Mysterious Theater: The Mystery of the Missing Cat

Mysterious Theater
First Appearance	Episode 2569
Broadcast	March 9, 1989
Additional Appearances

A clue!

For the first installment of "Mysterious Theater," host Vincent Twice describes the series as "the show that brings you mystery stories with lots of clues and surprise endings." He presents an episode of "The Adventures of Sherlock Hemlock," the world's greatest detective: "The Mystery of the Missing Cat."

Sherlock and canine companion Watson are at the Victorian manor house of Lord and Lady Knocknee. In the great whodunit tradition, all of the participants concerned are gathered in the drawing room. The family's cat is missing, but a note has been left as a clue, with one letter torn off: "The cat is under the... at."

The great detective observes that cat rhymes with "at," so they must logically seek an object with the same word ending. While Watson tries to get his master's attention, Sherlock strikes at first Lady Agatha's ornate hat and then at Rodney's cricket bat. The butler Woodhouse remains impassive throughout, until Sherlock's attention is at last drawn to a mat (from which a tail has been protruding and which Watson has been sniffing the whole time). Sherlock deduces the butler wishes to prevent their looking... because the cat had been hiding from Watson.

With a trail of destroyed property and a dog chasing their cat, Sherlock Hemlock insists that they not bother to thank him. Back in the host's den, Vincent Twice teases the next installment, "The Adventure of Sherlock Hemlock and the Giant Gnat of Sumatra."

Notes

• Script title: "Rhyming Cat"
• The script briefly refers to Vincent Twice as "Vincent Nice," either a typo or an early alternative name.
• Lady Agatha's husband is initially referred to in the intro as Lord Knocknee, and the script calls him Lord Rodney Knocknee. In dialogue, however, Sherlock calls him "Sir Rodney," a mode of address reserved for a knight rather than a lord.
• Mystery! aired the second season of The Return of Sherlock Holmes starring Jeremy Brett from October to December 1988, ending its run eleven days before the sketch was taped.

Production

• Taped on December 19, 1988
• Written by Nancy Sans
• Directed by Jon Stone

Supporting cast

• Camille Bonora as Lady Agatha
• Richard Hunt as Woodhouse
• Martin P. Robinson as Lord Rodney
• David Rudman as the cat