Return to Mayberry

Having retired as a postal inspector in Cleveland, Andy Taylor returns to Mayberry to be near Opie and his growing family. He plans to see Opie become a father and contemplates running for sheriff, but tells Opie he won't run against Barney.

Barney announces his candidacy for sheriff, convinced no other challenger will appear. Andy notes that Thelma Lou, now divorced, has returned to Mayberry and is back in the social circle.

The cryptic rhyme from Ernest T. Bass hints at a mysterious 'monster' near Myers Lake, setting the town on edge. The monster appears to be a promotional stunt cooked up by local businessman Wally Butler.

Andy visits Aunt Bee's grave at the cemetery, where Thelma Lou is also paying respects to her uncle. They end up at the school where Barney is teaching, reconnecting Thelma Lou with her old circle.

In a tense moment of labor, Eunice goes into birth at Opie's house. With the hospital unreachable in time, Andy delivers his grandson in the back of the car.

The next day, Gomer and Goober are fishing at Myers Lake when Gomer spots a monster head rising from the water. The sighting escalates the lake-side mystery and invites skepticism.

Barney is skeptical at first, but he finds monster tracks in the mud that match the stories. Gomer later shows a photo with an indistinct shape in the background, boosting the fear of a real monster.

Otis Campbell, now sober and driving an ice cream truck, sees the 'monster' and races to the courthouse to report it. The report forces Barney to consider resuming the hunt despite opposition.

Andy notices a dragon head in a picture at Butler's Inn and recalls Ernest T. Bass's rhyme. He travels to the Darlings' homestead to coax Ernest T. Bass into revealing when the monster will appear again.

At Myers Lake, Barney sets a trap while Andy spots Ernest T. going into a nearby quarry shed. Butler arrives to redirect Ernest T., and Andy exposes the hoax, showing Butler had planted forged artifacts to attract customers.

Howard captures photos of Barney with the dragon head for the newspaper, amplifying the hoax exposure. Andy then informs Butler of the impending legal consequences of his actions.

At a rally for Acting Sheriff Fife, Barney learns that Andy has stepped aside to give him a better chance to win. In a selfless move, he asks the crowd to vote for Andy as a write-in candidate.

Andy is elected sheriff by write-in and immediately reappoints Barney as Deputy, preserving their partnership. The town acknowledges the new leadership with a sense of humor about the earlier hoax.

Opie accepts a newspaper job in Binghamton, signaling his departure from Mayberry for the first time. Barney and Thelma Lou finally marry, with Ernest T. Bass and the Darlings joining in the celebration.

The closing image shows Sheriff Taylor and Deputy Fife folding an American flag at the end of the day on Mayberry’s Main Street, concluding the day’s events.