(Thunder)
(Six) Where am I?
(Two) In the village.
(Six) What do you want?
(Two) Information.
(Six) Whose side are you on?
(Two) That would be telling.
(Two) We want information.
(Two) Information...
(Two) Information.
(Six) You won't get it.
(Two) By hook or by crook... ...we will.
(Six) Who are you?
(Two) The new Number Two.
(Six) Who is Number One?
(Two) You are Number Six.
(Six) I am not a number. I am a free man!
(Number Two laughs)
(Fanfare on PA)
Good morning! Good morning! Good morning!
And what a lovely day it is!
Rise and shine! Rise and shine!
Before our programme of early morning music,
here are two announcements.
The long range weather forecast
is that the fine spell will continue for at least another month.
Your local council,
and remember it is YOUR local council,
democratically elected by you,
has decided to organise a great new competition.
Can you paint? Can you draw?
Can you model in clay?
If you can, then your day is just six weeks today.
More about this later, but now, music.
He can make even the act
of putting on his dressing gown appear as a gesture of defiance.
There are methods we haven't used yet, of course.
I want him with a whole heart,
body and soul.
(Jaunty music on radio)
(Man) He'll crack.
Perhaps, one tiny piece at a time.
I don't want a man of fragments.
(Music continues)
Fascinating.
(Man) He doesn't even bend a little.
- (Two) That's why he'll break.
He only needs one small thing.
If he will answer one simple question, the rest will follow.
Why did he resign?
Control Room.
Supervisor.
Have you picked up the helicopter yet?
I think it's just in range.
Yes, she's on the radar now.
Do you want to make radio contact?
No, but tell me when it's due.
I want to meet it.
Your move, young man.
Ahh, yes.
- You know what I'll do? - Resign?
No, that announcement this morning, exhibition of arts and crafts.
These aren't all they might be, you know.
I think I'll make a chess set.
Used to be quite a handyman once.
- Are you entering? - No.
You're a fool, Number Six.
- That's my opinion. - Really?
You'll be here for as long as you live.
How ever long that is?
Might as well try to settle down.
No point in being uncooperative.
Was there ever a time when you were not co-operative?
No point in fighting battles you can't win.
Perhaps you came here of your own free will?
Ah, impudent too, eh?
Wish I'd had you in my regiment for a few months.
Which regiment was that?
Which army?
Good morning, General!
The General seems a little sour.
Mate in seven moves.
Ohh.
How many do you know?
- A few more. - We must play sometime.
(Siren)
Certainly we must - by post.
(Laughs)
I must add sense of humour to your file!
They tend to leave out things like that.
Very important.
(Six) What crime did she commit?
Nervous tension, that's all.
She's come here to recuperate.
(Six) How much are you charging her?
I really must bring your file up to date.
(Two) Sit down, my dear chap!
File number six, section 42, subsection six, paragraph three.
Add "sense of humour strong and unimpaired."
Thank you. That will be all.
I can never remember. One lump or two?
It's in the file.
Yes, as a matter of fact, yes.
But it would save time if you just answered.
- Are you running out of time? - (Tuts)
Does not take sugar.
Frightened of putting on weight?
No, nor of being reduced.
Oh, that's excellent!
I am glad you're here.
You really are a model.
But I don't run on clockwork.
You will, my dear chap.
- You will. - Do you think so?
Do you still think you can escape? Number Six?
- Oh, I will do better than that. - Oh?
- Get to escape and come back. - Come back?
Not only escape. Come back.
Wipe this place off the face of the earth. Obliterate it.
And you with it.
Subsection six, paragraph four. Add.
"On the other hand, persecution complex amounting to mania."
"Paranoid delusions of grandeur."
Don't worry, Number Six.
You'll be cured. I'll see to it.
No more nightmares.
If you have so much as a bad dream,
you will come whimpering
to tell it to me.
Whimpering.
(Two) Watch. Just watch.
