Original subtitles

Who is the most self-reliant animal made since the world began?

Who can be the most defiant animal known to the worid of man?

Born with emerald eyes so cold, so warm, so wise

VVlthin her kingdom lies the worid's arena

I Do we need to ask more than that?

I You must know now it's a cat

I But a very important cat at that who's called... I

Thomasina!

Thomasina

I What are you thinking now?

Thomasina

I What makes you so highbrow?

For! do think it very odd if you are an Egyptian god

3 That the wee little mouse runs in and out his house

Each time you blink or nod

Thomasina

Though you may love to roam

Thomasina

I Don't go too far from home

There are beasties in the garden who would never accept your pardon

I If you left the jungle yard in which we play

Thomasina

I Don't ever run away

Thomasina

- 5' Come along with me now - : Thomasina

Though you've seen a little bird leave the bough

- Thomasina - 3 Even if it's a lark or dove you

I Let them all fly away above you

I But I guess I'll always love you anyhow

Thomasina, come along with me now

Thomasina, I love you anyhow

- Thomasina... ♪ - Yes, I am Thomasina.

This story's all about me.

I am a self-made cat.

And here's the house I live in with the Mathui family,

whom I'd adopted when they first came here.

They started off by calling me Thomas.

But when they, well, got to know me better

they changed that to Thomasina.

Humans are funny that way.

That the Mathuis are a happy family is entirely due to me.

I made them what they are today.

Although I had to be murdered first...

Here's the scene of the crime:

Inveranoch, in Scotland,

in 1912.

And this is Mr. Andrew Mathui.

From a cat's point of View, even before my murder

he was a most difficult man - believe me.

His wife had died sometime before he came here,

so there was just himself, Mrs. MacKenzie as housekeeper,

and Mary, his daughter.

I'd moved in on them a few days after they arrived.

On the whole, I got on with them very well,

though mostly because of Mary Mathui.

She appreciated my rather special qualifies from the start.

Thomasina!

There you are.

I had this sort of thing to put up with every day.

Fussed over, treated like a doll.

Being dressed up - and over a fur coat, too!

Everything that happened to me from here on

was due, in a way, to a blind man and his dog.

Here they are now - Tammas and Bruce.

- Good morning, Tammas. - Good morning, Mary.

Say good morning to Tammas and Bruce, Thomasina.

Good morning, Thomasina.

She's not in a very talkative mood today.

Aye, I have the same trouble with Bruce here. He can be very reserved at times.

Isn't that right, laddie?

But what would we do without them, you and me?

- Where are you going? - Just to get some tobacco for my pipe.

- Mind how you go, Tammas. - Och, Bruce is my eyes, lassie.

Come on. Say goodbye to Thomasina.

Be good now, Mary.

Thomasina, it's rude not to answer when you're spoken to.

Aah!

Hello, Geordie. What have you got there?

I found him by the loch. I think his leg's broken.

He can't hop or swim or anything.

Oh, he looks fair sick, doesn't he, Thomasina?

Don't touch.

Why don't you go and ask my daddy to cure him?

Och, I don't know. Do you think he would?

My daddy can cure anything - dogs and cows and cats and lions and pigs and...

- Aye, but frogs? - And frogs. Everything.

- You take him in, then. - Och, I'm not allowed in the surgery.

- You go, Geordie. - Well, if you say so.

I'm only saying I'm here against my better judgment, Minister.

You'll be glad you listened to me, Dobbie. Mr. Mathui's a clever man.

Maybe 50,

but I've never found much wrong with dosing Jock with Watson's Powders.

You must move with the times, man.

- Mathui's a man of science. - I haven't heard tell much good of that.

Book-learning...

Up at Kinkairalie's farm, they're grateful to him. 200 sheep cured of the foot rot.

- And not one lost. - You're a good persuader, Mr. Peddie,

but farm beasts are one thing, a man's pet's another.

You wait and see.

Och, I'll give him a try. No one can say I'm not a fair man,

but it's for him to convince me.

- How old is this dog, Mrs. Laggan? - 15 years and a bit.

I've had him since he was a puppy - the year my husband died.

He's been ailing a wee bit this past year, but not so sick as this.

He's very old. The kindest thing is to put him to sleep.

- Oh, no. - You see how bad he is with the asthma.

The poor dog can hardly breathe. He's in pain, Mrs. Laggan.

But you can't put Rabbie to sleep, Mr. Mathui. I wouldn't have come...

He's all I have in the world.

Couldn't you give him a wee bit of medicine to tide him over till he's well?

Mrs. Laggan, no medicine can make him well.

He's very old, he's in great pain, and his life is a misery to him.

But I can't lose him.

What would I do without him?

Poor Rabbie.

Be fair now. It's yourself you're pitying, not the dog.

Oh, dear, I... don't know what to do.

Well, I've told you what I think is for the best. It's up to you to make up your mind.

Very well.

I suppose... if he is suffering...

- You'll be gentle with him? - He won't feel a thing.

He'll just go to sleep.

- Willie... - 15 years...

Poor Rabbie. Poor Rabbie...

You're doing the right thing. It's for his sake.

No, no. There'll be no charge. Just leave him here with me.

Are you leaving Rabbie to be cured?

Mr. Mathui says there's no cure.

- He's to be put away. - Oh, Mrs. Laggan, that's a shame.

No cure for him? If it was my dog, I'd want a second opinion, I'm thinking.

I'll go with you.

- Good day, Mr. Mathui. - Good day, sir.

Good day.

- Who's next, please? - Please, sir, Mr. Mathui.

- Oh, who are you? - Geordie MacNab, please, sir.

I'm a bit of a friend of Mary's. I found him down by the loch.

He's hurt his leg. Can you make him better, please, sir?

No one can cure a frog, Geordie. You put him back where you found him.

But he might die. Och, could you not mend his leg? Please, sir.

No, nature's the only doctor can do that, laddie.

Come on, now. Off you go. I'm busy.

You've lost another customer, Andrew.

- Is there nothing you can do for the dog? - Not a thing. Just put it out of its misery.

Whoever's next, will you come in, please?

Oh, it's all right, Mrs. Campbell. You go in ahead of me. I'm in no hurry.

