Ringing The Changes!

   An aerial view from the Bell Tower of 6 Private {the Round House in Portmeirion terms} in which one thing stands out, the hardboard covering in the arch, upon which is a notice about the filming of ‘the Prisoner’ in Portmeirion. However by the time the Prisoner returns to his cottage, having seen a maid flicking a yellow duster from on the balcony, both the hardboard and the notice have gone!

   The hardboard has suddenly been replaced by a pair of French doors! Whichever way you look at it, they are quick workers in The Village to have fitted those French doors so quickly. Either that or the hardboard was covering the French doors in the first place, if that’s the case why? But of course those French doors are not reflected in the set of Number 6’s cottage back at MGM film studios, because they are not there in his London home. It would have been better all round had the hardboard been painted white, at least then it would have blended in with the arch. As it is the French door makes a mockery of the whole thing, as it’s not there when the Prisoner goes into his cottage!

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Exhibition of Arts And Crafts

                      Portrait of No.2!


BcNu

A Favourite Scene in Dance of The Dead

   I suppose this will always be a favourite scene, because when I watch it, it always brings back happy memories. Number 6 is sat on the Belvedere Outlook listening to a transistor radio.

  “Nowhere is there more beauty than here. Tonight when the moon rises, the whole world will turn to silver. Do you understand, it is important you understand. I have a message for you, you must listen, the appointment cannot be fulfilled. Other things must be done tonight. If our torment is to end, if liberty is to be restored we must grasp the nettle even though it makes our hands bleed. Only through pain can tomorrow be assured.”
   {I’m still convinced that the radio announcer reading that passage is actor Eric Portman-Number 2 from ‘Free For All.’}
   Meanwhile Number 2 and Number 240 are coming up to the top of the Outlook via a few steps, three at the most.
   “You’re right my dear” says Number 2 “too old for these stairs.”
    They catch Number 6 listening to the radio, asking where he got it, and does it work? He quickly re-tunes the radio.

    “That dictation was at sixty words a minute. Now here is a passage from the wartime memoirs.”
    “Hardly useful” Number 2 tells him switching off the radio “the view’s lovely from here. I’m sad, Number Six. I thought you were beginning to…..”
    “Give in?”

    “Be happy. Everything you want is here.”
    “Everything’s elsewhere.”
    “Don’t force me to take steps. We indulge any member of our community for a time. After that….”
    “Yes I know. I’ve been to the hospital. I’ve seen.”
    “You’ve only seen a fraction”
    “I know where you stand don’t I?” Looking at Number 240
    “She’s one of our best observers.”
    “We have one each?”
    “Only our more fractious children. Shall we go down?”
    Number 6 gets up and stands on the very edge of the Outlook.
    “You’re not thinking of jumping?”
    “Never.”
    I suppose this scene has become a favourite because my wife and I performed the scene at Prisoner Conventions between1994-1997, as pictured below

  The photograph was taken during the 1997 Convention. The Belvedere Outlook could only hold so many people in the audience, and there were so many people who wanted to watch the re-enactment, that we had to perform it twice!
   Of course after this the conversation turns towards Number 240 who has her duty, to everyone. It’s the rules you see, of the people, by the people, for the people. She sees Number 6 as a wicked man, that he has no values. But his values are different. He won’t be helped, destroyed. She accuses Number 6 of wanting to spoil things, but he refuses to be a goldfish in a bowl. Number 240 says she must go, and asks if she may see him later. But how can she avoid that, being his Observer, and Number 6 knows it!

Be seeing you

Quote For The Day

    “Are you satisfied”
                     {Number 6 – Many Happy Returns}

    Well let’s say the dice were heavily loaded in Number 6’s favour, well according to the Colonel. Number 6, although he had escaped the confines of The Village, couldn’t let it rest. He had questions, and wanted answers, although the questions may well have been his burden, the answers may well have made a prison for him, had he realized them! After all he had already been betrayed by one Colonel and Fotheringay, and now he had placed himself in the hands of another. Then there’s Thorpe, who didn’t take to Number 6 at all, with his sarcastic and somewhat sceptical remarks. He’d probably have Number 6 put back in The Village as soon as look at him! But who else was there to help Number 6? He said he wasn’t sure which side ran The Village, which the Colonel saw as being a mutual problem, and if Number 6 couldn’t solve it there, then elsewhere. But that couldn’t be allowed, so the sooner Number 6 was back in The Village the safer it would be for all concerned. And a lesson well learned in the process!

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Caught On Camera!

    During ‘Once Upon A Time’ the last action Number 6 performed just before the steel door of the Embryo Room opened, was to lock the door of the cage. There was a lock because in one scene during that episode you can see the key in the keyhole of the lock. But now as we can see in an image taken from a scene during ‘Fall Out’ there is no keyhole!

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Jumping The Gun!

