He Really Was Going On Holiday!

    During the de-briefing session of the Prisoner by No.2 in Arrival, we discover that the Prisoner was thinking of going on holiday. But where? Ireland, that's a bit too cold that time of year. Paris, perhaps not, but nonetheless Paris is where the Prisoner would have gone, had 'they' not got to him first, and the possession of an airline ticket in the opening sequence to the Prisoner proves this. How do we know this? Because in A B and C No.2 wants to know what would have happened, had they not got to him first. So the events of the Prisoner deciding on where to go on holiday, is after the Prisoner had resigned his job. Because the Prisoner tells Engadine that he's starting a holiday, that he's going somewhere different, somewhere quiet where he can think.......Portmeirion perhaps!
    A B and C shows us what would have happened if the Prisoner had not been abducted to the Village first. But would the Prisoner really have been any better off? After all had 'they not got to him first, then the Prisoner would have fallen into the hands of 'A', who as we witness, abducts the Prisoner to a French Chateau, and who after, would have undoubtedly have had tortured for the information inside his head.
    And so at the end of A B and C the Prisoner confirms that he really was thinking of going on holiday after handing in his letter of resignation, by showing his future to both 2 and 14. So he really was going on holiday, not truly the act of an 'engaged' person you might say!  Be seeing you.

60 Second Interview With The Butler

     No.113 'You have been the Butler and personal manservant to No.2 for some time now. How did you originally come to the position?'
    Butler, he sits on a stool swinging his legs, his gloved fingers of his hands interlocked.
    'Well that's fascinating. But tell me, I see you are not wearing a numbered badge. Why is that?
   The Butler remains silent, but with an expression of thought on his face.
   'Do you have a number?'
   The Butler bites his bottom lip.
   'You don't have a number!'
   The silence is deafening.
   'Well perhaps you might like to tell the readers why you are never heard to utter on single sylable.'
    The Butler opens his mouth to speak, then closes it again, and there comes a far away look in his eyes.
    'Well the fact that you are never heard to speak has given way to people thinking you cannot speak, claiming that you are in fact a mute. Perhaps you would like to dismiss that claim.'
    The Butler purses his lips, and rotates this way and that on his stool.
    'No, well you can speak can you not. Because in A B and C, you tell No.2 on the telephone that Number Six is there to see him. And in It's Your Funeral the retiring Number two told you that he didn't want to see anyone, and told you to tell Number Six to go away. Would you care to comment?'
    The Butler licks his lips and stares at the floor between his legs.
    'A new Number Two arrived in the Village, bringing with her Martha, her personal maid. How did you get on with Martha?'
    There comes a painful look on the Butlers face, but he says nothing.
    'Well that's extremely loyal of you, not to speak out against a former Number Two's maid. But it must have been a difficult time for you. I mean Martha moving into the Green Dome like that to look after her mistress, a bit on the severe side don't you think?'
    The Butler suddenly spits on the floor.
    'You are extremely privillaged to be able to live in the Green Dome.'
    The Butler shakes his head.
    'You don't live in the Green Dome?'
    Again a shake of the head.
    'So where do you live?'
    The Butler nods his head over his shoulder.
    'You live round the back.'
    The Butler nods.
    'You live in the small annex around the back of the Green Dome.'
    The Butler nods slowly.
    'But there was one time when you were given the sack by Number Two, told in fact to get out of the house. How did you feel about that?'
    The Butler winces.
    'There is no question of your loyalty. You do not speak out against any of your masters. Very commendable if I may say so.'
    The Butler shrugs his shoulders.
    'Well this has been absolutely riviting. I'm sure the readers will enjoy this fascinating interview with you. Let me ask you just one more question. Why do you wear your Village cape inside out?'
    The Butler sits quietly upon his stool, his little legs dangle, as he twiddles his thumbs.
    'Well perhaps a brightly colourful striped cape is a bit garish for a man in your position.'
   The Butler sits in silence.
    'Is there anything you would like to say before I go? Something to tell the readers. A statement perhaps...........................................................................No, it would appear not.
   The Butler jumps down from the stool and walks away.
    'Well thank you Number errr...its been a pleasure.

Reporter No.113

The Leaning Chimes Of Big Ben

St. Stephen’s leaning Tower

Big Ben is leaning to one side and may eventually become unstable - but only in thousands of years, according to a newly revealed report.

    The tower leans 0.26 degrees to the north-west, putting it out of alignment by about 0.5m at its highest point.

    The lean was discovered when Transport for London commissioned a report, because the extension of the Jubilee Line passes under Parliament.

    Experts are unsure what is causing the tower to lean.

    But one theory is that the London clay on which the tower was built is drying out.

    Mike McCann, keeper of the great clock, told BBC London: "We have been monitoring it since 1999, so we've got some pretty good data.

    "Our resident expert believes it will be between 4,000 and 10,000 years before it becomes a problem.

    "So it's not significant today, but we do need to keep an eye on it."

    The 0.26 degree angle is one 16th of the Leaning Tower of Pisa's tilt.

    Mr McCann continued: "There's no real proof what has caused it.

    "But it is built on London clay and that can dry out and that can cause movement."

    There is no evidence the lean was caused by work on the Underground.

   Big Ben is the name of the bell contained within the Clock Tower, according to a spokeswoman at the Houses of Parliament.

    But in the recent years the tower, which was called St Stephen's Tower by Victorian journalists, has been known colloquially as Big Ben.

    {Not an article about the Prisoner but the connection between St. Stephen's Tower and the Prisoner cannot be denied}

The Therapy Zone

I’m Not An Inmate!

