Happy New Year

   And that's all the blog posts for 2013, as I'm taking tomorrow off. However I shall be back on Thursday in 2014. All that remains now is to wish you all

             A VERY HAPPY AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR.

    Be seeing you in 2014.

The Deceptive Village

    When you visit the Italianate village of Portmeirion, set on an estuary, a couple of miles east by south east {amended with thanks to Anonymous in having drawn this to my attention} from Portmadog in North Wales. The first impression you get, is the actual scale of the place. It's tiny. Some of the archways are only large enough for one to pass through. What's more, being familiar with that 1960's television series ‘the Prisoner,’ you eventually go to Portmeirion. Once there you set out into the village to discover all the scene locations therein, you will quickly discover that much of the village you see on screen, doesn't actually exist in Portmeirion, and that Portmeirion itself is a far smaller village in reality that it appears on the television screen. Driving  past something twice, in both directions in a taxi, or driving one way up a street, then driving back the other way all helps to make the Italianate village of Portmeirion to look a larger place. When I first went Portmeirion I thought that lawn the Prisoner walks across in the open sequence was much larger than it actually is. Like many others before me, I walked across that lawn in the Prisoner’s footsteps, and seemed to cross it in fewer steps than McGoohan took! But no matter what you think, size doesn't matter, if you get the chance to follow in Patrick McGoohan-the Prisoner’s footsteps, that should be enough for any fan of this cult series.

Be seeing you

Village Life!

    "What do you want?"
    No.6 "You're not the Gardener!"
    "Yes I am! I know I am, and he knows I am, don't you?"
    Rook "Yes."
    "There you are."
    "No, I mean you're not the other gardener."
    "Why should I be the other gardener?"
    "I mean the baldheaded chap."
    "Oh him. He's an electrician now!"

BCNU

  

Caught On Camera!

                     "What was that? Sounded like a click, something in the mirror?"

   It is suggested that the Prisoner had been under close surveillance long before he was abducted to the Village. Something like the above I shouldn't wonder!

BCNU

The Prisoner Under The Spotlight

    Sometimes, in a quiet moment, when I'm sat here alone in my study, I find myself thinking about those tormented souls who live here in the Village. And I can instantly call three specific people to mind, three souls who are in deepest torment.

    Madam Professor who came to the village, with her husband the Professor, of her own free will. Her husband who she loved, and cared for so much that she would talk him into doing anything to keep him alive. Her husband who was electrocuted to death by his own creation, as he fought to save it. Now Madam Professor is condemned to spending the rest of her life here in the village, in reduced circumstances no doubt.

    No.2, who through his own paranoia became a weak link in the chain of command.

   His mistrust of anyone, and everyone in the village, even of those most closest to him, aided No.6's vendetta against him, and lead to his ultimate breakdown. Left as he was, to live out the remainder of his days in the psychiatric ward of the hospital.

   Finally there is Janet Portland, possibly the most tormented soul of the three.

   Janet has no idea where her fiancé is, and cannot be sure whether or not her father, Sir Charles Portland, is telling her the truth when he said he has no idea where her fiancé is. And that he hasn't sent him on a mission.

   Then a miracle happens, her fiancée returns to her, albeit in the guise of another man, but a kiss tells here that this man, the Colonel, is her fiancé. Yet as soon as her fiancé returned to her, she went and lost him for a second time, which must have broken her heart. Especially when you consider that her fiancé appears not as the man she fell in love with, and that she'll probably never know what has become of him. The best thing one can say about Janet's torment is that she knows nothing of the Village!   Each of these poor tormented souls are worthy of our sympathies, yes even the sadistic No.2, who was brought to his knees by his own paranoia.

Be seeing you

The Therapy Zone

Things To Do Today

   These are the words written on the Prisoner's desk pad. Now who do you think would be sending the Prisoner flowers? This image was taken from the episode of Arrival, and the only person who might very well send flowers to the Prisoner would be his fiancée Janet Portland. Ah, but then Janet Portland wasn't written into the Prisoner until the episode ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling’ by Vincent Tilsley. At the time of the writing of the script for Arrival written by George Markstein and David Tomblin, Janet Portland had never been thought of, let alone the Prisoner having a fiancée. So I just wonder who had been sending the Prisoner flowers? It must have been someone he knew, someone close to him to warrant the sending of a thank you note. This is one of the enigmas of the Prisoner that can never be answered, something we can live without knowing, but at the same time something to speculate about in a quiet moment.

It’s Inexplicable!

  That No.6 and No.2 should enjoy such an instant rapport during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben.’ What I mean is that such a relationship needs time to grow, you can have an instant liking or disliking for someone, but not to instantly enjoy such a rapport with someone. So logic dictates that this particular No.2-Leo Mckern had been in the Village a good deal sooner than in Chimes. Such a period of time between Arrival and ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ which the viewer is not privy to.