Hey. there's Gamma.

- What have you been doing in there? - I took my sick frog to Mr. Mathui.

- What did he say, then? - He wouldn't even look at him.

- And he's killing Mrs. Laggan's Rabbie. - Killing him? Rabbie?

Aye, I heard him say so.

It's just like Grandfather says about him: he's only good with farm beasts.

He's not interested in people's pets.

- A frog will die if he can't hop or swim. - And I won't let him die.

What you going to do, then? Cure him by magic or something?

Come on, Jamie.

Why don't you take your frog to the witch woman in the glen?

She's supposed to do magic. Well, why don't you?

Our mother says she's crazy and we're not to go up there.

Och, you're just afraid, the pair of you.

I'm not afraid of anything and neither's Geordie. Are you, Geordie?

Right, let's take the frog to her, all three of us. I dare you.

Very well.

Geordie, we'll all go.

You want to get your frog cured, don't you?

We don't have to tell Mother we went.

- I was only joking. - No, you weren't.

You dared us.

- I think you're afraid to go. - Me, afraid? Let's go now!

Come on. Keep up with us.

- You'd think they were all telling on us. - Aye.

- Are you afraid to go on, then? - No.

Well, come on.

Psst. Listen.

It's the witch singing and banging a drum.

She is crazy.

I want to go home!

When you've got this far? What about your frog?

- Put your box down and ring the bell. - We'll wait for you here.

- No, no! - Geordie, go on!

Come on, Gamma.

Go away! Go away!

Go away! Go away!

Larry, come back here.

Oh. Your leg is broken.

You poor wee thing.

Has somebody brought you up here to be cured by the mad witch in the glen?

Eye of newt and hair of dog, give me the power to cure the frog.

Listen. Magic.

Off to my cauldron. Where's my broom?

Ach, you poor wee thing.

I don't know why I bother to dose that dog.

The worst thing that's wrong with him's his owner. Don't give him sugar.

But he has a sweet tooth, Andrew. Poor old Finn. Look how pleased he is.

You think more of his affection for you than you do of his health.

All you people with pets are the same. That's why he's too fat, poor brute.

Brute, he calls you, Finn. Oh!

That's why folks here are slow to accept your doctrine, Andrew.

You show no feeling for the animals they love.

To the point of not knowing what's best for them,

like you and Mrs. Laggan who was here just now.

- Poor old Annie. - "Poor old Annie."

Poor old brute of a dog, you should say. You thought I was hard on her.

My job is to relieve suffering in animals. The tribulations of the soul, I leave to you.

- She'll get over it, Angus. - Aye.

But when someone you love dies, something of yourself dies, too.

You think you have to tell me that?

Oh, I'm sorry, Andrew. Forgive me.

That dog was all old Annie Laggan had left to love. At least you're not alone.

No...

Look at her now.

Thomasina? Where are you?

Thomasina?

Be careful.

It's the jungle.

It's a million miles thick.

It's full of lions, tigers.

- Thomasina! Thomasina, come back! - Have you lost something, Mary?

Shhh. We're hunting lions.

Lions? Here?

Geordie, where's your frog? Did Daddy kill him?

- No, he wouldn't try. - We took it to the witch up in the glen.

- You didn't. I did. - We all did.

You saw her? Is she a real witch?

Aye, we saw her chant magic over the frog and take it into her house.

- Did you speak to her? - Och, no. She's queer in the head.

She's got a big drum and she bangs on it and sings awful weird.

- And there's all kinds of animals there. - Did she fly on a broomstick?

- Well, not exactly fly. - She had one, though.

Weren't you afraid?

I wouldn't recommend just anybody going up there.

You were afraid. You made Geordie take the frog.

- That was you. - I wasn't afraid.

You must be awful brave.

I am...

a bit.

Er, remember, Angus. Just keep him off the sugar.

-Well... I can try. - Hello, Mary.

Geordie MacNab took his frog that you wouldn't cure to a witch who does magic.

- Wait a second. - She could have turned him into a frog.

Mary! Mr. Andrew! I'm waiting for you.

Come on, inside. Wash your hands.

- Thomasina! - Never mind Thomasina.

Dinnertime!

Come on, inside. Wash your hands. There's a good girl.

That's enough about witches. There aren't any outside of storybooks.

- Oh, yes, there are. - She been making up more fairy tales?

I didn't make it up. There is a witch in the glen.

- Och, in the glen? - She bangs a big drum in her house

and lives with wild animals and rides a broomstick.

Jamie MacNab told me. He and Hughie and Geordie saw her.

It's nonsense. And will you not feed that cat at the table, especially with meat?

She likes meat. And there is a witch.

Now, Mary...

It's a poor wee soul called Lori MacGregor that's rented a croft from Mr. Peddie.

She spends her time weaving on her loom. That's the "drums" your friends heard.

- Now what do you say? - She's a witch.

She's a wee bit weird. That's true enough.

It seems she's a lassie that doesn't mix with other folk.

But, mind, she's not been there long.

Some of the shepherds in the glen say she has a rare way with beasts and birds.

Now mind Thomasina doesn't spill her cream.

- Cream? - Oh, just a wee drop, Mr. Andrew.

It helps her to see in the dark. She told me so.

Didn't you, Thomasina?

There. You hear?

Ask her if she'd like me to go out and catch her a salmon.

She says no. She'd rather go to the stall on market day and choose her own fish.

Aye...

No more talk about witches or magic.

Just say your prayers, get into bed.

And look after Mummy in Heaven and us down here,

especially Daddy and Mrs. MacKenzie and Willie and Geordie and Jamie and Hughie

and Tammas and Bruce and George's frog and Thomasina and me.

That's all until tomorrow. Yours truly, Mary. Amen.

Good night, "yours truly, Mary."

Slippers...

In you get.

There we are.

Good night.

Good night, Daddy.

Thomasina.

I've told you about that before, my bonny. You mustn't keep that cat on the bed.

- There. - Oh, please let me have her.

- No, you can have your doll if you like. - I don't want my doll.

No, she must go out and you must go to sleep. Lie down.

- Good night. - Good night.

Good night, Thomasina.

You know.

