T.H.E. Cat

Outside a cathedral, which is like a giant fortress, armed police are standing guard. Captain McAllister, chomping on a big cigar, takes Cat inside, and explains, ""They call him the Fisherman's Priest, he blesses them and their boats."" A while back, extortionists started demanding $5 per fisherman, per week. That's $5,000 a week-- a quarter of a million dollars a year; several fishermen were killed. The good priest told his flock not to pay, now the priest is marked for death; there have been 3 attempts on his life in the last month. The good priest doesn't want police protection, instead relying on some fishermen, like former champion wrestler ""Mighty Joe"" Slavic. The priest has a patch over his right eye, he explains to Cat: ""acid."" Cat goes outside, and using his grappling hook and rope, makes a dramatic top-story entrance and punches out Slavic, and throws a knife narrowly missing the priest's head-- proving to the good priest that he needs protection. The man in black tell

Late at night, an elderly cat burglar, dressed all in black, breaks into a mansion, and cracks a wall safe; he tries to steal an object. The owner, Mr. Cahill, bursts into the room, and fires several shots at the burglar, who escapes out the window. On the roof, the elderly cat burglar is confronted by a young cat burglar, dressed in an identical all-black outfit. The young burglar asks, ""Don't you remember your best student?"" The elderly man says no, and asks, ""Who are you?"" The young man in black answers, ""Cat-- T. Hewitt Edward Cat."" (intro music) At the Casa del Gato, Pepe is telling Cat about the world-famous emerald called ""the Portuguese"" which is in the possession of that racketeer Cahill. It was no doubt the Portuguese that the Sandman tried to steal last night. Cat says the Sandman was more than just his teacher, he was a Master. McAllister shows up and talks to Cat. Even though McAllister knows Cahill has stolen the emerald, he can't just search his place without a

In the wee hours of the morning, at the Casa del Gato, the singer this week is the fair Jerrie Loren. She's singing to the audience, ""Night brings soft winds, and I close my eyes and reminisce. I find my mind filled with memories of our last kiss. The soft winds touch me, gently warming me the way you used to do. Daytime I'm fine, but then comes the night, bringing soft winds and memories of you."" Outside, Arnie Bliss is being attacked by Morgan and his hoods. When one of the hoods slaps him, the Cat turns as he hears the sound. (how can he hear it inside the club, with a band and a singer?) Cat goes outside to investigate, just as Morgan sticks a knife into Arnie. Cat fights off the attackers; Morgan drives away in his car. Arnie, slumped on the sidewalk, says, ""Thanks. I owe ya one, whatever your name is. Mister..."" The man in black answers, ""Cat-- T. Hewitt Edward Cat."" (intro music) They put Arnie in an ambulance and drive him to the hospital. McAllister goes inside

Cat walks up to a dilapidated apartment building. He goes upstairs and silently unlocks the door, and walks through the front room; then he kicks open the kitchen door. Inside the room, Omar Cantorte is holding a sawed-off shotgun to a girl's head; she is tied to a chair. Cantorte asks, ""You're the one? Your name?"" The man in black answers, ""Cat-- T. Hewitt Edward Cat."" (intro music) Cantorte tells the story. 17 years ago, his younger brother shot policeman J. W. Hardman's wife; she'd just had a baby (the girl now in the chair). Hardman went on a shooting spree and killed 5 members of the Brotherhood, including Cantorte's brother. Hardman has spent the last 17 years in prison, he is being released today. The Brotherhood has ordained his death. Cantorte offers a trade: the girl's life, if Cat brings him Hardman alive. Cat goes to the prison, and rides with Hardman on the train back to town. On the train, Cat saves Hardman from the Man with Pale Eyes, and 3 other members of th

Arnie Ludock got sent to prison in 1936; now, after 30 years, he is free. Arnie is accompanied by his old sidekick Drummer. At their place, Captain McAllister confronts Arnie. The Captain is the one who sent Arnie up 30 years ago; McAllister was just a rookie cop then. Arnie is as feisty as ever, and sneers, ""You think I'm scared of an old man with one wing and a badge?"" McAllister is about to punch him when Cat intervenes. Arnie asks, ""Who are you?"" The man in black answers, ""Cat--T. Hewitt Edward Cat."" (intro music) At the Casa del Gato (""House of the Cat,"" a nightclub run by their friend Pepe), McAllister indicates his missing left hand and tells Cat, ""Arnie did this!"" Arnie had shot McAllister's hand off with a machine gun; McAllister wants revenge. Even though his handicap held him back, McAllister still made Captain on the police force over the years-- Cat tells him he had a long, honorable career; he shouldn't throw it all away with some rash revenge against Arnie. Mea

Late afternoon, in a large castle-like home, filled with relics and paintings and statues, Cat walks down a corridor. Cat asks an old woman, ""Where are the servants?"" The old woman says, ""When death is about to enter the house, no one may remain to bar his way."" Cat opens a door, and sees a dead man (Hadis) propped up. The woman asks, ""You are not...?"" Cat says, ""Death? No."" The old woman asks, ""Then who are you? What is the name by which you walk?"" He answers, ""Cat-- T. Hewitt Edward Cat."" (intro music) Later, at the Casa del Gato, Cat is discussing the case with his pals. Captain McAllister thinks it was death by natural causes, there are no injuries on the body-- the old man's heart just stopped. Pepe says the man was marked for death, and talks of feuds, cults and rites of blood. The widow of Hadis phones Pepe asking for help; Pepe promises her that Cat will come. Back at Hadis' mansion, the widow Lilah (she was Hadis' 4th wife) tells Cat that she is worried her stepso