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The Prisoner: Free for All
It's Election Time in the Village, and Number 6 is encouraged to run for the office. Number 6 is skeptical that anyone can honestly rise to power, but soon finds himself swept into the election campaign.
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Episode Info
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Episode number: 1x4 Airdate: Sunday October 22nd, 1967 Alternate Airdates:
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USA
Uncredited
Recap
Number Six answers his phone and finds Number Two on the other end. Number Six isn't interested in chatting and hangs up, but Number Two appears immediately on his doorstep. Number Six demands to see Number One but Number Two deflects him. A maid, Number Fifty-Eight, arrives with breakfast and Number Two says she used to work in records and has a photographic memory. They talk to each other in a foreign language and she leaves. Number Two informs Number Six they start their yearly election campaign and asks if Number Six is going to run for the position of Number Two. Number Six is skeptical and they're interrupted when a fanfare blares over the speakers. Number Two goes to the window balcony and a crowd of Villagers carrying placards urging citizens to vote for Number Two. Number Two notes that some of the citizens feel the entire thing is a game and they need Number Six as a candidate...Read the full recap
Episode Notes
Patrick McGoohan (Number Six) wrote this episode under the pseudonym "Paddy Fitz." This name was taken from his mother's maiden name, Fitzpatrick.
This is the only appearance of The Village pub, the appropriately named The Cat and Mouse.
This is the first of four episodes to The other three are "Many Happy Returns", "Dance of the Dead" and "It's Your Funeral".
At 64, Eric Portman was the oldest Number Two.
This is the first episode to feature Robert Rietty's voice in the introductory Number Two dialogue instead of the actor playing him. This version of the introduction is also heard in "The Schizoid Man", "Many Happy Returns", "Hammer into Anvil", "It's Your Funeral", "A Change of Mind" and "The Girl Who Was Death".
Stock footage of Peter Swanwick (The Sueprvisor) is used from "Arrival," but the actor isn't credited.
Don Chaffey was initially signed to direct and filmed a number of outdoor sequences early on. However, he and Patrick McGoohan disagreed on a number of filming sequences and McGoohan released him from the job and completed production on his own. McGoohan received sole on-screen credit for the episode.
Episode Quotes
(answering the phone)
Number Six: What do you want?
Operator: Number Six?
Number Six: I said, what do you want?
Operator: You are Number Six?
Number Six: That is the number of this place.
Number Six: What do you want?
Operator: Number Six?
Number Six: I said, what do you want?
Operator: You are Number Six?
Number Six: That is the number of this place.
(on the phone)
Number Two: Any complaints?
Number Six: Yes. I'd like to mind my own business.
Number Two: So do we. Do you fancy a chat?
Number Six: The mountain can come to Mohammed!
Number Two: Any complaints?
Number Six: Yes. I'd like to mind my own business.
Number Two: So do we. Do you fancy a chat?
Number Six: The mountain can come to Mohammed!
Number Six: Elections? In this place?
Number Two: Of course--we make our choice every 12 months. Every citizen has a choice. Are you going to run?
Number Six: Like blazes, the first chance I get.
Number Two: Of course--we make our choice every 12 months. Every citizen has a choice. Are you going to run?
Number Six: Like blazes, the first chance I get.
Number Two: Mohammed?
Number Six: Everest, I presume.
Number Two: I've never have had a head for heights.
Number Six: Where's Number One?
Number Two: At the summit.
Number Six: Play it according to Hoyle?
Number Two: All cards on the table. You may rely on that.
Number Six: Whose move?
Number Two: Yours only. Confide, and we concede.
Number Six: Everest, I presume.
Number Two: I've never have had a head for heights.
Number Six: Where's Number One?
Number Two: At the summit.
Number Six: Play it according to Hoyle?
Number Two: All cards on the table. You may rely on that.
Number Six: Whose move?
Number Two: Yours only. Confide, and we concede.
Number Six: You have a very delicate sense of humour.
Number Two: Naturally. Humour is the very essence of a democratic society.
Number Two: Naturally. Humour is the very essence of a democratic society.
Number Six: Everybody votes for a dictator.
(Number Six and Number Two are on the balcony of the former's house, discussing the upcoming election)
Number Six: What physically happens if I win?!
Number Two: You're the boss.
Number Six: Number One's the boss.
Number Two: Join me.
(They re-enter Number Six's house)
Number Two: If you win, Number One will no longer be a mystery to you, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I'll introduce you properly and see how you feel after assessing the madding crowd.
Number Six: What physically happens if I win?!
Number Two: You're the boss.
Number Six: Number One's the boss.
Number Two: Join me.
