The Therapy Zone

Oops!

    I was reading through some old issues of Number Six magazine, and spotted a letter referring to a mistake made in ‘Living In Harmony’ and is the following.

    "It starts when the stranger {Patrick McGoohan} is in jail. The Kid pulls one of his guns on him, but the stranger simply sits on his bunk rolling a cigar and ignores him. The Kid draws his gun again, and the stranger continues enjoying his cigar. But when the Kid draws his gun for the third time, we see the stranger lighting up the cigar......this must be a mistake?"

    Well what else would you do with a cigar, but light it! The only mistake made, and it has nothing to do with the scene, is actually made by the author of the above piece. Patrick McGoohan isn't rolling a cigar, but rolling himself a cigarette. The cigarette paper is brown because it's "liquorice" paper!

Rats!

    A disapproving Headmaster.

    2 That is cowardice!

    6 That's honour, sir

    2 We don't talk about such things.

    6 You should teach it, sir.

    2 You're a fool!

    6 Yes sir. Not a rat.

    Rats run together! They race for position. Fools like in the Shakespearian tradition, are non-conformists, outlaws, outcasts. They are out of the common fun. The headmaster exists to train his charges into the ways expected of them. Hence the headmaster in question, does not want to see his prize pupil grow up to be a "Lone-Wolf!"

   On the other hand, there is another form of "Rat," one who "rat's" on his mates, tells on them to the Headmaster for example. That is the kind of honour the Prisoner was talking about, the honour of not "ratting" on the boy who was speaking in class, the schoolmate who he took the punishment for.....12, not 6, of the best!

Rebellion Is Something Ill Afforded!

    It has been generally accepted by many fans of the Prisoner that No.6 is a rebel, a rebel who has "Vindicated the right of the individual to be individual," so stated by the President in Fall Out. No,6 is said to be a "Revolutionary," a man who has revolted, resisted, fought, held fast, maintained, destroyed, overcome coercion...... But then No.6 is offered the opportunity to lead "them," or go, No.6's first instinct is to make a statement, but seeing as no-one wants to listen to him, he rebels and brings down the system of The Village. It is strange is it not, that the revolutionary should be both Jailer and prisoner, don't you think. What did No.14 call it.....oh yes, "A persecution complex!"

Be seeing you