“We’re All Pawns Me’Dear
Is that what the white Queen of Checkmate is, a pawn in the doctor-No.22's game of psychology? Is there nothing more to this woman, who has been hypnotised into thinking that No.6 is in love with her, and she with him. And in doing so has been turned into some kind of stooge, sent to protect No.6, to save him from his own folly! This in the fact that her emotions will send an alarm to control, if No.6 is going to try and escape, if she thinks she is going to lose him, via the 'reaction transmitter' in the locket about her neck.
No.8 volunteers herself to help No.6 with his plan, if its a good one, after all everyone tries to escape when their spirits broken. Which bodes the question, of who was it that broke their spirit in the first place? And besides she can be of use to No.6, at least she can tell him what not to try. This because she has often helped other people with their plans. But none of them ever succeeded, coincidence or something other than mere coincidence? Had No.8 been assigned to them, as she has been hypnotised into believing that No.6 is in love with her?
In her mind No.8 makes an honest attempt to gain No.6's trust, but is only scorned for her efforts. She is programmed to protect No.6, just in the same way the white Queen protected her pawn on the chessboard. Which is reason enough for the original title for this episode The White Queen's Pawn.
So we must ask ourselves why was No.8 in the hospital and in the hands of the doctor in the first place, and why was she picked for this experiment? Perhaps No.8 had been put through other such experiments by the doctor, and would be again.
If No.8 had not previously been some kind of stooge before, the doctor had certainly turned her into one by the time she had finished with her. If No.6 is the white Queens pawn, what then must I ask, does that make No.8?
As the Admiral-No.66 told No.9 in Arrival "We're all pawns m' dear."
The Reason Behind The Prisoner’s Resignation
It was stated in ITC's publicity notes for the hour Danger Man series that there was a change in John Drake's character, in his attitude towards women. Previously in the 25 minute episodes, his attitude towards women was guarded.
He was not afraid of women, but afraid of falling in love. A man of his character would never treat romance in a light-hearted manner. He avoided entanglements because he felt that the dangerous life he led would make it unfair to expect any woman to suffer the anxieties of being married to him. Marriage would also be unfair to him too. With the responsibility of a wife and family, he would inevitably feel more cautious in risking a life which was otherwise entirely his own, no-one left to suffer if he were killed. Marriage would ultimately affect his work.
"John Drake realises that he is getting older and is not yet married", McGoohan's own words, "Basically he would like the security of a home, marriage and a family, and he is beginning to feel that the time is approaching
when he must consider this before it is too late. He intends, however, to give {Janet portland - was she up his job before he takes this step."
the reason why the Prisoner resigned?}
"He intends, however, to give up his job before he takes this step."
A very telling sentence, but I suppose, you would have to be of the opinion that the characters of the Prisoner and John Drake are one and the same, before you decide to take this seriously. However I am of the opinion that they are, and there are those who worked on the production team of the Prisoner, who have confirmed as much.
John Drake was getting older and wanted the security of marriage and a family before it was too late. The Prisoner, we discover in the episode of Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling is engaged to Janet Portland. The daughter of Sir Charles Portland, the direct superior to the Prisoner in the secret service, in better days of course. You will recall how it is described when the Prisoner asked Sir Charles Portland for the hand of his daughter. Sir Charles was pruning his Baccara roses down by the little goldfish pool. Sir Charles dropped his secateurs, although it could not have been all that much of a surprise. Perhaps it was shock, shock that anyone would wish to marry his daughter, this together with the thought that here was a man who was prepared to take his daughter off his hands.... at long last!
So the Prisoner resigned, he had given up his job just as John Drake had eventually intended to do. But was it for the woman he was engaged to? Janet Portland, a one time debutante, and now with a fiance in her grasp. Middle aged man, strong, handsome, worldly. A man who would love her, take care of her, and perhaps above all, give her a secure life. And once her fiance had given up his job as a security agent, he would take a safe desk job, and be at home with her in the evenings, all nice and cosy. But there would be the round of social parties of course, which Janet would be used to, in her society circle of friends, but would her friends be those of her fiances?
Of course the Prisoner was used to parties, he regularly attended Madam Engadine's celebrated parties in Paris
However, there could be hidden depths to Janet. And I'm sure that once she had her fiance within her grasp, she would not be a woman to let go of her prize that easily. But did she actually know that her fiance was going to resign his job? She probably didn't, as they could have discussed it.
Was she actually going with her fiance, wherever it was he had packed his suitcases to go?
Was the Prisoner going to take his fiancee Janet Portland with him? Somehow I doubt it.
These are questions which only two people can answer I'm afraid. For the rest of us, the situation between the Prisoner and Janet Portland, after their engagement, can only be a speculative one.
Be seeing you
Hello David
ReplyDeleteYou make a good case about Janet would one day have made a good Mrs. Drake. We don't know what kind of adventures that No.6 and Janet may have shared together but I always thought that the maxim of "Be aware of the 'quiet ones'." applied to Janet.
After all the actress, Zena Walker, had played one of the most romantic roles in English literature in the role of Shakespear's immortal Juliet in 1954. Further I think that the spunky title character Zena, played in Robin Hood (TV) Isabella...:
http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsW/tve17828-19561119-497.jpg
.... could have handled a scene like we see with this not so gentlemanly gypsy:
http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/7827/vlcsnap2010110811h45m13.png
I think there was something smoldering beneath the surface of Janet if we look past the society girl. She may not have been a bond type girl but she clearly understood the nature of No.6 and may even have shared in it in some of his adventures.
In Good Humor,
Sincerely,
Mr. Anonymous
P.S. In true 'The prisoner fashion have you noted the broken flow of the text that seems to still encode why No.6 resigned (see below)?
"John Drake realises that he is getting older and is not yet married", McGoohan's own words, "Basically he would like the security of a home, marriage and a family, and he is beginning to feel that the time is approaching
when he must consider this before it is too late. He intends, however, to give {Janet portland - was she up his job before he takes this step."
the reason why the Prisoner resigned?}
"He intends, however, to give up his job before he takes this step."
A very telling sentence, but I suppose, you would have to be of the opinion that the characters of the Prisoner and John Drake are one and the same, before you decide to take this seriously. However I am of the opinion that they are, and there are those who worked on the production team of the Prisoner, who have confirmed as much.
Hello Mister Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteThat is a fair maxim, "the quiet ones are always the worst," and in fairness I think the make-up department could have made more of Zena Walkers make-up and hairstyle for her character Janet Portland. But then all the make-up and hairstyles for the actresses in 'the Prisoner' were toned down, save for the Girl who was death, her make-up was highly exaggerated!
Poor Zena, she had read the script for 'Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling,' and read the romantic scene which was to take place between Janet and the Prisoner. She was actually looking forward to that romantic scene, but then when she learned that it was to be Nigel Stock, rather than Patrick McGoohan, she was more than a little disappointed, not that she had anything against Nigel Stock as they were old friends.
I probably should not have used the name John Drake in connection with Janet Portland. But when I wrote the piece it didn't seem right simply to say the Prisoner, it seemed cold and unfeeling. And John Drake is as good a name as any I could have used.
True, Janet Portland may have an underlying passion, what woman has not. But I think with Janet, her passion is too well camouflaged! Janet is not at all the Prisoner's type, for me Nadia Rakovsky is far more the Prisoner's type.
In perfect humour, and remembering that humour is the very essence of a democratic society
David
Be seeing you