Be seeing you
Monday, 31 March 2014
A Favourite Scene In The Prisoner
Be seeing you
Quote For The Day
"Allow me to introduce you to the General. All the Professor's own work. He gave birth to it and loves it with a passion, he probably hates it even more!"
{No.2 - The General}
And yet towards the end the Professor did his best to try and save the General, despite his own feelings that the General should be destroyed! Perhaps like Dr. Frankenstein, who having created his abomination, soon decided that it had to be destroyed!
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Pictorial Prisoner
Be seeing you
The Colonel
Be seeing you
Sunday, 30 March 2014
It's Inexplicable!
"Tic tic, tic tic." Now what the devil is that supposed to mean? No.2 says it as she slaps No.6's face towards the end of 'Free For All.'
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Caught On Camera!
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Thought For The Day
However if the gardener had been less arrogant, and had been more approachable, then he would have maintained his anonymity, as a Guardian, perhaps with the result of being able to infiltrate No.6's little band of reliable men.
Be seeing you
Prismatic Reflection
‘It’s Your Funeral!’ Early one morning a young blonde girl, wearing a white cap, dressed in a white and orange jersey and white slacks, tentatively steps as she approaches the cottage ‘6 Private.’ The occupant of which is still in bed. The girl opens the cottage door and enters.
“At last!” says the Supervisor-Number 26.
On the wall screen Number 50 makes her way into the bedroom, and just as she is about to wake the apparently slumbering figure of Number 6, he grabs hold of her wrist and pulls her down onto the bed!
“What are you doing here?” he barks.
“I was just about to wake you up” she tells him.
She has, and donning his dressing gown Number 6 wants to know who she is, and how she got into his cottage. Apparently the door was open, as it always is to them…….isn’t it? Number 50 wants Number 6’s help. He tells her to go to the Town hall, the citizens Council offers help and advice to everyone.
The girl protests!
“Their Citizens Council.”
“As far as I’m concerned, what’s theirs is yours” Number 6 tells her.
Number 50 demands that she is not one of them, but then no-one is, “Go back, tell them I was not interested, that I wouldn’t even listen. What’s the point, they know already. I wont go for it, whatever it is, so you may as well stop trying” Number 6 shouts showing Number 50 the door.
The young woman falls into a dead faint onto the lounge floor. Number 6 attends her with a glass of water as seen on the wall screen in the Control Room by the Supervisor-No.26 and an interim No2, still dressed in pyjamas and dressing gown, sporting thick black rimmed spectacles. Now we shall see how accurately they have timed it. Number 50 was given a drug yesterday, one of the new super strength moprobromates that has been developed. The girl doesn’t know anything about it. The drug remains dormant until triggered by the nervous system, and then releases itself to the desired quantity, to produce instant tranquillity, or temporary oblivion.
Until that point Number 6 was about the throw Number 50 out, now she has become a damsel in distress.
In the Control Room the interim Number 2 isn’t sure about the procedure of having the door left open. That was a last minute improvisation on the part of the Supervisor, because Number 6 doesn’t always answer the door when people come calling. Number 2 is not happy about this, as the
plan is far too important for slapdash improvisation, and takes the Supervisor down a peg.
The young woman comes round and puts the glass of water to her lips, she claims exhaustion, no it was drugs, her pupils are dilated. But Number 50 claims not to take drugs, so it must be forced feeding! Number 6 condescends to listen to Number 50’s story, just as long as what she says doesn’t become too obviously phoney. Number 50 explains about an assignation plot, that against Number 2. Number 6 questions whether she is trying to organise or prevent one, as it so happens to prevent. Number 6 asks her what it is she wants him to do.
“I just told you, I need your help in preventing an assassination” the girl pleads.
“They’ve heard, they are aware, and they don’t need anyone’s help!” shouts Number 6 so to remind the Observers.
The trouble is they don’t believe her, that’s why Number 50 came calling on Number 6 in the first place, and is surprised about so much caution in a man like him, it seems so wrong! The thing is Number 6 has been bitten many times, and is now forever shy. But they are not shy, they love to listen! But Number 6 doesn’t seem to understand. The girl’s name, her number is on a list for jamming, and we’re not talking about domestic science, or music making! Jamming is one of the ways of fighting back, he’ll learn about jamming one of these days, but not just at the moment as the girl storms out of his cottage!
Number 2 is disappointed with the result. Taking off his spectacles and wiping them with his handkerchief “If only I had just a little more time.”
“We’re running late as it is” the Supervisor reminds him.
“I know that!” Number 2 snaps.
A yellow ‘L’ shaped telephone begins to bleep. The Supervisor picks it up “Yes sir at once” and hands the telephone to Number 2.
The interim Number 2 explains the situation to his superior, that it was the girl’s reluctance. She took a long time in making up her mind, and Number 6 flatly refused to have anything to do with her. Number 2 thought that if they could replace Number 6, someone more tractable, less suspicious. But the reason Number 6 was selected was a matter of credibility without which the plan might backfire. But Number 2 has no choice in the matter, he must find a way to make him interested. He orders a daily prognosis report on Number 6 as quickly as possible.
In a computer room technicians work at their stations. Number 8 enters the room and orders a daily prognosis report on Number 6, that Number 2 requires it, and takes the seat at her desk.
Number 6’s daily routine is computed from six-thirty in the morning, exercising with a walk around the Village, to nine-twenty am when Number 6 goes to have his portrait painted by Number 118. This prognosis is then printed off, and sealed in an envelope, and taken to the Green Dome by Number 8.
Meanwhile Number 2 is in conference with his assistant Number 100, and so far he is happy with his progress on Plan Division Q. Number 100 has indoctrinated Number 51, a watchmaker, and father of Number 50, to make a bomb, with which it is intended to assassinate the retiring Number 2. Or rather execute the retiring Number 2, seeing as it’s a plot that has been devised so that innocent people can be blamed for the assassination of a Number 2, then mass reprisals can be carried out. In other words a purge of the Village to rid it of all known malcontents, of which Number 6 happens to be top of the list!
On the lawn of the Old People’s Home Number 6 is sat having his portrait painted by Number 118, who informs Number 6 as to what jammers are, and what it is they do. What they do these jammers is talk. They talk about the plots they’ve been hatching, escapes mostly, but plans and developments for all kinds of mischief. They do it to confuse the Observers. The plots they talk about are always make believe, non existent, but Control cannot know that until they’ve checked them out. Used to run themselves ragged investigating the schemes of jammers. But they don’t do it any more. Now they have a list of all known jammers. Anything that Control picks up from them, they just let ride.
In the Green Dome the pair of steel doors open, and Number 8 walks smartly down the ramp into Number 2’s office. Number 2 sits back in his chair, feet up on his desk, with a cup of tea in his hands. He asks Number 8 how accurate it is, what percentage is right or wrong regarding the daily prognosis of Number 6. Unfortunately Number 8 doesn’t know, because twice they programmed the machines for a percentile appraisal of their own efficiencies. Each time they refused to give the requested information, simply by not returning the data to them!!! They’ll be wanting their own Trade Union next!
Number 8 takes Number 2 through the prognosis report which they follow on the wall screen. It is now ten-nineteen exactly. According to the prognosis, Number 6 is now taking his daily stroll through the Village {what another one?!} At approximately ten-twenty he will go to the kiosk where he will buy at copy of the newspaper, a bar of soap, and a bag of sweets. A bag of sweets, Number 6 never eats candy, its wrong, and it doesn’t appear to work!
Except that Number 6 does buy a bag of sweets, for Number 36 whose credit allowance has all be used up, and who can’t go a whole day without her sweets.
Number 8 continues with the prognosis, it doesn’t matter about the chess matches, and carries on until Number 2 finds what he’s looking for, Number 6’s semi-weekly Kosho practise, and indicates to Number 100 that he knows what he wants.
Number 6 is engaged in his Kosho practice. Two men in Cossack garb, boxing mits, and crash helmets bouncing up and down on a pair of trampolines, the one trying to get the better of his opponent, until either one of them dunks his said opponent into a tank of water. Number 100 goes to Number 6’s locker, and exchanges his watch for an identical one that isn’t working. So that after Number 6 has showered and changed, he returns to his locker to collect his things to find his watch has stopped. Hence his next stop on his way home is the little Watchmakers shop.
