Exhibition of Arts and Crafts

  Simply entitled      "Freedom!"   

BcNu

I Have Taken His Place, I Am The New No.2

   To the question of "where did the old No.2's go when they were replaced Patrick McGoohan said. "I think they disappeared without a trace. They went to the bottom of the deck - as per some of the Chinese and Russian friends that disappear. They just left."

   Well one particular No.2 didn't leave, he ended up in the psychiatric ward of the hospital! Another, at the end of Free For All was allowed to leave, what happened after that we cannot say. But I cannot believe that they simply disappeared, there were too many No.2's for that. Surely with at least 19 No.2's, and that doesn't take into account the subdivided No.2's of the Town Council, or perhaps that's the answer in itself, being sent off into oblivion, questions would surely be asked. Especially when you think that soon after his return to London, No.2 once of the Chimes of Big Ben and Once Upon A Time, returned to the Houses of Parliament via the Lords entrance.

   I suppose it all amounts to my having spent the best part of the past thirty years studying the Prisoner series, where as Patrick McGoohan saw the Prisoner series as a job, and when that job was finished it was over for him. Well over for him  in as much as the media and fans alike, would allow it to be finished for McGoohan who hasn't thought as in-depth where the Prisoner is concerned as perhaps you and I have over the past years. And I suppose if time is spent thinking about it probably begs the question; "If McGoohan hasn't been too bothered, have I been wasting my time?"

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The Therapy Zone

The Two Faces Of Number 2  

   This is the smiling, happy face of No.2, as she masquerades as the maid No.58. In fact judging by her attitude during the election period of Free for All, No.2 really does appear as though she is enjoying herself. However by the end of the episode we see the other side to No.2's character, her darker side.

   No.2 informs No.6, who has just taken a beating from the two mechanics, that this is but the beginning, That they have many ways and means, but they don't wish to damage him permanently.

   Well if this is the other face of No.2, I shouldn't care to be in No.6's deck shoes! Whatever this No.2's intentions are towards No.6 are during her term of office, can only be speculated upon. But one thing is for sure, judging by the severe looking No.2, any intentions towards No.6 cannot be good for him! And she will have some kind of harm done to him I'll be bound.

   In this particular case, the two faces of No.2, are rather like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or No.1 and No.6. You see, just like No.6 and No.2, we all have dark side which must surely emerge to the surface at one time or another. A dark side which none of us could live without, for the darker side gives us strength, it makes the type of decisions our other lighter side would rather not have to make. The one side good, the other evil if you like, but together they make us who we are, and are unable to do without the one or the other.

Number 6 Is Dead......... Rover Got Him!

    And what if by some curious quirk of fate, that that statement is correct, that Rover did in fact attack the wrong No.6. Where would that leave Curtis? Perhaps Curtis then, after the death of the real No.6, quickly decided to maintain the persona of No.6, and try to escape the village. And thereby escaping the possible wrath of No.1 for his part in the death of No.6.

   Of course Curtis would have to fool No.2 into thinking he was No.6, to act and behave accordingly and thereby escaping the village, otherwise No.2 might smell a rat! There was one flaw in Curtis' escape plan, in that he played the role of No.6 too well. He had to feign his somewhat nervous and strung up state, and pretend that he has had no time to think about No.2's proposition which he put to Curtis when he arrived in the village. Not to mention that duff line about reporting to the General, well not to report to him personally....... "For Pete's sake you know what I mean."

   Curtis' impersonation as No.6 was perfect, so perfect that it put a nagging doubt in No.2's head, who went off to talk to the pilot of the helicopter, before testing No.6 "You won't forget to give my regards to Susan will you?" "I won't" says No.6 slipping on his blindfold.

   And that was the flaw you see, Curtis played his part too well, and responded as No.6 would have done. After all, how could No.6 have known that..... "Susan died a year ago!"

   So where would that leave Curtis and No.2? It is not impossible to carry on this interpretation to it's ultimate climax. So to save both their skins, No.2 arranged for Curtis to maintain his deception by continuing to live in the village..... in the guise and persona of No.6!

