The Theray Zone

    “Free for All’ - When this epsiode was first broadcast in Great Britain, the violent scene near the end - in which Number Six is badly beaten up in the cave where men sit worshipping the Village Guardian, or being indoctrinated by it, by two mechanics - was not aired. The scene now included in most broadcasts, is on video cassettes and DVD. It is a remarkable scene, primarily because of this strange "Rover" cult. In no other episode will villagers interact with "Rover" in such a mysterious way. The ritual is never explained.

    ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ - The surprise but inevitable ending makes the viewer re-think what has transpired during the episode. Nadia was a plant, something No.6 would later be accused of in the series, Number Six's escape was encouraged by The Village authorities in order to extract information. The location of The Village remains uncertain. However, we know now that two of Number Six's former British ex-colleagues, are not only aware of his incarceration, but are actively involved in it.

    ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling’ - This is the only episode that has any affectionate embrace between No.6 and a woman. That's as maybe, but Number Six's mind is supposed to be housed in another mans body, and so it's not Patrick McGoohan in the embrace, but Nigel Stock. Lucky for McGoohan as he had a problem with physical intimacy on-screen, unlucky you might say for Zena Walker!

   “I was nearly lynched in England when the last episode came out.Everyone wanted to know what it was all about. was I on the communist side or on the British side, or what? They wanted all the answers tied up with ribbon and handed out. If there are answers, as such, they are contained in the last episode. Number One-the horror-figure hanging over it all - is revealed by the Prisoner himself. This was exactly a one-and-a-half-second shot. I cut it until there was just enough to get it, if you wanted to. I could have lingered on the shot for ages."

                                      Patrick McGoohan {over dramatising as usual!}

    "I wrote the last script first. All the other stories were meant to lead into it. When there weren't any scripts I just had to sit down and write one. Of course, we had script problems. Everyone does. I asked one top writer to work for us and he wanted £10,000 an episode. But we didn't have that sort of budget. My job is to entertain the public. I wish I'd had more time, that's all. But I still wouldn't have told the story in strict black and white. I don't want to explain everything. If it doesn't come off, then it's my fault. As far as I'm concerned it's explained. But I admit, a great deal is still left open. Don't expect a final pay-off. There isn't one. There's no big tying-up of loose ends. You still want to know its message? Then it's this: the most dangerous thing in the world is an attitude of mind."

    "From the beginning of the series, the character called 'No.1' was responsible for death, torture, war. So the worst enemy of man is surely himself; the evil in him the worst thing on earth. One is born with an instilled sense of right and wrong, which is why one is a human being and not an animal. The Prisoner was a splash of objection on a canvas. It was an attempt that failed really to try a slightly different type of television series and at the same time take a stand on something I feel strongly about: numerization, mediocrity, this leveling of people by acceptance. It seems to me that part of the rebellion today is the rebellion against acceptance."

                                                    Patrick McGoohan

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