ESCAPE!

    Isn't that what we all want to do, escape? i suppose it all depends on what one is escaping to, the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence you know. You might be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, and where would you be then? Yes, burnt to a cinder!
    Life in the Village isn't that bad you know, well not for some it isn't. Lounging about all day with nothing better to do with their time, for some the Village is like a holiday camp, "Ho de Ho" "Hi de hi." Even Number 6 doesn't spend all his time in trying to escape. After all there are only so many ways you can try and escape, although no-one has tried to tunnel their way out, as far as I know. No.15 tried to escape by hiding himelf in a dustbin in order to have himself thrown out of the Village with the rubbish. No.32 dug himself into a hole somewhere in the woods. He hid there for two weeks before he ran for it, he thought they would stop looking for him you see, and he would sneak away when they had. Trouble was they never give up, and he couldn't run so far, they caught him in the end. No.5 came up with a plan to 'Jam' up the system. He said he was going to escape, and made no secret of it. Then one day when his personal maid came to clean his cottage, he was gone! There wasn't a trace of No.5 anywhere, it was as though he'd simply vanished! No.2 was in a right state I can tell you. He was told to find No.5 or it would be all the worse for him. A thorough search of his cottage was made. A search of the entire Village was made, the woods, along the cliffs, but there was no sign of No.5 anywhere. It was No.56, No.5's personal maid who finally discovered where No.5 was. She was in the lounge of No.5's cottage when it happened, she sat down for a moment, no longer than that, and screamed when she felt it move, she jumped up instantly and fled the cottage. It was No.5 you see, being a Jammer he came up with a plan to make No.2 think he had escaped, and as part of his plan for mischief he used camouflaged, camouflaging himself as chippendale chair!

Be seeing you

The Prisoner's Question Time

   Number 2 "Walking, he's always walking, irritating man! Haven't you got any thing better to do with your time?"
    Number 6 "Mind your own business."
    "You are my business my dear fellow. Now why don't you make it easier for yourself, and tell me why you resigned?"
    "Easier for you, you mean"
    "If it was down to me I'd allow you to live out the rest of your life here in quiet solitude. But it isn't down to me."
    "I had a funny dream last night."
    "Oh really, I didn't sleep too well myself!"
   "I deamt I was in a laboratory. There was a blonde woman, she was quite attractive. I've met her before."
    "Oh really, how very odd."
    "Her name was Eglington."
   "And now she's Number 14."
   "How do you know that?"
   "Because I was there, and it wasn't a dream."
   "No, it was a damned nightmare!"
   "You should see a doctor."
   "I have, Number 14!"

BcNu

Teabreak Teaser

    In 'The Schizoid Man' how did Number 6 know the name of the Village Guardian? Yes I know the Guardian can be seen as a guard dog, and you call a dog Rover, and it has been said that Number 6 was using the name Rover as a colloquialism. But I don't think Number 2 was when he ordered the deactivation of Rover. I mean the Supervisor in the Control Room would have to have known to what Number 2 was referring.
    I have called 'it' that white membranic thing the Village Guardian, but is 'it' referred to as the Gaurdian at any time in 'the Prisoner?' There are human Gaurdians, but is 'it' called by name more than once?

BCNU

The Therapy Zone

Electrifying The Prisoner

    Have you ever though how electrifying the Prisoner can be? Well it was Nadia-No.8 who was first to find out during her interrogation during The Chimes of Big Ben, how electrifying the experience could be. You will recall that the floor of the interrogation room had been electrified, this she discovered by sprinkling water onto the floor. But for No.6 electrification came through another conductor, the arms of a leather upholstered chair during the truth test of Free For All. So electrifying did No.6 find the experience, that he couldn't rise from his seat!

    In the episode of The Schizoid Man No.6 was again electrified by the experience of electro-therapy. In this to adjust his right-handedness to being left handed, and it was by the use of electricity which enabled No.6 to reverse his left-handedness. This via a short circuiting electric table lamp which was enough to give No.6 a short sharp electric shock and reverse his left-handedness back to being right handed.

   But electrification can be a deadly thing, as both the Professor and No.12 - of administration - quickly discovered in the episode of the General. The Professor who was actually electrocuted to death by the General, his own creation! And in turn No.12, who gallantly tried to save the Professor's life, but who was also electrocuted to death in the attempt.

    And finally during the episode of Its Your Funeral we learn that amongst the retiring No.2's achievements is the electrification of the clocks!

BCNU

Thought For The Day

  In 'Once Upon A time' Number 2 told Number 6 that he is a unit of society, that he is a member of the Village. But Number 6 said he was not a unit of society. He refused to be a member of the Village, and the job from which he resigned, he saw as being above the law! Is it possible that Number 6 saw himself above society, above the Village? That the laws and rules of society and the Village do not apply to him?

Be seeing you

Caught On Camera

  

A Stranger Saddled With So Much Burden!

    For those fans of ‘the Prisoner’ who are of a religious nature, you might see the Man with No Name in ‘Living In Harmony’ as a representation of Christ carrying his cross to his crucifixion. I suppose it could be interpreted that way. But realistically, it’s how a man in the American Wild West would carry his saddle after losing his horse - for whatever reason - until he was able to get another horse.

   However, the other day when I looked at this picture, I saw a man saddled with so much burden, as with the Prisoner burdened with the reason behind his resignation! But I'm sure that interpretation has nothing to do with it either!

Be seeing you.

Personal Column

..................... And Here Is A Message, It Is A Birthday Greeting For Number 6.

    I asked Number 113 why he sent such a message. Number 113 told me that he hadn't written any such message! Well I know Number 113, and if he said he didn't write the message for Number 6, then he didn't write it! I told that to Number 2, "Number 2" I said, "Number 113 told me he didn't write that bithday greeting to Number 6 and I believe him.........." Of course he didn't write it you blithering idiot! Number 113 was supposed to have written it!" "But Number 2, Number 113 told me he didn't write it, so how could........ "Number 113 was an old woman in a wheelchair - she died a month ago!" That would explain it then. "Explain what?" Why we've read nothing in The Tally Ho from Number 113 recently! "Oh get out, get out!"

