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Once a Thief is a 1997 Canadian television show inspired by the 1996 film of the same name.
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Episodes
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- E1 PilotNext upSep 29, 1996 · 60 min
Synopsis
An underground crime lord known as The Godfather, who resides in Hong Kong has three professional criminals who has raised and trained - his son Michael Tang, his foster daughter Li Ann and the white Mac Ramsey. Mac and Li Ann are lovers, but when Li Ann is promised to Michael and Mac is doomed to a life in a job he hates, they set about in order to escape from Hong Kong. However, the Godfather and Michael find out about his plans and alhthough Li Ann escapes unharmed, the building which both Michael and Mac are in is blown up and they are both presumed dead.
Guest stars: Darryl Quon, Garvin Cross, Randy Lee, Sonny Surowiec, Jan Bailey Mattia, Paul Wu, Mike Mitchell, Alan Scarfe
- E2 The Big Bang TheorySep 15, 1997 · 60 min
Synopsis
It is three months since the event of the pilot episode. Mac, in particular, is not happy. He is still working for the vixen known as the Director and Li Ann is still in love with Victor. The trio are sent to get a computer disk off a criminal. Unfortunately he is killed before they can, and in the heat of the moment - Mac quits. Surprisingly, the Director lets him go. Li Ann goes to find him but he refuses to come back when he realises she still loves Victor. The Director tells the agents remaining, that the disk contains the names of the people who helped get dissidents out of China after the Tienamen Square massacre. If that disk gets to the wrong hands, those people will be killed. The Tang family is on that list. Mac's new flame is working for a crime syndicate against her will and has to steal the disk. She asks Mac to help her and he does. However, after she doublecrosses him, he is soon back with the agents. All three must retrieve the disk which they do after Mac's friend doub
- E3 Rave OnSep 22, 1997 · 60 min
Synopsis
An investigation into the death of several teens uncovers a dangerous youth rave culture.
Guest stars: Don McKellar, Mark Wilson (The Colonel)
- E4 Trial MarriageSep 29, 1997 · 60 min
Synopsis
Mac follows husband and wife terrorists while Li Ann and Vic investigate the death of several scientists who attended the same convention.
Guest stars: Sabrina Grdevich (Peaches), Kathryn Winslow, Jan Filips
- E5 Art of DeathOct 6, 1997 · 60 min
Synopsis
A cop who arrested Mac and Li Ann works with the agency to stop a terrorist cult.
Guest stars: George Takei, Kristin Lehman
- E6 Mac DaddyOct 13, 1997 · 60 min
Synopsis
Mac is suspicious when his father shows up; Li Ann disappears while investigating a spa that's linked to an arms dealer
Guest stars: John Bourgeois, Krista Bridges, Earl Pastko, Joe Pingue, Eve Crawford, Peter Mensah
- E7 Wang Dang DoodleOct 20, 1997 · 60 min
Synopsis
The team are assigned to investigate a group of psychotics who were once normal. It soon becomes a race against time when the agency's ""cleaners"" - Camier & Murphy - are sent to dispose of the people. Dr Bernard Fry, employed by the agency, is using mind-altering drugs to turn people into ""droogs"".
Guest stars: Tamara Gorski, Douglas O'Keeffe, Joy Tanner (Droog / Shirley Hecht)
- E8 It Happened One NightOct 27, 1997 · 60 min
Synopsis
An Arabian prince is kidnapped while under the team's protection.
Guest stars: Shaun Majumder, John Hemphill
- E9 Drive, She SaidNov 10, 1997 · 60 min
Synopsis
Victor and Mac are sent to a safe house after several male agents are assassinated.
Guest stars: Nigel Bennett, Jody Racicot, John Kapelos, Michael Rhoades
- E10 Jaded LoveNov 17, 1997 · 60 min
Synopsis
Victor's old flame asks him for help after she's threatened by a client.
Guest stars: Fiona Highet, Denise Virieux, Alex Karzis (The Catman)
- E11 Wedding Bell BluesJan 17, 1998 · 60 min
Synopsis
Mac investigates, then falls in love with, a woman who's suspected of organizing the sale of a hand-held nuclear grenade.
Guest stars: Kari Matchett, Boyd Banks, Lawrence Bayne
- E12 That Old Gang of MineJan 24, 1998 · 60 min
Synopsis
Mac and Li Ann investigate a teen-age mob boss and encounter their ""Godfather.''
Guest stars: Cynthia Preston, Robert Ito
- E13 Last Temptation of VicJan 31, 1998 · 60 min
Synopsis
Victor gets mixed up with a gang of wiseguys.