Yes, I knew.

And Mathui didn't.

This being-put—out—for—the-night was just nonsense.

I could get in again any time I wanted to.

Mary and I had it all worked out.

It was as easy as that.

Thomasina.

Thomasina, come on up!

But not tonight.

I'd remembered it was Wednesday, the night before market day.

They setup the stalls at dawn, so Wednesday's always my night out.

And just when I was beginning to feel like breakfast,

the market was getting ready to provide it.

Fish. Fresh fish.

And the best sauce for it - the danger of helping myself.

Which needed cunning... and caution.

A lot of caution.

And speed!

Get out! Get out of the way! Get out!

Mary?

Mary! Come and have your breakfast.

- What's the child doing? - Mary!

I can't find Thomasina. I've looked everywhere.

- She can't be far away. Sit down. - But she didn't come home last night!

For what we're about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful. Amen.

I'm not hungry. Daddy, she must be lost.

Of course not. Cats don't get lost once they move in on people.

She's just had a night out and hasn't come back yet.

She's been out all night before, but she's always come back.

- She climbs the tree, gets in my window. - What?

She always has. It's our secret.

Aye, certainly is. I'm off to the surgery now.

Be a good girl, eat your breakfast.

Don't worry about the pussy, child.

- But she's lost. - Thomasina's too clever to get lost.

You do like her, don't you?

Aye, of course.

Would you do anything for her, if I asked you to?

Promise?

Aye.

Well, let me go and look for her now. Please. You promised.

You're even craftier than Thomasina, you wee monkey.

We'll split up. Mary, you come with me.

- Hey, what are you looking for, son? - A lost cat. Have you seen one?

- Not at my stall. Away you go. - She's a big ginger cat...

Mrs. MacFarland, what would you like? A nice cabbage...

Have you seen a lost cat?

Thank you very much.

Grab that cat!

Och, it's not Thomasina. But never mind. We'll find her.

Hughie, Mary! I've found her.

She's here, Mary.

Oh, Thomasina! Give her to me.

I don't think anything's broken, but she's terribly stiff.

Oh, poor Thomasina.

I couldn't help it, Constable.

He walked right in front of me.

It looks like Bruce.

Bruce? My Bruce?

- What's all this about? - Och, Mr. Mathui!

You're just here in time. It's Tammas's Bruce.

- Where is he? - Steady now, Tammas.

- He's fair crushed, sir. - I couldn't help it, Mr. Mathui.

Better get him back to the surgery. Quick.

Bruce is my eyes, Mr. Mathui. Can you save him?

- I'll do what I can. Stay with him, Angus. - He's in good hands, Tammas.

This is going to take a long time. I hope his heart will stand it.

Are you ready?

The Spencer Wells, Willie.

How is he, Willie?

He's doing fine.

What are you children doing? Mary, go away from here!

Daddy, it's Thomasina. She's hurt.

- Go away, child! - Please look at her. She's awful sick.

Willie, take this cat.

Daddy, please look at her. Please make her well.

Mary, you mustn't stay here. Now, listen to me.

Blind Tammas's dog is badly hurt.

Well, so is Thomasina! If you only look at her...

I'll look at her. But go away, all of you.

- You'll make her well? You promise? - Yes, I promise. But go.

Come on, out, all of you.

- I think you'd better look at her, sir. - Not now, man.

Mr. Mathui, sir. Look.

Quick, get her out of here. That cat has tetanus.

Get her out of here, deal with her and hurry back.

But, sir... Mr. Mathui. You promised the child.

The cat is beyond help. Do as I tell you.

Hurry up, man. We've the dog to save.

Aye... I will, sir.

I will.

- Nearly an hour already. - How much longer can it be?

Aye, the waiting is hard.

Bruce'll live, Tammas. He'll even walk again.

Thank God. Take me to him.

Not now, he's unconscious. But Willie will fetch you this evening.

- Bruce'll know you then. - He'll get better?

- Aye, he'll be as good as new. - It's a great skill you have.

- No one can deny it. - There now. What did I tell you?

- Come on, Tammas. I'll take you home. - God bless you, Mr. Mathui.

God bless you.

His pulse rate's fine.

I'll stay with him till he wakes.

Aye, he'll do.

I never thought to see such surgery as that.

Aye, and what you have to do now will be just as hard, I'm thinking.

You have to tell the child about her cat.

"The shoe black tries his bread to earn and would an honest penny turn

"When mud upon our boots leaves stains His ready help good payment gains

"The beefeater we see today..."

Daddy! Thomasina, is she better?

She's out of pain, Mary.

What was wrong with her?

Let me go to her.

She is better, isn't she?

Mary, er...listen. Listen to me just a minute.

You see...

there are some things that you have to learn to face, even if they seem a bit unfair.

Where is she?

Thomasina's wound was poisoned. She might have made other pets in, even die.

But you did save her?

I-I couldn't, Mary. I couldn't.

There are some things your daddy can do and some he can't.

What did you do to her?

I... had her put to sleep.

There was nothing else I could do.

Try to understand, Mary.

No! No!

You said you'd make her better. You promised! You promised!

- I'll never speak to you again! - Mary, please...

He promised. And he's killed Thomasina. She's dead!

I'll go up to her.

Aye.

And take everything she was wearing when she found the cat. Do you hear?

And burn what you can't boil.

I didn't realize she was gonna take it so hard.

Could you not have saved the cat?

It was wounded, infected with tetanus. I did what was right!

I can get her another cat, can't I?

Well? Can't I?

Well, I'll buy her anything she wants.

Why did she take it so hard?

For a clever man, you've an awful lot to learn.

Don't be so sad. You'll do yourself harm.

I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll give Thomasina the best funeral ever.

- Aye, with a full service and everything. - My mother's got just the right box.

And we could pick flowers and have a procession like old Dougal's.

- Everyone in the village would see us. - Aye, and Mary.

You'll walk behind the casket, weeping.

- And Annie can be chief mourner. - I can cry awful loud, Mary.

Not now.

Will I wear a hat and a black coat? Mrs. MacKenzie has one.

Aye, we'll all dress up. I know, Jamie's learning the pipes...

