"Carlie, you're a smart young woman with extensive knowledge of my craft and a desire to learn anything you don't already know. Additionally, you present yourself extremely well. And I think you will absolutely shine on stage. You embody all of the traits I'm looking for in an assistant. So, I see no need to continue my search. I'd like to offer you the job."

"Thank you. I feel honored that you think I'd be a great fit for this job. But, well, I'm going to decline your wonderful offer."

"What a shame. I think we would work very well together. But, of course, the decision is yours to make. And I respect your choice. From what I saw, you came here very excited about the interview and wanting very much to work for me. So if you don't mind me asking, what changed your mind? You can be honest. I won't be offended. It would help me to know. Because now I will need to continue my search. And I want to understand what about the job another applicant might not like, as well."

"You're right, I did come here very excited. I wanted the job more than anything. It's just that...I guess it's not actually what I thought it would be."

"In what way? Again, please be honest."

"I've always wanted to be a magician's assistant. I've always loved the thought of taking part in the illusions--being sawed in half, skewered by swords, levitated, and all the rest. I still love it. I still want it. But your act, what you focus on, isn't really what I'm interested in."

"Really? Everything you described is part of my act."

"Yes, I understand that. But there are other things you do that don't appeal to me."

"Such as?"

"For one thing, I've always loved the assistant's outfit--the sequined dress or suit is wonderful, but it's the sheer stockings or fishnets and the high heels that I really love. But you said your assistants go barefoot."

"That's right, they do. I think feet can be very expressive. When much or all of my assistant is hidden within a cabinet or behind a curtain, how she moves her feet or wiggles her toes can express all kinds of emotions, which the audience will pick up on and respond to."

"Sure, I get that. But the first thing you had me do when I came in here was take off my shoes and stockings, and put my feet up on this ottoman. I had specifically worn my sexy, strappy heels--which I figured would be similar to what I'd wear as part of your act--and you had me immediately discard them. So, now, here I am, with my bare feet on display for you. And I just don't like it. I don't know why, but it makes me uncomfortable. I can't imagine how I'd feel on stage with my feet on display for an entire audience to see."

"And that's not something you think you could work through?"

"Maybe I could. I mean, that one thing shouldn't be enough to make me throw away my dream job. But, there's something else, too. Something that makes me even more uncomfortable."

"What is that?"

"You said that you hypnotize your assistant at the beginning of the show, and she spends most of the performance in a trance, carrying out your suggestions and instructions."

"Correct."

"I don't want to be hypnotized. The thought of it makes me squeamish."

"Have you ever been put under?"

"No."

"So you don't know that you wouldn't like it. You might find it very enjoyable. In fact, I think you would."

"No, I don't think so. The idea of giving up control, of having no choice in what I say or do, or even remember...ugh! It freaks me out. I just can't do it."

"Well, I appreciate your honesty. I'm sorry you feel like you do about being barefoot on stage and being hypnotized. But at least now I understand why you're turning down the job."

"Thanks for understanding. I'm sure you'll find someone else to be your assistant. Anyway, I should go. I don't want to take up any more of your time...um, something's wrong. I can't get up. Hey! I can't move at all!"

"No, you can't."

"What's going on?"

"Magic, of course. The job you just turned down is for a magician's assistant. And I am a magician."

"That's all illusions and tricks. You can't use it to paralyze someone."

"Many people say the same thing about hypnosis, that it's just trickery, not real. They're wrong, obviously. Maybe you're wrong about magic."

"Okay, fine, I'm wrong about magic. But the point is, I'm stuck in this chair. I can't move. I'd like to go now. Can you release me? End the spell or whatever you need to do? Please!"

"No."

"What?"

"The fact is, Carlie, you really would make the perfect magician's assistant. Now that I've interviewed you, I don't want to continue my search. I want to work with the finest candidate I'm likely to find, who walked into my office today and sits before me right now."

"You may want that, but I don't."

"And that is a shame. I'd much prefer you did want it. But either way, you're going to be my assistant."

"You can't make me take the job."

"I can't? What kind of magician would I be if that were true? Oh, no, I certainly can make you. And I'm going to do it right now."

"What is that? A pocket watch on the end of a chain? Is that what you use in your show to hypnotize your assistant? Do you think you can hypnotize me and make me take this job?"

