Then, at a word or sign from Maxwell, they became themselves again and couldn't remember anything about what they had done. Some of them didn't even believe that they had been hypnotised at all and would only believe Maxwell after they were shown a video of what they had been doing. Everybody loved it. Including Aunt Molly. The final part of the show came when Maxwell asked for a last person to come forward. 'Here!' shouted Winston. He was pointing at his mother. 'Winston! What are you doing?' she said. 'I can't do that - I'd die of embarrassment!' 'Oh, go on, Mum. Do something different for once,' Clement whispered loudly. Grandpa and I were smiling. Aunt Molly smiled too. She felt that she couldn't say no after all the trouble they had taken. What if she did look silly? That wouldn't matter. Nothing mattered now but her boys. 'All right - I'll do it!' she said. Aunt Molly, for some reason, was an especially easy person to hypnotise. As she sat on a chair she 'went to sleep' to the sound of Maxwell's voice like a baby. We all wondered what hypnotic suggestions Maxwell would give her. Then Maxwell turned to Winston and said: 'What suggestions would you like to make, young man? I'll tell this lovely lady to do anything that won't get her into trouble with the police!' The audience laughed. The twins whispered to each other, then Winston spoke. 'Well . . . Mum's always needed a bit more confidence, so what could you do to make her more . . .' 'Decisive said Clement. 'That's it,' said Winston. 'More able to make decisions and be more confident - let her live life to the full!' 'Let's see what we can do,' said Maxwell. He first asked for her name and Grandpa told him. Then Maxwell turned to Aunt Molly who was still fast asleep. 'Now, Molly, you will answer only to my voice, do you understand?' 'I understand,' said Aunt Molly quietly, though she was still asleep. 'You will be a confident woman, full of strength. Whatever you want to do, you will succeed in doing. Nothing is too difficult for you. Is that clear to you, Molly?' said Maxwell. Molly said that it was. 'When I tell you to open your eyes you will be that intelligent, confident woman; you will live life to the full. You will not remember that you have been hypnotised but you will be a new, confident woman who will live life to the full. You will continue until I - and only I - tell you to return to your normal life. Is that understood, Molly?' said Maxwell loudly and with quite a4ot confidence of his own. Molly said she understood. 'Now, Molly,' said Maxwell. 'Open your eyes . . .' But as he said this he suddenly gave a loud cry and fell at Aunt Molly's feet while holding on to his tie. His face had turned grey. Maxwell Marvel had a heart attack just as Aunt Molly was opening her eyes. The first thing she saw was Maxwell Marvel lying at her feet. She turned to the nearest person in the audience and said, 'Well, don't just sit there, man!This
man has obviously had a heart attack - call for a doctor and an ambulance at once. He needs immediate attention.'