833
All at once, he sees through his own skin.
591
00:28:38,833 --> 00:28:41,250
Like an X-ray, only better.
He sees everything.
592
00:28:41,250 --> 00:28:43,666
Arteries, veins,
the blood pumping through him.
593
00:28:43,666 --> 00:28:46,541
Liver, kidneys, intestines.
He sees his heart beating.
594
00:28:46,541 --> 00:28:48,708
He looks at where the pain is coming from
595
00:28:48,708 --> 00:28:52,958
and sees a dark lump inside the large vein
leading into the heart on the right side.
596
00:28:52,958 --> 00:28:55,916
A blood clot. At first,
the clot appears to be stationary.
597
00:28:55,916 --> 00:28:59,083
Then it moves. The movement's slight.
Only a millimeter or so.
598
00:28:59,083 --> 00:29:01,708
The blood is pumping up behind the clot
and pushing past it,
599
00:29:01,708 --> 00:29:03,083
and the clot moves again.
600
00:29:03,083 --> 00:29:06,166
It jerks forward about half an inch.
Henry watches in terror.
601
00:29:06,166 --> 00:29:09,666
He knows a large clot that's broken free
and is traveling in the vein
602
00:29:09,666 --> 00:29:11,125
will reach the heart.
603
00:29:11,125 --> 00:29:12,500
He is about to die.
604
00:29:12,500 --> 00:29:15,375
Not a bad ending for fiction,
but this isn't fiction.
605
00:29:15,375 --> 00:29:16,416
This story is fact.
606
00:29:16,416 --> 00:29:19,333
The only untrue thing is Henry's name,
which wasn't Henry Sugar.
607
00:29:19,333 --> 00:29:22,750
His name has to be protected.
It still must be protected.
608
00:29:22,750 --> 00:29:24,875
Apart from that, this is a true story,
609
00:29:24,875 --> 00:29:28,000
and because it's a true story,
it must have the true ending.
610
00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:29,583
Here's what actually happened.
611
00:29:33,916 --> 00:29:36,875
Henry walked for an hour.
The evening was cool and pleasant.
612
00:29:36,875 --> 00:29:38,583
The city still wide awake.
613
00:29:38,583 --> 00:29:42,041
He could feel the thick bankroll
in the inside pocket of his jacket.
614
00:29:42,041 --> 00:29:43,500
He patted it gently.
615
00:29:43,500 --> 00:29:45,708
A lot of money for an hour's work.
616
00:29:45,708 --> 00:29:47,791
Yet, he was a puzzled man.
617
00:29:47,791 --> 00:29:51,583
He couldn't understand why he felt
so little excitement about this success.
618
00:29:51,583 --> 00:29:54,333
If this had happened three years ago,
before the yoga,
619
00:29:54,333 --> 00:29:56,041
he'd have gone crazy with excitement,
620
00:29:56,041 --> 00:29:58,666
he'd be rushing off
to a nightclub to celebrate.
621
00:29:58,666 --> 00:30:00,750
But Henry didn't feel excited.
622
00:30:00,750 --> 00:30:02,083
He felt sad.
623
00:30:02,083 --> 00:30:04,916
Every time he made a bet,
he'd been certain to win.
624
00:30:04,916 --> 00:30:08,083
There was no thrill,
no suspense, no danger.
625
00:30:08,083 --> 00:30:11,083
He knew he could travel
around the world making millions.
626
00:30:11,083 --> 00:30:12,750
But was it going to be any fun?
627
00:30:12,750 --> 00:30:15,000
Another thing.
Was it not entirely possible
628
00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:17,166
the process of acquiring yoga powers
629
00:30:17,166 --> 00:30:20,833
had completely and utterly
changed his entire outlook on life?
630
00:30:20,833 --> 00:30:22,041
It was possible.
631
00:30:22,750 --> 00:30:25,458
The next morning,
Henry woke up late, got out of bed,
632
00:30:25,458 --> 00:30:28,166
saw the enormous bundle
lying on his dressing-table,
633
00:30:28,166 --> 00:30:30,208
and didn't want it.
634
00:30:54,500 --> 00:30:55,333
Oi?!
635
00:30:55,333 --> 00:30:58,875
Good morning, sir.