The watchmaker is Number 51 father of Monique-Number 50. Entering the shop Number 6 hands the little white haired man his watch saying it’s stopped. The watchmaker goes into his back room and attends to the wrist watch. While he’s gone Number 6 observes a device on a work bench. Picking it up, he presses a button on the device which makes another device on the work bench operate. Number 51 returns saying the watch is working and snatches the device from Number 6’s hands.
“Intriguing, what is it?” Number 6 asks handing the man his credit card.
“It’s nothing, just a toy” the watchmaker says clipping the credit card.
“Good, very good” and slips the credit card into the breast pocket of his blazer and leaves the shop.
Moments after Number 6 has gone, Number 100 emerges from the back room of the shop. Well that all went perfectly well, although it wasn’t very difficult. But Number 51 cannot understand why it was necessary to expose their method like that. To let the enemy know what they are up to. It’s to add to their confusion, that is what they stand to gain. Because they don’t believe anything jammers do, or intend to do, that is why they can carry out their plan.
Outside the shop Number 6 meets with Monique-Number 50. She saw him go in. Number 6 begs her pardon. Number 50 wonders how he found out. She hadn’t told him about the watchmaker. But it was his watch, it had stopped, and that is the only reason Number 6 had gone to see the watchmaker. And that would explain Number 50’s concern. But now Number 6 no longer has that same total
disinterest. Because he doesn’t believe that a device to detonate explosive by radio, is a toy, and neither does Monique’s father!
Observing the scene between Number 6 and Monique on the wall screen in the Green Dome, is Number 2 and a man in a grey blazer, Number 22.
“I suppose it may work.”
“It is working” insists Number 2.
“Whatever you call it, Plan Division Q is still murder.”
Number 2 tells Number 22 that he has specific duties, and to stick to them, the rest he can leave to Number 100. Number 6 hasn’t fallen for it yet, but he will. And afterwards, when it’s all over Number 2 will be showered with congratulations.
“Yes, well after he’s been here to warn me that an assassination is being plotted, and that I’m the intended victim!”
Perhaps this interim Number 2 should be reminded, that any plan involving Number 6 has been prone to failure!
Number 6 and Monique meet at the Café, they talk about the assassination plot, and of her father’s involvement. There is another man involved, but don’t ask her who he is, whose anyone in the Village?
Number 6 and Monique pay a call on her father at his shop.
“It has stopped again?” enquires the watchmaker.
“No, its running fine” Number 6 replies.
Both Monique and Number 6 try to talk Number 50 out of this action he is going to take. It is an insane idea that has got hold of him. But the watchmaker is no mad man. His daughter refuses to understand, that what he is doing is for principle. “We are in this prison for life, all of us. But I have met no-one who has committed a crime.”
There must be some other way, not by murder. And yet Number 50 still sees it as “Assassination!” But the entire Village will be punished! “Maybe that’s what they need to wake them up, to shake them out of their lethargy. To make them angry enough to fight.” There is no shaking the watchmaker form his belief, such is Number 100’s indoctrination of the watchmaker, who must now get on this his work!
Number 6 does indeed pay Number 2 a call to warn him of the intended plot to assassinate him. But unbeknown to Number 6, the meeting is being recorded on both film and audio tape. This in order that both film and audio can be edited so that it shows that Number 6 has made more than one warning of imminent death by violence plots. This so that the Number 2 who is soon to return from a spell of leave {leave, I didn’t know Number 2’s were allowed to go on leave} will not believe Number 6’s warning of an assassination plot. A kind of crying wolf too often! Certainly the interim Number 2 pooh - poohs the idea of a possible assassination. Number 6 informs him that there are some very unhappy people in the Village. Number 2 informs him that he’s seen the list of malcontents, in fact it might interest Number 6 know that he’s top of the bill! {does that mean if the Village carry out their purge of malcontents Number 6 will be among their number?} Number 2 asks Number 6 how they are going to go about it, when, where. Did they show him the gun? No, in fact they are going to blow him up!
After leaving the Green Dome, Number 6 meets up with Monique at the Brass Band concert. He explains to her that Number 2 thinks he’s being used as a communications medium, one more credible that her father, and he wouldn’t know whether to believe him or not. Number 6 has no choice but to go on with it.
Village announcement “Good afternoon everyone, good afternoon. I’ve some exciting news for you. Your citizens Council officially proclaims Thursday, the day after tomorrow as “Appreciation Day.” The day when we pay due honour to those brave and noble men who govern us so wisely. You will be delighted to hear that proceedings will be opened by Number 2 himself, and concluded by the unveiling of our new Appreciation Day monument. They’ll be speeches, thrills and excitement.” And maybe more excitement than planned!
That evening Number 6 and Monique go into the watchmakers shop. On a work bench they find both the plan for, and a replica of, the Great Seal of Office always worn by Number 2 at official ceremonies. Inside the great Seal, it is packed with explosive!
The following morning Number 6 arrives at the Green Dome to see Number 2.
Number Six isn’t it. I’ve been expecting you” says the aged man sitting in the chair behind the desk.
“I want to see Number Two” Number 6 tells the man.
“I am Number Two” the aged man tells him.
This Number 2 doesn’t appear to recognise Number 6, and Number 6 certainly doesn’t know this Number 2. Perhaps they didn’t have much to do with each other!
“You’ve come to tell me there’s a plot against my life, haven’t you? You know my very efficient colleague is very concerned about these imminent death by violence projects you’ve been reporting during my absence.”
“Plots? I’ve reported only one.”
“Not so” begins Number 2 “my very efficient colleague, should I say my heir presumptive, has been collecting
evidence, that every interim Number Two who has served here while I’ve been away on leave, has been cautioned by you, about some improbable conspiracy to murder him.”
Number 2 shows Number 6 surveillance footage of him reporting a plot to assassinate them. Film which has obviously been faked. But to what purpose? Why should they want to convince Number 6 that he’s not well? Perhaps it’s Number 2 they want to convince. And yet tomorrow Number 2 hands over to his successor, he retires. Perhaps then, they are trying to save a pension!
Later, alone in his office, Number 2 listens to a conversation between Number 6 and Monique at the Café. This convinces Number 2 enough to ask his assistant Number 22 to send someone over to the Bureau of Visual Records, as there is a tape he wishes to review. The Subject “Warning of an assassination plot, persons Number 6 and my successor.” But it would be a waste of time, as Number 22 can confirm that there’s no such recording of that description. But Number 22 has no duty functions at the Bureau of Visual records, yet he can say instantly and with total assurance that the records No.2 require are non existent. Number 2 asks Number 22 to explain. But the fact that Number 22 won’t explain, explains everything.
Number 6 and Monique must try and prevent the assassination of Number 2, not only for her father’s sake, but for everyone’s. Number 6 has one final try at convincing Number 2, who left orders with the butler that he wasn’t to be disturbed. But what Number 6 has to say won’t wait. Number 2 knows what it is, that tomorrow he is to be assassinated, but replace that with executed, seeing as it’s his own people who are doing it.
“You don’t mind?” asks Number 6.
“Of course I mind. It’s just I never thought it would happen to me.”
“It never does, to anybody. But it can be prevented.”
“Preventing is only postponing. You’ve never understood us Number Six, we never fail!”
“The ceremony can take place without the seal>“
“The seal is the ceremony.”
“It’s hollowed out, it’s packed with explosives……….”
“And before I hand it over to my successor?”
“It will be detonated by radio!”
“I can think of better ways to die!”
“And better causes to die for!” Number 6 tells him.
In a computer room the interim Number 2 is on the telephone speaking to Number 1, he‘s simply oozing with simpering confidence. “Plan Division Q is all set, it’s working beautifully….dead on time you could say….No sir, no, no, just the way you ordered it…..The people are gathering now,
it will be very spectacular……..No nothing can go wrong now, I’ll stake my future on it……Well thank you sir, I know you will.”
