What's That Peter Smith Up To?

    It would appear that No.6 is still carrying about with him, that envelope he had to give to No.2 of ‘A B and C,’ and now he's about to try the same trick on Mrs. Butterworth, the new No.2! You remember that envelope, No.2 thought it contained something the Prisoner had to sell, but contained nothing more than holiday brochures! Surely Mrs B's not going to fall for that one?

    Mrs Butterworth "What have you there?"

    Peter Smith "It's my last will and testament, I wonder if you would do me the favour of placing in the safe for me."

    "Safe?"

    "The safe set in the wall behind the television set."

    "Oh. What have you to leave, anything valuable?"

    "Nothing at all really. You've got my home, my car. I don't even own the clothes I'm wearing!"

    "Then what have you of value?"

    "Information."

    "Information! How mysterious."

    "Yes, it's the reason why I resigned!"

    "Resigned, from what?"

    "My job, former life, call it what you like."

    "I can see that you are a man in trouble. Look let me help you. You go and have a bath, while I put that envelope in the safe for you."

    "Mrs. Butterworth you're very kind."

    “Nonsense. Now give that to me and go and have your bath and shave, and I'll take care of that burden for you."

    While "Peter Smith" is busy in the bathroom, Mrs Butterworth opens the envelope, and discovers several sheets of paper - they are all blank!

Be seeing you

The Therapy Zone

Development Of New Technologies

   The Village's Administration sees to it that no technology is wasted, that previous devices can be developed to a new use, such as the "Magic Box" pictured here. Basically it is a money box, when a coin is put in the slot the mechanism is activated, and a little hand comes out of the box, collects the coin and disappears back into the box, along with the coin. The "Magic Box" was adapted at once, and is now part of the security system in the Town Hall, to collect "Security Pass Discs."

    Yet more dramatic technologies have been developed right here in the village. Electrical force fields which guard the entrance of the Town Hall, and security points within the Town Hall. Cordless telephones, automatic opening doors such as we see with 6 private and No.2's residence the Green Dome. Then there's the "Beam" which when used to disable "living things," such as a Pigeon which was brought down as I recall with the "Beam" set at minimum strength. I think the search team did very well in finding that one Pigeon, downed by the "Beam."

    Then there was the General, adapted for use here in the village along with Speedlearn. Although the General was actually developed by the Professor. The "Sublimator" which is used in conjunction with Speedlearn, puts the information, subliminally, onto the cortex of the brain.

   So you see, the Villages Administration does not simply deal in information, but also relies upon technology, and allows nothing to go to waste that cannot be adapted for another use here in the village. Take the Tally Ho dispenser for example, that  contraption puts me in mind of my old mum's washing mangle! Even hairdryers are re-developed for the use in Neurosurgery technology!

Dangerous Moments

   Any moment is a "dangerous moment" when caught in a fist fight with No. 6, or rather with Patrick McGoohan, who always played it for real!

    Fights involving No. 6 have seen him half killing, or half strangling his adversaries during the fight scenes. For example No.100-Mark Eden of ‘It’s Your Funeral,’ and Gunther- Dennis Chinnery of ‘Many Happy Returns,’ not forgetting No.2-Leo McKen in ‘Once Upon A Time for another.

 

   The thing about No.6 is, that if he's not getting into fights, he's upsetting people, people like No.8. Mind you if you will force yourself upon No.6, he's bound to bite back! Anyway this situation would never have occurred if No.8 hadn't been hypnotised into thinking she was in love with No.6, and he with her.

   Its no wonder No.6 had a go at N0.8, she's not his type at all! And what's more, even No.8 would betray No.6 once she knew he was going to escape, even though she would be unaware she had done so. Never trust a woman, especially those who have been hypnotised by love! 

   Who placed the dead security guards in a neat pile after the fire-fight during that “Falling Out?” Perhaps the Butler did it, after all he seems to do everything else!

Be seeing you

Quote For The Day

    No.6 had given his piece of abstract art a title "ESCAPE."
   
    "What does this piece, what does it represent to you?"
    "A church door?"
    "Right first time. This other piece here, of the same general lines, somewhat more abstract you'll notice, representing freedom or a barrier, depending how you look at it. The barriers down, and the door is open. You are free, free to go, free to escape, to escape to this, the symbol to human aspirations, knowledge, freedom, escape."
                                            {No.6 - The Chimes of Big Ben}

   So what does the above tell us? That No.6 is quick witted, quick to think on his feet, as he makes it all up as he goes along like any good artist. That No.6 is very good at woodwork, and would have made an extremely good artist!

BCNU

Caught On Camera!

