Interpretation!

    That’s ‘the Prisoner’ all over, open to interpretation. But only by us the viewer, there’s no question that Number 6 is interpreting his own actions. To him it was a simple resignation, there’s nothing to be read in that, if one can’t chuck up a job things have come to a pretty pass. After all it might not have been his resignation which triggered his abduction and eventual incarceration in The Village. After all ZM73 had been under the closest possible surveillance before he handed in his letter of resignation. Under surveillance by whom and why is open to interpretation, and yet however we interpret the situation it might not make it actuality right. He might well have come under some suspicion, perhaps it was thought he was getting ready to defect like Chambers late of the Foreign Office. But no, ZM73 was loyal, even after he had resigned his job and held captive in The Village, he refused to give any such information, not of any projects that he knew about, or headings of secret files. So why was he under such close surveillance? Perhaps those working for The Village had their eye on him, having decided that he was just the type of man they wanted, a man of the right calibre. But it’s a three way bet that it was either by a department within British Military Intelligence who had ZM73 under such close surveillance, or Special Branch, or even by an unknown third party.

Be seeing you

Caught On Camera!

   I had not noticed that this doctor-No.249, head of psychiatrics, has two grey telephones, perhaps because my attention has always been focused on the doctor speaking to No6 on the telephone. Why would he require two telephones of the same colour? After all it’s not as though telephones in The Village have a number, let alone different numbers. Well alright No.6’s telephone has a number, and well might Alison’s telephone, but it’s impossible to tell in her case.

   This doctor also has a nice selection of what I am pleased to call deskenalia, a wooden stationery box, matching desk blotters, pen holder, and notepad.

Be seeing you

Quote For The Day

    The telephone begins to bleep during an interview with Number 6.

    “Number 2……………yes sir……yes sir everything’s under control……………..no sir no problems………………assistance? No, no I can manage…………….yes sir of course, be seeing you.”

    Why should Number 1 offer Number 2 assistance when Number 2 already has an assistant in Number 14? I think it is clear that Number 1 must have been watching Number 2 during the interview with Number 6. And when things began to cut up rough for Number 6, Number 1 suddenly felt the need in intervene, thinking that Number 2 had overstepped the mark by first threatening Number 6 with a sword and then his physical assault on the Prisoner. Number 1 might also be interested to know how Number 2 had been able to smuggle his sword shooting stick into The Village, wondering why Number 2 thought he needed such a weapon in the first place?
   If its assistance that is required then Number 2 should really put better trust in Number 14, after all that’s why Number 14 is there to be of assistance to Number 2. And yet how many Number 2’s have actually any placed any reliance upon their assistant? Whatever one thinks of Number 14, at least he wants to be of help, and would have been able to, had Number 2 not kept him at arms length.

Be seeing you

Village Life!

    “Why are you crying?”
    “It’s terrible”
    “Oh I don’t know, things could be worse.”
    “How could they be worse?”
    “Well what’s the matter?”
    “It’s alright for you, you haven’t got toothache!”

Be seeing you

Caught On Camera!

   Look, he’s doing it again! How many times in ‘the Prisoner’ does Pat McGoohan peer through bushes in this way? He does it in ‘Arrival,’ again in ‘A B and C,’ also in ‘Checkmate,’ and here in ‘The Girl Who Was Death,’ but I cannot call to mind for the moment the exact number of times he does this throughout the series. However it is something he obviously personally liked to do, I suppose one might call it a fetish!

Be seeing you

Exhibition of Arts And Crafts

                            Whirlybird

 BcNu

Thought For The Day

    Amid all the mayhem taking place in the cavern, the President gave the order to evacuate. Evacuate what, just the cavern or the entire Village? Obviously the latter, because the president’s voice echoed around The Village via the public address system giving the order to evacuate. But Number 6 didn’t know that did he, he didn’t hang around long enough to find out. So perhaps as far as he was concerned it was merely the cavern which was being evacuated. Unless he imagined the launching of the rocket would do more harm than just to rid the place of Number 1.

