Night Gallery - "Die Now, Pay Later"

by Ted Davis

Original Air Date: June 3, 1973

Directed by: Timothy Galfas

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

Synopsis: Sheriff Ned Harlow (Slim Pickens) calls on crusty old friend and local undertaker Walt Peckinpah (Will Geer) to stop his year-end clearance sale on caskets, which has caused the town’s death rate to skyrocket. Peckinpah’s motives for the sale are more related to the fact that his ancestor was burned as a warlock, than for commerce.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): This episode, essentially a comic dialogue between Peckinpah and Sheriff Harlow, is a showcase for a beautiful green-eyed black cat, which is given numerous close-ups throughout the show, usually while relaxing in one of the caskets.

Night Gallery - Die Now, Pay Later - black cat sitting in open coffin

Night Gallery - Die Now, Pay Later - black cat sitting in open coffin animated gif

Night Gallery - Die Now, Pay Later - black cat extreme close up

Night Gallery - Die Now, Pay Later - black cat close up

Night Gallery - Die Now, Pay Later - camera zooming in on black cat sitting in open coffin animated gif

At one point, the cat is distracted out of frame so that he will look up toward the ceiling.

Night Gallery - Die Now, Pay Later - black cat sitting in open coffin looking up

The cat is also shown a couple of times stepping out of the casket, and, significantly, materializing back into the casket.

Night Gallery - Die Now, Pay Later - black cat jumping down from open white coffin

Night Gallery - Die Now, Pay Later - black cat jumping down from open coffin then rematerializing into another animated gif

According to the commentary provided by Jim Benson and Scott Skelton, the inserts of the black cat were filmed almost a year after the main production, which explains the two different cat actors. The cat used for the inserts in the coffin is a solid black animal.

The cat with the small white blaze on his neck, visible when Peckinpah strokes the kitty, is the one which interacts with the two actors.

Night Gallery - Die Now, Pay Later - black cat with white blaze

Night Gallery - Die Now, Pay Later - black cat sitting on lap of Peckinpah Will Geer with Sheriff Harlow Slim Pickens

Night Gallery - Die Now, Pay Later - black cat being held on lap

Night Gallery - Die Now, Pay Later - black cat being petted on lap of Peckinpah Will Geer with Sheriff Harlow Slim Pickens animated gif

This cat actor also claims a pat from Sheriff Harlow at the end of the episode, just before hopping back into the casket for the last time to meow up at the camera.