Due to illness blog articles are temporarily
suspended!
David
Be seeing you
soon
Wednesday, 30 August 2017
Sunday, 27 August 2017
Thought For The Day
A sceptic with a devious mind, turned
sadist with a paranoid mind! I know that Patrick Cargill once said that the
character of Thorpe of ‘Many Happy Returns’ is not supposed to be the character
of Number 2 in ‘Hammer Into Anvil,’ but fictionally speaking why not?
Thorpe is very sceptical about his ex-colleague’s report regarding The Village, that seeing as The Village was deserted that perhaps everyone had gone on the annual democratic outing, and that seeing as how The Village is a far cry from Sing Sing, that he wouldn’t mind a fortnights leave there! But is there more to this man than first meets the eye? Is it possible that he already knows of the existence of The Village? If he didn’t, he did then, after his ex-colleague had divulged the information about it to him and the Colonel. After seeing Number 6 off on his journey back to The Village, might not Thorpe have made some discreet enquiries about it, perhaps from the Colonel? The Colonel may have known of the installation before his ex-colleague’s report. After all he never once tried to stop Number 6 from returning there!
It might be that Thorpe volunteered his services to The Village, or was recruited, either way it would have afforded him the opportunity to cross swords with his ex-colleague again. But perhaps The Village wasn’t quite what Thorpe had expected, and wasn’t “mentally” up to the challenge. He had become a weak link in the chain of command waiting to be broken. And for that reason perhaps that’s why Number 1 hung Thorpe out to dry, preferring to leave Number 2 to seal his own fate against Number 6, rather than to become involved himself!
We know that Thorpe has a sceptical nature, but in ‘Hammer Into Anvil’ we see a darker side of his character, he’s a bully and a professional sadist! He drives Number 73 to an attempted act of suicide, finally succeeding by hurling herself through a hospital window to her death. But like all bullies Number 2 is afraid, he is afraid of failure, of what his master might do to him should he fail. Hence Thorpe managed to smuggle a sword shooting stick into The Village with him, possibly for self preservation. And it is with that sword that he enjoys taunting his adversary, Number 6, you have to be hammer or anvil you see. But the trouble with hammers is, the more hammering they do, the more likely they are to break, unlike the anvil.
We talk of Number 2 being able to leave The Village. I doubt very much that this particular Number 2 would be allowed to leave The Village, besides he wouldn’t be in the right frame of mind to be able to do that. More likely he would be removed to the psychiatric ward of the hospital. Perhaps Number 6 might care to visit, and take him a bunch of daffodils!
Thorpe is very sceptical about his ex-colleague’s report regarding The Village, that seeing as The Village was deserted that perhaps everyone had gone on the annual democratic outing, and that seeing as how The Village is a far cry from Sing Sing, that he wouldn’t mind a fortnights leave there! But is there more to this man than first meets the eye? Is it possible that he already knows of the existence of The Village? If he didn’t, he did then, after his ex-colleague had divulged the information about it to him and the Colonel. After seeing Number 6 off on his journey back to The Village, might not Thorpe have made some discreet enquiries about it, perhaps from the Colonel? The Colonel may have known of the installation before his ex-colleague’s report. After all he never once tried to stop Number 6 from returning there!
It might be that Thorpe volunteered his services to The Village, or was recruited, either way it would have afforded him the opportunity to cross swords with his ex-colleague again. But perhaps The Village wasn’t quite what Thorpe had expected, and wasn’t “mentally” up to the challenge. He had become a weak link in the chain of command waiting to be broken. And for that reason perhaps that’s why Number 1 hung Thorpe out to dry, preferring to leave Number 2 to seal his own fate against Number 6, rather than to become involved himself!
We know that Thorpe has a sceptical nature, but in ‘Hammer Into Anvil’ we see a darker side of his character, he’s a bully and a professional sadist! He drives Number 73 to an attempted act of suicide, finally succeeding by hurling herself through a hospital window to her death. But like all bullies Number 2 is afraid, he is afraid of failure, of what his master might do to him should he fail. Hence Thorpe managed to smuggle a sword shooting stick into The Village with him, possibly for self preservation. And it is with that sword that he enjoys taunting his adversary, Number 6, you have to be hammer or anvil you see. But the trouble with hammers is, the more hammering they do, the more likely they are to break, unlike the anvil.
We talk of Number 2 being able to leave The Village. I doubt very much that this particular Number 2 would be allowed to leave The Village, besides he wouldn’t be in the right frame of mind to be able to do that. More likely he would be removed to the psychiatric ward of the hospital. Perhaps Number 6 might care to visit, and take him a bunch of daffodils!
Be
seeing you
A Favourite Scene In A B and C
And you think Number 6 has had a couple of bad
nights, Number 2 doesn’t look much better. It must be the late nights he’s been
having, as well as the stress he’s under. The only time we see Number 2 dressed
in his pyjamas and dressing gown is when he’s having a bad time of it. Here
Number 2 has one more night in which to bring ‘A B and C’ to a satisfactory
conclusion. In ‘Its’ your Funeral’ an interim Number 2 had to find a way to
make Number 6 interested enough as to involve himself in a plot to
assassinate/execute Number 2. Only he was dressed in his pyjamas in the Control
Room, and had the help of the Supervisor. Here Number 2 must bear the burden of
responsibility by himself!
Be seeing you
Caught On Camera!
The laughing
sailor in ‘The Girl Who Was Death,’ I don’t know what he’s got to laugh about,
mind you there is something familiar about him. Standing there laughing in his
glass box, he makes me think of Number 2 in the Perspex Orbit Tube in ‘Fall
Out,’ he stands there laughing. I don’t know why, he’s got nothing to laugh
about either!