    It’s possible that the President jumped the gun when he accused Number 2 of biting the hand that feeds, because up until that point Number 2 had been loyal, he’d put his life on the line for the cause and paid the ultimate price, with his life. It’s not his fault they couldn’t let him die in peace. It’s soon after his resuscitation that Number 2 turns on and bites the hand that feeds, by suggesting that Number 1, whatever it is, whoever it is, will no longer hypnotize him. That he’ll die with his own mind!
   But Number 2 himself once jumped the gun, during the deliberations with Number 6 in the Embryo Room during Degree Absolute. At School the young Number 6 had just graduated, it is a joyous moment for any boy, especially for our prize pupil and as he is launched into the rapids of adulthood the Headmaster looks back on the ups and downs of his childhood, and views with some satisfaction the fine specimen you see standing before the Headmaster, who asks the pupil if he has anything to say. But the pupil has nothing to say for himself, nothing at all, except “Thank you for everything sir.” The Headmaster offers his congratulations, he sees the pupil as doing well, is proud of his pupil, proud that he has learned to manage that rebellious spirit. Proud that his obedience is absolute.
    “Why did you resign?”
    “What’s that sir?”
    “Oh come along boy, why did you resign?”
    “From what sir?”
    “No my boy you know perfectly well what I’m talking about. Why did you resign?”
    “I can’t tell you that sir.”
    Of course he can’t, because he’s only just graduated from school, it wouldn’t be for another 28 years before ZM73 {for want of a better name} would hand in his letter of resignation and resign his top secret, confidential job!
    Number 2 was far too quick off the mark! Even if he had got Number 6 to give away the reason behind his resignation, what then? They would still be locked together for the remainder of the week until the time lock on the door released itself! What would they have done then? Sit about talking, being entertained by the Butler playing the organ?! It would have soon become exceedingly boring, and probably in time they might well have tried to manipulate the time lock in order to release the door early. In fact towards the end, when time was fast running out, Number 2 did try to manipulate the door’s time lock, to reset it to open on a new phase in Number 2’s relationship with the Prisoner. But it was to no avail, door time locks are notorious for being non-manipulative!   

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This Time of Year In The Village!

    What with the events of ‘A B And C,’ ‘The Schizoid Man,’ and ‘Many Happy Returns’ overlapping each other from Feb 10^th through into March one would think that complication enough. And yet another episode could be thrown into the mix, one which could easily take place at this time of the year, that of ‘Hammer Into Anvil.’ Why? Simply because of that bunch of daffodils seen in the vase in Number73’s hospital room, and later placed upon her grave. It is this time of the year when daffodils begin to come into flower.
    So either there is a horticulture unit of The Village growing daffodils at this time of year, or the daffodils seen in ‘Hammer Into Anvil’ are “special Imports” we hear about. Or perhaps they are grown in green houses. Then again they just might be physical evidence for the location of The Village!

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Who’s That On The Telephono?

    “And you can remove that thing too, I’m not an inmate…….. you can say what you like, You brought me back here, I told you the last time you were using the wrong approach, I do it my way or you find somebody else!”

    “How many times do I have to ask?

    “Degree Absolute, I require approval. If you think he’s that important there’s certainly no alternative…………….you must risk either one of us. I am a good man, I was a good man, but if you get him he will be better, and there’s no other way, I repeat no other way! Degree Absolute tonight please…… a week? That’s not long enough……..you don’t want to damage him! Very well……tonight!”

    Judging by how Number 2 says “Very well……tonight!” he knows exactly what having to take that decision about Degree Absolute means! This Number 2 is the only one who has ever really stood up to Number 1, the way he gave so much back chat, almost to the point of defiance, as well as making a demand. But then he wasn’t at all happy finding himself back in The Village. One or two of his predecessors have made slight protests. Another once tried to explain why Plan Division Q had fallen behind, expecting sympathy and understanding, he received neither! The way this current Number 2 had spoken to Number 1, it’s a wonder he wasn’t dropped on from a great height. But then Number 1 restricted Degree Absolute to a week, which ensured Number 2 was put under extreme pressure to succeed right from the start. Perhaps he wouldn’t, perhaps Number 6 would be the one to walk out of the Embryo Room alive, which proved to be the case, his reward of course an interview with Number 1. And Number 2’s reward, well he became a changed man, certainly in appearance. In fact out of the three, Number 6 was the only one to remain as he was. Number 48 was once with The Village administration, but then he went and gone. And Number 2, well as I’ve said, a changed man!