Outside in the Village the good citizens of the Village are parading carrying placards of Number 2, the one about to retire, and that of his successor. Eventually they gather in the central piazza, as the two Number 2’s, along with Top Hats and other members of Administration take up their positions on the balcony of the Gloriette. The Brass band plays and the people cheer. It is a Top Hart Administrator who opens the Appreciation Day proceedings.
“Fellow citizens, no dear friends, for that is what you are, each and everyone of you. We are gathered here on this happy occasion, our annual Appreciation day, to pay homage and to show our gratitude to our glorious leaders.”
The citizens cheer and applaud.
“Now is the time to give thanks to our departing leader, let us pay tribute to the great achievements of our retiring Number Two. The improved Café facilities, the extra Blue Zone in the post, the new flower garden which you admire so much. The golf course, and clock golf. We say thank you Number Two for the plans you have made for us, the new concert hall which is to be built. The beautiful new mural in the library, and the electrification of the clocks. In saying goodbye we salute you for your glorious achievements.”
Blimey! No wonder the out-going Number 2 never had any direct contact with Number 6, he never had time!
While the speeches continue, in the crowd Number 6 and Monique are looking for her father. The radio detonator has a very wide range, he could be anywhere. Then there comes a flash of sun on glass from the top of the Bell Tower. Number 6 and Monique push their way through the crowd and go running off in its direction.
As the Top Hat comes to the end of his speech, the Butler steps forward carrying the Great Seal of Office laid on a crimson velvet cushion, the great seal lifted and placed about the retiring Number 2’s shoulders. His successor takes a step or two back as the retiring Number 2 begins his speech.
Number 6 and Monique have climbed the inside of the Bell Tower and have found her father. “Keep away!”
Number 6 rushes forward, takes the detonator from the Watchmaker, and rushes away, leaving Monique to look after her father.
On the balcony of the Gloriette the retiring Number 2 is coming to the end of his speech, wondering what is going to happen next. Because the anticipated explosion has not
taken place. The heir presumptive in the position of Number 2, orders Number 100 to go and find out what’s gone wrong, and to be quick about it.
Number 6 encounters Number 100 at the base of the Bell Town. Number 100 wants Number 6 to give him the detonator, Number 6 tries to get passed 100, and a fight ensues.
On the balcony its nervous new Number 2 who has the Great Seal of Office hung about his shoulders.
On the lawn by the Bell Tower Number 6 has Number 100 pinned to the ground, and wants a confession out of him. However 100 isn’t quite finished. He manages to break free of Number 6, who is quicker and stronger than 100 and throws a punch knocking 100 to the ground. Leaving 100 sprawled unconscious on a gravelled path, Number 6 with detonator in hand, rushes off to the Gloriette.
The new Number 2 is quickly coming to the end of his rushed speech, “And it is with great pride that I dedicate this magnificent monument which represents our appreciation of this great community.”
Below the balcony it is the butler who unveils the Appreciation day monument “ACHIEVEMENT.”
By this time Number 6 has made his way through the crowd and onto the balcony.
“Take it” he says to the retiring Number 2.
“What for?”
“It’s your passport, no-one will question its authority. The helicopter is waiting.”
“But they will get me eventually.”
“Fly now, pay later!”
“They’ll find me wherever I am.”
“As long as it’s not here, take it and go.”
The Brass band plays, and the Top Hats, and administrative personal are congratulating themselves on the balcony. The ex-Number 2 has his finger on the button of the detonator as he and the new Number 2 stare at each other. Then as the ex-Number 2 makes a dash for it, Number 6 steps forward stopping the new Number 2 from removing the Great Seal of Office from about his shoulders, effectively shaking him by the hands in congratulations.
“And so the great day is nearly over. Went off rather well I thought, better than planned. And now you can look forward to your own retirement and I’m sure they will arrange something equally suitable when the day comes.” {That day may arrive sooner than expected if the fiasco of Appreciation Day is anything to go by!}
Number 6 releases the grip of Number 2’s hand “Be seeing you….won’t I?”
The sound of the helicopter can be heard overhead, as Number 2 putting on his spectacles, looks up at the sky to see the helicopter climbing away from the Village. Then to his utter astonishment, the helicopter hovers for a moment, and turns back towards the Village!
Be seeing you next time, and best of luck with your exams!
“At last!” says the Supervisor-Number 26.
On the wall screen Number 50 makes her way into the bedroom, and just as she is about to wake the apparently slumbering figure of Number 6, he grabs hold of her wrist and pulls her down onto the bed!
“What are you doing here?” he barks.
“I was just about to wake you up” she tells him.
She has, and donning his dressing gown Number 6 wants to know who she is, and how she got into his cottage. Apparently the door was open, as it always is to them…….isn’t it? Number 50 wants Number 6’s help. He tells her to go to the Town hall, the citizens Council offers help and advice to everyone.
The girl protests!
“Their Citizens Council.”
“As far as I’m concerned, what’s theirs is yours” Number 6 tells her.
Number 50 demands that she is not one of them, but then no-one is, “Go back, tell them I was not interested, that I wouldn’t even listen. What’s the point, they know already. I wont go for it, whatever it is, so you may as well stop trying” Number 6 shouts showing Number 50 the door.
The young woman falls into a dead faint onto the lounge floor. Number 6 attends her with a glass of water as seen on the wall screen in the Control Room by the Supervisor-No.26 and an interim No2, still dressed in pyjamas and dressing gown, sporting thick black rimmed spectacles. Now we shall see how accurately they have timed it. Number 50 was given a drug yesterday, one of the new super strength moprobromates that has been developed. The girl doesn’t know anything about it. The drug remains dormant until triggered by the nervous system, and then releases itself to the desired quantity, to produce instant tranquillity, or temporary oblivion.
Until that point Number 6 was about the throw Number 50 out, now she has become a damsel in distress.
In the Control Room the interim Number 2 isn’t sure about the procedure of having the door left open. That was a last minute improvisation on the part of the Supervisor, because Number 6 doesn’t always answer the door when people come calling. Number 2 is not happy about this, as the
plan is far too important for slapdash improvisation, and takes the Supervisor down a peg.
The young woman comes round and puts the glass of water to her lips, she claims exhaustion, no it was drugs, her pupils are dilated. But Number 50 claims not to take drugs, so it must be forced feeding! Number 6 condescends to listen to Number 50’s story, just as long as what she says doesn’t become too obviously phoney. Number 50 explains about an assignation plot, that against Number 2. Number 6 questions whether she is trying to organise or prevent one, as it so happens to prevent. Number 6 asks her what it is she wants him to do.
“I just told you, I need your help in preventing an assassination” the girl pleads.
“They’ve heard, they are aware, and they don’t need anyone’s help!” shouts Number 6 so to remind the Observers.
The trouble is they don’t believe her, that’s why Number 50 came calling on Number 6 in the first place, and is surprised about so much caution in a man like him, it seems so wrong! The thing is Number 6 has been bitten many times, and is now forever shy. But they are not shy, they love to listen! But Number 6 doesn’t seem to understand. The girl’s name, her number is on a list for jamming, and we’re not talking about domestic science, or music making! Jamming is one of the ways of fighting back, he’ll learn about jamming one of these days, but not just at the moment as the girl storms out of his cottage!
Number 2 is disappointed with the result. Taking off his spectacles and wiping them with his handkerchief “If only I had just a little more time.”
“We’re running late as it is” the Supervisor reminds him.
“I know that!” Number 2 snaps.
A yellow ‘L’ shaped telephone begins to bleep. The Supervisor picks it up “Yes sir at once” and hands the telephone to Number 2.
The interim Number 2 explains the situation to his superior, that it was the girl’s reluctance. She took a long time in making up her mind, and Number 6 flatly refused to have anything to do with her. Number 2 thought that if they could replace Number 6, someone more tractable, less suspicious. But the reason Number 6 was selected was a matter of credibility without which the plan might backfire. But Number 2 has no choice in the matter, he must find a way to make him interested. He orders a daily prognosis report on Number 6 as quickly as possible.
In a computer room technicians work at their stations. Number 8 enters the room and orders a daily prognosis report on Number 6, that Number 2 requires it, and takes the seat at her desk.
