A life time fan and Prisonerologist of the 1960's series 'the Prisoner', a leading authority on the subject, a short story writer, and now Prisoner novelist.
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
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
Seltzman's escape is a great end to the episode.
ReplyDeleteBut Number 2 seems "resigned" to the fact that Seltzman has escaped and that bringing him back is impossible.
Why didn't Number 2 order the helicopter back?
All I can think of is perhaps Number 2 knew it was out of range... perhaps radio signals are deliberately confined to not stray too far from the Village to avoid detection by the outside world. Perhaps the helicopter left via the mountains, which might interfere with radio signals too much.
Another possible reason is that the Seltzman machine and the activities in the Amnesia Room are top secret... although Number 2 presumably wouldn't have to give a reason to Control or the pilot as to why they want the helicopter to return.
Be seeing you
ZM72
Hello ZM72,
ReplyDeleteYou are indeed perfectly correct, No.2 does seem resigned to the fact that Seltzman is escaping the Village. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that Seltzman had out-foxed, and out-witted him, hence his inactivity to try and order the return of the helicopter. The look on No.2's face was certainly one of shock!
Good to hear from you
David
BCNU
Heh heh, I hadn't thought of that: Number 2 realising he might get some blame for the matter, so he decided to let them go and hope that no-one would ever find out!
ReplyDeleteZM72
Hello ZM72,
ReplyDeleteI like it, I like it......No.2 decided to let him go and hope that no-one finds out, yes, I like that way of thinking. Well done ZM72, keep it up.
As ever
David
BCNU