business people he knew as they moved toward their seats The elite of Gotham City would be surprised if they knew that he was actually Batman They only knew Bruce as the billionaire benefactor who had given nearly a million dollars to the Monarch’s renovation Beautiful work fixing this theater Mayor Grange told Bruce as they passed by her It’s truly a fitting memorial to your parents now Thank you Mayor replied Bruce It was unfortunate that it had fallen into disrepair Fixing the theater helps the whole neighborhood added Tim Bruce’s parents had been murdered when he was a little boy right outside this theater The traumatic event had led Bruce to swear revenge on all criminals and ultimately become Batman Enjoy the show Mayor Grange said and she sat down after Bruce and Tim shuffled past her And we couldn’t let this location be a hideout for criminals anymore Tim whispered to Bruce as they sat down in the front row Imagine the
Joker’s nerve setting up his headquarters in here for a while If there’s anything the Joker has replied Bruce it’s nerve They both fell silent as the lights dimmed The audience settled down behind them and everyone applauded as the curtains opened A young woman in a sparkly silver gown pushed a tall fancy cabinet onto the stage She smiled as she opened the wooden cabinet showing that it was empty inside Then she shut the door and began to spin the whole cabinet faster and faster The woman hopped up on the foot of the cabinet and twirled with it her dress glittering as the box spun to a blur Then she put down her foot STOMP The cabinet stopped abruptly The door swung open with an outpouring of dry ice vapor and out stepped the Magnificent Santoro The audience applauded as the thin man in a tuxedo took a deep bow He wore a tall turban with a spinning emerald embedded in a hollow in front
The turban stayed perched on his head even during the deepest part of his bow He swirled his long red cape behind him as he strode to the front of the stage Nice entrance whispered Tim Bruce nodded Impressive trick too he said It must be much more difficult to get in and out of that cabinet when it’s twirling like that Welcome announced Santoro as the applause subsided I see you’ve met Rachelle my assistant Take a bow my dear Rachelle curtsied and smiled And now lovely Rachelle exit stage left continued Santoro With a kick Rachelle pushed the open cabinet toward the left side of the stage She ran faster shoving the open box ahead of her Then she jumped in and shut the door The cabinet slowed to a stop against the left side curtain Then the door swung open Rachelle was gone After Rachelle’s disappearance Santoro pulled
everyone’s focus by performing a simple trick with cups and small green balls on a floating table A simple misdirection trick whispered Tim But he used an amazing number of combinations with just three cups Following the cup and balls trick Santoro raised his arms The lights darkened to a spooky purple Wisps of dry ice vapor wafted around him The emerald spinning in the front of his turban glowed an eerie green There is a mysterious power that links all things Santoro intoned in a calm voice It is an invisible plasma connecting both inanimate objects and creatures endowed with life If one controls this harmonic energy one may control any mind with mental magnetism This is how I mesmerize Bruce glanced over his shoulder at the audience Most everyone was staring at Santoro on stage their mouths open in amazement as though already hypnotized Bruce let out a low chuckle until he looked