Guest stars: David Nerman, Joseph Griffin, Mark Lutz, Ron Lea, Emmanuelle Chriqui
- E14 Mama's BoysFeb 7, 1998 · 60 min
Synopsis
When Mac is sent to investigate a spree of jewel thefts, he doesn't stop the thieves after suppoesdly falling in love with the hostage they take. The Director, annoyed with the teams continual lack of discipline sentences all three to a week of appreciating what goes on inside the agency, beginning with a postmortem with Murphy & Camier. Mac discovers Angie, the supposed hostage, is in on the plan. She lives with her adopted brothers and mother in a ""Brady Bunch"" style family that steals jewels and reports back to a murderous criminal mastermind who is manipulating them. The family soon adopt Mac as one of them and the Director sends Jackie to find out what Mac is up to. Mac confesses to Angie that although her family is odd, he has never had a family. Meanwhile, Vic has to put up with Nathan, who belives LiAnn and everyone else are bug people, Vic is the only one he can allegedly trust. The Rivers family meanwhile have a problem - they need someone else muscular to pull off a diamond
Guest stars: Fiona Loewi, Laura Press, Matthew Godfrey, Richard Yearwood
- E15 Li Ann's ChoiceFeb 14, 1998 · 60 min
Synopsis
Jackie, Mac and Victor set out to shut down a feuding family of weapons dealers
Guest stars: Richard Waugh, Roman Podhora, Tony Munch, Harry Hill
- E16 True BlueFeb 21, 1998 · 60 min
Synopsis
Victor's haunted by criminal ex-cop buddies who think he's ratting them out.
Guest stars: Colin Mochrie, Wayne Best, Paul O'Sullivan, Bob Martin (Neville), Thomas Mitchell (Monette), Sarain Boylan (Misty)
- E17 Kangaroo CourtFeb 28, 1998 · 60 min
Synopsis
The gang attempts to save Jackie from an underground justice system.
Guest stars: Bif Naked, Valerie Buhagiar, Pat Mastroianni, David Ferry, Rummy Bishop, David Julian Hirsh
- E18 Little SisterMar 7, 1998 · 60 min
Synopsis
Victor is summoned to rescue his little sister from a gang of alt-culture criminals.
Guest stars: Anthony J. Mifsud (Zipper), Caterina Scorsone (Alice 'Allegra' Mansfield)
- E19 The Director FilesMar 14, 1998 · 60 min
Synopsis
The Director turns against the agency thanks to a close encounter with an unknown force.
Guest stars: Bernard Behrens, Geordie Johnson, Rachel Griffiths, Graham Abbey, Lori Alter
- E20 Shaken Not StirredMar 21, 1998 · 60 min
Synopsis
When the former member of an Irish terrorist group begins stealing antiques and blowing up antique trucks, the agency's number 1 spy in the British division - Ian Leslie, with a licence to terminate - joins them. He's suave, sophisticated and is spending a lot of time getting to know Li Ann. Mac and Vic, obviously jealous, try to interfere with their relationship. The Director also warns her to stay away from him as he is really there to kill the terrorist. Ian denies it but Li Ann is unsure. As the group come together at the climax of their adventure, Mac comes to realise he still loves Li Ann but he doesn't think she feels the same way; Vic is unsure of what he feels but worries he may lose her to Mac; and Ian has to make a new evaluation of who he can trust. Li Ann, knowing Ian didn't lie to her is sad to see him leave but knows that ""he won't even think about another woman for a long time"". But little does she know he and the Director are already on a plane to Paris... Meanwhile in
Guest stars: Simon Williams, Andy Jones, Garry Robbins
- E21 Politics Of LoveMar 28, 1998 · 60 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Lauren Collins, Alyson Court, Matt Gordon
- E22 Family Reunion (1)Apr 25, 1998 · 60 min
Guest stars
Guest stars: Miranda Kwok, Neil Crone, Scott Wickware, Robert Ito
- E23 Endgame (2)May 2, 1998 · 60 min
Synopsis
SPOILER ALERT - FOR THOSE AMERICAN VIEWERS WHO DO NOT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ENDING OF THE EPISODE, DO NOT READ THE NOTES BELOW THIS SYNOPSIS In the aftermath of the Godfather's assassination, the team comes close to breaking up, but the arrival of a top-notch assassin who not only is gunning for the Director but used to WORK for the Director (pre-Murphy and Camier) keeps them together. Li Ann is ready to believe in Michael again, who is working with the Director, but Mac is having his reservations. Mac finally does reach out to Michael, only to have it all blow up in his face.
Guest stars: Howard Jerome
Cast & crew
Created by John Woo
Victoria Pratt
Nicholas Lea
Jennifer Dale
Ivan Sergei
Sandrine Holt
Kari Matchett