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A Favourite Scene

    In ‘Dance of The Dead’ when the pair of doors open automatically for Number 6, he steps into the room, the light come on, and the doors close behind him. He stands there looking about the room, then his eyes finally fix on the screen, he steps forward with purpose. There’s a noise in the room, then Number 6 pulls the screen to one side to reveal………a teleprinter! I recall the anticipation which welled up inside me as Number 6 was about to whip aside that screen. Who was behind the screen? Would it be Number 1? It couldn’t be Number 2 she was back at the Ball. And then the screen is whipped to one side to reveal a teleprinter! Not what I was expecting at all, I remember feeling let down. But perhaps the words being printed out on the paper would be revealed. No chance, further disappointment. And then Number 6 uses some good old fashioned brute force on the machine, by ripping out both wiring and paper. At least he was able to stop the machine. But wait, no, the teleprinter suddenly whirrs back into life and resumes printing the incoming message or instruction!
    It wasn’t until many years later that I wondered why the need for the teleprinter? Yes so that Number 2 could send her reports, and in turn receive instructions, but from whom? After all at the outset of the episode Number 2 is supposedly speaking to Number 1 on the telephone, which makes the teleprinter superfluous. Unless the reports Number 2 sends, and the instructions she receives are to and from masters at a location well beyond the confines of the Village!

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Bureau of Visual Records

    “You’re not thinking of jumping?”
    “Never.”
    Even if he was, neither Number 2 nor Number 240 would be able to stop him. But no, Number 6 is not a man to take what is laughingly called “the easy way out.” Besides Number 6’s suicide might well have been one too many, and what would The Village or the television series be without Number 6? Certainly had Number 6 jumped, it would have been Number 2 who would have been on trial, being found guilty by the three Judges, sentenced to death in the name of the people, and having the citizens set upon her heels in order to carry out the sentence in the name of justice. And with Number 6 dead, where would they have found another of his calibre? No, it has to be said that both The Village without Number 6, and ‘the Prisoner’ as a television series without Patrick McGoohan would have become a very different place!

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Feb 22nd

    What I don’t understand is this. How can so much in ‘the Prisoner’ be happening this month fifty years ago? After all so much action taking place after Feb 10^th over laps, and during no less than three episodes all at the same time! Obviously it’s the fault of both the scriptwriters, producer, executive producer, oh yes, and the director! No-one seems to have given it much thought, or perhaps they didn’t expect ‘the Prisoner’ to be scrutinized so closely. But then it’s only a television programme, it’s not a religion or anything, its just that a cult has grown up all around it that’s all. And just think, if ‘the Prisoner’ had turned out perfectly, enthusiasts of the series wouldn’t have had anything to talk about, discuss, debate regarding ‘the Prisoner’ these past fifty years! Mind you if the date Feb 10^th had not appeared in two episodes one third of the problem could be taken out of the equation. But even that wouldn’t have stopped the fact that it was fifty years ago today on Wednesday February 22^nd, exactly to the day, that Number 6 set sail aboard his sea-going raft.

   It had to be on this day in order to take into account the 25 days he spent at sea, in order for him to arrive back home in London on March 18^th.  Whilst at sea his diet consisted of cold baked beans, corned beef, and pears eaten straight out of tins. Mind you its possible that that diet began even before Number 6 set sail. It may be reasonable to suppose that it was on February 20^th when he woke up to find The Village deserted. It is calculated that he would have needed at least a day or two in order to fell trees, empty oil drums, and build his raft. I say a couple of days, because it’s unlikely that Number 6 completed the construction of his raft in a day. But then like most things in ‘the Prisoner’ it’s all a question of time! And seeing there was no electricity it would mean Number 6 would have already have been eating cold food. Unless of course he made a campfire taking food and using utensils taken from his home to cook it!

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Citizen No.6?

    It doesn’t matter where No.6 goes, there are always fans ready to pursue him, even back in the early eighties when fans of ‘the Prisoner’ came together for the first time in The Village. No.6 didn’t know this was about to happen, and on one occasion when he attempted to escape, he found himself incommoded whichever way he turned! In the end he had to overpower two boatmen in order to escape the clutches of his adoring fans. And yet they loved every minute of it, chasing No.6 from pillar to post. In fact the longer No.6 was able to elude his pursuers they more they enjoyed it, seen here chasing No.6 while holding placards chanting “Six, six, six, six, six, six!” It wasn’t until it was time for those enthusiasts to leave The Village that No.6 could begin to relax again, The Village returning to normal life!

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Special Imports!

    Cuckoo clocks, cameras, long playing records, cordless telephones, Portmeirion pottery {Penny Plain design}, and blue and white Cornish ware pottery, are all sold at one time or another in the General Store.

     The Cuckoo clocks obviously originated from Switzerland, while there were a variety of cameras for sale in The General Store, one of which was a Canon Dial 35mm camera. However the maker’s name of the camera used in the episode ‘Many happy Returns,’ is obscured with a piece of black tape. As is the name of and maker’s name on the ‘L’ shaped telephones used in The Village. However when it comes to Long Playing records, once again on sale in the General Store, the name of, even the picture of the artiste on the record sleeves, are not so easy to hide. Not from the citizens of The Village, oh no, but from the camera, so that those who are watching, no not the observers

.........but the television viewers!

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Village Life!