- He's not very good... - I can play "Mackintosh's Lament"!

And I'll wear my dress kilt with my skean dhu and sporran.

Everyone will say "There goes the poor widow Mathui burying her Thomasina,

foully done to death, God rest her soul."

- Will they? Really? - Aye, it'll be a great procession, you'll see.

- We'll go and get Thomasina now! - Aye, come on.

I opened my eyes...

and where was I?

They say that to die is a journey from light into darkness.

But here was light again.

This was no quiet, endless sleep.

I was flying.

Flying wildly, without weight or effort.

Diving, spinning.

Falling backward and downward into the mists of time,

where my ancestors were worshipped in the temples to Bast,

thousands of years ago.

At last. The cat goddess.

The goddess with the golden eyes,

staring and staring, drawing me upward and upward...

and upward and upward.

Then there were flowers -

flowers everywhere,

all around me, touching me.

And the sound of music.

VWld enough to wake the dead!

Lord's sakes, what are the children a-burying the day?

Mary Mathui's cat, Thomasina.

My grandson Hughie told me her father couldn't be bothered to cure its sickness.

His own daughter's pet!

Ach, well, maybe he was busy at the time. You know, whatwi' Tammas's dog.

- After all, it's a blind man's eyes. - His own daughter's pet!

It's hard to understand.

Right, this is far enough.

Put it here.

Now get some stones and build a cairn for the grave.

Now get the coffin off and put it down just there, you two.

Come on, hurry.

Now get some stones.

Come on, get some stones!

That'll do fine.

Now let's get on with the service.

I'm going to take the service. It was my idea.

No, you're not. I'm the oldest and I've come prepared.

- Brethren friends and fellow mourners... - Och, go on then.

We have come here today to bury Thomasina and to praise her.

She was the friend of Mary Mathui here, who you all know. Well, there she is.

Shh! Not yet. Hold your noise.

Thomasina was the best cat in Argyllshire. We all feel for her best friend and owner.

Not yet.

There is no doubt Thomasina was a terrific mouser, too.

She had a few faults, aye, but I won't mention them here.

Er, and her mortal remains will now be laid to rest.

Now!

I By yon bonny banks and by yon bonny braes

Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond

Where me and my true love will never meet again

On the bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond

Oh, you'll take the high road and I'll take the... ♪

- It's mad Lori! - I And I'll be...

...in Scotland afore...

- It's the witch! - She's coming for us!

- Run for it! - Quickly!

- The witch! Run for it. - The witch!

What were they doing?

Your heart's still beating.

Aah, poor thing.

Didn't they know?

You come with me.

Mary, come along and get your supper.

Hello, Mary.

What have you been doing all afternoon?

- Mary, your father's speaking to you. - I've seen the witch that lives in the glen.

- What? - We all ran away from her.

Hughie, Geordie, Jamie, Jock and Annie.

- What's this nonsense now? - And what were you doing in the glen?

And she is a witch. I've seen her, so there.

The kittens that Mr. Peddie's cat, Amanda, had are now ready to leave their mother.

Would you like to choose one for yourself?

Mary.

Would you like to come with me tomorrow and choose a kitten?

Jamie MacNab can play "Mackintosh's Lament" with only nine mistakes.

- Answer me, Mary. - Answer your father, child.

But he's not very good at "Loch Lomond."

- If this is her way of sulking just because... - Don't you want your supper?

- No, I do not. - Now who's sulking?

Tell Miss Mathui that if she does want a kitten, she'll have to ask me.

Everybody was real scared when they saw the witch, except me. I wasn't.

I just looked at her and said "I'm not afraid of you."

Oh, give me strength!

Oh, you and your stories!

Eat your supper. Now you've made your father angry.

No, I haven't. My father's dead.

I By yon bonny banks

I And by yon bonny braes

Where the moon, bright on Loch Lomond... ♪

Don't cry, child.

I haven't seen you cry for a long, long time.

Look, Mary. I'm sorry about Thomasina, I've told you.

I'll get you another cat, or a wee dog, to be your very own. Would you like that?

Look, child, I can't bring Thomasina back to life. What's done is done!

Very well.

Good night, then.

Granddad, don't keep on about it so.

- That cat's funeral was a children's game. - Not to some of us.

I'm telling you. I've said it before and I'm saying it now.

That Mr. Mathui is doing no good here.

Don't interrupt me, woman!

He's a townsman and not a highlander. He has no feeling for animals at all.

- Come now. Some of the farmers... - The farmers?

He made an order to destroy the whole herd of Ian MacLennan's cattle

because one cow was sick!

That's the law. They had foot-and-mouth disease.

It was not the law in my day, but it was only Mathui's opinion that they had it.

Look at his record. Never mind the cattle.

Annie Laggan's old dog, Rabbie - he had him killed.

He saved blind Tammas's Bruce, though.

Aye, that was because everybody was there watching. That was just showing off.

Now, Granddad, you shouldn't say that.

The man that did what he did -

and he wouldn't even treat his own daughter's cat when it was sick -

is no better than a murderer.

It'd be a good thing if he went away.

Aye, I'd make it too hot for him here if I was younger. 80 would others.

Him and his newfangled science!

Mary!

Mary Mathui!

Are you coming out to play? Mary!

She won't be coming out today. She's in mourning. Anyway, we've got work to do.

What work?

Forming an anti-Mathui society to drive him out of Inveranoch.

- Och, listen to him. - My grandpa said he's a murderer.

Your grandpa!

Mr. Mathui had two herds of cows slaughtered because one beast was sick.

People are saying he ought to go, and I think we ought to join them.

- What does blind Tammas say about it? - Och, he's only one.

Now here's what we'll do. Me and you, Geordie...

- Morning, Mrs. MacCIeod. - Morning.

You're not taking your cat to Mr. Mathui, are you?

- Why not? - Och, he won't bother with it.

He doesn't care for anybody's pets.

- What? - He'll say "Can't be cured" and kill it.

- Get away wi' you! - It's true.

- He even did it to his own daughter's cat. - And Mrs. Laggan's dog.

I did hear about Rabbie, but he was awful old.

That cat is younger than Thomasina.

You take him in there and he'll... just get his bottle of chloroform and...

