Everyone in The Village seems to be attending a revolutionary new
lecture which can give the equivalent of a university degree
in a few minutes.
The process is called 'Speed Learn' and is the invention of the unseen 'General'. The lecture is prepared by 'The Professor' who doesn't appear to be 100% willing, when we first see him he is running away!
Number 6 distrusts this new teaching system and learns it can easily be used to indoctrinate the masses with any version of History 'They' choose to invent.
He finds an aly in Number 12, a young man who
shares Number 6's mistrust. He is in a position of authority and
obtains a special pass for Number 6. This enables him to enter the
Town Hall where a demonstration of Speed Learn's effectiveness is
being conducted.
After a failed attempt at
transmitting the truth about Speed Learn Number 6 is captured and
taken to meet The General.....
Written by Lewis Greifer (under the pseudonym of Joshua Adam)
Produced by David Tomblin
Directed by Peter Graham Scott
Stars
Patrick McGoohan - Number Six
Colin Gordon - Number Two
John Castle - Number Twelve
Peter Howell - The Professor
This is Colin Gordon's second episode as Number 2 although his other episode, A, B and C, was filmed after 'The General'.
The writer, Joshua Adam, is the pseudonym of Lewis Greifer - Joshua and Adam being the names of his two sons!