Village Life!

    There are only two individuals who have a black and white striped umbrella, the Butler and Number 6 who was issued it along with his Village clothes, his credit card, his Health and welfare card, and his card of identity. His numbered Penny Farthing badge he took off his lapel and tossed in into the back of the taxi! As for his umbrella, the last time we see Number 6 with it, is after he leaves the Brass Band concert and follows Number 9 up the steps. Perhaps Number 6 lost his umbrella sometime later, well people are always losing umbrellas. Or he may simply have discarded it, and the Butler finding it, picked it and said to himself “Finders keepers, losers weepers!”
   Then again, perhaps the umbrella does belong to the Butler. That gives him something in common with Number 6. They are the only two individuals to have such a black and white striped umbrella in The Village.

Be seeing you

Exhibition of Arts And Crafts

                               “Five That’s Me!”

bCnU

The Therapy Zone

     Number 2 snivelled, grovelled, crawled on his knees. He pleaded with the Prisoner to tell him again why he resigned. But of course Number 2 extracted more than most of all the Number 2’s. The Prisoner having resigned for peace of mind, because too many people know too much. After all that was as much as the Prisoner had ever given away about the reason behind his resignation. And yet, well the first Number 2 understood it to be a matter of principle, that isn’t what the Prisoner told the Colonel. He told him that it was a matter of conscience. But its not enough is it, simply to say that it was a matter of conscience, because too many people know too much. They will still know too much whether the Prisoner resigned or not. But the one thing they didn’t know, was the reason behind the Prisoner’s resignation, despite being in possession of his letter of resignation, which might have explained nothing. So they had the Prisoner incarcerated in The Village in order to have that information extracted.
    On the other hand, it might be that the Prisoner worked as an agent for The Village, in the business of gathering information about people. But something went wrong, the Prisoner developed a conscience, and feeling that he could not perform the duty for which he was recruited any longer, he went and resigned. He wanted out. But there was only in, because when one works for The Village it’s for life. The organisation behind The Village couldn’t have one of their own resigning and walking away. So they had Number 6 brought to The Village in order to extract the reason why he resigned, and try to understand what had gone wrong with one of their own! Of course that doesn’t take into account that the Prisoner doesn’t recognise The Village on his arrival there. Then again the Prisoner could have been working for The Village without ever having been there or not knowing anything about how The Village works. Something on the lines of, the construction of the Mulberry harbour for D-Day. It was built in sections in different parts of the country, nobody building it knew what it was for. But they were responsible for making their section of the harbour correctly. After all, the construction of The Village, its administration, and all the details didn’t just appear over night, hundreds of people must have worked to their own remit but not necessarily knowing what it was for in the end. The Prisoner could easily have been amongst their number in some capacity. Being responsible for organising security for example, seeing as he worked for British Intelligence. Then at some later date, having learned of his involvement, and what The Village was being used for, he resigned, unable to have that on his conscience! After all, Number 6 did tell the Colonel during his de-briefing “The Village, is a place where people turn up, people who know too much or too little.” Now there is a great deal which happens in ‘the Prisoner’ to which we are not privy. Yet we never hear anyone tell Number 6 this, so how did he know? Remembering that by the time of ‘The Chimes of Big Ben,’ Number 6 is relatively new to The Village.

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Quote For The Day

    “Look old chap, we’ve been through many scrapes before, but we’ve never fallen out over them. The General’s not going to behead you.”
    “We won’t know that until I’ve reported to the General will we?”
    “Report to the General? That’s a new one!”
                                {Number 2 and Number 6 - The Schizoid Man}
    So who or what exactly, is the General? It was thought that seeing as the next episode following ‘The Schizoid Man’ is ‘The General,’ that Number 2’s remark about the General, in questioning Curtis’ remark about reporting to the General in person, was some kind of innuendo towards the computer in the following episode. But that has remained unproven, and might simply be coincidence, Number 2’s remark and the title of the following episode. So if that is the case, who is the General? Obviously someone in higher authority than any of the Colonels. But what of Sir Charles Portland, is the General more superior than him? We cannot even be sure that the General is of the same department as the Colonel and Sir Charles Portland? It’s possible that the General is of another department within British Military Intelligence altogether. A man set aloof, who never meets so called field agents. Hence Number 2’s surprise regarding Number 6/Curtis’ suggestion of him reporting to the General.
   It seems that Number 2 is right, that anonymity is the best disguise, and is often the way with important people. That the General is enveloped in anonymity. At least with Number 1 we do finally get to see who he is. Even if he does turn out to be a doppelganger for Curtis!
    Footnote: There is one other General which we know absolutely nothing about, not even which regiment or which army he served, although his military cap is the British army. But it seems unlikely that he has anything to do with the above!

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Bureau Of Visual Records

    The Butler was present in the Council Chamber when Number 6 was brought before the Committee. He’s Number 2’s Butler, his personal gentleman’s gentleman, his valet and manservant. What possible business could the Butler have at these Committee hearings? Other than perhaps to put out the tables in a circle, setting out the desk blotters and pens, the chairs, and to make the tea for the Committee’s tea break!