   The Supervisor-No.28 played by Peter Swanwick. It is this Supervisor who tells the viewer that the Prisoner's number is 6. It is he who foils the Prisoner's first escape attempt, who gives the order "Orange alert". This character is memorable in the Prisoner, because if he is not actually on the screen in person, he is there in stock footage. He is a heartless individual, unswervingly loyal to the village, although varying his behaviour towards the various No.2's. He carries out his duties with a marked efficiency, but is not afraid to question his superiors, and at times to act on his own initiative. If No.2 is only second to one, then this particular Supervisor must surely be third to one! Yet there is more to this character than first meets the eye, because after taking the Prisoner to meet No.1 in that cavern somewhere beneath the Village, this Supervisor dons a white robe and mask and takes his place amongst the delegates of the Assembly. This indeed puts the Supervisor on a completely different level, and one higher than No.2 I should have thought.

   There can be no doubt as to where this persons allegiances lie, and that he is very much part of the establishment cannot be denied. I think he is a man who enjoys his work, his stomach not turned at some of the things he is forced to witness. And doesn't turn a hair at the things he is told to do.

    The General  sees No.2 is brought back for a second term of office, although he's still suffering from his stomach ulcer, but this time its nothing to do directly with No.6. Only indirectly does No.2 become involved with No.6, because No.6 sees fit to poke his nose in where its not wanted.

   A computer is destroyed, both the Professor and No.12 of Administration are dead, through electrocution. A complete and utter defeat for No.2!

Be seeing you, well maybe, but not so this No.2!

Thought For The Day

    It turned out to be something of a 'Prisoner' Christmas this year,plenty of items to add to my 'Prisoner' collection. Three pieces of original art work for THEPRIS6NER series, these were purchased earlier in the year, but by my wife, who gave them as a present, so it was on Christmas Day that I eventually got my hands on them, three excellent pieces of art work. Also three double-sided 'Prisoner' posters produced between 1979 and 1984. And if that wasn't enough a one-off 'Prisoner' poster incorporating both series of 'the Prisoner,' because of my appreciation of the two series. An Italian DVD CULT SERIES, which contains a section of 'the Prisoner.' Having no Italian, except for a few words, I was very grateful that a transcript for 'the Prisoner section was included on the DVD. I found the piece on 'the Prisoner' very interesting, as I am always interested to see how the TV media treat 'the Prisoner.' There is the tribute to Alexis Kanner on DVD, haven't watched all that yet, there is so much on the DVD. There is also the tribute paid to the late Vincent Tilsley along with other pices of written tributes. Also the 2014 Portmeirion calendar, not produced by Portmeirion, but nevertheless no less professionally produced. Too small to park in the garage, was the gift of the Prisoners Lotus 7, a diecast model complete in every detail including KAR 120C license plates. And I must not forget THEPRIS6NER 2014 calendar, whcih again is a complete one-off, produced for me because of my appreciation for the series. I know who very thoughtfully sent the 'Prisoner' related gifts to me, as do they, I will not names names here.

Be seeing you

Exhibition of Arts and Crafts

From My Seascape Period
                           "SALVATION!" 

BcNu

All Our Prisoner Convention Yesterdays

    Attending any Prisoner Convention isn't always as glamerous as you might think. After it's stopped raining, and after people had trampled over the chessboards, messing them up, and making them dirty. Someone had to clean the white squares, as well as dry them off in the name of health and safety, someone had to! That chap just happened to be me!

BCNU

Village Propaganda

    This is a demonstration of "Village Propaganda," a poster proclaiming the benefits of Speedlearn. A three year course in three minutes, its improbable, but not impossible, as anything is possible here in the Village.

  And here, a poster depicting the face of the Professor, which seems more akin to that of "Big Brother." A kindly Professor, but somehow he doesn't appear to be so kindly on these posters. I mean would you trust him?

    Subliminal teaching doesn't seem to sit right with me. I mean if you can put history inside someone’s head, you can put anything, and make anyone believe anything to be the truth.

   Another form of propaganda is this poster once seen about the village, with a face of a man who can sound friendly, but even then there's no mistaking the chill in his voice. "Your Community Needs You!" of course it does, but this poster might very well remind you of a certain poster with the face of General Kitchener on it along with the words "Your Country Needs You!" Very quick to adapt something else for their needs is the Village Administration.

    And even No.6 wasn't averse to spouting village propaganda, that was during the elcetion period of Free For All. "The community can rest assured that their interests are very much my own and that anything I can do to maintain the security of the citizens will be primary objective...... be seeing you." And again from the stoneboat "There are those who come in here and deny that we can supply every conceivable civilised amenity within our bounderies. You can enjoy yourselves and you will. You can partake of the most hazardous sports and you will. the price is cheap. All you have to do in return is give us information. You are then eligable for promotion to other and higher spheres. Where do you desire to go? What has been your dream? I can supply it. Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, it can all be yours. Apply to me and it will be easier and better."

   Well I'm not so sure about that, because as it happened power went straight to the No.2's head, and had to be instantly replaced by a New No.2!