    “Yes gentlemen?”
    “I’d like some lead for my propelling pencil, and my friend here would like some stick jaw.”
    “Stick jaw, what’s that when it’s at home?”
    “Homemade toffee.”
    “Well why didn’t you say toffee?”
    “Is it homemade?”
    “Well I don’t make it, I only sell it.”
    “So it’s not homemade?”
    “I could say that Number Thirty-eight makes it.”
    “What, you mean the old woman whom I bought that tapestry from, time at the Arts and Crafts exhibition?”
    The Rook “Did you?”
    “Yes.”
    “That was kind of you.”
    “Not really, it cost me two thousand work units. So Number Thirty-eight makes stick jaw now does she?”
    “No.”
    “But you said she did.”
    “No, what I said was, I could say that Number thirty-eight makes it.”
    The Rook “What about penny chews?”
    “Penny chews, don’t sell them.”
    “Black Jacks?”
    “No.”
    “Bubble gum?”
    “I used to sell bubble gum, but people would spit it out onto the roads and paths, and there were complaints about it. It’s the very devil to remove you know. So Number 2 put a stop to my selling bubble gum!”
    “What about sherbet dabs, lucky bags, oh and acid drops?”
    “No, I don’t sell any of those, I’ve got chocolate limes, liquorice allsorts, pineapple cubes, humbugs, and hundreds and thousands, gobstoppers, lemon sherbets, pear drops, and honeycomb……...”
    “Chewing nuts?”
    “Not since I’ve been using the talcum powder!”
    “Well I’ll take a quarter of a pound of dolly mixtures, a bar of fruit and nut, and a packet of love hearts!”
    “Never mind about all that, what about the lead for my pencil?”
    “Hb, H, or HB4?”
    “HB.”
    “Sorry sold out!”
    “Cigarettes?”
    “Yes, no, don’t tell me you want twenty Number Six!”
    “You trying to be funny?”
    “Obviously not. Well come inside gentlemen I’m sure I can sell you something. I do a nice line in gentleman’s magazines, village pin-ups that sort of thing. Strictly under the counter service you understand.....”

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The Therapy Zone

    You know what with all those restrictions that were imposed on Number 2, the fact that no extreme measures were to be used....yet. How Number 2 didn’t want Number 6 to end up damaged, not wanting him to end up a man of fragments. That they didn’t want to, nor must they damage Number 6 permanently say their masters, because there are other ways. More than that, time was also imposed on Number 2 when dealing with Number 6. Which is all very well, but it’s as though Number 1 didn’t want anyone extracting the reason behind Number 6’s resignation! Mind you, if Number 6 and Number 1 are one and the same, but separate, one might be forgiven for thinking that Number 1 knew the reason why his other self resigned in the first place! Perhaps extracting the reason why Number 6 resigned isn’t why he’s in The Village, but there for reasons of self torture, self persecution for having resigned in the first place!

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Youth Rebels Against Nothing It Can Define!

   Number 48 is described by the President as youth, with its enthusiasm, which rebels against any accepted norm because it must. It may wear flowers in its hair, bells on its toes. As well as being uncoordinated youth, rebelling against nothing it can define. As for Number 48, I used to wonder if he wasn’t the former Number 8 who committed suicide at the end of ‘Living In Harmony.’ He could have been resuscitated like the “late” Number 2 in ‘Fall Out’ and given a new number. That would make it right what the President said about 48, that he was with us, but then he went and gone. Resuscitated he saw the light, rebelling against The Village and all it stood for, The Village being the accepted norm by many.
   I’ve always been of the opinion that like Number 6 Number 48 had successfully survived his own “ultimate test,” and like Number 6 had been given the opportunity of stating his own case, as well as being given his own clothes to wear. And yet……it might be that Number 48 had been born in The Village, if that is the case, then where did Number 48 get those clothes he wears, the military tunic, trousers, top hat and white boots? Because they could not be his own clothes, it could be that they belonged to someone else. That clothes belonging to people who are brought to The Village wearing their own clothes, that when they are given Village attire to wear, that their own clothes are put into storage. It has been said by one of ‘the Prisoner’s’ production crew that the Kid in ‘Living In Harmony’ wears the clothes of the men he has killed. So continuing to think outside the box, it could be that after Number 48 found his way into where The Village inmate’s former clothes are stored, put together the outfit he now wears from a selection of other people’s clothes!
   It may be that my first assumption about Number 48 that the clothes he wears are his own. And yet I find there is something appealing about my further assumption regarding Number 48.

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Exhibition of Arts And Crafts

                              “Whirlybird!”

 BcNu

Symbolism – It’s Everywhere!

    An innocent enough looking telephone, over-sized and ridiculous looking I admit, and an even more innocent looking jug of pure milk are perched on the desk. And yet the one is an instrument by which one gives irritation to Number 2’s condition, whilst the other calms, soothes, and helps alleviate that Stomach ulcer!