(Six) Why?
She's your new neighbour, that's all.
I thought you might be interested.
The new Number Eight.
What happened to the old one?
Oh, he vacated the premises.
You noticed, surely.
- He escaped? - (Two laughs)
(Six) There was no funeral.
(Two) It's not always possible. You need a body.
Oh look, she's getting up!
It's quite like old times, isn't it, Number Six?
Do you remember your first day?
(Sighs) Thank God, I'm home.
An exact replica of her own room, of course.
Of course.
Number Eight, please.
(Phone bleeps)
Hello?
Good morning. Quite recovered?
No ill-effects from the journey, I trust?
Who is it?
Where am I?
There's nothing to be afraid of, my dear.
Come and have lunch with me.
Number Two, the Green Dome.
- (Hangs up) - Oh. Hello?
- A most pleasant addition. - (Eight) Hello?
- I'm sure you'll agree. - Hello?
I trust you'll be neighbourly?
I'll do a deal with you, Number Six.
You tell me one thing and I'll release you.
- Why did you resign? - Release me?
From the Village?
That's really all we want to know.
Not so much to ask, is it?
If you insist on staying here,
I do hope you'll make some attempt to settle down.
Try to take part in community life.
This exhibition that's coming up, for example.
Wait a minute.
There!
"At the age of 15, top of his class in woodwork."
That's the sort of thing. I mean, join in!
I'll make you a handle for this door.
(Number Two laughs)
You'll be back!
Whimpering.
(Fanfare on PA)
Good morning again!
Further news of the exhibition of the arts and crafts.
Your finance committee have decided on the prizes to be awarded.
There will be five prizes according to age group.
The exhibit judged to be the best of any group
will receive a special prize of 2,000 free work units...
(Eight) Excuse me.
Could you please tell me where Number Two, the Green Dome is?
Oh, certainly.
Across the square, across the street,
up the steps, you can't miss it.
- I know it sounds crazy, but... - What?
I don't know where I am.
In the Village.
(Both) Lovely day!
- It sounds like a salute. - It is.
Could you take me over there, please?
To the green dome? Well, certainly.
Across the square, across the street,
up the steps, you can't miss it.
Can you get a car here?
Only taxis. Local service only.
Where will they take you?
Anywhere you like, as long as you arrive back here at the end.
That's why they're called local.
Who are these people?
- Why are they here? - Why are you?
(Car horn)
Here you are. The Green Dome.
- Who is Number Two? - Who is Number One?
- Oh, I'm frightened. - Goodbye.
I've done nothing wrong. I've committed no crime.
- All I did was resign. - No use telling me.
(Six) Evening.
That's a... long lunch.
- Yes. - Nightcap?
Nightcap?
Drink.
There one good thing about this place.
This place is cheap.
Genuine non-alcoholic whisky, 24 work units.
Or would you prefer genuine non-alcoholic vodka?
16 work units. I hope there's nothing significant to that.
Yes, I would prefer it, Mr...?
Sorry, no name. I am Number Six...
...you are Number Eight.
I didn't think it would be like this.
You er... you Russian?
Estonian.
Russian.
- We don't think so. - You speak very good English.
- It was my job. - From which you resigned.
- Number Two is a very charming man. - Yes.
I would expect his assistant to be the same.
Me?
What about you, Number Eight?
I'm no Number Eight or Number anything else.
My name is Nadia Rakowski.
And I've been interrogated enough for one day.
Good night.
Be seeing you.
(Footsteps)
May I join you?
You're a good neighbour, I hope?
(Two) There are some people who talk and some people who don't,
which means that there are some people who leave this place
and some who do not leave.
You are obviously staying.
(Six) Have it ever occurred to you
that you're just as much a prisoner as I am.
Oh, my dear chap. Of course, I know too much.
We're both lifers.
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.
(Six) It's run by one side or the other.
(Two) Most certainly. But both sides are becoming identical.