   There's a line which the reporter for The Tally Ho who wrote in his note book "Our exports will operate in every corner of the globe," and you can't get more propaganda than that, or can you? Because there's that night time voice, No.6 has heard it, and so have you. You know when you can't get to sleep, this quiet, almost seductive female voice comes over the loudspeaker "Sleep, sleep, sleep... that's it.... sleep softly until tomorrow... lovely gentle sleep..... and a lovely tomorrow." That "Lovely tomorrow" is the worrying bit, because even those two words sounds like Village propaganda!

   Whether or not this article is allowed to be published, I cannot say. It could be seen to be anti-propaganda, which is propaganda in itself. And if that's the case of the matter, then I'm as bad as all the others here in the village. And I'd hate to be as bad as some of my fellow citizens here.

Be seeing you

The Therapy Zone

A Favourite Character

If there is any likeable No.2, then it is this gentleman, the only No.2 to share a real rapport with No.6, and the television viewer. He is loyal, efficient, a successful, and established member of the community, as well as the establishment, what's more his laugh is infectious ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

   He plays the game well with No.6, and we, the viewer, enjoy watching No.2 play the game. He allows No.6 some leeway, but knows exactly what No.6's plan is from the moment of it's conception, and enjoys watching No.6 carry out his plan, knowing that there is no possibility of escape. He likes No.6, and sees him as being a better man than he. But there is danger, and despite this danger No.2 still puts his life on the line, and ultimately pays the cost with his life.

   He is a jovial No.2, who enjoys his work. Perhaps he enjoys the Village, he certainly appears very much at home. And in that, it is possibly the reason why he sees the whole earth as the Village, such is his dream. Until that is, the time of his resuscitation. His eyes have been opened, and if he is to die, then he will die with his own mind, that he will no longer be hypnotised by No.1!

   Everyman is a prisoner unto himself, could be one interpretation of the point Patrick McGoohan was making in ‘Fall Out.’

Players Or Pawns

   The most successful gambit of all was played out in that Embryo Room of ‘Once Upon A Time.’ A complex and dangerous game plan, for only one of them would survive. No.2 was a good man, I am a good man, but if they get No.6 he will be better.

   In actual fact No.6, previously of ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ had laid his life on the line, he had pushed himself to the limit, but he succeeded in wearing No.6 down, and in a quiet moment No.6 finally told No.2 what he wanted, the reason behind No.6's resignation "For peace. For peace of mind, because too many people know too much," No.6 knew too much about No.2! The trouble was No.2 wasn't listening, and so had asked No.6 to tell him again. But No.6 wasn't going to repeat himself, not once No.2 had "been told."

The spectre of The Dance

   No.2 was seen on the telephone to, presumably No.1, and made the comment that she wished you could come too. So presumably No.1, or whoever it was, had made the wish that he could be there at the ball in the evening.

   Now if we take the premise of ‘Fall Out,’ that No.6 and No.1 are one and the same person, the one alter ego of the other, then surely No.1 did actually attend the Ball in the Town Hall that evening of ‘Dance of the Dead.’ and here he is walking, when he should be dancing along with little Bo-Peep. Whether or not this stands up is one thing, another would be that whoever the Prisoner is, he never allows himself to relax and enjoy himself!

Be seeing you, at the dance perhaps.

Thought For The Day

    It was once asked why No.6 didn't himself attempt to escape in 'It's Your Funeral,' he had the detonator in his hands, who would question it's authority? That is perfectly true. But on the other hand, who was there for No.6 to trust in order to stop the new No.2 from removing the Great Seal of Office {containing the explosive} from around his shoulders as No.6 does in the scene?.....No-one. No.2 would have removed the Great Seal of Office immediately, and ordered the helicopter pilot to return to the Village, which it did in any case. No.6 could have made a dash for the helicopter with detonator in hand, over-powered the pilot and piloted the helicopter himself  as he did in 'Arrival.' But then you'll recall that during that escape attempt the helicopter was flown back to the Village via remote control. Just a minute.....isn't that "Drone" technology which is used so much today by the armed forces?

BCNU

Teabreak Teaser

   I wonder what action Sir Charles Portland took when his daughters fiancé disappeared for a second time?

BCNU

Pictorial Prisoner

   An interpretation of a scene from 'Arrival,' in which No.6 is enjoying the regular Brass Band concert, while he waits for No.9.

BCNU

A 60 Second Interview With Mister McGoohan

   Police Constable "Excuse me sir, but you are Patrick McGoohan aren't you?"

    McGoohan "Yes officer."

    "Then you are just the man to help we with my enquiries."

    "How so officer?"

    "Well for a start you can explain to me how and why you pulled the wool over the viewers eyes!"

    "What are you talking about officer?"

    "You made a television series which means bugger all, but at least it's good entertainment. But then you give us that blasted Fall Out, what's that all about?"

    "Well officer it's like this...."

    "You can't explain it can you?"

    "No, not really officer.....you see I can't explain because we're in it!"

    "What?"

    "Yes, you and me officer, standing here, and the camera's over there still filming!"

    "How did you manage that?"

