Philippe Petit, The Man On Wire (Part Two)

On August 7, 1974, a twenty-five year old man named Philippe Petit walked across a 200 foot wire between the twin towers of the World Trade Center, 1,350 feet above the ground, something that even the policeman who arrested him described as a once in a lifetime event. Philippe Petit, entertaining the police who arrested him on August 7 After Philip and Jean Francois are booked and fingerprinted, they were handcuffed to chairs while paperwork is composed that specifically defines the charges of Criminal Trespass and Disorderly Conduct.  In the details of the complaint, the headline reads “Man on Wire.”  It only takes Petit a few minutes to charm most of his captors by balancing a policeman’s hat on his nose and flipping it on to his head repeatedly. Jean Francois Heckel, under arrest, August 7 .  It is ultimately decided that both men are to be conveyed to a downtown hospital where Philippe is to be given psychiatric examination.  The doctor in charge quickly pronounces him sane.  He is taken back to a precinct house, where he is told that his sister is on the phone, a ruse to allow Annie to attempt to speak with him.  An hour later, in front of a judge, the deal is made official.  Ultimately, this little show will turn into a October 29 high wire walk across Central Park’s Turtle Pond, in front of 5,000 spectators.  Both Jean Francois and Philippe are released and their cuffs removed.  They are free to go, however Jean Francois was eventually officially deported. Barry Greenhouse Merely walking through the lobby, he heard his name being called and turning to the source of the voice he saw a very well dressed man with a striking handlebar moustache.  The man ebulliently explained that he saw Philippe performing in Paris while the stranger was on vacation.  He introduced himself, also responding to Philippe’s already probing questions telling the aerialist that he works on the 82nd floor of the South tower.  His name is Barry Greenhouse, employed by the New York State Insurance Department and most importantly his office is on an upper floor.  When Barry asked Philippe again what he is doing in the World Trade Center, Philippe invited him to dinner, realizing that Greenhouse may be the most valuable accomplice in his entire crew.  At dinner, with Annie participating, Petit wheeled out his photo album scrapbook of his antics in Paris and Sydney and, thinking, based on Greenhouse amused reaction that the streetwise New Yorker probably has figured out what he is up to, Petit spells out his plan exactly, asking for the older man’s help.  After asking some general questions, probably to see how serious Petit was, Greenhouse offered to assist in any way that he can. Annie Allix On the street below, Annie Allix was much more effusive.  “I saw Philippe up there, it was extraordinary, it was so, so beautiful…It was like he was walking on a cloud.” Jean Louis Blondeau, 2009 Jean Louis and Jean Francois have already flown home, Heckel’s excited anticipation over potential future coups dampened by Jean Louis’ admonition that he will never work with Petit again and he believes that their friendship is irrevocably broken.