    I always thought it a shame that the above contraption of the canopied Penny Farthing is never seen in the entire series of 'the Prisoner.' Of course we do see the Village logo, and the Penny Farthing bicycle itself. But it would have been nice to have seen this, full-sized canopied Penny Farthing in 'the Prisoner,' even if only propped up against a wall. After all a great deal of work must have gone into adding the canopy, so strange that it was never actually used in the series. At least it was seen during the production of 'the Prisoner' at Portmeirion, and filmed by an amateur film photographer at the time.

Be seeing you

Pictorial Prisoner

   The above image was taken from routine surveillance during the election campaign of 'Free For All.' The citizens cheer as the candidate No.6 passes by. Just one point....the citizens are not wearing black No.6 rosettes! Mind you that wouldn't have done at all, when one remembers that this same picture could also have been taken from the routine surveillance footage of No.6 returning to his home from hospital in 'A Change of mind.' The crowd cheer as No.6 passes by, after what they think  as No.6 having undergone the operation known as "Instant social conversion!" And to have been seen wearing No.6 rosettes wouldn't have done at all!

Be seeing you

60 Second Interview With No.2

     No.113 "Good morning Number Two. Thank you for giving this interview."

     No.2 "Yes, well get on with it, I haven't got all day."

     No.113b "Smile." {click goes the camera}

     No.113 "This won't take a minute. Tell me Number Two, have you noticed anything different about Number Six?”

     No.2 "Not really no."

    "He's going about wearing a cream blazer."

    "Perhaps he fancy's a change!"

    "Perhaps. But he's taken to wearing his numbered badge."

    "Oh!"

    "Number Six never wears his badge!"

    "Well, perhaps he's decided turn over a new leaf."

    "Really. You really think that?"

    "Well yes. Anyone can change."

    "Yes Number Two, and there's something different about Number Six, but for the life of me I can't put my finger on it."

    "Is this who you've come to see me about, Number Six. This Village doesn't revolve around Number Six you know."

    "You know Number Two, sometimes I wonder about that, I really do."

Reporter No.113

Photographer No.113b

The Therapy Zone

Observations!

   2,00 free work Units, that's the special merit award No.6 won for his sculpture at the Exhibition of Arts & Crafts. As a matter of interest, that's the precise sum of £2,000 per week, McGoohan was earning at the time!

    Cobb is another citizen not seen to wear his numbered badge. Even in hospital patients wear their badge!

    I wonder if the guardians first victim in Arrival was blind? That would account for him dodging about the way he did. He could hear the guardian, but couldn't see it coming at him. And if that is the case, it makes the killing even much more black and violent.

    Just think, if they had not involved No.6 in the plot to murder the retiring No.2 in It's Your Funeral, the plot would have worked!

    When No.2 telephones No.6 in ‘Once Upon A Time’ No.6 says "I know your voice." It would have been remarkable if No.6 had forgotten so soon after their encounter during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben.’ Seeing as how originally 'Once Upon A Time' was to have followed on after ‘The Chimes of Big Ben.’ But having said that, there must have been a gap of some description between the two original placing of the two episodes in the screening order. Because No.2 says to No.6 "I've been here before." which suggests that No.2 has been away, and then later brought back to the Village, which is actually confirmed in a telephone conversation between No.2 and No.1. "You can say what you like. You brought me back here."

    If No.1 and No.6 are one and the same, two sides of the same person. No.1 is the evil side, and No.6 is the one with the conscience, and that's perhaps why he resigned, it was a matter of conscience!

    "They" seem to know what No.6 is thinking, how he will react to any given situation. That's because "they" have No.1, who is of the same mind as No.6. Perhaps then "they" should have asked No.1 why No.6 resigned!

      Those World globes set out on the table in the control room of the rocket in Fall Out. All different sized World globes, but why are they there? Not simply to take the eye off the map of London, surely, seeing as how the set of the interior of the rocket was first used in the episode ‘The Girl Who Was Death.’ There must be a reason, as sets are dressed with various items for a specific reason. But for the life of me, I can't think what! However such globes as these do remind me of my childhood, when I had such a World Globe. It came in two around the equator, and was half filled with sweets.

   The bell in the Bell Tower of the Village is a "Taylor" bell, which incidentally is the exact same tone of bell the Town Hall clock has when it strikes. And if I'm awake in the early hours and I hear the Town Hall clock here in Loughborough strike the hour, it's eerie, because it's almost like being in The Village to hear that bell. And when being in town when the Taylor bell is chiming, thoughts of curfew time enter my head. As well as lines like “When the Village clock strikes four……”

   Lets face it, Number Six just doesn't, like machines. If he's not trying to out wit them with clever questions, or trying to destroy them ripping out their wiring, he's smashing them with glass ashtrays!

Be seeing you