    "I don't know. I've been making Fall Out up as I've gone along. Now if you'll excuse me, my diminutive friend over there and I, have a bus to catch!"

BCNU

The Therapy Zone

   It beats me why the press persisted in calling THEPRIS6NER a remake, because it's not. It's a reinterpretation, reinvention, and a homage to the original series. Certainly reviews in the press, and from fans is mixed. And it has been observed that THEPRIS6NER is improved in a second viewing of the episodes.

   As for Two, he becomes more dark and menacing all the time, and I wait to see if his son, 11-12 actually turns on his father. Certainly 11-12 listens intently to what Six has to say about another place, another life. And they say that you cannot die in your dreams, which is lucky for Six with that live grenade in his mouth. Two actually pulled the pin....... and we did hear an explosion, but Six woke up just in time.

   So in the one Village we have Guardians, but no-one knows who the Guardians are. And in new Village we have Undercovers, and anyone could be an Undercover because no-one knows who they are!. The possibility that everyone in the Village is an Undercover, everyone watching everyone else who becomes suspect. Sounds like the Communists witch hunts of the 1950's if you ask me. Where people were watched by their neighbours if they become suspect of being a communist! And wasn’t that the same style of subject for ‘the Prisoner’ episode ‘A Change of Mind?’

Observers Report

   I Observed No.6 with No.50 sat together at the Cafe on the eve of "Appreciation Day," perhaps to many there seemed nothing wrong with this little scene. Well I checked No.6's file, something which my Supervisor doesn't like observes to do. Well I wanted to check something, as I recalled how during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ it was stated in No.6's file that he does not take sugar. And again in the Labour Exchange Manager's ledger it states that No.6 actually gave up sugar four years and three months ago on medical advice. Yet there he is, No.6, freely helping himself from the sugar bowl!

    Once upon a time No.6 trampled a loudspeaker, such as this one, under foot on the morning of his arrival here in the Village. So annoyed was he by the piped music. Well there's no on/off switch you see. But even then, after the loudspeaker had been smashed to bits under foot, the music still continued to play. Which begs the question, was the music actually being piped in through that speaker at all? Well you have to make your own mind up over that one.

  However by the time ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ came along No.6 had found a more subtle way of dealing with unwanted music - by putting said loudspeaker in the refrigerator! But then to borrow one of No.2's saying "You never miss it until it's gone." And such proved to be the case when No.6 woke up one morning and the irritating piped music was no longer there. After which No,6 never seemed to get annoyed by the continuous presence of the music. Indeed, there is the occasional moments when No.6 puts the loudspeaker and the music it plays to his own advantage, using the music to disguise what he and Nadia are talking about that evening during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ outside his cottage. Why does No.6 grow accustomed to the music? Well one can get used to anything, given enough exposure to any given situation. And of course when something is there all the time in the background, one gets used to it, one ceases to notice it.

Be seeing you

Quote For The Day

    "You, you of all people. I'd never have believed it!"
                               {Roland Walter Dutton - Dance of the Dead}
    Dutton seemed surprised to see the Prisoner-No.6 in the Village, perhaps because he's the last person he thought he would see there. He probably thought his old colleague would be clever enough not let himself get caught in the first place!
    Once upon a time there must have been a deep lined trust between Dutton and No.6 in their previous work of employment. They could have been friends, judging by the suggestion made by No.6 that there's still hope. I only say that because Dutton doesn't question the fact that his old colleague is there in the Village as a prisoner, after all No.6 could have been a plant working for the Village, but Dutton doesn't question that, unlike the Rook in 'Checkmate.' But perhaps that's because Dutton realises that his fate is sealed, and for a few minutes at least, it's good to see an old friendly face.

Be seeing you

A Favourite Scene In The Prisoner

   The meeting of No.6 with Roland Walter Dutton. I'm never sure whether or not Dutton thought No.6 had killed No.34. London gets briefly mentioned "How's London?" Dutton asks, "about the same" replies No.6, and he tells Dutton that he's arrived in the Village only quite recently. To my mind this tells me that No.6 hasn't been in the Village all that long, and that is supported by the fact that in the film library order of 'the Prisoner,' 'Dance of the Dead' is placed second, or is it third, well it's one or the other. 

   I cannot help but think that No.6 might have met with Chambers late of the Foreign Office at this point. After all Chambers was abducted to the Village, "A nice guy Chambers and so talkative" as No.2 in 'Arrival' put it. But No.6 never met with Chambers, that makes me wonder what happened to him. Perhaps he was turned, and was allowed to leave the Village like Cobb, on the other hand he could have ended up dead, or worse, like Dutton!

Be seeing you

Exhibition of Arts and Crafts

   From my Seascape period.

BcNu

Death And A Plant In The Village! by our own reporter

    Number 240 was Number 6’s own observer. However having been unable to find No.6, Number 240 asks her Supervisor-Number 22 if she should watch Number 34 instead? But the Supervisor tells her coldly that he’s dead. Number Six, having spent a night on the beach, wakes up to discover a dead man in the water.

