Village Observation

    The Prisoner is allocated a set of village attire upon the morning he leaves the hospital, his old ones having apparently been burnt, only just how many sets of the exact same clothes does the Prisoner-Number 6 have in his wardrobe, I observe this because Number 6 is always wearing the exact same clothes every day and I don’t think any such,’ next day,’ laundry/dry cleaning service would be that good. So it is reasonable to say that Number 6 has two perhaps three of the same piped blazer, navy blue turtle neck sweaters, fawn or beige trousers, vests, pants and socks, not to mention deck shoes.

    The Prisoner from the street sees standing upon the small balcony of his cottage, a maid shaking a yellow duster out through the French window. It is inexplicable that by the time the Prisoner has reached the door of his cottage {6 private} and entered sees the maid hurrying along the cobbled path below by the Rhododendrons.

    It is also inexplicable that the maid should not only in fact act in this way, but also to be able to nip out of the cottage so quickly and in such a way that the Prisoner should not meet with her as he made his way round to the cottage door himself. Of course she could have ducked down behind a low hedge nearby, or the wall of the small patio outside '6 private,' or long another path by which the Prisoner may not have seen her from the window as he did, but again the question, why should she feel the need to do so, or want to? But then this is fairly representative of the enigma that is ‘the Prisoner.’

     As Number 6 makes his way along the quay and swimming pool, he is passed by the Butler holding aloft his open black and white striped umbrella. Where had the Butler come from, where was he going? Well I can tell you from where the Butler had come, he had just landed the helicopter on the lawn by the sea wall! Which indicates that perhaps the Butler is able to come and go as he pleases, perhaps being the freest of the Village citizens.

Be seeing you