Be seeing you

A Favourite Scene

    At last, it seems Number 50 took a long time in making up her mind to go and see Number 6. Well let’s face it he’s not the most approachable man in The Village. But anyway, as an afterthought the Supervisor-Number 26 took it upon himself to make sure the door was unlocked. Well it seems Number 6 doesn’t always answer it when anyone comes calling. I’ve always wondered why Number 50 had such a look of trepidation, is that the right word? I think fear would be too strong a word, but certainly she’s very nervous to say the least, about having to call on Number 6. Perhaps her somewhat nervous state was the reason why she took her time in making up her mind to go and see Number 6, to seek his help. So once inside the cottage Number 50 walks slowly, carefully across the floor of 6 Private, why, was she trying not to wake Number 6? She certainly tries not to make a sound. And then once in the bedroom, Number 6 is already awake by the way, she stretches out a hand as so to wake Number 6. But then Number 6 grabs her and pulls Number 50 onto the bed......aha! There we have it, perhaps the nervousness was not on the part of the character of Number 50, but on the part of the actress Annette Andre! Perhaps it was she who was not looking forward to that little scene with Patrick McGoohan she didn’t like him you see. Anyway the Supervisor-Number 26 gets hauled over the coals by Number 2 for his little slapdash improvisation. Number 50 is eventually sent packing by Number 6, and the interim Number 2 gets it in the neck from Number 1. And already Plan Division Q is behind schedule!

Be seeing you

Call The Substitute!

    “Call the substitute, call the substitute, the substitute, the substitute, call the substitute.”
    “What’s that all about?”
    “You saw for yourself, the Rook made a move all of his own, and that’s not allowed.”
    “Why?”
    “It’s the cult of the individual.”

    “Substituted, this isn’t football!”
    “I was substituted once.”
    “What for?”
    “A Bishop!”

Be seeing you

Page 5

     5 that’s me! One less than 6 but one more than 4, it’s numbers you see. They say Number 1’s the boss, but that all depends on 1 being the highest number. In a deck of cards the ace, 1, can be a high card or a low card. 1+5=6, and 6+1=7, and 7 is a lucky number, that’s why he was cast out of The Village. 7 is lucky as 13 is unlucky, but was 13 cast out? Answer me that if you can.
   6 was taken mentally back to his childhood, regressed back to the age of 5. You will recall the scene in the Control Room with Number 2 and the Supervisor, “check profundity.” 1..2..3..4..5..6 first waveband clear. “Repeat and increase.” 1..2..3..4..5..6 still clear. “Third waveband slow and hold on five.” 1…..2…..3…..4…..5…..5 5 5 5 5 5. However even at the age of 5 there was something in his brain that was a puzzlement! But then why 5, why not 7? Simple, so that the Prisoner wouldn’t be able to count to six!

Be seeing you

A Question of Personalities!

   Number 1 is an introvert, well what could be more introverted than hiding away in a rocket, while at the same time wearing a black and white theatrical mask! Mind you, does Number 1 go about dressed in such a fashion all the time, thus maintaining his anonymity like some leader of a secret society? I find it difficult to believe he does, and that absolutely no-one knew his identity before the advent of ‘Fall Out!

   So with Number 1 as the introvert, whilst on the other hand, Number 6 is the extrovert, an outgoing person, cordial, affable, friendly, a good dancer, he loves parties. Well he did used to attend Madame Engadine’s celebrated parties.

   He feels at ease in ‘B’s’ company, he even has his arm around her waist! He hasn’t been this close to a woman since that night with Nadia, and never so far away as when in the company of Monique!
   And my point is? No point, simply an observation, simply that one man can be so different to that of his other self.

Be seeing you

60 Seconds With No.2

    “Why.......why?”
    “Why indeed! That didn’t go too well did it?”
    “Why?”
    “Well to my mind you underestimated Number Six.”
    “Why?”
    “You tell me! You once told Number 6 not to underestimate you. You’re not as clever as he is that’s all.”
    “Who....who are you?”
    “Oh didn’t I say? I am Number One-one-three, and this is my photographic colleague Number One-one-three b, we contribute to The Tally Ho.”
    Number 113b “Smile” click goes the camera.
    “Tell me Number Two, does this mean the end of Speed Learn?”
    “It’s that Number Six’s fault!”
    “I think you’ll find it was yours Number Two. Your undying belief in the General’s ability was its and your undoing. Pity it was the Professor and Number Twelve who paid the price!”

Be seeing you

60 Seconds With No.2

    Yes I suppose you could say I was the odd 2 out, being the only Number 2 to be dressed thus. Why I’m dressed identically like Number 6, I suppose is another attempt to keep him off balance. You can witness my arrival, I ride a bike passed the Labour Exchange just as my successor is taking the Prisoner inside. But you have to be quick to see me flash by.

    My first task is to give a reprisal of the Prisoner’s first day in The Village, normal classification, on arrival subject showed shock symptoms, followed by accepted behaviour pattern. Since then has been uncooperative and distinctly aggressive. Attempted to escape, subject proving to be exceptionally difficult, but in view of his importance no extreme measures to be used yet! I went on to say that he had not volunteered any information so far, but appears to be settling down. He even attended the regular Brass Band concert today.