    In his pockets he finds a wallet containing a photograph of a man and woman, and a small transistor radio in a leather pouch. There can be no doubt that the photograph found in the dead man’s wallet was taken in the Village, with the couple sat by the pool and fountain. What’s more it can be surmised that the dead man Number Six found in the water that morning was Number 34. Yes it is a fact that there was no badge of identification pinned to the jersey of the dead man, but that could easily have come off in the water.

   Number Six took and kept the radio he found in the dead man’s pocket, for which he was eventually put on trial for. Not that fact that he took the said radio, but for the simple possession of it. Number Six no doubt thought he would hear something from the outside world, his world as he saw it. So Number 6 took the radio from Number 34’s pocket, but how did Number 34 obtain such a radio? It seems unlikely that he had a radio of his own, that there was no radio he could have borrowed, so he must have brought it into the Village with him! But surely if he had brought a suitcase with him to the Village it would have been searched, and the radio discovered, unless he had help in some way. You see to my mind Number 34 could well have been a plant in the Village, and the young woman pictured with him in the photograph was in all probability his wife, and now widow.

     The fact that the man in the photograph is wearing a open neck shirt, is suggestive that the photograph was actually taken on the day of his arrival here in the Village.

    Who Number 34 was working for will forever remain unknown, except to those who sent him to the Village in the first place. What 34’s business was in the Village will also remain unknown, unless it was to gain information about the Village itself. You will recall how secret agent John Drake whilst working for M9 of British Military Intelligence once infiltrated ‘Colony 3,’ in the guise of Robert Fuller, because so many people with certain skills and aptitudes were disappearing, either abducted, or having defected. Well this could have been the same reason for Number 34’s infiltration of the Village, to discover why so many people had been disappearing, and to where. It is likely that somehow, we do not know how but possibly through a Labour Exchange, or employment agency, that Number 34 got himself recruited to the Village, with the help of those behind the man.

   So what can we deduce about the dead No.34? A brief description would have him as being middle aged, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, about 160 pounds, with fair hair. He was wearing a dark turtle neck jersey, light grey trousers, and deck shoes, which is an indication that this man was a citizen of the Village. It would appear that there are no marks on the body, this is suggestive that No.34 died by suffocation or drowned and suffocated, by the membranic Village Guardian.

   Why the Village Guardian would attack Number 34 is probably because he was abroad after curfew. Why the man was out of the Village after curfew is unknown, although Number 6 was also out of his cottage after curfew, probably because he felt stifled and caged in his cottage. It is possible that No.34 wanted to be completely alone, and unobserved so that he could tune in his radio and listen for a possible message from his principles, his masters.

   So Number 6 came in possession of a radio, he sat tuning the radio in on the outlook above the cliffs, and listened to a radio broadcast, it follows;

    “Nowhere is there more beauty than here. Tonight when the moon rise’s the whole world will turn to silver. Do you understand, it is important that you understand. I have a message for you, you must listen. The appointment cannot be fulfilled. Other things must be done tonight.

If our torment is to end, if liberty is to be restored, we must grasp the nettle even though it makes our hands bled. Only through pain can tomorrow be assured.”

    It is assured that that message was not intended for Number 6. However it did bring him down on the beach that evening of ‘Dance of the Dead,’ looking for a light, a boat, a plane, someone from the outside world. So it can be assumed that the message was meant of the dead man Number 34, and it appears, discerning from the message, that something had gone wrong!

    One interpretation of part of that message is, that the appointment cannot be fulfilled, that there were other, more important things that had to be done. In other words, Number 34 who was under the impression that he was to have been extracted from the Village by force or forces unknown, had been hung out to dry in the Village, with no way of escape!

    However there is a question regarding the origin of that message, and who originated it. Because the voice come over the radio sounds to me like that or a previous Number 2 of ‘Free For All’ {Eric Portman}. What’s more this part of the message: “If our torment is to end, if liberty is to be restored, we must grasp the nettle even though it makes our hands bled. Only through pain can tomorrow be assured,” reads as though it could have originated from somewhere within the Village itself! Perhaps the former Number 2 who once toasted “to hell with the Village,’ really meant those words, and was now instigating rebellion in within the Village. In talking about ending the torment of the citizens, and restoring their liberty to them, that to do that means it will take open rebellion by grasping the nettle, even though many will get hurt. But only through pain can tomorrow be assured.  Yes I know there’s a flaw in that thinking, that that particular Number 2 actually left the Village by helicopter!

    I suppose the next question is, who is the young woman in the photograph?

    It is clearly difficult to say with any great certainty, certainly further investigation has revealed absolutely nothing about her, save for the fact that she knew Number 34 otherwise he would not have carried the photograph of them together in his wallet. That it is possible that the young woman could have been Number 34’s wife, who came to the Village with him husband.

   To sum up my somewhat brief piece of investigative journalism into this matter, all I can be sure of, is that I can be sure of nothing, so nothing new there then!

