Hammer Into Anvil

   This time of the year seems to be a very busy one in The Village. during the month of February there had been the episodes of ‘A B and C’ and ‘The Schizoid Man’ crossing over, because of the date on a copy of The Tally Ho. Then the crossing of ‘The Schizoid Man’ and ‘Many Happy Returns’ because of the length of time taken to change the appearance of, and to condition Number 6 to be Number 12, and the date Number 6 has to set sail aboard his sea-going raft in order to finally arrive back home in London on March 18^th.  Another episode which takes place around this time, or in later Spring in ‘Hammer Into Anvil.’ We know this because of the daffodil flowers both in the vase in Number 73’s hospital room, and those placed on her grave by Number 6. Yes it can only be supposed that it was Number 6 who placed those flowers there when he’s looking for an old number to use as the sender of his birthday greeting to himself. But who else would it have been, not unless they had suddenly found 73’s husband and had managed at long last to bring him to The Village! No, the only person we see in The Village cemetery is Number 6. In the original script at the end of the episode he visits 73’s grave, there is pain and pity in his eyes. Then he squares his shoulders, his expression is grim as he walks away. So why not leave flowers on her grave?

   More then that, in the original script, as Number 2 is leaving the Green Dome Number 6 meets with the new Number 2 framed in the doorway. Number 6 walks passed giving The Village salute. That would have been a nice little scene to have been retained for the completed episode. There had been a breakdown in control, Number 2 needs to be replaced, and there he is, moments later after that telephone call from Number 1, the new Number 2 ready to take up his administrative details. Number 1 of course, knew how it was going to be with this Number 2, and had organised his successor, a new Number 2, long before Number 2’s mental breakdown!

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