by Ted Davis

Original Air Date: December 25, 1986

Directed by: David Giles

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: When the odious Colonel Lucius Protheroe (Robert Lang) is found murdered in the library of Reverend Leonard Clement (Paul Eddington), the most likely suspects are the victim’s wife, the straying Ann Protheroe (Polly Adams), and her artist lover Lawrence Redding (James Hazeldine), but it’s quickly apparent that the adulterous pair could not have committed the crime, and the baffled Detective Inspector Slack (David Horovitch) must be guided to the culprits by soft-spoken spinster Miss Jane Marple (Joan Hickson), characterized memorably by Slack as a “nice little grey-haired cobra . . . (who) sticks to this sort of business like chewing gum to the cat.”

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): After completing his nightly errands, an audibly complaining tabby cat returns home, entering through the kitchen window, at the same time that an unknown intruder breaks in with the intention of murdering Mrs. Salisbury (Deddie Davies), who is a potential threat to the murderer.

The intruder makes his way to Mrs. Salisbury’s bedroom, turns on the fireplace gas, closes the door from outside the room, then jams a coverlet under the door to seal in the gas, but is hindered in his efforts by the insistent cat whom he patiently shifts away from the opening.

The friendly kitty raises on his hind legs against the trespasser, who takes the famished cat back to the kitchen for a nice saucer of milk.

Final Mewsings: Some kitties will accept saucers of milk from just about anyone.

Many thanks to Teresa and Bill Peschel for also letting us know about the cat in this episode.

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