The Chimes of Big Ben

   The plot is for No.6 and Nadia to escape the village together. They do manage to escape by boat, however rickety that boat might be, to the Polish coast. There, waiting in a cave is Nadia's contact man, Karel, together with a crate marked London, via Danzig and Copenhagen, in which Nadia and No.6 will travel together sealed inside the crate.

   However, this is not such an original idea as you might think.

   You will no doubt have read my piece of blog entitled This week I am mostly watching ‘The Clouded Yellow,’ but if not, why not? In the 1951 film, Secret Service agent David Sommers arranges for himself and a young girl Sophie, who has been framed for a murder which she did not commit, to escape the country by ship to France.... sealed up together for the journey inside a crate!

    Is it possible that the idea for the way of escape and the subsequent journey via Gdansk and Copenhagen, for Nadia and No.6 to be sealed in a crate together, could have stemmed from the film ‘The Clouded Yellow?’ All things, as they say, are possible. But without actual confirmation from the script writer Vincent Tilsley, there can only be speculation. However I think we can allow coincidence, yes I think we can, but this is more than coincidence.... don't you think?

A novel way of arriving at Portmeirion would be - sealed in a crate on the back of a lorry!

Be seeing you

The Therapy Zone



Jackie Drake.......Never Heard Of Him!

    Strange isn't how some see something, or hear something within the Prisoner which is completely misunderstood by the observer. Take the episode Once Upon A Time for example, it has been written that the Prisoner is indirectly referred to as "Jackie Drake." Well this is absurd, at no time does No.2 refer to No.6 as "Jackie Drake". Yes No.2 does use the name Jackie, as in the nursery rhyme "See saw Marjory Daw, Jackie shall have a new master....." As for Drake, the name never passes No.2's lips! Oh I see, it's mistaking the word "Break" - "Report to my study during the morning break" says No.2 to the pupil-No.6. Obviously the observer has misheard, like so many before him, the word "break" for "Drake."

A Question of Identity!

   During the episode of The General we see No.2 take his identity card from the inside pocket of his overcoat and show it to one of the Security Guards.

    Doesn't this Security Guard know No.2 by sight? Can he not recognise No.2 by the badge he wears upon the left lapel of his overcoat? Well I suppose seeing as there was once a pair of No.6's in the previous episode, security were taking no chances.

   You may recall that No.6 has worn a variety of different numbers, twice during ‘The General,’ No.2 in ‘Free For All,’ No.12 ‘The Schizoid Man,’ and again during the ‘Dance of the Dead,’ the badge pinned upon the white smock he wore, along with those spectacles he found in the breast pocket.

   So too did No.6 have an identity card, which was given to him, along with his Health & Welfare card, a credit card, and employment card.

"The Maids Come And They Go!"

    I have often thought what a high turnover of personal maids No.6 has. First there was the one waving a duster from the balcony of No.6's cottage, but who miraculously disappeared when No.6 dashed round to his cottage.

    But can we really count this maid into the equation, can we, because in actual fact this maid is supposed to be the maid No.66 pictured here, as she tries to extract the reason behind the Prisoner's resignation. The actress who didn't actually go to the film location of Portmeirion.

   "They said they'd let me go, if you gave me some sort of information!"

    Well No.66 didn't last long, because by the time of ‘A B and C,’ No.6 had another personal maid.

    But of course she was the night Maid who came to No.6's cottage every night in order to make him his nightcap of hot chocolate, drugged of course in order to make him sleep, as was the case with the majority of citizens who live in the village. You will recall No.6 saying in ‘Dance of the Dead that he's never seen a night, he just sleeps!

   I say night maid, because when it comes to the ‘Dance of the Dead,’ we learn that No.6 had two types of maid, a day time maid, and night time maid, No.54 being the day time maid, who brought No.6 his breakfast on a tray that morning in a fancy dress costume.

   And the night maid-No.21.

    No.6 "What is it?"

    Night Maid-No.21 "It's good for you."

    "Good for someone!"

    No.21 "Be seeing you"

   One further personal maid could be that of No.58 of ‘Free For All,’ who like No.54 whose time was to come, brought No.6 his breakfast on a tray, along with that of No.2's as well of course.

    That is the way it appeared to me, but having said that, there doesn't really appear to be a high turnover in No.6's personal maids at all, judging by what we see that is. I cannot of course account for that which we do not see in the Prisoner, to do so would be pure speculation on my part, which would have no certainty to it. But you the reader may think as you may.

Lye ezeet azoon.