BCNU

An Individualistic Tendency!

    Number 6 was once accused of showing individualistic tendencies,  but he’s far from alone in this matter. Both the Butler and the Observer Number 240 wear their cloaks inside out, which could be defined as them doing this. And then there is Number 86 pictured here. To begin with she’s wearing a brown polo necked jersey, orange slacks, black gym shoes, and a colourful striped cape, worn the correct way. Later she is seen wearing a blue dress and high heeled shoes, and no cape, this also could be defined as showing individualistic tendencies. Although perhaps because Number 86 is a hospital surgeon she is not expected to wear the regular hospital uniform, of grey polo jersey, white skirt, and sensible flat shoes as worn by other hospital staff members, except when she is on duty. And it may be supposed that seeing as Number 86 is working for Number 2, that she would wear civilian attire. Yet that does not explain the change of dress. But perhaps in wearing that blue dress, she feels happier as herself!

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Vote For No.6!

    “Vote for No.6.” They were very sure of their candidate, in having those placards pre-produced the way they did. Oh not just the large one, but the seemingly blank placards held up by members of the electorate. The placards which face blank to the camera, but once Number 6 had completed his opening election speech, the placards with his face upon them are then turned to face the camera! But what if Number 6 had turned down the offer made to him by Number 2? What if he saw the election for what it was, a farce? After all he must have realised by the result of the Truth Test that they knew what he would intend to do if he was to win the election. But perhaps by that time he was so drugged up, his mind conditioned, that he just had to go on with it!
   It may be supposed that there was no other option for Number 6, when Number 2 flattered him by saying “The good people don’t seem to appreciate the value of free elections,” and that Number 6 is just the sort of candidate they need! And we must remember that Number 2 is a past master of the manipulation of such a community as The Village, so while flattering Number 6 he baited his hook and reeled him in. Knowing that Number 6 can never pass up any given opportunity afforded to him. Well what had he to lose? Obviously nothing as he could see, only the possibility of gaining knowledge of who the prisoners and who the warders. Escape, and ultimately his freedom!


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Thought For The Day

    The 1960’s television production was under the control of one man, Patrick Joseph McGoohan. His word during the production of the series was law, and he laid his hand upon every aspect undertaken to produce such a series. Such was his authority, drive, and ambition. He delivered such a television series which broke the mould, nothing of its like had been seen before, especially the final episode ‘Fall Out.’
    Down the years, nay through the decades, there are quite literally thousands upon thousands of people who have been enthusiasts of ‘the Prisoner.’ Many have remained loyal to the series, while others have fallen away, their interest in ‘the Prisoner’ having waxed and waned. And yet there have always been new people to discover ‘the Prisoner’ people who have become confirmed enthusiasts, and that remains true to this day. Through ‘the Prisoner’ Patrick Joseph McGoohan made prisoners of us all at one time or another. But he did more then that, although during the production of ‘the Prisoner’ he remained in full and complete control of the project. Once ‘the Prisoner’ had been finished he relinquished that control, and left it to each and every person to watch the series and arrive at his or her conclusion as to what ’the Prisoner’ is all about. He gave our imaginations the freedom to make of ‘the Prisoner’ what we will.

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A Closet Prisoner!

   This wasn’t the first time Number 6 had come face to face with himself in The Village, and as it was to work out, it would not be the last!

   The first time Number 6 faced himself he was The Schizoid Man, and contrary to whatever Number 6 might have said, it must have been greatly unpleasant for him to stand there and see himself suffocated into unconsciousness, even death by the membranic Guardian!

   Then it must have come as something of a surprise to come face to face with himself again, but as a piece of sculpture {which could be ironic considering his own piece of abstract sculpture} in the drawing room of the Professor’s house. Especially surprising when he had no prior knowledge of the Professor, let alone Madam Professor!
    In ‘Dance of the Dead’ Number 6’s own suit of clothes had been delivered to him especially for the occasion of Carnival. Number 6 took this as a sign that he was “still himself!” And here he is again, in a cloakroom, indicated by the two racks of coat hangers, void of any clothes. Perhaps the white robes worn by the delegates of the Assembly hung on them. I have never counted them against the number of delegates. Number 6 comes face to face with himself once again, well the Supervisor said that they thought he would feel happier as himself. So the Prisoner-Number 6 has emerged from his ordeal strong and intact! And yet as Number 6 approaches his effigy at the far end of the cloakroom, he puts a hand to the throat of his effigy, and just for a moment, and it is only a moment, it seems as though he was about to strangle the life out of it. But then changes his mind and begins to unbutton the polo shirt instead.
    And finally the former Number 6 comes face to face with Number 1, as himself, and face to face with himself! However as meetings go there’s not that much to it. If we thought here was to be some meaningful discussion between the former Number 6 and Number 1, then we were to be disappointed. The only meaningful moment between the two comes when Number 1 hands the former Number 6 a crystal ball in which his future is foretold….. as a Prisoner! It is a future which is rejected, as the former 6 allows the crystal ball to slip through his fingers, and shatter into a thousand pieces of crystal on the floor. What’s more had the former 6 been able to lay his hands on Number 1, he might well have strangled the life out of him. Which might well have been as unpleasant for him as it probably was when he stood watching himself being suffocated by the Guardian. And really, to have had Patrick McGoohan fighting with himself again, would have been one repeated scene in the series too many!

