Ep 23. The Gypsies
- February 21, 1966
- 25 min
-
6.3 (217)
The Gypsies is an episode from season 6 of the classic television show The Andy Griffith Show. It originally aired on March 18, 1966, and was directed by Lee Philips. The episode features the return of a group of gypsies, who have come to town looking for work and a place to set up their camp.
The episode begins with Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier) returning to Mayberry from a visit to her sister's house in West Virginia. She is carrying a new coffee pot and some other gifts, as well as some fresh vegetables and herbs that she has gathered from her sister's garden. She is excited to share her goodies with Andy (Andy Griffith) and Opie (Ron Howard), but soon learns that they are preoccupied with a group of gypsies who have arrived in town.
The gypsies, led by a man named Yorga (Parley Baer), are looking for work and a place to set up their camp. They have a reputation for being troublemakers and thieves, and many of the townspeople are wary of them. However, Andy and the rest of the Mayberry gang decide to give them a chance and see if they can help out around town.
The gypsies are hard workers and quickly make themselves useful. They help fix a broken fence at the Taylors' house and wash the windows at the courthouse. However, trouble soon arises when one of the gypsy women is accused of stealing a wallet from a local farmer.
The townspeople are quick to jump to conclusions and turn against the gypsies, but Andy remains impartial and investigates the situation. He soon discovers that the real thief is a local man who has been stealing from his neighbors for some time. With the help of the gypsies, he is able to apprehend the thief and clear the name of the innocent gypsy woman.
The episode ends with the gypsies leaving town, but not before Yorga thanks Andy and the rest of the Mayberry gang for their hospitality. He leaves behind a gift for Aunt Bee as a token of his gratitude, and the group watches as the gypsies drive off into the sunset.
Overall, The Gypsies is a heartwarming episode that explores themes of prejudice, tolerance, and community. It showcases the values and virtues of small-town America as well as the importance of keeping an open mind and showing kindness to those who are different from us.