Number 1

    It is strange is it not, he way No.1 laughs and runs around the control room of the rocket, after being unmasked By No.6. There seems to be no rhyme nor reason to his actions. Perhaps it was done this way so that No.6 and No.1 would not be able to talk together in a question and answer confrontation! And would not such a confrontation be possibly too revealing? And in any case, would Patrick McGoohan have actually known what No.6 would have asked No.1 in that final confrontation, and if he did what No.1’s answers would be? At the time of filming the episode of 'Fall Out,' he was struggling anyway. He had no idea of how the series was going to end, and so putting words into No.1’s mouth would have been the last straw that broke the Prisoners back. And don’t forget, McGoohan’s speech was shouted down so that the viewer could not hear a word he said! So it was NBC for No.1 - NBC - no bloody chance, and the best way to attain that would be to have No.1 run around like a screaming banshee, then seal him up in the nose cone of the rocket and leave it to the viewers to figure it all out for themselves.
    And why No.1 Hides Behind his anonymity I cannot imagine. You would think that almost everyone who works behind the scenes for the village, such as the delegates of the Assembly, would know the identity of No.1. Perhaps they did, who is to say they did not. It would be stupid to think that No.1 remained isolated in that rocket from morning to noon. No.1 would have to eat, go to the toilet, unless of course he never takes his robe and masks off!

   ’D’ of A B & C once said "It is often the case with really important people. Anonymity is the best disguise." And that’s certainly true with members of the Assembly, for we know the identity of only two of it’s delegates, No.93 and the Supervisor-No.26. But do the delegates of the assembly know who each of them are I wonder? For they are the petty bureaucrats, those faceless men who are supposed to govern us so wisely! It is they who pull the strings from behind the scenes. So if No.1 is pulling the strings of the village, exactly who is pulling the strings of No.1? The members of the Assembly no doubt, who so ever they may be!

     It’s Symbolic, the way 6 Meets No.1. Symbolic in which way? Possibly in the way that unless one realises that you are the sole influence over your actions, you will remain a prisoner! Well that’s what they say, or someone once said. And only when No.6 realises that he is No.1, is he able to break free and escape his prison of the Village. Well that’s all fine and dandy, but No.6 didn’t escape. In fact he was as much a prisoner at the end as he was at the beginning!

Be seeing you

 

Prisoner Music

  Over the years a number of bands and singers have produced music related to 'the Prisoner.' What follows are a number of links to that music and videos.

Iron Maiden: The Prisoner From 'The Number of The Beast'

http://youtu.be/0Tb8Jo11uGo

The Prisoner Theme {Free Man Mix} MC No.6

http://youtu.be/MFs1RgmqLBo

Siouxsie and the Banshees - The Passanger {filmed at Portmeirion during 'The Laughing Prisoner.'

http://youtu.be/rpLKlIUeCzM

Iron Maiden: Back In The Village

http://youtu.be/OuDVXh_a1-Y

Alternative Radio - Fall Out {Radio Mix}

http://youtu.be/uJRtYe-yhVY

Alternative Radio- Fall Out {Club Mix}

http://youtu.be/LDtoK2glKo0

The Prisoner Number 6 by Taboo

http://youtu.be/PnkEVS6Q9bk

   I remember seeing a video for Kate Bush's song 'Rolling The Ball' on Top of the Pops, which used film footage of the Village Guardian, but sadly I cannot find that particular video.

Be seeing you

Caught On Camera!

    This is a scene from 'Dance of the Dead,' in which No.6 is impersonating a doctor, when he is met by another doctor coming out of a side office. What so many doctors might be doing in the Town Hall, when they should be in the hospital is anyone's guess. Also why should this doctor-No.10, receive the termination order against Dutton, when all previous instructions have come via the teleprinter in the other room?

   And look at the inside of the room behind the doctor. It's an electrical switchgear room! Couldn't they find Lucy Griffiths a better room to emerge from?

BcNu 

It’s Your Funeral

    It was once written that for one person the episode of ‘It's Your Funeral’  is one of the most straightforward episodes in the Prisoner series. Well I suppose it could be said, if you forget about why No.6 ever got involved in the first place, as he was very reluctant to do. When Monique-No.50 came to No.6's cottage looking for help, he told her to go to the Town Hall where the citizens council offers help and advice ot everyone. He sees it as some plot against himself, and refuses to get involved. After all No.6 doesn't trust anybody, and is suspicious of anyone, "once bitten forever shy" as he puts it, which does seem in keeping with the nature of his character. You will also recall how No.6 does not try and settle down, refuses to co-operate, and has grown to have as little to do with other members of the community as possible. When anyone comes knocking on his cottage door, he doesn't always answer. That's why the Supervisor-No.28 saw to it that the door to No.6's cottage was unlocked in time for No.50's arrival there, so that she would have access.

ot only disappointment, but confusion and bewilderment! No.2 cannot accept that there's nothing written on those sheets of paper. There has to be something written on them, words, figures, anything. He cannot understand why No.6 should hide blank sheets of paper in the cabin of the Stoneboat, so therefore something must be written on them. Has No.2 never heard of Jammers?!

