Alternative Arrival - A review

By Siôn A. Ryan

Webmaster writes: The following article was originally published in TPF magazine several years ago when the prospect of the episode being released was first mooted.  With the release at last of the Alternative Arrival, I felt it right to reproduce this article now that fans can actually see the differences for themselves.  It is reproduced verbatim, and as usual the editorial team do not necessarily share the views of the author (yes, that is a pseudonym!)

Long before the discovery of the alternative version of THE CHIMES OF BIG BEN, rumours had circulated among the members of Six of One, about an early version of ARRIVAL.  Now that “pirate” copies of this missing episode may soon be accessible to the ordinary PRISONER fan, the time is right to look at the history of this lost treasure and to tell you what is so alternative about this new Arrival.

It was thought by some that the transmitted version of THE ARRIVAL originally existed as two scripts; one explaining how Number 6 arrived in the village, the second being a more run of the mill account of an escape attempt. It was rumoured that these two stories had been filmed and edited together as a ninety minute pilot which was shown to the press in 1967, but it is now clear from the actual script used during the filming in Portmeirion, that THE ARRIVAL was filmed as a single script and, despite the alteration of key scenes, the amount of material filmed could only sustain an episode of fifty five minutes.

THE ALTERNATIVE ARRIVAL was discovered over a decade ago in America when an obscure TV station somehow received it by mistake from ITC and were playing it as the standard version. The episode was recorded and a copy sent to the UK. At the same time McGoohan was contacted and asked about the episode. Patrick is alleged to have reacted to this enquiry by ordering the copies to be destroyed as the early version of ARRIVAL was not completed to his satisfaction and was thus a substandard product. The people who had the copies did the decent thing and stowed them away in their own collections, where they have remained for many years; no doubt to protect other members from the corrupting influences of this secret treasure.  I can only wonder at the extent of these “members” self-control in never getting the tapes out and watching them themselves or trying to impress their friends with what they’ve got hidden away.  I think all Six of One members should stand up and congratulate them for protecting us, particularly when the ALTERNATIVE CHIMES was commercially released in 1987 by the American video company MPI and much later in the UK by ITC after being discovered by a less ‘protective’ Six of One member.

Many of the differences between the two Arrivals are similar to those seen with the two versions of The Chimes of Big Ben.

The familiar Ron Grainer theme is replaced with an extended version of the Wilfred Josephs Prisoner theme and the closing credits include the ‘POP’ sequence. Apart from the difference in editing and some extended scenes, other recognised Prisoner “constants” are clearly not yet established. The tannoy announcements are heralded with a “bing bong” sound, instead of the usual fanfare (except in the first instance where the sound is omitted altogether) and more obviously, the familiar roaring of Rover is more asthmatic, sounding like the breathing of a deep sea diver.

On finding himself in the Village, McGoohan has an extended conversation with the taxi driver during his round trip:

TAXI DRIVER: Where to, sir? Où désirez vous aller?

NUMBER SIX:  Take me to the nearest town.

TAXI DRIVER: Oh, we’re only the local service.

NUMBER SIX:  Take me as far as you can.

                   (taxi drives off)

                   Why did you speak to me in French?

TAXI DRIVER: French is international.

NUMBER SIX:  I suppose it’s a waste of time asking the name of this place?

TAXI DRIVER: As a matter of fact, I thought you might be Polish, perhaps a Czech.

NUMBER SIX:  What would Poles or Czechs be doing here?

TAXI DRIVER: It’s very cosmopolitan. You never know who you’ll meet next.

NUMBER SIX:  Why do you keep avoiding my questions?

TAXI DRIVER: Do I?

NUMBER SIX:  This is an unusual job for a girl.

TAXI DRIVER: Driving a cab?

NUMBER SIX:  First time I’ve seen a cab like this.

TAXI DRIVER: We’ve got several. They’re very handy.

                   (taxi stops)

                   I did tell you we’re only local. The charge is two units.

NUMBER SIX:  Units?

TAXI DRIVER: Credit units. Oh, well, pay me next time. Be seeing you.

Later Number Six is given a tour of the Village by Number Two but he sees significantly less of Rover the attacking the villager in this earlier version:

NUMBER TWO: They didn’t settle for ages; now they wouldn’t leave for the world.

NUMBER SIX:   You mean you brought them around to your way of thinking.    

NUMBER TWO: They had a choice. 

                    Wait! Wait! Be still.

NUMBER TWO: Stop!  Turn back!  (missing from alternative version)

NUMBER SIX:   What was that?

NUMBER TWO: That would be telling.

It is interesting to note on this early edit that the fight which takes place between a villager and the guardians in the Central Piazza pool has already been eliminated from the story.

No notable changes occur for some time until Number Six attempts to escape along the beach in a Village taxi:

standard version:

SUPERVISOR: Northern area. Number Six heading for outer zone in our vehicle. Orange alert. (Number Six overcome by Rover) Orange alert. All units.

alternative version:

SUPERVISOR: Northern area. Number Six heading for outer zone in our vehicle. Orange alert. All units. All units. Orange alert. Orange alert.

Following his capture, Number Six recovers in hospital and things again look a little strange...

standard version:

NUMBER TWO: No, he’s having his medical.

                    No, of course not.

                    No, of course I don’t mind. One has to make sure of these things.

alternative version:

NUMBER TWO: No, he’s having his medical.

                     No, no trouble.

                    No, of course not.

                    No, of course I don’t mind. One has to make sure of these things.

After leaving the hospital, Number Six goes to see Number Two in the green dome. The conversation we are all familiar with begins with the lines:

NUMBER SIX:   Get him.

NUMBER TWO: I have taken his place. I am the new Number Two.

In the alternative version these two lines are absent and the scene opens with Number Six’s line: “Get Number One.”

In the scene in the stone boat, there is an extra line in the alternative version:

THE WOMAN: Soon it’ll be too late for you. Believe me.

NUMBER SIX: You’re coming.

THE WOMAN: No.

NUMBER SIX: Why not?

THE WOMAN: I never intended to without him.

NUMBER SIX: You’re coming with me.

THE WOMAN: Go and go now before it’s too late!

In the alternative version the following exchange takes place before Number Six takes off in the helicopter:

EX-ADMIRAL: Game of chess, my dear?

THE WOMAN: I don’t play.

EX-ADMIRAL: You should learn.

                  We’re all pawns my dear.  Your move.

The beep of the electropass is missing from the alternative version.

Back in the control room Cobb and Number Two have the following dialogue:

standard version:

NUMBER TWO: I think I’ll let him keep the watch, Cobb. Just to remind him escape is not possible.

COBB:            Don’t be too hard on the girl.  She was most upset at my funeral.

NUMBER TWO: Don’t worry.  She’ll be well taken care of.

COBB:            Yes, that’s what I was afraid of.

                    Oh well, I’d better be going. Got a long journey.  Mustn’t keep my new masters waiting.

alternative version:

COBB:            Don’t be too hard on the girl.  She was most charming. 

Frame grab thumbnails: Larry Hall.  All images on this page © Granada Ventures.

For a write up of the 35th Anniversary DVD including the Alternative Arrival, click HERE.