The Therapy Zone

   In ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ we learn at the end that Number Six's British superiors are working for The Village - or at least they were a part of whatever system had incarcerated him. In ‘Many Happy Returns,’ we're not so sure. Those British superiors appear authentic, and they seem honestly concerned about what happened to Number Six, well the Colonel perhaps, not so sure about Thorpe! Casual viewers may think that the pilot of the Glotser Meteor jet aircraft, the man who ejects Number Six from the aircraft and back to The Village, was working for the British. But a closer viewing reveals that the airplane pilot first appears in the episode as a Milkman, driving a milkfloat which bears a sign "Pinta man Is Strong," which of course is a cover. The Milkman is working for The Village, who overcame the Group Captain, taking his clothing, and flew Number Six to The Village.

    That is exactly what happened in the original script. In fact, in the original script we are introduced to the character who is going to fly the aircraft, and we are privy to a scene in which the Milkman and this pilot confront each other. If this had been completed according to the original script, we would be in no doubt that the actual airplane pilot was different to the intended pilot. Why would the change have been made in the final version? Perhaps the script was going too long and certain scenes had to be trimmed. More likely - considering the importance of this detail - it was decided to leave the situation ambiguous. Although it is fairly clear that the British superiors weren't in on it this time, although we can't be certain."

Out Of Costume

   You would think, would you not, that any image of No.6 here in The Village, would have him wearing his piped blazer. Well that's never been the case, as can be plainly seen by this election placard, and smaller ones of the same version.

  And when a photograph has appeared in The Tally Ho newspaper, No.6 has always been depicted in civilian clothes {Today’s Headline Is Tomorrows Chip Paper}     rather than his Village attire. And the picture chosen is suggestive of John Drake, is it not? I've never been given a straight answer to this question, but as it happens No.2 is also depicted on his electoral placard in civilian clothes. However during the ceremony of Appreciation Day, both the retiring No.2 and his heir presumptive, the new No.2, are both depicted on their placards in Village attire. It's a trivial point perhaps, but there is nothing more interesting than trivialities! And one triviality is that the picture chosen for the Prisoner is in fact Patrick McGoohan's very own publicity photograph.

    During the Carnival of Dance of the Dead several interesting costumes are worn, apart from No.6 who wears his own suit because he's still himself, No.6's observer-No.240 is Little Bo-Peep, who always knows where to find her sheep! The Doctor-No.40 is Napoleon Bonaparte, the Town Crier is Emperor Nero, or one of the Ceasers  while No.54 is Queen Elizabeth 1^st. While Roland Walter Dutton is the court Jester, and No.2 is the boy who never grew up - Peter Pan. Incidentally, if Trevor Howard had been well enough to have played the role of No.2, instead of Mary Morris, then Howard would have been given the costume of Jack the Ripper!"

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