     But once upon a time he had been, this No.2. A once established, successful, and secure member of the establishment, who turning upon and biting the hand that feeds him.

   He had been like the Prisoner-No.6, having once been abducted to the village. Because it was his lot in the past, to wield a not inconsiderable power, ay, he had had the ear of statesmen, Kings and Princes of many lands. Governments have been swayed, policies defined and revolutions nipped in the bud at a word from him in the right place and at a propitious time.

   Not surprising therefore that one day he should find himself abducted and wake up amongst those in the village. But what No.2 did find deplorable, is that he had resisted for so short a time. And this he sees as being a tribute to their methods. He also thanks the assembly for the recognition they paid to his talents, which placed him in a position of power second only to 1.

   So it is safe to say that this man who rose to the position of No.2, had once been put through a series of trials similar to that of No.6, but possibly for a shorter length of time, as indicated by the fact that he himself states that "I resisted for so short a time." So it is extremely unlikely that this No.2 had been put through the ordeal of "Degree Absolute" as he was to put No.6 through.

   No.6 was seen to have a future with the village, that one day it was hoped to persuade him to join them, and find a high position somewhere in administration, even that of No.2.

    And so it proved to be the case with No.2. A man of his calibre the village administration would certainly want to get 'on-side', him being a good man with the reputation which in all probability preceded him. two men who enjoyed a common factor, they were both seen to have a future with the village. How many had preceded even them? How many times had the Butler witnessed the ordeal of "Degree Absolute" in the embryo room, because it is certain that No.6 was not the first to have been put through the ordeal. But perhaps unlike No.6, they..... died! die 6 die......die.......die......die!

Be seeing you.

Happy Halloween

        Happy All Hallows Eve from the Village. A night not to be out and about, but a night to retire to your bed chamber, to say your prayers. Ignore that scratching at the door, but wait.............. what is that tap-tap-tapping on the window pane? Tis but the twig of a branch of a tree...... but is it? Are you sure it is nothing more? Can you be sure? Dare you leave the warmth and security of your bed to look........ Oh god it's in through the open window, the curtains part, there is a sudden smell of mould, of earth, of the grave. All you can do is hide beneath the sheets. You dare not look out for fear of seeing 'it'. 'It' that has long since been dead, its hands with long tapering bones reach for the bed sheets, which your fingers grip in a vice like grip. But suddenly the bed sheets are pulled away and 'it' stands there looking down at you...............it is a horrid sight to look upon, the long dead corpse that lies there in its bed!

Thought For The Day

    In the quote 'A still tongue makes a happy life,' no truer word has ever been spoken. I bet there are times when you have said something, and had later wished that you had held your tongue! I'll say no more!
Be seeing you.

Progress Report On Number Six

  Arrived today, made very welcome.

    "Welcome to your home from home" the card read. But is '6 Private' as in the prisoner's home back in London? We cannot say, as we only see the hallway and the study. Obviously '6 Private' does not have a hallway, and the Prisoner's house in London is not in the least so open-plan as '6 private.' So I somehow don't think the rest of No.6's cottage is anything like his London home.

    'Report on Number Six. Normal classification. On arrival subject showed shock symptoms, followed by accepted behaviour pattern. Since then has been unco-operative and distinctly aggressive. Attempted to escape. Subject proving exceptionally difficult, but in view of his importance, no extreme measures to be used yet.'
BCNU

Heroes And Villains

    No.2, is a very charming man, and like a predecessor he thought that if No.6 would tell them one simple thing, the rest would follow, 'Why did he resign?'
    But No.2, like his predecessor was wrong! However he did try to encourage No.6 to settle down, perhaps to do some woodwork for him. No.2 is also a very clever man, as he knows exactly what No.6 is up to, and is pleased to allow him to get on with building his boat, in the safe confidence that he has an agent close to No.6.
   Yet in another situation, this No.2 begins to like No.6. Apparently No.2 died, the drink being poisoned, and would have remained dead, had it not have been for the events of Fall Out.
   In his time this No.2 has weilded a not inconsiderable power, has had the ears of Kings and Princes of many lands, revolutions have been nipped in the bud at a propitious time, with a word in the right ear from him.
   Such a pity then that he did not resist them for longer, but everyman has his breaking point! Yes, this No.2 was once brought to the Village as a Prisoner. But in the end he spits in No.1's electronic eye, and fights in the violent and bloody revolution of Fall Out, then upon his return to London, to the Houses of Parliament relatively unscathed.    BCNU.

Arts And Crafts

    From my "Negativity" period.

BCNU

Pictorial Prisoner

    The Village helicopter, a French Alouette helicopter used as transportation to and from the Village, but only from the landing stage as this helicopter has a range of less than 200 miles, or flight time of 90 minutes. So that is the range of distance or flight time from the landing stage to the Village. The location of the landing stage is err unknown!        BCNU

Village Observation

    It has been asked, in the past, by a number of fans of the Prisoner, how is it possible for one man to eat a whole plate full of sandwiches? Well I ask you, look at those dainty sandwiches, made by Martha's own fair hands. Hardly any filling, and all the crusts have been cut off, making each sandwhich little more than 'bite-size! Oh yes, No.6 also had some fruitcake, which No.6 said was the best he had ever tasted. We don't know how much of that fruitcake was actually on the cake stand, as the viewer only sees the crumbs!
    Mrs. Butterworth is a widow, Arthur was her husband's name, and he was in the Navy.....Arthur, now where have I heard that name before in the Prisoner series? Oh yes, Dutton mentioned Arthur's name at the same time as the Colonel in Dance of the Dead. Now wouldn't it be delightful if Mrs. Butterworth's Arthur, turned out to be Arthur, as in Arthur and the Colonel mentioned by Dutton in the next episode in the series Dance of the Dead. Well Arthur was in the Navy, and British Intelligence does recruit from the Armed Forces. Ah, I see you have observed the flaw in that scenario, Arthur had already died by the time of Dance of the Dead. But not if Dance of the Dead came before Many Happy Returns in the screening order of the series. After all, according to series Librarian Tony Sloman, Dance of the Dead was placed second in the Library order of the series. That might then make Mrs. Butterworth's husband, Arther, the Arthur mentioned by Dutton. Grasping at straws? Yes quite probably, but it's a curious curiosity nonetheless for that.  Be seeing you.