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A Favourite Scene In The Pri50ner

   That would be in ‘Arrival,’ and it takes little describing as we know it well enough. From the moment the Prisoner takes his first steps into The Village, to the moment he goes to have breakfast with Number 2 in the Green Dome. And this is simply for the sole reason of seeing Portmeirion for the first time. Not that I have even heard of Portmeirion back in 1967 let alone know anything about the place or having been there. And of course it was in black and white, it wasn’t until 1984 that I did eventually see Portmeirion colour. What a marvellous place I thought, and four years later I eventually followed in the Prisoner’s footsteps. Of course I had seen The Village before, in a number of episodes of ‘Danger Man’ but never realized it at the time.
    The Prisoner confused, disorientated. Where is he, how did he come to be there, why is he there? Where is there a telephone? At the Cafe, but they don’t have a telephone, but there’s a phone box around the corner. He is asked for his number, he wants to know what exchange it is, because he wants to make a call to.....but again he is asked for his number. He glances at the telephone, there is no number, so no number, no call the operators tells him and hangs up!
   Aha! One of those new fangled electronic information boards, now he’ll soon find out where he is. He’s in The Village, surrounded by mountains, woods and an estuary! I suppose The Village should be called The Village-Next-The-Sea! Suddenly, and without warning, a white Mini-Moke with a candy striped canopy pulls up. The oriental driver asks him where to? He wants to go to the nearest town, but the taxi is only a local service. Well then take him as far as you can! Much to the delight of the television viewer the Prisoner is taken on a scenic tour of The Village, the impression given that the place is larger than it actually is. This is achieved by the taxi being driven along the same streets and cobbled paths both ways, and along the same roads in both directions, and more than once. And all that happens is the taxi ends up where it started, well almost, outside the General Store.
   A map of the area, colour or black and white? Oh just a map, the Prisoner isn’t fussy! And unfolding the map The Village is laid out before him, along with the mountains and sea. But this isn’t right, the Prisoner meant larger map, oh that’s fine, but only in colour and much more expensive. But that’s fine. The colour map of The Village is exactly the same as the one in black and white, only larger. But this still isn’t right, the Prisoner meant a larger area, but there’s no call for those. What’s more there are no self-drive hire cars, only taxis. Oh well the Prisoner won’t be going anywhere anyway, so it doesn’t matter. And who needs a map of The Village anyway, it’s hardly likely anyone would get lost there! Just a minute, there’s a housemaid standing on the balcony waving a yellow duster! But by the time the Prisoner returns to his cottage the housemaid has gone, the last seen of her she is hurrying away down some steps. Beep, beep, beep, beep, what’s that? It’s the telephone. The Prisoner picks up the receiver and is invited to breakfast, Number 2 the Green Dome. At that moment I imagine the Prisoner thinks Number 2 is the number of the Green Dome, seeing as someone has given his cottage a number, ‘6 Private.’ Well he’s going to be in for a surprise when he finds out that that’s his own personal number. I am not a number, I am a free man, or person. Me thinks the Prisoner doth protest too much!

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One Egg Or Two?

    It seems that by the time of the morning of ‘The Chimes of Big Ben,’ Number 6 has taken to only having two boiled eggs for his breakfast when before he was used to a more hearty breakfast. Tea, Indian or China, but with lemon, two fried eggs with bacon, and toast. Then when his personal maid Number 54 brought him his breakfast it consisted of a pot of tea, sugar and milk, toast, a glass of orange juice, cup and saucer, and a red napkin, but no butter or marmalade! Later of course he became used to more international cuisine, a poached egg on a slice of quiche. But that’s if one keeps to the library order of ‘the Prisoner,’ and not the actual screening order of the series. We have both ‘Dance of The Dead’ and ‘Free For All’ taking place before ‘The Chimes of Big Ben.’ That suggests to me that Number 6 having had his breakfast brought to him was a privilege, but by the time of ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ that privilege had been rescinded! So from then on Number 6 had to make his breakfast, unless he had someone like Number 8 come along and boil his two eggs for him. But why just two boiled eggs when he was used to a more substantial breakfast? Perhaps living alone Number 6 couldn’t be bothered cooking for himself, perhaps that’s why he is sometimes seen having a simple ham sandwich and cup of tea or coffee for his lunch!

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Thought For The Day

    The Prisoner has reached its 50^th anniversary, although it’s not the first television series to do so, its ‘Man In A Suitcase’ as well. However what has helped ‘the Prisoner’ to endure over the decades is the ability not to reveal itself in its entirety. What I mean is, there is something about it which remains a puzzlement, no, let’s face it there are many things which remain a puzzlement.............so many unanswered questions!
    Enthusiasts discuss the series, come up with interpretations, bring about theories and ideas in order to finds the answers to questions we cannot possibly answer. We want to know everything there is to know about ‘the Prisoner’ and his Village, but after 50 years shouldn’t we know by now all there is to know? Perhaps we were never really meant to know! Such is ‘the Prisoner’s’ ability to keep us guessing, even after these past 50 years. Oh just one more thing, I should like to ask a question, one which to my knowledge has never been asked before in the annals of Prisoner appreciation. Where in The Village is the Manor House to be found?

