FreeWill

Free Will (over the phone): "I create as you speak"
This effect can be performed over the phone or on Zoom, and you can choose
whether to use props.

Any three imaginary objects can be used. You can choose whether to use a
prediction and whether this is performed for one person, using one Participant in
the effect, or including more than one.

Oh, and if this is performed over the phone and you can't see the Participant,
they can use physical objects.

I guess I'm saying this is customisable to your performance preferences.

Effect

(As perceived by the audience)

The Performer finds themselves in a situation where they're asked to perform to
someone over the phone.

The Performer asks the Participant over the phone to grab three random
objects.

The Participant grabs a pencil, keys and a wallet.

The Performer has the Participant pick up one of the objects at random and
place it into their pocket. They are then asked to imagine handing one of the
remaining objects to the Performer and leaving one of the objects on the table.

Much to everyone's surprise, even though the Performer cannot see the
Participant, the Performer can instantly tell the location of every object.

Breakdown

Describing this effect accurately is almost impossible because the outcome,
whilst always the same, takes a different journey to get there, depending on
how the performance runs.

Let's run some hypothetical scenarios that you follow along with.

Imagine in front of you is a phone, keys and a wallet (in that order).
(Note: in performance, the objects can be imaginary and placed in any order.
End of note.)

Imagine you picked up the phone.

Think of a small number and move the phone from hand to hand that number
of times.

Move it that number of times again.

If you have followed my instructions, the phone should be back in the hand you
started with.

This principle is the first principle that we will exploit in the effect. Read this back
and try it a few times. The outcome will always be the same.

Let's imagine that the prediction says,

The Participant will have the phone, the Performer will have the keys, and the
wallet will be on the table.

In performance, you will ask the Participant to pick up any object with their right
hand. This instruction is critical. You need to tell them which hand to pick the
object up in, or if you're using imaginary objects, have them reach out and pick
one up at random and watch the hand they pick it up with.

Ask them to think of a small number at random and move that object between
their hands that number of times. When they stop moving or confirm they have
done that, have them move it that same number of times again.

Before they bring their hands out, ask the Participant, "Do you want to keep it
where it is or move it one more time?"

Listen to their answer. It is important.

If they say "keep it," it will be in the hand they started with. If they move it, it will
be in the opposite hand from where they started.

We are going to take advantage of this knowledge.

Say to the Participant, "In a moment, you will play a random character. You will
answer in that character. I'll explain more, but for now, don't say anything or
give anything away."
Point to the hand the object is in.

"If the object is in this hand, in a moment when I ask you a question, I want you
to tell the truth".

"If the object is in this hand (point to the hand that you know doesn't contain the
object), the next question I ask is, "I want you to lie. "

What you've done (unbeknownst to the Participant and the audience) is force
the Participant to tell the truth.

(Note to reader: if you're doing this over the phone, instead of pointing to the
hands, you would say, "If it's in the right hand…" "If it's in the left hand…".)

Now you've forced the outcome, ask the Participant, "What is the object you
picked up?"

Listen carefully because this dodge is the second moment we will take
advantage of in the performance.

Let's say that they say "the keys".

You know they're telling the truth, so in our prediction, the Performer has the
keys. In this scenario, you would say.

"I will take whatever this object is, and it will go in my pocket. It belongs to me.
Remember, I don't actually know what you have handed to me. I don't know
what hand the object ended in or whether you're telling the truth or lying. Don't
forget what object is in my pocket."

(Note to reader: you are making the prediction come true, so you need to listen
to the item they said and act accordingly. There is one important thing you
need to know here. Whatever object is the object in your prediction that is "on
the table" might be picked up. If that is the one picked up, you need to say,
"Imagine you walked over to the other side of the room and placed whatever
this item is on to a table. Remember, you're the only person who actually knows
the object or whether you're lying or telling the truth. Don't forget the object you
put on the table". End of note.)

In our hypothetical scenario, we've taken the keys.

Address the Participant: " That object is now out of the game. Look down and
imagine seeing the other two objects while staring at them. I want you to
change your character. If you were a liar, change to a truth-teller; if you were a
truth-teller, lie."

(This tells us that the Participant will now lie.)

"Pick up one of the remaining objects and answer in character. Which one did
you pick up?"

Listen to the Participant's answer.

(As the Participant is lying, but there are only two objects left, they're cueing you
into exactly what they're really holding.)

Let's imagine they said, "the wallet". Now you know they're really holding the
phone - which, in our prediction, belongs in their pocket.

Say to the Participant, "Place whatever this object really is into your pocket. It
belongs to you. Now, only you know what you have, what I have, and what is
left on the table. Stop thinking about answering in character; the game ends
here."

Now, you can ask the Participant to tell you what is where (if you've predicted it)
or tell the Participant over the phone where each item is.

The original version of Free Will has a strong plot, allowing you to replicate it at
will. The benefit of this version is that you will be able to commit to precisely who
has exactly what.