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The Prisoner: Dance of the Dead
Number 6's discovery of a dead man on the beach sets off a bizarre series of events which culminate in a Village carnival where everyone is masked... and no one can be trusted.
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Episode Info
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Episode number: 1x8 Airdate: Sunday November 26th, 1967 |
Recap
Men arrive at Number Six's flat after he's secretly administered a sedative. The Doctor is watching from the observation room and the Night Supervisor wonders if he has Number Two's approval for the operation. The Doctor insists they need to get the information and orders his technicians to hook electrodes up to Number Six. He wakes up in a trance and smiles, and then has a drugged man, Dutton, call Number Six and ask him for a breakdown due to a suspected security leak. Number Six mutters that he can't be asked and despite the Doctor's directed conversation, he refuses to answer. Number Six begins to crack but Number Two arrives in the observation room and orders the technicians to stop the process. She warns that Number Six would have broke rather than talk, and she doesn't want a broken man...Read the full recap
Episode Notes
Along with Leo McKern, Colin Gordon, and Peter Wyngarde, Mary Morris is one of only four Number Twos to have their voices added to the interrogation scene in the opening credits. The "standard" voice of Number Two was provided by Robert Rietty.
This was Duncan Macrae's final acting role before his death on March 23, 1967.
This is the only episode in which a female Number Two plays a pivotal part.
Patrick McGoohan (Number Six) did an uncredited rewrite for this episode.
Episode Quotes
The Doctor: Every man has his breaking point.
Number Two: I don't want him broken. He must be won over.
Number Two: I don't want him broken. He must be won over.
Number Six: How did I sleep.
Number Two: Sound as a bell. Have a nice day. Feel free.
Number Two: Sound as a bell. Have a nice day. Feel free.
(A postman delivers Number Six's invitation to the carnival)
Postman: Special delivery. Sign your number here, Number Six.
(Number Six closes the door in his face)
Postman: Special delivery. Sign your number here, Number Six.
(Number Six closes the door in his face)
Number Six: I have a choice?
Number Two: Of course. You can do as you want.
Number Six: As long as it's what you want.
Number Two: As long as it is what the majority wants. We're democratic. In some ways.
Number Two: Of course. You can do as you want.
Number Six: As long as it's what you want.
Number Two: As long as it is what the majority wants. We're democratic. In some ways.
Number Two: No game is worth play if you can't win. That's not very English, I know.
Number Six: Are you... English?
Number Six: Are you... English?
Number Six: How long have you been here?
The Observer: Questions are a burden to others. Answers a prison for oneself.
The Observer: Questions are a burden to others. Answers a prison for oneself.
Night Maid: Drink it while it's hot.
Number Six: What is it?
Night Maid: It's good for you.
Number Six: Good for someone.
Night Maid: Be seeing you.
Number Six: What is it?
Night Maid: It's good for you.
Number Six: Good for someone.
Night Maid: Be seeing you.
Town Crier: A proclamation! All citizens take notice that Carnival is decreed for tonight. Turn back the clock. There will be music, dancing, happiness at the Carnival. By order.
(Number Six's costume for the carnival, which was picked by someone else, is delivered to his house)
Maid: What is it?
Number Six: My own suit, specially delivered for the occasion.
Maid: What does that mean?
Number Six: That I'm still... myself.
Maid: Lucky you.
Maid: What is it?
Number Six: My own suit, specially delivered for the occasion.
Maid: What does that mean?
Number Six: That I'm still... myself.
Maid: Lucky you.
Number Two: (about Number Six) He's an individual and they're always trying.
Radio Voice: I have a message for you. You must listen. The appointment cannot be fulfilled. Other things must be done tonight. If our torment is to end, if liberty is to be restored, we must grasp the nettle even though it makes our hands bleed. Only through pain can tomorrow be assured.
Number Two: I'm sad, Number Six. I thought you were beginning to...
Number Six: Give in?
Number Two: Be happy. Everything you want is here.
Number Six: Everything's elsewhere.
Number Six: Give in?