    Then there was Cobb’s funeral, I would have thought Number 9 was most convincing, had it not been real, her tears for a man she had feelings for……Cobb! However having been assigned to Cobb, and her attending his supposed funeral did give me the opportunity to bring 9 and 6 together, he being her next assignment.
    Of course my final act before departing The Village, was to demonstrate to Number 6, oh I didn’t number him, that is a misconception, it was the Supervisor who first mentioned Number 6’s number. Yes it fell upon me to demonstrate that escape is not possible, and we knew he could pilot a helicopter so what better way. I allowed him to keep the Electro Pass just to remind him that escape is not possible. But I expect that wouldn’t have deterred him. As for me, well eventually I went on to be a policeman, and achieved the rank of Chief Inspector, Reginald “reg” Wexford.

Be seeing you

Exhibition of Arts And Crafts

Seesaw Margery Daw Johnny Shall Have A New Master!

 BcNu

Thought For The Day

    At the end of the day I’m not at all sure which cuts the most tragic figure, Number 2 at the end of ‘A B and C,’ ‘The General,’ as well as ‘Hammer Into Anvil,’ or the Butler carrying his overcoat and suitcase as he’s forced to leave the Green Dome. Both Number 2’s fell foul of Number 6, although they are both guilty of underestimating him, twice in one case. You would have thought he would have learned his lesson the first time round! Of course in his case it was the worst possible defeat. As with the other Number 2 he was simply a weak link in the chain of command, afraid of his masters, and he allowed Number 6 to play on that. And the Butler, the only thing that can be said of him is, that he would eventually be allowed to take up his previous occupation, from which he should never have been sacked, serving a new Number 2. So all’s well that ends well as they say, except of course not for Number 2 who must ultimately carry the can!

Be seeing you

Village Life!

   “Who have you comes as?”

   “Take a look in the mirror!”
   “Haven’t you got it a bit wrong?”
   “How do you mean?”
   “You’re wearing the wrong blazer!”
   “How do you make that out?”
   “Take a look in the mirror!”
   “Well I fancied a bit of a change. And you know what they say.”
   “No, what do they say?”
   “A change is as good as a rest.”

   “Well at least we know who’s who.”
   “Yes, I’m me, I mean you!”
   “But I’m me, I’ve no idea who you are!”

   “Your twin or doppelganger perhaps.”

   “You mean the gardener and electrician?”

   “Not to mention the photographer and the operator of The Tally Ho dispenser!”

  “Number 2’s assistants Fourteen and Twenty-two look pretty much alike.”
   “And they’re dressed identically!”
   “Yes.”
   “So it might have helped if we were dressed identically.”
   “You think so? Think of all those who are watching.”
   “ Who, the Observers?”
   “The television viewers.”
   “What about them?”
   “Well they would have got into a right old muddle if we’d have been dressed identically!”

    “You don’t think we’ve made it a little too easy for them to distinguish between us?”
    “Well perhaps. But we’re stuck with it now.”
    “I can’t help but think we’ve missed something along the way. But I can’t put my finger on it for the moment.”

    “Don’t worry, I’m sure if you remember you’ll put me in the picture!”

Be seeing you

A Favourite Scene In Checkmate

    “She’s lost him!” But it’s only temporary.

    There might be the enjoyment of a car chase in ‘The Girl Who Was Death’ when Mister X is the hunter on the trail of the Girl, but there is also a sort of car chase in ‘Checkmate,’ and for once Number 6 is the hunted! Number 8 is put on the trail of Number 6 by the doctor who has had her hypnotized into believing she is in love with Number 6 and he with her. Number 6 steals a taxi and Number 8 steals another and goes after him but how she manages to lose him I don’t know seeing as The Village is small enough, you’d think it would be difficult to lose anyone. At one point Number 6 takes a side road and Number 8 drives on seemingly out of The Village and along the driveway towards…..towards where? But there’s no danger of interference as Number 2 wants this new device {the reaction transmitter} to have a proper test. There is also the question of love, Number 8 declares her love to Number 6, and sees how they could be happy together. Whilst the Girl in ‘The Girl Who Was Death’ having declared her love for him, would probably love him to death!

Be seeing you

Exhibition of Arts And Crafts

                                 ESCAPE!

BCNU

Village Life!

    Number 2 calls for an increase in vigilance, in other word he needs people to be alert to the danger within! Apparently this is for the security of the citizens. Number 6 once said the security of the citizens was his primary objective when he was standing for election. And he encountered a dissident, Number 12 of administration who turned out to be one of those enemies Number 2 talks about in his in his article in The Tally Ho. And as it turns out in the next episode an interim Number 2 has a list of malcontents, top of the list is Number 6. So this Number 2 wasn’t so far off the mark when it comes to enemies. But conspiracies? Number 2 is conducting a witch hunt simply on the basis of suspicion. There are no conspiracies, they are merely in the deluded mind of a paranoid! And yet Number 12 and Number 6 did conspire to bring about the downfall of the Speed Learn experiment, which they achieved in dramatic fashion! Perhaps it pays to be extra vigilant, just in case. After all Number 6 did try to bring about a mass break out of The Village, and there was that business with the Professor and the General, sabotage, and the deliberate destruction of official property. Whatever next? If things do not go well perhaps the sabotaging of a rocket, and the eventual evacuation of The Village!

