The Three Lives of Thomasina

In Inveranoch, Scotland, during 1912, Patrick McGoohan as Andrew MacDhui, a veterinarian, shares a home with his seven-year-old daughter Karen Dotrice as Mary McDhui and her cat Thomasina, who narrates the story in voiceover, voiced by Elspeth March. When Thomasina contracts tetanus after a mishap near the fish market, MacDhui orders his assistant Denis Gilmore as Willie Bannock to euthanize her. Willie reminds MacDhui that he promised Mary to heal Thomasina, but he is so preoccupied with his surgery on another patient’s seeing-eye dog that he ignores the plea. Traumatized by Thomasina’s death, Mary withdraws emotionally from MacDhui and declares her father dead, refusing to speak to or look at him.

Thomasina’s soul travels to the feline afterlife and meets Bastet, the Egyptian cat goddess. Since Thomasina still has eight lives left, Bastet returns her to her body. Mary and her friends take Thomasina’s body beyond the town for a funeral, but they are frightened by the appearance of Mad Lori MacGregor, a young woman who lives in the glen and is drawn to their singing and bagpipe playing. The children believe she is a witch because of her apparent power to calm and cure animals. Lori brings Thomasina back to her makeshift animal hospital, and although the cat recovers, she has no memory of her life with Mary. Thus begins her second life.

The townspeople are disappointed by MacDhui’s lack of compassion, so they begin taking their sick pets to Lori instead. MacDhui visits Lori with the intention of confronting her for stealing his business, but instead they both realize that they each have half of what is needed to treat sick animals: he has the science and surgical knowledge; she has the love and compassion. By working together, they are able to save a badger whose right rear leg has been injured by a trap. As Thomasina’s memory is slowly returning, she realizes she misses something very important, but she cannot recall what. She remembers the way back home, but does not recognize Mary, who chases her into a rainstorm. Thomasina returns to Lori’s cabin in the woods. Mary contracts pneumonia, and her father finds her lying on the street in the rain.

A Romani group sets up camp in town and opens their travelling circus. When MacDhui and Lori discover the Romani have been abusing their performing animals (for instance, a dancing Asiatic black bear), they visit the circus. Their attempt at discussion leads to a fight and, eventually, a fire. The police arrest the proprietors for animal cruelty. MacDhui prays for the first time in four years that God will somehow cure his daughter. Off in the glen, a lightning bolt strikes a tree next to Thomasina, and her memory is suddenly restored. Thomasina returns to the MacDhui home. MacDhui places her in his daughter’s arms, and this restores Mary’s will to live — as well as her love for her father. Lori’s love has changed MacDhui. They marry, and Thomasina begins her third life with all of them together.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:09