The Therapy Zone

Facts Behind The Prisoner

    The giant chessboard was on the lawn at Portmeirion for about a week in September 1966, and was taken up as soon as the human chess game scenes in Checkmate had been filmed. the board certainly made it's mark on Portmeirion by leaving light coloured grass squares when the white panels were removed. When No.6 walks across the same lawn in Arrival and in most opening sequences, the alternate light and dark green squares are clearly visible. therefore, this Arrival shot was filmed after Checkmate's location shoot and at the end of September 1966.

The Chimes Of Big Ben

   Another change to the script comes when No.6 is sitting at a table atop of the cliffs over looking Nadia down on the beach, when No.2 comes to join No.6 at his table, and the conversation is as follows.

Prisoner: What do you want?

No.2: To ask you a question.

Prisoner: I resigned as a matter of conscience.

No.2:Oh, that! No, no, no! There are people who talk and people who don't. Which means that there are people who leave here and people who stay. You're obviously staying.

Prisoner: Has it ever occurred to you, you're just as much a prisoner as I am?

No.2: But my dear chap of course! I know too much! If I wasn't in the village, they'd have to send me here! we're both lifers! that's why I'm so anxious we get along. You're doing very well, I must say. Beginning to make reality judgments.

Prisoner: What question?

No.2: What do you think of Nationalism?

Prisoner: Depends on whose side you're on.

No.2: Laughs.

   {If this dialogue had been retained as it was, then No,.6 would have talked "I resigned as a matter on conscience" he said. If No,2 had had to accept that, then it would have meant end of episode, and the Prisoner would have been free to leave the village, having talked!}

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes And Whatnots!

  Some little time ago I put forward the theory that No.1 may have been Curtis of The Schizoid Man, well as it happens a friend of mine messaged me on facebook, both he and his two sons are ardent fans of the Prisoner. It was his eldest one who said that "Curtis is No.1, he has to be!" And that's through no prompting from me, I'd never even suggested to him such a thing. But quite obviously we are both on the same wavelength. the Prisoner, as seen through the eyes of a child.

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