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The Prisoner: The General
The Village superiors are developing an electronic speedlearning process that allows them to place whatever information they wish in the human brain. The unwilling Professor developing the process is working with the mysterious "General," and Number 6 must thwart the scheme before the process is perfected.
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Episode Info
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Episode number: 1x6 Airdate: Sunday November 05th, 1967 |
Recap
Number Six is enjoying coffee when he sees a helicopter comes in to land. He notices a man watching him, a man who hastily looks away as Number Six glances his way. A loudspeaker announcement on behalf of "the General" informs everyone that students taking the three-part history course should go to their homes to witness a lecture by the Professor on television. Everyone promptly leaves except Number Six, and the waiter closes down the cafe. Number Six notices a poster of the Professor mentioning "Speedlearn." The man watching Number Six, Number Twelve, approaches him and asks if he believes a university-level three-year degree in three minutes is possible. Number Six doesn't discount it and the man advises Number Six to enroll. They spot people running along the beach after a single man with the helicopter in pursuit and Number Twelve notes they're after the Professor. Number Six goes down to the beach and finds a tape recorder playing the Professor's words, giving anyone listening an urgent message. Number Six hides the tape recorder in the sand as the Village guardians approach and offer to drive him back home so he can participate in the Professor's lecture. Number Six watches as the Villagers catch up to the Professor and capture him...Read the full recap
Episode Notes
Number Six (Patrick McGoohan) does not visit Number Two's office in this episode.
The exterior of the Professor's house was also used as the exterior of Madame Engadine's in "A. B. and C.".
The Council Chamber is a redress of the Number Two's office set.
Lewis Greifer wrote the episode under the pen name of Joshua Adams.
Episode Quotes
Number Twelve: You don't believe it. A university-level degree in three minutes.
Number Six: It's improbable.
Number Twelve: But not impossible.
Number Six: Nothing's impossible in this place.
Number Six: It's improbable.
Number Twelve: But not impossible.
Number Six: Nothing's impossible in this place.
Number Twelve: You'll find the Professor most interesting.
Number Six: Would I?
Number Twelve: With an extraordinary range of knowledge.
Number Six: The only subject I'm interested in is getting away from this place.
Number Twelve: Exactly.
Number Six: Who are you?
Number Twelve: A cog in the machine.
Number Six: Would I?
Number Twelve: With an extraordinary range of knowledge.
Number Six: The only subject I'm interested in is getting away from this place.
Number Twelve: Exactly.
Number Six: Who are you?
Number Twelve: A cog in the machine.
Man in Buggy: Are you a student?
Number Six: Who isn't? Are you prefects?
Man in Buggy: What are you doing here?
Number Six: Playing truant.
Number Six: Who isn't? Are you prefects?
Man in Buggy: What are you doing here?
Number Six: Playing truant.
The Professor: (about Speedlearn) The most beneficent development in mass communication since the beginning of time.
Number Twelve: Who do you trust, Number Six?
Number Six: I trust me.
Number Twelve: Join the club.
Number Six: I trust me.
Number Twelve: Join the club.
The Professor: Speedlearn is an abomination! It is slavery! If you wish to be free, there is only one way. Destroy the General!
Number Twelve: He's a troublemaker, and he attracts troublemakers.
Number Two: How long have you been with us, Number Twelve?
Number Twelve: Me, sir? Quite a long time, sir.
Number Two: But obviously not long enough.
Number Two: How long have you been with us, Number Twelve?
Number Twelve: Me, sir? Quite a long time, sir.
Number Two: But obviously not long enough.
Professor's Wife: That gentleman over there. What do you think he's doing?
Number Six: Tearing up a book.
Professor's Wife: Construction arises out of the ashes of destruction. He's creating a fresh concept. And that woman?
Number Six: Standing on her head.
Professor's Wife: She's developing a new perspective.
Number Six: Tearing up a book.
Professor's Wife: Construction arises out of the ashes of destruction. He's creating a fresh concept. And that woman?
Number Six: Standing on her head.
Professor's Wife: She's developing a new perspective.
Number Two: Number Six and I are old friends. I can recommend him as a thoroughly overzealous student. With a tendency to overdo it.
Number Twelve: I'll fix it, Number Six, so that you become aware that deliberate destruction of official property is a most serious offense. I must recommend the full penalty.
Number Six: Which is?
Number Twelve: It could be imprisonment, could be a fine.
Number Six: I'll take the fine.
Number Twelve: Yes, I thought you might.
Number Six: Which is?
Number Twelve: It could be imprisonment, could be a fine.
Number Six: I'll take the fine.
Number Twelve: Yes, I thought you might.
Number Two: (about the Professor) It's the image, you see, that is important. The kindly image.
Number Two: What was the question?
Number Six: It's insoluble, to man or machine.
Number Two: What was it?
Number Six: W - H - Y - Question mark.
Number Two: "Why?"
Number Six: "Why?"
Number Six: It's insoluble, to man or machine.
Number Two: What was it?
Number Six: W - H - Y - Question mark.
Number Two: "Why?"
Number Six: "Why?"
Analysis
Insurrection
Here the authorities aren't particularly interested in torturing Number Six, and he's not interested in escaping. Instead he's more or less swept up into a vague plot that threatens the outside world through the concept of speed-learning slash mental indoctrination. Still, this represents the first episode in air order where Number Six isn't fighting for himself, but fighting for (unseen) others.
Here the authorities aren't particularly interested in torturing Number Six, and he's not interested in escaping. Instead he's more or less swept up into a vague plot that threatens the outside world through the concept of speed-learning slash mental indoctrination. Still, this represents the first episode in air order where Number Six isn't fighting for himself, but fighting for (unseen) others.
Other Episode Crew
| • Creator | George Markstein | Patrick McGoohan |
| • Executive Producer | Patrick McGoohan |
| • Producer | David Tomblin |
| • 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 |
| • 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 | John Bramall |
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