Be seeing you
Friday, 25 August 2017
Quote For The Day
“File Number Six, section forty-two,
sub-section one, paragraph one, back to the beginning."
"You were right about him."
"I told you."
"Don't worry, it was a good idea and you did your best. I'll stress it in my report."
{Number 2 and Nadia - The Chimes of Big Ben}
"You were right about him."
"I told you."
"Don't worry, it was a good idea and you did your best. I'll stress it in my report."
{Number 2 and Nadia - The Chimes of Big Ben}
Number 2 told them they were taking the
wrong approach, he admitted that in 'Once Upon A Time.' But whose idea was it
for Nadia Rakovsky {if that be her name} to be assigned to Number 6, to make
her a damsel in distress, so that he would take her under his wing. To make out
that she knew the location of The Village, so that Number 6 would formulate a
plan so they could escape together, escape back to London London
As for doing his best, well Number 2 was hardly involved at all. All he did was to make sure that Number 6's plan to escape went along unhindered. I suppose it was a good idea, it was simply a question of time that let it down, the fact that there was the possibility that Number 6 would have asked for Post 5's wristwatch so that he could time the journey to London. And he wouldn't have, had he and Nadia not had to swim for it, hence Number 6's wristwatch became waterlogged. If it hadn't been for that, the plan may very well have succeeded!
And who was Nadia going to report to? I was under the impression that Number 2 always made the report to Number 1. But Nadia, she's dressed ready to leave The Village. She doesn't give the impression that she's about to go and see Number 1 to report personally, unless Number 1 happens to be living his London town house in Buckingham Place. The Colonel? Well Nadia's not going to make her report to the Colonel because he already knows how the plan failed! Sir Charles Portland? Well that's a possibility, or maybe the General! Well anything is a possibility when one doesn't know the answer to the question!
As for doing his best, well Number 2 was hardly involved at all. All he did was to make sure that Number 6's plan to escape went along unhindered. I suppose it was a good idea, it was simply a question of time that let it down, the fact that there was the possibility that Number 6 would have asked for Post 5's wristwatch so that he could time the journey to London. And he wouldn't have, had he and Nadia not had to swim for it, hence Number 6's wristwatch became waterlogged. If it hadn't been for that, the plan may very well have succeeded!
And who was Nadia going to report to? I was under the impression that Number 2 always made the report to Number 1. But Nadia, she's dressed ready to leave The Village. She doesn't give the impression that she's about to go and see Number 1 to report personally, unless Number 1 happens to be living his London town house in Buckingham Place. The Colonel? Well Nadia's not going to make her report to the Colonel because he already knows how the plan failed! Sir Charles Portland? Well that's a possibility, or maybe the General! Well anything is a possibility when one doesn't know the answer to the question!
Be seeing you
The Tally Ho
No.6 tells It Like It Is!
by our own reporter
No.6 a man of strong principle and high ideals, felt he should talk to the
press about his treatment since having arrived amongst us here in the Village,
and how he feels about that. It would appear that they did take a liberty in
bringing him here, and certainly he showed the normal shock symptoms, followed
by acceptable behavior pattern, and was distinctly aggressive. Since his
arrival here in the Village he has proved to be exceptionally difficult and
aggressive. He’s refused to settle down and join in. I asked No.6 if he had
anything to say for himself, and defiantly as ever he said. "I will not be pushed, filed,
stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered." Brave words indeed, except
that he was ‘pushed’ into his resignation, perhaps he had reached the point
where he hated his job. This is judged by the rage in which he gives in
his letter of resignation. ‘Filed,’ a card with the Prisoner’s photograph is
"X-ed" out and filed under RESIGNED. ‘Stamped.’ having been
hallmarked for the Village to where the Prisoner is duly abducted. ‘Indexed,’
that would be his personal file. ‘Briefed,’ the Prisoner was briefed on the
Village during the aerial tour of the Village by helicopter. ‘De-briefed,’ this
took place on the day of the Prisoner's arrival in the Village, after No.2 had
invited him to the Green Dome for breakfast. ‘Numbered,’ they gave him the
number 6 on the day of his arrival.
Then there was that time when he
stood for election to the position of the new No.2. It was a strong
opening speech No.6 gave. “Yes, I was determined to discover who the Prisoners
and who the warders, and how many of each.” Yes and your defiance was clear in
that speech, as you defined the good citizens of this fine community into two
categories. Those who like you who have knowledge that is invaluable to an
enemy, having held positions of a secret nature. That knowledge to be protected
or extracted. And those who have
accepted the situation of their imprisonment….”And will die here like rotten
cabbages!” No.6 added. So you remember. “Indeed I do, just like it was
yesterday.” There is one thing that has always puzzled me Number Six, and
perhaps you would care to enlighten both myself and the readers. Just how do
rotten cabbages die?
You said that you were going to discover who the prisoners and who the warders. “That’s right.” It took you a long time to find that out didn’t it. “Yes.” How was that? It was after a game of chess using human beings for the pieces. The chess champion Number Fourteen took me to one side and explained how to tell black from the white. By their dispositions, their attitudes, it’s simply psychology. You soon know who’s for or against you. It’s the way it is in life.” But it didn't do you much good did it? “Oh I don’t know.” What I mean is it didn’t get you anywhere. “Well if it hadn’t been for that stupid Rook, he had no business in putting to me my own test!” You don’t blame yourself then, after all you did take command of the little venture. You should have been more careful. “How was I supposed to know the Rook had an independent mind.” But you did know, that’s the point. And what was all that about during the election “My primary objective is the security of the citizens,” that doesn't sound like you at all! Perhaps it wasn’t! And what about when you were actually elected as the new Number Two, what did you go and do, you tried to force your will upon the people. I have command obey me and be free! Admit it, you were no better than any previous No.2, or your successors to come! “I offered the citizens something no other Number two had ever offered.” You said yourself that everyone votes for a dictator, and that’s how it turned out to be, that much you have to admit. “I wanted to escape, and intended to do so in the ensuing confusion.” But your words encouraging the people to be free, that they were free to go, drifted away on the wind, unheeded. “They are sheep!”
