The Chimes of Big Ben - Recap

It's a cheery day at the Village and everyone rises and shines. Number Six attempts to ignore the speaker broadcasts as they declare an art exhibition in six weeks. He goes about his morning affairs as Number Two watches, and finally places the speaker in the refrigerator. As Number Six goes to play chess with the General and taunts the man, Number Two monitors the arrival of a helicopter at the Village. He then sits down with Number Six and they watch as the helicopter arrives and a woman is removed on a stretcher. They adjourn to the Green Dome for breakfast and verbal sparring. Number Six is unimpressed and Number Two tunes in the cameras in the woman's flat. She's the new Number Eight and she discovers she's in an exact replica of her home. Number Two calls and welcomes her, and invites her to lunch. He then offers Number Six a deal: release in return for the reason he resigned. Number Six refuses, and Number Two suggests he make an attempt to settle down and take part in the art exhibition. Number Six leaves without comment.



Number Six goes out and Number Eight asks for directions to the Green Dome. She asks him to accompany her and it's clear he's suspicious of her. He enigmatically answers her questions and drops her off. She comes back that night and he offers her a drink at his flat. She says that she's Estonian and that it "wouldn't be like this." He asks her why she resigned and she thinks that Number Six is his assistant. She refuses to answer his questions, asserts that her name is Nadia and she is no number, and storms off.

The next day, Nadia goes to the beach and Number Two joins Number Six nearby. Number Two inquires about Nadia and Number Six watches as she's swim away from shore. After Number Two leaves, Number Six watches her swim and Number Two returns to the Green Dome to check her file and discover she was an Olympic swimmer. He goes to the control room and initiates Orange Alert. A guardian sphere easily captures her and brings her back to shore, unconscious. Number Six takes in the whole thing and goes to her. Two medical guardians arrive and take her away on a stretcher. Later, Number Two invites Number Six to the hospital to see Nadia. She is undergoing interrogation while an alternating current with a four second cycle runs through the floor. She can leave any time she wishes and she has a bowl of water to time the sequence. Number Two notes she can leave any time she wishes if she's confident enough in herself. She tries to make a break for it but freezes and Number Two hastily shuts down the current. She falls to the floor, sobbing, and Number Six offers a deal: he'll participate in the art exhibition and attempt to settle down. Number Two is amused but agrees.



Nadia visits Number Six and offers to make breakfast. Number Two visits them and Number Six explains that he'll be carving an abstract sculpture using primitive tools. Nadia goes into the woods with Number Six and he asks if she was sent there because she knows where the Village is. She is still suspicious of him and he notes that he could calculate a navigational route if he knew where he was coming from. She leaves to think about his suggestion. Over the next six weeks Number Six then uses a stone axe to cut down a tree and then sculpt it into three pieces. Number Two visits with two weeks remaining and notes that even the crude tools aren't allowed, but he agrees not to interfere. That evening, Nadia comes to visit Number Six and they talk on the patio while he uses speaker music to cover their conversation. As he seemingly flirts with her, Nadia explains she worked for the government and saw a secret file on the Village. She says they're in Lithuania thirty miles from Poland. He warns that he can give his personal guarantee but he can't vouch for the British authorities for either one of them. She has contacts that will help her, and she says she wants to get to London and hear the sounds of Big Ben. She nicknames Number Six "Big Ben" and leaves just before the curfew.



On the day of the art exhibit, Nadia and Number Six arrive and Number Two wants him to explain about his exhibit. All of the other entries are portraits of Number Two. Number Six's piece is a collection of three components and he goes on at length about the piece, titled "Escape." Number 38 wins in the over-60 category for a tapestry (portraying Number Two), and Number Six wins the overall prize. Number Two asks him for a speech and he offers to use the work units to buy the tapestry to hang in his own home.



That night, Nadia and Number Six sneak into the Art Exhibition Centre and remove Number Six's sculpture: The three pieces, covered with a tarp, form a makeshift boat. Number Six uses the purchased tapestry as the sail and he and Nadia depart. The next morning, the Supervisor discovers that Number Six is gone and reports to Number Two that Number Six has been spotted on the ocean. They're almost out of range and Number Two calls for Orange Alert. A guardian sphere closes on the escapees, which are making for shore where one of Nadia's contacts, Karel, is waiting. Number Six and Nadia swim for it while opens fire on the guardian sphere, driving it off. Number Six gives Karel a coded message to send to his superiors. His watch is ruined by the seawater so he takes Karel's watch. Karel seals Number Six and Nadia in crates and ships them to London via Copenhagen. As they go, Nadia calls out to "Big Ben," who notes that the chimes of Big Ben should occur in 12 hours time.



In London, Fotheringay receives Number Six's message and confirms to his superiors that he plans to meet with the agent. In the crate, Number Six keeps track of their travel time on the borrowed watch and informs Nadia that he'll be returning to his superiors' office in London. Nadia asks him if he's married or engaged but Number Six declines to answer. The crates are finally delivered to the offices of Colonel J and Fotheringay in London. As the street sounds of London echo outside, Number Six introduces Nadia and Fotheringay has to leave. Big Ben chimes and Colonel J asks Nadia to wait in the next room. He then asks Number Six who Nadia is and Number Six attempts to explain about the Village. Colonel J insists on asking the questions and Number Six explains about how those with specialized knowledge are taken to the Village. Colonel J insinuates that something suspicious is going on but hastily apologizes when Number Six snaps at him. He notes that Number Six resigned, disappeared, then came back from the other side of the Iron Curtain, and believes that he has come back to spy on them.



As the chimes of Big Ben ring out, Colonel J says they need to start at the beginning and Number Six should explain why he resigned in return for protection and political asylum for Nadia. Number Six starts to answer... and realizes Big Ben chimed 8 o'clock. His watch says eight... but he received the watch from Karel in Poland. And there's a one hour time difference between Poland and England. Number Six goes through the office pulling out power cords until he finds one and the traffic sounds stop. He opens the cabinet the cord leads to and finds a tape player. He turns it on and the traffic sounds begin again. Number Six walks past Colonel J, opens the door outside... and finds the Village waiting for him. Number Two sends Fotheringay back to London and Nadia emerges. The two of them look at Number Six, who salutes them and leaves. Back in the Control Room, Number Two notes that he didn't think it would work and Nadia promises to stress that he did his best.



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