 In the present , Borden is found guilty and sentenced to death . He agrees to Lord Caldlow 's terms , and writes down the secrets to all his tricks . When Caldlow visits , Borden recognizes him as Angier . Baffled by Angier 's return , Borden begs for his life , but Angier ignores Borden 's pleas . Borden is hanged and dies . Cutter learns that Caldlow has bought Angier 's machine and visits him to plead for its destruction . He discovers that Caldlow is Angier , and faked his death to kill Borden in revenge for Julia . Cutter agrees to assist Angier in disposing of his machine at a private theater . As the two work , Cutter discovers numerous water tanks containing duplicates of Angier : Angier used the machine to create clones of himself atop the balcony , while unbeknownst to anyone , the original Angier would fall through the trap door to be drowned in the tanks under the stage . The night that Borden ventured backstage , Angier 's clone disappeared into the crowd , making it appear Borden had killed him under the stage . 
