The Therapy Zone

    Many Happy Returns – the new Number 2 wears a badge with a black background, upon which is a white penny farthing and a white number 2. Previously we have seen citizens wear such a badge, but with a red number 2. No reason is ever given for there are "positive" and "negative" badges.

   This new Number Two-Mrs Butterworth, is the only Number Two in the series to wear the "negative" badge.

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    The General - The Professor is a tragic figure, a man with a conscience and genius who is manipulated ruthlessly by the village authorities. It again shows McGoohan's great respect and sympathy for men of science and his scorn for the manipulation and perversion of that science. This is a constant theme within the Prisoner and is best realised in the episode Do Not forsake Me Oh My Darling.

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    The Schizoid Man - While Number Six does attempt to escape at the end of this episode, it is important to note that the focus of this episode is not escape, but on survival as an individual. Number Six is charged with maintaining his identity, and does this, victoriously. The boundaries of the struggle have changed. Escape is no longer the main issue with Number Six, as the focus is on the maintenance of his identity, his self.

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    A B and C - The General - Number Two drinks a good deal of milk in both these episodes, which gives colour to the theory that Number Two is suffering from a stomach ulcer. It's certainly in keeping with his nervous state of mind, and probably why he didn't have a good night that one time in A B and C.

Curfew Time

   There is a piece of dialogue in the original script of Hammer Into Anvil which takes place as No.6 takes a large white envelope which he has hidden under the bed sheet, and hides it under his blazer.

   No.6 enters the lounge and goes over to the window. The street is dark and deserted, a voice over the loudspeaker announces   "It is quarter to midnight. Curfew in fifteen minutes. Repeat - curfew in fifteen minutes."

   Well that's a bit of an eye opener, as I always thought curfew time as eight o'clock. But in any case this piece of dialogue never made it into the completed episode.

Be seeing you