The Prisoner – Living in Harmony

“Living in Harmony” is episode fourteen of The Prisoner.

The usual introduction is missing. Instead, Number Six, now a sheriff, resigns and turns in his badge and gun. He’s next seen carrying a saddle and is walking when someone steps in front of him with a gun. He gestures and Six knocks him down. There are others there and they manage to knock Six out. He’s taken into a town and dumped there along with his saddle. Once there, someone welcomes him to Harmony. Six has never heard of it. Not many have; it’s exclusive. Six asks where Harmony is. He’s told that it’s not wise to ask too many questions. He looks like he could use a drink. Try the saloon.

Six enters and everything goes quiet. He’s given a drink; the first is on the house for regulars. Six isn’t a regular. A woman introduces herself as Kathy. Before Six can pick up the shot glass, someone shoots it and someone else invites Six to sit down.

Six knocks the shooter out and sits with a man playing cards. He knows all about Six. The man knocked down, the Kid, gets up and the other, the Judge, gestures him to leave. The Judge wants to hire Six. He knows Six turned in his badge. And his gun. What were his reasons? His. Six doesn’t want the job and leaves the saloon.

Outside, he wants to buy a horse. It costs $5,000. The others are pricy. The populace objects to Six wanting to leave their town and claim he’s insulted it. Others arrive and say they’ll take care of it, taking him into the sheriffs, where the Judge is waiting. Six is going to be put into protective custody. Another prisoner is taken outside to be lynched. Kathy objects, as it’s her brother.

The Kid is drinking and pointing his gun at Six in the cell. Six is making a cigarette, not concerned. Kathy drops by with a bottle for the Kid. She takes the cell keys as he’s looking for a glass for her. When she leaves, she drops the keys on Six’s window.

Six leaves when the Kid has fallen asleep. Kathy runs up to him as he’s taking a horse. She tells him there’s only one out, to the north.

The Judge pushes the sleeping Kid out of his chair.

On the way out of town, Six is lassoed from his horse and dragged back to the saloon. Inside, the Judge says the court is in session. Six asks what the charge is. Against him? None. He was in protective custody and is free to go. Katherine Johnson is charged with causing a criminal to escape. One of the townsfolk tells the Judge he said Six wasn’t a criminal. The Judge says that Kathy didn’t know that. The jury finds her guilty and the Judge says sentence will be passed later. Take her away. When Six works for the Judge, Kathy will be released.

All told, this is one of the more surreal episodes with things not making much sense – outside the context of it being some sort of Western – until the end.

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