Many Happy Returns
There is a scene which the original script called for, but which was never used. This is when the Prisoner tries to escape the deserted village by helicopter. He climbs into the cabin and discovers that the key is still in the ignition. He turns the ignition key and finds that the fuel gauge registers full. Pressing the starter button the rotor blades start to rotate sluggishly. they stop. The Prisoner tries again, but the blades move only a few inches before the battery gives out.
Seeing the taxi the Prisoner gets out of the helicopter and attaches two wires to the two terminals of the helicopters battery, and the other ends to the battery of the taxi. He starts the taxis engine, and places a rock upon the accelerator pedal revving the engine. Then climbing back into the helicopter’s cabin, he switches on the ignition and pushes the starter button. The rotor blades now rotate quite fast. The engine coughs. The Prisoner tries again. It almost starts. He pushes the starter once again. The battery starts to die, suddenly the engine fires. The Prisoner is wet with perspiration. He revs the engine a couple of times, then climbs out of the cabin. The Prisoner rips the wires from the battery. As this happens the helicopters engine begins to falter. Quickly the Prisoner leans into the cabin and revs the engine like crazy. Still with his hand on the throttle he climbs back into the cabin of the helicopter. The rotor blades are now coming up to speed everything is fine. The Alouette helicopter begins to lift off the ground. A foot or so off the ground the engine suddenly cuts. The rubber floats hit the ground with a bump. The Prisoner pushes the starter almost frantically. The rotor blades make a half turn only. The Prisoner's eyes go down to the instrument panel, they stop on the petrol gauge, it still registers full. The Prisoner taps the gauge with a knuckle of a finger. The needle sinks slowly back to empty.
Another gut scene is where the Prisoner breaks into the hospital, only to find that also deserted!
Seeing the taxi the Prisoner gets out of the helicopter and attaches two wires to the two terminals of the helicopters battery, and the other ends to the battery of the taxi. He starts the taxis engine, and places a rock upon the accelerator pedal revving the engine. Then climbing back into the helicopter’s cabin, he switches on the ignition and pushes the starter button. The rotor blades now rotate quite fast. The engine coughs. The Prisoner tries again. It almost starts. He pushes the starter once again. The battery starts to die, suddenly the engine fires. The Prisoner is wet with perspiration. He revs the engine a couple of times, then climbs out of the cabin. The Prisoner rips the wires from the battery. As this happens the helicopters engine begins to falter. Quickly the Prisoner leans into the cabin and revs the engine like crazy. Still with his hand on the throttle he climbs back into the cabin of the helicopter. The rotor blades are now coming up to speed everything is fine. The Alouette helicopter begins to lift off the ground. A foot or so off the ground the engine suddenly cuts. The rubber floats hit the ground with a bump. The Prisoner pushes the starter almost frantically. The rotor blades make a half turn only. The Prisoner's eyes go down to the instrument panel, they stop on the petrol gauge, it still registers full. The Prisoner taps the gauge with a knuckle of a finger. The needle sinks slowly back to empty.
Another gut scene is where the Prisoner breaks into the hospital, only to find that also deserted!
It’s All An Act You Know
It would seem that No.6 and No.24-Allison share a mental link. But it is never revealed just how this "mental link" was discovered, and how long they look to develop it to the standard we witness at the outset of The Schizoid Man. But we do know that someone was quick to pounce upon it, and turn this "mental link" between No.6 and No.24 to their advantage.
So how was it done? Well quite obviously No.24-Allison had no choice in the matter but to go along with it, we can imagine that No.2 threatened No.24 with something so awful, that she was given no choice in the matter. So when faced with No.6 in No.2's office, No.24 simply gave the correct call for the first of the five cards, and gave deliberately gave the incorrect answer to the remaining four cards. And in so doing giving the appearance that there is no mental link with this man posing as No.6.
As for the "mental link" with Curtis, who was posing as No.6, well this was confirmed by No.24 calling out correctly all five cards held up by Curtis. How was this achieved? Well either the deck was rigged, and No.24 memorised the five cards to be held up by Curtis, or there were given signals by Curtis, prearranged signals which No.24 would recognise for each of the cards. You will recall how Curtis called out "Now" in different ways, that could have been the signal. Well how else do you think it was done?
Said About The Prisoner
George Baker said to describe the Prisoner as: "Like Kafka" as "reality keeps slipping away. It's very frightening. It could be happening to someone in this country now that we don't know about.... that's what is so fascinating about the Prisoner.
Terence Feely {script writer} sums up the series best of all: "What the series is all about is creative people for once running the asylum." "We were doing what we wanted and showing what the medium was capable of, showing what a marvellous tool surrealism is for surrealistic expression. That last episode is, I think one of the best examples of total surrealism. No prisoners taken. This is a sereis built to last."
Well Terence Feely got that one right, the series has indeed lasted. And as for "It could be happening to someone in this country" well just be grateful that it's not happening to you!
I'll be seeing you
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