   As for "Appreciation Day" that appears to be completely pointless, and as much of a farce as that of the democratic elections of Free For All!

   In my opinion there is only one clear aspect of Its Your Funeral, which some see as No.6's reluctance to escape. In the fact that No.6 cannot escape the village using the explosive detonator as a "bargaining chip," because there is no-one No.6 can trust to take up his position against the new No.2, in the same way he did, whilst the retiring No.2 escapes by helicopter.

Be seeing you

The Therapy Zone

The Most Industrious Number 2 in ‘It’s Your Funeral

  A loyal, and willing servant of the Village but who was to have been sacrificed for the cause!

   No No.2 has served the village better, for amongst his achievements are;

* The electrification of the clocks.

* The new mural in the library

* The golf course

* The clock golf

*The new cafe facilities

* The new flower garden

*The extra "blue zone" in the post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?

* And plans laid down for the new concert hall to be built

   This No.2 is an administrator, not an interrogator, and appears to have nothing to do with No.6 during his term of office. Because when No.6 paid this No.2 a call during the episode of Its Your Funeral, No.6 didn't recognise him!

  So much work done in so short a time, or so much took place between the end of ‘Hammer Into Anvil’ and the beginning of ‘It’s Your Funeral’ that we do not see!

   It’d no wonder No.2 was ready for retirement!


Reinterpretation Of The Prisoner

    Well after decades of rumour, talk, continuous disappointment, and waiting, at long last a remake of the Prisoner is finally going ahead.

   Ian McKellen has been cast as No.2, and Jim Caviezel as No.6, who wakes to find himself in a village with no memory of how he has arrived there. A sinister No.2 is in charge of the village, sadly not Portmeirion, but somewhere in South Africa/Nanibia.

   Having read the ITV press release I feel that this 6 part remake of the Prisoner could be very successful in such modern times as we live in. Yet I am fully aware that there are many fans of the Prisoner, world-wide who are totally against any such remake, even to say that no such remake should be made. Well fans who think like that are going to be disappointed, I trust I will not be, with this reinterpretation of the Prisoner.

   I know that the Prisoner is an iconic piece of the 1960's TV, and for me it has become my life, but times move on and although the Prisoner is a timeless series it is about time for a remake of the series, and I can appreciate that.

   As a writer and author myself, I wrote a Prisoner manuscript an number of years ago, and have been trying to get a publisher interested in it, even as a screenplay. But sadly no takers - yet.

   As both a fan and writer I feel excited about this new series of the Prisoner, am I the only one to feel this way I wonder? And already the questions begin to mount up:

* Who is Number 6?

* Where is the village?

* Who is No.2?

* Why has No.6 been brought to the village?

* Will No.6 escape to his previous life, or will he simply survive?

* Who can No.6 trust?

* Why are no names used in the village?

* How come citizens are known only by their number?

*Will the truth behind the village be finally discovered?

It's already sounding very familiar to me, doesn't it to you?

   (Such were my initial thoughts on THEPRIS6NER-09}

“Remember, everyday above ground is a good day”

                                                                    {Two – Arrival}

A Quantum Leap Too Far

    There he was having just resigned his top secret, and confidential job. Then abducted to the village, having both his liberty and identity taken away. Interrogated, manipulated, experimented on, pumped with a variety of drugs, and then the day arrived when No.6 woke up back in his London home, but in the body of the Colonel!

   If anything, this aspect of the episode of ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling’ puts me in mind of the television series ‘Quantum Leap.’ And its just as dangerous for the Prisoner-No.6, just as it was for Sam Becket who used a quantum leap to become a multitude of various people in the television series ‘Quantum Leap.’

Secret Agent Man

    That's the song which would have it that "They've given you a number and taken away your name," which alludes to the fact that John Drake, once a secret agent, now a Prisoner in the village and given the Number 6.

    Well hardly, because the song Secret Agent Man, written by P.F. Sloan & Steve Barri, performed by Johnny Rivers is for the American title Secret Agent for Danger man written long before the Prisoner went into production. No, the song surely alludes to the fact that in the 25 minutes episodes, John Dake is an agent of Security NATO, and then in the 50 minute episodes Drake works for British Intelligence M9, or MI9 as I see it to be. But he's never given a number, and they certainly haven't taken away his name!

   However, we do learn during the episode of Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling, that the Prisoner did have a number before that of No.6 - that of ZM73.

I'll be seeing you Secret Agent Man!