You said that you were going to discover who the prisoners and who the warders. “That’s right.” It took you a long time to find that out didn’t it. “Yes.” How was that? It was after a game of chess using human beings for the pieces. The chess champion Number Fourteen took me to one side and explained how to tell black from the white. By their dispositions, their attitudes, it’s simply psychology. You soon know who’s for or against you. It’s the way it is in life.” But it didn't do you much good did it? “Oh I don’t know.” What I mean is it didn’t get you anywhere. “Well if it hadn’t been for that stupid Rook, he had no business in putting to me my own test!” You don’t blame yourself then, after all you did take command of the little venture. You should have been more careful. “How was I supposed to know the Rook had an independent mind.” But you did know, that’s the point. And what was all that about during the election “My primary objective is the security of the citizens,” that doesn't sound like you at all! Perhaps it wasn’t! And what about when you were actually elected as the new Number Two, what did you go and do, you tried to force your will upon the people. I have command obey me and be free! Admit it, you were no better than any previous No.2, or your successors to come! “I offered the citizens something no other Number two had ever offered.” You said yourself that everyone votes for a dictator, and that’s how it turned out to be, that much you have to admit. “I wanted to escape, and intended to do so in the ensuing confusion.” But your words encouraging the people to be free, that they were free to go, drifted away on the wind, unheeded. “They are sheep!”
Be seeing you
Wednesday, 23 August 2017
It’s Inexplicable!
You
cannot see the number, but why should a microphone be given a numbered badge?
It’s the same with the microphone used by the Supervisor-Number 26 when he’s
acting as a presenter for Radio Village
BCNU
Bureau of Visual Records
Nadia
Rakovski, if that be her name, has just arrived in The Village. She woke up in
what she thought was her own home apparently in Estonia, so it must have come
as something of a shock to see that she wasn’t in her home in Estonia at all.
Well it would have come as a shock if she wasn’t working for The Village!
So the telephone began to bleep and she picks up the receiver. A kindly gentleman trusts that there have been no ill effects from the journey, and then invites her to have breakfast, Number 2 the Green Dome. It must be that breakfast is the first thing offered to all new arrivals. No doubt that’s because of the long journey to The Village.
And so Nadia takes her first tentative steps out into The Village. Her number is Number 8, her cottage is number 8 hence the sign post. But what’s that white circle with the number 8 doing on the wall? It wasn’t there in ‘Arrival’ when the Prisoner went that way to the door of theBell Tower
So the telephone began to bleep and she picks up the receiver. A kindly gentleman trusts that there have been no ill effects from the journey, and then invites her to have breakfast, Number 2 the Green Dome. It must be that breakfast is the first thing offered to all new arrivals. No doubt that’s because of the long journey to The Village.
And so Nadia takes her first tentative steps out into The Village. Her number is Number 8, her cottage is number 8 hence the sign post. But what’s that white circle with the number 8 doing on the wall? It wasn’t there in ‘Arrival’ when the Prisoner went that way to the door of the
Be seeing you
ESCAPE!
Lets face it, there are not that many ways of
escaping The Village, in fact it has been demonstrated again and again that
escape is not possible! But if one was to attempt to escape one would quickly
find that any such ways are restrictive. The way of the mountains, either over
or through via a pass seems impossible. By air is only possible by helicopter,
the only trouble is, the remote control device in the helicopter. The pilot
would have to identify the device and then to disable it. In Number 6's case,
rip it out!
By impersonation, if one is lucky enough to have a
doppelganger in The Village, working for Number 2, who you might be able to
impersonate and leave The Village that way. You could run for public office,
become Number 2, and eventually leave The Village that way. Perhaps an easier
way would be to steal a taxi and simply drive across the sand, leaving The
Village far behind. Or walk across the sand to the far side of the estuary
making for the hills on the far side. Having left The Village, and before one
reaches the mountains, there is the open countryside to escape into, which is
seen in both 'Many Happy Returns,' and 'Hammer Into Anvil.' Well if one cannot
get so far overland, well what about escape by sea? If one knew where one was
sailing from, one could calculate where one was sailing to, in a boat carved
out of a tree trunk. On the other hand you could spend a couple of days
building a sea-going raft, then having put to sea, finally escape The Village,
only to find yourself back there about a month later! Perhaps by speed boat,
having disabled the remote control device first! Or by capturing the vessel
M.S. Polotska! Although seeing as how The Village is set on an estuary there is
an alternative to the sea. An estuary is the mouth of a river, one could carve
out a dug-out canoe from a tree trunk, and paddle off up the river instead of
putting out to sea, that sounds much simpler, and far less dangerous! One could
simply try to swim away when the tide is in, if you are good at "wild
swimming" that is. That's what Nadia found out you see, why she could not
swim so far. Wild swimming, especially against the tide is not the same as
swimming in a swimming pool, not even one of Olympic dimensions! Or simply walk
away! Yes there are the mountains, but there is enough open countryside to get oneself
lost in. Another way would be by rocket, or in a cage on the trailer of a
Scammell Highwayman transporter. I suppose if one gets desperate, when one’s
spirit is broken one could simply hide in a dustbin and look to get thrown out
of The Village with the rest of the rubbish! Failing that to take the ultimate
escape, by hurling oneself to one’s death through a hospital window. But when
one is not endowed with the numerous skills and knowledge as Number 6
demonstrates, such as navigation, being able to make a compass from odds and
ends, able to pilot a helicopter, carve a boat out of wood. As well as having
the knowledge about such devices as a Triquetrum, an ancient Greek device for
attaining one’s position by the stars, if Number 6 cannot escape, what chance for
lesser mortals!Be seeing you
Tuesday, 22 August 2017
How did The Prisoner ever get made?
