The Prisoner (audio story)
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The Prisoner is an audio play in the Kaldor City series. Written by Alan Stevens and Fiona Moore, it features an interrogation between Iago and Landerchild, whereby Iago attempts to convince his interrogator that they are both figments of something else's imagination.
Publisher's summary
"I see your problem. It's a matter of faith."
When Kaston Iago is discovered wandering around the grounds of Landerchild's family estate, it looks like a simple case of political espionage. But is everything quite what it seems-- and who is really in control of the situation?
Set in the Kaldor City universe, "The Prisoner" explores the themes and ideas set forth in earlier CDs to explore the true relationship of Iago to his fellow citizens.
Cast
References
Individuals
- Iago is in Landerchild's interrogation room.
- Iago was apprehended 3 days ago on Landerchild’s family estate.
- Landerchild’s guard squad commander recommends Iago be executed, as he believes Iago was sent to assassinate Landerchild.
- It’s standard security procedure to record interrogations with prisoners. When it comes to interrogation, disorientation is standard practice.
- Landerchild also opposed Uvanov’s predecessor Diss Pitter.
- Iago suggests he exists only a fictional device, as a means of moving the story along.
- Landerchild has read Iago’s security file. It’s enough to give any sane person nightmares. According to it there are no records on Iago that go back further than 10 months.
Locations
- Landerchild's family estate is surrounded by a fifteen foot high electrified fence topped with razor wire. Landerchild’s residence is far out in the eastern sector. It’s a residence Landerchild rarely visits.
- Iago was apprehended on the main concourse by the entrance to the security blockhouse. The arrest took place at midday.
- Half the population of Kaldor believe the sun goes around the planet. Despite hundreds of mathematicians proving the planet revolves around the sun.
Notes
- This story was released as part of an MJTV Productions CD, The Actor Speaks: Paul Darrow, which featured an interview and several short stories unrelated to the Kaldor City series.
- The title points the audience to the writers' love of the ATV series The Prisoner, and whilst it also suggests (like that TV series) the main theme of the Kaldor City series may be the nature of reality and fiction, it also suggests (again, like the TV series) definite answers may not be forthcoming. Notably, Kaston Iago occupies a similar narrative space Number 6 from The Prisoner as both character's are thought to have originating from another fictional world. In The Prisoner, Number 6 is thought to be John Drake from 'Danger Man', a character also played by Patrick McGoohan. In Kaldor City, Kaston Iago is thought to be Kerr Avon from Blake's 7.
- At the time this story was written the Abu Ghraib interrogations where being covered by real world news. Writer Alan Stevens used this as a source inspiration. Stevens also cites TV: Image of the Fendahl, which featured a discussion about how we all know the world is round and how in the old days they believed it was flat and so they acted as if it was.[1]
- At the conclusion of the story, both characters are seemingly aware they are part of a fiction. This idea also features in AUDIO: Metafiction.
- The play opens and closes with an abbreviated version of the theme music from The Logic of Empire, a fan produced Blake’s 7 audio co-written by Alan Stevens. A longer version of this music was also heard at the end of AUDIO: Checkmate.
Continuity
- It has seemingly been 3 days since the conclusion of AUDIO: Checkmate.
- Acccording to the security file there are no records on Iago that go back further than 10 months. AUDIO: Checkmate establishes it's been 10 months since Iago arrived in Kaldor City, an event which occurred at the start of AUDIO: Occam's Razor.
- Uvanov’s predecessor Diss Pitter is mentioned. (PROSE: Corpse Marker)
- Landerchild mentions that all his residences were searched recently by Company Security, under the illegal orders of Uvanov. (AUDIO: Taren Capel)
- Iago's statement "Cause and effect. It applies to everything." echos Carnell’s words. (AUDIO: Death's Head)
- A similar exchange between Iago and Justina occurs in AUDIO: Metafiction of the following:
- Iago: It happens to be the truth.
- Landerchild: "You expect me to believe that?"
- Iago: "No."
- Landerchild: "Then why say it?"
- The titles of the following stories are deliberately name-checked at the end: AUDIO: Occam's Razor and AUDIO: Checkmate.