Number 6’s daily routine is computed from six-thirty in the morning, exercising with a walk around the Village, to nine-twenty am when Number 6 goes to have his portrait painted by Number 118. This prognosis is then printed off, and sealed in an envelope, and taken to the Green Dome by Number 8.
Meanwhile Number 2 is in conference with his assistant Number 100, and so far he is happy with his progress on Plan Division Q. Number 100 has indoctrinated Number 51, a watchmaker, and father of Number 50, to make a bomb, with which it is intended to assassinate the retiring Number 2. Or rather execute the retiring Number 2, seeing as it’s a plot that has been devised so that innocent people can be blamed for the assassination of a Number 2, then mass reprisals can be carried out. In other words a purge of the Village to rid it of all known malcontents, of which Number 6 happens to be top of the list!
On the lawn of the Old People’s Home Number 6 is sat having his portrait painted by Number 118, who informs Number 6 as to what jammers are, and what it is they do. What they do these jammers is talk. They talk about the plots they’ve been hatching, escapes mostly, but plans and developments for all kinds of mischief. They do it to confuse the Observers. The plots they talk about are always make believe, non existent, but Control cannot know that until they’ve checked them out. Used to run themselves ragged investigating the schemes of jammers. But they don’t do it any more. Now they have a list of all known jammers. Anything that Control picks up from them, they just let ride.
In the Green Dome the pair of steel doors open, and Number 8 walks smartly down the ramp into Number 2’s office. Number 2 sits back in his chair, feet up on his desk, with a cup of tea in his hands. He asks Number 8 how accurate it is, what percentage is right or wrong regarding the daily prognosis of Number 6. Unfortunately Number 8 doesn’t know, because twice they programmed the machines for a percentile appraisal of their own efficiencies. Each time they refused to give the requested information, simply by not returning the data to them!!! They’ll be wanting their own Trade Union next!
Number 8 takes Number 2 through the prognosis report which they follow on the wall screen. It is now ten-nineteen exactly. According to the prognosis, Number 6 is now taking his daily stroll through the Village {what another one?!} At approximately ten-twenty he will go to the kiosk where he will buy at copy of the newspaper, a bar of soap, and a bag of sweets. A bag of sweets, Number 6 never eats candy, its wrong, and it doesn’t appear to work!
Except that Number 6 does buy a bag of sweets, for Number 36 whose credit allowance has all be used up, and who can’t go a whole day without her sweets.
Number 8 continues with the prognosis, it doesn’t matter about the chess matches, and carries on until Number 2 finds what he’s looking for, Number 6’s semi-weekly Kosho practise, and indicates to Number 100 that he knows what he wants.
Number 6 is engaged in his Kosho practice. Two men in Cossack garb, boxing mits, and crash helmets bouncing up and down on a pair of trampolines, the one trying to get the better of his opponent, until either one of them dunks his said opponent into a tank of water. Number 100 goes to Number 6’s locker, and exchanges his watch for an identical one that isn’t working. So that after Number 6 has showered and changed, he returns to his locker to collect his things to find his watch has stopped. Hence his next stop on his way home is the little Watchmakers shop.
The watchmaker is Number 51 father of Monique-Number 50. Entering the shop Number 6 hands the little white haired man his watch saying it’s stopped. The watchmaker goes into his back room and attends to the wrist watch. While he’s gone Number 6 observes a device on a work bench. Picking it up, he presses a button on the device which makes another device on the work bench operate. Number 51 returns saying the watch is working and snatches the device from Number 6’s hands.
“Intriguing, what is it?” Number 6 asks handing the man his credit card.
“It’s nothing, just a toy” the watchmaker says clipping the credit card.
“Good, very good” and slips the credit card into the breast pocket of his blazer and leaves the shop.
Moments after Number 6 has gone, Number 100 emerges from the back room of the shop. Well that all went perfectly well, although it wasn’t very difficult. But Number 51 cannot understand why it was necessary to expose their method like that. To let the enemy know what they are up to. It’s to add to their confusion, that is what they stand to gain. Because they don’t believe anything jammers do, or intend to do, that is why they can carry out their plan.
Outside the shop Number 6 meets with Monique-Number 50. She saw him go in. Number 6 begs her pardon. Number 50 wonders how he found out. She hadn’t told him about the watchmaker. But it was his watch, it had stopped, and that is the only reason Number 6 had gone to see the watchmaker. And that would explain Number 50’s concern. But now Number 6 no longer has that same total
disinterest. Because he doesn’t believe that a device to detonate explosive by radio, is a toy, and neither does Monique’s father!
Observing the scene between Number 6 and Monique on the wall screen in the Green Dome, is Number 2 and a man in a grey blazer, Number 22.
“I suppose it may work.”
“It is working” insists Number 2.
“Whatever you call it, Plan Division Q is still murder.”
Number 2 tells Number 22 that he has specific duties, and to stick to them, the rest he can leave to Number 100. Number 6 hasn’t fallen for it yet, but he will. And afterwards, when it’s all over Number 2 will be showered with congratulations.
“Yes, well after he’s been here to warn me that an assassination is being plotted, and that I’m the intended victim!”
Perhaps this interim Number 2 should be reminded, that any plan involving Number 6 has been prone to failure!
Number 6 and Monique meet at the Café, they talk about the assassination plot, and of her father’s involvement. There is another man involved, but don’t ask her who he is, whose anyone in the Village?
Number 6 and Monique pay a call on her father at his shop.
“It has stopped again?” enquires the watchmaker.
“No, its running fine” Number 6 replies.
Both Monique and Number 6 try to talk Number 50 out of this action he is going to take. It is an insane idea that has got hold of him. But the watchmaker is no mad man. His daughter refuses to understand, that what he is doing is for principle. “We are in this prison for life, all of us. But I have met no-one who has committed a crime.”
There must be some other way, not by murder. And yet Number 50 still sees it as “Assassination!” But the entire Village will be punished! “Maybe that’s what they need to wake them up, to shake them out of their lethargy. To make them angry enough to fight.” There is no shaking the watchmaker form his belief, such is Number 100’s indoctrination of the watchmaker, who must now get on this his work!
Number 6 does indeed pay Number 2 a call to warn him of the intended plot to assassinate him. But unbeknown to Number 6, the meeting is being recorded on both film and audio tape. This in order that both film and audio can be edited so that it shows that Number 6 has made more than one warning of imminent death by violence plots. This so that the Number 2 who is soon to return from a spell of leave {leave, I didn’t know Number 2’s were allowed to go on leave} will not believe Number 6’s warning of an assassination plot. A kind of crying wolf too often! Certainly the interim Number 2 pooh - poohs the idea of a possible assassination. Number 6 informs him that there are some very unhappy people in the Village. Number 2 informs him that he’s seen the list of malcontents, in fact it might interest Number 6 know that he’s top of the bill! {does that mean if the Village carry out their purge of malcontents Number 6 will be among their number?} Number 2 asks Number 6 how they are going to go about it, when, where. Did they show him the gun? No, in fact they are going to blow him up!
After leaving the Green Dome, Number 6 meets up with Monique at the Brass Band concert. He explains to her that Number 2 thinks he’s being used as a communications medium, one more credible that her father, and he wouldn’t know whether to believe him or not. Number 6 has no choice but to go on with it.
Village announcement “Good afternoon everyone, good afternoon. I’ve some exciting news for you. Your citizens Council officially proclaims Thursday, the day after tomorrow as “Appreciation Day.” The day when we pay due honour to those brave and noble men who govern us so wisely. You will be delighted to hear that proceedings will be opened by Number 2 himself, and concluded by the unveiling of our new Appreciation Day monument. They’ll be speeches, thrills and excitement.” And maybe more excitement than planned!
That evening Number 6 and Monique go into the watchmakers shop. On a work bench they find both the plan for, and a replica of, the Great Seal of Office always worn by Number 2 at official ceremonies. Inside the great Seal, it is packed with explosive!
The following morning Number 6 arrives at the Green Dome to see Number 2.
Number Six isn’t it. I’ve been expecting you” says the aged man sitting in the chair behind the desk.
“I want to see Number Two” Number 6 tells the man.