BCNU

The Therapy Zone

Part Of The Machine

   If in ‘The General,’ No.12 is a cog in the machine, then the Supervisor-No.28 is most certainly an intricate part of that machine. For he is the Supervisor we see the most of, and it cannot simply be that we are about the village when this particular Supervisor is on shift. This Supervisor is the third stalwart of the Prisoner, after the Prisoner-No.6, and our diminutive friend the Butler.

   He was at one time removed from his position in ‘Hammer Into Anvil’ by No.2, simply because he made the mistake of reading out a birthday greeting for No.6 over the public address system. Trouble was it wasn’t No.6’s birthday! So this Supervisor-No.28 isn’t perfect, yet he was reinstated to his position, and kept it all the way to Fall Out. Not only that, but at one point he was promoted to the position of the new No.2, if only for a week, during ‘Once Upon A Time.’ And then in ‘Fall Out’ we see this Supervisor rise to an even loftier position, as a delegate, who takes his seat amid other members of the Assembly.

  There is far more to this Supervisor than at first meets the eye. He has power in the control room, and his orders go unquestioned, and enjoys the confidence and respect of No.2. And was but once rebuked for an independent action, which was to see that the door to 6 private, No.6’s cottage, had been left open. This so that Monique-No.51 would have access during the episode Its Your Funeral.

    He is unflinching in his work, and thinks nothing of announcing a "Yellow alert" or worse "Orange alert" to activate that white membranic village guardian, to set "it" upon some unsuspecting victim or prey, depending on how you look at it. He is quick to alert all posts around the village to any danger, or of an escaping village citizen.

   It should also be noted, that this Supervisor-No.28, enjoys more peace of mind and security in his position, than any of his No.2 superiors in theirs!

   It is unknown as to what happened to the Supervisor-No.28 during the mass evacuation of the village towards the end of Fall Out. We can only hope that he made it away aboard one of the departing helicopters.

BCNU

Many Happy Returns

    It has been supposed that this episode concerns itself with demonstrating that no matter where Number Six goes, he can never evade the long reach of the Village. Meaning that there is nowhere he can go, where he cannot be found, retrieved, and returned to the Village, no matter the circumstances. Well that's as maybe. Yet I feel there is more to this episode than the simple re-incarceration of the Prisoner.
    'Many Happy Returns' gives a false freedom to the Prisoner. It is the torture of escape, only to be recaptured, and unceremoniously returned to the confines of the Village, a game of 'cat and mouse,' in which the Prisoner ecapes, is given a glimpse of the world beyond the Village. The torture to find that someone else is living in his former home. That someone else now owns his beloved Lotus 7, placing doubt and mistrust in the mind of the Prisoner. And then it is all snatched away from him once more.
   For his captors, there is the pleasure of control, in manipulating the Prisoner. Giving him escape, hope, and then dashing those hopes, taking away his freedom {if he was ever really free}, amused as they were at the thought that 'they' could return the Prisoner to the Village at any time of their choice. You will recall the breaking of the cup and saucer just as the Priosner was to set sail aboard his raft, that was a torture in itself. The Prisoner having gone to all that effort and hard work in having built his sea-going raft, to think that the game was up so early. Yet at the same time, in seeing that it was only the cat, also gave the Prisoner renewed hope. In as much as the game was far from up, and there was still chance of escape.
    The pleasure for his captors being in the control they exert over the Prisoner. They could allow him to escape, hunt him down, bring him back to the Village, so that they could continue their torment and manipulation of the Prisoner all over again, in other and more fascinating ways.
    This I learned from the Marquis De Sade.

Be seeing you

Arts And Crafts

    I call this 'The Gost Boat.' Good in any weather. Sailed her many a time, have a good trip!

BcNu

Teabreak Teaser

Where was the helicopter pilot during 'Free For All?' Not only did Number 2 pilot the helicopter in pursuit of Number 6 as he attempted to escape by boat, but he also piloted the helicopter when he was departing the Village at the end of the episode!

BcNu

  

The Therapy Zone

In The Candidates Own Words

    Well at least during his opening electoral speech these are actually No.6's own words.

    'In some place, at some time, all of you held positions of a secret nature, and had knowledge that was invaluable to an enemy. Like me you are here to have that knowledge protected or extracted. Unlike me, many of you have accepted the situation of your imprisonment and will die here like rotten cabbages. The rest of you have gone over to the side of our keepers. Which is which? How many of each? Who's standing beside you now? I intend to discover who are the prisoners and who the warders...I shall be running for office in this election."

   And what's more these distinctive words are the only actual own words of the candidate, because his other two speeches are either induced via drugs, or have been written for him, as in the case of his speech delivered to the electorate from the stone boat. Talk about a "rotten borough!" That's a borough, in the distant past, before the "Great Reform" act of 1832, where very few people had the vote. They could choose their own candidate, and thereby they could have manipulation of the candidate to do whatever they wanted.

   Oh well. They say power corrupts, and No.6 himself said that everyone votes for a dictator. Perhaps that's why every citizen voted for him! "Obey me and be free." and you can't get more dictatorial than that, forcing something on the populace which they don't want!

BcNu

ESCAPE

    There are certain lines in 'the Prisoner' that one latches on to, like when Number 2 said to Madam Professor when she asked him what Number 6 wants  in 'the General. "What we all want ultimately, to escape." Number 2 warned Number 12 that his words about the Professor should be guarded, perhaps too his own words. I've often wondered if that is what Number 2 really wanted, to escape. As when Number 2 in 'Free For All' gave the toast "To hell with the Village" while in the Threapy Zone, there being no surveillance. I liked to think that that was a very real sentiment on the part of Number 2, but of course it wasn't. Mind you, Number 2 was due to depart the Village, and even though he was utterly loyal, he might have been glad to put the Village behind him.

Be seeing you

Village Pin-Up

All time favourite pin up Nadia Grey, a little more relaxed than she was on the day Nadia rakovsky set out on her swim, knowing what was in the water waiting for her.

