The Prisoner/The Chimes of Big Ben

The Chimes of Big Ben
Season 1, Episode 2
Airdate	October 8, 1967
Written by	Vincent Tilsley
Directed by	Don Chaffey
← 1x01 Arrival	1x03 → A. B. and C.
The Prisoner — Season One

The Chimes of Big Ben is the second episode of the first season of The Prisoner. A woman named Nadia is brought to the Village and becomes allied with Number Six. The two band together in an attempt to escape the village once and for all after learning to trust one another.

Starring: Patrick McGoohan (Number Six)

Guest Stars: Leo McKern (Number Two), Nadia Gray (Nadia), Finlay Currie (General), Richard Wattis (Fotheringay)

with Angelo Muscat (The Butler), Kevin Stoney (Colonel J.), Christopher Benjamin (Number Two's Assistant), David Arlen (Karel), Peter Swanwick (Supervisor)

and Hilda Barry (No. 38), Jack Le-White (First Judge), John Maxim (Second Judge), Lucy Griffiths (Third Judge)

Plot Overview

Number Six is awakened by an announcement over the radio talking about an artist exhibition in the coming weeks. He's undeterred by the radio, much to the frustration of Number Two, who is aggressive in his desire to break Number Six. A man that Number Six plays chess with shares this opinion that there's no reason to be uncooperative, but Six defies his opinions by slyly asking for what company and regiment the General was in, causing him to storm off just as Number Two approaches.

In the distance, a helicopter lands and is greeted by a helicopter unloading an unconscious woman who was brought to the island for "nervous tension." The two come back to Number Two's home where they have tea and Number Six happily admits that he plans to escape, come back and obliterate the village without hesitation. But what truly disturbs Number Two is Six adding sugar to his tea, even though the file says that he doesn't take sugar. The woman from earlier is deposited in her room as the new Number Eight, Six's neighbor. He acts out the events of Number Six's arrival with Number Eight, going as far as offering her to come to eat lunch with him. He also attempts to strike a bargain with Number Six: if Six gives up one answer, they'll let him go. Six naturally refuses and Number Two suggests that Six take part in community events like the arts and crafts exhibition.

When Number Six returns to his apartment, the new Number Eight greets him and he willingly gives up everything he knows about the village. He also takes her to Number Two's home when she asks. When she comes back home later that night, the two reconvene but the woman, Nadia, quickly storms off after she assumes that Number Six is an assistant to Number Two and is interrogating her on his behalf. The next day, Number Two and Number Six meet again at the beach, where Number Six poses the question on whether or not Two realizes that he too is a prisoner of the island. He admits that he knows that he is and that he believes the village is the answer for global peace once the rest of the world catches on.

As they speak, Nadia swims out to sea, apparently hoping to escape. Number Two returns to his office and reads her profile, which states that she was an Olympic class swimmer who was awarded the bronze medal. After swimming for about two miles, she is attacked by the security system and brought back to the village forcefully. She's taken to the hospital, where she is interrogated about her attempt to escape. Number Two demands that Six come along to witness their interrogation, where he watches her attempt suicide via the electrical current running through the floor. Number Two tries to use this situation to appeal to Number Six's sense of decency and get her to reveal her information. Six offers to "collaborate" with the village as long as Number Two lets Nadia go.

Number Six makes good on his promise to get close to Nadia, but spends his woodworking project time on carving the frame of a boat out of a felled tree. Number Two points out his disregard for the rules by using a makeshift hammer and chisel. That night, Number Six and Nadia get together and talk about what she knows about the location of the village. The two go to the exhibition the next day, where many of the crafts were created in the image of Number Two. There, Number Two requests that Six explain his abstract art. They accept the answers he gives them, as vague as they may be, but are confused by the lack of Number Two. None the less, Number Six is awarded the top prize in the show. He uses his 2,000 work credits to buy a tapestry that won the over 60 prize. That night, Number Six and Nadia construct the boat using the tapestry as a sail and set off for the mainland.

The two make it 30 miles outside of the island, nearly out of range of the radar. They catch them on the radar and send a sentry after them. A man on the mainland buys them time by shooting the white ball with a rifle while they swim for the shore and make it into the cave. The ball retreats and the two are put into crates for delivery to London by way of Copenhagen. They eventually make it to what appears to be London with Fotheringay, Number Six's superior. Six explains to Fotheringay what the village is, but Fotheringay believes him to have defected to the other side of the iron curtain. During this interrogation, Fotheringay asks to prove that he isn't a defector by admitting why he resigned. He's just about to give his confession when he realizes that Big Ben chimed eight times, when there should be an hour's difference. He looks around and discovers a tape recorder playing the London sounds.

Number Six opens a door, only to find the village, not London, and that Nadia was working with the enemy all along.

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• The Village: Although it proves to be an elaborate ruse, Nadia tells Number Six that the Village is located on an island in the Baltic Sea, off the coast of Lithuania. She also mentions that it's 30 miles away from the Polish border. Because she was an operative of Number Two, it seems likely that she would not give up the information on where they are, so the Baltic Sea could possibly be ruled out as a potential location of the Village.

Referbacks

• 1x01 - Arrival: The way in which Nadia was brought to the village and the greeting she received from Number Two is highly reminiscent of Number Six's first day on the island. Except, in this case, she did not have to hunt for answers because Number Six freely gave up everything he knew about the island.

Trivia

The Show

• First Appearance: This episode is the first appearance of Leo McKern as Number Two. Although Number Two rotates with each episode, McKern's version of the character proved to be one of the most popular. He would later return at the end of the series.

Behind the Scenes

• Alternative Version: A rough cut of this episode was accidentally broadcast and later released on video tape called "The Alternative Chimes of Big Ben." The episode has very minor differences, but includes one alternative scene where Number Six attempts to discover the location of the Village using a home-made triquetrum. The alternative version also features different incidental and theme music as well as different credits.

Quotes

• Number Two: I am definitely an optimist. That's why it doesn't matter who Number One is. It doesn't matter which "side" runs the Village.

Number Six: It's run by one side or the other.

Number Two: Oh certainly, but both sides are becoming identical. What in fact has been created is an international community — perfect blueprint for world order. When the sides facing each other suddenly realize that they're looking into a mirror, they will see that this is the pattern for the future.

Number Six: The whole Earth as the Village?

Number Two: That is my hope. What's yours?

Number Six: I'd like to be the first man on the moon.