in front of a camera. He then uses duct tape to secure the hapless Teller to the gravity boot rig. Officer MacNamara returns and the assassin leaves to finish off Penn. MacNamara confesses to Teller her contempt of Penn and Teller. The confused Teller is able to grab the gun from the wastebasket and threatens MacNamara with it. He hears a voice behind him and as the individual grabs him, he shoots the individual only to realize it's Penn, who appears to fall over dead. MacNamara laughs, thinking that it's a new joke. She then reveals herself as Carlotta. The implications of what has just happened suddenly catch up with them: The whole event had been a joke on Teller who turned everything around on the players. Teller, breaking silence for the first time, immediately thinks they switched the gun for a replica, but then realizes the gun he was holding is real and he just killed his partner. Teller turns the gun on himself. Carlotta, stricken with grief, throws herself out the window. Upon returning to his apartment and finding everyone dead, the "hired assassin", realizing he'll certainly be implicated in the deaths, shoots himself. Others who come into the apartment and find the carnage shoot themselves. Gunshots are heard in the distance, while the Bee Gees song "I Started a Joke" plays in the background. In a voice over, Penn explains this is the definitive end of it all. Reception Quentin Tarantino has said that this film exemplifies the poor quality of directors' final movies. Cast Penn Jillette as Himself Teller as Himself Caitlin Clarke as Carlotta Celia McGuire as Officer McNamara David Patrick Kelly as The Fan Leonardo Cimino as Ernesto Bill Randolph as Floor Director Jon Cryer as Frat Boy References External links Sight & Sound review 1980s black comedy films 1989 comedy films 1989 films American black comedy films American comedy-drama films Films about magic and magicians Films directed by Arthur Penn Films scored by Paul Chihara Films shot in Atlantic City, New Jersey Films shot in New York City Films with screenplays by Penn Jillette Films with screenplays by Teller (magician) Warner Bros. films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films