The Prisoner is a British 1960s television series starring and co-created by Patrick McGoohan which combines spy fiction with elements of science fiction, allegory and psychological drama.
It follows a former British agent who, after abruptly resigning from his position, is held captive in a small village by the sea by an unidentified power that wishes to establish the reason for his resignation. Episodes typically feature the unnamed prisoner, labelled "Number Six" by his captors, unsuccessfully attempting to escape from or change the authority of "the Village." However, Number Six has numerous victories of his own, successfully thwarting the various individuals serving as the Village's chief administrator, "Number Two," in their attempts to break him or control the Village, causing a disconcertingly rapid turnover of personnel in the position. Eventually, as the series reaches its surreal climax, Number Six's indomitable resistance and mounting blows against the administration threaten the viability of the Village itself, which forces its desperate warders to take drastic action.
"Where am I?"
"In the Village."
"What do you want?"
"Information."
"Whose side are you on?"
"That would be telling…. We want information. Information! INFORMATION!"
"You won't get it."
"By hook or by crook, we will."
"Who are you?"
"The new Number Two." (This occasionally varies — see below.)
"Who is Number One?"
"You are Number Six."
"I am not a number — I am a free man!"
