Summary[]
Andy and Barney get involved in the pursuit of a jewel thief while on a business trip to Raleigh. Talkative Barney inadvertently lets the thief know who would be the best target.
Plot[]
Andy and Barney leave for two days in Raleigh, mostly for vacation but also to visit with the State Commissioner and request some extra funding. Upon arriving at the hotel, they notice a rich lady with an emerald necklace, which she insists upon keeping in her room and/or on her person instead of the hotel safe. Barney notices a man in a dark suit watching the emerald lady, and suggests to Andy he may be a jewel thief. Andy dismisses it as Barney's imagination.
The Commissioner sympathetically informs Andy and Barney that the low crime rate of Mayberry means that the budget committee will see no need to aid them. Back at the hotel, Barney decides to stake out the man in the dark suit until he catches his "jewel thief" red-handed, hoping that one big arrest would get their name in the papers and procure them the funds they need. However, unbeknownst to Barney, the man is really former Police Officer Bardoli, the House Detective for the hotel.
The next day, Andy goes for a tour of the Raleigh police station and crime lab, while Barney continues to "case" Bardoli. Bardoli, meanwhile, notices C.J. Hasler, a thief he's tried (and failed) to convict for years, enter the hotel. He quietly confronts Hassler and warns him not to try anything. Barney, noticing Hasler talking to Bardoli, later talks to Hasler and warns him to be careful of Bardoli, mistaking Hasler for a guest in the hotel. Hasler poses as a newspaper reporter, which excites Barney, who tells him about the emeralds. They follow Bardoli to the emerald lady's room, then enter to see if he stole the emeralds already. Hasler pockets the gems while Barney isn't looking, and the two lock Bardoli in a closet and hurry downstairs to "phone the papers" (with Hasler planning to make a getaway as soon as he can).
Meanwhile, Andy has looked through the crime lab, including a book of mug shots, and returned to the hotel. When Barney and Hasler appear, Andy recognizes Hasler and recovers the emeralds, but convinces the policemen with him that Barney fooled Hasler into being caught red-handed. He then explains the truth to a distraught Barney as they go to let Bardoli out of the closet. Andy and Barney's names get in the papers and the budget committee considers relenting. Bardoli personally forgives Barney for his mistake, as he is just glad Hasler is off the streets.
Notes/Trivia[]
- This is the second episode to take place outside of Mayberry. With the exception of the prologue scene, the entire episode takes place in Raleigh. A portion of The Clubmen episode earlier in season 2 also takes place in Raleigh.
- Andy isn't wearing the bandage he was wearing in Aunt Bee the Warden and The County Nurse, anymore.
- Andy and Barney are out of town on business for two days, yet there is no mention at any point during the episode of who will be acting Sheriff or Deputy in their absence.
- Andy and Barney are staying in Room 920 at their hotel.
- The jewel robbery takes place in Room 420.
- This is one of eight episodes in which Allan Melvin (Detective Bardoli) plays a supporting character - however, this is the only Andy Griffith Show episode where Melvin's character is a sympathetic one and not antagonistic.
- This episode marks the first time Andy and Barney become involved in a criminal case out of town. Later the same season, in Andy on Trial, Andy travels to an unspecified large city (probably Raleigh or Charlotte) to arrest a newspaper publisher who failed to appear in traffic court.
Goofs[]
- The story is supposed to take place in Raleigh, North Carolina. All the stock 'exterior city' shots, however, bear no resemblance to Raleigh in the 1950s-60s at all, and in fact are most likely Seattle, Washington.
- The Pianist in the hotel restaurant is playing Chopin's Prelude in E minor, Op. 28 No. 4. However, they repeat a section of the song towards the end. There are no repeat signs, or repeated sections, in this song; in fact, it is semi-notorious for it.
- Barney claims he always signs his name "Barney Fife, MD" for "Mayberry Deputy.” However, this is the only episode in which he does so.
Music[]
- Chopin's Prelude in E Minor Op. 28, No. 4 (altered)
Quotes[]
- Aunt Bee: Wait, I almost forgot. (goes to the kitchen)
- Barney: What'd she forget?
- Andy: Well, I'll bet you a quarter she forgot a brown paper sack full of sandwiches. I never been on a trip in my life I didn't have to carry a brown paper sack full of sandwiches.
- Opie: "If you think that's something, you should hear me sing a song!"
- Andy: "Careful! There's a bottle in there!"
- Barney: "You thought of everything, didn't you?"
- Andy: "It's just a jar of piccalilli relish.”
- Lady with the jewels: There's no point in having jewels if one doesn't wear them!