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Exhibition of Arts And Crafts

                       “Milchman - Milkman!”

                          {A touch of ‘Carry on Spying!}

BcNu

60 Second Interview with The Group Captain

    No.113 "I cannot make my mind up about you."

    Group Captain "What the devil do you mean by that?"

    "Are you an exterior agent working for The Village, or are you simply what you appear to be?"

    "I'm an Royal Air Force Group Captain."

    "Not working for the Village then?"

    "What are you talking about, what village?"

    "You were supposed to have piloted that Gloster Meteor jet, in a search for The Village."

    "Oh, that!"

    "Yes, that, Group Captain."

    "All I know is, I was in the "kitting out" shed, when this milkman comes strolling in. I told him he was in the wrong place....... I woke up later with a bloody big bump on my head!"

    "So you say."

    "Yes, I do say!"

    "You didn't wonder about the missing aircraft?"

    "It was reported lost at sea."

    "You didn't conduct a search for the missing plane?"

    "........ No."

    "On whose authority didn't you go looking for it?"

    "The Colonel’s."

    "An accident at sea, and no-one wondered what happened? No search was conducted to find wreckage, the two bodies?"

    "Thorpe said it would be a waste of time and resources."

    "Did he?"

    "Yes."

    "Did you ever wonder what happened?"

    "Yes."

    "Well I can tell you that he ended up back here in The Village!"

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

Reporter No.113

Photographer No.113b

Caught On Camera

    Number 6 was about to leave his former London home, when Mrs. Butterworth said he mustn’t go like that. So he washed and shaved, and was given clean clothes to wear.

   Number 6 arrived at No.1 Buckingham Place on March 18^th, the following day being the 19^th is his birthday. After his report to the Colonel, Number 6’s report is checked by a local policeman who checks the Gypsy campsite, and possibly a Special Branch who goes to question Mrs. Butterworth. And then with the aid of a Naval Commander and RAF Group Captain, calculations are made to ascertain a search area for the Village. All this, along with the organising of an aircraft, so to refuelling at RAF Gibraltar would take time. It might be suggested that it was all accomplished in a day, so that Number 6 would arrive back in The Village in order for Ms. Butterworth to present him with a birthday cake, which she had promised to bake, if he promised to come back. Well Number 6 did come back. And Mrs. Butterworth did present him with a cake, suggestive of a birthday cake, suggesting that Number 6 arrived back in The Village the very next day on March 19^th being Number 6’s birthday. But the cake wasn’t a birthday cake, as there were only six candles, making it more of a homecoming cake. After all Mrs. Butterworth-Number 2 said “Many happy returns” not “Many happy returns of the day” as she might, had it been his birthday. Yet strangely enough, originally the Brass Band was to have been playing the tune “Happy birthday to you.”
   We do not know how long it took to search the 1,750 square miles, although it may not have been necessary for Number 6 to make a complete search of the area before he found The Village. However judging by the amount of stubble on Number 6’s face, it took more than a day to find The Village, seeing as he was clean shaven when he set out from an airfield in England! Or then again, perhaps it was possible for Number 6 to grow a moustache overnight!

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The Lure of Number 1!

   It could well be thought that Number 6 was lured to Number 1. It might be thought that it was inevitable that Number 6 should finally get to meet Number 1. After all, while in The Village Number 6 is the only citizen to ask about Number 1. “Who is Number 1?” is the persistent question during the opening sequence. He even asked the question of Number 8, while on the chessboard. She managed to avoid the question! But seeing as Number 1 is the boss, and Number 6 had defeated Number 2 who is second to one, it seemed natural that Number 6 should ask for Number 1.

   But he didn’t ask to see Number 1 in a rocket! However could it really be imagined, that Number 6 would get to meet Number 1 in an oak panelled drawing room? The two men sitting in armchairs discussing matters over a glass of Brandy. Or perhaps to meet in an office like Number 2’s in order to argue out the situation there. If they had, what might the outcome between them be? Certainly the opportunity for escape would have been limited, if not impossible, depending on the outcome of the meeting. But then how to rid himself of his alter ego? To lay hands upon him and strangle the very life out of him would be one way. Or perhaps the better way would be the physical absorbance of 1 by 6, or the other way around {as in the case of Harold Pelham ‘The Man Who Haunted Himself’} in order to leave the “one” man standing!

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R.O.V.E.R

   If by his name Rover {the Village Guardian} then we shall know it!

   

In answer to a teabreak teaser there came a couple of answers to the possible meaning R.O.V.E.R

    Writer Tim Palgut has it in his 2003 book as ‘The Prisoner – The Village Files as “Reactive Orange-alert Vigilant EnforceR.”

