“Free For All” is episode four of The Prisoner.
Number Six answers the phone; Number Two wants to speak to him. Number Two is also on the television. He asks Six if he fancies a chat. Six says the mountain should come to Mohammed. Two is standing outside the door as it opens. He has a rosette with ‘2’ on it, as well as his badge. Breakfast arrives, brought by Number 58, and Two talks about her. She doesn’t speak English.
Number Two explains that the election campaign starts today. They have it every 12 months. Every citizen has a choice. Does Six plan to run? Like the blazes. No, for office? Whose? Well, for Two’s position. A parade arrives outside, saying to vote for Number Two. Six thinks it looks like a unanimous majority. Number Two says that’s what worries him; it’s bad for morale. People don’t appreciate the value of free elections; they treat it like a game. Number Six is just the sort of candidate they need. Six wants to know what happens if he wins. Well, he will be the boss. Six says that Number One is the boss. Number Two says if he wins, Number One will no longer be a mystery,
Outside, both get into a car which drops them off at the town hall as the parade continues on to the square. Number Two speaks to the crowd, with the butler providing prompts to the latter, presenting Number Six as a candidate. Six says they all had information that was valuable. That knowledge was extracted, and they accepted they would die here, or they went over to the side of the keepers. Number Six plans to discover who are the prisoners and who the warders. Number Two says to give Number Six a big hand. The crowd already have Number Six posters.
Number 58 is waiting outside Six’s door with a car when he leaves. He calls Number Two. Two assigned her because he knew how Six feels; she’s new here. And quite charming. Number Two explains what will happen. His driver will remain with Six, and Six will see the dissolution of the outgoing council at the town hall. Number Six speaks to 58, then says he will walk. She follows in the car.
A reporter and a photographer get onto the car, to interview Number Six for The Tally Ho, their local newspaper. All of Six’s ‘No comment’ responses are turned into detailed explanations. After they leave, the election edition of the paper is out. Number Six gets a copy.
Number Six heads into the building, with Number Two directing him to where the council is. He introduces Six to the outgoing council. Six starts demanding who they represent; Two tells him not to get too personal. And are there any other questions? Six says this is a farce. Why not put them in solitary confinement and be done with it? How were they broken? Number Two says that Six must undergo the test. The platform he’s on descends, spinning, leaving him dizzy.
Six arrives in a chamber where Number 26 offers him tea. Then, under Two’s instruction, does something that results in Number Six getting way more enthused about the election. And every time he loses interest, something else is done to make him more enthused again.
The election, is as Number Six suspects, not a real election. It’s just another ploy.