Summary[]
Andy and Opie are going fishing when they come across a wanderer who impresses Opie with his kind ways. The hobo ends up being a bad influence on Opie.
Plot[]
While out fishing one morning, Andy and Opie happen upon a stranger out by the lake. As Andy and Opie head off to the lake, the stranger helps himself to the bag of sandwiches they left in the squad car and walks off without a care in the world.
Hobo Under Arrest
A little while later, Andy returns to the courthouse and finds that Barney has arrested the stranger for vagrancy and loitering. Although he hasn't necessarily done anything wrong, Barney suspects that he's up to no good and is a drifter or hobo preying on Mayberry in search of a few free meals. Andy reveals that he's already met the stranger, whose name is David Browne. Andy decides that since Mr. Browne has no money and no visible means of support, he will give him a job trimming the hedges around his house. Mr. Browne seems to happily agree, much to Barney's dismay.
Opie upset with David.
The next morning Mr. Browne is sitting with Opie on the front porch, seemingly getting ready to trim the hedges as he promised. After a bit of creative contemplation, Mr. Browne decides that is would be best if he went fishing, his logic being that fish were meant to be caught and eaten and his was his responsibility as a human being to both catch and eat fish. He drops his shears and is off to the lake. Opie considers Mr. Browne's logic, ditches his school books beneath a bush, and follows him to the lake.
When Barney catches Opie sneaking into the Courthouse to get a fishing pole, he confronts Andy with the fact that David Browne is a bad influence on Opie. Andy is reluctant to jump to that conclusion. The next day Andy finds out that Opie has been hanging out with Mr. Browne again and even had lunch with him, a chicken that the drifter helped himself to. Andy realizes that Opie has come to idolize the vagabond drifter and his carefree, live by your wit's life. Not only does David Browne spend his days fishing and relaxing, he seems to eat rather well for a man with no means of support.
Andy knows that David really didn't steal the purse.
Rather than allow Barney to arrest him, Andy sets out to have a talk with Mr. Browne and ask him to stay away from Opie. During a conversation with Andy, he pointedly asks Andy why he doesn't let Opie decide for himself what life he'd choose. Andy explains that with children, a parent can't simply let them choose, as they would pick the first thing that comes along wrapped in shiny ribbons. He continues in saying that the hobo life seems to be all fun and games to a child even though they both know it's not. Andy tells David Browne that he's no longer fit company for Opie. When the drifter suggests his problem is solved, Andy replies, "No Mr. Browne. That boy thinks just about everything you do is perfect. So my problem is just beginning."
A short while later Barney hauls David Browne into the courthouse again, this time for purse snatching. Barney has caught the drifter red-handed with Aunt Bee's pocketbook. When Opie realizes what Mr. Browne has stolen from his own Aunt, he is heartbroken. He returns the homemade fish lure that Mr. Browne gave him and walks dejectedly out of the courthouse. When Opie leaves Andy confronts Mr. Browne with the fact that the purse he supposedly stole was, in fact, one that Aunt Bee threw away. As Andy opens the cell to release the prisoner a train whistle sounds. Andy suggests that Mr. Browne be on the train and out of Mayberry forever. When Andy tries to thank the drifter for setting things right, Mr. Browne just smiles and says "Like you said, sheriff, I got a train to catch," and walks off.
Notes/Trivia[]
- Guest Star: Buddy Ebsen - Is known for portraying Jed Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies. It’s a different type of character than the one he is playing here, although they do seem to dress the same. The Beverly Hillbillies debuted a year after this episode aired.
Goofs[]
- Most of the scenes have the cut out Cop car in the background whenever they bring in Mr.Browne. Even though they have the real Patrol car earlier and later in the episode. Someone mentioned this in earlier episodes and it sticks out to me every time now haha!
- In one scene, when Opie is seen looking down after hearing that Mr. Browne stole Aunt Bee's purse, the bottom of the backdrop can be seen outside of the courthouse door.
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