Roland Walter Dutton is a man who No.6 thinks he once knew. Isn't he sure? I mean he knew Dutton instantly at the cave, who told No.6 that they want information from him, but that as No.6 knew, Roland Walter Dutton didn't have access to the "vital stuff."
So if No.6 wasn’t too sure whether he knew Dutton, but Dutton knew the Prisoner. And the village knew that they knew each other, otherwise the doctor-No.40 wouldn't have tried that little experiment at the beginning of ‘Dance of the Dead,’ in using Dutton to try and get information from No.6. Oh, not the reason for his resignation. Only file headings, not details, which seems a waste of a good experiment to me. But there you are.
So yes, there can be no doubt that No.6 knew Roland Walter Dutton. But here in the village, perhaps he had doubts on why he is here in the first place. A man who didn't have access to the "vital stuff!"
No.62, he's not a very remarkable fellow, however he does happen to be a Guardian. Certainly he has the build to be a Guardian, and how do we know he's a Guardian, by his attitude to others of course.
Because it was during that episode Checkmate, that No.6 encountered No.62, and that is the important number 62 so mark it well, when he was trying to discover who were the prisoners and who were the warders judging people by their attitude towards him. And so as No.6 faced this man in the Piazza by the fountain, this burly set man stood up and faced No.6 down..... Guardian!
But this was not the first man to be put to No.6's attitude test, oh no. He had already put his test to other citizens of the community, and was crossing them off upon the chess problem in the copy of The Tally Ho which he carried with him. You might say No.6 was wiping them off the board as citizens failed his test.
Here is an image of the chess problem in The Tally Ho, and as you can see No.6 has just crossed out the number 8. Nothing remarkable in that, except the fact that having given his "look" at No.62, who then stood up and faced No.6 down, why then did No.6 cross out the No.8 on the chess problem, when it should have been 62? What's more he hadn't written 62 on the chess problem, as he had with others he had approached. It's not such a significant point, but an interesting observation which could be seen as being a small problem in itself.
Is the Prisoner a "club" man? What I mean is would he join a club? Certainly he enjoyed going to Sir Charles Portland's club, where their favourite dish Jugged Hare was on the menu. But in a club can one maintain one's individuality? I joined Six of One The Prisoner Appreciation society a number of years ago, and the question was once asked amongst its membership, can an individual survive in such a society of like minded individuals? Well as long as any such individual is allowed free thought, and is able to expresses his or her opinion on the matter of the Prisoner or the society he or she is a member of. Otherwise such a society becomes oppressive, and goes against everything the Prisoner stands for.
Also the question was posed, "would the Prisoner join such a society as Six of One?" Well I find it highly unlikely, as Six of One did not exist at the time of the series the question is irrelevant, and even if it was, why would he want to? Nor do I think the Prisoner would openly join any club where he could not be himself. In any club or society, or fan club its members are free to get involved as much or as little as they choose. A club such as Sir Charles Portland is a member of is one where you can come and go. Have lunch, dinner, or tea. Pass the time of day with other members, then go home to the wife, or girl friend, and no further duty is placed upon you. In a society such as Six of One, if its members do not get involved nothing will happen. Its a different kind of club you see. Do I get involved? Of course not, I’m no longer a member of the club!
Be seeing you
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