That's for you! It's a present.
636
00:30:58,875 --> 00:30:59,791
I...
637
00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:01,833
A what?
638
00:31:02,625 --> 00:31:03,958
Put it in your pocket!
639
00:31:05,458 --> 00:31:06,291
All right.
640
00:31:15,208 --> 00:31:16,250
What is it?
641
00:31:16,250 --> 00:31:18,041
- It's money.
- Keep it!
642
00:31:24,583 --> 00:31:25,416
Hey!
643
00:31:28,875 --> 00:31:29,833
Come on...
644
00:32:04,458 --> 00:32:06,291
The doorbell rang.
645
00:32:06,291 --> 00:32:08,875
- What do you think you're doing?
- Sorry about the crowd.
646
00:32:08,875 --> 00:32:10,208
I was giving away some money.
647
00:32:10,208 --> 00:32:12,750
- You're inciting a riot!
- Just giving away some money.
648
00:32:12,750 --> 00:32:15,000
I won't do it again. They'll soon go away.
649
00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:18,000
The policeman took one hand off his hip,
produced a £50 note.
650
00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:21,333
- A-ha, you got one yourself.
- This is evidence. Where's the money from?
651
00:32:21,333 --> 00:32:24,166
I won it at blackjack.
I had a tremendously lucky night.
652
00:32:24,166 --> 00:32:26,875
Henry named the club
and the policeman wrote it down.
653
00:32:26,875 --> 00:32:28,333
They'll tell you it's true.
654
00:32:28,333 --> 00:32:30,250
The policeman lowered the book.
I don't care.
655
00:32:30,250 --> 00:32:31,958
- Don't you?
- Not whatsoever.
656
00:32:31,958 --> 00:32:33,583
In fact, I believe your story,
657
00:32:33,583 --> 00:32:36,541
but that doesn't excuse
what you did even the tiniest bit.
658
00:32:36,541 --> 00:32:38,958
I didn't do anything illegal, did I?
659
00:32:39,791 --> 00:32:40,708
Illegal?
660
00:32:41,458 --> 00:32:42,583
You're an idiot!
661
00:32:43,333 --> 00:32:46,708
If you're lucky enough to win yourself
a big sum of money like that,
662
00:32:46,708 --> 00:32:49,750
and want to give it away,
you don't throw it out of the window.
663
00:32:49,750 --> 00:32:53,958
You give it somewhere it'll do some good.
A hospital for instance, or an orphanage.
664
00:32:53,958 --> 00:32:56,125
There's hospitals and orphanages all over
665
00:32:56,125 --> 00:32:59,375
got hardly enough money
to buy the kids a present for Christmas.
666
00:32:59,375 --> 00:33:01,208
Then comes a spoiled idiot
667
00:33:01,208 --> 00:33:03,666
who's never known
what it's like to be hard up,
668
00:33:03,666 --> 00:33:06,666
and you throw the stuff
out into the street!
669
00:33:06,666 --> 00:33:09,666
The policeman stomped down the stairs
and out of the door.
670
00:33:09,666 --> 00:33:10,666
Henry didn't move.
671
00:33:10,666 --> 00:33:13,416
Those words, and the fury
with which they were spoken,
672
00:33:13,416 --> 00:33:14,750
struck hard and deep.
673
00:33:14,750 --> 00:33:16,375
He was ashamed.
674
00:33:16,375 --> 00:33:17,708
It was an awful feeling.
675
00:33:23,916 --> 00:33:25,000
Then, all at once,
676
00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:28,500
Henry felt a powerful electricity
tingling through his entire body,
677
00:33:28,500 --> 00:33:32,208
and there began to come to him
an idea that was to change everything.
678
00:33:32,208 --> 00:33:33,791
He started pacing up and down,
679
00:33:33,791 --> 00:33:36,916
ticking off the points
that would make his idea possible.
680
00:33:36,916 --> 00:33:39,333
One. I'm going to win
a very large sum of money
681
00:33:39,333 --> 00:33:42,416
each and every day of my life
from this moment forward.
682
00:33:42,416 --> 00:33:46,250
Two. I can go to the
same casino only once every six months.