BCNU

Caught On Camera

    "I suppose you think this is funny!"

BCNU

The Rebel!

    Strange how some fans of ‘the Prisoner’ see him as a rebel, after all in his life prior to his resignation and subsequent abduction to The Village, he was a successful member of the establishment, and society as a whole. He was engaged to Janet Portland, he lived in a large house in the City of Westminster, and until his act of resignation he had been loyal, and devoted to his work. This is not the profile of a rebel, after all, all he did was to resign! It was only until The Prisoner- known as No.6 became such a rebel, rebelling against the alien environment to which he had been brought against his will. In such circumstances you and I would likewise rebel.

  Yet there comes a time when the rebel inside departs, and you begin to accept your circumstances, as No.6, and others like him have done in The Village. One cannot rebel against something forever, it would be like banging your head against the wall. I rebelled, I made my voice heard in a society, and other voices joined me. But for some they were not true to the rebellion, but as one by one others fell away, I was left to stand virtually alone. So I walked away from the failed rebellion, leaving others to stew in their own juice. But yet, in the following months, others followed my lead, and they too departed the society in their multitudes. For them it was easier to walk away than to fight. For myself, my rebellion was pure and wanted no power for myself, unlike others who each had their own agendas, or personal fight. But no matter what I was to do, I could see that nothing in society was to change. And today, well others are in charge of society, but from what I gather, society is worse now than ever it was before. with no-one allowed to show any signs of descent! Today society is made up of sheep, and now there is not one goat amongst them!

Be seeing you

The Therapy Zone

A State Secret

    Is that the reason behind the Prisoners resignation - is that a state secret? It seems improbable, but then most things are possible and cannot be ruled out.

    I suppose that is the most permanent question in the minds of fans around the globe "Why did he resign?" A question certainly on the lips of most No.2's who are brought to the village. Yet No.2 of ‘A B & C’ seemed somewhat sympathetic towards No.6's situation "If someone can't chuck up a job things have come to a pretty pass!"

   All No.2 wanted to know was why No.6 resigned, that's not so difficult is it? Ah, but No.6 realised early on, that if he gave away the reason behind his resignation that would simply be the tip of the iceberg, and then all the rest would follow!

    But if No.6's resignation did happen to be a state secret, then he wouldn't be able to tell anyone would he, not even his fiancé Janet Portland, and then of course working for her father, Sir Charles Portland, well then he wouldn't be able to tell his daughter anything either, under pain of treason perhaps! Ah, now that does begin to explain something, because Sir Charles did tell his daughter that he had not sent her fiancé on a mission, that even he doesn't know where her fiancé is. And even then Sir Charles was telling his daughter more then he should!

   Top state secret! And it is a singular fact is it not, that No.6 during his interrogation in the embryo room during Degree Absolute of ‘Once Upon A Time,’ that No.6 did admit that he was on a mission, after being caught for speeding, it was a mission of life and death, whose life or death No.6 was not willing to divulge. However it was secret business, top secret, state secret business of the highest order. And what's more No.6 could tell the judge what it was all about, because such business is above the law! And what's more you will recall how No.6 had been recruited into the banking business, but how it was a cover for secret work. A top secret and confidential job.

    If the village is run by those on the same side as that of No.6, "I'm on our side" No.6 informs the new No.2 during ‘Arrival,’ who wants to know where No.6's loyalties lie ."You know where they lie!" No.6 tells him. So that being the case, given No.6's unusual qualities and the extent of his knowledge, it is not then at all surprising that his own people would wish to keep such a man on a short leash, and what better place to keep him, but in the village, and a prisoner for life. Because such a man as No.6 might very well be extremely dangerous to national security, another reason to keep him - confined, for his own good as well as the well being of the nation.

    Yet it was all a bit of a trial for No.6, and having survived he was acquitted at his final trial during ‘Fall Out,’ and given the opportunity to go and leave the village! The only question you need to answer here, is "Was No.6 deserving of his acquittal?"

I'll be seeing you

Teabreak Teaser

   What was achieved in the episode 'Dance of the Dead?

BCNU

Arts And Crafts

This is from my 'Negativity' period.

BcNu

Thought For The Day

What's Sir Saying?

    In their own defence, both Number 48 and the late Number 2 were allowed to address the delegates of the Assembly. However sir, the former Number 6 was shouted down by the delegates. They were not interested in hearing what sir had to say for himself. But it is possible to make out a few of the words contained in sir's speech. For example "I feel that despite the devaluation of the pound nevertheless........."

    True, the pound was devalued in the UK -  following rigorous attempts to control the balance of payments deficit through cost cutting and other measures during the mid-1950s; a relatively strong balance of payments enabled the government to declare the convertibility of non-resident sterling in December 1958. During 1960s, however, Britain suffered from persistent balance of payments problems, which tended to make it difficult for governments to defend the pound without heavy drains on reserves. These problems culminated in the devaluation of the pound under the Harold Wilson government in 1967.

    The question is, how did the former Number 6 know about the devaluation of the pound, when he had been a Prisoner in the Village for the past 15months?

Be seeing you

The Therapy Zone

Village Observation: Incidentally, the passport seen to be collected by the Prisoner during the opening sequence to the series, was actually the passport belonging to John O’Conner, who was the floor man on “the Prisoner. Why John O’Conner’s passport? Well a passport was required for the scene and a passport had been forgotten, so John volunteered his own. Why John would have his passport with him at the time…. is err unknown.

Fall Out

   I read in an old magazine article that when he was finally confronted with the truth - that he was No.1, the Prisoner seemed to go berserk, bringing destruction to the village before escaping with Number two, the butler and the youth.

   Well in my opinion the Prisoner didn't go berserk. To me he appeared calm and calculating, in the way he set the countdown for the rocket, and the way in which he was instrumental in commencing a bloody and violent revolution.

  As I see it, it was No.1 who went berserk, charging about the control room, and screaming wildly, clambering up the ladder into the nose cone of the rocket, when having been confronted with the truth that he was No.6!

 

On The Village McGoohan said.......