An
article written by Matthew Sweet for The Telegraph newspaper entitled ‘How did
The Prisoner ever get made?’ was drawn to my attention earlier today. It’s very
good, and well written. The link to the article is below.
I was particularly struck by
the final two sentences.
Be seeing you
Be seeing you
Monday, 21 August 2017
Where’s The Crate?
We are shown the crate with Number 6 and Nadia in it, being loaded onto a freighter in the port of Gdansk/Danzig, and again as it’s loaded aboard a cargo plane at
Be seeing you
The Chimes of Big Ben
Think of all the planning that went into
the extremely elaborate plan for 'The Chimes of Big Ben,' bringing in an
agent, a plant into the Village. To have both the Colonel and Fortheringay
seconded to the Village. To have Nadia Rakovsky assigned to Number 6 by
turning her into a damsel in distress. Have Nadia feed him false information,
false hope, then watch, just watch as Number 6 puts into operation his plan for
escape.
Then there's the 12 hour journey toLondon Poland London Danzig and Copenhagen
Then there's the 12 hour journey to
Be seeing you
The Chimes of Big Ben
Nadia
told Number 6 what she wants is to hear the chimes of Big Bill, but of course
she meant Big Ben. Perhaps when she heard the chimes she knew that her
assignment, perhaps even her ordeal was finally over. However if Nadia and
Number 6 had arrived in London after today, having supposedly escaped The
Village, then she would be hard pressed to hear the chimes of Big Ben. Because
today the chimes of Big Ben will fall silent, and will remain silent for the
next four years until 2021 in order that important repair work be carried out.
The chimes will continue to be rung on important dates such as New Years Eve,
and the clock will continue to tell the time, only silently.
Be seeing you
Saturday, 19 August 2017
6 of The Best
And
finally in this short series of ‘6 of The Best’ we come to a selection of
wonderful actors and actresses who appeared in ‘the Prisoner’ alongside Patrick
McGoohan.
“All the world’s a stage and men and women
merely players; they have their exists and their entrances, and one man in his
time plays many parts.”
Production of ‘the Prisoner’ provided work for many great actors and actresses, and perhaps this has been the most difficult category from which to make a choice.
Production of ‘the Prisoner’ provided work for many great actors and actresses, and perhaps this has been the most difficult category from which to make a choice.
1, Leo McKern
2, Colin
Gordon
3, Eric
Portman
4, Frederick
Piper
5, Mary Morris
6, Rachel Herbert
Why the above actors and actresses? Well “spoilt
for choice” is a phrase that readily springs to mind, as I could so easily have
included George Baker, Peter Swanwick, Kevin Stoney, Finley Currie, Richard
Wattis, Katherine Kath, Norma West, Earl Cameron, Georgina Cookson, John Sharp,
Rosalie Crutchley. Betty McDowall, Victor Madden, Patrick Cargill, Nadia Gray
in the 6, and apologies to those whose names do not appear here.
Be seeing you
The Guardians Feeling Deflated!
Something
wrong with the Guardian? It looks a little deflated! Perhaps it has mutated
into something like the “thing” in ‘The Quatermass Experiment,’ and creeps and
slides its way around The Village instead of rolling and bounding about,
leaving a trail of slime behind it like a snail!
On the other hand, it looks rather like the idea for the Guardian MK I, except there’s no blue flashing light!
On the other hand, it looks rather like the idea for the Guardian MK I, except there’s no blue flashing light!
Be seeing you
Village Life!
“So they brought ‘C’ to The Village after
all!”
“You should know. It’s often the way with important people.”
“But you’ve no anonymity any more!”
“There is a different between you and I Number Six, I co-operated.”
“You gave them what they wanted.”
“I find it better here to what it was elsewhere, besides my cover was blown.”
“I work for the Board of Education now. We’re looking into a way of education which will give people a University degree in a lesser time than the Open University will take, say six minutes instead of six years!”
“What’s the hurry?”
“You should know. It’s often the way with important people.”
“But you’ve no anonymity any more!”
“There is a different between you and I Number Six, I co-operated.”
“You gave them what they wanted.”
“I find it better here to what it was elsewhere, besides my cover was blown.”
“I work for the Board of Education now. We’re looking into a way of education which will give people a University degree in a lesser time than the Open University will take, say six minutes instead of six years!”
“What’s the hurry?”
Be seeing you
Quote For The Day
“I have to report a
breakdown in control......yes this is Number two reporting.” {No.2 – Hammer Into Anvil}
I have to admit that there are times when I feel sorry for Number 2. Number 6 can certainly dish out some rough justice when called upon! I suppose you could call Number 6 Nemesis, chosen by Number 1 because he knew he wouldn’t flinch when it came to breaking Number 2. I’m surprised Number 6 didn’t report the sudden breakdown in control to Number 1 himself. After all it didn’t matter who Number 1 was at that point, he’d have only been a voice on the telephone, a voice the television viewers would never have heard. But Number 6 reporting to Number 1 himself, it would be like reporting personally to the General, it just isn’t done. No, much better to have Number 2 to report himself. After all its not known how Number 1 would have reacted to Number 6 on the telephone, whoever Number 1 might have been at the time, and vice versa of course. I think to have Number 2 report himself added humiliation to his breakdown!
