The Prisoner had been captive in the Village for well over a year bythe time 'Fall Out' came along. So how is it possible for the Pisoner to have known about the devaluation of the British pound which he commented on at the commencement of his speech?
As far as I can see there are two possible ways. Firstly would be that during a quiet time in 'Once Upon A Time, ' when Number 2 and Number 6 were relaxed from their deliberations, say during a meal, that Number 6 might have enquired about London, much in the same way as Roland Walter Durron had in 'Dance of the Dead.' And during the conversation Number 2 could have mentioned the devaluation of the pound. Secondly when Patrick McGoohan made up that piece of speech, he just ranted on about the first thing that came to him!
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Perhaps he heard the news by listening to the radio he'd found in "Dance of the Dead", tuned into the BBC World Service perhaps.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe he overheard a radio/television broadcast when in London in "Many Happy Returns"... or perhaps glimpsed a newspaper headline.
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ZM72
Hello ZM72,
DeletePerhaps, but highly unlikely I'd have thought.
Regards
David
BCNU
Well, I imagine devaluation of the pound was a big story. Newspaper sellers often put a board outside their kiosks/shops with the main headline in big letters, so that passers by might be interested enough to buy a paper. Perhaps No.6 glimpsed such a board saying "DEVALUATION OF THE POUND" ! And that's all he knew of the story.
DeleteYou might say "Ahh, but devaluation of the pound happened after 'Many Happy Returns'." Then I'd argue that No.6 might've seen the board through the Colonels eyes in "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling" !
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ZM72
Hello ZM72,
DeleteIt simply isn't possible for Number 6 to have heard the news of the devaluation of the pound over the raido during 'Dance of the Dead,' or on a newspaper stand when he was in London in either 'Many Happy Returns,' or 'Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling,' as Harold Wilson didn't have the pound devalued until November 19th 1967, which is after any of those episodes!
Regards
David
BCNU
Hello again!
DeleteOK, I now accept that Number 6 could not have known about devaluation from something he saw or heard about whilst away from the Village in London. I must accept it!
However I am tempted to chuck in that perhaps the Butler told him!
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ZM72
Hello ZM72,
DeleteThat's always possible of course.
As ever
David
BCNU
I'd prefer the latter. - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
DeleteAs a matter of fact so do I.
I trust you are well.
Best wishes
David
BCNU
I've had another thought about this!
ReplyDelete"The knowledge in your head is priceless" Number 2 said to Number 6 in Arrival. We don't know exactly what Number 6's job was. But perhaps he knew, from his job, that devaluation of the pound was imminent before he was even abducted to the Village!
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ZM72
Hi ZM72,
DeleteWell that's certainly one theory, and one reason for his abduction to the Village which I have not come across before.
As ever
David
BCNU
Hello David
ReplyDeleteNo.6 is probably referencing Lord Cyril Radcliffe, 1st Viscount Radcliffe.
From 1957 he was chairman of the Radcliffe Committee, called to enquire into the working of the monetary and credit system. No.6 would have known of Lord Radcliffe from his banking background. The SOE and MI5/6 used banking facilities for recruitment of future talent.
No.6 would have known of Lord Radcliffe as he ran several committees that investigated the spy scandals in the UK in the 1950's and 1960's. He is also a likely model for Leo McKern's No.2 as Lord Radcliffe oversaw the committees that set the standards by which a number of the real life Villages the Mr. McGoohan mentions came into existence.
Sincerely
Mr. Anonymous
Hello Mister Anonymous,
DeleteWell you learn something new everyday. But I was aware of the Banking fascilities used by the SOE, MI5, and MI6. In fact agents of those departments would be recruited into the 'Banking service,' in order to go out into the fieled, even behind the Iron Curtain so to pay agents out there money they needed to pay their agents, so he could pay members of their spy rings and the like. You will recall that Number 6 was recruited into the 'Banking service,' which was a cover for secret work during their role playing in 'Once Upon A Time.'
Regards
David
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Perhaps No6 was talking about the devaluation of the pound in 1949. Winning the war but losing the peace. Once you've eliminated the impossible, then the possible remains the only available question.
ReplyDeleteHello Moor,
Delete"Once you've eliminated the impossible, then the possible remains the only available question."
The more I think about that quote, the more I like it. Clever, reads like a variation on a quote from Sherlock Holmes.
Regards
David
BCNU