Number 6 is invited to take part in the Village chess game, but
there's a difference. The board covers the whole lawn
and the chess pieces are people!
Number 6 is the Queen's pawn
and as the game progresses he talks to her of escape. After the Rook
makes a move on his own initiative he is taken to the hospital for
treatment. The game's umpire, 'The Man With the Stick', walks with
Number 6 after the game, he tells him that the Villagers' attitudes
give away whether they are prisoners or warders - prisoners respond
quickly to requests whereas warders are impatient and agressive.
Using this as a guide Number 6 rounds up a gang of allies and they
plan an escape attempt, including the Rook who has now been released
from the hospital.
The Queen, meanwhile has been hypnotised to fall in love with Number 6 and follows him everywhere, thus giving away his location at all times. This is due to a transmitter contained inside a necklace, she has been hypnotised to believe that Number 6 has given it to her.
Number 6 soon discovers this plot and makes use of the transmitter to make a radio he needs for the escape bid. But will it all go to plan.............?
Written by Gerald Kelsey
Produced by David Tomblin
Directed by Don Chaffey
Stars
Patrick McGoohan - Number Six
Peter Wyngarde - Number Two
Ronald Radd - The Rook
Rosalie Crutchley - The Queen
George Coulouns - The Man With the Stick
The working title of this episode was 'The Queen's Pawn'.
The human chess game has been re-enacted annually at the Six of One Prisoner Appreciation Society convention for many years.