- Just a minute, Harry. Listen. - We told Mrs. MacCIeod about Mathui.

You'd be well advised not to take your dog in there.

I'm thinking of rebuilding my pigsties. I've had two outbreaks of swine fever.

Have you spoken to this new vet here - Mathui?

Not yet. Is he any good?

One of Mr. MacLennan's cows had foot-and-mouth disease.

Mr. Mathui had two whole herds killed.

That young Annie of mine took my best black shawl yesterday

and tore it into ribbons in some game!

Aye, I saw them - playing at funerals.

- Burying young Mary Mathui's cat. - Mr. Mathui killed it.

- Killed it? - Aye, like he did with Mrs. Laggan's dog.

- He kills things. - He saved Tammas's Bruce, laddie.

Aye, because everybody was there watching.

That was showing off. He's an animal murderer!

You tell me he killed his daughter's cat?

He didn't like it, so he took his gun and killed it.

His gun?! Well!

Oh, isn't that awful?

Well, now! Andrew!

Glad I saw you. I wanted a word with you about Mary.

I did what you said - asked her to choose one of your kittens -

but she'd have none of it, nor me either. It's like speaking with a blank wall.

To a child of her age, feeling is stronger than reason.

And grief is usually forgotten quickly, too, but the death of this cat is an obsession.

Well, she is something of a lonely child.

Forgive me. She's no mother and needs someone to love.

She has me. I'd do anything for her. No child's ever been loved so much.

Unselfishly?

- What do you mean? - Tell me the truth.

Were you maybe a wee bit jealous of that cat of hers?

The truth now.

It had to be destroyed. It would have died anyway. Take my word for that.

Angus, would you do me a favor?

Could you talk to her? You might be able to reason with her.

Well, I can try.

I wish you would. She's at home now.

You ought to be out playing in the sunshine, not moping here indoors.

Geordie MacNab and Hughie came asking for you.

Why don't you go and look for them?

Oh, Mr. Peddie. Mr. Andrew's not in.

I was just passing by, Mrs. MacKenzie, and I thought I'd pay a call on Mary.

- Would she be at home, do you think? - I'm here, Mr. Peddie.

Well, now, there you are.

You were so quiet, I didn't see you.

Ooh! Fair warm outdoors.

You're wise to stay inside.

Would you mind if I sit down and rest awhile?

- Here? - Oh...

I think the stairs are a grand place when you want to have a good think.

You know, I was thinking just now about your Thomasina.

What with my own cats, I get all mixed up remembering what yours was like.

- Thomasina, now. He was about... - She.

Oh, aye, she. Thomasina...

She was about... so long?

And did she not have a wee square blaze on her chest?

No, it was round.

Round? Aye. Now you remind me, it was round.

- But she did have three white feet? - No white feet at all.

No?

Oh. But she had a pink nose with two black specks on it. I remember that well.

No specks.

No specks?

Do you remember how she'd sit and look at you with just the tip of her tongue showing?

- When she was waiting to be fed. - Yes, when she was waiting to be fed.

You see, Mary, Thomasina isn't dead at all. Not really dead.

Not when we can remember her like this, because she's alive in our minds.

- No! - Remember her like this, she'll never die.

Call her to your mind and she'll come.

Even if you were to have another wee cat to love.

You know, I was saying to your daddy this morning...

My daddy's dead. I killed him.

Did you, Mary? How?

I killed him and I put him in a box with flowers in it.

We all took him up into the glen and had a funeral.

And now I haven't anybody at all.

- Mary... - No! I like being alone!

Good day to you, Birnie. I'm here to look at the bull.

I've let him out. He's in the paddock.

- Oh. Right, I'll find him. - No need to. He'll do very well.

Just tell me how much your fees are.

- What's all this about? - I'll be no more needing a veterinary.

If there's anything wrong with my beasts, I'll take them to the woman in the glen.

She has a rare way with 'em and charges nothing, I'm told.

- Is that where you're taking the cow? - Aye, my man is.

- What's wrong with her? - She's dried.

You've as much chance of getting pints of beer as milk, listening to that rubbish.

What I do with my beasts is no concern of yourself!

This cow has no disease reportable under the acts of the county.

- Your bull didn't either. - I didn't know then what sort of vet you are.

- Putting beasts to death when it suits you! - What?

Aye, my stock man heard it from his son at school in Inveranoch -

the dogs and cats you'd no use for, even your own child's pet.

I see. 80 you believe that, and you're going back to witchcraft.

You said times change.

Well, maybe they're changing back again, Mr. Mathui.

The old remedies are as good as book-learning, sir. Good day to you.

Apart from Mary, I've another headache.

The whole village is boycotting me and spreading tales I'm a heartless monster.

- Och, a few children. - It's having its effect.

The people have forgotten the blind man's dog is alive because of me,

but they remember the few creatures that I had to have destroyed.

- Be patient with them, Andrew. - Patient?

Tell me something. What do you know about a half-witted woman named...

named Lori, who pretends to be a witch?

- Well, I rented her the croft she's living in. - That's why I'm asking you.

And she's not half-witted. Nor does she pretend to be a witch.

She's been labeled that, just as you've been labeled.

Only she doesn't mind, because she wants to be left alone.

Well, she's not succeeding. At least two farmers are taking their beasts to her.

Aye, I hear she has a remarkable skill with animals.

What skill? Without real knowledge, you can do great harm.

Would you take a sick child to a quack doctor?

Some people have natural gifts, Andrew.

Lori MacGregor has the rare quality of mercy.

Tell her to stop undermining the progress I'm trying to bring to these people here.

Why don't you tell her, Andrew?

And tell me afterwards what you make of her.

Aye, I will one day, and put a stop to her interference with my work.

Time passed and I began to see and feel again.

I couldn't remember any part of my first life -

although something told me I'd lived before, that I was still me.

I'd heard that a cat has nine lives. 1 accepted the fact.

So... this was my second life, my life with a girl named Lori.

She was gentle and kind, I'll give her that,

but she didn't seem to realize, and neither did the other creatures,

how important I was.

There we are.

All of you - Dorcas, Mac, Molly, Whiskers - be nice to Thomasina now.