Thought For The Day

    Pictured here is the former No.2, back in London, wearing 'City' clothes, on his way back to the Houses of Parliament. What his business is there one can only speculate over. But was not Cobb in Arrival, also dressed for the City? And the Prisoner-No.6, is his London address No.1 Buckingham Place, City of Westminster, and did he not, on the way to resigning his job, park in the underground car park in Abingdon street just a stones throw from the Houses of Parliament? That of course could simply be coincidence, and we do not know exactly what the Prisoner's business was, but seeing as how he lived in a house in the City of Westminster, could that business not have been in the Houses of Parliament? After all, in Once Upon A Time did not No.6 say that he knew too much about No.2, that of his former life outside the Village it might be said. BCNU

Cartoon Capers

The jailbird by Steve Matt - 1987

BCNU

The Therapy Zone

I’ve Met No-One Here Who Has Committed A Crime!”

                                               {No.51 It’s Your Funeral}

    Well perhaps not a crime, but certainly people are brought to the village for a variety of
reasons, but

possibly for none more than for the knowledge they have inside their heads. No.6 for example,
he was

brought to the village because they wanted to know why he suddenly resigned. Then there's Nadia-No.8

who arrived for a spot of recuperation according to No.2, but of course No.8 turned out to be  a plant!

    Fotheringay was also brought to the village around the same time for his part in the same plan during The

Chimes of Big Ben, but he was never given a number or made a part of the community, nor was the Colonel.

But this Colonel would not be the last to be brought to the village in such a capacity as in connection with No.6.

 There was the episode of Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling, and the Seltzman-No.6 connection, when the

Colonel was most gratified to have been sent to the village by the highest authority. But perhaps not so keen to

exchange minds with No.6!

   'C'-Engadine of the episode A B & C would be brought to the village, just as Curtis had been but for a very different reason. Curtis was to impersonate No.6, this in aiding to break No.6 and to eventually extract the

reason behind his resignation. Curtis may have been the perfect look-a-like for No.6, with or without plastic

surgery, but this plan was enough to see him brought to the village.

    No.2 of course was brought here to take up the position of Chairman of the village, an interrogator in the

position of power, second only to 1. Roland Walter Dutton on the other hand, had been brought to the village

about a month before No.6's arrival, and for the knowledge inside his head. But I wonder if this had been a

mistake on the part of the villages administration? Because Dutton had not the access to the 'vital stuff.,' and

by the time the doctor-No.40 found out it was too late, for Roland Walter Dutton, who soon will cease to exist.

 And the Rook-No.53, he invented an electronic defence system, who thought all nations should have it. It

would have meant peace. But then a bumbling bureaucrat let his bag, containing the electronic defence plans,

get swiped. The Rook confessed to No.6 that he had had nothing to do with it, but would die happy if he had. Treasonable thoughts maybe, but which alone would have been enough to see No.53's abduction to the village,

let alone the information regarding his electronic defence system!

   Then there are others who arrive in the village of their own free will, as in the case of the Professor and his

wife. This in bringing the advantages of both The general and Speedlearn to the community in perhaps the

greatest of all human experiments! and of course there would be many, many others who actually have a

position in the village, such as the control room supervisors, the doctors and nurses at the hospital, and many

more of the villages administration who also came to the village of their own free will. Was that the case of

Martha, in the episode of Many Happy Returns, Mrs. Butterworth's house maid? Was the village explained to

her, somehow I don't think so. More likely Martha was brought here using guile in ingenuity on behalf of her

mistress. But unlike her mistress, Martha would not be leaving the village!

   But what of the others, the little watchmaker-No.51 and his daughter Monique-No.50, the chess champion

and rumoured ex-Count-No.14. And the white Queen-No.8, what had she done to have herself brought to the

 village? What dark secrets might No.8 and others like her be harbouring? The Admiral-No.66, the General-

No.34, were they brought here long ago for their military secrets, of their own free will or through abduction I

wonder. Oh and there was the case of No.48, who was with us, then he went and gone!

   In the majority of cases, those who arrive here in the village, either through abduction, or their own free will, they all have one thing in common.....Information.... Information.....Information!

   So the only question remaining is..... what does the village administrators do with all this information when they get it?

BCNU

Caught On Camera!

     A picture from the Danger Man episode The Paper Chase. But who does Patrick McGoohan look like? See his attire, it's no wonder that fans have in mind that the Prisoner is the former John Drake! I wonder if that particular suit of clothes was from McGoohan's own personal wardrobe, or the wardrobe department at MGM Studios? As he does sometimes wear that suit and polo neck in other episodes of Danger Man.
Be seeing you.

Village Pin-Up

   The lovely, and quite delightful Nadia Gray, who over time has become an all time favourite pin-up.

   In truth I had never heard of Nadia Gray before I watched the Prisoner, but now I am learning more about her, and the films she starred in. A quite remarkable actress, model, and singer in her time.
Be seeing you

Arts And Crafts

    The Amis Reunis or Stone Boat to citizens of the Village.

