When Lacon mentions to Smiley about Jim Prideaux having taken a bullet in the back, Smiley corrects him, "Two bullets, actually."
Having watched the series many times and also having read the book, I still can't remember if he meant that Prideaux was literally shot twice, or he meant that he was betrayed. Any ideas?
Never be complete.
I’ve always taken it as a literal statement. Given the tone of that particular conversation, a metaphor like that seems a little too rhetorically heavy-handed for Smiley.
shareLiteral statement. In the show, you can actually see the 2 bullet wounds, while Prideaux is trying to tend his back.
shareOne thing I found odd is the fact that the wounds failed to have healed properly after a fair amount of time. I can believe Prideaux received something less than quality medical care during his captivity, but unless he's diabetic or some such (which is never mentioned in the novel or the series) would they still be in such a state? And also curious why he tends them himself, and doesn't
seek medical attention for them. It isn't as if he's back in the country secretly and can't risk exposure, though he might have some trouble explaining how he received the wounds outside of Circus channels.
And also curious why he tends them himself, and doesn't seek medical attention for them. It isn't as if he's back in the country secretly and can't risk exposure, though he might have some trouble explaining how he received the wounds outside of Circus channels.It’s not quite as obvious from the series, but in the book it’s pretty clear that Jim’s refusal to get treatment for his back is a result of his severe PTSD (which I think is otherwise played very well by Ian Bannen). share
Makes sense; it's been some time since I read the novel and hadn't recalled that clearly. I agree with you that Bannen was fantastic in this, he's long been one of my favorite actors.
share
It’s not quite as obvious from the series, but in the book it’s pretty clear that Jim’s refusal to get treatment for his back is a result of his severe PTSD (which I think is otherwise played very well by Ian Bannen).
Yeah, that's the bit I was thinking of.
shareJudging from my memory of the book, Prideaux tries to tend his own wounds, not very well, and uses alcohol as an anaesthetic (I had the impression he was slipping into alcoholism). PTSD would probably cover his behaviour. He was given some rough and ready medical care in captivity but probably does not in his mind separate British medical care from that in a Czech or Soviet detention centre.
"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."