The Therapy Zone

The Girl Who Was Death

    Its a sure fire hit that No.6 had met previously with No.2 and No.10 in ‘the Girl Who Was Death’ so as to be able to place both of them in his fairy tale he told the children. As indeed No.6 must have met previously No.2-Mrs. Butterworth so as to place her in his dream at the casino during  ‘A B & C,’ which if that is the case, then surely ‘Many Happy Returns’ must surely be place before ‘A B & C’ in the screening order of the series. However that is not that which concerns me here, but the thought of what has taken place between No.6, No.2 and No.10, that which we do not see before he placed them in his fairy take as Napoleon and the girl. That is what has intrigued me the most in recent times about the Prisoner, that which must surely have taken place in the series, but to which we are not privy.

It’s Way Out - Man!

    During the opening sequence of Arrival we enjoy the extended journey made by the Prisoner, from his London home, to that office where he hands in his letter of resignation to a man sat behind a desk.

    After the Prisoner has driven into an underground car park, in Abingdon Street by the way, we see the Prisoner go through a a pair of doors with the words "WAY OUT" on them. Now these two words have been interpreted in three ways, A B & C.

A, It is No.6 being unconventional as always and entering by an exit.

B, It could signify his way out ie. resignation.

C, It may be a comment on how the rest of the series was going to turn out. Viewers cannot say they were not warned!

   Oh very good, save for the fact that A the Prisoner was not known as No.6 until after his arrival in the village, nor was the Prisoner at that time unconventional. Because all the Prisoner was doing was leaving, not entering a building, the underground car park via the way out! B, I suppose using the words "WAY OUT" could be a sort of in-joke about the Prisoner's resignation, but somehow I don't think this has anything to do with it - it's just a sign on a door, or doors in this case. And finally C, well Patrick McGoohan had no idea how the series was going to pan out. So "C" can only be an interpretation with hindsight - after the event!

The Schizoid Man

   Don't forget, while No.6 was being conditioned to smoke black Russian cigarettes, that flapjacks are his favourite dish, and to be left-handed. Curtis had been in another part cottage in the Village going through the exact opposite, learning to be Number 6!

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