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Who’s That On the Telephono?

    The telephone bleeps, the Supervisor picks it up

    “Yes sir, at once………. it’s for you.”
    “Who is it?”
    “Let’s just say I’m glad it’s for you!”
    “As bad as that?”
    “Worse!”
    “Just a minute, it’s yellow! Aren’t I supposed to be using a red telephone to speak to…….him?”
    “I haven’t got a red telephone.”
    “What happens if I have to call………him, later in the episode?”
    “You could always use a yellow telephone, at least that way you’ll maintain the continuity!”
    Tiny voice from the telephone “Come on, get me Number Two on this telephone, I’ve a few choice words to say to him!”
    “What’s that voice I can hear?”
    “It’s him, he can hear every word you say, I’ve still got my finger on the button.”
    “You blithering idiot………..oh no sir, not you sir……..no I would never………what colour telephone are you on********************* there’s no need to use language like that, I only asked!”

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Exhibition of Arts And Crafts

                        “Poor Old Chap!”

BcNu

Once Upon A Time

    Once upon a time Number 2 tried to make Number 6 kill, to kill him in fact. This took place during a fencing match, Number 2 tried his level best to make Number 6 kill him, but he couldn’t do it, causing only a flesh wound to Number 2’s shoulder. It might be asked why Number 2 was attempting to turn Number 6 into a killer, perhaps that’s what he wanted to turn 6 into a killer, an assassin. Although this Number 2 failed to make Number 6 kill. One of his predecessors was actually successful in that regard. They put Number 6 in a dangerous environment, an American frontier town in the 1800’s. The Man With No Name was made town Sheriff of Harmony, he may have agreed to wear a badge, but it took more then good old fashioned brute force to make him wear a gun. In fact it took the murder of Cathy to make Number 6 put on a gun and face the Kid in a gun fight. The result being the Kid had been gunned down and left for dead in the street, lying in the dirt! Okay, the Kid had been nothing but a cardboard cut out, and the killing only in Number 6’s mind, but Number 2 had made Number 6 kill! So if that is what Number 2 in ‘Once Upon A Time’ was trying to do, he failed, where as one of his successor had already succeeded. But what about ‘The Girl Who Was Death,’ Number 6 killed both Schnipps, the Girl, and a number of Schnipps’ henchmen when he sabotaged the rocket, making it explode! If that episode was a window into his former life, then ZM73 was a trained killer, not a 00, but working for British Intelligence nonetheless. He may not have liked killing, he may have used it only as a last resort, but ZM73 was capable of killing the same as anyone else. But that doesn’t answer the question of why Number 2 was trying to make Number 6 kill. And if he had killed Number 2, what then? Number 6 and the Butler sealed in the Embryo Room with a corpse until the time lock released the door! Number 2 said Number 6 had killed in the war, which war had that been? Certainly not WWII, Number 6 would have been a boy then, and still at school, but he would have been old enough even for the Korean War. I suppose they had to have Number 6 having fought in “a” war so to fit in with the soldier of Shakespeare’s “Seven Ages of Man.” So perhaps in ‘Living In Harmony’ The Man with No Name, as a sheriff, he had become tired of killing and so refused to wear a gun again, expect in exceptional circumstances. And according to ‘Once Upon A time,’ having killed so many in the war being in a bomber crew, he had had a stomach full of killing, and so refused to kill again. But that still doesn’t answer the question of why Number 2 wanted to make Number 6 kill! Perhaps as one Mr. Anonymous suggested in a comment, Number 2 was turning Number 6 into a killer, an assassin in order to kill/assassinate Number 1!

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ESCAPE!

    The detonator device was Number 2’s passport out of The Village, Number 6 told him to take it and go. Many fans have wondered why Number 6 didn’t take advantage and escape The Village himself? In the case of the recently retired Number 2, Number 6 was on hand to see that the new Number 2 didn’t take any action while his predecessor was leaving The Village.
   “And so the great day is nearly over, went off rather well, better than planned. And now you can look forward to your own retirement, and I’m sure they will plan something equally suitable for you, when the day comes.” 
    But in Number 6’s case, who was there to delay Number 2 from taking action as Number 6 had done? The only person I can think of is Monique, but she was too busy attending to her father! In any case the recently retired Number 2 didn’t escape The Village, he came back of his own free will, or at least that is the impression given at the end of the episode when the helicopter turns back to The Village! Well what was the point? They would have caught up with him eventually wherever he went. So perhaps he decided to cut his losses and go back to The Village, where he could live out the rest of his life in the peace and comfort of the Old People’s Home. After all he had achieved so much for The Village. Now The Village could look after him seeing how good a welfare policy they have. Knowing how to look after their senior citizens!