I have to admit that there are times when I feel sorry for Number 2. Number 6 can certainly dish out some rough justice when called upon! I suppose you could call Number 6 Nemesis, chosen by Number 1 because he knew he wouldn’t flinch when it came to breaking Number 2. I’m surprised Number 6 didn’t report the sudden breakdown in control to Number 1 himself. After all it didn’t matter who Number 1 was at that point, he’d have only been a voice on the telephone, a voice the television viewers would never have heard. But Number 6 reporting to Number 1 himself, it would be like reporting personally to the General, it just isn’t done. No, much better to have Number 2 to report himself. After all its not known how Number 1 would have reacted to Number 6 on the telephone, whoever Number 1 might have been at the time, and vice versa of course. I think to have Number 2 report himself added humiliation to his breakdown!
Be seeing you
Earl Cameron 100 Years Young
He's starred in films such as ‘James Bond,’ ‘The
Interpreter,’ and ‘The Queen.’
Earl Cameron lives in Warwickshire, and at
the age of 100 he refuses to ever retire from acting.
Dated
August 11th 2017
Earl
Cameron when he spoke on 5News
Be seeing you
Thursday, 17 August 2017
Busy Potter!
If
he wasn’t he’s going to be! Poor old Potter, he’s been left out in the cold,
but at the same time he’s making a little money on the side as a shoe shine
boy. Mr. X has his suede shoes brushed up, and gives Potter a £5 note, Potter
is highly delighted it’s as though he can hardly believe his luck as it’s
possibly the most money he’s ever earned for a few moments work. But then he’s
brought down to earth by a muddy boot! Poor old Potter’s got his work cut out
now!
Be seeing you
The Tally Ho
The Schizoid Man
by our reporter
Prior to the freedom of information act 2000, the vast majority of
information regarding The Village and its internal activities has been tightly
restricted and controlled. In fact any such requested information within
official circles has to be written in triplicate, and signed by at least four
high-ranking Civil Servants, and then countersigned by the head of department!
However since it is almost 50 years since the Prisoner’s abduction to The
Village, I am at liberty to disclose certain information relating to the
curious events of ‘The Schizoid Man.’
A doppelganger for Number 6 had been brought to The Village in order to impersonate him. Number 6 one night, had been abducted from his home, to wake up in a strange apartment, after first having been conditioned to being Number 12. This took place over a period of at least six weeks, and during that time his doppelganger was going about The Village impersonating Number 6. This was all to do with the act of taking away Number 6’s identity, in order to break him. However Number 2 had not counted on events being revealed to Number 6 in a mirror, and a short circuiting table lamp! Having regained his right-handedness, and identity, Number 6 set off to confront his doppelganger in his cottage. In having overpowered the man Curtis, and gaining the password and the false mole, Curtis broke free and went running outside chased by Number 6 only to encounter The Village Guardian. Both men gave the password schizoid man. But Curtis began to back away repeating the password, then he ran, upon which the Guardian was on him in a moment suffocating the man to death. Number 6 then saw his chance, by reporting himself as being dead Number 6 intended to escape The Village in the guise of Curtis!
"Number 6 is dead, Rover got him!"
"What!" barks Number 2 "Control Room deactivate Rover immediately."
Then Number 6 reports to Number 2 in the Green Dome, but as Curtis.
“We’re still trying to find out why Rover killed Number Six.”
“There’s going to be hell to pay.”
“Not if we’re clever.”
“What do you mean?”
“Who’s to say Number Six died?”
“I should think everybody knows by this time.”
“Only you, me, the Supervisor, and two medics. We have one chance to rectify the situation.”
“How are you going to do that?”
“I’m not, you are! You will remain here in The Village, and continue your impersonation of Number six, but permanently!”
“We’d never get away with it!”
Number 2 sent Curtis to see the girl Alison because they thought she might have had some insight into Number 6s motivations. However seeing as she had nothing more to tell him he left, and upon returning to ’6 Private’ he changed into civilian clothes in readiness to leave The Village.
But alas the escape plan of Number 6s was too spontaneous, off the cuff, and doomed to failure. He had seen a photograph of Susan in Curtis’ wallet, but that turned out to be his Achilles heel in the plan. He didn’t know what proposition Number 2 had put to Curtis when he arrived in The Village. If there had been one! Neither did Number 6 know about reporting to the General. It would seem Number 6 didn’t know enough, and had said too much. This aroused Number 2’s suspicions, stemming from a doubt he had back in his office. When Number 6 finally climbed into the helicopter, Number 2 told him not to forget to give Susan his regards. “I won’t.” This confirmed that Number 6 wasn’t the man he thought he was. Because Susan had died a year before!
A doppelganger for Number 6 had been brought to The Village in order to impersonate him. Number 6 one night, had been abducted from his home, to wake up in a strange apartment, after first having been conditioned to being Number 12. This took place over a period of at least six weeks, and during that time his doppelganger was going about The Village impersonating Number 6. This was all to do with the act of taking away Number 6’s identity, in order to break him. However Number 2 had not counted on events being revealed to Number 6 in a mirror, and a short circuiting table lamp! Having regained his right-handedness, and identity, Number 6 set off to confront his doppelganger in his cottage. In having overpowered the man Curtis, and gaining the password and the false mole, Curtis broke free and went running outside chased by Number 6 only to encounter The Village Guardian. Both men gave the password schizoid man. But Curtis began to back away repeating the password, then he ran, upon which the Guardian was on him in a moment suffocating the man to death. Number 6 then saw his chance, by reporting himself as being dead Number 6 intended to escape The Village in the guise of Curtis!
"Number 6 is dead, Rover got him!"
"What!" barks Number 2 "Control Room deactivate Rover immediately."
Then Number 6 reports to Number 2 in the Green Dome, but as Curtis.
“We’re still trying to find out why Rover killed Number Six.”
“There’s going to be hell to pay.”
“Not if we’re clever.”
“What do you mean?”
“Who’s to say Number Six died?”
“I should think everybody knows by this time.”
