by Mark Murton
Original Air Dates: April 4 & 5, 2010
Directed by: Paul Harrison
Cat Out Of The Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this storyline.
Synopsis: After witnessing the murder of a teenager, RSPCA inspector Christine Moorhead (Phyllis Logan) is targeted by a dangerous criminal who has been evading attempts by Inspector Jack Frost (David Jason) to gather enough evidence to get him convicted for years. Meanwhile, a mysterious hooded figure seems to be recreating cases from Frost’s past, but to what end?
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): As night falls, a bike stops on a tow path and a hooded figure unceremoniously drags a ginger cat from the saddlebag.
The cat is then tethered to a nearby post by the lilac collar around its neck.
A little later a male jogger comes running along the tow path watched by the cat who gives a little cry as the man passes.
The jogger stops and quickly spots the cat.
Looking around for the owner he can’t see anyone and so bends down to pet the cat before untying the lead. The cat makes its exit while the jogger is brutally bludgeoned to death by the hooded figure.
At the crime scene the next morning Frost watches as the body is taken to a waiting ambulance. Hearing the sound of laughter nearby, he looks around to see it is coming from a group of uniformed police. Demanding to know what’s going on, Frost is surprised when one of the group proffers a cat in his direction, proclaiming, “Moggie!” Unimpressed, Frost tells them to get on with what they’re supposed to be doing.
Later, the coroner informs Frost that she found hair on the victim’s clothes, human and otherwise. The otherwise being cat, leading Frost to make the connection to the cat found by the uniformed police near the murder scene. Frost pays a visit to the Holt Cattery where the kitty has been taken and Christine informs him that while there is nothing distinctive about the cat itself it was wearing a distinctive collar. Tracking down where the collar was purchased leads to Frost discovering the identity of the hooded figure.
Final Mewsings: Taking advantage of someone’s concern for a cat is particularly evil.
Relevant Links:
To discuss this film and other cats in movies and on television, join us on Facebook and X.