Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling - Recap

Several British officials go over thirty-six tourist photos that apparently contain a clue they need. The man in charge, Sir Charles Portland, calls for photo number six, which is an overexposed image of an older man. One of the men suggests there is nothing to be found and they're not even sure if there's a problem. Sir Charles insists there is, and asks if they know where the man in the sixth photo, Seltzman, is located.

Number Two is watching Number Six as the latter paces around his flat, and notes it won't be long now. A new arrival comes to the Village by helicopter, the Colonel. Number Two greets him and the Colonel wants to know why he was summoned, and Number Two asks his opinion of Number Six on the monitor. The Colonel is unimpressed but Number Two notes that he should be. They then discuss the concept of projecting one's consciousness, and Number Two explains that Professor Seltzman perfected the process allowing the switching two personalities between bodies. The only one who knows where Seltzman is is... Number Six. The Colonel is skeptical but Number Two explains the value of switching the minds of released prisoners with their own agents. He takes the Colonel to see the "amnesia room" where they can erase the memory back to any point they choose. They have wiped the mind of one prisoner and plan to put him back into circulation with no memory of what happened. Guardians go to Number Six's flat and take him out against his will. Meanwhile, Number Two shows the Colonel Seltzman's machine, hooked up to two couches, and provides a dummy run. Back in his office, Number Two watches as Number Six undergoes the same procedure.



The next morning, Number Six wakes up in his flat and looks out the window to see the streets of London. He looks at a photo of his fiancée Janet and then checks his daily appointment book. However, as he steps out, he sees himself in a mirror... and realises he has the face of the Colonel. He is unaware that Number Two has brainwashed him into proceeding as normal and finding Seltzman. Number Six has vague memories of the Village but is distracted when someone rings the doorbell: Janet. She is looking for Number Six and doesn't recognise him in the Colonel's body. Realizing she wouldn't understand, the Colonel claims to be a friend and remembers them having a dinner together in preparation for her birthday party. Janet explains that the dinner happened... a year ago. She hasn't seen him since. Number Six is shocked at the gap in his memory and Janet wants to know how he got there. She is aware of Number Six's line of work as her father is her boss. Number Six is unable to explain but says he may be able to relay a message and promises to bring it to her at her birthday party. After she leaves, Number Six snaps and smashes the mirror.



Janet goes to see her father, Sir Charles, and asks why he sent Number Six away. She mentions the new man in Number Six's flat and Sir Charles doesn't know who he is, and says he hasn't sent Number Six away and has no idea where he is. Janet wonders if he's telling the truth. Meanwhile, Number Six drives his car through the streets of London to his former offices and demands to see Sir Charles. The man in charge, Danvers, doesn't recognise Number Six despite the fact Number Six knows everything about him. Danvers calls in security but Number Six is unimpressed. Finally another official arrives and demands Number Six's code names. Number Six identifies himself and asks about Seltzman. The official dismisses Danvers and the others and asks Number Six about Seltzman. The official accepts that Number Six is who he says he is, the result of Seltzman's experiment. They go to see Sir Charles and Number Six describes the time he asked permission to seek Janet's hand in marriage. Sir Charles notes that Number Six or his superiors could have extracted the information from the real Number Six. Sir Charles admits he's intrigued and will have Number Six watched. Number Six leaves as a man in a hearse follows him.



Number Six returns to his flat and determines that his handwriting hasn't changed. He then gets a secret bankroll from a hidden safe. He goes to Janet's party and dances with her, saying he has had contact with Number Six. She wonders if her father sent him there. They begin a slower dance as Number Six describes how he danced a waltz with his love. Janet knows the waltz and Number Six asks her for a slip of paper that he left with her before he left. She says she has it and he goes to the arbor to wait for her. Janet gets it and comes to him, and he kisses her. She begins to realise who he really is and he asks for her faith.



The next day, Number Six goes to a camera shop with the piece of paper, a receipt, and asks for a roll of film that he left there. The owner goes into the back while Number Six notices a man watching him, Potter, Sir Charles' man. The owner returns with the developed transparencies, and Number Six notes it was already signed over. The owner says it was a mistake and Number Six asks to have a passport photo taken. The owner agrees to do it himself. Meanwhile, Sir Charles is informed that Number Six has the transparencies. Number Six returns to his flat and Sir Charles' man watches from outside. Inside, Number Six sets up a projection screen and works out the proper sequence to overlay the transparencies. He then uses a special set of lenses to see the hidden message, which directs him to Kandersfeld, Austria.



He departs down the A20 for the English Channel and Potter follows him across and into Europe and finally to Kandersfeld. He goes to a restaurant and asks after Seltzman. The cafe waiter directs him to a nearby barber shop where Seltzman is working as a barber under the name Hallen. Number Six goes in and explains that Seltzman's device works but Seltzman initially denies it. However, Number Six offers a demonstration of his handwriting to prove who he is, based on a letter that Seltzman sent to him a year ago. Fortunately Seltzman kept the letter and agrees that Number Six is whom he says. Seltzman figures that it was Number Six's enemies who set him up to find the scientist. Meanwhile, Sir Charles' agent closes in, following a tracking device. Seltzman admits that the reversal procedure exists in theory but is dangerous. They spot Potter outside and Number Six hides in the cellar. Potter tells Seltzman not to move and looks for Number Six and a fight breaks out in the cellar. As the two men struggle, the undertaker arrives and gasses both of them unconscious.



Number Six in the Colonel's body is returned to the Village along with Seltzman. Number Two greets them and Seltzman refuses to give up his reversal process. Number Two notes that Seltzman can't leave Number Six trapped in someone else's body. Seltzman reluctantly agrees but insists that he do it alone. Number Two accepts and Seltzman asks for twelve hours to prepare. At the end of that time, Number Two watches from the Observation Room as Number Six and the Colonel are hooked up to Seltzman's machine. Seltzman hooks himself into the machine to activate the process and the transfer takes place, seemingly as planned. The process ends but Seltzman collapses and Number Two orders in medical technicians. The Colonel departs by helicopter. After he leaves, "Seltzman" wakes up... and reveals he's the Colonel, in Seltzman's rapidly failing body. Seltzman's body dies and Number Two realises what has happened... too late as Seltzman departs by helicopter, in the Colonel's body. Number Six sits up and says that Seltzman has succeeded in a three-way transfer, and is now free to continue his experiments in peace.



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