The
Great Debate regarding the screening order of ‘the Prisoner,’ this is something
that has been running since the early 1980’s. Each of us could arrive at a
screening order of our own if so inclined, not every enthusiast is of course.
No matter what order one might place the 17 episodes three of them are well and
truly cemented into position, ‘Arrival,’ ‘Once Upon A Time,’ and ‘Fall Out’ for
they are the beginning and the end of any screening order. A B and C’ and ‘The
General’ is a quite different case, and are the cause of the biggest headache
when assembling any screening order for ‘the Prisoner.’ Both JP and PH
have
placed ‘A B and C’ before ‘The General.’ I suppose that’s fair enough as it
goes, however both of these episodes do contradict one another.
It is possible to pair up two episodes ‘The
Chimes of Big Ben,’ and ‘Once Upon A Time’ with Leo McKern as No. 2, so it
would be reasonable to pair up ‘A B and C’ and ‘The General’ with Colin Gordon
as No.2. However to be able to do this, or indeed to place these two episodes
is any screening order, one first has to decide which to place before the
other! The opening sequence should be able to decide the matter for us. ‘A B
and C,’ written by Anthony Skene, has No. 2 saying most definitely “I am Number Two.” While on the other hand
Lewis Greifer, scriptwriter of ‘The General,’ has No.2 telling us “I am the new
Number Two,” which tells us that ‘The General’ precedes ‘A B and C.’ This
appears to be confirmed by the headline of The Tally Ho which asks the question
“Is No.2 Fit For Further Term?” That “further term” would suggest ‘The
General.’ And that would appear to be that, however, although screened after ‘A
B and C,’ ‘The General’ was in fact filmed before ‘A B and C,’ so that Colin
Gordon makes his return appearance five weeks before his debut! "I've
never been so flattered" was Colin Gordon's comment "Especially as
this is the first time I've played a part quite like this.” The story-line of
‘The General’ was altered so as to allow for this, although the provision was
not needed as the episodes were screened in the reverse order to their filming.
No. 2 in ‘The General’ was originally to have met his death at the end of the
episode, a victim of "the Generals" short circuiting, and explosive
self-destruction. But Colin Gordon's performance as Number 2 was admired so
much, that he was reprieved, simply to pave the way for his appearance in the
later episode of ‘A B and C.’ And that would appear to clear up the matter,
well it would if it wasn’t for that one line in ‘The General’ when No.2 tells
Madam Professor “Number Six and I are old friends,” how can that be if ‘The
General’ should precede
‘A
B and C?’ These are the difficulties faced with these two episodes. I myself
have entered this debate although not in The Tally Ho, and if I
have
leaned anything from the exercise, one simply has to ignore certain things in
favour of others. Which means ‘The General’ precedes ‘A B and C’ simply on the
evidence spoken by Number 2 in both opening sequences to these episodes, and
that they run consecutively. That in turn creates the notion that together ‘The
General’ and ‘A B and C’ serve as one term in office. After what this No.2 has
experienced it’s no wonder The Tally Ho headline questioned whether or not this
No.2 was fit for a second term in office, and a third episode for Colin Gordon!
And as to the fitness of No.2, both mentally and physically, whereas at the
commencement of ‘The General, and for much of the episode, he is confident, a
man not to be underestimated, and ruthless with it. But by the end of the
episode his confidence has taken a bashing, he has failed and cannot understand
why. Yet he is not quite the broken man that we see at the end of ‘A B and C.’
As No.2’s term in office turns away from educational experimentation, in ‘A B
and C’ he finds himself involved in an experiment of a different kind. No more
the confident, ruthless No.2, he’s nervous, afraid, frightened and with good
reason. What’s more he’s been given that ridiculous telephone to use! No.2 told
No.1 that he’s doing his best, that No.6 is very difficult. I should imagine
No.2 found it very difficult this time round! But this time he’s not alone,
there’s the doctor-No.14 whom he can kick when No.1 has kicked him! He’ll hold
No.14 responsible if the drug doesn’t work, or if No.6 is damaged he’ll see
that the drugged is proved on her. Thus the idea of shifting the blame of any
possible failure has already occurred to an unconfident No.2. He has three last
chances, his term in office has boiled down to three people, A B and C, and he
has three shorts acts to see played out in which to determine the reason behind
No.6’s resignation. Once No.2 was a man not to be underestimated, he
underestimated No.6 once, but did not learn by that lesson. At the end this
No.2 is no longer fit for a further term, the events of ‘The General’ have been
compounded by the failure of ‘A B and C’ leaving No.2 an exhausted and broken
man. And hammers home the reason why ‘The General’ should precede ‘A B and
C.’
Be
seeing you