Be seeing you

The Village

    It used to be good to escape to The Village just for a week or two, to escape the every day humdrum way of life, to escape to a fantasy. After all we are all prisoners of something or other and it’s good to get away, even for a short while. But sooner or later one has to leave The Village, and go home. No.6 was a prisoner, taken to The Village because he resigned. Eventually he escaped back to London, I wonder how it would have been for him, had he not got into his Lotus, but had gone into his house, as the Butler did. The front door opening automatically with that familiar electronic hum, serving as an indication that he had been in The Village all the time!

Be seeing you

A Question Of Interpretation

   At her art seminar Madam Professor describes a man sat tearing up a book, to Number 6 as "Creating a fresh concept. Construction comes out of the ashes of destruction." But does it have to be the case that something has to be destroyed for something new and good to be created? Perhaps so, history is filled with such ideology. And yet that which is destroyed can never be replaced!
    And then there's a woman standing on her head, apparently "She's developing a new perspective.” Well does looking at The Village upside down make it appear any better? I should hardly think so, but it does make the blood rush to the head!
    And then there’s the man asleep in the chair simply because "The mind learns only when it wants to." Unless of course he’s unwittingly taking part in the educational experiment known as Speed Learn.
    Madam Professor is clever in her interpretations. Perhaps the man has read the book and found he doesn’t like it. The young woman is perhaps standing on her head because he’s bored and has nothing better to do. And the man in the chair is asleep simply because he’s tired! Madam Professor sees what she wants to see, while someone else sees something entirely different. It's all a question of interpretation you see. It’s the same with ‘the Prisoner’ as a whole, different people interpret scenes in different ways, and have a variety of different ideas about the series.

I'll be seeing you

The Therapy Zone

    Returning to the great debate regarding the screening order of ‘the Prisoner.’ Oh no you cry, not again, not that old chestnut again! Yes I agree that the correct order is the one which is used to screen the series on television, but that has not stopped enthusiasts down the decades debating what they see to be the absolute screening order. The trouble is so many people have their own particular order, and rarely do any two match! So for what it’s worth, here’s another to throw into the mix.
Arrival
Free For All
Dance of The Dead
Checkmate
The Chimes of Big Ben
Many Happy Returns
The Schizoid Man
A B And C
A Change of Mind
Do Not forsake Me Oh My Darling
Living In Harmony
The Girl Who Was Death
The General
Its Your Funeral
Hammer Into Anvil
Once Upon A Time
Fall Out
   This screening order is first made up with the four episodes which were largely filmed at Portmeirion but which include escape and carrying on through three other escape episodes. This includes ‘The Schizoid Man’ although this episode does mainly come under the heading of ‘Experimentation,’ ways in which to try and extract the secret behind Number 6’s resignation. This  covers A B And C - A Change of Mind - Do Not forsake Me Oh My Darling - Living In Harmony and The Girl Who Was Death, and would naturally include ‘Once Upon A Time’ had it not have to remain the prelude to ‘Fall Out.’ Next Number 6 twice mixes with the affairs of The Village, namely the educational experiment of Speed Learn in ‘The General,’ and preventing the execution of Number 2 in ‘It’s your Funeral. Then ‘Hammer Into Anvil’ followed by ‘Once Upon A Time’ both episodes being head to head situations between Number 6 and Number 2, and finally ‘Fall Out’ bringing the whole thing to an unsatisfactory conclusion as far as the viewer is concerned.
   So basically this screening order follows the Prisoner’s arrival in The Village and subsequent escape attempts in various episodes. Then with there being no escape, Number 6 is put through a number of experiments in order to extract the reason behind his resignation. Those having failed, Number 6 is left relatively alone, Number 2 appears to have lost interest in Number 6, which allows 6 time to dabble in the machinations of Number 2, and thereby sabotage both Speed Learn and the execution of a retired Number 2. After which the whole thing becomes a straight forward fight between Number 6 and Number 2. Yes Number 2 in ‘Hammer Into Anvil’ has an assistant in Number 14, but his duties are somewhat restricted. And of course in ‘Once Upon A Time’ Number 2 has the Butler. But basically both these episodes concern a battle of wills between Number 2 and Number 6. And ‘Fall Out?’ Well in my own personal opinion it’s where it all begins, ‘Fall Out’ being a form of resignation, and what follows is Number 2’s attempts to discover what has gone wrong with one of their former operatives!

