1

1 (Christopher Plummer) is the cowardly, arrogant portion of the Scientist's personality. He is extremely clever and sly, but also domineering, irritable, quick-tempered, and slow, if not reluctant, to trust 9 and his own ideas. He is the oldest of the group and the leader. The Scientist described 1 as struggling out of his hands after his creation, and being stubborn and defiant. 1 wants to protect the group, but he can understand the world only through strict rules that end up causing harm. He ostensibly sent 2 out to scout but he really sent him out to die because of their breakthrough when they were newly created. 1 wears a cylinder-shaped hat that has a one pence coin attached to it with rubber bands which was lost when the Seamstress tried to capture him, as well as a red cape fastened with a red-purple gemstone. He carries a needle topped with a cog that has a small bell attached to it which he uses as a scepter. 1's strong belief that fighting is futile leads him to avoid taking risks, which hurts the group at multiple times throughout the film. 1 is the most tragic of the characters in the film because he is a veteran of many wars and wants the best for the group, but his fearful nature prevents him from effectively helping the others until he sacrifices himself. Number 1's skin is fastened by many metal snaps. He is the last one to die.