..........."It was trying to destroy the individual by every means possible; trying to break his spirit so that he accepts that he is a number - No.6 - and will live there happily after. But he is the one rebel they can't break."

   Well that's as may be, but it wasn't long before this rebel can make a mistake. Indeed it was during the episode of The Chimes of Big Ben that the Prisoner actually admitted to Nadia-No.8 as to who he was.

    "No names. I am No.6, you are No.8."

   So the evidence is clear, that the Prisoner accepted his number so early in the game. But then perhaps that was better than to actually give his name away. One wonders why he did not, after all Nadia Rakovski, if that was in fact her real name, told No.6 who she was. Well, the Prisoner has, in the past, been used to using pseudonyms. He could have told her that his name was Peter Smith, possibly as false as Nadia's!

Be seeing you

Postcard From The Village

    The Stone Boat, good in any weather, sailed her many a time. She has also been the venue for the Gun Runners re-enactment from 'Many Happy Returns, back in the mid 1990's. And If I'd had had a change of clothes, I'd have climbed aboard the vessel wet through as Patrick McGoohan had done in the actual scene. But we had guns, the special effect of smoke billowing out of the main cabin, and the fight sequence, and the proper costumes. I bet they don't perform exciting re-enactments like that any more at 'Prisoner' Conventions.

I'll be seeing you

The Prisoner's Question Time

    Number 2 "Now you look a reasonable kind of man to me. I'm sure you would not interrupt the democratic process."
    Number 6 "Democracy, in this place?"
    "Certainly, why not?"
    "Dress it up as much as you like, the Village is still an internment camp!"
    "Yes, but you must admit that there is a certain freedom within the camp."
   "I haven't noticed it!"
   "Well take a man like you. You are not forced to work. You are given a weekly allowance. If you become ill we look after you. As well as that, you are allowed to come and go as you please, within reason."
    "Thanks very much!"
    "Just think how much more freedom you would enjoy if only you would co-operate. Or do you enjoy playing our games?"
    "Is that what it is, a game?"
    "Almost certainly. We think the games up, and you participate."
    "I like sport as well."
   "Yes. Shooting, fencing, gymnastics, swimming. Water skiing, boxing and Kosho."
   "There is another."
   "Oh yes."
   "Cross country running. I'm going to run the first chance I get."
   "Perhaps I'll give you a head start!"
   "Funny aren't you?"
   "It helps to have a sense of humour. Humour is the very essence of a democratic society."
   "Why don't you take a running jump............."
   "If I get this one wrong I'll be for the high jump alright."
    "Are you looking for a running mate?"
   "Are you putting yourself forward as a candidate?"
   "I might as well while I'm waiting. If I'm elected as MP for the Village, do I get to take my seat in the House of Commons?"
    "Think yourself lucky if you don't end up standing on the Town Council!"

BCNU

Caught On Camera

    I think you will agree that the Colonel is a military rank in the British Army, well in anyone's army if it comes to that. So why is it, the replica the Colonel's office in 'The Chimes of Big Ben,' looks more to do with an Admiral of the Navy? The large picture seen in the Colonel's office, is I believe of the Battle of Trafalgar. And there are a number of nautical devices, a brass canon, and two or three models of sailing vessels.
   You will recall how John Drake in 'Danger Man,'  who had a number of different immediate superior's, Admiral Hobbs for one in 'Colony Three.' This is brought to mind, simply for the Naval militaria decorating the Colonel's office! I am reminded of the General's office, how the room is decorated with Army militaria. And the Professor's house, with paintings of Generals hanging on the walls, because of the "the General." Somehow the naval militaria does not suit the Colonel's office.

Be seeing you

The Therapy Zone

Pawns Or Players?

Prisoners or warders? Which is which? Who's standing beside you now?

    It's simple psychology the same way it is in life, you judge by attitudes. You soon know who's for or against you. And that's the only way in the village, seeing as both sides dress the same, as in the case of the gardener and painter in Checkmate. Both wear dove-grey overalls, but in attitude they are poles apart. The gardener who No.6 wanted a word with "Then you'll have to wait!" the Gardener replied-guardian. But the painter when questioned about the painting of the wall said "If you're not satisfied, I'll paint it again"-Prisoner! Attitudes you see, because both men are dressed identically it's impossible to tell them apart, one the warder, the other a prisoner.

    You might think just because the citizens go about the village dressed in brightly coloured attire, colourful caps, straw boaters, blazers, slacks and striped jerseys, that everything is un-uniformed in the almost holiday camp atmosphere of the village. But you would be wrong. No.2 wears a uniform. All the medical staff wear much the same attire which is uniformed, not to mention the various assistants to No.2. Then there are the waiters and waitresses, maids, gardeners, painters and electricians, all wearing a uniform of a kind - even No.6. So you see, the village isn't all like a days regatta at Henley, all piped blazers and straw boaters.

   In the village, anyone allowed to wear their own clothes such a the Professor and Madam Professor in The General, they stand out in the village, such is the matter of their "special privileges." In the outside world it is the ordinary village citizen who might stand out in a crowd, wearing piped balzer, strawboater and a colourful striped cape, well perhaps not down

Carnaby Street

during the 1960's!

   So "pawn or player?" No.6 can be described as being both. The little watchmaker-No.51 is definitely a pawn in No.2's game of assassination and execution of Its Your Funeral. No.24-Alison allows herself to be a pawn in ‘The Schizoid Man.’ No.9 in Arrival is a pawn to be used by anyone, from No.2 downwards, Cobb, the helicopter pilot and even by No.6.

   The players, well every No.2 to hold office in the village, some more direct than most in wanting to break No.6. Whilst others either don't want him broken, not wanting a man of fragments in fact, or see that No.6 has a future with the village and must be won over. Then there are No.2's assistants who enjoy a modicum of power, along with the Supervisors who oversee the Control Room personnel. And of course there are the warders and guardians who hold the village in safe keeping.

    So prisoners or warders, it all depends on whose side you're on - doesn't it?