(They re-enter Number Six's house)
Number Two: If you win, Number One will no longer be a mystery to you, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I'll introduce you properly and see how you feel after assessing the madding crowd.
Number Two: Good people, it is my pleasure to present to you the one and only Number Six!
Number Six: I am not a number, I am a person.
Number Six: I am not a number, I am a person.
Number Six: Unlike me, many of you have accepted the situation of your imprisonment, and will die here like rotten cabbages.
Reporter: How will you handle your campaign?
Number Six: No comment.
Reporter: "Intends to fight for freedom at all costs."
Photographer: Smile
Reporter: How about your internal policy?
Number Six: No comment.
Reporter: "Will tighten up on Village security."
Photographer: Smile!
Reporter: What about your external policy?
Number Six: No comment.
Reporter: "Our exports will operate in every corner of the globe." How do you feel about life and death?
Number Six: Mind your own business.
Reporter: "No comment."
Number Six: No comment.
Reporter: "Intends to fight for freedom at all costs."
Photographer: Smile
Reporter: How about your internal policy?
Number Six: No comment.
Reporter: "Will tighten up on Village security."
Photographer: Smile!
Reporter: What about your external policy?
Number Six: No comment.
Reporter: "Our exports will operate in every corner of the globe." How do you feel about life and death?
Number Six: Mind your own business.
Reporter: "No comment."
Labour Exchange Manager: "Gave up sugar four years and three months ago on medical advice." That shows you're afraid.
Number Six: What?
Labour Exchange Manager: You're afraid of death.
Number Six: I'm afraid of nothing.
Labour Exchange Manager: You're afraid of yourself. You are aware of that? Good, you are honest. That is of use here. Honesty attracts confidence and confidences are the core of our business.
Number Six: What?
Labour Exchange Manager: You're afraid of death.
Number Six: I'm afraid of nothing.
Labour Exchange Manager: You're afraid of yourself. You are aware of that? Good, you are honest. That is of use here. Honesty attracts confidence and confidences are the core of our business.
Number Six: The community can rest assured that the interests are very much my own and if there is anything I can do to maintain the security of the citizens it will be my primary objective. Be seeing you.
Number Six: There are those who come in here and deny that we can supply every conceivable civilised amenity within our boundaries. You can enjoy yourselves and you will. You can partake of the most hazardous sports and you will. The price is cheap. All you have to do in exchange is give us information. You are then eligible for promotion to other and perhaps more attractive spheres. Where do you desire to go? What has been your dream? I can supply it. Winter, spring, summer or fall--they can all be yours at any time. Apply to me and it will be easier and better.
Number Six: They say, "Six of one and half a dozen of the other." Not here. It's six for two and two for nothing. And six for free, for all. For free for all. Vote, vote.
Episode References
This is the first and last time we see someone with a numeric variable: Number 113B. Since the individual is a photographer paired with a reporter, Number 113, there may be some pairing of combined professions relating to the numbering system.
Analysis
Torture
Number Six is put through hell, physically and mentally, throughout the episode. He is ruthlessly tortured, brainwashed, confused, and beaten in a scene where he is held up in a Christ-like crucifixion pose. The Village authorities go all out to drive him to despair, showing him that he and the cause he stands for are meaningless. If "A, B, and C" is Number Six's greatest triumph, then this episode represents his greatest defeat.
Number Six is put through hell, physically and mentally, throughout the episode. He is ruthlessly tortured, brainwashed, confused, and beaten in a scene where he is held up in a Christ-like crucifixion pose. The Village authorities go all out to drive him to despair, showing him that he and the cause he stands for are meaningless. If "A, B, and C" is Number Six's greatest triumph, then this episode represents his greatest defeat.
Other Episode Crew
| • Creator | George Markstein | Patrick McGoohan |
| • Executive Producer | Patrick McGoohan |
| • Producer | David Tomblin |
| • Editor | Geoffrey Foot |
| • Casting | Rose Tobias Shaw |
| • First Assistant Director | Gino Marotta |
| • Music | Albert Elms | Ron Grainer |
| • Music Editor | Eric Mival |
| • Costume Designer | Masada Wilmot |
| • Hairstylist | Pat McDermot |
| • Make-up | Eddie Knight (1) |
| • Camera Operator | Jack Lowin | Robert Monks |
| • Set Decorator | Kenneth Bridgeman |
| • Other | Doris Martin (2) (Continuity) |
| • Director of Photography | Brendan J. Stafford |
| • Story Editor | George Markstein |
| • Art Director | Jack Shampan |
| • Production Manager | Bernard Williams |
| • Sound Editor | Wilfred Thompson | John Bramall |
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