The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series)

Opie the Birdman (1963)

Andy Griffith: Andy Taylor

Photos 

Quotes 

• Opie Taylor : The cage sure looks awful empty, don't it, Pa?

  Andy Taylor : Yes, Son, it sure does. But don't the trees seem nice and full?

• Andy Taylor : Whatcha doin'?

  Opie Taylor : Fixin' some breakfast.

  Andy Taylor : Oh. What sort of things you fixin'?

  Opie Taylor : Bugs and worms and things.

  Andy Taylor : Oh. Bugs and worms and things, huh?

  Opie Taylor : It's for the birds. I got to thinkin' last night and since their ma ain't comin' back and since it's my fault and since being sorry won't help, I'm gonna take over and feed 'em.

• Andy Taylor : You remember, you took over this job 'cause they lost their ma. Well, there's that one other thing that she woulda done. That's to let 'em go.

• Aunt Bee Taylor : Why is Opie acting so strange?

  Andy Taylor : Well, the boy is facin' up to some awful unusual problems. Fact is, Opie's just become a mother!

• Opie Taylor : Maybe we should get a larger cage. They need a bigger place.

  Andy Taylor : Yeah, that's what they need alright. They need a bigger place. They need a *real* bigger place!

  Opie Taylor : You mean, turn 'em loose?

• Andy Taylor : Let's have it... you know what I'm talkin' about. Hand it over.

  [Opie hands over the slingshot] 

  Andy Taylor : You killed that bird, didn't you?... Didn't cha?

  [Opie nods] 

  Andy Taylor : You remember me tellin' you to be careful with this thing?

  Opie Taylor : I'm sorry, Pa.

  Andy Taylor : That won't bring that bird back to life. Being sorry is not the magic word that makes everything right again.

  Opie Taylor : You gonna give me a whippin'?

  Andy Taylor : No, I'm not gonna give you a whippin'.

  [opens the window] 

  Andy Taylor : You hear that? That's those young birds chirpin' for their mama that's never comin' back. You just listen to that for a while.