The Prisoner – “Dance of the Dead”

Nov 29, 2016

The Prisoner DVD

Original Air Date: November 26, 1967
Starring: Patrick McGoohan, Mary Morris
Directed by: Don Chaffey

Cat Out of the Bag Alert!  This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: Number 6 (Patrick McGoohan) is invited to The Village carnival which turns into a trial for his life.

Featured Feline: Briefly seen in the previous episode, Many Happy Returns, the black cat returns, showing up several times in this episode.  The cat first appears on a balcony overlooking The Village.

The Prisoner - Dance of the Dead black cat on balcony

Number 6 is joined by Number 2 (Mary Morris), who asks if he will be attending the carnival.

The Prisoner - Dance of the Dead black cat on balcony with hands

The Prisoner - Dance of the Dead black cat on balcony with Number 2 Mary Morris and Number 6 Patrick McGoohan

The cat is next waiting for Number 6 outside his cottage.

The Prisoner - Dance of the Dead black cat waiting for Number 6 Patrick McGoohan

The Prisoner - Dance of the Dead black cat petted by Number 6 Patrick McGoohan

Number 6 takes the cat in and gives her some milk, much to the maid’s consternation.

The Prisoner - Dance of the Dead black cat given milk in bowl on floor

As Number 6 tries to stay awake at night he sees the cat laying on his bed.

The Prisoner - Dance of the Dead black cat lying on bed

Oddly enough, only moments after Number 6 leaves his cottage she is somehow with Number 2 in the control room.

The Prisoner - Dance of the Dead black cat with Number 2 Mary Morris

She almost knocks over some phones as she rubs against them.

The Prisoner - Dance of the Dead black cat almost knocking over phones with Number 2 Mary Morris

Number 2 and the cat watch as Number 6 tries to escape.

The Prisoner - Dance of the Dead black cat on console with Number 2 Mary Morris

The cat is then seen as people are ordered to make merry for the carnival.

The Prisoner - Dance of the Dead black cat with man and umbrella passing by

Leaving the festivities, Number 6 ends up in a room where he finds a surprise in a drawer.  Number 2 enters with the cat.

The Prisoner - Dance of the Dead black cat enters room with Number 2 Mary Morris to find Number 6 Patrick McGoohan

Number 2 then notes how the cat has taken to Number 6 and says she is jealous.  “Oh, she’s mine,” Number 2 explains, saying the cat works for the organization as well.  They leave the cat in the room and she is not seen again in this episode.

The Prisoner - Dance of the Dead black cat alone in room

Final Mewsings: It would be appropriate if the cat’s name was Number 9.

Many thanks to Ted Davis for spotting this cat for us!

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