“I am Number Two” the aged man tells him.
This Number 2 doesn’t appear to recognise Number 6, and Number 6 certainly doesn’t know this Number 2. Perhaps they didn’t have much to do with each other!
“You’ve come to tell me there’s a plot against my life, haven’t you? You know my very efficient colleague is very concerned about these imminent death by violence projects you’ve been reporting during my absence.”
“Plots? I’ve reported only one.”
“Not so” begins Number 2 “my very efficient colleague, should I say my heir presumptive, has been collecting
evidence, that every interim Number Two who has served here while I’ve been away on leave, has been cautioned by you, about some improbable conspiracy to murder him.”
Number 2 shows Number 6 surveillance footage of him reporting a plot to assassinate them. Film which has obviously been faked. But to what purpose? Why should they want to convince Number 6 that he’s not well? Perhaps it’s Number 2 they want to convince. And yet tomorrow Number 2 hands over to his successor, he retires. Perhaps then, they are trying to save a pension!
Later, alone in his office, Number 2 listens to a conversation between Number 6 and Monique at the Café. This convinces Number 2 enough to ask his assistant Number 22 to send someone over to the Bureau of Visual Records, as there is a tape he wishes to review. The Subject “Warning of an assassination plot, persons Number 6 and my successor.” But it would be a waste of time, as Number 22 can confirm that there’s no such recording of that description. But Number 22 has no duty functions at the Bureau of Visual records, yet he can say instantly and with total assurance that the records No.2 require are non existent. Number 2 asks Number 22 to explain. But the fact that Number 22 won’t explain, explains everything.
Number 6 and Monique must try and prevent the assassination of Number 2, not only for her father’s sake, but for everyone’s. Number 6 has one final try at convincing Number 2, who left orders with the butler that he wasn’t to be disturbed. But what Number 6 has to say won’t wait. Number 2 knows what it is, that tomorrow he is to be assassinated, but replace that with executed, seeing as it’s his own people who are doing it.
“You don’t mind?” asks Number 6.
“Of course I mind. It’s just I never thought it would happen to me.”
“It never does, to anybody. But it can be prevented.”
“Preventing is only postponing. You’ve never understood us Number Six, we never fail!”
“The ceremony can take place without the seal>“
“The seal is the ceremony.”
“It’s hollowed out, it’s packed with explosives……….”
“And before I hand it over to my successor?”
“It will be detonated by radio!”
“I can think of better ways to die!”
“And better causes to die for!” Number 6 tells him.
In a computer room the interim Number 2 is on the telephone speaking to Number 1, he‘s simply oozing with simpering confidence. “Plan Division Q is all set, it’s working beautifully….dead on time you could say….No sir, no, no, just the way you ordered it…..The people are gathering now,
it will be very spectacular……..No nothing can go wrong now, I’ll stake my future on it……Well thank you sir, I know you will.”
Outside in the Village the good citizens of the Village are parading carrying placards of Number 2, the one about to retire, and that of his successor. Eventually they gather in the central piazza, as the two Number 2’s, along with Top Hats and other members of Administration take up their positions on the balcony of the Gloriette. The Brass band plays and the people cheer. It is a Top Hart Administrator who opens the Appreciation Day proceedings.
“Fellow citizens, no dear friends, for that is what you are, each and everyone of you. We are gathered here on this happy occasion, our annual Appreciation day, to pay homage and to show our gratitude to our glorious leaders.”
The citizens cheer and applaud.
“Now is the time to give thanks to our departing leader, let us pay tribute to the great achievements of our retiring Number Two. The improved Café facilities, the extra Blue Zone in the post, the new flower garden which you admire so much. The golf course, and clock golf. We say thank you Number Two for the plans you have made for us, the new concert hall which is to be built. The beautiful new mural in the library, and the electrification of the clocks. In saying goodbye we salute you for your glorious achievements.”
Blimey! No wonder the out-going Number 2 never had any direct contact with Number 6, he never had time!
While the speeches continue, in the crowd Number 6 and Monique are looking for her father. The radio detonator has a very wide range, he could be anywhere. Then there comes a flash of sun on glass from the top of the Bell Tower. Number 6 and Monique push their way through the crowd and go running off in its direction.
As the Top Hat comes to the end of his speech, the Butler steps forward carrying the Great Seal of Office laid on a crimson velvet cushion, the great seal lifted and placed about the retiring Number 2’s shoulders. His successor takes a step or two back as the retiring Number 2 begins his speech.
Number 6 and Monique have climbed the inside of the Bell Tower and have found her father. “Keep away!”
Number 6 rushes forward, takes the detonator from the Watchmaker, and rushes away, leaving Monique to look after her father.
On the balcony of the Gloriette the retiring Number 2 is coming to the end of his speech, wondering what is going to happen next. Because the anticipated explosion has not
taken place. The heir presumptive in the position of Number 2, orders Number 100 to go and find out what’s gone wrong, and to be quick about it.
Number 6 encounters Number 100 at the base of the Bell Town. Number 100 wants Number 6 to give him the detonator, Number 6 tries to get passed 100, and a fight ensues.
On the balcony its nervous new Number 2 who has the Great Seal of Office hung about his shoulders.
On the lawn by the Bell Tower Number 6 has Number 100 pinned to the ground, and wants a confession out of him. However 100 isn’t quite finished. He manages to break free of Number 6, who is quicker and stronger than 100 and throws a punch knocking 100 to the ground. Leaving 100 sprawled unconscious on a gravelled path, Number 6 with detonator in hand, rushes off to the Gloriette.
The new Number 2 is quickly coming to the end of his rushed speech, “And it is with great pride that I dedicate this magnificent monument which represents our appreciation of this great community.”
Below the balcony it is the butler who unveils the Appreciation day monument “ACHIEVEMENT.”
By this time Number 6 has made his way through the crowd and onto the balcony.
“Take it” he says to the retiring Number 2.
“What for?”
“It’s your passport, no-one will question its authority. The helicopter is waiting.”
“But they will get me eventually.”
“Fly now, pay later!”
“They’ll find me wherever I am.”
“As long as it’s not here, take it and go.”
The Brass band plays, and the Top Hats, and administrative personal are congratulating themselves on the balcony. The ex-Number 2 has his finger on the button of the detonator as he and the new Number 2 stare at each other. Then as the ex-Number 2 makes a dash for it, Number 6 steps forward stopping the new Number 2 from removing the Great Seal of Office from about his shoulders, effectively shaking him by the hands in congratulations.
“And so the great day is nearly over. Went off rather well I thought, better than planned. And now you can look forward to your own retirement and I’m sure they will arrange something equally suitable when the day comes.” {That day may arrive sooner than expected if the fiasco of Appreciation Day is anything to go by!}
Number 6 releases the grip of Number 2’s hand “Be seeing you….won’t I?”
The sound of the helicopter can be heard overhead, as Number 2 putting on his spectacles, looks up at the sky to see the helicopter climbing away from the Village. Then to his utter astonishment, the helicopter hovers for a moment, and turns back towards the Village!
Be seeing you next time, and best of luck with your exams!
Saturday, 29 March 2014
Orange Alert!
I know readers will be disappointed to read this, but there will be no blog articles today. After logging onto the internet this morning my computer became infected with a virus, which locked my computer utterly and completely. Whoever is behind this virus wants me to pay £100 to get my computer unblocked. To hell with them!
Normal service will be resumed soon, hopefully tomorrow, if not by the General, then via the Colonel.
Be seeing you soon
David
Normal service will be resumed soon, hopefully tomorrow, if not by the General, then via the Colonel.
Be seeing you soon
David
Friday, 28 March 2014
Teabreak Teaser
In ‘the Girl Who Was Death,’ why should No.2 think No.6 would open up to children, and tell them the some ridiculous story about why he resigned ?
BCNU
Quote For The Day
“Nice to be seeing you all again.”
{Madam Professor – The General}
What does Madam Professor mean by that remark? She’s the one on television, the citizens or rather students can see her, but what she suggests is, that she can see the students. That would imply that the short circuit television system is a two-way system, which was once suggested by No.6 in ‘Dance of the Dead’ when he pressed a cushion against the television screen in his cottage, presumably to annoy the observer watching.