    Jana has it “Regulative Omnipotent Vigilante (against) Evasive Resisters”

    Patrick Powers writes “Rescue Our Village Escapee Rightfully.”

    Well I thought I might as well put my two pennyworth in.
    MK1 Rover “Remote Orbital Vehicle {for} Escapee Retrieval.” 

    MK2 “Roving Organic Vigilant Escape Repulser.”

  And finally an idea from Morag “Robotic Organism Valiantly Encapturing Runaways.”

    This has proved to be an interesting exercise.

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A Favourite Scene In The Prisoner

   It’s no good looking up there Number 6, that jet aircraft is long gone!

   When in ‘Many Happy Returns’ Number 6 comes full circle and ends up back where he began! The water and electricity is suddenly switched on, and yet that coffee percolator shouldn’t be brewing coffee quite so instantly as it does. That would suggest that the percolator was brewing the coffee before Number 6’s return.

    The door to his cottage opens, the black cat walks in followed by Number 2-Mrs. Butterworth carrying the cake she promised to bake him if he promised to return, which he did of course. Number 2 wishes him many happy returns with something of a smarmy expression on her face. He then crosses the study and looks out of the window glancing up at the sky, then out across the Piazza, the view which the television viewer sees, not being the angle from Number 6’s window of course. 

    As the Brass Band plays from Mini-Mokes, the citizens parading around the pool and fountain in the Piazza, I like to think this gives the impression that Number 6 arrived back in The Village, not only on his birthday, but also on the day of the Carnival. Seeing as the scene footage used, is taken from the following episode ‘Dance of the Dead!’

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Thought For The Day

    Considering the findings of ‘Fall Out,’ in that Number 6 and Number 1 turned out to be one and the same, the one being the alter ego of the other. And taking into consideration that one twin can feel the pain experienced by the other twin. Might that not be the same for the alter ego of the other, as with Number 1 and Number 6. For example, when Number 6 was put through the mind transference along with the Colonel, in ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling,’ exactly what frame of mind was Number 1 in at that point? And for that matter, during the whole time when Number 6’s mind was housed in the Colonel’s body, and vice versa. Because when the mind transference was made, and again taking into consideration the alter ego status of Number’s 6 and 1, might not the Colonel’s mind have been split between the two? If that could be the case, what the implications for Number 1, and even for the Colonel’s mind in a situation such as that?

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Exhibition of Arts And Crafts

                            “Anyone At Home?”

                           “Obviously not!”

BSEENU

Not So The Merry Widow!

    At the end of ‘The General’ I did wonder, when Number 6 went to call on Madam Professor, whether it was to pay his respects and extend his sympathy to the widow. This of course he may well have done, during those few moments that passed between them on that small patio. After all it would have been a kindness. However seeing as Number 6 goes inside the house, leaving Madam Professor seated outside, it seems more probable that Number 6 went there to have a final poke about the house. And it may be wondered what it was he expected to find there!

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Generally Speaking!

   Poor old General! It couldn’t answer 6’s question of WHY? because there was a lack of sufficient basic facts that’s why! And that’s what Number 6 hit on when Number 2 said “The General can answer any question given the basic facts.” And yet computers just don’t blow their circuits and self-destruct when they cannot answer a question. The scene in ‘The General’ self-destructing, with the Professor attempting to turn it off, and Number 12 attempting to save the Professor, is visually dramatic. Had the General simply come out with an answer such as “There is as yet insufficient data for a meaningful answer,” quoted from the Isaac Asimov short story ‘The Last Question’ brought to my attention by Arno in a recent comment. Then visually that would have seemed like something of an anti-climax to ‘The General.’ Also had the General not self-destructed, then the Professor would not have died, and therefore not Number 12 who would have gone on to be uncovered by Number 2 as being a traitor and conspirator with Number 6. And the educational experiment of Speedlearn would have gone on virtually uninterrupted, once the Professor had endured a little more mild therapy of course. So in the end the General had to be destroyed, even if Number 6 had not involved himself, the Professor wanted the General destroyed, and therefore would have found another way….eventually.

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I'm Afraid Of Nothing!

   Number 6 once said that he’s afraid of nothing. But the Labour Exchange manager said of Number 6 that he is afraid of death, that he’s afraid of himself, and that he is aware of that.
   But what of Number 2, what’s he afraid of? If he wasn’t afraid he, or she, wouldn’t hide behind a pair of solid steel doors, which are presumably blast proof, judging by the fact that they are made of solid steel, and the thickness of that steel! However the doors do not appear to be Number 6 proof! Having discovered The Village to be deserted, he pays a call to the Green Dome, and just has to push the front door open, which failed to open automatically for him. He is forced to prise apart the pair of solid steel doors with his bare hands! You can observe how easily No.6 pulls the steel doors open. Presumably he is able to do this because the power to the door is off, but not so the overhead lighting. Otherwise the chamber would be in darkness, but perhaps the lighting works on another circuit. Unlike Number 6’s coffee percolator and the lighting to his cottage!