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A Funny Thing Happened To Me On My Way Here!

   Last Friday, being Feb10th, funnily enough turned out to be something of a Prisoner day for me. I was perusing the stalls of the local antique and bic-a-brac market, when one stall holder said “Ah the man in the top hat,” well I was actually wearing a top hat at the time. The stall holder went on to ask me if I was still working or had retired. I said both, I’m a self-employed writer. I was then asked what do I write? I wanted to just say fiction, but I said I write about ‘the Prisoner.’ He queried this and I said ‘the Prisoner’ Patrick McGoohan. Then it clicked, and there was a chap standing at the stall, and he smiled. I know ‘the Prisoner’ he said, and I’ve seen the second series, have it on DVD, and that was that! With the other gentleman, who was also a fan of ‘the Prisoner’ joining in, we spent half an hour talking in general terms about ‘the Prisoner’ and of course Patrick McGoohan, his school days, and of his role as Red in ‘Hell Drivers.’ And of course the old debate raised its head, about whether or not Number 6 was John Drake, they wanted my opinion. The general consensus between the three of us being that he is! They asked me if the Prisoner escaped in the end, and again the consensus between us was that he didn’t, that ‘the Prisoner’ began all over again. Then the discussion turned to Patrick Cargill, and the fact that he starred in another television series ‘Father Dear Father.’ They said you look like him you know. I said Patrick Cargill? Yes they said. Well I said I’ve been taken for Patrick McGoohan in my time, but never Patrick Cargill! And so the discussion continued, and would have continued a whole lot longer had my wife not come along and said we should be going as we had shopping to do. Just as well I suppose, otherwise I’d have probably been still standing there an hour or more later, the three of us still discussing ‘the Prisoner.’ So I had to go, the three of us parting with The Village salute “Be seeing you.”
   It just goes to show that you never know who is a fan of ‘the Prisoner,’ they are everywhere. I certainly didn’t expect such an encounter when I left the house that morning. Yet I should have known. Well it was Feb 10^th! 

Be seeing you

Who’s That On The Telephono?

   It’s an interim No.2 speaking to No.1, who telephoned him asking why there has been a delay with Plan Division Q? No.2 explains to No.1 about No.50’s hesitancy in going to No.6. That she took a long time making up her mind to go and see him. No.2 had hoped to catch up, but No.6 flatly refused to have anything to do with her, and that caused another delay……. Perhaps it would be better to replace No.6 with someone more attractable, less suspicious. But the reason they selected No.6 was a matter of credibility without which, the plan might back-fire!
   So why is this interim No.2 speaking to No.1 on the yellow telephone, when it more usual and proper to use a red telephone? Mind you he’s not the first No.2 to make that mistake. But then the mistake isn’t his, it’s the Supervisor’s. But then it’s not really a mistake, seeing as the yellow telephone is the only one on the control consol!
   And why isn’t this No.2 using that ridiculous over-sized red curved prop of a telephone? I would have thought it would have suited him. Certainly if it was ridiculous enough for Colin Gordon and Patrick Cargill, it would have been ridiculous enough for Derren Nesbitt to have used! Mind you that ridiculous looking prop would have had to have been used by Peter Swanwick first, and that might have made the difference in this instance!

Be seeing you

Time On His Hands!

   When it comes to wrist watches Number 6 wears different ones from time to time. His own watch with a nylon band which becomes waterlogged, and gives to Karel in the cave during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben,’ in exchange for Karel’s own watch, is the same one he wears at the start of ‘The Schizoid Man,’ If Number 6’s own watch had been waterproof, there would have been no need for the exchange of wristwatches, and the end result would still have been the same, seeing as his own watch would have been set at Village time, the same time as London Greenwich meantime!
   During ‘The Chimes of Big Ben,’ Number 6 is given a wristwatch by Number 9, a Hamilton automatic. Except this watch has one other function, as an Electro Pass, which synchronizes with the alarm system and allows Number 6 access to the helicopter. Number 2 told Cobb that he would allow Number 6 to keep the watch, just as a reminder that escape was not possible. But was that wise? Certainly Number 6 never tried to make further use of that Electro Pass, nor did he wear it on his wrist as a watch.
   In ‘The Schizoid Man,’ Number 6 starts out wearing his original wrist watch with the nylon band, which means that Karel must have handed it in, the watch repaired at the little watchmakers shop at some point, and given back to Number 6! But then it’s taken away from him again, because later in the episode he’s wearing a watch with a chrome strap instead, but it’s unclear where Number 6 got that watch.  Then in ‘The General’ Number 6 has another wristwatch, this one has a black leather strap, the same one in ‘It’s Your Funeral,’ which is replaced by Number 100 with an identical, one but its not working. So Number 6 takes it to the watchmakers shop to have it repaired.
   It’s just a thought, but might it have been the Watchmaker-Number 51 who worked on that wristwatch in order to insert the Electro Pass transistors? Also Number 6 was abducted to The Village in only what he was wearing at the time, no other personal belongings came with him. So where did Number 6 get that expensive Tissot wrist watch he uses to hypnotize Number 86 in the above picture {costing between £210 and £1,300 in today’s prices} from? It might well be that the Watchmaker sold it to him, the watch being a special import, like the Cuckoo clocks, records, and cameras sold in the General Store in ‘Hammer Into Anvil.’ So how much might an expensive Tissot watch cost in Work or Credit Units?