   I thought it looked rather spooky. My wife remarked that it looks as though the Stone Boat is rising up through the ice......I see what she means.
BCNU

The Therapy Zone

Georgina Cookson

    It was yesterday, a recent email from a friend, that I read about the death of actress Georgina Cookson who sadly passed away on October 1st 2011. That which follows is an obituary for Georgina, found at Brit-Movie.Com, with the added picture, and footnote.
   It is sad, the passing of three actors associated with the Prisoner have passed away this month. May Georgina, Sheila, and George all rest in peace.

A Favourite Moment In The Prisoner Comes When.........

      No.6 is talking rubbish to No.14 in Hammer Into Anvil, 'Morning...did you sleep well? I didn't. I had a terrible night......Insomnia, couldn't sleep, so restless and there's no point lying in bed when you're awake is there? So I got up, went out, had a long walk on the beach....marvellous at that time of day, invigorating, the air is brisk and clear. The rain on your face, the wind on your cheeks.....don't look now, the waiter's watching. Yes, it's the ony way. I'm so glad you agree with me.'
BCNU

Thought For The Day

    'Call the substitute, call the substitute, the substitute, the substutute, call the substitute.'
                                                               {The Supervisor-No.54 Checkmate}

    Substitute, substitute, since when did a game of chess call for a substitute? Substitutes are for football, rugby, hockey, or any form of field sports, but not chess! And even if substitutes are permitted in the game of chess, just how many substututes are each player allowed, and when are they used? In the case of the white Queens Rook, he demonstrated the cult of the individual by making a move of his own, and that is not permitted. So when else might a substitute be brought on the board? I cannot imagine that many injuries would be incurred by the chess pieces on the board. Oops, the black Kings Bishop has just pulled his hamstring... call the Substitute! Off side ref, the black Queens Bishops Pawn in off side......... Foul ref, yellow card for the White Queens Knight!............. Call the substitute, call the substitute, the substitute, this blogger needs taking to the hospital, call the substitute.................!
Be seeing you...............I hope!

Collectors Corner

     I was out and about town just the other day, and as I often do I went into a local charity shop, and amongst the books on a shelf I found the above book. It never was a big seller, published in 2002 by Carlton Books, soon after which I came across a huge pile of them in a bargain book shop, at a price of 99p per copy. Yes, however poor the three novels which go to make up this omnibus are, I purchased the volume for £1. Well I couldn't resist giving the book a new home.
    I suppose I was feeling a little nostalgic yesterday, as in the afternoon I took time out to have a read of the third novel in the above onmibus, A day In The Life by Hank Stine, I hadn't realised just how poor this novel is. When I first read the novel, back in the 1980's, I enjoyed it, well at the time I only had the three novels based on the Prisoner to help keep me in mind of the series. But now, after reading a few pages of A Day In The life, I had to close the book, and place it back on the shelf.      Be seeing you

Heroes And Villains

   Cobb doesn't know how he arrived in the Village, he was in Germany, he went back to his hotel, he thinks he went to bed, he was in the Village! Nor does Cobb know how long he's been in the Village, as it's difficult to tell. But one thing is clear, Cobb was not intended to meet up with an old colleague like the Prisoner! That's why Cobb's death was faked, so that to the Prisoner Cobb is now dead!
    Cobb has new masters, although these new masters are never named, we can only assume he is now working for the Village in whatever capacity.
   I find it quite remarkable, that one minute Cobb's in hospital, after undergoing long interrogation sessions and possibly some for medical experimentation, along with the use of drugs, in order to get Cobb to tell them all he knows. And then a day later he is fit and well, and ready to take up his position again in London, which must surely be a tribute to their methods. Cobb is a traitor. He's gone over to whatever side or governmental department is behind the Village. But Cobb is not going behind the Iron Curtain, as he's dressed for the City, the City of Westminster!
Be seeing you.

The Threrapy Zone

Coliseum Cinema At Portmadog On The Brink Of Closure

   The future of one of the last remaining examples of art deco cinemas in North Wales is teetering on the brink of closure, for the second time in recent years. The building shows signs of age, and is in need of significant work to upgrade it, and the Cinema is just not getting enough people through the door to cover running costs. As well as the Cinema's future being under threat, so too are ten part time jobs.
    A 'Save the Coliseum' campaign is now under way, launched by the local people in Portmadog, North Wales.  Aled Jones of the 'Friends of the Coliseum' group has stated that the group is not a profit making company. Its sole aim of saving, renovating, and re-opening the cinema. Also a petition has been launched on Facebook for people to sign. All in all support for the Coliseum cinema at Portmadog is high. But with all the support in the world, and should the cinema be saved, without local people using the cinema, putting bums on seats so to speak, the Cinema will not survive. It has but one screen and seats no more that 400 people at any one time, and the cinema isn't doing that. I can remember going to the Coliseum cinema, and queuing outside to watch a screening of two epsiodes of the Prisoner back in the early late 1980's and into the 1990's. And when the screening of the evening film had ended, only a handful of people left the cinema, and that was at the height of summer.
   
    The Coliseum cinema in Portmadog has a place in the history of the Prisoner, as it was there that the daily film rushes of the filming of scenes at Portmeirion, were screened for the Production crew in both September 1966, and again for a second shoot in March 1967.
   The Coliseum cinema was opened in 1931, and Bob Piercy , picture below, had been the projectionist there since 1939, and it was Bob who was projectionsit for the screening of the Prisoner film rushes each night.