I'll be seeing you

Caught On Camera

   Here is a piece of triviality. In long shot, the Prisoner walks up the steps to the central Piazza, a Villager appraoches the Penny Farthing and is standing by the bicycle as the Prisoner reaches the stop step.

   Yet in close-up for the same scene, the Villager has not reached the Penny Farthing bicycle as the Prisoner approaches. The impression given, is that the Villager has taken some backward steps, so to re-time his approach to the bicycle to arrive at the same moment as the Prisoner!

   Also, this same Villager has a white, or as I like to call it, a possitive, badge pinned to his straw boater.
   However, a few moments afterwards in the same scene, the same Villager is seen again, but with a black, negative, badge pinned to his straw boater!

   A trivial matter? Yes of course. But it does demonstrate that there is still plenty for the Observer to notice within 'the Prisoner' series, even after nearly 45 years.
   This extra probably lost his badge, it having fallen off his straw boater. So someone from the proprty department gave him another one, a different badge, not thinking about continuity.

I'll be seeing you

Teabreak Teaser

   Perculiar Signage

   
  'Walk On The Grass' that's in breach of the rules, surely, well it is in our local park. As for 'Free sea,' the reason behind that has always eluded me. Is it merely an eccentricity, or is there some other meaning behind it?
BCNU

Thought For The Day

   ‘Do Not forsake Me Oh My Darling’ may be my least favourite episodes in the series of ‘the Prisoner,’ and may have too many imponderables about it. But it has to be said that the episode enjoys some of the best incidental music in the whole series.

Be seeing you

It makes You Wonder

   Just how people can see a certain character one way, take the character of Janet Portland from the episode Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling for example. How is it that in the De Agostini Prisoner Part-Work, Janet Portland is  described as being determined, passionate as well as beautiful, that the Prisoner's fiancé is a perfect match for him?

   Coming from a wealthy and privileged background, she might be refined and sophisticated, having been sent to a finishing school, and was a 1955 debutante, but I can't see Janet being passionate, or even determined, and she certainly isn't a perfect match for the Prisoner! Why would such a man as the Prisoner ever contemplate spending the rest of his life with this woman? In the De Agostini Prisoner Part-Work Janet is also described as being independent, tenacious, feisty, and forceful. Well not so sure about the independent bit, having lived with her father, and now looking to marry a man who she will expect to look after her. Where's the independence there? Tenacious, well that would all depend upon how long Janet has been trying to find out where her fiancé has gone, from other sources than that of her father Sir Charles. Certainly Janet is grasping, adhesive, and persistent, and I bet that's just how she was with her fiancé. Now that she had finally got here man, she was not about to lose him. Ah, but she did lose him, and felt the unexpected loss of her fiancé deeply, has been keeping a watchful eye on her fiancés house. But watching her fiancés house is an indication of hope, hoping that one day he will come back to her, as she once thought at seeing his car parked outside his house in ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling.’ This could reflect her tenacious attitude, in not being able to let go. Forceful, well perhaps, Janet certainly tries to be forceful where her father is concerned, but it doesn't get her anywhere.

   I bet Sir Charles Portland couldn't believe his luck when the Prisoner asked for his daughters hand in marriage that time Sir Charles was pruning his roses, and no wonder he dropped his secateurs! And I should think Sir Charles was sad about the disappearance of his daughters fiancé, because that left him with his daughter still on his hands!

   There are three people in this equation the Prisoner - Janet Portland - and Sir Charles Portland - and all three have a different reason as to why the Prisoner and Janet should be married, but I'll let you arrive at your own conclusions, as I once did.

   As for thinking Janet Portland being beautiful, attractive possibly. But now middle aged and past her prime, the best I could say is that Janet's of a pleasant nature.

Be seeing you.

The Therapy Zone

Six Of The Best!

No.6:  "Twelve Sir, so that I can remember!"

    It was during their time in the Embryo Room of Once Upon A Time, that No.6's school days were re-enacted. The pupil was asked to go to the Head Masters study in the morning break. The pupil was accused of speaking in class, something which the pupil denies "Wasn't me Sir."

"Wasn't you. Who was it?" the Head Master asks.

   The pupil refuses to say who it was talking in class, and because the pupil refuses to say who it was, the Head Master sees this as cowardice. But which the pupil tells the Head Master "That's honour Sir. You should teach it!"

   So because he refuses to speak the pupil-No.6 is to be given '6 of the best.' But the pupil wants twelve, twelve so that he may remember! But it is not the Head Master who is to dish out the punishment, but the person of the Butler!

   As the Butler closes the Head Masters study door, he tests the sturdiness of his cane with vigour. You can hear the swish, swish of the cane in the air. So it a question often in my thoughts as I watch this scene. Does the Butler actually carry out the punishment of caning No.6 - Twelve of the best!

Be seeing you.

ESCAPE!

    "It means what it is" are perhaps the most profound words Patrick McGoohan was ever heard to utter in the whole series of 'the Prisoner.' After all what does it matter why the Prisoner resigned. Which side runs the Village, although it's run by one side or the other. It doesn't matter who Number One is, because 'the Prisoner' is all things to everyman and lady.
   Oh we theorise alright, of course we do, speculate, and interpret numerous situations. Some have looked for the so termed "hidden meanings," but I don't know of anyone who has found any. We deliberate, discuss, and try to see the other fella's point of view, even if it does conflict with our own. But at the end of the day, once you've read this blog, when the convention is over and everyone have gone their separate ways, you are left alone with your own thoughts, that is when 'the Prisoner' becomes a very private thing.

I'll be seeing you

Caught On Camera

  "Sounded like a click, something in the mirror?"

  So what did the Prisoner do after he'd heard the click in the mirror? Did he just sit there, or did he, like John Drake here, take the mirror off the wall and see what was behind it? Whatever the Prisoner did, he knew that he was under close surveillance, that 'they' were watching him, whoever 'they' were, his own side, or those of the Village. But why? We like to think that the Prisoner resigned for good reasons. We don't like to think ill of him. But he's human, with human frailties. He wasn't going to sell out, he was going on holiday that much is clear. But he would eventually go the way as Chambers, and find himself in the Village.

