During ‘The Chimes of Big Ben,’ No.2 knew precisely what No.6 was up to, in carving out a boat from the trunk of that tree, but was happy just to let him get on with it. Again when at the Exhibition of Arts And Crafts when No.2 told No.6 that the Awards committee were intrigued by his abstract, but were a little mystified by it, and would he care to explain it. I have always thought he was just as keen to hear how No.6 would explain his work, “It means what it is, brilliant,” he’s just playing No.6 for a fool again! And that goes for all the way through ‘Free For All,’ because they already knew what No.6 would try and do if he were elected as the new No.2. No.2 played No.6, as he knew that Six wouldn’t be able to resist the opportunity afforded him by running for office. Even though he had nothing else to do at the time! If No.6 thought that if he was elected as the new No.2, that he would actually be able to retain that position, then he was a fool. But then I suppose his conditioning had much to do with that, No.6 just couldn’t help himself! Whilst before all that, in ‘A B and C.’ at the end, and just for once, the table was turned on No.2, by both No.6 and No.2’s own eagerness to discover what it was No.6 was supposed to be selling, and of course to whom he was going to sell it!
During that episode with ‘The Schizoid Man,’ it was not only No.2 who played No.6 for a fool, so did Alison-No.24, although if she had had a second chance she wouldn’t have done it again. Of course she would, otherwise she wouldn’t have done it the first time!
Mrs Butterworth, as charming as she is, had fooled Peter Smith {a pseudonym or not it makes a change} into thinking that she had residence of
The opening scene of ‘Dance of the Dead’ has the doctor-No.40 trying to play No.6 for a fool, by attempting to extract information from No.6, but only headings not details, of the files he’s seen and the projects he’s heard of. But No.6 is strong willed, and has none of it. Dutton must not ask him that, and No.6 refuses to talk. So much so that he falls back into unconsciousness. It would seem that No.6 has a built-in defence mechanism, that makes the mind crash before any sensitive information is given away. Or in other words he would rather die first, than give away any top secret information he may hold.
‘Checkmate’ is rather like ‘The Chimes of Big Ben,’ in the fact that whatever it is No.6 is planning, No.2 is happy to allow him to get on with it, because he wants the doctor’s new gadget to get a proper testing. That is also No.2’s back-up, that fact that No.8 is a plant, assigned to No.6, in the same way Nadia-No.8 had been, but with the added bonus of the reaction transmitter. And if that failed, then there was always M.S. Polotska to fall back on. Fooled again, eh No.6?!
“Number Six, a plant!” Poor old No. 2, the table is definitely turned against him as hammer goes against anvil. No.6 plays him for the fool time and time again, but especially when he is fooled into thinking No.6 is a plant. “If anything happened to him, our masters would know who was responsible.” I bet No.1 was having a real laugh, and couldn’t believe what a fool of a No.2 that was in office at that time! But really, didn’t No.1 also play this No.2 for a fool? Seeing as he didn’t bother to correct No.2’s assumption that No.6 was a plant!
In using No.6 as a communications medium, in order to give the assassination plot against No.2 credibility, it is the latest interim No.2 who is the fool in this instance. He should have realised, and if he didn’t then No.1 should have done, that any plan which involves No.6 is prone to failure! And yet, cry wolf often enough, and you’re bound to be believed sooner or later!
‘A Change of Mind,’ and No.6 is fooled into thinking he’s undergone the full personality change that is ‘Instant Social Conversion.’ But without the regular dose of Mytol, a strong sedative, No.6 is able to turn the tables on No.2 again. Once more No.6 plays No.2 for a fool by playing on his enthusiasm for No.6 to give up the reason behind his resignation. In making No.2 think that the non-existent treatment had in fact worked. But it’s not enough for No.6 just to tell No.2, he wants to tell all the citizens how grateful he is for having had ‘Instant Social Conversion’ having brought to him, such peace of mind. And if he confesses in front of everyone, then that might encourage others to speak out also, and No.2 fell for it, and in so doing brought about his own downfall. No.6 played him for a fool, and No.86’s denouncement of No.2 as being unmutual, was the cherry on the cake!
There’s another change of mind in the following episode, but no-one is playing the fool, only an awful trick on the Prisoner! And yet Professor Seltzman does manage to fool No.2, because even though he watched everything the Professor did, he still couldn’t believe it. So perhaps in the end Seltzman did play No.2 for a fool, and then he was free to carry on with his experiments in peace.
Living in Harmony, fancy the Prisoner being fooled into believing that! Just as well that the Prisoner could separate fact from fantasy so quickly! Perhaps they were all fooling themselves, after all they all did what they would do in a real situation!
Sometimes I think ‘The Girl Who Was death’ is a comedy of errors, with apologies to William Shakespeare. No.2 was a fool to think that the Prisoner would open up to children. I’ve often wondered who came up with that brilliant idea! But its fun, and gives some much enjoyed light relief of what has been, and in readiness for that which is about to come. Well is was worth a try No.2, not that he had much to laugh about!
‘Once Upon A time,’ and no-one is fooling anyone this time, if you don‘t count the fact of the regression of No.6‘s mind back to his childhood. It’s all very earnest, and a question of the survival of the fittest.
A week has passed, and suddenly there’s a falling out, a last throw of the dice against the Prisoner. But if the Judge {No.2} thinks he can fool the Prisoner into accepting that The Village Administration has had a change of heart, that by vindicating the right of the individual to be individual, No.6 has shown them that he knows the way. And having convinced them of their mistakes, he must show them. If the Judge {No.2} thinks that, then he had better think again. The Prisoner is not to be played for a fool again, only to be made a monkey of!
Be seeing you
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