To Be Number 1

   They do say that it’s a lonely place, that place of command. It must be more so for Number 1. Most certainly if we are to assume that No.1 keeps himself to himself inside that red one rocket all the time. But he can’t possibly wear that black and white mask and cowled robe all the time can he? Well monks wear their habits all the time, so why not? But for Number 1 to be hidden away like that all the time, imagine how it would have been for Number 6 to have given way his resistance, how costly it would have been to him. I know he put a high value on his personal freedom, preferred his own privacy to the company of others at times. But to have to go about dressed like a monk, or something out of the Ku-Klux clan, and to be forced to wear that mask to hide his identity, and maintain his anonymity from others day after day, after day. His identity, and personal freedom finally stripped from him. It makes one wonder why anyone would want to be Number 1 in the first place, just think of the personal cost. Much better to be a small cog in the machine, than the machine itself!

I’ll be seeing you

Such Business Is Above The Law!

    It was during the deliberations between No.2 and No.6 of ‘Once Upon A time,’ when the Prisoner was up on a charge of careless driving. He was on a mission you see, a matter of life or death {presumably he was trying to save a life} which caused him to drive at great speed. According to the Prisoner no-one was harmed when the Judge asked him how many were dead.

   When the Judge asked the Prisoner whose life or death, the Prisoner refused to say, claiming that it was secret business. In fact it was Sate secret confidential business. And that such business is above the law! This angers the Judge to think that anyone and any business could be above the law, and finds the Prisoner guilty. The Prisoner is then taken away, but appeals against unfair treatment. The Judge tells him he’s getting the same treatment as everybody else. Yes he knows that, that’s why he’s going to appeal!

   I would imagine that King Charles the 1^st felt very much the same, that he was above the law. During his trial he was allowed to feel happier as himself by being allowed to wear his own suit of clothes at his trial. And I should think King Charles thought that he was above the law, right up to the moment Parliament had his head chopped off!

Be seeing you

To Feel Happier As Yourself!

   I can understand the offer made to the former No.6, that he would feel happier as himself, to wear his own suit of clothes. But what I don’t get it, is what was it that No.48 did to have himself brought to the proceedings of ‘Fall Out,’ and for him to be allowed to wear his own clothes? I suppose he’s there as a kind of court jester, to both amuse and entertain. Then on the other hand he’s one form of revolt, uncoordinated youth which rebels because it must, but against nothing it can define. Its quite clear that the President will have no truck with No.48, he’s not the kind of person to be an example to the administration of The Village. It makes you wonder why he’s there at all, unless it’s to help demonstrate to the members of the Assembly what a good choice the former No.6 would be. Because it’s no use choosing the ex-No.2, who isn’t even afforded the opportunity to feel happier as himself, there being no time to….but on the other hand there would have been ample time whilst the medical team resuscitated the ex-No.2, for someone to fetch No.2’s own clothes from his quarters. But it would seem that this ex-No.2 is not worthy of being afforded that luxury, to feel happier as himself! But then No.2 wasn’t himself, he didn’t feel happier as himself, because he was enjoying feeling like a “new” man! Mind you he, like No.48 before him, is only there to make No.6 look even better. Because what kind of example does the ex-No.2 set when he turns on, and bites the hand that feeds?! Its no wonder the President praises the former No.6 so highly when one considers the other material presented to the members of the assembly!

Be seeing you

Exhibition Of Arts And Crafts

A Watercolour Portrait

                                    "The Prisoner"

                                      "It's Cycleogical!"

BcNu

Report To The General?

   "That's a new one" says No.2 says to Curtis on the way to the helicopter. Well of course, No.6 who was masquerading as Curtis, didn't mean report to him personally.

   But why not report to the General personally? The General is simply a rank the same as any other, after all doesn’t No.6 report to the Colonel during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben,’ and again in ‘Many Happy Returns,’ and even goes over the head of the Colonel to report to the boss himself Sir Charles Portland in ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling.’ For those familiar with Danger Man, you will recall the episode of ‘The Black Book,’ in which General Carteret who was using John Drake for his own personal reasons, in fact to save his brother-in-law from the clutches of a blackmailer. And Drake also had an Admiral for a superior.

    So why not report personally to the General, unless the General mentioned towards the end of ‘The Schizoid Man’ is actually the General of the next episode, and that would make sense of not actually reporting personally to - the General! But then perhaps that’s what we are supposed to think! That would be too much of a coincidence for the General mentioned by No.2 in 'The Schizoid Man' to be the General in the episode ‘The General,' wouldn’t it?

Be seeing you

Pictorial Prisoner

   Not only does No.6's cottage have an automatic front door to his cottage operated via an infra-red electronic sensor, but at one point the door to the bathroom was upgraded with the same electronic sensor. We know this because after his ablutions one evening, you can hear that familiar electronic hum as the bathroom door closes automatically behind him. Previously No.6 has had to manually slide the door open to the left!

BCNU

He’s Having A Laugh!

    So ‘the Prisoner’ isn't exactly a barrel of laughs, but then you wouldn't expect it to be, because torture, human experimentation, and the extraction of information by fair means or foul is a serious business. However there is humour within ‘the Prisoner,’ and humour, according to No.2, is the very essence of a democratic society. And again according to No.2, No.6’s sense of humour has remained strong and unimpaired.

   No.6 said of No.2 at the suggestion that he run for public office, No.2's position in fact "You have a delicate sense of humour." And the episode ‘The Girl Who Was Death’ is teeming with humour, although I fear Mr. X doesn't find it at all funny! There is a vein of humour which runs throughout ‘the Prisoner’ series. No.2 of ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ can find the humorous side of most things "I'll make you a handle for this door" No.6 tells him "Ha, ha, ha, ha" laughs No.2. Even during ‘Fall Out’ No.2 maintains his sense of humour "A strange thing happened to me on my way here, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha" he laughs, and his laughter becomes infectious, even to members of the Assembly. And even when sealed up in that Perspex Orbit Tube No.2 still sees the funny side of his situation "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

   Humour however can be a subtle thing at times, as when in ‘Hammer Into Anvil’ when No.2 is confronted by the bomb disposal operative and a small cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo! And "we even have our own little newspaper" No.2 informs the Prisoner on the morning of his arrival "You must send me a copy" quips No.6. And whilst doing as the caveman did, No.6 quips to No.2 "I may even invent fire!" And when No.2 and his man makes a search of No.6’s cottage, No.6 suggests to No.2 that his man should look in the wardrobe, but finds nothing, “Very amusing!” No.2 tells him.

   No doubt you yourself have a favourite humorous moment within ‘the Prisoner’ series.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha........ be seeing you."