The Bad Seed (1985)

by Mark Murton

Directed by: Paul Wendkos

Synopsis: Nine-year-old Rachel Penmark (Carrie Wells) seems to be the perfect child, that is until she is crossed or doesn’t get her own way in this made-for-TV remake of the classic play.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): In a pre-titles prologue an old woman, Mrs. Post (Eve Smith), puts down a saucer of milk at the top of a flight of wooden stairs outside her apartment and calls to a ginger tabby cat. The cat soon appears and darts up the stairs towards her.

The Bad Seed - ginger tabby cat at bottom of tall wooden steps

The Bad Seed - ginger tabby cat nearing top of tall wooden steps

The Bad Seed - ginger tabby cat running up tall wooden staircase to get to bowl of milk animated gif

As the cat laps at the milk, Mrs. Post leans down and pets the kitty.

The Bad Seed - ginger tabby cat drinking milk from bowl

The Bad Seed - Mrs. Post Eve Smith petting ginger tabby cat drinking milk at top of tall wooden steps

During this an unseen hand suddenly pushes Mrs Post and she tumbles down the stairs to her death as the cat screeches at the unseen assailant.

The Bad Seed - ginger tabby cat screeching

The picture of the cat freezes and the camera moves in on his face as the woman rolling down the stairs is superimposed. After this the opening credits roll, the story moves forward in time, and there are no more cat scenes.