by Mark Murton

Original Air Date: January 5, 1963

Directed by: Robin Nash

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

Synopsis: Trouble brews on the lead up to Micky Mulgrew’s wedding to Rose McCallion. Meanwhile, a local woman named Edith Timson (Mary Merrall) reports nighttime thefts of flowers from her garden.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Miss Timson’s report to the police is initially met with some scepticism. A female Sergeant who knows the woman tells the desk officer that “she’s a bit touched, poor old soul,” and goes on to say that she lives all alone with her cats, “About 12 of them!” However, police constable Jones (John Hughes) pays particular attention when patrolling the area and one night sees Miss Timson putting out her longhair tabby cat “Gilbert.” Jones stops to speak with her and after she disappears inside he also has a word with (the unseen) Gilbert, receiving a little cat cry in return.

The storyline is resolved when on another nighttime patrol PC Jones spots a woman, Martha Briggs (Grace Newcombe), taking the flowers and putting them on a grave at the nearby cemetery. Hearing of her impecunious circumstances Miss Timson decides not to press charges. A few nights later PC Jones knocks on the door to see how Miss Timson is doing and as they talk Miss Briggs emerges cradling Gilbert in her arms as the two women have now become friends.

Final Mewsings: Don’t tease us with talk of 12 cats and then only deliver one!

Many thank to RobG for also letting us know about the cat in this episode.

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