Curiouser And Curiouser

    The Prisoner is curious about, and indeed asks the question “Who is Number One?" And it has been interpreted that depending on which word the emphasis is placed, the answer is “you are Number 6,” meaning the Prisoner is Number One. But at that time, before the advent of ’Fall Out,’ no-one knew who Number One was. So during the opening sequence when the Prisoner asks who Number One is, and Number Two replies you are Number Six, he’s telling the Prisoner just that, that the Prisoner is Number Six.
   Number Two tells Number Six that he is definately an optimist, that’s why it doesn’t matter who Number One is. Number Two also informed Number Six, that as far as he is concerned, he is in charge, but Number Six never once asked who Number Two is. Well he did, “I am the new Number Two” was the  reply. But other than that Number Six never knew any more than that. He may have seen the many faces of Number Two, the many facets of Number Two, the different characters. He may have struck up a rapport with Number Two from time to time, but he does not know who Number Two is. But then as Number Eight once said “Who's anyone here?”
   Number Six even asked the white Queen-Number Eight who Number One is, but she evaded the question, I’ve never understood why. As if Number Eight would know. I should doubt Number One had never been seen out and about in The Village, and even if he had no-one would have known. There is a couple of times  during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ when Number Six is still in bed that his double has been seen on at the balustrade of the Green Dome. And again when Number Six is leaving the Green Dome the same double is standing on top of the Bandstand. And again later as Number Six is returning to relative comfort of his cottage his double is seen again, this time running down the road from the Green Dome. But surely that was not Number One, but possibly Number 12, although he did appear rather more later. Perhaps there is a Six impersonator in The Village. After all Number Six did tell Number Two once that someone is going about The Village impersonating him after receiving a telephone call from someone calling himself Number Two, certainly it was Two’s voice. But then that was Number Six carrying out an act of jamming, as there had been no call from Two. But certainly the double appearing in The Village during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ cannot be denied. I’ve checked the surveillance footage!

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