Be seeing you

A Favourite Scene

   In ‘The General,’ when Number 2 is in the Boardroom speaking to Number 1 on the telephone.
   “No I assure you there’s no problem sir, we’re getting a hundred percent cooperation from everyone and I’m anticipating a truly exciting result…………. Who sir?......... oh the Professor just a mild aberration I assure you, a couple of days rest and adjustment and he’ll be doing everything we need……………yes, yes I will keep in touch sir, the closest touch, thank you sir. Probably the most important human experiment we have ever had to conduct, and he’s treating it like a military exercise!”
  And this while the Butler pours out a glass of milk, indicating that Number 2 is still suffering from his stomach ulcer, but at last he’s using the normal ‘L’ shaped telephone, and not that other ridiculous contraption in ‘A B and C.’ Just a minute….where does the Butler go? He wheels away the trolley, but he doesn’t leave the Boardroom via the steel doors, because we only hear them opening as Number 12 enters the room!
   Number 12, of administration has concerns about the Professor, he thinks they’re going about it with him the wrong way. He sees it that they indulge his idiosyncrasies too much, he sees the Professor as being a crank and should be treated as such. He knows that the Professor is the corner stone of Speedlearn, but Number 12 can’t help but think he’s a troublemaker, and he attracts troublemakers, meaning Number 6. Number 2 asks Number 12 how long he’s been with them? “Me sir? Quite a long time sir.” “but obviously not long enough” Number 2 replies and then goes on to warn Number 12 that his opinions about the Professor should be carefully guarded. I’ve always thought the same about Number 2 when he made his remark about Number 1. After all in his position he should know who might be listening!

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Caught On Camera!

    Two day visitors or guests staying at Portmeirion, judging by their attire not being that of The Village, are peering over the wall during the filming of a scene for ‘Free For All.’ No doubt they recognized Patrick McGoohan, but I wonder if they watched ‘the Prisoner’ to see themselves immortalized in that scene in ‘Free For All?”

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A Reason For Being!

    The Prisoner awakens in what he thought to be the study of his own home, he was wrong! He takes his first tentative steps out into The Village, he’s shocked, disorientated. He sees the figure of a man leaning out of a window of the Bell Tower, the Prisoner rushes round the base of the tower to find a door. He quickly climbs up in the Bell Tower, but of the figure he saw leaning out of the window there is no sign! He climbs to the Top of the Bell Tower and looks in every direction, the whole Village laid out before him. What might have been the purpose of that figure leaning out of the window? After all he was there, you and I, and anyone watching ‘Arrival’ saw the figure, so he must have been there. Perhaps the figure was there to attract the Prisoner’s attention in order to make him climb the Bell Tower, and from the highest point give the Prisoner the best view of The Village they could in order to confirm his new surroundings, until he was given an aerial tour by helicopter that is. The Prisoner did not encounter the figure he saw, so where did it disappear to? Obviously he ducked away in some unknown space, and simply not seen by the Prisoner, after all people don’t just disappear, unless they are abducted to The Village! But never mind the disappearing figure of a man, who in their right mind would haul a heavy stone statue up to the top of the Bell Tower? Was that put there simply to try and convince the Prisoner that it was the statue he had seen? If so it was a pretty poor attempt, after all, the statue had been placed right at the top of the Bell Tower, it wasn’t even pointing in the right direction, and not at the window the Prisoner had seen the figure leaning out of! However both the stone statue and the figure of the man do have something in common, they are both ambiguous. But the reason for the one may well be the reason for the other. The figure of the man is replaced by a statue, making it appear the Prisoner made a mistake, if that be the reason for their being!

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It’s Carnival!

    They’re a happy bunch of citizens if ever there were any! Perhaps because it’s Carnival, with music, dancing, happiness....by order! So whether they like it or not they will enjoy themselves. Oh yes you can dress people up in fancy dress costumes, but even then you can’t make people look as though they are having a good time outside. But you can huddle a group of people together in such a way as to make the crowd of people look more than they are in number. Number 6 thought everyone looked to be having a good time outside, he even told his housemaid that. He obviously didn’t observe the expressions on their faces too closely. No-one was cheering, and I expect the Brass Band was playing the musical instruments, as both were played over the public address system! Enforced happiness, I can think of nothing worse!

Be seeing you

Exhibition of Arts And Crafts

                            “The Village”

 BcNu