What, in fact, has been created, an international community,
A perfect blueprint for world order.
When the sides facing each other suddenly realise
that they're looking into a mirror,
they will see that this is the pattern for the future.
The whole earth as the Village?
That is my hope. What's yours?
I liked to be the first man on the moon.
Well, must go. Delightful chat.
Thank you, Number Six.
(Two) International swimmer.
At the age of 17...
Olympic bronze medallist.
Control Room.
Number two. Tell me what visual range do you have out to sea?'
You mean direct TV transmission?
- Yes. - Two miles.
- After that, we're on radar. - Thank you.
Control Room is now ready for you.
Oh thank you, I'll be right there.
She'll be out of range soon.
She's kept in training, I must say.
Oh, well, Orange Alert.
(Eerie noise)
(Roaring)
Don't touch her, please.
We'll take care of her.
Meet me at the hospital right away, Number Six.
Be right there.
Oh, Number Six! How good of you to come!
- I wonder if you could help me? - How?
Well, you probably got to know Number Eight better than anybody
while she's being here.
Come with me.
- Look. - (Interrogator speaking)
Won't say a word.
I really don't want to be hard on her.
She's not at all important.
I'm surprised they even sent her here.
(Control) What was the purpose of your swim?
Were you attempting suicide?
Have you noticed any suicidal tendencies?
What are you doing to her?
Nothing, as you can see.
Oh, there's an alternating current on the floor.
Four seconds on, four seconds off.
It takes just three seconds to get to the door.
If she times it correctly, she can leave whenever she likes.
(Two) She's caught on to that at last. (Electricity crackles)
(Interrogator speaking)
One... Two...
(Two) You see, if she has any confidence,
[indistinct], she's got no problem.
It's self-inflicted.
(Interrogator) What was in your mind?
What were you thinking?
Tell us. What was in your mind?
What was the purpose of your swim?
What was in your mind?
Were you attempting suicide?
Suicide? Suicide?
What was in your mind?
What was in. . .
(Two) I believe she's going to do it.
(Crackle)
Yes. That's better.
(Interrogator) Mind! Mind! Mind!...
No, switch off. Switch off!
Kill me, kill me, kill me, kill me!
(Sobs)
Well, well.
We'll just have to try something else.
Are you sure you can't help me?
I really find this most distasteful.
Let her go.
Looks like a suicidal tendency, doesn't it?
- But one must be sure. - Let her go!
Is that an order, Number Six?
All right.
You wanted a deal.
I'll make a deal with you.
(Nursery rhyme music)
Let her go and I'll collaborate.
- You'll what? - Isn't that what you wanted?
So obvious a weakness?
In you?
Why not?
For which you'll collaborate?
Don't get too excited.
I'll tell you nothing.
I'll join in, try to settle down.
Or even carve something for the exhibition.
If I turn her over to you,
you'll do some woodwork for me, is that your deal?
The best you'll get.
You really are the limit, Number Six.
File number six, section 42,
subsection six, new paragraph five.
"Overweening sense of self-importance."
"While here, his egomania has, if anything, increased."
Well?
All right. She's all yours.
Be seeing you.
(Soothing music on radio)
(Whistles)
Good morning, you're early.
Here we go. I'll do it for you.
Oh.
- One egg or two? - Two, I think.
One egg or two.
- Here you are. - That's so nice.
Be seeing you.
Things couldn't be going better.
I think I'll pay them a call.
Good morning people. Settling down, I hope?
- Thank you. - No swimming today, eh?
- Mmm. No, off to the woods. - Naughty, naughty!
To carve for the exhibition.
I've decided to do a series of abstracts.
You're not using any offensive weapons, are you?
You know the ruling about axes, saws, chisels, that sort of things.
They may fall into the wrong hands.
Oh, no. Abstract art is basically primitive.
I've... I've made my own tools.
Tip top!
Doing as the caveman did, eh, Number Six?
I may even invent fire.
