Once a Thief
1996 - 1998
Episode 1
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.The Big Bang Theory
15th September 1997Episode 2
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 doubRave On
22nd September 1997Episode 3
An investigation into the death of several teens uncovers a dangerous youth rave culture.Trial Marriage
29th September 1997Episode 4
Mac follows husband and wife terrorists while Li Ann and Vic investigate the death of several scientists who attended the same convention.Art of Death
6th October 1997Episode 5
A cop who arrested Mac and Li Ann works with the agency to stop a terrorist cult.Mac Daddy
13th October 1997Episode 6
Mac is suspicious when his father shows up; Li Ann disappears while investigating a spa that's linked to an arms dealerWang Dang Doodle
20th October 1997Episode 7
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"".It Happened One Night
27th October 1997Episode 8
An Arabian prince is kidnapped while under the team's protection.Drive, She Said
10th November 1997Episode 9
Victor and Mac are sent to a safe house after several male agents are assassinated.Jaded Love
17th November 1997Episode 10
Victor's old flame asks him for help after she's threatened by a client.Wedding Bell Blues
17th January 1998Episode 11
Mac investigates, then falls in love with, a woman who's suspected of organizing the sale of a hand-held nuclear grenade.That Old Gang of Mine
24th January 1998Episode 12
Mac and Li Ann investigate a teen-age mob boss and encounter their ""Godfather.''Last Temptation of Vic
31st January 1998Episode 13
Victor gets mixed up with a gang of wiseguys.Mama's Boys
7th February 1998Episode 14
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 diamondLi Ann's Choice
14th February 1998Episode 15
Jackie, Mac and Victor set out to shut down a feuding family of weapons dealersTrue Blue
21st February 1998Episode 16
Victor's haunted by criminal ex-cop buddies who think he's ratting them out.Kangaroo Court
28th February 1998Episode 17
The gang attempts to save Jackie from an underground justice system.Little Sister
7th March 1998Episode 18
Victor is summoned to rescue his little sister from a gang of alt-culture criminals.The Director Files
14th March 1998Episode 19
The Director turns against the agency thanks to a close encounter with an unknown force.Shaken Not Stirred
21st March 1998Episode 20
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 inPolitics Of Love
28th March 1998Episode 21
No overview available.Family Reunion (1)
25th April 1998Episode 22
No overview available.Episode 23
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.Once a Thief is a 1997 Canadian television show inspired by the 1996 film of the same name.
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