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 18th, the
following day being the 19th 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 19th 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!
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!
Be seeing you
"Number 6 arrived at No.1 Buckingham Place on March 18th, the following day being the 19th".
ReplyDeleteYou couldn't make it up, could you?
I wonder what would have happened, how No. 6 had reacted, if the Brass Band had actually appeared playing this tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRgflR3xdbk ;-)
ReplyDeleteNow, to me it seems rather unlikely. We all know that any administration works only slowly. All this should happen within one single day? Which is not to say that it couldn't have been done, technically. However, this said, it is perhaps one more proof that No. 6's former office was prepared for his arrival, so they could arrange what they knew No. 6 would be keen on doing next: get on an aircraft and do some research. - BCNU!
Hello Arno,
DeleteOn the surface that would have been rather amusing. But if one was to look a little deeper, it might have been rubbing salt into the wound. Because the theme music to 'Monty Pythons Flying Circus' is called 'Liberty Bell,' an American military march composed in 1893 by John Philip Sousa, and was first recorded by the New York military band about 1910.
I have also had my doubts as to whether everything which takes place after Number 6 had returned to London could be achieved in a single day. It would have taken time to organise the checking of Number 6's report. The local police officer sent to check the gypsy camp. Special Branch being sent to question Mrs. Butterworth. Organising both the Naval Commander and the RAF Group Captain, as well as organsiing the jet aircraft. I suppose it might be possible to do it all in one day, but I doubt it, as you say any administration works slowly. Proof that the former department Number 6 worked for was prepared for his arrival? Well yes, after all Mrs. Butterworth had been ensconced in No.1 Buckingham Place awaiting the arrival of the former occupant - Number 6. But imagine if something had gone drastically wrong at sea, and Number 6 hadn't turn up at all............
Very best regards
David
BCNU
The "Liberty Bell" song, yes, I know. Of course, one can imagine this solely in terms of cross media references or else as an ironic issue. The thing about MHR is, I've never given it a thought. Could all this have been achieved within one day? Arguably not. Hence, the only real explanation would be that everything was taken care of, from No. 6's start on the raft until his arrival in London. Unlikely as it may be. - BCNU!
DeleteHello Arno,
DeleteWe don’t know what time of day Number 6 was washed up on the shore at Beachy Head, but certainly it was well after daybreak. Reason and logic tells us that everything from Number 6’s journey to London, his making his two calls, making his report o the Colonel and Thorpe. The time then taken to check every detail of that report, organising the help of both a Naval Commander and RAF Group Captain. As well as the organising of a jet aircraft, flying to Gibraltar, refilling, as well as commencing on the search for The Village. As for the search, we do not know how long it took for Number 6 to finally find The Village, could not have happened in a day, especially if Number 6 was washed up on the beach at Beachy Head say in mid morning. That gives even less time!
The trouble is Number 6 placed in the mind of the viewer the fact that tomorrow 19th of March is his birthday, that and Mrs Butterworth saying that she’ll bake him a cake if he returns, and when he did she presented him with a cake which suggested a birthday cake.
Also, and this is a more important point, in allowing Number 6 escape The Village, and then to navigate his way back, Number 6 from that moment knows the location of The Village!
Very best regards
David
BCNU