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Village Life – The Village Dramatisation!

    Supervisor "What are you watching?"
    Number 2 "It's a new television series called the Prisoner."
    "What's it about?"
    "This chap resigns his job. He goes home, and is abducted by two Undertakers and wakes up in The Village."
   "Really! What's his name?"
    "Who?"
    "The Prisoner."
    "Yes.”
    "What's his name?"
    "The Prisoner?"
    "Yes."
    "He doesn't have one. But in The Village he's known as Number Six."
   "Why is he in The Village?"
    "Because he resigned, and they want to know the reason why."
    "What's he doing?"
    "He's getting the milk out of the fridge. Last week he put a loudspeaker in the fridge!"
    "Why did he do that?"
    "Because he couldn't switch it off."
    "Oh! Do they torture him for the information they want?"
    "Up to a point. They're not allowed to damage the tissue, physically or mentally."
    "Why?"
    "They want him with a whole mind and body. They don't want him broken, a man of fragments."
    "And The Village?"
    "What about it?"
    "What's the name of the place?"
    "The Village."
    "Yes, what's it called?"
    "The Village."
    "Yes."
    "That's the name of the place, The Village!"
    "Oh!"
    "Haven't you got any work to do?"
    "You obviously haven't!"
    "Television broadens the mind."
    "I prefer Coronation Street myself, or Crossroads."
    "Or Doctor Who."
    "Oh that's too scary for me, what with the Daleks, Cybermen, and Ice Warriors, it's the stuff of nightmares!"
   "It could be said that The Village is a nightmare world."
   "It is, now they've gone and made a television series out of it. Who is he?"
    "Patrick McGoohan."
    "Oh, Danger Man's John Drake. Don't tell me it's him that's been abducted to the Village!"
    "No, but that won't stop people like you from thinking it. Number 6 is Everyman!”
    “Well he’s not me!”
    “Of course he isn’t, it’s symbolism!”
    "It sounds a bit too deep for me. I'd better get back to the Control Room."
    "Yes I think you better had. And while you’re about it send in the Butler on your way out. I think I'd like some tea."

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Sleepers!

      Both Fotheringay and the Colonel are potential “sleepers,” recruited, or turned by the Village administration, but who only work for The Village when given an assignment. Sometimes, as in their case, they are seconded back to The Village, as also in the case of Curtis. Apparently Number 2 had to pull every string in order to get him seconded back to them. Cobb is another potential sleeper, his new masters perhaps being those who are behind The Village.

   As for those agents who undergo the mind transference in ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling,’ whose mind is sent out into the outside World in another person’s body in order to gather information, and who is then brought back to The Village in order to have that information extracted. Then the unpleasant memories wiped from his mind, and so sent out again to gather even more information, we understand that. What is not so understandable is, what happens to the other person’s mind. Is he kept sedated, which could be for weeks, possibly months while the other one is operating in the outside World? Or is the other person allowed to engage with The Village, but as a prisoner? And of course the Colonel is just one subject, it is highly likely that  others were working under the same circumstance!

   Also why the need to wipe the subject’s mind of any unpleasant memories of The Village? Unless the subject is allowed out into The Village during his de-briefing, the process of the gathered information being extracted. The subject lying on the operating table in the Amnesia Room, had been extremely co-operative, he told them all they needed to know in three days….with hardly any persuasion. So they cannot take the information from a subjects head via any other means other than verbally! Three days, I should have thought the subject would have been confined, that there was no need to allow him egress into The Village. Unless the meaning of wiping all unpleasant memories of The Village, means the interrogation sessions the subject was put through.

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Citizeness 42

   We know next to nothing about Number 42, except that she is in a state of permanent depression, always in tears. It would appear that Village life does not suit her. So was that the reason why she was brought before the Committee? We can assume that, otherwise she would not be in the Town Hall with all the other disharmonious Unmutuals!
   From her time with the Social Group we learn that Number 42 is a poet, and was busy composing when she neglected to return Number 10’s greeting. It would appear that Number 42 loses herself in her poetry, it might be her way of combating the life she so hates in The Village. She might even write of aspects of that life in the poetry.
   So how is it that so soon after the meeting with the Social Group, this once depressive young woman, finds herself a member of the ladies sub-appeal Committee? As Number 6 puts it, she certainly gets around! What’s more she doesn’t appear at all depressed, and has even managed to find her voice, speaking out against the loathsome presence of an Unmutual!
   It was so sudden, almost miraculous the way Number 42 recovered from her depressive state of mind, to become a member of the ladies sub-appeal Committee! Number 56 said of Number 42 “Do not sneer at Forty-two, to volunteer for social work of this nature requires considerable moral courage.” And what was it Number 42 suddenly and harshly said “Bitterness with not help you Number Six. You’ve brought your misfortunes on yourself!” That sudden outburst was an eye opener for Number 6, and with hindsight, 42’s sudden statement takes on a new meaning! It is often the way with women who having faced recovery of one kind or another, such as in the case of Number 42, that they turn to doing good works. 

