On this date in 1958, the Maverick episode "Prey of the Cat" premiered. It's one of the most dramatic and harrowing installments of the series. It's also the closest thing Maverick ever had to a Christmas episode, although the holiday is only incidental to the plot.
When his horse is spooked by a mountain lion, Bart falls and breaks his leg. He's rescued by rancher Pete Stillman (Wayne Morris), who takes Bart into his home to recuperate from the injury. While Bart recovers with the help of Stillman's wife, Kitty (Patricia Barry), the ranch has a Christmas celebration.
The day finally comes when Bart feels he's well enough to leave the ranch. However, Kitty has become obsessed with Bart. Desperate for him to stay, she suddenly throws herself into his arms. Bart breaks free of Kitty's unwanted embrace, but not before it's witnessed by Bender the ranch foreman.
Pete asks Bart to remain at the ranch long enough to help him and Kitty hunt the puma who caused Bart's accident. During the hunt, the trio spreads out. Bart shoots at the cat. But, instead of finding it, he discovers Pete Stillman's corpse.
Kitty tells the sheriff that Pete's shooting was accidental and that Bart's bullet ricocheted off the rocks. Bart isn't charged. But, Bender blabbed about seeing the embrace, and Bart knows the town has already judged him guilty.
Then, he's confronted by Pete's former girlfriend, Raquel (Yvette Dugay). She's heard the rumors about Bart and Kitty, and wants to kill Bart. However, he convinces Raquel that he is innocent of killing Pete.
Bart once more lets Kitty know that he's leaving. But, she confesses that she killed Pete so they could be together. Bart realizes Kitty is insane. She further informs Bart that if ever tries to leave her, she'll tell the sheriff that he killed Pete and that she just lied to protect him.
A shaken Bart reveals Kitty's statements to the sheriff, but Kitty sticks to her original story. The sheriff now thinks Bart and Kitty are in cahoots. He orders Bart to stay at the ranch with Kitty, assuming that one of them will eventually crack and tell the truth.
Although he knows it will make him look guilty, Bart escapes during the night. He's re-captured and returned to the ranch--where Kitty is found with her throat slashed.
Now suspected of both murders, Bart watches helplessly from his jail cell as the sheriff resigns. The vengeful townspeople storm the jail, put Bart on a horse, and slip a noose around his neck. Bender raises a riding crop to strike Bart's mount so the horse will run out from under him. Bart is a hairbreadth away from being wrongfully executed. But, before the crop touches the horse...
You'll have to watch the episode to find out what happens next. It's one of Maverick's best.
Please CATch the next TDS for more about Jack Kelly. :)
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