Our own reporter



The Therapy Zone

    Have you noticed just how piped blazers have become very fashionable to wear over the past couple of years? I don't wear one myself you understand, they're not quite my style. And the style of deck shoes have altered, you can't seem to buy the style worn in The Village, but you can buy a more modern style of deck shoe, which I find to be most refreshing. Of course I only wear deck shoes when I go down to the beach, or when I'm on someone's yacht.

    The other evening I was watching ‘Many Happy Returns,’ while enjoying a fine wine, some freshly baked bread and delicious cheese. And I wondered if readers have noticed that tree No.6 chops down isn't a complete tree. When the tree is felled it falls like a log, and not at all like a tree at all. I mean the top of the tree has been lobbed off previous! Now I wonder why No.6 would climb the tree and chop off the top first? I mean he didn't do that when he felled that tree during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben!’

    What are work units worth - Nothing? You tell that to No.26 who can't go a day without her sweets! Has she been conditioned to have a sweet-tooth, then to take that sweet privilege away from her? Shouldn't think so. I mean she's an old woman, the once housemaid to Mrs Butterworth who brought Martha with her to The Village. Then Mrs Butterworth went and left The Village, but left poor old Martha in The Village all alone. I wonder how our diminutive friend the Butler took to Martha moving into his little annex to the Green Dome. He was put out of a job, our diminutive friend wouldn't have taken to Martha at all, so perhaps he was given a little holiday. Because by the time of the next episode, ‘Dance of the Dead,’ the Butler has been reinstated to his rightful position.

    The other day I was pondering who it might have been who placed those daffodils on 73's grave in ‘Hammer Into Anvil.’ I can only think that it was No.6. after all who else was close enough to No.73, who committed suicide by jumping out of the hospital window, you will recall. And seeing as it was No.2 who drove 73 to this act of suicide, No.6 became her avenger, so perhaps it was No.6 who put flowers on 73's grave. A sucker for a damsel in distress, and an avenging angel. Chivalry is far from dead readers, you ask No.6.

    "Truth is an essence. An essence does not change. It emanates. Any man or woman can have it inside them as a result of their own private war within themselves. It's not just the college they fight, not just society. They are fighting themselves. I think there are things that have to be private. One's right to privacy is such a delicate thing, and it is being damaged constantly nowadays."

Not So The Merry Widow!

    At the end of The General my wife Morag wondered if No.6 had come to pay his respects to Madam Professor, to extend his sympathy. I said, seeing as No.6 went inside the house, leaving the Madam Professor seated outside, it was more likely that he'd gone to have a final poke about the house. No sensitivities shown for recent widow by No.6 then!

Be seeing you

Thought For The Day

    A thought was given to me by a friend just before Christmas, that Number 1 was de-throned by Number 6 who didn't assume command, which would have left the chair of honour or throne vacant. That could be considered an optimistic thought in a way. Because on the other hand the Village is transferred to the outside world, the door opens for the Butler. Number 6 didn't escape in the end because "there is no out, there is only in." The Prisoner is still the Prisoner and determined to end the Village again. Therefore Number 1 is still present too. The series of events running full circle again.

Be seeing you

Caught On Camera!

   There he is No.2 behind the wheel of a Village taxi, parked up next to '6 Private' and close to the foot of a set of steps. He's talking to No.6 during 'Checkmate.' In fact he offers to give a lift to No.6 to the hospital to see how the Rook is.

   This of course is in close-up, however in long shot

  There is no sign of No.6, or for that matter the taxi with No.2 behind the wheel!

BCNU

60 Second Interview With No.46

   

No.113: "What are you listening for?"

    No.46: "A sound, a voice."

    "Not instructions?"

    "What instructions would they be then?"

    "I really have no idea."

    "Good, neither do I."

    "So you are happy in your quiet little world."

    "Who wouldn't be?"

    "You look a little odd."

    “Please, not odd, different perhaps."

    "How so?"

    No.113b: "Smile" {click goes the camera}

    "Ask the doctor. Yes, that's it, you go and ask the doctor."

    "What are you going to do?"

    "Wait."

    "Wait, wait for what?"

    "The announcement about the ice cream flavour of the day. You never know, it might be chocolate, chocolate's my favourite."