(Number Two laughs)
Ah!
They can see us, but they can't hear us.
You can talk freely.
Can I?
You still think it's a trap?
I don't know.
Were you sent here because you discovered
the whereabouts of the Village?
- Don't! - You know where it is, don't you.
(Eight) All I know is there's no escape.
(Six) Not even by sea. You tried it.
I was a fool. I couldn't swim so far.
How far? To where?
- It's no good. - Isn't it?
If I knew where I was sailing from,
I could calculate where I was sailing to.
- Sail? - By boat.
Are you going?
I must think.
Keep to the paths.
I say!
I say.
What is it?
It's a set. Not finished yet.
It doesn't make sense without the whole group.
There'll be three pieces.
Entries must be in two weeks tomorrow, you know.
I'll be ready.
Axe, stone chisels...
Even these are outside the frame of the law, you know,
technically speaking.
Yes, I'm sure you can wink a blind surveillance eye, can't you?
My dear Number Six, I wouldn't dream of interfering.
I can't tell you how delighted I am.
Can I give you a lift back to the village?
Ah no, thanks. I think I'll carry on while
there enough light, do a little bit more.
- Be seeing you. - And you.
Not for long.
(PA) Hello and good evening. Curfew time.
Sleep tight. 15 minutes from now to curfew.
Meanwhile, allow us to lull you away with...
(Soothing guitar music)
(Buzzer)
Is it safe to talk?
Speak softly.
- (PA) Curfew in five minutes. - Tell me...
To curfew, the minutes are five.
The language of love.
- I do know where the Village is. - How do you know?
I work for the Government.
Which... which government?
Well, it doesn't matter.
But I saw a secret file on the Village
by accident, and for a few seconds only.
Did you um...
have access to other secret information?
Yes.
- Where are we now, dear? - Lithuania.
(PA) Curfew time, one minute.
Lithuania...
On the Baltic.
That means making for West Germany, Denmark.
That's 300 miles, at least.
(Eight) Oh no, it doesn't have to be.
- Why not? - Nearer. In Poland. Danzig.
Will you take me with you. Will I be safe?
I can't answer for the British authorities, for either of us.
Can you answer for you?
I give you my personal guarantee, for whatever that's worth.
30 miles, that's all.
What?
Yes, that's how far we are from the Polish border.
Beyond, on the coast, there's a little village,
Braniewo.
Fisher people. They resist them.
There's a little group. I, I know them.
I have a contact there.
He'll do anything for us once we get there.
Is that where you were going for?
Ah, do you really know what I want?
To hear the chimes of Big Bill.
Big Ben.
I'll never call you anything else.
Good night, Nadia.
- Good night, Big Ben. - Big Bill.
(Chimes)
(Big band music)
Good afternoon. Excuse me a minute, Number Eight.
Number Six, I just come from the exhibition.
The Awards Committee are intrigued with your abstract,
but they're a little mystified.
Could you spare a moment to give them a word?
Certainly, my pleasure. Yes, I'll be right back.
Excuse us.
Remarkably high standard, don't you agree?
Highly original.
(Two) Ah, General. Excellent!
I've seen your stuff, Number Six.
I didn't like it, if I were to say so.
Oh, sorry to hear that. Is this your chess set?
- Oh, It's nothing, nothing. - It's very good.
Yes, I quite like the King, I must confess.
(Six) The King?
Yes... yes...
First class.
I'm glad to see you're settling down, by the way.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
And here he is, our very own Epstein!
- Can I help? - We're not quite sure what it means?
It means what it is.
Brilliant. It means what it is.
Brilliant! Oh no, you mustn't let me influence you.
You are the Awards Committee.
What puzzled me, Number Six,
was the fact you'd given the group a title - "Escape".
This piece...
what does it represent to you?
- A church door? - Right first time.
I think I see what he's getting at.
Yes. Now this other piece here,
of the same general line, somewhat more abstract and religious,
representing freedom or a barrier,
depending how you look at it.