   Bob recalled how the production crew would sit in front and watch all the fliming of the day before. The day before because the film had to be sent to London for processing, and then sent back from London for the film to be screened. There was no sound, just vision only. Each day's filming was usually about five to eight minutes long, but would be screened over and over again, and take between fifteen minutes to two hours. Starting at ten pm and wouldn't finish until around midnight. Patrick McGoohan would sometimes nip out to the pub, and would bring little Angelo Muscat into the Projection Room, leaving him here sitting on a stool looking at the film through a hole in the wall!
   It was Clough Williams-Ellis who organised a screening of Arrival, the very first preview of the episode. Clough sent out invitations to all his friends, High Sheriffs, even the Chief Constable of Caernarvon, and Director/Producer David Tomblin also attended. Clough had sent for a 35mm print of the film, which was the only print in existence at that time, so extreme care had to be taken of it, being the only copy. The preview took place on a Sunday evening, even though the cinema had no license for six days, and they were not allowed to show films on a Sunday. But the event went ahead anyway, and was a great success, and that was the first screening of the Prisoner anywhere, a world premier at Portmadog!
    It was during the late 1980's and early 1990's that Bob Piercey would again act as projectionist for the Prisoner at the Coliseum, when screenings of two epsiodes had been organised as part of Prisoner conventions held at Portmeirion. Bob Piercey died in 1993. Will the Coliseum cinema still surive him? The answer to that lies in the raising of funds, and the number of people who pass through it's doors in the future....if indeed the Coliseum is to have a future.   Be seeing you.

Questions Are A Burden To Others, Answers A Prison For Oneself

    As the Village was being evacuated in Fall Out, where did all those helicopters suddenly come from? Perhaps they are there for visual effect during the massed-panic evacuation, and we the viewer are not supposed to ask. If the tide had been in at the time of the evacuation they could have used M.S.Polotska!
BCNU

Thought For The Day

    In Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling, No.6, whose mind is wrongly housed in the body of the Colonel, seems to have no memory of the Village. If he had, surely he would have tried to tell Sir Charles. But having thought about it, the Prisoner had difficulty trying to convince Sir Charles Portland of his identity!
   So if the Prisoner has no memory of the Village, I wonder how No.6 gets his memory back so quickly at the end of the episode?
    In the original script for Face Unknown, which was the working title of the episode, No.6's memory of the Village had been erased, and his mind set back to the day before his resignation, if memory serves. So really when No.6 wakes up on that operating table, the mind transference having been reversed, No.6 should still have no memory of the Village - surely!
    Think about it. If the Village administration could re-set No.6's mind, back to square one that is, 'they' would have a huge advantage of knowing which methods work best against him. Wipe his memory one year, and again the next, and so on, indefinately.  
   I'll be seeing you.

Cartoon Capers

Two's Company - by Steve Dix                                                                                                  

BCNU

The Therapy Zone

This Week I Am Mostly Watching THEPRIS6NER

    Two pays homage to that which has gone before, a symbol of a past Village.
   Schizoid shows that we all have our own problems, and if Six has mental problems, he should get mental help! The doctor 313 also has mental problems, which stems from childhood her mental and physical abuse. Two has faith in the Village, faith in his wife who has to remain in a heavily sedated state of unconsciousness so that she can keep dreaming. 11-12 doesn't know his mother, so Two allows 11-12 and M2 to have a day together so that they might get to know each other. The only trouble with that is, while M2 is awake, holes begin to appear in the Village! 11-12 wants to know about the 'other place,' because he wants to go there. For 11-12 the Village is no longer enough. But as his mother tells him, Village is best for them. And seeing as how anyone born of the Village can never leave it.............
    Six is seeing double! There is a two-times-Six in the Village, and he's out to kill Two for what he did to 4-15 in the previous episode. Six tells Two that two-times-Six is going to kill him. Two asks Six isn't that how he feels, so that it's Six who will try and kill him. It would seem, as we watch the episode, that Six and two-times Six are one and the same, the one alter ego of the other. That together they can beat Two. But the only problem with that is, Six can actually see his other self!
   And just to complicate matters even further, there is an Un-Two in the Village, a Two impersonator who is a danger to the Village. This Un-Two enjoys an illicit cigarette with 37927 the Shopkeeper, who does not sell cigarettes, and doesn't even know what they are. And for his sharing of an illicit cigarette with Two.....37927 is denounced as a two impersonator by Two, and taken away to the Clinic for treatment....we don't see 37927 again!
    11-12 asks his father where the Village is...... the Village is in here, of the mind. The mind is a very powerful place. For some the Village is a delightful dream, while for others it is a nightmarish place, and only through death is escape possible!
    The only trouble for me with this series, is that it is all too short. Next week sees Checkmate, the final episode......so soon, all too soon for my liking. But I suppose its like they say, good things come in small packages, and that saying can be applied to THEPRIS6NER.
 Be seeing you

Professor Seltzman And The Helicopter

    I like to think that Professor Jacob Seltzman acutually escaped the Village at the end of Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling. But really I suppose Seltzman's possible escape is something of an anti-climax, since all it would have taken was a telephone call from No.2 to the Control Room, and a radio message to the helicopter pilot from the Supervisor to order the pilot to fly the helicopter back to the Village. So really Seltzman's attempt to escape the Village is as futile as that of the retiring No.2 in It's Your Funeral, to which the same scenario can be applied. The proof of the pudding, to borrow one of No.2's sayings, is when the helicopter suddenly turns back to the Village, with the retiring No.2 still aboard!      BCNU