Reporter No.113

Photographer No.113b

Prismatic Reflection

    If Patrick McGoohan had a legacy to leave, it would be ‘the Prisoner,’ well it would, if he actually owned it upon the time of his death. But Patrick McGoohan sold all rights to ‘the Prisoner’ to ITC {Independent Television Corporation} back in the late 1960’s. And yet we still think of ‘the Prisoner’ as being McGoohan’s, because he created the original idea for the series, and thereby to be considered his legacy to us, the fan or aficionado of ‘the Prisoner.’
    Alright, let’s take a look at this so called legacy, what’s in it for us? A superb television series that was ahead of it’s time, a prediction of the future. Valued for it’s pure escapism and adventure. It keeps you guessing, wanting to know more, ‘the Prisoner’ is so powerful it draws you in, and makes a prisoner of you. And yet, it’s a television series that makes you think for yourself, to question. To rebel and shout out when you see an injustice. It teaches one not to settle for things as they are.
    But what kind of legacy is it that teases the viewer even after these past 47 years? That will not give up its secrets even today. What kind of legacy is it that will give you no peace of mind? The Prisoner could not rest for the want of answers, and so it is with the likes of you and I. And who do we have to thank for this state of mind? One Patrick McGoohan that’s who.
    I expect he thought he was being clever. I expect he didn’t need to give answers to the questions he was asked at that 1967 Press Conference he held. He even had the audacity, no, the arrogance, to stand there in that cage and ask the media questions instead of providing the answers he was expected to give to their questions asked. But that is the kind of man McGoohan was, arrogant, a megalomaniac, his mania being ‘the Prisoner.’ I suppose he had the right, after all he had created the original idea. He was the power behind the throne, he was the boss, the No.1 when it came to the production of ‘the Prisoner.’ But who else could No.1 have turned out to be in the series itself, but Patrick McGoohan, such was the man’s sense of self-importance.
    No.6 had to be No.1 all the time, even when putting himself in charge during that little enterprise during ’Checkmate,’ that time when No.6 and his reliable men attempted an escape. It would have worked if it had not been for the Rook!
    And that’s all part of McGoohan’s legacy, not just the conundrum of ‘the Prisoner,’ but the possibility of seeing what might have happened in the series had events turned another way. Or to be able to read what might have been happening between the episodes, that which we do not see in ‘the Prisoner’ series itself, and to be able to use one’s imagination to fill in the gaps. For example the time of the retiring No.2 and his accomplishments for the good of the Village and it’s community. What it was that took place on the day after ’Free For All’ with that brutal new No.2 who once masqueraded as No.58. And what happened to the Professor’s widow as she spent the rest of her days living in the Village. But more than that, to use one’s reasoning to figure things out like how long the Prisoner was in London after arriving back home in the body of the Colonel, until his departure to the continent, on his way to Austria. And to estimate the time he took to travel that distance from London to Kandersfeld. As well as discerning who or what killed No.34 during ‘Dance of the Dead.’ How he came to be in possession of a transistor radio in the Village, and who was he?
   This is all part of the McGoohan legacy, and we make of it what we can. We each have to find out own way of understanding ‘the Prisoner,’ and two people may not share the same path, and their end conclusions differing in so many ways. And yet the desire to share ones ideas, interpretations, as well as theories about ‘the Prisoner’ is strong within the fan of the series, and the fact that fellow fans and aficionados may not agree with us, or us with them doesn’t seem to matter. Such is the desire for debate and discussion with fellow fans, and that has been the case for the past forty-seven years, and no doubt will be the case for years to come. And yet………and yet there are still today many mysteries and un-answered questions about ’the Prisoner’ that will now never be resolved.

Be seeing you

The Therapy Zone

   That No.6 should begin to rip out the wiring of the teletype machine in ‘Dance of the Dead’ the moment he sees it. There is no explanation as to why he does this, but the machine which whirrs back into life, despite No.6 's attempt to sabotage it, helps demonstrate that no matter how hard they try, they'll never win, and so it seems neither will No.6, and so it's going to be very uncomfortable for him!

Living In Harmony

   The question was once asked "How can they go back to Harmony, if it was just an hallucination?

   Well quite obviously they can't. But it wasn't the Town of Harmony that was the hallucination, just the Town's people and the action which took place. Nor was the Town of Harmony purposely built, as the actual frontier Town of Harmony, is part of The Village itself, seen in the episode of The Schizoid Man when No.6 is about to take off in the helicopter. And previous to that, during The Chimes of Big Ben, the Recreation Hall is in the part of the Village which doubled up for the Town of Harmony.

   Curtis, who we know absolutely nothing about. Not who he is nor where he was seconded to the Village from. The only thing we do know is, that Curtis has worked with this particular Number Two on a previous occasions.

   He captures Number Six's whole character so well. So convincing is he, that he could actually be Number six! The only thing which lets him down in my book, is the fact that Number Six doesn't wear his numbered Penny Farthing badge! You would have thought Curtis would have been aware of that, simply by reading Number Six's file if nothing else.

What follows are extracts from a 60 second interview with Jim Caviezel for the Metro newspaper April 27th 2010.

Were you a fan of the original the Prisoner? "No, I'd never heard of it. I was on my way to do another movie but there was a problem with the financing. Then, bam, they told me to read the script and make a decision immediately. I got to London the next week and only then realised how big it was. I told Ian McKellen I was a bit nervous and he said "Get used to it darling."

Has the remake upset any fans of the original? "It might have but it isn't a remake. It's more a homage to the original. It's more relevent today."

 

You Brought Me Back Here!

   It has often been remarked upon, the fact that two Number 2's were brought back to The Village for second terms of office. Those of Leo McKern and Colin Gordon. Yet it is easy to forget that in actual fact, three Number 2's were brought back to The Village. And here he is played by Kenneth Griffith, the President, or Judge. Brought back to oversee the final manipulation of No.6!