Number Two: Be happy. Everything you want is here.
Number Six: Everything's elsewhere.
The Observer: It's the rules. Of the people, by the people, for the people.
Number Six: It takes on a new meaning.
The Observer: You're a wicked man.
Number Six: Wicked?
The Observer: You have no values.
Number Six: Different values.
The Observer: You won't be helped.
Number Six: Destroyed.
The Observer: You want to spoil things.
Number Six: I won't be a goldfish in a bowl.
Number Six: It takes on a new meaning.
The Observer: You're a wicked man.
Number Six: Wicked?
The Observer: You have no values.
Number Six: Different values.
The Observer: You won't be helped.
Number Six: Destroyed.
The Observer: You want to spoil things.
Number Six: I won't be a goldfish in a bowl.
Number Two: What were you looking at?
Number Six: A light.
Number Two: A star.
Number Six: A boat.
Number Two: An insect.
Number Six: A plane.
Number Two: A flying fish.
Number Six: Somebody who belongs to my world.
Number Two: This is your world. I am your world. If you insist on living a dream you may be taken for mad.
Number Six: I like my dream.
Number Two: Then you are mad.
Number Six: A light.
Number Two: A star.
Number Six: A boat.
Number Two: An insect.
Number Six: A plane.
Number Two: A flying fish.
Number Six: Somebody who belongs to my world.
Number Two: This is your world. I am your world. If you insist on living a dream you may be taken for mad.
Number Six: I like my dream.
Number Two: Then you are mad.
Number Six: I rarely drink.
Number Two: Then you'll enjoy it all the more. Self-denial's a great sweetener of pleasure.
Number Two: Then you'll enjoy it all the more. Self-denial's a great sweetener of pleasure.
Number Six: Why haven't I costume?
Number Two: Perhaps because you don't exist.
Number Two: Perhaps because you don't exist.
The Observer: (discussing The Village) This place has been going for a long time.
Number Six: Since the war? Before the war? Which war?!?
Number Six: Since the war? Before the war? Which war?!?
Number Six: Never trust a woman. Even the four-legged variety.
Number Two: Our legal system is unusual.
Number Six: No jury.
Number Two: Three judges decide here.
Number Six: As in the French Revolution.
Number Two: They got through the dead wood, didn't they?
Number Six: No jury.
Number Two: Three judges decide here.
Number Six: As in the French Revolution.
Number Two: They got through the dead wood, didn't they?
Number Six: You'll never win.
Number Two: Then how very uncomfortable for you, old chap.
Number Two: Then how very uncomfortable for you, old chap.
Analysis
Escape and Torture
Number Six makes a half-hearted attempt to escape using a purloined radio. As in "Checkmate," there seems little chance he'll succeed. Meanwhile, the new Number Two engages in mind games with him. The exercise is ultimately to convince Number Six that he's "dead" (hence the title), and using him to aid and abet their own scheme to make him appear drowned at sea. As in "Free for All" and "A Change of Mind," the entire Village populace seems to be on the authorities' side, as they turn into a screaming mob to hunt Number Six down... but presumably forget it by the next episode.
Number Six makes a half-hearted attempt to escape using a purloined radio. As in "Checkmate," there seems little chance he'll succeed. Meanwhile, the new Number Two engages in mind games with him. The exercise is ultimately to convince Number Six that he's "dead" (hence the title), and using him to aid and abet their own scheme to make him appear drowned at sea. As in "Free for All" and "A Change of Mind," the entire Village populace seems to be on the authorities' side, as they turn into a screaming mob to hunt Number Six down... but presumably forget it by the next episode.
Other Episode Crew
| • Creator | George Markstein | Patrick McGoohan |
| • Executive Producer | Patrick McGoohan |
| • Producer | David Tomblin |
| • Editor | John S. Smith (3) |
| • Casting | Rose Tobias Shaw |
| • Music | Ron Grainer |
| • Music Editor | Eric Mival | Albert Elms |
| • 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 | Stanley Smith (2) | John Bramall |
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