"Amazing Stories" Retro Recap: "The Amazing Falsworth"

Written by Scotty

It is easy to believe in magic, actually it is just down right fun to believe in things that cannot be explained.  When going out to magic clubs, or having a physic read you, it is entertaining and sometimes they may be able to get some things right about your past or future, but usually it is just coincidence and the power of suggestion is so strong that you believe that they can see life through your eyes.  With so many people making a living out of deceiving their clients, would it not be the greatest thing to have someone that is able to accomplish such a feat?  But when you do run into a person with this sort of gift, would you welcome what they have to say, or just dismiss them like all of the others that are just in the game to give you a good show?

The Amazing Falsworth is ready to take the stage and listening to the stage hands behind him calling him a phony does not help his attitude.  Bypassing his normal tricks, Falsworth is looking to make a statement tonight by telling everyone in the room something about themselves that nobody knows.  Being blindfolded and led around the floor, the Amazing Falsworth uses his hands to get a read on everyone that he touches.  As he moves around the room, he leaves the audience in shock, but there is a guest that will change his life forever.

Touching a serial killer, Falsworth is stunned and knows that he needs to get the police to the theater right away.  Arriving in his dressing room, there is a man in a coat waiting for him. Thinking that this is the killer, Falsworth tries to keep him occupied as the phone rings and Detective Spota is on the other end.  The man in the coat disrobes and delivers a message, a singing telegram to the entertainer.  Being relieved that he is safe, Falsworth waits for the detective to arrive and tries to explain to the non-believer what he has just seen.  Without being able to give a description of the killer, Spota has to play along with the rambling physic and wait to see what he can deliver. 

As Falsworth moves about the empty floor, he touches the chairs where all of his fans were sitting.  Finally touching the chair where the murderer was sitting, Falsworth is able to give an address and now Spota can start to do his job.  Arriving at the apartment, Spota makes himself at home, but Falsworth does not notice as he lays his eyes on a piano that has missing cords.  Knowing that the Keyboard Killer uses these cords to strangle his victims, Falsworth knows he is in the right place.  Seeing the killer's face, he also knows that there is little chance that he will be getting out of the apartment alive.

Talk about a twist that you would not expect to see coming.  This is a great story that keeps you on your toes when you have no idea who the killer really is.  With people all around the Amazing Falsworth that he does not know, you have to travel in his shoes to find out who it really is.  Since Detective Spota seems to know what is happening, but is sticking to police procedure when trying to help out the physic, but he needs to make sure he is not being led in the wrong direction when trying to find the killer.  I love the turn that the story takes, especially when Falsworth is starting to get comfortable in his surroundings.  It is difficult to know who you can trust and even when you find a comfort zone with someone, you may have just fallen into their trap.

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