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Exhibition of Arts And Crafts

                               “It’s Carnival!”

BcNu

Playing with Lighters!

    Curtis was dead according to Number 6. So having reported this to Number 2, having given the password Schizoid Man, Number 6 simply changed blazers and took on the persona of Curtis.
   Later having reported to Number 2, he was instructed to go and see Alison, as she might have some insight into Number 6’s motivations. So there he was, Number 6 impersonating Curtis, while playing with his cigarette lighter in his pocket. Alison took a cigarette from a cigarette box, and instantly Number 6 produced the cigarette lighter.
    “Silly playing with lighters. I’ll probably start a fire one day.”
    It makes one wonder if this is some kind of reference to John Drake. He was always playing with cigarette lighters, one lighter in particular. It contained a micro camera, and every time Drake needed to take a photograph he had to light a cigarette. Well otherwise it would have been a bit of a giveaway to keep clicking his lighter without lighting a cigarette! What John Drake wouldn’t have given for a mobile phone with an in-built camera!

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Quote For The Day

    “You’re not allowed animals, it’s against the rules!”
    “Rules to which I am not subject.”                                                
                    {Number 54 and Number 6 - Dance of the Dead}
    He seems to think a lot of himself this Number 6, him thinking he’s not subject to the rules. Who does the think he is, Number 1? Mind you Number 6 is used to working outside the pale of the law, that time when he made his own tools so that he could build himself that boat, I mean create that piece of abstract art! And in his previous employment, working for British Intelligence, he was used to dealing with confidential State business, which he considered to be “above the law!”
   In fact the cat appears to be is the only animal in The Village. There are a few pigeons, as well as sea birds about. But if Number 6 is not permitted to keep an animal as a pet, but Number 2 is, isn’t Number 2 then breaking the rules? Rules which she describes as “Beneath the awful majesty of the rules, beats human hearts,” the glory of rules which no-one has seen! So perhaps for a woman in her position, she is allowed a privilege or two! Remember what Number 2 once said “We’re democratic in some ways,” in that case it’s more for some, and less for others! 

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Teabreak Teaser

    During ‘The Chimes of Big Ben,’ as they watched Nadia Rakovsky waking up, Number 2 said to Number 6 that its quite like old times, and does he remember his first day? How many days ago was that?

BCNU

The Therapy Zone

    Twins. They say that one twin can feel the pain experienced by the other twin. Might that not be the same for the alter ego of the other, as with Number 1 and Number 6 for example. It is said that considering the importance of the subject, that no extreme measures were to be used….yet. But even then they didn’t want Number 6 broken, they didn’t want a man of fragments. The tissue mustn’t be damaged, because Number 6 was seen to have a future with The Village. Yet there was pain, the tissue might not have been damaged, but it was certainly bruised from time to time. And no matter what, as the ordeal for Number 6 was prolonged by his refusal to talk, the pain became worse, as the methods became more extreme against him. And there were the drugs, the mind conditioning, the sedation, as well as the mind transference experience. Being mentally regressed to the age of five, not to mention the terrible cold, the fear, and isolation of a sea voyage! While Number 6 was experiencing all these terrible ordeals, it might be that at the same time Number 1 was suffering the pain. It’s no wonder they didn’t want Number 6 broken, otherwise it might have been Number 1 who ended up as a man of fragments! As it is the ordeal certainly unhinged his mind. He was clearly mentally unstable, if not insane! He may also have been a masochist, enjoying the pain, otherwise why put himself through such an ordeal in the first place?

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Progress Report On No.6

   Just what progress was made with Number 6? They knew that he was still loyal, despite having resigned his job from British Intelligence. They were told that it was a matter of principle, of conscience even. But he refused to say more. In fact he refused to say anything, resisting all kinds of coercion and trickery. It is known that he wasn‘t selling out, that’s not why he resigned. Even when Roland Walter Dutton telephoned Number 6 that time say that there was a suspected security leak apparently. He told Number 6 that the Committee  wanted a breakdown on everything they know, him, Dutton, Arthur, the Colonel, everybody. All the files he’d seen, the projects he knows about, just headings, not detail. But even though Dutton tells him the phone is scrambled, Number 6 still refused to talk. In fact the man would have died first because he’s not like the others. He has a strong sense of loyalty, he might have still felt bound by the official secrets act, that might be why he wouldn‘t even give Dutton any information. But one thing is certain, Number 6 is no traitor, perhaps in his refusal to give Dutton the required information, he thought Dutton was the leak!
    It wasn’t time either! Number 6 didn’t need time to think! He was going somewhere quiet, somewhere different, where he could think after he’d resigned. Presumably to think about his future. Was Number 6’s resignation a spur of the moment thing? It seems hardly likely. It may be supposed that he mulled it over in his head for weeks. It might have been something welling up inside him for weeks, months. It may be imagined that he anguished over the decision. However that is pure speculation.
    In fact when it comes to Number 6, there appears to have been very little progress made over the seventeen episodes! But then Number 6 isn’t like the others, he couldn’t be forced, he had to be won over. And if not this time, then The Village will be re-set, and the ordeal can begin all over again. It is just hoped that Number 2 will be up to the task!