The barrier's down, the door is open, you're free, free to go...
Free to escape... to escape to this.
The symbol to human aspirations.
Knowledge, freedom, escape.
- Why the crosspiece? - Why not?
Oooo... splendid!
I was really quite worried for a moment.
The only thing I really don't understand...
- Yes? - Where is Number Two?
(Applause)
And now... and now the special prize for the over-60 group.
And this goes, for her magnificent tapestry,
to Number 38!
(Applause)
Well done, 38!
And now... and now the prize of prizes.
The special merit award of 2,000 work units
for the best work in any of the 5 groups.
And the committee have awarded it to...
Number Six!
- Speech, my dear chap! - Pardon?
- Speech. - Yes...
Ladies and gentlemen, er, fellow citizens...
My work is its own satisfaction.
Spoken like a true artist.
I am, however, deeply honoured by this award.
I feel, nevertheless, that it should have gone not to me,
but to someone whose work and long life in this village
has been an example to us all.
Number 38.
It's not for me to reverse the decision of the committee.
However I, I would like to use these 2,000 work units to buy...
Number 38's work to hang in my own home.
- Agreed? - (Crowd) Bravo!
(Big band music)
(Fanfare)
(PA) Good morning! Good morning! Good morning!
And what a lovely day it is again.
Rise and shine! Rise and shine!
First, your weather.
It will be hot and fine all day.
Though the fresh breeze will continue.
- How much further? - About two miles.
If your geography's correct, just around the next headland.
Calling Number Two.
There, almost out of range.
30 miles, eh?
Better contact Post Five, just in case.
And then Orange Alert.
Orange Alert. Orange Alert.
That's it. See the cave?
We're catching a crosswind.
- Look! - (Roaring)
Swim for it! Swim for it!
(Gunshot)
(Gunshots)
Nadia!
(Speaking Polish)
Pencil, paper.
(Speaking Polish)
Ask him to transmit this to London immediately.
(Speaking Polish)
He will not understand it, it is in code.
It is a delivery note.
What route are we taking?
I understand.
By sea. Gdansk to Danzig, you know.
By air to Copenhagen, by air again to London.
- Quick now, please. - His watch.
Ask for his watch.
This, this no good.
Seawater, no good. Your watch.
Ah.
- What now? - Quick now, please.
- Big Ben? - What?
I just wanted to hear your voice.
I don't chime.
The chimes should occur in about...
12 hours time.
- Big Ben... - Hmm?
- Yeah? - I feel a bit sick.
That's all right. Hold out.
It's only another...
...three hours at sea.
- Big Ben...? - Yeah?
- Have you got a wife in England? - No.
Don't talk any more.
- Big Ben... - Yeah?
I feel a bit better.
That's great. That's... marvellous.
Wonderful... Good night.
(Telephone rings)
Fotheringay here, yes?
Yes, I've seen a copy of the deciphered message.
What time would you say?
Good.
Yes, I can't wait to see him.
If that was...
If that was Copenhagen...
It's less than..., less than an hour and a half to go.
Big Ben?
Yeah?
Where are we going to land in England?
I don't know.
If my message was received correctly,
we'll land in an office that I should know very well in London.
- Big Ben? - Yeah?
Are you engaged to someone?
Uh. I mean, is that the right word. engaged?
Go to sleep.
(Baggage handler) Blimey, this one's a weight!
You two take that side.
Watch it now, this is supposed to be fragile!
- Good evening, Colonel. - Evening Fotheringay.
Well, everything's gone according to schedule.
Our friend will be with us any minute.
Right, get it open.
- Colonel? - All right?
- Fotheringay... - Hello, old man.
Allow me to introduce you to Nadia.
How do you do, my dear?
Right then. Leave us to it, old chap.
Right, see you later, I hope.
As I said, I hope so, Fotheringay.
(Chimes of Big Ben)
- Are we here? - Shh.
