As slick and deadly as Hearts were for 85 minutes, Falkirk were absolutely appalling.
They surrendered possession too easily and their defence was breached time and again by a single long pass.
Only the fact that Gretna are in the SPL could ultimately save the Bairns from relegation.
Hearts were buzzing from the off and Michael Stewart ran 60 yards to meet Andrew Driver's cross only to volley over the bar.
However, after only five minutes Hearts were in front thanks to a lovely move.
Eggert Jonsson sent Laryea Kingston down the right and his low cross was fired home by Andrius Ksanavicius.
It was entertaining match and Dean Holden forced a fine save from Steve Banks with an angled drive before Ksanavicius tried his luck from 25 yards but was denied by Tim Krul.
Falkirk had a good penalty claim waved away when Tomas Kancelskis caught Holden and this proved crucial as Hearts quickly moved to the other end of the pitch to score their second goal.
And it was terrible defending from the Bairns as Stewart's free-kick was only half-cleared by Darren Barr and Marius Zaliukas fired in a low 15-yard volley.
After the interval Falkirk looked brighter and big Michael Higdon wasted a glorious chance when he headed Patrick Cregg's cross over the bar from close range.
But the game was put beyond Falkirk after 58 minutes when Russell Latapy was robbed in midfield and Kancelskis sent Andrius Velicka racing through. The Lithuanian striker produced a neat finish to beat Krul from a tight angle.
It was one-way traffic as Hearts increased their lead in the 68th minute.
Substitute Christian Nade had only been on the pitch three minutes when he exchanged passes with Kingston on the edge of the box and side-footed home a low finish.
The visitors gained an element of respectability with two consolation goals in the last three minutes.
Graham Barrett squeezed home a low shot from a suspiciously offside position before Pedro Moutinho rounded off the scoring with a cool finish from 12 yards but for Falkirk it was far too little, too late.