Living in Harmony

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“Living in Harmony”
The Prisoner episode
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 14
Guest stars	The Kid: Alexis Kanner The Judge: David Bauer Katherine: Valerie French
Written by	David Tomblin
Directed by	David Tomblin
Original airdate	January 14, 1968
Episode chronology
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"Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling"	"The Girl Who Was Death"

"Living in Harmony" is an episode of the 1967-68 television series The Prisoner. It differs from most other episodes of the series in that it does not begin with the show's standard opening credits sequence. In fact, in a situation considered somewhat unique for a 1960s television program, the actual title of the series does not appear on screen until the closing credits.

This episode was not broadcast during the original 1969 American broadcast of the series on CBS. According to Robert Fairclough in The Prisoner: The Original Scripts Vol. 2 (Reynolds and Hearn, 2006), the episode was pulled either due to its apparent anti-war stance or, the most-cited reason, because of its drug use content. It should be noted, however, that several other episodes of the series also make drug references, yet were still broadcast by CBS.

This episode is an allegory of the other episodes of The Prisoner. Number 6 is a non-conformist and refuses to be a number, or blend in with the other members of the village. He refuses to accept things they way they are, wants to escape and expose the village. This episode applies those same concepts in a wild west setting.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

In lieu of the regular opening credits sequence, the episode begins with Number 6, dressed as a sheriff in the Old West, turning in his badge and his gun. Leaving town, without a horse but still carrying a saddle, he is attacked by several men in the countryside as the episode title "Living in Harmony" appears on screen. Following this teaser, the usual "I am not a number" dialogue from other episodes is omitted. Number 6 wakes from his beating and finds himself to be in the middle of a strange town. A Mexican tells him that he is in the town of Harmony. Number 6 goes into a local bar and meets the mayor of the town also called Judge. He also meets with a silent young man named Kid who guards the jail. We are also introduced to Katherine. After stirring up some trouble, Number 6 is taken into "protective custody" after a mob starts going after him. To satisfy the mob's bloodlust, the Judge executes Katherine's brother. Katherine, fearing for Number 6's life, goes into the jail, distracts Kid, steals the keys then passes them to Number 6 who then escapes only to be brought back.

The Judge then sets up a trial. The Judge quickly announces that Number 6 is free to go as he was only in protective custody but Katherine is guilty of aiding him escape as she did not know he was in protective custody. The Judge then makes Number 6 a deal, if he will become the sheriff of the town, Katherine is free to go. Reluctantly, Number 6 agrees and takes the badge. However, he refuses to wear a gun. The Judge, disappointed, thinks of a way to get him to carry a gun. He gets Kid to kidnap Katherine. However, Kid takes it too far and strangles her to death. Number 6 finds her and buries her. He then turns in his badge and picks up the gun and enters a shootout with Kid. Number 6 wins and goes into the saloon to see the Judge. Number 6, the Judge and the Judge's gang get involved in a standoff. Although Number 6 picks off most of them, including the Judge, he is eventually shot. Suddenly, we see Number 6 in his normal clothes lying on the floor of the empty saloon. All the character that he saw appear only to be paper cutouts.

After coming to his senses, he wanders out of Harmony and finds it is just part of the Village. Number 6 rushes to Number 2's office and finds the Judge is the new Number 2, the Kid is number 8 and Katherine is Number 22. He learns that it was just an illusion created by hallucinogens Number 6 immediately storms out. Number 22 is obviously distressed and seemed to have developed feelings for Number 6 and she rushes out as well. Number 8 follows Number 22 back to the saloon and starts strangling her. Number 6 hears her screams and rushes over, but it is too late. Number 22 dies in Number 6's arms. Number 2 also rushes in just as Number 8 throws himself from the balcony and commits suicide.