60 Second Interview With No.22

    It was a feeling of deja vu and trepidation, that I and my photographic colleague went along to our next assignment, an interview at the hospital with No.22.
    No.113 'I have the strange feeling that we've met before.'
    No.22 'I don't think so, I would have remembered. Have you been in for treatment before?'
   'We are not in for treatment doctor.'
   {No.113b begins to twitch}
   'What about him?'
   'Oh don't worry about him.'
   No.113 'Smile.' {click goes the camera}
   'I met your male counterpart yesterday.'
   'Really!'
   'Your predecessor No.40, in a way he was just like you. You're not related are you?'
   'Don't be ridiculous!'
   'He, like you, saw that everyman has his breaking point. What's more he enjoyed human experimentation. But nothing in your league.'
    'If you are not here for treatment, why are you here?'
    'You also share the same unfeeling attitude to your patients. Look what you did to No.8.'
    'That was a mild experiment. She was merely hypnotised, and used a reaction transmitter, which was in the locket about her neck. Nothing more.'
    'It was an experiment first used on Dolphins!'
    'One cannot further human aspirations without experimentation.'
    'You wanted to carry out a Luekotomy on No.6.'
    'It is the only way to treat people like No.6.'
    'You would have enjoyed, even savoured finding out No.6's breaking point, much the same as your predecessor.'
    'And what about you, what's your breaking point?'
   'Oh no doctor, I'm not one of your patients.'
   'That's easily remedied. Besides, not everyone here has the protection of No.2.'
   {And so it was with that threat in mind, that I and my photographic colleague No.113b took our departure of the hospital, promising never to darken its door again}

Reporter No.113
Photographer No.113b
  

Arts And Crafts

Simply entitled  'Dark Skies'

  BCNU

The Threapy Zone

             BCNU

It's Inexplicable!

    'You alright there Fred?' These are the words that you can clearly hear said as No.6 and the Rook approach No.42 in Checkmate when he's busy painting a wall. And you thought names are not used in the Village! Perhaps Fred is a gardener in the Village! Maybe Fred was a day visitor or guest staying at Portmeirion at the time of filming the Prisoner, or was a member of the production crew.   'Be seeing you Fred!'

Collectors Corner

The Six Of One {club} record. The guy pictured on the back of the sleeve is none other that the composer of the Prisoner theme music Ron Grainer. The record was produced in the early 1980's.

I purchased this record from a local charity shop. I couldn't believe it when I saw it in the recod rack, and purchased it at once, for just £1. But this item had a secret, because this second record was also in the sleeve, a flexi-disc produced in 1987, which you can read about in the leaflet which originally accompanied the record.

   BCNU

Thought For The Day

    During the de-briefing of the Prisoner on the day of his arrival in the Village, we learn that at some point, he was under surveillance. 'What was that' said No.2 'Sounded like a click, something in the mirror over there. Yes, over there too!' So just who was it that had the Prisoner undersurveillance? The administration for the Village, well I suppose that would all depend on which organisation, department, or country is behind the Village in the first place. Perhaps even, the Prisoner's own people! It might be that the Prisoner had become suspect, his loyalty perhaps being questioned. Is that why he resigned, he jumped before he was pushed? After all the Prisoner was going to meet Chambers to try to get him to change his mind before the 'big boys' found out, but they had Chambers, and so he talked!
    So having discovered that he was under surveillance, so he resigned and was going to run......but they came for the Prisoner before he was ready. He was expecting them? Well seeing as how the Prisoner was in such a rush to get away, I'd say so, but perhaps not quite so soon, and certainly not in the guise of two Undertakers, not that he saw who it was who came for him.
   So where was the Prisoner going in such a rush? Abroad obviously, the airline ticket told me that much. Paris perhaps......the Prisoner has a contact in Paris, Madam Engadine!                 BCNU.

Caught On Camera

    Its no good looking back Patrick me' boyo. Your fate is sealed, you've made a Prisoner of yourself, and are about to put the television audience through the ringer! Or perhaps you are not looking back at all, but perhaps you have regrets, and that there's some kind of spectre at your shoulder....................?  BCNU

60 Second Interview With No.40

    It was with some trepidation that I went to the hospital with possibly my life in my hands in order to obtain an interview with the doctor Number Forty, a man with the reputation of getting what he wants, without feeling towards the patient!

    No.113 'Firstly doctor, may I ask if you are Scottish?'
    No.40 'I am indeed. Born and bred, on the wild and lonley Isle of Barra. Why do you ask that?'
    'Just a little background for our readers. They like to know these things.'
   'Are you here for treatment?'
   'Me? Oh good lord no. There's nothing wrong with me, I'm absolutely fit.'
    'What about him?'
    'Who?'
    'Your colleague.'
   'Oh he's my photographic colleage Number one hundred and thirteen b.'
No.13b 'Smile.' {click goes the camera}
'I see.'
'How are you on ethics doctor?'
'What about them?'
'I've heard you haven't any!'
'Who told you that?'
'And what about the hypocratic oath.'
'Doesn't apply here.'
'Some times you go a bit far.'
'I'm dedicated to my work. Sometimes I get a bit too enthusiastic perhaps.'
'You enjoy your work?'
'Of course.'
'You went too far with Dutton.'
'He was reluctant to talk further.'
'He told you everything he knew. He didn't have anything more to say.'
'I had to be sure.'
'You didn't believe him.'
'I get results. Dutton was dispensable!'
'A piece of meat upon which to experiment?'
'If you put it that way.'
'Where did you learn your trade doctor, in a a Nazi Concentration Camp?'
'I don't think I like your tone!'
'Well thank you for your time doctor. I think we should be going now........'

    My colleague and I left the hospital in some haste, and under no mishaprehensions. Human experimentation is abroad at the hospital. No.40 gives or has no feeling towards his patients. Now here I sit at my desk, this interview ready for publication, wondering how I will sleep tonight. That's when they come for you you see, at night, when you are asleep............................