   It's strange that such Number Two's who have failed in their attempts to gain the reason behind No.6's resignation, were brought back for a second bite of the cherry. Well save for No.2 in The General, who only became involved with No.6 indirectly, due to No.6 poking his nose into business he had no right involvement in....I think!

Be seeing you

Wishing My Friends and Readers

   And so it's Christmas eve and the big day is almost upon us. Blog-wise I shall be taking two days off, returning on Friday. But that's not to say that I have today off, I shall be working all day, as I have some writing to do. So all that there is left to do is to wish

    A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

           TO YOU ALL.

    So eat, drink and make merry for it is a festive time of the year.

I'll be seeing you all again soon

Teabreak Teaser

  Why is it that both The Butler and Observer-No.240 of the ‘Dance of the Dead’ wear their capes inside out?

BCNU

Caught On Camera!

    This is a production shot from ‘Free For All’ as No.6 is attempting an improvised escape from the Village. During the episode the scene is only filmed looking towards Portmeirion. It’s easy to see why they did not include shots looking away from Portmeirion, the house on the other side of the estuary being one reason, seeing as the Village is supposed to be in a place of isolation!

    But then again what is worse, seen from the air in ‘Many Happy Returns,’ there’s the Cobb and the town of Portmadog beyond!

Be seeing you

Exhibition of Arts and Crafts

  From my black and white Impressionist period!

BcNu

60 Second Interview With No.66

   

 No.113: "So you don't remember your parents?"

    No.66: "No, they died when I was a child."

    "You were born here in the Village?"

    "I, I don't know."

    "You don't know who controls it?"

    "No."

    "Has anyone ever escaped?"

    "Some have tried to get away from the Village."

    "How many have succeeded?"

    "How should I know?"

    "You don't know much do you?"

    "Even then I know more than you!"

    "And you are happy being a maid?"

    "It's a job."

    "No.113b: "Smile" {click goes the camera.}

    "How did you evade the Prisoner like that?"

    "That's for me to know!"

    "You'd better go, but don't forget what you came back for. Oh, and when you've got a moment, perhaps you could come and flick a duster about my place."

    "I'm not your maid!"

    "No, but I've a mind to play "Maids and Masters!"

"Go and get !"$^**()!"

Reporter No.113

Photographer No.113b

The Therapy Zone

I'm Amazed!

   Sometimes I would despair of the questions asked of the Prisoner in the past, such as; In ‘Free For All’ why did 58 slap No.6 seven times? Because it took that number of slaps to bring No.6 out of his drugged state of mind. It could have been any number of slaps, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16.......... but it just happened to have been seven.

    When do Villagers eat? Anytime they damned well like! At breakfast, lunch time, tea time, and when it's time for dinner.

   Why are animals not allowed? Well "they" wouldn't want any affection shown in The Village would "they" now! Affection towards dumb animals that is. But yet The Village is not devoid of all animals. There are a number of Pigeons, the Village cat, and cows in the field next to the hospital. I mean where do you think the milk comes from?

Taxi!

   I suppose you think that the Village taxis were driven aimlessly around the Italianate Village of Portmeirion just for show. That all day taxi drivers drove round and round the central Piazza just for show. Well you would be wrong. Because when a taxi driver wasn't driving the Prisoner through the Village, or being stolen by No.6, to be followed and likewise by No.8, there was a real purpose for the taxis.

   During the filming of the Prisoner in the September of 1966, guests were still staying at Portmeirion. Guests arriving and leaving, luggage picked up and dropped off. Rooms around the Village being serviced with fresh linen etc, etc, and such work is usually carried out using Portmeirion's own transport. Well if Portmeirion had used their own transport, it would have been a real give away. So what was decided was this, Portmeirion's porters would drive the taxis - Mini-Mokes - and that way guests arriving and leaving Portmeirion could do so safely and undercover via a Village taxi! That way if a taxi was ferrying a guest here or there through the Village while filming of the Prisoner was taking place, no-one would be any the wiser.

Escape Is Not Possible

   Well not by helicopter is shouldn't be! In Arrival when No.6 is attempting to escape the Village by helicopter, the controls of the helicopter are taken over by an operative in the Control Room, and the helicopter with No.6 aboard, is flown back to the Village by remote control. So why then was it possible for Doctor Seltzman to escape by helicopter in ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling?’ Oh not to be flown back by remote control, but to have control contact the pilot of the helicopter, and order him to fly the helicopter back to the Village?

   Someone once wrote some years back, that why wasn't the helicopter flown back by remote control in ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling,’ and bring doctor Seltzman back in the same way No.6 was stopped escaping in ‘Arrival’ by helicopter? Had the script writers forgotten about the remote control device in the helicopter? Well no they hadn't, because the writer forgets that it wasn't Seltzman who would have been flying that helicopter, but the helicopter pilot, surely!

Be seeing you

The Unofficial 2014 Prisoner Calendar

  And the reverse side

                 

   Please feel free to save the calendar and print it off with my compliments. And do not forget, that in the Village this Thursday is Appreciation Day!

Be seeing you