Be seeing you

In The Village

    Number 6 has recently left the Town Hall having been brought before the Committee, to which he has not been called before, to defend himself, all they want is his complete confession. The Chairman is sure Number 6 will co-operate.
   It was soon after that that Number 6 encountered Number 61. He greeted her.
    “Beautiful day Sixty-one.”
    But Number 61 simply ignored his greeting
    This is like number 42’s behaviour when she ignored Number 10’s greeting, 42 pleaded mitigating circumstances, that she was composing poetry and didn’t hear Number 10’s greeting. But Number 61 can plead no mitigating circumstances, because she deliberately ignored Number 6’s greeting. She cannot plead her case against not wanting to accused of acknowledging an unmutual, because at that time Number 6 may have been pronounced as being disharmonious, but he hadn’t been posted as an unmutual. Indeed if Number 61 carries on like this, she herself may find herself facing the Committee. The fact that she ignored Number 6’s greeting might well have been enough to see her brought before the Committee Then again perhaps she just didn’t like Number 6!

Be seeing you

Bureau of Visual Records

    What a picturesque scene, the perfect setting in fact. After all what could be nicer on a sunny afternoon than a game of chess? And yet pictorially something’s not quite right, someone has been messing about! Where there was a green lush lawn with a series of white boards laid out upon it, now the ground seems to be more of an earth working, the soil having been prepared for either the laying of turf, or the sowing of grass seed. I suppose this is what you end up with when inviting people to go walking on the grass!

Be seeing you

It’s Inexplicable!

    Is it really so inexplicable? I used to like to think that after a search area had been calculated, the Naval Commander scribbled over that search area as if to hide the location of The Village. Silly now when I think back, but there are times when the mind goes off at a tangent and things can appear to be other than what they are. The Commander was simply shading in the search area, not attempting to conceal the location of The Village……………..or was he? After all there was no reason for the Commander to scribble all over the designated search area!

Be seeing you

60 Seconds With No.26

    “You’re pretty good at your job, aren’t you?”
    “Who are you?”
    “I am Number One-one-three, and this is my photographic colleague Number One-one-three b, we contribute to The Tally Ho.”
    “Smile” click goes the camera.
    “You can’t expect a man in his position to smile, he’s got an important job to do, he supervises the Control room.”
    “Look.......”
    “Yes you and your Observers do a lot of that don’t you?”
    “We help keep order through surveillance.”
   “You see One-one-three b, he never smiles, very serious is this Supervisor. He’s second to two, and two away from one.”
    “I’m Number Twenty-Six. Now if you don’t mind......”
    “A secure job is it?”
    “As secure as any I suppose.”
    “Well a number of Number Twos have come and gone, but you’re still here, in this inner sanctum of yours.”
    “Yes.”
    “So you have no ambitions of being promoted to Number Two?”
    “I have none.”
    “So you are a contented man.”
    “Yes.”
    “You are in charge of all this about you.”
    “I am.”
    “There you are One-one-three b, we have met with perhaps the only contended man in The Village. He’s happy in his work, has no ambition, and yet he has all this about him.”
    “Smile” click goes the camera.
    “I can’t afford to smile!”
    “Why not?”
   “It’s unseemly for a man in my position who has to maintain discipline to be seen smiling. Besides which, someone might be watching!”
    “Who?”
    The Supervisor lifts his eyes to the roving stainless steel eye orbiting the Control Room.
    “Oh, the all seeing eye of.............”
    “Precisely, now what was it you wanted?”

    “The Observers are themselves the observed, there’s irony for you. How does it go, me watching you watching me!”

Be seeing you

Life Outside The Village!

    “Tell me Commander, why did you do that?”
    “Because it’s the search area we have just calculated.”
    “There’s no other reason?”
    “What reason could there be?”
    “Perhaps you are trying to hide the location of The Village!”
    “We know it’s in that area somewhere.”
    “Yes but now you’ve just made the job ten times worse!”
    “How do you make that out, what, you think it’s marked somewhere on the map?”
    “We’ll never know now will we Commander. Just which side are you working for?”
    “If this Village is as secret as you say it is........”
    “It is.”
    “Well then, they’d hardly advertise it by having it marked on the map now would they?”
    “Well that’s not how it’s going to seem to some people, they’ll think you are trying to hide something!”

Be seeing you

Village Life!

