To r n a n d R e s t o r e d

N a p k i n
Effect:
The Magician tears a circle from the centre of a paper napkin
and gives the circle to a spectator to hold for a
moment.

He rips the remaining paper into little pieces,

wraps the pieces inside the paper circle,
scrunches them into a small paper ball and gives it to the
spectator.

Together, the Magician and the spectator generate healing

energy. The spectator unscrunches the paper ball
and discovers that the napkin has been magically
restored.

Key Sleights:
 Ramsey-subtlety.
 Shuttle-pass.

Requirements:
Two identical paper napkins.

Preparation:
 Scrunch one napkin into a small paper ball. (Henceforth called: the “Duplicate-
ball”.)

Setup:
 Fingerpalm the duplicate-ball in your right hand.
 Have the other napkin ready to rip.1

Method:
1) Tear a circle out of the centre of the napkin. Do not flash the duplicate-ball.
2) Rip up the outer portion of napkin, wrap the pieces in the paper circle, and scrunch them into
a small paper ball.
3) Execute a Shuttle-pass to exchange the paper ball for the duplicate ball.
4) Place the duplicate-ball into a spectator’s hand.

1
To be completely convincing, have a pocket-sized packet of tissues handy. Carry a few pre-scrunched
duplicate-balls in your right pocket, ready to be fingerpalmed when needed. When you are ready to perform this
effect: take out the tissue packet, withdraw a tissue, put the packet into your right pocket, and finger-palm a
duplicate-ball as you withdraw your right hand. If you intend to perform this effect at a restaurant or other dining
situation, use the napkins provided and secretly pre-scrunch a few ahead of time.
5) Have the spectator unwrap the napkin.
6) The spectator unwraps a napkin, miraculously restored.

Procedure:
— Tear up the napkin. —
Important: Throughout this effect, be careful not to flash the duplicate-ball fingerpalmed
in your right hand.
7) Tear a large circle from the centre of the napkin using the following steps:
8) Fold the paper napkin in half, and then quarters (Figs. 4a and 4b).
9) Hold the folded napkin with your left hand. The central corner should be positioned top-right
(Fig. 4c).
10) Tear out a semicircle with your right hand: beginning at the middle of the napkin’s upper
edge, and ending at the middle of the napkin’s right edge (Fig. 4d).
11) Retain the outer portion of the napkin, and have a nice spectator unfold the semicircle (Fig.
4e).
This lucky spectator automatically becomes your participant for this effect.
12) Unfold the remaining portion of napkin, and show the circular hole in its centre (Fig. 4f).

13) Rip the napkin into small pieces, and then scrunch the pieces tightly together into a small,
paper ball.
14) Display the paper ball on your palm-up left hand.
15) Retrieve your participant’s unfolded circle, wrap it around the paper ball, and display the
result on your palm-up left hand.
 — Restore the napkin. —
16) Execute a 1Shuttle-pass to exchange the paper ball for the duplicate-ball:
a) Display the paper-ball on your left palm.
b) Keep the paper-ball in place by pressing down on it with your left thumb.
c) Do the next two steps simultaneously:
i) Turn your right hand palm-up, whilst using a Ramsey-subtlety to obscure the
duplicate-ball.
ii) Feign placing the paper-ball into your right hand, whilst actually retaining (and
obscuring) it behind your gapless left fingers.2
iii) Take your left hand away to reveal the duplicate-ball in your right hand.
iv) Allow your left hand to drop so that it swings casually by your side.
v) Display the duplicate-ball on your right palm, asking your participant to poise her
hand likewise.
vi) Use this off-beat to secretly pocket the retained paper ball. (A dastardly alternative
would be to ditch the paper ball behind your legs.)
vii) Take the duplicate-ball from your right palm and place it onto your participant’s palm.
viii) Gently close your participant’s hand around the duplicate ball, and enclose her fist
within your hands.
ix) “We can fix this, you know… ” you say, with reassuring confidence.
x) Proceed with liturgical solemnity, “Together… we can fix this.”
xi) Enquire, “Can you feel the Magic?”
xii) Generate intense healing energy with your spectator.
xiii) Remove your dexterous digits from your participant’s fist and ask her to unscrunch
the scrunched paper ball she is holding.
xiv) Your participant complies, and squeals with delight when she unscrunches the
napkin, remarkably restored.
— Yikes! Another one of your miracles, I presume?!
17) Smile.
18) Kindly thank your participant for assisting you, and motion to the audience to give her a
round of applause.

* * *

1
Shuttle-pass: This is a workhorse sleight. It is used to exchange one small object for a duplicate one. In our
case, you make a feint of putting the paper-ball into your right hand, whilst, actually retain it in your left hand,
and exposing the duplicate-ball with your right hand.
Your motivation for transferring the paper-ball is to demonstrate, to your participant, how to poise her hand.
2
Important subtlety: Subtly dip you right hand when it receives the supposed ball: This dip occurs reflexively
whenever you catch an object. This, often overlooked, subtlety is a strong convincer: without it, the move would
look unnatural.