Summary[]
A man Andy put behind bars returns to Mayberry.
Plot[]
Andy receives a letter from ex-con Luke Comstock, whom Andy had to shoot in the leg during an armed holdup of a gas station, many years prior. Comstock claims he wants to come to Mayberry to "set things straight between us.” Barney immediately assumes Comstock wants to gun Andy down; despite Andy's insistence that they shouldn't assume the worst, Barney refuses to wait and see what Luke wants. He deputizes Gomer and Otis behind Andy's back, to keep watch on him 24/7. However, Aunt Bee mistakes Otis for a cat in the night, and drops a vase on him; Andy also discovers his "surveillance team,” and tries to talk Barney out of it.
When Comstock does arrive, he is indeed bearing a shotgun, but it's a gift for Andy. Being laid up in the hospital for six months with his leg injury, Luke had a chance to review his life, start reading and educating himself again, and turn over a new leaf, becoming a successful buisinessman over the years. He thanks Andy for setting him straight. Unfortunately, fearing for Andy, Aunt Bee had called Barney and his team after Comstock first called to say he was coming to the house. Barney's team turns out the lights, barges in, and gets all tangled up in a rope they brought to tie up Comstock, much to Andy's exasperation.
Andy Gets a Letter From Luke
Notes/Trivia
- The Deputy's Oath:
- "As a deputy of the county of Mayberry, I swear to uphold the laws and regulations therein, set to by statute 426 C, county rules and regulations, put there by this date, city of Mayberry, county of Mayberry, thereon."
- Barney mentions, during a deputy swearing-in ceremony, that "Mayberry" is also the name of the county, as well as the town. This has been known from the beginning of the series.
- The title refers to the classic western High Noon (1952) starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly, and is said by Everett Greenbaum to be directly inspired by the movie.
- This is the first of many times Gomer is deputized.
- This show's copyright has expired, and it is now in the public domain.
- Andy keeps an unloaded revolver on top of Aunt Bee's china cabinet. The bullets are kept in a drawer.
- Prior to this episode, there was no mail slot in the courthouse door. It was added for the first time here, and remains for the rest of the series.
- Leo Gordon, who played Luke Comstock, was an actual ex-con in real life, and was also actually shot by a police officer. Gordon and a confederate attempted an armed robbery in Southern California. He was shot in the stomach by one of the officers making the arrest. He also served five years in San Quentin Prison.
Goofs[]
- When the lights are turned off by Barney and gang, Andy goes out to the side of the front porch to the fuse box and turns the power back on. After this episode, the fuse box is not seen again on the porch.
Music[]
Quotes[]
Barney: Put a mail sack on some people and it goes right to their head.
Gallery[]
