The episode ‘Many Happy Returns’ written by
Anthony Skene, originally Number 6, having escaped The Village on his sea-going
raft, was to have been picked up by a Russian trawler. Onboard there was to
have been a Russian Princess, and she was to have had a romantic liaison with
Number 6. Patrick McGoohan would have soon have that written out of the script,
but why? He might not have wanted to have a romantic liaison with a woman, but
Number 6 would. Because do not forget Number 6 did enjoy a romantic embrace
with his fiancée Janet Portland. Yes it wasn’t Patrick McGoohan it was Nigel
Stock, but more importantly it was Number 6 kissing Janet. I think I read
somewhere that Patrick McGoohan said Number 6 would never kiss a woman, yes he
would. It’s rather like the way Terrence Feely wrote in his original script for
‘The Schizoid Man.’ Instead of Number 6 using Alison’s mind reading act to try
and prove his identity, both Number 6 and Number 12 were to have kissed Alison.
But because of McGoohan's refusal to kiss a girl on screen, the scene led to
the change in the script, resulting in the scene we now see.
It seems
to me that McGoohan imposed his own morality upon the character of Number 6. In
any case, what was a Russian Princess doing on a Russian Trawler? As for the
Russian Trawler itself, we know precisely what that would have been up to in
1967, and it wasn't fishing. Well it was............ but fishing for information,
information!
Be seeing you
What would a Russian princess be doing on a maritime vessel, presumably on the North Sea, in the western hemisphere? What do think of this? She would have been another Russian exile in the west. E.g. there's always been a considerable Russian excalve in Monte Carlo who had fled the communist regime. And the princess was one distant relative of the late Russian tsar making her way secretly to... well, who knows. That would have added a certain political smack to the story, wouldn't it. - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
DeleteAfter I had sent you this morning's email, Morag said, "What would a Russian Princess be doing escaping Communist Russia aboard a Soviet trawler?" Unless of course they were all escaping the Communist regime! That would fit into your theory well.
Me' thinks now, that the princess would need a different smack to that of a Soviet trawler, more intent on spying than actual fishing!
Best regards
David
BCNU