Andy Forecloses (TAGS Episode)
Contents
Episode Info
Andy Forecloses
- S1.E28
- Filmed: 28
- Aired: 28
- Original Air Date: 1961/04/24
- Writer(s): Ben Gershman and Leo Solomon
- Director: Bob Sweeney
Plot Summary
Ben Weaver is up to his Scrooge-like tactics again; this time he is out to evict the Scobey family from their home. He is foiled by some of Andy's patented reverse psychology.
Plot
Andy's giving Barney a hard time about Juanita Beasley (and making him do a "trouble check") when Mayberry's grump, Ben Weaver, shows up at the courthouse. Ben tells Andy he's foreclosing on the Scobey family because they're behind on their mortgage payments. Andy tries to get Ben to give them more time or be a little nicer, but Ben's all about the rules.
When Andy visits the Scobeys, he sees that Lester's working really hard to make ends meet and has always paid on time before. Andy and Barney feel bad and chip in to help with the rent. But when they try to pay Ben, he says the whole balance is due because they missed a payment.
Andy, Barney, and Aunt Bee try everything to raise the money. Andy even stalls the foreclosure to give them more time. But they can't get enough money, and Andy has to do his job. He thinks Ben might not realize how much he's hurting the Scobeys, so he acts mean and orders them out of the house. In the end, Ben stops the foreclosure.
Odd Facts Known by Few
- Just a minute or two into the episode is the first mention of the never-seen Juanita Beasley, the new waitress at the Junction Cafe who Barney sees from time to time in later episodes.
- Juanita Beasley's telephone number is given as 142R.
- The last name Beasley is used several times in The Andy Griffith Show. Juanita Beasley here, Goober Beasley (before he was Pyle), Edgar Beasley, Loraine Beasley, Charlie Beasley, and Andrew Beasley.
- Sam Edwards, Margaret Kerry, and Joy Ellison played three of the four members of the Muggins family in an earlier episode, No. 11, The Christmas Story.
- One of two instances where Will Wright's character (Ben Weaver) asks Andy to strictly enforce a law to the detriment of Sam Edwards's character. Here, Sam plays Lester Scobey, who Ben wants evicted for missing a house payment so that he can foreclose on his house. Earlier this season in "Christmas Story," Sam plays 'Sam Muggins,' who Ben wants jailed for moonshining. Even more interesting is that in both instances, Margaret Kerry plays Sam's wife, 'Helen Scobey' and 'Bess Muggins' and Joy Ellison plays his daughter 'Mary Scobey' and 'Effie Muggins.' It is not clear why the writers didn't portray them as the same family.
- Will Wright was the first of three actors to play Ben Weaver. After his death in 1962, the role was assumed by Tol Avery. Audiences came to assume that they were the sons and nephews of the original.
- In an effort to keep the Scobey's from being evicted, Barney starts the "Save the Scobey House" fund by taking money out of his holster, his sock, and his hat.
- The customer at the rummage sale, in "Memorable Quotes" (below), is played by Jack Prince who was only credited as "Rummage Sale Customer." The character on this episode was most likely "Luke Ranier" ("The Inspector") or "Ben Sewell," ("Alcohol and Old Lace") since those characters were seen just a few episodes before "Andy Forecloses." Starting in season 2, episode 12, he is credited as "Rafe Hollister."
- Lester Scobey's monthly mortgage payment is mentioned in the beginning of the episode as being $52.50.
- The rummage sale was needed to help raise $780.00 (the full balance of the Scobey's mortgage note).
- Mary Scobey (the daughter of Lester and Helen in this episode) is played by Joy Ellison who also plays the character of Mary Wiggins (Opie's girlfriend) in "The Beauty Contest," Effie Muggins in "Christmas Story," and Betsy in "Opie’s Most Unforgettable Character." Later in the series (S8.E1) Joy played Iris in "Opie’s First Love."
Memorable Quotes
- At the rummage sale:
- Customer: Uh, how much is this?
Andy: Oh, 'bout three dollars.
Customer: What you suppose it is?
Andy: If I knew that it'd cost you five.
Customer: Sounds like a bargain.
Andy: Heh, yeah...yeah, one of these is nice to have.
Customer: I always wanted one.
Andy: Yeah.
More Information
Character List
- Andy Griffith - Andy Taylor
- Ronny Howard - Opie Taylor
- Don Knotts - Barney Fife
- Frances Bavier - Aunt Bee Taylor
- Hope Summers - Bertha
- Sam Edwards - Lester Scobey
- Margaret Kerry - Helen Scobey
- Joy Ellison - Mary Scobey
- Will Wright - Ben Weaver
- Bob McQuain - Bill
- Jack Prince - rummage sale customer