“Only you, me, the Supervisor, and two medics. We have one chance to rectify the situation.”
“How are you going to do that?”
“I’m not, you are! You will remain here in The Village, and continue your impersonation of Number six, but permanently!”
“We’d never get away with it!”
Number 2 sent Curtis to see the girl Alison because they thought she might have had some insight into Number 6s motivations. However seeing as she had nothing more to tell him he left, and upon returning to ’6 Private’ he changed into civilian clothes in readiness to leave The Village.
But alas the escape plan of Number 6s was too spontaneous, off the cuff, and doomed to failure. He had seen a photograph of Susan in Curtis’ wallet, but that turned out to be his Achilles heel in the plan. He didn’t know what proposition Number 2 had put to Curtis when he arrived in The Village. If there had been one! Neither did Number 6 know about reporting to the General. It would seem Number 6 didn’t know enough, and had said too much. This aroused Number 2’s suspicions, stemming from a doubt he had back in his office. When Number 6 finally climbed into the helicopter, Number 2 told him not to forget to give Susan his regards. “I won’t.” This confirmed that Number 6 wasn’t the man he thought he was. Because Susan had died a year before!
In a file marked “Eyes Only” it is
documented that it was in fact Number 6 who had been suffocated by Rover. That
it was Curtis who took the place of Number 6, because the idea of Number 2’s
was to have Curtis remain in The Village and be forced to continue his role as
Number 6! So Curtis, masquerading
as Number 6 put his plan into action. He declared Number 6 as being dead, then
went to see Number 2 in his office. Curtis was clever enough to realise that he
must forget all Curtis knew, about himself, Number 2’s proposition, and the
General. In fact he must behave exactly as Number 6 would have done, to bluff
his way out of The Village. He even managed to convince Alison of his identity.
He then returned to 6 private in order to pack his suitcase in readiness to
leave. Dressed in his own blue suit, he checked his wallet before placing it in
an inside pocket of his jacket, and saw the picture of his late wife Susan. So
we have reached the point where Curtis is continuing his role as Number 6,
whilst masquerading as himself, while pretending to be Number 6! However
there was a flaw in the plan. Curtis played his role as Number 6 too well,
behaving just as Number 6 would have done, even to the point of not knowing
about Susan. So Curtis sealed his own fate. Forced then to continue in the role
of Number 6!
Be seeing you
Tuesday, 15 August 2017
Village Life!
“I
always think people like you are better treated than people like me!”
“How do you mean?”
“Here I am, Number Two, Chairman of The Village, eating scraps from a prisoner’s table, and me the boss!”
“Marmalade?”
“I don’t get privileges like this you know. No-one brings me my breakfast on a tray. Nor do I have a comfortable cottage like this.”
“No?”
“No. I have a room in the basement of the Town Hall!”
“You should take it up with Number 1.”
“He doesn’t care. He says I’m not here to enjoy myself, there’s work to be done!”
“How do you mean?”
“Here I am, Number Two, Chairman of The Village, eating scraps from a prisoner’s table, and me the boss!”
“Marmalade?”
“I don’t get privileges like this you know. No-one brings me my breakfast on a tray. Nor do I have a comfortable cottage like this.”
“No?”
“No. I have a room in the basement of the Town Hall!”
“You should take it up with Number 1.”
“He doesn’t care. He says I’m not here to enjoy myself, there’s work to be done!”
“Well people like you are here one minute
and gone the next.”
“And you are staying?”
“Until I find a way out.”
“Escape, why would you want to do that? You’re living the life of Riley here, you don’t know when you’re well off that’s your trouble!”
“Everything has a price.”
“Yes it does, and I’m not paying it!”
“Have we asked you to? Have we asked you to pay for anything, or work for it? No.”
“You would change places with me?”
“What the inmates running the asylum, what kind of Village would it be then?
“An empty one!”
“And you are staying?”
“Until I find a way out.”
“Escape, why would you want to do that? You’re living the life of Riley here, you don’t know when you’re well off that’s your trouble!”
“Everything has a price.”
“Yes it does, and I’m not paying it!”
“Have we asked you to? Have we asked you to pay for anything, or work for it? No.”
“You would change places with me?”
“What the inmates running the asylum, what kind of Village would it be then?
“An empty one!”
Be seeing you
Caught On Camera!
Why
are Number 2 and Number 6 holding hands? Are they more than just good friends,
I didn’t realize they were even close to being good friends! Number 6 may have
won the election, but as he stood on the steps of the Town Hall the electorate
looked upon him with suspicion. Perhaps they were wondering what life would be
like under this newly elected Number 2. Perhaps that’s the reason the out-going
Number 2 took him by the hand in order to make him feel safe, to reduce anxiety
and stress, although it can be a sign of respect, or to make a connection, to
lead in direction, and to protect. As for Number 6, he is in a docile state of
mind, and being led blindly into a situation he will not be able to control.
Be seeing you
Who or What Is No.1?
In
‘Arrival’ when the Prisoner is discharged from the hospital he’s given a number
of cards. His employment card, his card of identity, a health and welfare card,
and a credit card, and he’s wearing a badge denoting the number 6. It obviously
doesn’t register that he is actually going to be called Number 6 anymore than
any of us would expect to be known by our National Insurance or NHS number.
When the Prisoner storms into Number 2’s office he demands he get Number 1.
Does the Prisoner actually know there is someone with the name of Number 1 or
does he simply mean No.1 as in the first officer onboard a ship. At that point
the Prisoner doesn’t know people in The Village are known by numbers until
Number 2 calls him Number 6.
Be seeing you
Sunday, 13 August 2017
6 of The Most Detestable Characters!
Who
do you consider to be the most detestable characters in ‘the Prisoner?’ I can
think of a list as long as your arm, in reducing that number to 6, I arrived at
the following.