Be seeing you
The Professor and Speedlearn
“Speedlearn,” the Professor explains “is quite simply the most important, the most far reaching, most beneficent development in mass education since the beginning of time. A marriage of science and mass communication which results in the abolition of years of tedious, wasteful schooling. A three year course indelibly impressed upon the mind in three minutes. Impossible? That’s what I said until I was introduced to the General. And then I realised, that not only was it possible, but that education is ready for a giant leap forward from the dark ages into the twenty and twenty-first centuries. Ladies and gentlemen, I have been a teacher for the thirty years…..Speedlearn has made me as obsolete as the Dodo!”
No it hasn’t! If anything the Professor is working harder than ever. He is forever typing up notes for his next lecture, because no sooner has one instalment of a lecture been completed, than he’s busy working on the first phase of the next instalment. In fact due to the success of the course, it has put an added strain on the Professor. Hence the need for a little rest and therapy treatment now and again in order to keep him working. It would seem that through his enthusiasm and admiration for Speedlearn, the Professor has become a slave to it. More than that, Speedlearn would make slaves of us all!
Be seeing you
Map of Your Village
In regard to the location of the Village it doesn’t so much as tell you where, simply what. But even then the information given by the map is restrictive. The sea, but there is no name, and the mountains, what mountains? The woods, well they could be almost anywhere. All Your Map of the Village will tell you is, that you are in the Village! Not until the final episode is the “where” explained!
Be seeing you
Thursday, 27 March 2014
Caught On Camera!
Surely it was reported that the telephone was missing from the telephone kiosk. Not to mention the screwdriver and piece of electrical equipment form the trailer of the electrics truck. Mind you I suppose the electrician might have thought he had simply misplaced the screwdriver and piece of equipment. I don't know how the Supervisor-No.56 missed seeing the camera being stolen. When the Rook is busy disconnecting the surveillance camera, the Supervisor is scanning the central area of the Village at the time as the Rook tilts the camera downwards to get at the wiring so to rip it out, and then the wall screen in the Control Room goes blank! That should have told the Supervisor-No.56 that something was wrong. And didn't the electrician who was sent to repair camera thirty-four which was kaput report that it was actually missing from its plinth? All these thefts, and act of wanton vandalism, were they never reported? It would seem not!
Be seeing you, but not via camera 34 it seems!
Increase Vigilance Call From New No.2
"Increase Vigilance Call From No.2," this in the matter of the Security of the Community. Number 6 once said in one of the televised speeches in ‘Free For All’ that the security of the citizens was his primary objective! He may not have been elected to the position of No.2, Chairman of the Village, but he certainly began sounding like one!
A good friend of mine brought to my attention the other day, the American spelling of “Neighbors” in the article of The Tally Ho in the episode ‘Hammer Into Anvil.’
I had read the article before of course, even having written a couple of pieces of Prisoner blog on the subject. But for some reason the American spelling of 'Neighbors' had slipped by. As to the author of that article, I have no idea who he or she was. Fictionally speaking in regard to 'Hammer Into Anvil,' can we be sure they are No.2's actual words, remembering the article in The Tally Ho in which "No.6 speaks His Mind" in 'Free For All' which were not his own words, but had been written previous even to the interview with that interview with No.113.
It has always been my own personal opinion, that the article, although written for a prop for ‘Hammer into Anvil,’ reflects an aspect of the "Cold War." More specifically, the American McCarthy Communist witch hunt of the 1950's, when neighbours were encouraged to denounce neighbour for any form of anti-American act, to denounce people for being Communists.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism
To quote the article "We must constantly be on our guard against enemies in our midst." that could be likened to what was happening inAmerica
"Let those who think they can strike when our guard is down take heed. We never sleep. We will never relax our guard. We know there are those who believe they can get away with their plots and conspiracies. They will be taught a lesson." Such was the Communist paranoia at the height of the Communist witch hunts of the 1950's. Communists were seen to be everywhere, even when they were not there in the first place! The whole article does smack of paranoia, and can easily be paralleled to those Communist witch hunts. Well that has always been my own personal perception and interpretation of the article for what it is worth.
I had read the article before of course, even having written a couple of pieces of Prisoner blog on the subject. But for some reason the American spelling of 'Neighbors' had slipped by. As to the author of that article, I have no idea who he or she was. Fictionally speaking in regard to 'Hammer Into Anvil,' can we be sure they are No.2's actual words, remembering the article in The Tally Ho in which "No.6 speaks His Mind" in 'Free For All' which were not his own words, but had been written previous even to the interview with that interview with No.113.
It has always been my own personal opinion, that the article, although written for a prop for ‘Hammer into Anvil,’ reflects an aspect of the "Cold War." More specifically, the American McCarthy Communist witch hunt of the 1950's, when neighbours were encouraged to denounce neighbour for any form of anti-American act, to denounce people for being Communists.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism
To quote the article "We must constantly be on our guard against enemies in our midst." that could be likened to what was happening in
"Let those who think they can strike when our guard is down take heed. We never sleep. We will never relax our guard. We know there are those who believe they can get away with their plots and conspiracies. They will be taught a lesson." Such was the Communist paranoia at the height of the Communist witch hunts of the 1950's. Communists were seen to be everywhere, even when they were not there in the first place! The whole article does smack of paranoia, and can easily be paralleled to those Communist witch hunts. Well that has always been my own personal perception and interpretation of the article for what it is worth.
Be seeing you
Village Life!
"But I thought......"
"Don't.......I know you are as excited as I am. But this is my Six of One Prisoner mailing, you can read it later!"
BCNU
Pictorial Prisoner!
BCNU
How's The Professor?
"I've given him some sedation" the doctor is heard to reply.
Well either the doctor is a blithering idiot....or he's simply following orders, possibly the latter. Because that's not the Professor lying in his bed, and the Prisoner quickly picked up on that fact. It might look like the Professor, but it isn't, and what's more the doctor knows it, but still he and his nurse go through the motions of looking after the Professor's well being. But for whose benefit? Surely not for Madam Professor, seeing as it was she who made that wax effigy of her husband's head. And yet there was the puzzled look on Madam Professor's face, as though she didn't understand what was happening, as No.6 passed a piece of her husband's face to her, saying she should take greater care of her husband.
“He’s gone to pieces!”
No.6 who was about to bring down that walking stick onto the Professor's head, knew that it wasn’t the Professor. So surely Madam Professor must have also known that wasn’t her husband lying in the bed! When I have watched the scene I have often wondered why it is that madam Professor screams, who or what she screams for? Her husband, or her masterpiece that No.6 is about to ruin, did ruin in fact.
“Ah my dear, he seems to have made a bit of a mess of your masterpiece” No.2 tells her.
So madam Professor had made that wax effigy of her husband's head. So why feign her reaction as though she had no idea of what was going on, was it simply for the Prisoner’s benefit? This is one of those situations in the Prisoner when the viewer isn't sure what's going on. But in this case, I'm not sure that madam Professor does either!
Be seeing you
Wednesday, 26 March 2014
More Village
This is 544, a waitress at the Solar cafe, who died in an explosion, the Solar Cafe having been blown up, caused by a suspected gas leak. I have to say that it was something of an extreme way to have someone killed who was both a dreamer, and with whom Six was getting up close and friendly.
544 suffered a Village death, someone who didn't truly die, but in her Village death was returned to her former life in the "other place," namely New York City Yet there is another way of looking at it, because just before the explosion there was an announcement which Six heard over a nearby radio that was playing, about an apparent gas explosion in the heart of Brooklyn. It was reported in radio broadcast that only Six heard. So was 544’s other self was killed in a gas explosion back in Brooklyn because of her Village death? And yet on the other hand, it might have been that 544’s other self died in a gas explosion in Brooklyn , and that explosion was then mirrored in the Village with the explosion of the Solar Café.
Because if a citizen of the Village suffers a Village death they simply cease to exist there, people brought to the Village only exist in the Village in their subconscious mind. But someone who has been brought to the Village, still physically exists in New York Brooklyn , then she would cease to exist in the Village because she had physically died.
