Scene 1

The Control Room

Number Two and the Supervisor are conferring in the control room. Number Two is youngish, open faced, in the Anton Rodgers mould. Observers sit at the desks.

NUMBER TWO

And Twenty Nine, has the new pattern of behaviour become established?

THE SUPERVISOR

She has acted within predicted parameters.

NUMBER TWO

Excellent, we've put a lot of work into her, I will be glad to see it bearing some fruit.

THE SUPERVISOR

Our methods seldom fail, in the long run.

NUMBER TWO

Seldom fail, yes, …

He is interrupted by a new arrival. A man in late middle age joins them. Two welcomes him.

NUMBER TWO

Are you're here, so glad you could make it, how was the trip Number Three One Four.

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

A little choppy. Three One Four, that is to be my number?

NUMBER TWO

Whilst you are here. We all have our numbers to bear.

314 gestures at the monitor screen.

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

Is it possible to see him now?

NUMBER TWO

Ah, keen to get to it aye, very commendable, yes I should think so.

Two nods to the Supervisor

NUMBER TWO

Do you know where he is?

THE SUPERVISOR

'He' being number Six?

NUMBER TWO

Of course.

The supervisor turns to one of the monitoring technicians

THE SUPERVISOR

Dial it up.

OBSERVER

Sir.

THE SUPERVISOR

He is just walking down from his cottage to the café, where he will have a single black coffee with two sugars. He should get there in a couple of minutes.

NUMBER TWO

Will he have a game of chess?

THE SUPERVISOR

Odds are less than fifty percent today.

Scene 2

The café terrace

Number six approaches the café terrace. As he passes the Ex-Admiral, the old sailor looks up and gestures at the chess board laid out ready in front of him.

EX-ADMIRAL

Fancy a game?

Six hesitates.

NUMBER SIX

Erm, not this morning thanks.

Six moves on to an empty table. After a moment a waitress comes up unprompted with a cup.

WAITRESS

Black coffee.

She places the cup in front of him.

NUMBER SIX

Thank you very much.

WAITRESS

That will be one work unit.

NUMBER SIX

Oh, yes of course.

Six gets a card from his jacket and hands it to the waitress. She clips it once and then passes it back to him. He puts the card away then adds two lumps of sugar to his drink and stirs it.

After a few moments Number 93 approaches. 93 is an old man he has black sunken eyes pale skin and a deathly pallor, he appears fairly frail. He sits down without asking.

NUMBER SIX

I was planning to enjoy a little morning solitude, if you don't mind.

NUMBER NINETY THREE

I won't keep you long, Number six, I have a little proposition to put to you.

NUMBER SIX

Funny thing is I don't know who you are, and yet you seem to know exactly who I am. Even were we not in this place, that would make you and your proposition, hard to trust.

NUMBER NINETY THREE

I don't get out very much, that maybe that's why you haven't seen me before, but everybody here knows who you are Number Six, even if you don't wear your number. No badge, you are either Number Six or Two's butler, and you are not wearing a bow tie.

NUMBER SIX

Well, you have me there.

NUMBER NINETY THREE

Six, that's a very low number isn't it?

NUMBER SIX

What of it?

NUMBER NINETY THREE

Low numbers are important, Six, it's practically, a Two or a One. A number Six would clearly be an important person to the Village.

NUMBER SIX

You flatter me.

NUMBER NINETY THREE

So either a high ranking member of the establishment, or a high value prisoner, and I fancy the latter.

NUMBER SIX

But if it were the former you would be taking quite a risk talking sedition with me, if that were the nature of your proposal, you could find yourself experiencing a little re-education. A risk most people here would be unwilling to take, unless their proposition had been hatched and approved in the Green dome.

NUMBER NINETY THREE

Indeed, conditions in our little paradise can have a somewhat chilling effect on some lines of discourse. However in my case the chill may be losing it's effect. For a long time I dreamt of getting away from this place, now it seems I may be leaving it quite soon, but not in the way I had planned. I am not a well man. The doctors here never tell you the truth, I don't think they like the idea of having somebody around with nothing to lose, but I saw the way my father went, and looking in the mirror I see history repeating itself.

NUMBER SIX

I am sorry to hear that.

NUMBER NINETY THREE

It will be a relief not to wake up to yet another, "Lovely morning!". But I would love to see someone get away from here before I go, though, just one genuine escape.

NUMBER SIX

All right, if I were to believe you what did you have in mind?

NUMBER NINETY THREE

I have some ideas, but we have talked long enough for now. I think their monitors have trouble hearing us out here on the terrace if there is a bit of a breeze, but it doesn't pay to give them too long to try. We'll talk again later.

93 gets up leaving Six to finish his coffee on his own.

Scene 3

Six's Cottage

Six is sat at the writing desk idly folding a piece of paper, there is a knock at the door. Six does not react. After a pause the knock comes again. Six gets up and walks towards the door which opens as he approaches it. 314 is standing outside.

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

Good morning.

NUMBER SIX

Morning.

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

May I come in?

NUMBER SIX

People don't normally ask.

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

That seems rather rude, may I?

NUMBER SIX

All right.

They walk into the cottage and the door hums shut behind 314.

NUMBER SIX

What do you want?

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

I came to see you.

NUMBER SIX

And now you've seen me.

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

Well, yes. I have a little confession to make, I'm one of them.

NUMBER SIX

Them?

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

I work for the village, "Why did you resign", reporting straight to Number Two, all that sort of stuff.

NUMBER SIX

You never report to Number One?

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

Him? Oh no, never to him.

NUMBER SIX

Why are you telling me this?

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

Well some of us, a few, not a very powerful few, don't favour the techniques this place uses.

NUMBER SIX

Then, why don't you resign?

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

Quite, yes. We prefer to talk people round without using any of the unpleasant methods of persuasion so beloved of the high-ups round here. Unfortunately as I said we are not a very influential group and so are generally kept out of the frame, so to speak. The good news is in your case they're stuck.

NUMBER SIX

Stuck?

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

Yes, they've tried everything, as I am sure you are well aware, and so in desperation are even prepared to let us have a go.

NUMBER SIX

Just gently talk me round?

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

Yes.

NUMBER SIX

Not interested.

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

We might be able to arrange special privileges in return for your co-operation.

NUMBER SIX

In return for just talking to you?

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

Yes, in several short sessions.

NUMBER SIX

Definitely, not interested. If that's all, I'm sure the door will close itself after you as you leave.

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

If you change your mind Number Six, I'm here for several weeks.

NUMBER SIX

I won't, get out!

NUMBER THREE ONE FOUR

Goodbye Number Six.

314 gets up and leaves, the door opening and closing automatically for him.