"That's exactly what I can and will do. I'm going to hypnotize you. And once you're under, I will condition you to do anything that I tell you to do. Before you know it, you will be a beautiful, barefoot, brainwashed magician's assistant."

"Wow, that is one grandiose delusion. Even if you could brainwash me once I was hypnotized, you'll never put me under. I'm not going to stare at that watch as you swing it back and forth. I'm going to look away. Or just close my eyes."

"By all means, look away or close your eyes. Better yet, stand up and walk out of the room. Oh, but you can't stand up, can you? You can't move. And, you can't stop looking at the watch."

"What the hell? I can't stop looking at it!"

"No, you can't. All you can do is stare at the watch as I swing it slowly back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. All you can do is let it draw you in. Captivate you. Transfix you. Soothe you. Relax you. You can't stop yourself from feeling comfortable, even with your bare feet on display, even with your fear of being hypnotized. You can't stop yourself from feeling drowsy. So relaxed and drowsy. And now, more than drowsy. You feel sleepy. All you want in the world is to fall blissfully asleep. Sleep, Carlie. You want so desperately to sleep. You must sleep. You will sleep. Sleep."

"S-sleep...zzzzzz..."

"You are hypnotized, Carlie."

"...I am hypnotized..."

"You will do whatever I say."

"...I will do whatever you say..."

"You like being hypnotized. You like being under my control. It feels good. So very, very good."

"...I like being hypnotized. I like being under your control. It feels good. So very, very good..."



"You also like being barefoot. You like showing off your feet. You think it is an important part of being a magician's assistant."



"...I also like being barefoot. I like showing off my feet. I think it is an important part of being a magician's assistant..."

"Tell me again what you like."

"...I like being hypnotized. I like being under your control. I also like being barefoot. I like showing off my feet..."

"Because you like those things, would you have any problem being my assistant, yes or no?"

"...No..."

"Is there any other reason why you wouldn't want to be my assistant, yes or no?"

"...No..."

"Good. When I wake you up, you will be able to move freely again. You will remember only what I tell you now and nothing else: You came into my office for the interview, feeling excited about the prospect of being my assistant. I told you everything that the job entails, and you loved it all. You answered the interview questions well. I offered you the job, and you gratefully accepted it. Now, tell me in your own words what you will remember."

"...I came into your office for the interview. I was excited about the chance to be your assistant. You told me about the job. Everything sounded great. I answered all of your questions with no problem. Then, you offered me the job. I accepted your offer..."

"Very good. You're ready. That was easy. And fast. You're extremely suggestible. Much more so than my previous assistants. Oh, I could get them to do what I wanted. But it took considerable time and effort. They resisted me, even when they were hypnotized. But not you. You go under, and your will evaporates. You said you couldn't bear the thought of being controlled. But I think you're a closeted submissive. You were secretly waiting for someone to dominate you. In that case, you got your wish. And that makes me think: Why stop now? Why not go further with you? Yes, that's what I'll do. I've always wanted to add more eroticism to the show. Some fetish touches to liven things up. You won't just be my assistant who I hypnotize in order to levitate her or keep her passive while being sawed in half. No, you'll be a damsel, bound and barefoot, who I hypnotize into being my obedient slave. Oh, yes, I think the audience will eat that up. And you'll love it, too. Do you hear me, Carlie? You will love it, too."

"...I will love it, too..."

"Excellent. From now on, you will see me as your master and yourself as my slave."

"...I will see you as my master and myself as your slave..."

"In fact, you will no longer hear the words magician's assistant when anyone says them. You will only hear the word slave."

"...I will no longer hear the words magician's assistant when anyone says them. I will only hear the word slave..."

"It will not bother you at all to be a slave or be referred to as one. In fact, it will please you."

"...It will not bother me at all to  be a slave or be referred to as one. In fact, it will please me..."

"All right, my magician's assistant, you're going to wake up when I count to three. One, two, three."

"Huh? What? Oh, sorry. I must have spaced out for a second."

"No problem. I just said that congratulations are in order."

"Thank you! Thank you so much! I can't wait to start being your magician's assistant."

"You don't have to wait at all. You can begin right now...."