The
doctor-Number 40 {Dance of The Dead} clearly enjoys human experimentation,
something he shares with Number 23 of ‘Checkmate’ in fact he could be her male
counterpart! His method demonstrated at the outset of the episode may have
always worked before, but clearly he hadn’t read Number 6’s personal file! But
with Dutton he has a free hand in order to extract information from him. He
realizes that everyman has his breaking point, but in his enthusiasm he goes
too far, and leaves Dutton brain-dead! His methods might be efficient, but he fails
to realize that there are other ways.
For the dance Number 40 has been given {because other people choose people’s costumes} the costume of Napoleon Bonaparte. Strange that someone {perhaps Number 2} would choose that particular costume for the doctor, as Napoleon is most commonly used by people suffering from delusions!
The
doctor-Number 23 {Checkmate} the female counterpart of her predecessor Number
40, who relishes human experimentation, who goes further, adapting experiments
carried out on animals to humans. Pavlov’s experiments with dogs for one, and
another with Dolphins. Like her predecessor she realizes that everyman has his
breaking point, and should like to know what Number 6’s is. She would go
further, by suggesting a leucotomy be carried out on Number 6 in order to stem
his aggressive tendencies, by isolation of the aggressive frontal lobes of the
brain.
3
The
doctor-Number 86 {A Change of Mind} although Number 6 was a special case, this
attractive woman happily carries out leucotomy operations on patients with a smile.
Not by the once usual method, but has a much cleaner and humane way, by use of
ultrasonic sound waves.
4,
The
Shopkeeper No.112 {Hammer Into Anvil} he’s a guardian! This weasel, this
informant, watches and reports Number 6’s unusual activity in his shop. In fact
at one point he cannot wait to go running off to Number 2 himself, regarding
Number 6’s recent activity. But what he doesn’t know is, Number 6 is playing
him for a fool! However he has brought about change to the General Store,
bringing special imports, and a record booth, so you can listen to a record
before buying.
5 Number 56 {A Change of Mind} this stout, loud, brash, forceful woman would make it to
Chairwoman on any committee! For the moment she is chairman of the ladies
Sub-Appeal Committee, and this foul, bitter, and twisted woman doesn’t give
Number 6 an inch! She doesn’t hang around long enough to see any contrition in
Number 6. She seems pleased when Number 6 keeps refusing the offer of help, so
be it, there remains only once course open to them. And when it comes to the
time of the procession this woman is vicious in the way she brandishes her
umbrella like a lethal weapon. Judging by the expression on her face, and the
way she attacks Number 6 with her umbrella she means it, she hates Number 6!
6
Town
Crier/Nero {Dance of The Dead} according to the proclamation there will be
music, dancing, happiness all at the carnival, by order. Later he appears as
Emperor Nero, one of the three judges at the Prisoner’s trial. He reads out the
charge against the Prisoner like he read out the proclamation about Carnival.
He seems to take delight in telling the Prisoner, when he demands to call a
character witness, that names are not used in The Village. Well that’s quite
right, only names are used more times that Nero might imagine! But after
further deliberations it is up to Nero to give the death penalty.
1
For the dance Number 40 has been given {because other people choose people’s costumes} the costume of Napoleon Bonaparte. Strange that someone {perhaps Number 2} would choose that particular costume for the doctor, as Napoleon is most commonly used by people suffering from delusions!
2
3
4,
The
Shopkeeper No.112 {Hammer Into Anvil} he’s a guardian! This weasel, this
informant, watches and reports Number 6’s unusual activity in his shop. In fact
at one point he cannot wait to go running off to Number 2 himself, regarding
Number 6’s recent activity. But what he doesn’t know is, Number 6 is playing
him for a fool! However he has brought about change to the General Store,
bringing special imports, and a record booth, so you can listen to a record
before buying.5 Number 56 {A Change of Mind} this stout, loud, brash, forceful woman would make it to
Chairwoman on any committee! For the moment she is chairman of the ladies
Sub-Appeal Committee, and this foul, bitter, and twisted woman doesn’t give
Number 6 an inch! She doesn’t hang around long enough to see any contrition in
Number 6. She seems pleased when Number 6 keeps refusing the offer of help, so
be it, there remains only once course open to them. And when it comes to the
time of the procession this woman is vicious in the way she brandishes her
umbrella like a lethal weapon. Judging by the expression on her face, and the
way she attacks Number 6 with her umbrella she means it, she hates Number 6!6
Footnote: But unlike the real Nero this one
didn’t “play the fiddle” while The Village burned. Meaning to occupy oneself with
unimportant matters and neglect priorities during a crisis. Besides which there
was no fiddle {violin} in first century Rome, if Nero played anything it was the lyre!
Such is my personal selection. However it
would be easy for me to put my mind to it again, and arrive at another and
altogether different listing!
Be seeing you
Page 6
The poor old
Professor, I wonder just how far he thought he could run. If it comes to that,
where did he think he was running to? In previous episodes before ‘The General’
when someone attempts to escape either Number 2 or the Supervisor deploys the
membranic Guardian to chase down the escapee. But not in the case of the
Professor, the helicopter is employed in the hunt, but it seems rather cruel
for Number 2 to get his own students to chase him down and bring him back to
The Village. Although I don’t know, perhaps Number 2 saw the irony in that,
either that or he didn’t want any harm to befall the Professor should he
encounter the Guardian. After all an encounter with the Guardian can be a nasty
experience at the very least, but one which might have proved fatal for an old
gentleman like the Professor.
Be seeing you
They Found It Funny!
