It has been said that only two number 2’s returned to the village for a second term of office, those of ‘The Chimes of Big Ben and ‘A B & C’, they not being totally responsible for their failures, it was felt that they should both be given a second chance in ‘The General’ and ‘Once Upon a Time’ respectively. But what about the President, the former Number 2 of ‘The Girl Who Was Death?’
Nadia is an excellent field agent and is the first woman in the Village to get close to number 6, who it seems
feels comfortable and is at ease with Nadia, allowing himself to drop his guard, just a little.
Nadia and Number 6 spend twelve hours in a crate together and Nadia tries to make conversation in order to
help pass the time, and part of the conversation goes;
Nadia “Do you have a wife in England
Number 6 “No, don’t talk anymore.”
“Big Ben I feel a bit better.”
{Later}
Nadia “Big Ben, are you engaged to someone, is that the right word, engaged?”
Number 6 tells Nadia to go to sleep. It seems that the prisoner has put his engagement to Janet Portland out of
his mind, certainly it is something which the prisoner doesn’t admit to Nadia for whatever reason he may have.
Perhaps he’s no longer sure he has a fiancé!
On two occasions breakfast is brought to Number 6’s cottage ‘6 private’, first during ‘Free for All’ by the
maid-Number 58, although this could be a courtesy by number 2, but again it is an act repeated during ‘Dance
of the Dead’ when the maid-Number54 brings number 6 his breakfast on a tray.
And its not just Number 6 who receives such a privilege as this. For there are two other such maids
with breakfast trays upon their laps as they ride along in the trailer towed by a tractor. But surely, going at the
speed the tractor does, the breakfast would be cold before it arrives!
During ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ Number 2 is about to hold an interview with Number 6, as the butler is pushing his breakfast trolley up the ramp to the pair of steel doors, Number 2 siting crossed legged in his black spherical chair, flinches or gives a shudder after looking at the butler push his trolley up the ramp. It would seem the butler has some Ill effect upon Number 2!
Be seeing you
Wouldn't Colin Gordon's No. 2 have hinted or directly linked himself to his previous appearance if in fact this were one and the same personality? Neither the plots nor what his characters say indicate in that direction. Thus, to me they are different enough and not supposed to be the same No. 2. On the other hand, Ken Griffith of the "Girl" and "Fall Out", although no reference to his earlier appearance is made, they could well be the identical person. It may seem a contradiction. But circumstances in "Fall Out" had changed massively so there would have been no opportunity for any of them to greet the other one, not even give a sign that they recognised each other. Could be, could be not. I tend to assume it is like this. - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
DeleteAs it happens, Colin Gordon's Number 2 did make reference which directly linked him with his previous appearance. Number 2 tells Madam Professor that he and Number 6 are old friends, referring back to 'A B and C.' What's more Number 2 suffers from a stomach ulcer, hence the need to drink milk. Yet on the other hand, it may be that Colin Gordon suffered the stomach ulcer, and having to drink milk, worked that himself into the character of Number 2, in both episodes.
Yes in 'The General' Number 2's character is changed slightly, but that could be because he is not directly linked to Number 6 this second time in the Village.
As for Number 2 of 'The Girl Who Was Death' and 'Fall Out,' there is no real evidence that Number 2 ever met with Number 6. Although it is suggestive in his fairy tale of 'The Girl Who Was Death' that they did. I'm sure that when writing the script for 'Fall Out,' the last thing on McGoohan's mind would be that he and Kenneth Griffith's characters had met previosuly in the Village as Number 6 and Number 2. Hence there being no recognition between the two characters. Well that's how I assume it to have been.
Kind regards
David
BCNU
Thanks for updating my memory! I must be watching it again, some day. Obviously, there isn't a real evidence that the "Girl" and "Fall Out" No. 2 should be one and the same person. But I like to think they could if only for Griffith's remarkable performance. - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
DeleteCertainly fictionally speaking there is no reason why Number 2 and the President cannot be the same character. In fact it would make pefect sense, the third Number 2 brought back for a last throw of the dice against Number 6.
A remarkable performance from Kenneth Griffith indeed, and he had to go and write his own speech.
I am of the opinion that 'Fall Out' is the last throw of the dice for the Village Administration, the final manipulation of Number 6, as they bring him face to face with himself in order to break him.
What I find strange in 'Fall Out,' is that only the armed security guards are killed in the fire fight!
Kind Regards
David
Be seeing you
There may have been self imposed restrictions in displaying too much graphic on-screen violence and PMcG, as is reported, always eschewed showing all too much of it gratuitously. But I tend to believe that the cavern shooting and the havoc it was causing was to have that certain theatrical stage appeal. Because (I think we've discussed this issue before) the whole setting of scene is hardly anything else than a stage. I am not aware whether PMcG was or wasn't familiar with the so-called "V-effect" as developed by Bert Brecht during the 1920s in his "epic theatre". Quote Wikipedia: "The distancing effect, more commonly known the alienation effect or (more recently) as the estrangement effect (German: Verfremdungseffekt), is a performing arts concept coined by playwright Bertolt Brecht which prevents the audience from losing itself passively and completely in the character created by the actor, and which consequently leads the audience to be a consciously critical observer." Since he used to be a theatrical actor, too, quite likely though. In the end, the result of this "Fall Out" sequence is very much the same. - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
DeleteA very interesting and enlightening comment, I had certainly not heard of the "V-effect," but not moving in theatrical circles, that's hardly surprising.
"All the world's a stage. And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances."
And there are many stages set within 'the Prisoner.' And have you observed how in 'Once Upon A Time' there is a stage curtain around the wall screen, that has never appeared there before?!
Regards
David
BCNU
One could be contending any interpretation of The Prisoner in that direction would mean stretching it too much. But it is a viable thing, isn't it? After all those two episodes as a matter of fact are very stage-like. Thanks for the No. 2 quote! And it doesn't matter so much why this is the case, a cost-saving measure or whatelse. It was chosen as an artistic means of expression. - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
DeleteOne of the working titles of 'A B and C' was 'Play In Three Acts,' I suppose it's possible to see the 17 episodes as 17 acts of a play.
I recall that in the 1980's how some people produced a stage production of 'Once Upon A Time.' It received mixed reviews. I didn't see the play myself, but I understand it wasn't very good.
Kind regards
David
BCNU