Reporter No.113
Photographer No.113b

Sheila Allen

   The sad news of the death of actress sheila Allen reached me this morning in an email, who died at the age of 78 on October 13th 2011. Essentially a stage actress, Sheila excelled at playing women of strength, wit, and charm. Fans will remember Sheila as Dian Eglington in the Danger Man episode Don't Nail Him Yet, as the doctor-No.14 in A B & C of the Prisoner, and in the 1976 series Bouquet of Barbwire. Sheilla was born on October 22 1932. May she rest in peace.
Be seeing you.

Thought For The Day

  I wonder why it is, that in A B &C there is no surveillance cameras in the laboratory? Indeed why the two men are forced to take their wet things off, yet leave a soaking wet sheet lying over the subject of No.6 as he is wheeled into the laboratory. In fact, why is the experiment being carried out on No.6 in a laboratory, surely such things should be carried out at the hospital. Mind you this would not be the first time that such irregularities are carried out. The doctor-No.40 carries out an experiment using Roland Walter Dutton from within the Control Room - the Spervisor-No.48 suggesting that the doctor should be doing it in the hospital!
   And finally why wasn't No.6 picked up by one of the Observers in A B & C whilst he was following No.14 through the Village and woods to the laboratory. I'm not at all sure the Observers do see and hear everything, as suggested by No.2!  I'll be seeing you.

Heroes And Villains

    No.9 claimed that she was going to escape with Cobb. She went to his funeral cutting a forlorn figure as possibly the only true mourner of Cobb's death. The ony trouble is, Cobb wasn't dead, yet possibly No.9 did not know that.
   9 was assigned to Cobb, now she has been assigned to No.6, but will not escape with him, as she says she never intended to without Cobb, so at least she gives the impression of being faithfull to Cobb's memory.
   No.9 works for No.2, used by him, Cobb, No.6, and by the helicopter pilot {if we are to believe the words of No.9} but personally I think that's part of 9's story, that she never really knew the last pilot of the helicopter, but that it was No.2 himself who gave 9 the Electro Pass. Yet if 9 did know the last helicopter pilot as she tells No.6, then she gave a lot to get her hands on that Electro Pass for herself and Cobb, something which would have cost her dear!
   If No.9 thought she was actually going to escape with Cobb, what kind of agent does that make her? As Cobb clearly had no intention of escaping the Village, because he looks far too relaxed at the end. Unless the turn around of Cobb's attitude and loyalties was remarkably swift!   Be seeing you.

Arts And Crafts

A study of Two in chalk and charcoal.

BCNU

It's Inexplicable!

   On the morning of the Prisoner's arrival in the Village, after he fails to make a telephone call, for the want of a number, the Prisoner is faced with an electronic 'Free Information' board. He scrolls down the 'Push and Find Out' menu, and with a finger selects 9 for a taxi.
    I suppose its not so much how the taxi arrived so quickly on the scene after the Prisoner pressed a button on the control panel that is in question here, but the fact that the taxi turned up at all when one was not requested. The Prisoner may have selected the number 9 for a taxi on the 'Press and Find Out' panel, but if you watch the film carefully, you will observe that the Prisoner actually presses the number 1 button, top left hand corner of the panel which would have indicated the Town Hall on the Map of the Village.
I'll be seeing you.

Who Is That On The Telephono?

No.6 'Hospital......yes hospital? Psychiatrics, head of the department.'
249 'Director of psychiatrics.'
'Ah doctor, I'm on grey!'
'I beg your pardon?'
'I'm on grey.'
'Well so am I as it happens.'
'Well we seem to be on the same wavelength.'
'We seem to be on the same telephone!'
'Well doctor, what's the verdict on our friend?'
'Friend, friend, who is this?'
'Your report doctor, on Number Two.'
'Number Two? What are you talking about? Who....who is this speaking?'
'I understand, you'd rather not talk on the telephone.' 'Well not to you certainly.....are you mad?'
'Not according to your records!'
'Look ring off.'
'I understand doctor. Never mind, I'll be seeing you later on......'
'Yes why don't you do that. Come and  see me in my office.'
''Do you think that would be appropriate?'
'Under the circumstances I see no other alternative.'
'Well if you say so doctor.'
'How long have you been making these nuisance calls?'
{the telephono goes dead}

A Couple Of Thought's For The Day

    In It's Your Funeral, No.2 returns to the Village only to face the prospect of retirement. Perhaps if No.2 knew this, and what his masters had in mind for him, he would have stayed away from the Village, resisited his return and went and gone somewhere else!

   No.2 of It's Your Funeral is on record as having said 'You've never understood us Number Six, we never fail!' I admire No.2's faith, but quite obviously this particular No.2 hasn't seen their record against No.6!
BCNU

Caught On Camera

   'Hello Pat.'
   'What have you here?'
   'I understand you're stuck for an ending for the series.'
   'Who told you that?'
   'Oh the director and some of the crew were discussing it.'
   'Were they?'
   'Yes they were.'
   'And this is?'
   'My idea for the conclusion to the series.'
   'It won't work.'
   'Oh go on Pat, give it a chance!'
   'It says here on page two, that the Prisoner escapes the Village after discovering a time displacement device.'
   'Good isn't it?'
   'But that soemething goes wrong with the co-ordinates, and the Prisoner ends up where it all began.........dark clouds gather over a long and deserted road. there's a clash of thunder......this is the start of Arrival!'
   'Which is the whole point of the thing Pat, the whole things a vicious circle.'
   'I don't like it...and don't call me Pat!'
   'Well what about the idea of Lew Grade as No.1?'
   'Don't make me laugh!'
BCNU

Comments

   Upon me' soul, I've a multitude of comments, which I shall deal with later today, as I have to go out for a time this morning. So if you are waiting a response, fear ye not, I've not forgotten, I'll be seeing you later on.