”Be nice,” she said,

but none of the others paid any attention to me at all.

They weren't really my kind anyway.

Thomasina, dear. Go and walk in the sun now you're able.

There are others here who are not.

I wasn't important anymore. Treated just like everybody else.

Now I know how a king feels in exile.

Hughie, Jamie, quick! Come and see, quick!

A badger!

He's been in the trap a long time. And he's badly hurt.

What'll we do with him? If we try and take the trap off, he'll only bite.

We could wrap him up in a sack, trap and all, and take him to the village.

- To the vet. - To Mr. Mathui?

We can't do that. We're trying to get rid of him.

- What else then? - Couldn't we take the badger to the witch?

She's nearer.

- Aye, that's true. - She couldn't cure a mess like that.

- I bet she could. - Mr. Mathui would only kill him.

So let's wrap him up and take him to the witch.

Jamie, get the things. I'll get the sack.

Careful now.

- You've got him? - Aye.

Seeing these boys gave me that...

"I've been here before" feeling. You know what I mean?

I knew them, and yet I didn't.

They made me feel... uneasy somehow,

so I kept an eye on them.

- Who's going to take him to her then? - You. You're the eldest, you always tell us.

Aye, but... but it was Geordie's idea.

He's too big for Geordie to carry, but if you're afraid...

- I'm not afraid of anything. - Go on, then.

Put him by the tree and ring that bell.

Oh, poor thing.

Poor thing.

Oh, God. Please, God, help me.

Wait!

- Don't touch it. - But he's hurt! From that.

Cursed gin traps. Mind yourself!

- Drop it! It'll tear your throat out. - It'll not harm me. No creature ever does.

- Put it down, you mad... - Aye, so I hear.

- Come away from him. - Let me go!

- He could half-kill you. - No creature ever harms me.

Don't touch him!

- Leave him to me. - To you?

- Why? Who are you? - Mathui. I'm the vet from Inveranoch.

You are? Now I see.

- What do you mean? - You have the skill that I haven't.

The skill that I prayed for when I found the badger.

Don't you see? You're meant to help him. And you must.

This is no use. He's too lame. It's kinder to put him out of his pain.

And wonderful to give him his life. You have the skill for it.

Please, for pity's sake.

- Don't go! - I'll get my instruments from the car.

God, you sent him. Please make him hurry back.

Well, that's it. We'll have to see how it takes.

Still, they're hardy creatures with great vitality.

He has a chance.

- Bless you, and thank you. - He has to stay quiet until he's healed.

- Have you got a place for him? - Yes.

- Are all these wild things in your care? - Yes, they come here to me.

Some instinct or guardian angel brings them.

And what kind of treatment do you give them?

Food, warmth, comfort...

- And love. - And let nature take its course.

And that mends them.

What about the other beasts brought to you? Farmer Birnie's cow, for instance?

I know all about that. What did you do?

I sent her back to him, with a message for him to be kinder to her.

I'd like to have seen his face.

- And this? - I found him one morning outside in a box.

- He had a broken leg, but he's better. - I can describe his guardian angel to you.

He's about six years old, red hair and his name's Geordie MacNab.

Well, see that the badger doesn't tear off the dressing.

Aye, I'll watch him.

You know, in Inveranoch, they call you "witch".

But if you can get all these creatures to live together,

perhaps there's some truth in it.

The truth is that they have security because they've no fear.

Animals are not like people. They only fight and kill when they're hungry or afraid -

not for gain or to prove how strong they are.

You don't have to be a witch to understand that.

- What made you come here, Mathui? - Well, I thought that...

It's no matter now. I have work to do.

Wait, I must pay you for the work you've done.

Um, there's no need.

Will you take this, then, from me? I made it here.

Then I'm glad to have it. Thank you.

I knew the man, and yet I didn't know him.

He reminded me of someone, something, that was missing in my present life.

- What do you think he's done? - Killed it.

But the witch wouldn't let him.

He wouldn't help her with magic, would he?

Suppose we had a look through the window.

It's our badger. We're responsible for him!

Aye... maybe if we were careful.

Come on, Gamma.

If she catches us, you can say you came to see how your frog was getting on.

You want to know, don't you?

Come on, then.

Psst.

The badger's in here. I think he's dead.

I told you Mr. Mathui would kill him.

Here, Geordie, you're the smallest. Climb up and have a look.

He's not dead. I can see him breathing.

Are you sure?

- Look out! - Ohh!

Ow!

Let me go! Let me go!

Och, it's all right. What's the matter?

- What are you afraid of? - Let me go!

You're the one who brought the frog to me.

He's better now his leg is mended. Do you want him back?

Then come and see him. He's not very strong at hopping yet, but he can swim.

- He's going in with her. - She must have put a spell on him.

Here's your wee frog.

Look.

Oh, he's better.

- Did you do it with magic? - With a powerful magic, Geordie.

You know my name... Cor.

Was it you who brought the wounded badger, too?

Is he going to be all right, please? Did you do magic with him?

No, that was Mr. Mathui.

- What he did was magic. - Mr. Mathui, does he do magic?

He has a wonderful skill. It's almost magic. He saved the badger's life.

- Can I go now? - Don't you want to take your frog?

Thank you for curing my frog. I'm not afraid anymore.

Well, not much, that is. I have to go now.

- Are you all right? - Yes. She cured the frog.

- But what about the badger? - She cured him, too.

She put a spell on Mr. Mathui and made him help her.

She's an awful good witch.

Hello, Mary.

Do you know what I did today?

I went up to the glen to see your witch.

You know, she's not a witch at all. She...

isn't even what Mrs. Mac calls something weird.

She's a bit like yourself. Wants to be left alone.

Except that she's... she's got all kinds of creatures up there -

squirrels, rabbits, stray dogs, cats.

Wild birds.

And a... and a badger.

If I go up there again, would you like to come and see him?

Look, Mary, I've brought you a present.

Look.

Something of your very own.

She shows no signs of wearying of this game she's playing that I'm not there.

And how do you play it?

Talk to her, behave as if things are normal, read stories to her. But she pays no heed.

- And that wee dog? - She'd have none of it. I took it away again.