Be seeing you

Arts and Crafts

    A portrait of Sir Charles Portland, who is an OE.

BcNu

A Question Of Medical Ethics

   There are two doctors whom I would not wish to be "under" if I were an inmate of the village, they are doctors - No.40 and 22 of ‘Dance of the Dead’ and ‘Checkmate’ respectively. Though they are very much alike in both attitude towards their patients, and to the progress of medical science through experimentation. Indeed No.22 in ‘Checkmate’ thinks nothing of the suggestion of a Leucotomy, to knock out the aggressive centres of the brain, an operation she would have seen to be carried out on No.6. Which would have had been far worse than she did with No.53-the Rook and possibly No.8-the white Queen.

    No.86 of ‘A Change of Mind’ was no better, medical ethics wise, although she did not actually carry out the operation known to be "Instant Social Conversion," which amounted to the same thing as a Leucotomy, the dislocation of the aggressive frontal lobes. There was clear evidence that she had in fact carried out this operation on other poor soles, the "lobo-man" for example.

   However all is not quite lost in the village when it comes to doctors and medical ethics. Take the doctor-No.14 of ‘A B & C.’ She was very reluctant to see her drug used on No.6 "You know I haven't had time to prove the drug." the doctor protested, but was forced to go ahead with the experiment anyway. Just as long as she got it right, otherwise No.2 would see that the drug is proved on her!

   But then, I wonder if in not having reported the patient-No.6 opening his eyes and seeing the doctor, she having appeared on the wall screen, to No.2, did she not by not doing so, give No.6 a fighting chance?

    This doctor-No.14 may have carried out experiments on her patients, but at least she had some semblance of medical ethics, in not wanting to use an unproved drug!

BCNU

The Therapy Zone

Don’t Worry Number 6. You’ll Be Cured

"I’ll see to it" says No.2 "No more nightmares. If you have so much as a bad dream, you will come whimpering to tell it to me, whimpering!"

   So No.2 sees No.6 as in need of being cured, but what of. I mean No.6 isn’t ill is he? Perhaps it’s to do with No.6’s supposed persecution complex amounting to mania - paranoid delusions of grandeur. Well, we’re all guilty of delusions of grandeur from time to time, aren’t we?

   Such is No.6’s defiance of the village, that he can make the act of simply putting on his dressing gown seem a gesture of defiance. And No.6 isn’t afraid of putting on weight, in having given up sugar on the advice of his doctor 3 months ago. And not of being reduced either, as he drops three lumps of sugar with great deliberation into his cup of tea.

   But fear ye not. There’s a cure for al this, and No.2 will see to it!

A Character Witness!

   Why at his trial during the 'Dance of the Dead' did No.6 suddenly call for a character witness? Whose character was Dutton supposed to be witness to, No.6's or that of The Village? Certainly No.6 knew that his old colleague Roland Walter Dutton was due to die, after all he had been handed the termination order by a doctor in an earlier scene. So No.6 thought that Dutton would be the man to say the things that needed to be said, seeing as how Dutton was due to die. But what were these things the Prisoner saw as needed to be said? Anyway it didn't matter in the end, because the doctor-No.40 had gone too far with his medical experiments on Dutton, medical experiments which were designed to make Dutton talk. But Dutton couldn't talk any more, he had nothing else to say, no more information to give them. The trouble was the doctor didn't believe Roland Walter Dutton, not even when Dutton was telling the truth.

  So what kind of character witness would Roland Walter Dutton have made? What could he possibly have said in favour of the Prisoner, or against The Village? Perhaps the Prisoner was hoping that Dutton would expose The Village system for what it is "Tell them what they want, and they'll kill you!" "Don't tell them, and they'll take it anyway and kill you after!" But to the Prisoner's disappointment Dutton had been reduced to a brainless imbecile. Dutton had been brought to the Dance dressed as a Jester, now there is a reason for that and I can tell you why....................but perhaps that is better left for another time.

I'll be seeing you at the dance

A Favourite Scene In The Prisoner

   That of the human chess match in 'Checkmate. Each time I watch it, or indeed listen to the music which accompanies the scene, memories are evoked of the times when my wife and I have taken our places on the chessboard as Number Six and the white Queen Number 8, even today.

    Back in the days when hunderds of sepctators watched on. I recall one chap approaching me one year, asking me if next year could he stand on the chessboard on the square next to me? And you know what, he did, and shook my hand at the end. And that's basically what it was all about, giving people pleasure.

I'll be seeing you

Teabreak Teaser

    Was Mister X's pint of mild beer poisoned or not? If it was, the barmaid Doris had to be in on it.

BCNU

Mister X Meets Mister Maher

    Myself pictured with the late Frank Maher at the 1998 Prisoner convention at Portmeirion, with my wife Morag pictured in the background. Frank as we all know who was stunt double for Patrick McGoohan, and stunt arranger on the Prisoner, he said to me at the time, that it was the first time he had put his arm round a bloke. A complete one-off then!

   Frank enjoyed very much, the Boxing re-enactment from The Girl Who Was Death, which took place just before this picture was taken.

BCNU

The Therapy Zone

Very Much A Common Practice

    There seems to be something in common between the Colonel and No.2-Chairman of the village, in that the character changes with each appearance of the Colonel. First during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben,’ a Colonel who is a direct superior to the Prisoner. But he is an objectionable and obnoxious character, who does not suffer fools gladly, and is very sceptical of his ex-colleague who he sees as having gone over to the other side, and has now returned to carry on the good work! That's big of the Colonel, seeing as it is he who has been seconded to the village!

    Then another Colonel, to who No.6 has gone running to in ‘Many Happy Returns,’ who is rather sceptical of his ex-colleagues report. That is until No.6's story begins to check out right. From Beachy Head, to the Gypsy camp, the Police road block, and Mrs. Butterworth's Statement. Then the Colonel begins to put in motion plans for No.6 to find the location of the village. But as he and Thorpe stand watching on as No.6 takes off from the Aerodrome, it is the last he sees of his ex-colleague "He's an old, old friend who never gives up!"