Dave

Thought For The Day

    'The butcher with the sharpest knife has the warmest heart,' a saying which has defied research. It probably has no real origin, and might have been made up for the Prisoner. However 'He who plough's a straight furrow needs hoe for nothing,' is an adaptation on a proverb. Where as 'He who digs a pit may one day lie in it,' is but one variation on the same theme.

BCNU

Questions Are A Burden To Others - Answers A Prison For Oneself

    Legend has it that Patrick McGoohan had seven episodes of the Prisoner which he would have kept, and to throw the rest away. Now such a list was drawn up, whether actually by McGoohan, or someone who thought what such a list might contain, I don't know. But I thought it might be fun to see what other readers list of seven episodes might look like, and perhaps readers might like to post a list in a comment. What would mine be? Well lets see..............

1,  Arrival {obviously}
2,  Dance of the Dead
3,  Free For All
4, The General    {or Checkmate}
5, The Chimes of Big Ben
6,  Once upon A Time {has to be}
7,  Fall Out  {conclusion}

BCNU

Pictorial Portmeirion

Portmeirion at a more innocent time. What a place it must have been for the children of the Williams-Ellis family. The yacht on the left edge of the photograph is Clough Williams-Ellis' Amis Reunis.

  The Campanilie, or Bell Tower. It was from this that a crewman of the searchlight fell during the fight scene in Checkmate. After the man has fallen there follows a splash of water, yet there is no water of any kind anywhere near the Bell Tower! But I suppose the majority of television viewers who watched the Prisoner for the first time, would not know that, unless they themselves had been to Portmeirion.

The Ship Shop, and the bay window at which No.6 and No.14, the chess champion, pause and talk during the episode of Checkmate.

 
   



    This is the Camera Obscura at Portmeirion, of course it features in the background of the Prisoner, not actually close-up, but in the background. But prior to the Prisoner Portmeirion featured in several episodes of Danger Man, and the Camera Obscura was used as a look-out tower in the episode The Journey Ends Half Way, an episode which is set in China.

Be seeing you

Arts And Crafts

     From my cycledelic period!

BCNU

Back To Back Episodes

    The Chimes of Big Ben and Once Upon A Time would have worked rather well as back-to-back episodes, which I think might have been the original intention. However there are a couple of lines in Once Upon A Time which would be somewhat spurious had that been the case, when No.2 telephones No.6 who states 'I know your voice,' {it would be remarkable if No.6 had forgotten after so short a time} to which No.2 replies 'I've been here before' {well surely if the two episodes were intended to run consecutively, No.2 would never have been away!} But apart from those two lines, I think the Prisoner series would have gained much, and been given a different look by running The Chimes of Big Ben and Once Upon A Time back-to-back, but it would have cost No.2 his life, having given it to the cause without chance of resuscitation!   In fact A B & C and The General would have worked well as back-to-back episodes instead of having them separated in the way they are in the screening order. In that way No.2's further term of office would have simply run consecutively, and there would have been no need to send him away at the end of  A B & C, only to have him returned to the Village later on for The General!
BCNU

It's Your Funeral!

    How ridiculous is the plot behind the assassination/execution of the retiring No.2? I mean there is no real apparent reason to involve No.6 at all. An interim No.2, the so called heir presumptive, said that it was a matter of credibility to involve No.6, without which the plan might backfire, well it did backfire!
   If they had not involved No.6 in the plot, then the assassination of the retiring No.2 would have gone along smoothly, there would have been no problem. It seems to me that No.1 is very keen on over complicating events, and by involving No.6 it seems almost like another test, to see if he can prevent the assassination/execution of the retiring No.2!   Be seeing you.

60 Second Interview With John Drake

No.113: I'm here on the cricket field today to interview a man who is seen by some fans, to be at the very heart of the 1960's television series the Prisoner, John Drake, whose very name has caused much controversey over the years 'Just a minute, you're not John Drake!'
John Drake 'Well who did you imagine me to be?'
'Well someone completely different really.'
'Look are you here to talk, or play cricket?'
No.113b 'Smile.'


No.113 'We came here, my photographic colleague and I to interview John Drake.'
John Drake 'Well get on with it, and be quick, we are in the middle of an over you know.'
'Let me ask you, have you ever been a member of security NATO?'
'NATO?'
'Or M9?'
'M9, what's that? Oh I was a member of the R.S.C for a time.'
'Is that affiliated to the M.C.C. at all?'
'No.'
'And you play cricket?'
'Yes. I'm a spin bowler.'
'You're not a secret agent then?'
'Are you mad?'
'But you are John Drake?'
'Yes, always have been. Look, can we get on with this over?'
'Do you know anything about exploding cricket balls?'
'What do you think I am, some sort of anarchist?'
'You certainly bowled Colonel Hawke-Englishe a googly!'
'Somebody switched the cricket balls, cost us the match that!'
'And the Colonel his life.'
'Made a right mess of the wicket!'
'I can imagine!'
'Look are we going to stand about here all day.........'
'That's what they've done on the boundry all morning!'
'Look, just get into the slips, I generally get a catch off a short ball....'
'That balls not ticking is it?'
{Drake puts the cricket ball to an ear}
'No?'
'Good!'
{Drake counts out his paces, turns and makes his run, bowls over the wicket}
'Howzat?'

Reporter No.113
Photographer No.113b