Number 2

   With her Elfin like looks, and almost Impish like behaviour, you might be mislead into thinking that she would do harm to No.6. But on the contrary, this fairylike creature is in fact No.6 guardian angel. For when she sees the doctor carrying out a medical experiment on No.6, No.2 orders the doctor to stop, to get that man Dutton back to the hospital. The doctor-No.40 reads the situation as No.6 was about to talk, although as No.2 puts it "he'd have died first. You can't force it out of this man, he's not like the others." No.2 doesn't want No.6 broken, he must be won over. No.2 tells the doctor that No.6 has a future with them, and that there are other ways!

   So this No.2, has a devious mind and a cunning plan. She also doesn't find any difficulty as Peter Pan, the little boy who never grows up. Nor had the actress, the late Mary Morris, any problems saying such lines as "Then how very uncomfortable for you old chap." In fact Mary Morris played her role as No.2 in a very masculine way. And then at the end of the episode as she laughs, her Elfin looks really stand out, to the effect that all that is missing are a pair of pointed ears to complete the picture!

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Teabreak Teaser

What's is wrong with the following journey itinerary during 'The Chimes of Big Ben?'

    'Gdansk - Danzig - Copenhagen - London'

BCNU

   

Quote For The Day

   Maid-No.56 "A woman is always impatient to wear a new dress. How do I look?"
   No.6 "Different. The maids come and they go!"
   "We'll get along."
   "I'm sure you get along with everybody!"
   "I've a good mind to report you."
   "I'm new here!"
                                      {Dance Of The Dead}
    Seeing as how 'Dance of the Dead' is the eighth episode on 'the Prisoner' series, it's difficult to see how No.6 could be new in the Village, after what, a passage of months? And yet, if 'Dance of the Dead' was meant to be the second episode in the series, No.6 saying "I'm new here" would make perfect sense. Certainly judging by the Prisoner's attitude 'Dance of the Dead' should be a much earlier episode in the series. But we have to work with what we have, not what might have been. And yet, we still might make sense of what No.6 said, and the reasoning stems form the fact of the previous episode 'Many Happy Returns. The fact that the Prisoner has been away from the Village for almost a month, and has recently returned, might make No.6 a recent new arrival in the Village!

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Who's That On The Telephono?

    No.6 "Hello doctor, I'm on grey."
    No.249 "As it happens so am I."
    "Good, that means we're on the same wavelength."
    "I thought we were on the same telephono!"
    "How can we be on the same telephono?"
    "Well you said you were on grey, and so am I."
    "Ah yes, I see what you mean. It's the same prop!"
    "Can't we afford two then?"
    "Not after so much money has been pumped into the first seven episodes we can't, no!"
    "Well what is it you want?"
    "Well more money might not be a bad thing...."
    "This isn't in the script is it?"
    "No, you're right. I want to speak to someone?"
    "Who?"
   "The doctor."
   "Doctor who?"
   "Oh no not him."
   "What?"
   "Ah doctor Watt."
   "I said what."
   "Yes, what's your name?"
   "I don't have a name, I have a number 249."
   "Ah, mister Two Hundred and Forty-Nine."
   "If you like. Now what can I do for you?"
   "Well it's like this doctor. Everytime I lift my left arm it hurts."
   "Well don't do it then. Other than that keep taking the pills!"

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Why The Crosspiece? by our own reporter

   Because it's an easier way to restrain No.6, that's why!

    It would appear that if the reason for his resignation cannot be tricked out of No.6, however they are well prepared to "beat" it out of him. But in having done so, have they not "damaged the tissue?" And even now, having taken a beating for his pains, No.6 is still not prepared to talk. In fact the only good thing to come out of all this election rigmarole, is that the pair of mechanics, who No.6 dealt with aboard that jet boat, during his attempt to escape during the election period of Free For All, eventually got their revenge upon No.6.

Your own reporter

Photograph by No.113b

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