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Thought For The Day

   There are certain episodes in ’the Prisoner’ which conflict with each other, of which ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ and ‘Dance of the Dead,’ are two. Because in the one, Number 2 suggested to Number 6, while they were watching Nadia Rakovski getting up, that it’s just like old times.  Perhaps he’s recalling his first day in The Village. He then asks Number 6 “Do you remember your first day?” Well that wasn’t so very long ago, seeing as ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ follows on the heels of ‘Arrival.’ But then I suppose it would depend on the length of time between ‘Arrival’ and ‘The Chimes of Big Ben.’ But as it is, in the screening order of ‘the Prisoner,’ this seem a little on the early side to be allowing Number 6 to seemingly escape The Village and return to London, seeing as how he’s not been in The Village that long. In fact he’s quite new to The Village. This brings us to ‘Dance of the Dead,’ in which Number 6 tells the maid that he “new here!” And when Dutton asks Number 6 how long he’s been in The Village, Number 6 replies “Quite recently.” But ‘Dance of the Dead’ is episode eight and ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ is episode 2, and the feeling is that they should be placed in order, the other way around!
   Also ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ conflicts with a further episode, that of ‘Free For All.’ Because on the one hand Number 6 is brought his breakfast by a maid, this is also seen in ‘Dance of the Dead’ when the maid Number 54 brings it to him. But during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ Number 6 has to make his own breakfast, until Number 8 comes along and boils the two eggs for him! This would put ‘Chimes’ after both ‘D of the D’ and ‘Free For All,’ and if that were the case {as it is according to the production/library order of the Prisoner} then it would appear that having breakfast brought to Number 6 is a privilege, but by the time of ’The Chimes of Big Ben’ it’s a privilege lost to him. However as the episodes stand, it appears that Number 6, in having his breakfast brought to him, suggests a privilege earned!     
    Another pair of episodes which are in conflict with one another are ‘A B and C’ and ‘The Schizoid Man’ for the simple reason that they share the same Tally Ho newspaper, but for different reasons. The one being the title “Is No.2 Fit For Further Term?” And the other for the date Feb10th. However although only part of the newspaper headline appears in the one episode {only partially in the other} the date of the newspaper does appear in both episodes. Suggesting that the two episodes take place at the same time, which is ridiculous. Unless of course Number 6 was a prisoner of The Village for two years. More than that, it was once suggested that there were two such Villages, allowing both ‘A B and C’ and ‘The Schizoid Man’ to take place at the same time, which is ridiculous!

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The Butler Speaks

    So there we were, the three of us, the Prisoner, the Supervisor, and myself, on the way to meet Number 1. We stopped off at the cloakroom, where the Prisoner came face to face with himself! The Supervisor suggested that he’d feel happier as himself. When the Prisoner approached his effigy, just for a moment, I thought he was going to put a hand around its throat and strangle the life out of it. But he didn’t.
   We walked along a long underground passageway, with me leading the way. Well I had the key to the door you see, the same key which fits the door to the cage back in the Embryo Room. Call it a master key if you like.
   And there we were in a large cavern, with all sorts of things going on. There was a medical team, an Assembly of delegates, technicians, all wearing white robes and black and white theatrical masks. A high court Judge stood on a rostrum, and then there was that big metal tube rising out through the ground and through the ceiling of the cavern.
   Basically ‘Fall Out’ was a trial, a falling out amongst old friends, and three people were put on trial. Number 48 who sang, danced, and generally pranced about causing mayhem and confusion. But they must have thought well of him for Number 48 to get this far, seeing as with my new master, the former Number 6, 48 was allowed to wear his own cloths! As for my “late” master, they couldn’t even let him rest in peace. The Judge accused him of “biting the hand that feeds.” I thought that rather harsh, seeing as his last action was to put his life on the line for the cause, back in that Embryo Room. But my late master, despite his new appearance, having been resuscitated, thought things would go on just as they had before. But my allegiances lay elsewhere. That is the price of fame and failure!
    I think they had it in for my new master right from the beginning, seeing as unlike both Number 48 and Number 2, he was not allowed to address the delegates of the Assembly. They had no intention of listening to one single word my new master had to say for himself, shouting him down each time he tried commence upon his address to them. I think he was being manipulated, judging by the way the Judge heaped praise on my master, saying that he had vindicated the right of the individual to be individual, when all the time before they poured scorn on him for being an individual. Then by giving him the key to his house, his passport valid for anywhere, a million in traveller’s cheques, and a purse of petty cash. Talk about bribery! And to make the offer of leading them or to go, I ask you! There was never any chance of my master leading them, he was always going to go, go where, back to London of course.
   I have no idea what happened when my master eventually got to see Number 1, but it obviously didn’t go well between them. Because soon after I became embroiled in a violent and bloody revolution, resulting in death and mayhem, and the eventual evacuation of The Village. Allowing myself and my three fellow confederates to escape the Village in the confusion and mayhem! Oh I blazed away with a Thompson machine gun, and at one point I even strangled a man to death with my black gloved hands!
    We escaped using a Scammel Highwayman Transporter, seeing as the cage had been lowered onto the trailer. How did I know the lorry was there? Well there have to be some secrets you know, otherwise the mystery is dissipated! Anyway after emerging from that tunnel, it was a long journey home across Europe from The Village. Eventually arriving by ferry at Dover. Surely you didn’t think that when I drove out of that tunnel, I drove straight onto the A20 to London did you?
   Anyway somewhere along the A20 I drove the lorry onto a lay-by to drop Number 48 off on the way. Eventually we arrived in London, abandoning the Highwayman Transporter on the Thames embankment, having been pulled over by a police motorcycle patrolman. Perhaps because the lorry I was driving had no license plates!
   Having made our way to Parliament Square my master waved farewell to Number 2, who made his way into the Houses of Parliament via the Peers entrance. There was this policeman, he gave me a very queer look, and then stood listening to my master who explained what had taken place, the launching of the rocket, everything. Then pointing towards the Houses of Parliament, my master suggested that if he goes in there, he’d find a man who could explain even more.
   As we dashed away, my master took me by the hand and I found myself running for a bus on Westminster Bridge, my little legs trying to keep up with my master. This was strange, because the bus took us in completely the wrong direction to my master’s house! But having finally arrived home, my master paused, just for a moment, for as he was about to climb behind the wheel of his Lotus Seven, a hearse drove passed slowly. That was a heart stopping moment for him! Then having started the engine of his car he drove off, leaving me standing on the doorstep.
   The door suddenly opened with that familiar electronic hum, associated with the door of the Green Dome, and I entered Number 1’s town house. While inside I employed myself in packing two suitcases, well my master couldn’t do it, he was off handing in his letter of resignation! And after that….well I had to find my way back to The Village!