   In ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling,’ the Colonel is again brought to the village by the highest authority. Although the Colonel doesn't look at all comfortable at having been seconded to the village, he is gratified, and would like to know his duties as soon as possible, either in being keen to serve or to get it over with as soon as possible!

   Finally there is Colonel Hawke-Englishe who in the episode The Girl Who Was Death, is on the trail of a mad Professor Schnipps, who has built a rocket with intent to destroy London. We don't get the chance to meet with this particular Colonel, as he is blown to bits at the wicket by an exploding cricket ball, just one run short of his century!

   Interesting to note, that the Colonel not only has his office job, but also takes up a position in the field of operations, with or with or without a standard disguise. Putting his life on the line, just as agents like John Drake and James Bond. But in two cases here in episodes of the Prisoner, going into the field as they did, on the trail of Seltzman and Professor Schnipps, it cost them both their lives.

   Somehow I feel it is improbable that the position of Colonel would change so frequently during the 15 months of the Prisoner's absence. But its possible I suppose, given the latter rate of the Colonel's mortality!

I'll be seeing you.

Pictorial Prisoner

   The former Number 6 was given the choice, to lead the Village, or go. Why, if they already had Number 6's alter ego? And what future might the former Number 6 enjoy, if he had accepted the offer of ultimate power? No.1 showed the former Number 6's future in the crystal ball, as a prisoner!
   But had there not been an outbreak of violent revolution, had not the former Number 6 resisted in such a violent way, but simply said "I want to leave," as per the choice given to him, would they really have let him go? It seems highly unlikely. Number 48 and the late Number 2 were already snug in their Orbit Tubes {for suspended animation} so what price Number 6, and the un-denoted Obit Tube. I'm sure it was to have the number 6 added to it. If there had been a different turn of events during 'Fall Out,' the question is where was to have been the destination of the rocket, and what fate might have befallen 2, 6 and 48?

Be seeing you

Caught On Camera

    Number six abducted from his home! I wonder why they went to such extreme measures, when 'they' could have made it so much easier for themselves. After all in the past 'they' have come for him in the night, when Number Six had been sedated with a sleeping daught in his nightcap of hot chocolate.
    But after this somewhat violent abduction, the four security guards put Number 6 in a Red Cross trailer, and then he must have been heavily sedated, as the subject is un-restrained, and no longer struggling.
 BCNU

Arts And Crafts

    Every picture tells a story, and this one is no different. A portrait in which No.6 thought it was different.......it isn't!

BcNu

It’s Fussy About Who It Lets In.................. This is the Town Hall.

    In the episode ‘Dance of the Dead,’ No.6 actually follows his observer No.240 to the Town Hall, and even tires to follow her inside. But to his shock, there is an electrical force field at the Town Hall steps preventing his entrance into the building.

   The gardener working in a nearby flower border, and who sees this asks No.6 if he’s alright. "You tried to go in. By mistake? It’s fussy about who it lets in - this is the Town Hall."

   So this begs the question "How does the Town Hall know who to let in and who not? Can the Town Hall building think for itself, or do those who work in the Town Hall, or someone such as the observer who would be passing through to the underground control room, who have some kind of recognition device upon their person, which a sensor picks up and lets them through. Something like the Electro-Pass, which synchronises with the alarm system and lets you through, this device was once given to No.6 by No.9 in ‘Arrival,’ which he then used to gain access to the helicopter. In this way, it would seem to some people who never go in, that the Town Hall is actually fussy about who it lets in!

   But I wonder why No.6 needed to be told by the gardener that this is the Town Hall? I mean No.6 didn’t seem to know, judging by the expression on his face. After all, hadn’t No.6 been previously to the Town Hall during ‘Free For All?’ This to witness the dissolution of the out-going Council. Unless of course the episode of Free For All was actually meant to follow ‘Dance of the Dead’ at some point. Ah, but then No.6 had to consult the electronic "Free Information" board to find the location of the Town Hall in Free For All.

   I put it down to too many script writers who worked on the Prisoner, together with the almost complete lack of continuity between the episodes! Less script writers would have meant more continuity between the episodes I feel.

Be seeing you.

The Therapy Zone

The Throne At Last

  It had to be. But I wonder what sir is pondering as he sits upon that throne? Probably something like "How did it all come to this?"

    But the throne at last, is this just as improbable as the village, another piece of clever manipulation on the part of the President - a former No.2 - and those members of the assembly? A throne indeed, but a throne without substance, when No.1 is the boss and the power behind the throne upon which Sir now sits!

    {Think of this in the same manner, that of our dear Queen sitting upon the throne of England. Although there is a throne to sit upon in times of ceremony, it is the power of the government that is behind the throne. Only in times gone by has real power issued from those Kings and Queens who have sat upon the throne of England.}

Too Much To Swallow?

    During his escape of ‘Many Happy Returns,’ the Prisoner chops down several small trees and out of the trunks he builds himself a sea-going raft. He empties a number of oil drums, into a drain, and secures them to the raft.

   After 25 days at sea, the Prisoner is found in a state of collapse, and tossed into the water for dead! But this seems to revive the Prisoner who then manages to climb aboard the gun-runners boat, he tackles the two gun-runners, and over powers them. Then when attacked he dives overboard and swims towards the light he has seen in the distance, and is eventually washed up on the beach at Beachy Head, and having come-to he immediately scales the cliffs where there has been recent cliff erosion......... there is much that is believable in the Prisoner, but this raging stamina, these sudden reserves of energy of his, are just too much to swallow!

Be seeing you

It Means What It Is

    Even if Number 2 cannot see what Number 6 is up to for himself, in felling that tree and carving the hull of a boat out of the trunk, he has Number 8 to inform him. Mind you, I wonder just how prepeared Nadia Rakovsky was for her experience of the Village. Whatever Nadia expected, nothing could have perpared her for what she would experience with the Village Guardian.
BCNU

Teabreak Teaser

    The Prisoner refused to wear his badge, respond to his number, and admitting that he is Number 6 only when it seemed to suit him. There were also a number of other Village citizens who failed to wear their numbered badge, amongst their number are..............

