The Prisoner "What makes you think it's anything to do with me Officer?"
"You were seen leaving the scene, with a Dwarf dressed in black tails, and another gentleman."
"Yes, he is a bit of a give-away isn't he."
"So sir, what can you tell me?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Oh you'd be surprised by some of the tales we're told sir."
"Right sir, if you'd like to make a statement."
"A true statement which could only be mine, but for you."
"For my desk seargent actually sir."
"Well it was like this you see Constable. Over a year ago I was abducted from my home, to wake up in my "home from home" in the Village."
"A holiday home was it sir?"
"Well it was no picnic!"
"Abducted you say sir. This sounds serious."
"Rocket!"
"Yes, it blasted off out of the cavern."
"Cavern, the rocket was in a cavern?"
"Yes, below the Village. Number 1 was still abord as it blasted off out of its silo."
"Number 1? Where is this Village sir, and what happened to the rocket?"
"Number 1 was me. The Village, well I'm not sure if I should tell you. It might be a confidential. Top secret."
"A State secret sir?"
"Yes, you've got it!"
Constable "You said that you as Number 1 were in the rocket."
"Ah, you're wondering what I'm doing here. Well that low loader lorry brought me here. As for Number 1, he could have been a clone, a doppleganger, or even Curtis. Its difficult to be sure."
"So sir, you admit knowledge of the low loader lorry, now we're getting down to the nitty-gritty. Get it shifted!"
"Don't be like that Constable. I've been through a raw ordeal!"
"The rocket blew it up did it sir?"
"No. But the flames, the heat, it must have been intense."
"Who launched this rocket sir?"
"I did."
"Some sort of scientist are you sir, a nuclear scientist or rocketier?"
"No."
"Then how did you know how to launch the rocket?"
"Its not diffcult."
"You just lit the blue touch paper and stood back did you sir?"
"Oh don;t look Ethel, it's only Patrick McGoohan larking about."
"Must be somehting to do with that Danger Man."
"No, it's the Prisoner."
"Oh that!"
"He is rather handsome isn't he."
"Oh come on Ethel, I could do with a drink."
"Never mind this rocket sir. What about the low loader lorry?"
"I'll get to that in a minute. Let me tell you the time my mind was out in the body of another man.............."
Be seeing you
A fantastic piece of mime, I have always thought. McGoohan always insisted he disliked on-screen ad-libbing so we must presume he had it worked out beforehand. I wonder which member of the crew got to wear the copper outfit.
ReplyDeleteHello Moor,
DeleteYes, I agree it is a fantastic piece of mime. And I've always wondered what the Prisoner/Patrick mcGoohan is telling that Policeman, but it looks pretty dramatic. I guess that when the Prisoner/McGoohan leaps in the air that is his impression of the rocket blasting off.
Yes, a member of the production crew played the role of the Policeman, but I've no idea who. And that woman in the fur collared coat, she's in 'the Prisoner,' an ordianry member of the public, and she didn't even know it. I wonder if she ever watched 'the Prisoner,' and saw herself?
Kind Regards
David
Be seeing you
I've been doing a bit of research and it would seem that the policeman was someone called Mark Boyle, and he was paid £20 for the *turn*. I don't know if you've come across that name elsewhere. I've also found the name of that stand-in in Fall Out. I'll add the comment at that particular blog.
ReplyDeleteMoor.
Hello Moor,
DeleteAh, I've often wondered who that Policeman was. Obviously he wasn't a real Policeman. Mark Boyle you say, and was paid only £20 for his appearence, that doesn't sound very much. But then having said that, all he had to do was walk a little, look curiously at the Butler and stand there listening to what McGoohan was saying, which is actually more then it reads.
I wonder if Mark Boyle is still with us, and if he is, could he be traced?
Kind regards
David
BCNU
£20 would be worth £240 today...... ;-)
ReplyDeleteHello Moor,
DeleteThinking about it further, £20 doesn't seem a bad amount to be paid for appearing in that one short scene really, never minding what £20 equals to todays money. But when thinking of the average weekly wage back in the 1960's which was £20, £20 is damned good money!
Regards
David
BCNU