683
00:33:46,250 --> 00:33:49,000
Three. I must never win
too much money in one sitting.
684
00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:51,666
£50,000 pounds a night,
that's my limit.
685
00:33:51,666 --> 00:33:55,166
Four.
£50,000 a night for 365 days a year.
686
00:33:55,166 --> 00:33:57,916
That's £18.25 million.
687
00:33:57,916 --> 00:33:59,166
Five. Keep moving.
688
00:33:59,166 --> 00:34:01,791
No more than three nights
at a stretch in any city.
689
00:34:01,791 --> 00:34:03,958
London, Monte-Carlo, Cannes, Biarritz,
690
00:34:03,958 --> 00:34:07,083
Deauville, Las Vegas,
Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Nassau.
691
00:34:07,083 --> 00:34:11,416
Six. I'll take the money and establish
hospitals and orphanages around the world.
692
00:34:11,416 --> 00:34:13,791
Corny and sentimental
as a dream,
693
00:34:13,791 --> 00:34:16,083
but as a reality,
I think I can make it work.
694
00:34:16,083 --> 00:34:20,208
I don't think it'd be corny at all.
It would be wonderfully stupendous.
695
00:34:20,208 --> 00:34:23,875
Seven. I need a partner who can
sit behind a desk and receive the money,
696
00:34:23,875 --> 00:34:25,541
then send it where it's needed.
697
00:34:25,541 --> 00:34:28,791
Someone I can deeply,
emphatically, categorically trust forever.
698
00:34:28,791 --> 00:34:32,041
John Winston was Henry's accountant,
and had been his father's too,
699
00:34:32,041 --> 00:34:34,708
and John's father had been
Henry's father's father's accountant.
700
00:34:34,708 --> 00:34:36,708
You could be the richest man on Earth.
701
00:34:38,833 --> 00:34:41,000
I don't want to be
the richest man on Earth.
702
00:34:43,583 --> 00:34:46,250
I can't operate in England.
The taxman'll take it all.
703
00:34:46,250 --> 00:34:48,416
I'll have to move to Switzerland.
But not tomorrow.
704
00:34:48,416 --> 00:34:51,125
I'm not unattached like you
with no responsibilities.
705
00:34:51,125 --> 00:34:54,000
I must talk to my family,
give notice to my partners.
706
00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:56,541
I must sell my house,
find another in Switzerland,
707
00:34:56,541 --> 00:34:58,916
take the kids out of school.
These things take time.
708
00:34:58,916 --> 00:35:02,125
One year later,
Henry had sent just over £120 million
709
00:35:02,125 --> 00:35:03,875
to John Winston in Lausanne.
710
00:35:03,875 --> 00:35:05,958
The money was delivered five days a week
711
00:35:05,958 --> 00:35:08,250
to a Swiss company
called Winston Sugar, LLC.
712
00:35:08,250 --> 00:35:11,250
Nobody except John and Henry
knew where the money came from
713
00:35:11,250 --> 00:35:12,708
or what would happen to it.
714
00:35:12,708 --> 00:35:14,458
The Monday remittance was the biggest
715
00:35:14,458 --> 00:35:17,125
because it included the take
for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,
716
00:35:17,125 --> 00:35:18,333
when the banks were closed.
717
00:35:18,333 --> 00:35:20,041
He moved with astonishing speed,
718
00:35:20,041 --> 00:35:22,750
changing his identity
several times in a single week.
719
00:35:22,750 --> 00:35:25,416
Often, the only clue John had
of Henry's whereabouts
720
00:35:25,416 --> 00:35:29,250
was the address of the bank which had
sent the money. It was stupendous.
721
00:35:49,541 --> 00:35:52,958
Henry died last year,
age 63, from a pulmonary embolism.
722
00:35:52,958 --> 00:35:56,166
He saw it coming, quite literally,
but was very much at peace.
723
00:35:56,166 --> 00:35:58,833
He'd been following his plan
for just over 20 years.
724
00:35:58,833 --> 00:36:01,458
He'd made £644 million.
725
00:36:01,458 --> 00:36:03,041
He'd left 21 well-established,
726
00:36:03,041 --> 00:36:06,208
well-run children's hospitals
and orphanages around the world,
727
00:36:06,208 --> 00:36:10,333
administered and financed from Lausanne
by John Winston and his staff.