   “Not many folk about.”
   “It’s still early in the morning.”
   “Oh look, there’s Number Six.”
   “On his early morning walk around The Village. He’s always walking, irritating man!”
   “He might be on his way to the cafe to buy his breakfast.”
   “What a take-away breakfast?”
   “I fancy a coffee.”
   “We’re not going to the cafe.”
   “Why not?”
   “I’m not paying five credit units for a coffee. Besides there’s the planet to think of, and the recycling of the two coffee cups.”
   “Recycling, the waitress will wash them up won’t she?”
   “Let’s go home and make two coffee’s there and do our bit for the planet!” 
   “Oh well, we might as well. I didn’t want a latté anyway.”
   “A latté, that’s the one that’s all milk isn’t it?”
   “Yes.”
   “A coffee that’s all milk, what’s the point in that....can we have teacakes with our coffees?”
   “If you like.”

Be seeing you

Exhibition of Arts And Crafts

                       A Tragic Figure!

 Bseenu

Thought For The Day

    Number 2 isn’t an inmate, so that thing can be got rid of, the thing in his chair. It would appear that the Guardian has delusions of grandeur! But it doesn’t last long, as the chair with “it” still in it descends through the floor. But who pressed the button so that the chair would be lowered through the floor? It wasn’t Number 2, nor was it the Butler, perhaps the Guardian did it by using the power of the mind. No, most likely it was the person to whom Number 2 had been laying the law down, Number 1.
    But before that, because the chair had already been raised into the office, poor old number 2 was forced the indignity of being raised up through the floor on a disc, when he should have been sat in his chair. No wonder he was in a bad mood! But why the bell? That was an odd way to summon Number 2 by the ringing of a bell. Usually it was the servant who was summoned so, not the master! And later, in the Embryo Room, that rocking horse, it was always rocking right up until the end. I wonder why? Perhaps there is no meaning, symbolic or otherwise, it might be simply a visual effect. Even for it to appear that there is a reason for the almost perpetually rocking horse motion, probably there isn’t.

Be seeing you

The Therapy Zone

    You can be an alcoholic here in perfect privacy, just as long as you rejoin the flock in good time. Are we to believe a scientist dwells within the cave, brewing his brew and playing with his chalk, as he works on any number of formulae? It seems to me to be another of Number 2’s elaborate plans in order to administer Number 6 with another dose of a drug, when all they had to do was put the drug in his drink at the Cat and Mouse nightclub. Or put it in his nightcap along with the nightly sedative! Oh well, that’s the way of it, why do something simple when a more complicated plan will do equally was well!

Be seeing you

Collector And Modellers Corner

   Matthew Chambers has been working on a project connected to 'The Girl Who Was Death' a Corgi Diecast Car Prisoner Special Gift Set inspired by the episode. This is what Matt had to say about the project.

     “All the parts have been acquired to restore a Corgi Elan and that's been painted waiting re-assembly only.

   The Corgi Jaguar is waiting for a topcoat and both are waiting for number plate decals. The plates are the difference with making them as good a match to the episodes Car Scenes as I can get. Usually I restore Matchbox cars at the smaller scale but neither car was available from Matchbox, both available from Corgi who also have a lot of this sort of Gift Set pairings. I'm not able to get a suitable box made which is beyond my scope but I may try and think of some display element for them to sit on. 

   I did notice you have some interest in diecast cars from reading your site sections. I was hoping to find out a bit more about Justine Lord's involvement in the episode and did note she has attended The Prisoner Conventions recently. I have watched the Prisoner and had a keen interest since a re-run in the late 70's.  

   I did mirror polish and mask the bumpers on the E Type but couldn't get the mask line to not pull at the surrounding paintwork hence what you see is a second re-spray on the upper casting and a decision not to use silver detail. I could try it just happens to be a difficult casting in that respect so for now erred on the side of caution partly because the Lotus also has/had no trim detail.”

   Thank you Matt for sharing this with me and my readers.

Be seeing you

The Trivia!

    It’s no trivial matter being a prisoner in The Village, not if you’re Number 6 its not! The man’s too good to be true, everyone bends, or they break! Everyone talks on the third day! It seems as though someone is looking after Number 6, because no matter what he’s put through, he always manages to survive intact.
    Number 2 once said that no extreme measures were to be used yet, against Number 6 that is, that he can’t use the normal methods, Number 6 is too valuable! Well what’s so damned special about Number 6, just because it’s a perfect number, the first perfect number, 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 irritating man! Well he doesn’t get my vote!

Be seeing you

/o:p>

Exhibition of Arts And Crafts

                     An Escaped Prisoner!

Bseenu

Caught On Camera!