There is much in THEPRIS6NER to conjure with in the mind.
Be seeing you
Thought For The Day
"Don't tell me that time travel is in it as well!"
It's improbable, but not impossible, anything is possible in the Village. Take the situation of the Prisoner that time all unpleasant memories of the Village had been wiped from his mind. His mind then regressed back to the day he was to hand in his letter of resignation, and was then returned to his London home in Buckingham Place, in the City of Westminster. Well that's all well and good as far as it goes. Then the Prisoner wakes up only to find he's not the man he thought he was, but that of the Colonel! What's more as the Prisoner stares into the mirror some of those unpleasant memories of the Village suddenly come flooding back. Well it wouldn't be the first time that all has been revealed to No.6 when he's stared into a mirror!
So, with the Prisoner's mind in the body of the Colonel, the Prisoner finds it impossible to hand in his letter of resignation, not with having the face of another man. So instead he goes off to see Sir Charles Portland in order to seek his help with this current situation the Prisoner finds himself in. But just a minute! The Prisoner hasn't handed in his letter of resignation yet, so he's still working for Sir Charles Portland and his department within British Intelligence. But surely it's only the Prisoner's mind that has been regressed to the day he should have handed in his resignation, not physically taken back to that time. So that when the Prisoner wakes up on the day he resigned, he had already resigned a year before, as also on that day the Prisoner was abducted to the Village. So that even if in the mind of the Prisoner he had not resigned yet, to Sir Charles Portland that wouldn't have mattered, because the Prisoner had resigned. Although Sir Charles didn't seem to be aware of that fact, because he admits to his daughter Janet that he hadn't sent the Prisoner-ZM73 on a mission. So the only way that all this could come about, is if the Prisoner's mind had physically been sent back in time in the Colonel's body to the day the Prisoner resigned! Is that right? If it is, then time travel would be in it after all.
Be seeing you
He Might Have Dropped His Guard with Children!
In the episode of ‘The Girl Who Was Death,’ No.6 seems to have taken up the position as a child minder. When this activity began is unknown, however it seems highly unlikely that it was a “one off,” seeing as the children want him to come again tomorrow, which the Prisoner promises to do, as he’s no other important appointments. And yet we have no idea whose children the two boys and girl are. It has been suggested that the children were brought to the Village in order for No.2 and his assistant No.10 to bring out No.6’s child minder skill, in an attempt to extract the reason why he resigned by opening up to children. But all he did was tell the children a blessed fairytale! But I suppose it was worth a try, anything is worth a try when you consider everything else that has thus far failed!
And these children, I don’t see the Village Administration being so cruel as to abduct three defenceless children to the Village. Unless they happen to be orphans, having been brought to the Village with a promise of a better life. Also I don’t see the children as have been brought to the Village with their abducted parent or parents. Although that could be the case with Monique and her father the Watchmaker. However it is just as plausible that Monique was born in the Village. And that could be the case with the three children to whom No.6 tells the fairytale. In that case the children would have no knowledge of the outside world. They wouldn’t know what a lighthouse is, a cricket match, or a funfair. And could they visualise the action taking place in their minds? The car chase, the interior of a public house. The funfair, thevillage of Witchwood
But of course it wasn’t just the children who No.6 was telling his fairytale to, there was No.2, No.10, and you, I, and many television viewers like us. Goodnight children....everywhere.
And these children, I don’t see the Village Administration being so cruel as to abduct three defenceless children to the Village. Unless they happen to be orphans, having been brought to the Village with a promise of a better life. Also I don’t see the children as have been brought to the Village with their abducted parent or parents. Although that could be the case with Monique and her father the Watchmaker. However it is just as plausible that Monique was born in the Village. And that could be the case with the three children to whom No.6 tells the fairytale. In that case the children would have no knowledge of the outside world. They wouldn’t know what a lighthouse is, a cricket match, or a funfair. And could they visualise the action taking place in their minds? The car chase, the interior of a public house. The funfair, the
But of course it wasn’t just the children who No.6 was telling his fairytale to, there was No.2, No.10, and you, I, and many television viewers like us. Goodnight children....everywhere.
Be seeing you
Caught On Camera!
BCNU
Tuesday, 25 March 2014
Quote For The Day
"To us" is 'A's' toast.
"As we are or as we were?"
"It's been a long time."
"Not long enough."
"We used to be friends."
"Once."
"With a lot in common."
"That's in the past."
"Then lets think of the future, we're still the same people."
"Working for different sides."
"Sides don't matter, only success."
"In that case we should still have a great deal in common."
"We do the same job."
"For different reasons."
I did once wonder if this man was actually Chambers. He knows the Prisoner, they were friends once, they did the same job perhaps for the Foreign Office. Chambers, although we don't know what the Prisoner was going to try and stop Chambers from doing, but in all probability it he was to defect. 'A' defected, but the trouble was that was six years ago, a large stumbling block that. It's much too long ago for the Prisoner. And yet, those images we see of the Prisoner getting ready to meet Chambers late of the Foreign Office. The Prisoner was hoping to change his mind before the "big boys" found out. He waited and waited but he never turned up. We don't know the date, when those pictures we see on No.2's wall screen were taken. They could have been taken six years ago, and that would put 'A' right in the frame as Chambers!
"As we are or as we were?"
"It's been a long time."
"Not long enough."
"We used to be friends."
"Once."
"With a lot in common."
"That's in the past."
"Then lets think of the future, we're still the same people."
"Working for different sides."
"Sides don't matter, only success."
"In that case we should still have a great deal in common."
"We do the same job."
"For different reasons."
Be seeing you
Village Life!
"What's a Lighthouse?"
"I want to go to that Funfair thing, it sounds fun!"
BCNU
The Prisoner – No.6
Food for thought! Is the Prisoner-No.6 too good to be true, and how believable is his character?" I know he wants to be free, to escape. But escape from what, the Village, or himself? And when he gets the freedom he craves, what exactly will he do with it? It is possible that the Prisoner-No.6 is unhappy with himself, that he needs to find inner peace.
As for his character, why didn't No.6 crack under the techniques employed against him? I know that agents are trained to withstand almost any interrogation technique. But no-one is as strong and rigid as No.6, if he doesn't bend, he'll break, as No.2 once said during 'The Chimes of Big Ben.' Even the best trained agents break under prolonged interrogation, they do not get the better of their adversaries as No.6 does. For No.6 not to crack under interrogation would make him less than human. Heroes always have their faults, No.6 comes across as being perfect. There is one time when No.6 does show real signs of "cracking up," during 'The Schizoid Man.' But then No.6 gets lucky, and in reversing the electrical therapy/conditioning he previously underwent, he was able to regain his "old self!"
The Prisoner has a high moral standard, but no man is that moral. His relationships, if you can call them relationships, with women in the Village, go so far and no further. He comes to the aid of a "damsel in distress," but wants nothing from them for himself. No,6, the perfect gentleman, or so it appears!
As John Drake, Patrick McGoohan used to be my boyhood hero. As the Prisoner-No.6 I have idolised him for decades. But now I'm beginning to see No.6 through different eyes. Perhaps I've been mistaken all these years, that No.6 is just too perfect, and simply too good to be true.
Monday, 24 March 2014
Caught On Camera!
BcNu
Pictorial Prisoner
Be seeing you
Thought For The Day
To actually have built such an installation would have taken many, many, many thousands of pounds, perhaps even into the millions of pounds. Private contractors would have to had been used. Companies supplying all manner of home furnishings, and technical equipment. Vehicles such as a black hearse, the specially prepared Mini-Mokes, the garden tractors, bicycles, the Alouette helicopter. The Village signs. Tinned food with the Village Food labels, rolls of Village film. Packets of Village darning needles, the clothes worn by the citizens. The Village record label. Not to mention to cost of supplying gas, water, and electricity to the Village. In fact anything, anything at all which is used in the Village has to be produced by companies and then delivered to the Village. So the question is;
Home Secretary "How much do you charge for building a detention camp?"
Sir Charles Portland "Not as much you charge for keeping quiet about building a detention camp!"
