Ep 3. Andy and the Woman Speeder
- October 16, 1961
- 25 min
-
7.6 (356)
In season 2 episode 3 of The Andy Griffith Show, titled "Andy and the Woman Speeder," the town of Mayberry is buzzing with rumors about a woman who has been driving through town at record-breaking speeds. When Andy (played by Andy Griffith) pulls her over, he is surprised to find that the woman behind the wheel is Mary Simpson, an old flame from his high school days.
Mary explains to Andy that she is on her way to visit her sister and has been driving so quickly because she is running late. Although Andy is clearly still smitten with Mary, he gives her a ticket and warns her to slow down.
Back at the courthouse, Andy and his deputy, Barney (played by Don Knotts), are swarmed by the town's gossipers who are excited about Mary's appearance in Mayberry. As the news spreads, more and more people start to show up at the courthouse to catch a glimpse of Mary.
When Mary returns to pay her ticket, Andy takes the opportunity to catch up with her and learn more about her life since they last saw each other. She tells him that she is divorced and that her husband left her for a younger woman. Andy sympathizes with Mary, and the two of them begin to reminisce about their past together.
Barney, however, is suspicious of Mary and believes that she is up to no good. He decides to investigate her further and discovers that she has been driving all over the county in her sports car. Barney confronts Mary and accuses her of being a "troublemaker," but Andy comes to her defense and tells Barney to back off.
The episode climaxes with Mary getting into a car accident while speeding through town. Although she is injured, she is adamant about getting back on the road to make it to her sister's house. Andy convinces her to slow down and offers to drive her to her destination himself.
In the end, Mary arrives safely at her sister's house, and Andy is left to ponder what might have been if they had stayed together. The episode deals with themes of lost love and the difficulties of moving on from past relationships.