No, she won't forgive me because I failed her. That's the way she sees it.

I think the trouble lies deeper than that.

You were the only human focus for her love.

That's why her shock of disappointment in you was so great.

Andrew, have you ever thought of getting married again?

No.

You need another focus for your love, and Mary needs a mother.

It's too late for me to fall in love again.

Oh, so you've seen Lori MacGregor.

Aye, I've seen her.

- What do you make of her? - I don't know. She...

She has a strange way with her, a strange skill that's instinctive.

I don't understand how she lives out there - cut off, alone - and yet doesn't seem alone.

You should see her again, Andrew. Maybe she could teach you that rare virtue.

You're in need of it, my friend - great need of it.

Good night, Angus.

- Hello, Miss MacGregor. - So he came to see Lori.

But putting a stop to what she was doing soon went out of his mind,

and he kept on coming to see her.

I've learned a great deal watching you. If only I had the skill you have.

But you've a way of taking the fear out of these creatures, making them trust you,

that I wish I had.

But I'm a witch. Remember?

Aye, you must be. You cast some kind of a spell on them.

I love them all, when they're lost or strayed or alone in pain.

That's what they need. I feel for them.

And you, with all your skill, do you?

I give them what I have and my knowledge of what to do. I do my job.

Is that all it is to you? You must have chosen to become a veterinary.

No, my father, who was one himself, chose it for me. He was a man you didn't cross.

No, all my life, I wanted to be a doctor.

I dreamed of it and worked for it.

You've put a spell on me to make me tell you that.

Except for my wife, I've never told another soul. Only she knew.

- Knew? - Aye, she's dead. About five years ago.

You say you believe in God's mercy and you wonder why I don't.

- How can you not? - I loved my wife. She did nothing but good.

She went out nursing the sick in an epidemic, caught it herself and died.

The will of God is inscrutable, they told me. God is love, they told me.

- Which is true. - That's what she believed.

- Yet the God who is love let her die. - And therefore you reject him?

Because your love died, his love has no truth?

- Is that what you mean? - Ask yourself when you've known pain.

I saw both my parents drown, Andrew, in a storm at sea.

But my faith didn't die with them. And they wouldn't have wished it, I know that.

I'm sorry. Forgive me.

Forgive? I'm glad you told me of yourself.

And I told you.

Aye.

I'm glad, too. I must go now.

The man's coming back gave me that feeling once again

of there having been some other time, some other place.

And one night, it came to a head.

It was as if something was pulling me, drawing me on.

And on.

And on.

I knew the way somehow - although I didn't know why, or where I was going.

Thomasina...

Thomasina!

Thomasina, Thomasina, come back!

Thomasina!

Thomasina!

Thomasina!

Thomasina!

Mary?!

Mary?!

Thomasina!

Thomasina!

Thomasina!

No, no, let me go! I saw her! I saw her! Let me go!

You were right to call me. She's in bad shock.

Could turn to pneumonia. I see signs of it now.

I've done all I can. I'll be round first thing in the morning.

Thank you, Strathsay. What should I do?

Keep taking her temperature every hour.

It's 100 now. If it gets higher, let me know at once.

I won't leave her. Show the doctor out, Mrs. Mac.

And you'd better get out of those wet things. You'll catch cold.

- I heard shouting, saw the doctor arrive. - Glad you came, Angus.

I'm worried sick.

- If she should catch pneumonia... - It's a great battle for a wee bairn to fight.

Pray for her, Andrew. Pray for God's help and mercy.

Pray...

Yes, pray!

Because if ever there was a man in need of mercy, it is you.

You know I'm not one for praying, for going down on my knees.

Well, pray on your feet, man!

It's what's in your heart and mind that matters, not whether you kneel or not.

Though that would be good for your soul.

It's this stubborn pride of yours that has made you live inside yourself so long.

I've forgotten how to pray.

I can't do it. I can't feel the need for it.

Humble yourself, Andrew.

Humble yourself.

If you love the child,

pray for her.

Oh, Thomasina! Where have you been?

I didn't know.

From the present, back into the past, to the present again.

Where I was safe.

Protected.

And loved.

- Where are you boys going? - Further up the glen, Granny.

Well, you're not to. They say there's a witch up here.

She'll put the evil eye on you.

- Hey! Hey! - Yah! Ha!

Ay-yay-yay!

- Ya! - Ha!

Right, you devil. You'll pay for this. Come on.

What's he gonna do to the horse?

- Let's go and see. - Aye.

Darvas, put the bear through his paces, and wake him up.

- Come on, get out. - Get him out.

Get him out, get him out!

Down you come. Down!

This way. Up now! Up and dance!

Come on, up! Up and dance. Come on!

Dance, dance, dance!

- This one's worse than the other. - The bear can't walk, let alone dance.

- What are you doing under there?! - Get 'em!

Come on, boys. Get 'em!

All right. Let him go!

Come back here, you. Get back to work.

Mr. MacQuarrie! There's some gypsies in the glen. You've got to do something.

Aye, they're beating horses and there's a poor bear with a sore foot.

- Cruel, Mr. MacQuarrie. - Wait a minute. One at a time.

We were watching them. They're beating their animals.

- They're awful people. - You've got to arrest them.

I've already told them to leave the district or move on.

I gave them until tomorrow while they rest their horses.

Rest them? You should see what they're doing.

You bring me a complaint from the proper person and I'll act on it.

- I don't take orders from children. - What proper person?

The county officer concerned with cruelty to beasts -

Mr. Mathui.

Mr. Mathui?!

Hello, what's this?

How's Mary, sir? We're sorry that she's sick.

- Aye, she's very sick. - We hope she'll get better soon.

- We haven't seen much of her since... - Since the funeral of Thomasina.

- But we really came about another matter. - What's that?

- To report cruelty to animals. - Gypsies with performing animals. Cruel.

They've got a bear with a sore foot and they make him dance.

Constable MacQuarrie said that if you were to report them to him, he could stop it.

But I thought that my opinion as an animal doctor was no good.

Somebody called Hughie Stirling has been saying so.

Will he be a friend of yours?

He's no friend of mine, sir.

Hughie Stirling's a bit of a fool, sir. Everybody knows that.