(Chimes)
Is that it?
Yes.
That's it.
Perhaps you wouldn't mind waiting in the other room, my dear?
Er, Peters?
It's all right. Go with them.
See you later.
Well, the return of the prodigal son.
I don't see any fatted calf.
- Did you expect one? - No.
Tell me, who's she?
Nadia Rakowski.
Oh really?
And what was her name before she left Peckham to train for the Bolshoi Ballet?
You haven't changed, have you?
She told me she was an Estonian.
- In the Village. - The Village?
She was known as Number Eight.
Don't you know about the Village?
I'm here to ask questions, old boy.
That's what Number Two used to say.
Number Two?
Chairman of the Village.
What village?
Yes, I forgot. You don't know, do you.
The Village is a place where people turn up.
People who have resigned from a certain sort of job,
have defected, or have been extracted.
The specialised knowledge in their heads
is of great value to one side or the other.
Are you sure you haven't got a Village here?
Where is this Village?
Lithuania, the Baltic.
30 miles from the Polish border.
- How did you find out? - Nadia told me.
- How did she know? - She used to work for her government.
She came across a secret file.
On how to catch spies in six lessons?
I risked my life and hers to come back here, home,
because I thought it was different.
It is, isn't it? A bit different!
My dear chap, I do apologise.
You've had a long journey. You must be exhausted.
Now, I expect you could do with a decent drink. Scotch?
- 24 work units. - What?
That's how much it cost in the Village.
Ah yes, the Village.
Surely you know about it?
All I know, old boy, is that you resigned from a post
of the highest possible secrecy in this country.
Refuse to give your reasons and then promptly vanished.
- I was kidnapped. - Oh really? How dramatic.
And then after a gap of months
we suddenly receive a suitably coded message that you're coming back
from the other side of the Iron Curtain.
You think I've gone over.
And come back and carry on the good work.
- No. - "No," he says. "No"?
Nyet. Nyet.
What sort of imbeciles do you think we are?
(Chimes)
What do you want me to do?
Quite a lot of things.
Well, let's start at square one, though, shall we?
First, why did you resign?
It was a matter of conscience.
Oh listen, sonny boy.
- (Chimes) - Do you think you are safe in London?
If they thought it worth kidnapping you, it's worth killing you.
I doubt if you'll be alive 24 hours after you leave this building.
Unless you get protection.
- Do you want it? - For the girl as well.
If you come across [indistinct], yes.
Political asylum guaranteed for the girl.
- Well, that depends. - It depends nothing, it's guaranteed!
Alright! So long as you keep your part of the bargain.
- All right. - Right. Question one, why did you resign?
(Chimes)
I resigned...
- because... - (Chimes stop)
for a very long time... Just a minute.
- (Traffic passing outside) - It's eight o'clock.
That's right. The night is young and there are many questions.
First, why did you resign?
Big Ben has just struck eight.
- My watch says eight. - So?
I was given this watch by a man in Poland.
I particularly wanted it to check the time to make sure that the trip
tallied with a journey to London.
- Which it presumably did. - Yes, of course.
Would you like to explain to me
how a man in Poland came to have a watch showing English time...
...when there's one hour's difference!
Maybe he was slow.
I'll bet he was.
(Traffic passing outside)
(Traffic stops)
(Traffic starts again)
(Big band plays)
Well done, Fotheringay.
Well, you better get back to London
before any embarrassing questions are asked.
What's my next assignment?
The Colonel will give you your orders when he returns.
Be seeing you.
(PA) Good evening, citizens.
Your local council wishes to announce another exciting competition.
The subject this time...
seascapes.
File on Number Six.
Section 42, subsection one, paragraph one.
Back to the beginning.
You were right about him.
- I told you. - Don't worry.
It was a good idea and you did your best.
I'll stress it in my report.
Video & subs brought to you by Sekhmet Mail: sekhmetouserapis_at_gmail.com