728
00:36:10,333 --> 00:36:11,666
His work was complete.
729
00:36:16,125 --> 00:36:20,208
Now, how do I know all this?
Good question. I'll tell you.
730
00:36:20,208 --> 00:36:23,791
Soon after Henry's death, John Winston
telephoned me from Switzerland.
731
00:36:23,791 --> 00:36:25,291
He introduced himself simply
732
00:36:25,291 --> 00:36:28,750
as the head of a company
calling itself Winston Sugar, LLC,
733
00:36:28,750 --> 00:36:31,000
and asked
if I'd come to Lausanne to see him
734
00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:34,000
with a view to writing
a brief history of the organization.
735
00:36:34,625 --> 00:36:36,250
I don't know how he chose me.
736
00:36:36,250 --> 00:36:39,125
Probably had a list of writers
and stuck a pin in it.
737
00:36:39,125 --> 00:36:41,375
He would pay me well, he said, and added,
738
00:36:41,375 --> 00:36:43,583
"A remarkable man has died recently."
739
00:36:43,583 --> 00:36:45,291
"His name was Henry Sugar."
740
00:36:45,291 --> 00:36:49,125
"I think people ought to know a bit
about what he has done for the world."
741
00:36:49,125 --> 00:36:50,208
In my ignorance,
742
00:36:50,208 --> 00:36:53,000
I asked whether the story
was really interesting enough
743
00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:54,541
to merit being put on paper.
744
00:36:54,541 --> 00:36:58,041
This annoyed John Winston very much.
Perhaps it even offended him.
745
00:36:58,625 --> 00:37:00,083
In five minutes on the phone,
746
00:37:00,083 --> 00:37:03,041
he told me
about Henry Sugar's secret career.
747
00:37:03,041 --> 00:37:04,541
It was secret no longer.
748
00:37:04,541 --> 00:37:08,083
Henry was dead and would never
enter another casino again.
749
00:37:08,083 --> 00:37:10,083
"I'm coming," I said.
750
00:37:10,083 --> 00:37:13,000
In Lausanne,
I met John Winston, now over 70,
751
00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:14,291
also Max Engelman,
752
00:37:14,291 --> 00:37:17,291
{\an8}a renowned make-up artist
who traveled the world with Henry
753
00:37:17,291 --> 00:37:20,166
{\an8}creating fantastic disguises
to conceal his identity.
754
00:37:20,166 --> 00:37:24,333
{\an8}They were both shattered by Henry's death.
Max even more so than John Winston.
755
00:37:24,333 --> 00:37:26,625
{\an8}I loved him. He was a great man.
756
00:37:26,625 --> 00:37:29,666
{\an8}John Winston showed me
the original dark-blue exercise book
757
00:37:29,666 --> 00:37:32,666
{\an8}written by Z.Z. Chatterjee
in Calcutta in 1935.
758
00:37:32,666 --> 00:37:34,833
{\an8}I later copied it out word-for-word.
759
00:37:34,833 --> 00:37:36,375
{\an8}"One last question," I said.
760
00:37:36,375 --> 00:37:40,083
{\an8}"You keep calling him Henry Sugar,
yet you tell me that wasn't his name."
761
00:37:40,083 --> 00:37:43,375
{\an8}"Don't you want me to say
who he really was when I do the story?"
762
00:37:43,375 --> 00:37:44,750
{\an8}- No.
- ...John Winston said.
763
00:37:44,750 --> 00:37:47,208
{\an8}Max and I promised
never to reveal his identity.
764
00:37:47,208 --> 00:37:49,750
{\an8}Oh, I suppose
it'll probably leak out sooner or later.
765
00:37:49,750 --> 00:37:51,833
{\an8}He was from a well-known English family,
766
00:37:51,833 --> 00:37:54,500
{\an8}but I'd appreciate it
if you didn't try to find out.
767
00:37:54,500 --> 00:37:56,791
{\an8}Just please,
call him plain Mr. Henry Sugar.
768
00:37:58,833 --> 00:38:00,291
{\an8}And that is what I have done.