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Exhibition of Arts And Crafts

          “Mayhem And Confusion!”               

bCnU

The Therapy Zone

    It is interesting that The Village authorities chose to give the computer the name of the General. The General being the authority behind Speedlearn. And yet although the citizens may be aware of the General, it is not important for them to realise who or what the General is. Whereas the Professor is the public face of Speedlearn. It’s a kindly image, the people love him, they’ll take anything from him!

    As for the General, it’s only a computer, and a computer is only as good as its programming. Without being programmed with the basic facts, there is no question from advanced mathematics to molecular structure, from philosophy to crop-spraying that the General can answer! At the end the General blows a fuse and short circuit’s itself being unable to answer Number 6’s question WHY? thereby lacking the basic facts. As for the Professor, he either gave birth to it, or who loves it with a passion and probably hates it even more. Either that or he was merely introduced to the General, depending on which story you believe. He still attempted to save it, but in the end couldn’t save himself! Which leaves the question, did the destruction of the General, and the death of the Professor see the end of Spedlearn? Not when one considers that both the computer and the Professor are not irreplaceable!

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Citizen 249

   Actor Aubrey Morris passed away on July 15^th 2015 at the age of 89, whose character in ‘the Prisoner’ episode ‘Dance of the Dead,’ is Number 249 the Town Crier. And perhaps because of having heard of Aubrey’s death, I found myself thinking of this character the other day. Wondering how it was that the Town Crier became one of the three Judges in the trial against the Prisoner? After all, unlike his two fellow Judges the maid-Number 54 and the doctor-Number 40 {although his case indirectly}, he had had no previous contact with the Prisoner-Number 6. I should have thought that one of the two Supervisors, especially Number 22, would have been better placed to be the third Judge. And yet Number 249 takes the position of lead Judge, and after some little deliberation with his fellow Judges it is he who dons the black cloth, and proceeds to pronounce judgement over the Prisoner in sentencing him to death. I should have thought that particular task would have been far better suited to Number 40, the doctor!

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Quote for the Day

    “Will you never learn….this is only the beginning. We have many ways and means but we do not wish to damage you permanently.”

                                                      {The new Number 6 – Free For All}

    That “Damage you permanently,” that is actually carried on through into the next episode ‘The Schizoid Man.’ in which Number 2 tells Curtis {Number 6} “It’s our prize prisoner. The one we call Number Six. Toughest case I’ve ever handled. I could crack him of course. But I can’t use the normal techniques. He’s too valuable. Mustn’t damage him permanently say our masters.” It’s a small point, but one carried through from the end of one episode into another. Another point would be “Mustn’t damage him permanently say our masters.” Not said by Number 1 then, seeing as how the word “masters” suggests more than one person. Perhaps with hindsight the masters could be the delegates of the Assembly with Number 1 being President of that Assembly. Other than that, the masters could be a body of people who are behind The Village, but somewhere back in London. And of course “Say our masters” the word “masters” having been carried over from the end of ‘Arrival,’ when on his departure from The Village Cobb tells Number 2 that he mustn’t keep his new masters waiting!

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