    In the episodes which have an out of The Village experience, all manner of people unwittingly appear in ‘The Prisoner,’ none less so that the two schoolgirls walking a few paces in front of Mr. X for example. I wonder if they ever realized they appear in the series? They may have done had they watched it, and recognized themselves. And the little boy standing there looking back, did he recognize Patrick McGoohan, if that is indeed Patrick McGoohan, and thought him to be Danger Man? This is another aspect of the series, and one which is hardly ever touched upon. The unwitting passer-by who isn’t a film extra, but simply the man, woman, or school children in the street, who appear in an episode of the Prisoner simply because they are passing by at the time.

Be seeing you

The Prisoner

    Have you noticed how ‘the Prisoner’ is all about Number 6? Anyone would think The Village revolves around him, that’s narcissism that is! Number 6 thinks so damned much of himself, but there are other people living in The Village with equally interesting stories as Number 6. The ex-Count for example, what caused him to lose his title and wind him up in The Village? The same can be asked of the ex-Admiral, what had he done to lose his rank? I know there is the General, but whatever it was that brought him to The Village is anyone’s guess, but at least he retained his rank! What’s so interesting about Number 6 anyway? Okay the man resigned his job, so what, people chuck up their jobs every day of the week! I don’t know why Number 2 is so determined to know the reason behind his resignation. I bet it was something mundane, like he became fed up with the work! Anyway it’s got nothing to do with anyone else but Number 6. I bet Number 2 only wants to know because it’s the only piece of information missing from Number 6’s file, and all he wants to do is to bring it all up to date. What was it Number 2 said, “That’s all we want to know,” yeah I bet! If Number 6 was to tell them one tiny thing then all the rest would follow. Oh I know Number 6 did tell Number 2 his time of birth, but I expect he thought they would have that anyway, therefore he didn’t see the harm in telling them. But he didn’t have anything else to say, except his life is his own. Well no one’s life is their own, because there is always someone else who has call on your life, your nearest and dearest for one, and the boss for another.

Be seeing you

Who Is That On The Telephono?

    “Yes who is this?
    “Is it convenient to pop round for a few words?”
    “Not really. How did you get to call me on this telephone?”
    “Bit ungainly isn’t, almost as though someone was having a laugh at your expense!”
    “Look who are you?”
    “I’m Number One-one-three, I contribute to The Tally Ho.”
    “The Tally Ho, never heard of it!”
    “My readers are always interested in a new Number Two, just a few words if you have the time. You know the sort of thing, just some background information. Race, religion, hobbies, what you like to read, what you like to eat. What you were, what you want to be, any family illnesses, any politics?”
    “I’m sorry, I don’t have the time.”
    “Well perhaps we could arrange a meeting for some time when you’re less busy, next week shall we say?”
    “I won’t be here next week.......I only have three days!”
    “Three days? That must be the shortest term in office of any Number 2 in Village history!”
    “Well if you’ll excuse me........”
    “We haven’t seen very much of you Number Two, perhaps you can give our readers a taste of the kind of work you have been doing.”
    “No that’s not possible, now if you don’t mind, buzz off you irritating man............oh sorry sir, no I didn’t mean you, I was speaking to the reporter for The Tally Ho...............no I didn’t tell him anything.....................no, I don’t know how he managed to get this number........yes I realize that sir, but if I had a week......................yes sir, I realize my future is at stake................bastard................no sir, I didn’t mean to say that, are you there, oh he’s rung off!”

Be seeing you

Exhibition of Arts And Crafts

                          The Supervisor

BSEENU

Thought For The Day

    If we set ‘Fall Out’ to one side for the moment. While considering what Number 2 told Number 1 in ‘Once Upon A Time, “I was a good man, I am a good man. But if you get him he will be better.” This possibly meaning, that if they “get” Number 6, that they manage to get him to accept The Village and his place in its society, then he will be Number 2. That all Number 2’s are interim Number 2’s, until they found a prospective permanent Number 2 in Number 6!

Be seeing you

The Therapy Zone

    Why was Number 6 so angry at the end of ‘Once Upon A Time?’ Don’t tell me he was angry at the death of Number 2, you’ll be telling me he liked the man! Well I suppose all things are possible, after all Number 2 admitted that he was beginning to like Number 6. But would Number 6 have given his life up for Number 2? I doubt it somehow. We can grieve for the dead, we can be angry at the loss of life, but at the same time be happy that we are alive.
    I wonder why Number 2 said “A week, you don’t want to damage him!” Perhaps he was expecting longer, and yet Number 2 struggled to survive the week, it would surprise me if he could have lasted any longer. As it is the stress and tension of the situation was taking its toll upon Number 2. And remember he did begin that week of deliberation with Number 6 having already gone without a nights sleep, which he spent reciting nursery rhymes to the slumbering Number 6. That I suppose was to reinforce his regression back to his childhood, to the age of five.
    And the Butler, he was there to serve his master in any capacity, as well as to make the tea, cook the meals, wash up, and keep the cage clean. The cage was a self-contained unit, kitchen, dining room, there was a bathroom, and there must have been a toilet, but where did they sleep? I cannot imagine that all three of them were capable of going a whole week without sleep. They must have slept either in a chair or lying on the hard floor, or on the table!
   I like to think that the Butler actually did lay on those twelve of the best, good and hard with that cane. When Number 2 was lying on the table and Number 6 was leaning over him, they were discussing Degree Absolute, when Number 2 raised his head, it made contact with that of Number 6’s chin, I distinctly heard the impact, and imagined the director shouting cut at that moment!