“I am not a
number, I am a person,” that’s what Number 6 started his opening election
speech with, and the citizens, the electorate, laughed at him! This chap,
Number 54 found it particularly funny, perhaps he learned long ago that he is
not a person he is a number. That there is no such thing as a “person” in The
Village, only numbers. Perhaps this Number 45 was once like Number 6, in his
younger days, he may have resisted insisted that he’s not a number but a
person. It seems Number 6 still has that to learn, and Number 54 found that
funny. I wonder when he died, the number 54 having been reissued to the maid in
‘Dance of The Dead,’ and when had she arrived in The Village?
Be seeing you
Friday, 11 August 2017
Bureau of Visual Records
“Hello,
nice to be seeing you all again,” that’s what Madam Professor said on television
prior to one of her husband’s lectures. But could she really see all the students, or is what she said simply an
expression. If Madam Professor really could see all the students she must have
been sat in front of an awful lot of television screens. Or a multiplex screen,
one divided up into many several different screens!
Be seeing you
Village Life!
“We’ve been
watching you.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“Yes, there was a click.”
“A click, where?”
“In the mirror.”
“Just in the mirror?”
“No, over there, yes over there too.”
“Do you know why we had been watching you?”
“No.”
“A man of your calibre is bound to get himself noticed.”
“I resigned.”
“We noticed that too. But you’re with us now.”
“With you?”
“Our Bank is a cover for secret work, you should be used to that, it’s like World Travel you once work for.”
“You think I was a travel agent?”
“And you’re not a bank clerk now, so what’s the odds?”
“Well I’m better at figures than I was at holiday destinations!”
“How much for a fortnight’s stay in Blackpool?”
“Blackpool, is that all you can afford?”
“Bank managers don’t eat off silver plates you know!”
“Well go on then, treat yourself to an overdraft!”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“Yes, there was a click.”
“A click, where?”
“In the mirror.”
“Just in the mirror?”
“No, over there, yes over there too.”
“Do you know why we had been watching you?”
“No.”
“A man of your calibre is bound to get himself noticed.”
“I resigned.”
“We noticed that too. But you’re with us now.”
“With you?”
“Our Bank is a cover for secret work, you should be used to that, it’s like World Travel you once work for.”
“You think I was a travel agent?”
“And you’re not a bank clerk now, so what’s the odds?”
“Well I’m better at figures than I was at holiday destinations!”
“How much for a fortnight’s stay in Blackpool?”
“Blackpool, is that all you can afford?”
“Bank managers don’t eat off silver plates you know!”
“Well go on then, treat yourself to an overdraft!”
Be seeing you
Harmony Times
We are all familiar with Clint Eastwood's
character from the three spaghetti western films A Fistful of
Dollars, For A Few Dollars More, and The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly,
the Man With No Name. Although he is called by the names of Manco, Joe,
and Blondie in the three films. But basically he's the Man With No Name.
I suppose you could call the stranger
above the Man With No Name, because if he has a name no-one ever uses it
throughout the entire series of the
Prisoner. Although in his time he has been known as Duval, Schmitt.
ZM73, and he once called himself Peter Smith, and the Colonel in Many Happy
Returns called him Number Six, to which the Prisoner took great offence!
So, in The Village he goes by the name of Number Six. Yet in Living In
Harmony even this name is taken away from him, and truly becomes the Man
With No Name. A 'drifter,' a 'high plains' drifter!
But before this Man With No Name became a drifter, he was a Town Sheriff of an American wild west frontier Town in the late 1800's. It was a job from which he resigned. No letter of resignation, but simply signified by the handing in of both his badge and his gun. But why did he resign? A town Sheriff is open to many dangers as he tries to keep the peace. There might be a gang come riding into town, say the James gang, the Dalton boys, the Youngers, or the Clanton gangs, to rob the Bank. And the Sheriff would have to try and stop them, and if he couldn't, then he'd have to form a posse and go after the Bank robbers. A Sheriff, worth his salt, would have to be fast on the draw, otherwise he wouldn't last very long. But then the faster on the draw the Sheriff became, so much greater his reputation, and that in turn would attract to town every gunslinger out to make a reputation for himself. And each time the Sheriff, who got paid very little, would have to stand up to each and every gunslinger who came to Town, and more than likely would have to face him, or them in a gun-fight. In time, this sort of thing can wear a man down, the killing. Having to put his life on the line every day, for little pay, a few dollars a month. So perhaps this one time Sheriff was fed up with the killing he had to do. Fed up with having to get up every morning, to face having to put his life on the line, eventually that would become too much for him, as it did for many Sheriffs of the time. So it could be as simple as that, as to why The Man With No Name resigned!
But before this Man With No Name became a drifter, he was a Town Sheriff of an American wild west frontier Town in the late 1800's. It was a job from which he resigned. No letter of resignation, but simply signified by the handing in of both his badge and his gun. But why did he resign? A town Sheriff is open to many dangers as he tries to keep the peace. There might be a gang come riding into town, say the James gang, the Dalton boys, the Youngers, or the Clanton gangs, to rob the Bank. And the Sheriff would have to try and stop them, and if he couldn't, then he'd have to form a posse and go after the Bank robbers. A Sheriff, worth his salt, would have to be fast on the draw, otherwise he wouldn't last very long. But then the faster on the draw the Sheriff became, so much greater his reputation, and that in turn would attract to town every gunslinger out to make a reputation for himself. And each time the Sheriff, who got paid very little, would have to stand up to each and every gunslinger who came to Town, and more than likely would have to face him, or them in a gun-fight. In time, this sort of thing can wear a man down, the killing. Having to put his life on the line every day, for little pay, a few dollars a month. So perhaps this one time Sheriff was fed up with the killing he had to do. Fed up with having to get up every morning, to face having to put his life on the line, eventually that would become too much for him, as it did for many Sheriffs of the time. So it could be as simple as that, as to why The Man With No Name resigned!
Be seeing you