So would you do something about the circus?

Aye, aye, I will, when I can.

Run along now, all of you.

He won't do anything. He wasn't even listening.

Yes, he was.

He said he'd go when he can. He doesn't care about those animals.

- Well, we can't do any more. - Yes, we can. We've got to.

Hey, Geordie... We could tell the witch about it - Lori.

- The witch? - You say you're not afraid of her.

- You could tell her. - Me?

She'd maybe put a spell on the gypsies, turn that big one into a horse or a bear

and learn for himself what it's like to be badly treated.

I bet she'd do it. Go and tell her, Geordie.

Go on, I dare you.

Why, Geordie. Hello, there.

- I came to ask you something, please. - Will you come in, then?

It's better if I do.

I brought you a present. It's because you cured my frog.

Oh, Geordie, you didn't have to do that.

- How is your frog? - Och, he's fine.

This is my present. I made it myself.

What a beautiful pipe rack. Thank you, Geordie.

- It's just what I need. - I thought you might.

I was... we were wondering if you'd do something else with magic.

- Another frog? - Och, no.

There's a gypsy circus down the glen with all kinds of animals.

The people are awful cruel to them, beating them, and they're half-starved.

- Have you told the police? - Aye, and Mr. Mathui.

- But they won't do anything about it. - Mr. Mathui won't?

No, we asked him. He said so.

We thought you could put some magic on the gypsies to stop them.

Would you, please? The bear's got an awful sore foot.

I'll go and see what I can do. I promise you that.

I knew you would.

Oh, thank you. I have to go now.

She's going to do it! She's going to put a spell on the gypsies!

You can't stay here day and night, torturing yourself. You've had no rest, no food.

Rest? What rest can I have?

Strathsay says she's no longer fighting. It's as if she's lost the will to live.

Where is Strathsay? He said he'd be back by now.

He said the fever must run its course.

There's no crisis yet.

He's done what he can for Mary.

We're all of us praying for her.

Praying... I humbled myself and prayed, too.

I'd crawl on my hands and knees, if begging for her life would save her.

She's lost and hurt, Angus.

I can make no contact with her.

I wonder...

Perhaps someone who has the gift for hurt and lost creatures could unlock her mind.

- You mean Lori? - I do.

Then ask her, bring her here.

She's unlocked your mind to make you realize you're not sufficient to yourself.

Stay here with the child, Angus.

Lori?!

Lori!

So one night, the man came again.

Lori!

But this time, he looked helpless.

And lost.

And frightened.

Hey! Yah! Hey!

Yah!

Now let's get the bear out. We'll have him on next.

Wait a minute.

- What are you doing in there? - She's the witch the women speak of.

Come on out, you!

If you're in charge here, you should be ashamed.

Your dogs are sick, these horses past work.

- The bear is... - You're breaking my heart.

All right. You dance, witch.

You do the bears act for him. Come on.

Let me go! Let me go!

- No! - You dance for the bear.

- Look at Mr. Mathui! - Who's in charge here?

I am - King Targu. What right have you to knock about my people?

- What exactly were you doing? - Driving out the witch.

- She set the evil eye upon us. - Evil eye?

I've heard about the evil you do with these beasts.

- What do you want here? - To close you down for cruelty to animals.

- You'll pay for this. - Get him, and the witch!

Mind your back, Mr. Mathui!

I'm not standing for this. Come on.

Get the boys out of here. Keep clear of this.

Form a water chain, quick!

Lori, get those children over here. Take that man and charge for cruelty to animals.

Give a hand here!

Try to hold still.

The bleeding has stopped, but it's a deep cut.

- Lori, will you listen to me? - Not till I've dressed this wound.

You should have gone with the others to a doctor and not come up here.

Stop! Listen to me.

I am listening, Andrew.

I'm a wee bit scared not to when you're so fierce.

I was afraid of you down there in the fighting, and afraid for you.

I came up here looking for you. Just like the other strays and the lost that come.

- Why? - My daughter's sick with pneumonia.

I need your help. I want you to come to her with me.

- To your house? - Please come.

Why me?

You have a kind of a magic for the hurt and the sick.

And I've hurt the child so much.

You have? How?

She had a pet she loved more than anything. I had to have it destroyed.

I didn't realize how much it meant to the child.

But in doing what I did, I betrayed her trust in me.

I killed something in her.

Lori, you prayed yourself once. You said my coming here could be the answer.

- Aye, it was. - I prayed, too.

Your coming with me now could be the answer to that.

For me.

For Mary.

Will you come? Please.

So... he brought you.

What have you been doing to get in that state? Brawling?

- How is she? - The same.

What is this?

Mary?

Mary Mathui?

Do you hear me?

- Andrew, may I take her? - Do what you will.

- What does this woman think she's doing? - Let her be.

Andrew, there's so little of her left!

When the man took Lori away and they left me alone,

I was frightened.

I had to be with somebody.

The feeling grew stronger. And stronger.

Suddenly, like the lightning flash that split the tree,

everything - my other, lost life - came back to me.

I knew where I belonged.

I had to go home.

Home. Home...

Home!

Thomasina!

It can't be.

It's my Thomasina.

- Yours? - I found her sick and nursed her.

Is she hers?

Is that the pet?

Thomasina! Thomasina!

- Lori, call her. Make her come in! - No, she must come to you.

Thomasina...

If Thomasina is the love your child has lost, only you can give it back to her.

Call her. Make her come.

Thomasina...

Come to me. For the love of God, come to me.

I knew him now.

Mathui, my murderer.

And he needed me!

VWthout me, he was lost.

So this was my chance.

The moment of truth for both of us.

Thomasina...

Come to me.

Yet, because of my second life with Lori,

because of what I'd learned from her, I didn't want revenge.

I wanted to come home.

Mary.

Mary... I brought Thomasina to you.

She's come back to life again.

No, it's not a ghost.

Nor a dream.

It's Thomasina. She's come back.

It's Thomasina! She's alive again.

Aye. She's alive again.

And you're alive again, too.

I'm alive again, too.

So... my third life began,

with all of us together.

Not now!

And, to coin a phrase, we all lived happily ever after.