       Finally Number 2, if it wasn’t the drink that did for him, and it wasn’t the Butler, might not it have been autosuggestion? He saw the clock, and realized that time was running out for him, such was his reaction. There were but five minutes left, and he must have realized that if it wasn’t going to be Number 6, then it was going to be him, no wonder he took a large drink just before his heart gave out!

Be seeing you

Caught On Camera!

    Oh so careful, well as careful as they could be, with their aerial shots of The Village in ‘Arrival,’ but this is rank carelessness! The production crew  would use striped screens in order to hide such vehicles as those, or anything that should not be there, or did not fall into the idea of The Village. But someone messed up here big time! Perhaps they thought that seeing as how the action was concentrated on the Piazza, and the Guardian’s sudden appearance, that nothing in the background would be seen in the shot. They were wrong! No doubt the sight of the cars were missed when ‘Arrival’ was watched for the first time, I know I didn’t see them. But then perhaps it might have been thought that the action of the Guardian would detract the eye!

Be seeing you

Village life!

    “Nice day.”
    “Same sort of day as yesterday.”
    “Every day’s the same day here in The Village.”
    “That’s a bit deep for a Tuesday.”
    “Thursday is Appreciation Day.”
    “What’s the theme this year?”
    “Brexit!”
    “Oh no, not more of the same!”
    “Well Number Two and the members of the Town Council are extremely worried. There’s a special meeting this afternoon.”
    “About where The Village stands you mean.”
    “Precisely. I mean The Village is on shaky ground.”
    “Being on foreign soil you mean.”
    “Well quite.”
    “It could mean closure.”
    “It could, The Village evacuated finally after all these years.”
    “On the other hand, it could mean The Village might be turned over to foreign hands.”
    “Most of the population are of foreign descent.”
    “Repatriation then?”
   “Might be the best way. But can the citizens be allowed simply to go home, there’s the question of security.”
    “They know about The Village you mean.”
    “And then there’s the question of education.”
    “Education, how do you mean?”
    “Well there are citizens here who were born of The Village, and know nothing of the outside world.”
    “You had better attend this special meeting, Number Two might be glad of your input.”
    “This Brexit lark is causing all kinds of trouble on both sides of the English Channel, but I never thought it would affect life here in The Village!”
    “Yes it’s up to us Civil Servants to make sure Brexit goes through as smoothly as possible.”
    “Has the Foreign Secretary been briefed on The Village?”
    “What do you think?”
    “That would be a no then!”
    “Hope they’re serving tea and biscuits, this could be a long meeting!”

Be seeing you

In The Village

    In ‘Free For All’ Number Six is flatly defeated at the end of the episode. They might not have been able to "damage the tissue," but they gave it a damned good bruising! Number Six gained nothing for his pains. He is made vulnerable to the authorities because he entertains the idea of gaining power {being elevated to the new Number Two}. Much of this episode then can be seen as the study of a candidate's motivations. Although his motivations are suspect once he has been conditioned, he does enter the race with a clear mind. Some observers have noted that Number Six's ego trips him up - that his desire for power is some type of character flaw subject to exploitation. But there's probably something more political going on here - Number Six's flaw is more likely the belief {however tentative} that the possibility exists for change within the system. The system portrayed here, is inflexible - totalitarian. There is no room for change.

    It should be noted that there is no clear evidence that Number Six actually decided to stand for office, he simply couldn't resist the challenge when given the opportunity to stand. Number Six had no sights set on the position of Number Two, he simply wanted to take advantage of an opportunity provided, to make his thoughts known to the citizens of The Village, to shake them up, to organise a mass breakout!
    On the day of the Prisoner's arrival in The Village, No.2 intimated that the Prisoner may even be given a position of authority, but I suspect that that would be only on the grounds of the Prisoner's co-operation!

Be seeing you

Birthday Greetings To Earl Cameron

Earl

May the sun shine on you today and every day

as we wish you

a very happy

101^st birthday

Bseenu