BCNU

Arts And Crafts

    I call this 'Escape'.

BcNu

Making A Mountain Out Of A Molehill!

   Well in some respects perhaps that might be the case. I suppose it all depends upon the way you see ‘the Prisoner,’ and how much you read into it. For myself I've taken into researching ‘the Prisoner’ as though it were actual, that the village actually existed. In this way I have been able to research the series and all related material to it, and have learned more than a thing or two along the way, about concrete boats, and meaning of 'stone boat' for example. Nursery rhymes too can be a most fascinating subject, don't you think?

    For those who search for hidden meaning with ‘the Prisoner,’ well the factual side of the series is far more fascinating. Because when you fit the real world to ‘the Prisoner,’ far more can be explained by doing that, than by any amount of conjecture and theorising. None of which I should think for a moment McGoohan thought anyone would bother to go into, but then certain work tools were not available in the 1960's. If they had been, well I wouldn't be doing the things I have, because it would have all been done previously. But then to have done so, someone would have had to think of doing it.

   And then there's what you don't see in the Prisoner that I have found to be more fascinating than what we do. I mean what happened to the Speedlearn experiment? Did the citizens realise that the experiment had been brought to an abrupt end? Was the death of the Professor reported in The Tally Ho? Somehow I should not think so. And the day after Appreciation Day, what might have been the new No.2's attitude towards No.6? After all he would still be hurting after the failure of the execution of the retiring No.2. Mind you there's always the possibility that the new No.2 of ‘Its Your Funeral’ never actually took up the position, having been quickly replaced!

   And there is more to people's lives, the maid Martha, for example, seen at the Prisoner's home during ‘Many Happy Returns?’ I wonder how she found life to be in the village, after Mrs. Butterworth had left the village, and not taking her maid with her? Well Martha could always get a position as a maid, making citizens their drugged night cap of hot chocolate each night. I bet that would suit her down to the ground, especially if it were No.6. Ah, but then during ‘It’s Your Funeral’ No.6 did take pity on Martha, by buying her a bag of sweets. Okay, the same actress playing Martha and the woman whose credit ran out in ‘It’s Your funeral,’ might not be the same character, but the idea dovetails nicely. As does the idea of No.99, who was once a prefect in ‘The General,’ who later had fallen out of favour as an Unmutual in ‘A Change of Mind,’ but seeing how confession is good for the soul, was welcomed back into the fold, and rose to a great height, as a member of the assembly in ‘Fall Out.’

   And I think it is suggestive, the remarkable resemblance between No.14 of ‘Hammer Into Anvil’ and No.22 of ‘It’s Your Funeral,’ in appearance and dress, and the fact that they are both assistants to No.2.

   And citizens change jobs. The oriental girl No.18, once a taxi driver in Arrival, and then a flower seller during A B & C. The labour Exchange manager of Arrival, by the time of ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ had been promoted to assistant to No.2.

   Its all relative, don't you think? Just the way it is in life. Things change, people and places change. In the village, if you want to survive, you must learn to adapt to circumstances. People will always want to better themselves, and someone will always want to be..... No.1.

Be seeing you

The Therapy Zone

Looking At It From No.1.s Perspective

    I shouldn't think No.1 has a point of view, or does he? He seemed to be as mad as a hatter upon that meeting with No.6, hiding behind masks and showing No.6 his future in that crystal ball.

   But No.1 is the man who No.6 was asking Little Bo-Peep about at the ‘Dance of the Dead.’ The power on the throne, and instigator of the village. Are we expected to believe that no-one knew who No.1 was, that he went around all the time in a white cowled robe and black and white mask, that No.2 didn't recognise No.1's voice when they spoke on the telephone? Surely he didn't spend all his time aboard that rocket in ‘Fall Out’? No.1 must surely have had other quarters in that underground complex of the village, he had to eat and drink. Who served him his meals? And go to the bathroom just as his supposedly alter go does above ground in his cottage in the village. And an office would be called for, for a man in No.1's position, an office from which to administer the village, and surely No.2 was not the only village administrator to speak with No.1.

   And if we are to touch upon the subject of alter egos, why then did No.1 put his other self through so much? Perhaps he had to, in order for him to become No.1 in the first place!

    There is even the chance that No.1 actually got his hands dirty during the episode of ‘The Schizoid Man,’ in the guise of Curtis perhaps. After all we only have No.6's word that Curtis-No.12 actually died by suffocation by the membranic village guardian, not everyone did you know. And if Curtis was No.1 getting his hands dirty out and about in the village, then it would not be the first time that such a meeting had provoked such a violent reaction between the two. After all John Drake had previously met with his other self in the ‘Danger Man’ episode ‘The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove.’ that meeting also broke out into a fight, as indeed it would have done between No.6 and No.1 in the control room of the rocket, if only No.6 could have got his hands on No.1 as he gave chase around the control room in the rocket.

   During No.6's tormented, interrogated and tortuous time in the village, though his disappointments, failures and victories, how did No.1 feel about his other self? In the way No.6 thwarted No.2 and the villages administration, in ‘The General’ and Its Your Funeral for examples. No.1 saw Speedlearn as purely a military exercise, according to No.2, and then there was the failed execution of the retiring No.2. I mean No.1 surely didn't make this all happen as mere tests for his alter ego-No.6. And the drugs, therapy, and interrogation techniques used against No.6, had No.1 no feeling for his alter ego at all? And how could No.1 have felt when No.6 was taught a lesson in episodes as ‘Free For All’ and ‘Many Happy Returns?’ Perhaps No.1 saw himself as the stronger, and No.6 as the weaker side to his nature. But in the end No.6 was proved to be the man of steel who had survived the ultimate test of ‘Once Upon A Time.’ But what if No.6 had not survived, there would have been no meeting with No.1, and how do you think he would have felt then? And would No.1 have actually survived without his alter ego the No.6? Because throughout the series of tests he set No.6, there were enormous risks taken by No.1, anyone of which could have proved fatal!

I’ll Be seeing you