Once the Village has been built, one way to keep the private contractors quiet is not to allow them to leave. In otherwords the first citizens of the Village would have been those who built it in the first place! Outside the Village, managing directors of many private production companies, as well as employment agencies, and private contractors would have to sign the official secrets act, and they would then be held responsible for keeping their workers quiet, possibly by paying bonuses.
Its all very well having the Village, but it comes at a cost. And the greater cost may not lie in the construction!
Be seeing you
The Prisoner Under the Spotlight
"Thank you gentlemen for your confidence in the General, and now to show our confidence in you, we will give you an entire breakdown in the entire operation, in confidence of course."
No.2 - The General
No.2 - The General
No.12 - The General
After watching that episode of the General a couple of weeks ago, I got wondering why so much had been made in the episode of the word confidence by both No.2 and No.12 - of Administration - when addressing the members of the Educational Board, in the Boardroom. Then it was whilst I was perusing an old article about The General that I read what scriptwriter of The General, Lewis Greifer, had to say on the subject. When asked about the "confidence" puns. "At about that time, Pat McGoohan and I joked with each other about the old-fashioned appellation "Confidential Agent." McGoohan had asked Greifer who his agent was, and Greifer responded that that was confidential. McGoohan replied "Confidential Agent" and repeated it a few times, laughing. If this is someone whose identity is secret, is it someone you trust? Number Twelve asks "Who do you trust, Number Six?" and the Prisoner answers "I trust me." "Join the club" is Number Twelve's response. And ironically, as it turns out, Number Twelve can trust Number Six, whose last gambit is an attempt to save Number Twelve from Number Two's suspicions.
In The General, Speedlearn is nothing more than a humongous con. In a sense confidence is at the very core of education. Parents confide their children to school, confident that the children will be filled with knowledge. But whose knowledge will it be? And what will happen to their curiosity, or their freedom to learn? Or for that matter, to their confidence?"
And of course Number Six could be described as being a former "Confidential Agent" before he resigned, because when Number Six and Number Two are role playing, Number Six is recruited by a bank Manager, into a "Confidential job". And later, as Prisoner and Judge in the Embryo Room of Once Upon A time, the Prisoner is charged with speeding, reckless driving, and manslaughter, Number Six demanded in his defence, that he had been on a secret mission. A mission of secret, and confidential business. In fact it was "State, top secret, confidential business!"
Be seeing you
Sunday, 23 March 2014
Pictorial Prisoner!
BCNU
It's Your Funeral!
During James the II {of England} brief reign, the populace as a whole were concerned the Kingdom would become Catholic. William of Orange offered to invade England {for a multitude of reasons} and without going into details, in a short time it became obvious to James that he should flee the country. This suited William very well and hoped he would slip away unhindered.
Unfortunately James II was caught by a group of fishermen who didn't realise quite who he was, and brought him back to London, which was the last thing William wanted! Things then had to be arranged for James II to escape a second time.
The parallel between the ex-No.2 and James II is perhaps not an exact one, however I do see a similarity. I'm sure No.2 didn't want the ex-No.2 returned to the Village because of the problem it would cause. What happend the moment the ex-No.2 stepped out of the helicopter is not known. It might be that a second chance to leave the Village was
arranged for the ex-No.2, or on the other hand, he may have been quietly retired into the Old People's Home.
Be seeing you
Flapjack Charlie Is My Name
"Do you think I'd forgotten we used to call you Flapjack Charlie."
What, because of his liking for Flapjacks? That sounds rather like Champagne Charlie to my mind, and his liking for......................well for Champagne.
''Champagne Charlie Is My Name'
Some people go for funny drinks and down 'em by the pail
Like coffee, cocoa, tea and milk and even Adam's ale
For my part they can keep the lot I never would complain
I wouldn't touch the bloomin' stuff, I only drink champagne. For,
Like coffee, cocoa, tea and milk and even Adam's ale
For my part they can keep the lot I never would complain
I wouldn't touch the bloomin' stuff, I only drink champagne. For,
Chorus: Champagne Charlie is my name
Champagne Charlie is my name
There's no drink as good as fizz, fizz, fizz
I'll drink every drop there is, is, is
All round town it is the same
By Pop! Pop! Pop! I rose to fame
I'm the idol of the barmaidsChampagne Charlie is my name.
Champagne Charlie is my name
There's no drink as good as fizz, fizz, fizz
I'll drink every drop there is, is, is
All round town it is the same
By Pop! Pop! Pop! I rose to fame
I'm the idol of the barmaids
I earned my famous title thro' a hobby which I've got
Of never letting others pay however long the shot
Whoever drinks at my expense has no need to complain
For everyone I treat alike I make 'em drink champagne. For,
Chorus: Champagne Charlie is my name
Champagne Charlie is my name
There's no drink as good as fizz, fizz, fizz
I'll drink every drop there is, is, is
All round town it is the same
By Pop! Pop! Pop! I rose to fame
I'm the idol of the barmaidsChampagne Charlie is my name. Perhaps you think what I say now is just a bit of chaff
And only put into this song to raise a little laugh
To prove that I'm not jesting and the sort of man I am
I'm going to stand champagne all round and stand it like a lamb. For,
Of never letting others pay however long the shot
Whoever drinks at my expense has no need to complain
For everyone I treat alike I make 'em drink champagne. For,
Chorus: Champagne Charlie is my name
Champagne Charlie is my name
There's no drink as good as fizz, fizz, fizz
I'll drink every drop there is, is, is
All round town it is the same
By Pop! Pop! Pop! I rose to fame
I'm the idol of the barmaids
And only put into this song to raise a little laugh
To prove that I'm not jesting and the sort of man I am
I'm going to stand champagne all round and stand it like a lamb. For,
Chorus: Champagne Charlie is my name
Champagne Charlie is my name
There's no drink as good as fizz, fizz, fizz
I'll drink every drop there is, is, is
All round town it is the same
By Pop! Pop! Pop! I rose to fame
I'm the idol of the barmaidsChampagne Charlie is my name.
Champagne Charlie is my name
There's no drink as good as fizz, fizz, fizz
I'll drink every drop there is, is, is
All round town it is the same
By Pop! Pop! Pop! I rose to fame
I'm the idol of the barmaids
Be seeing you
Saturday, 22 March 2014
Teabreak Teaser
In 'Hammer Into Anvil,' why didn't No.2 place more trust in his assistant No.14?
BCNU
BCNU
Thought For The Day
In an early scene in ‘Hammer Into Anvil,’ No.6 is undergoing an interrogation session conducted by No.2 in his office. Suddenly there is a telephone call, presumably from No.1, although there is no evidence for this, but certainly a person superior to No.2. However it is difficult to imagine it is not No.1. The telephone call is most timely, as it comes immediately after No.2 has struck No.6 in the face with the back of his hand. The reason for No.1's phone call is suggestive, that No.2 has over stepped the mark, by physically striking No.6. there is a phrase “Look after Number One, as no-one else will.” In this instance it appears that No.1 is looking after No.6!
Be seeing you
Be seeing you
Room One-O-One
For those who do not know, and there cannot be many of them, Room One-O-One is a place in the novel Nineteen-Eighty-Four by George Orwell, It is a torture chamber in the Ministry of Love, in which the Party attempts to subject a prisoner to his or her own worst nightmare, fear or phobia.
"You asked me once, what was in Room One-O-One. I told you that you know the answer already. The Thing in the Room One-O-One is the worst thing in the world. Everyone knows it. The thing that is in Room One-O-One is the worst thing in the world."
It could be interpreted in THEPRIS6NER episode of Checkmate, that Six is in Room One-O-One facing his worst fear.
"You asked me once, what was in Room One-O-One. I told you that you know the answer already. The Thing in the Room One-O-One is the worst thing in the world. Everyone knows it. The thing that is in Room One-O-One is the worst thing in the world."
It could be interpreted in THEPRIS6NER episode of Checkmate, that Six is in Room One-O-One facing his worst fear.
It may not be Six as his own worst enemy, but in facing his own worst nightmare, Six conjures up the white mass of the Village Guardian!
"Then why do you conjure up this? Look Six, look up. Look at your fear, see what you create with it."
Be seeing you
Caught On Camera!
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