Display one column of a number variable

Is it possible to display only one digit of a number variable?

E.g.  If my number variable (called number) is currently 1234 and I only wanted to display the unit column (4).  Is it possible to just call that reference e.g. %number[1]% ?

Rationale behind this: I am creating an animation to show the user's score and as the number builds I would like it continue counting until it reaches the unit column, tens, hundreds, etc. and display their score in that order.  Or if this an in-built function for this or if anyone else has created anything similar, I would like to see it :) 

P.S. I have tried %number[1]% and it doesn't work!