Oh, hi, Aunt Bee. Aren't you in a hurry! My goodness!

Oh Andy. The most wonderful thing has happened!

(out of breath)

The church ladies and I have finally decided on how we will donate our sizable pot of money! You know we've been agonizing about this for years! Years!

Slow down, Aunt Bee! Now, sit down right here. Sit yourself on down.

Now, Aunt Bee, just calm down and tell me what's going on!

Andy, we were just sitting in the church this morning when this man we didn't even know came walking in. He was smiling and looked all the world like a regular old hayseed, like they have around these parts. You know. Then he began to talk about the good he was doing in Africa. And, oh by the way, he claimed he was a prophet.

Africa?! What kind of prophet?

Africa! Now listen! This man - this prophet - was so excited, like he somehow knew we were on the verge of handing over our cake, I mean contribution, to some undetermined organization. I tell you, he is a prophet, if there ever was one!

Hi Barn. You're just in time.

Just in time for what?

(seeing Aunt Bee)

Oh hi, Aunt Bee.

Aunt Bee was telling me about the man -

- prophet! ...

... who just happened into church this morning as she and her Benevolence Committee were making a final decision on the donation of -

(redirecting to Bee)

- What is it, Aunt Bee, about $50,000?

Andy! Wait 'til I tell you about the idea he had. He said we could each choose some combination of typical farm animals, give him the money for them and he'd send them right on over to the poor African farmers who have nothing! No animals! No water! No houses! Nothing!! And, I saved the best for last ... he can arrange for you and Barney and Opie to give a bundle also. He said it could be a regular Noah's Ark with animals we paid for!

Now, hold on, Aunt Bee. You say this man was someone you never saw before?

Never. Heaven must have sent him!

Just so I know what he was talking about, what types of animals is he going to round up for you ladies to buy and get shipped?

For you and Barney, too! All of us are going to do this!

Well, ..., like I said, what animals was he talking about? Goats and such?

Yeah, them and chickens, cows, pigs, ducks and sheep. Mostly sheep, he said. He said that there were several animal combination packages we could buy. He also said the pigs were specially liked by the Africans. Oh, Andy! All those wonderful animals! ... A second Noah's Ark! I can just imagine ...

(Aunt Bee is grinning, beginning to cry)

I'm about to wet myself! Honest!

Now, Aunt Bee. I know that funding another Ark is something that might excite you ladies, but -

- You're in on it too, Andy! I told the man you and Barney would sign over your meager pensions if necessary. We'd be providing needed farm animals to Africa, Andy. And how fitting that little Opie has a piggy bank to maybe buy a few pigs with.

Did you tell this fella how much money you ladies have?

How much money us ladies had.

We did better than that, we gave him the cash already. He said the animals will be ready to ship by Friday! Isn't it wonderful!

(animated)

Now, Aunt Bee, you don't know anything about that stranger! He sounds like a con artist!

Aunt Bee, I think Barney might be right. And, oh by the way yourself, I have no intention of handing this guy any dough of mine!

Me neither, Aunt Bee.

(leaning over toward Andy)

Ange, I think we better get moving on this. I'll get the squad car!

Oh, Barney! You'll do no such thing! The ladies and I are going to ride in the Ark also! Clean over to Africa! Friday, maybe Saturday.

That was the other part of my surprise, Andy. You and little Opie are going to have to get another housekeeper. Maybe Clara can hadle it.

(realizing)

Oh, wait! That't won't work. She's on the Ark too. She's our cook. Well, I guess you guys are on your own!

Now, Aunt Bee, I've heard about enough. Where is this thief? What type car was he in? It's possible we could catch him by dusk if we hurry.

Oh, Andy. No!

Did he try to get any animals from people around here? Sheep? I know there is a surplus of ewes out on the Darby farm.

Barney! Do like you said, go get the squad car and we will try to chase this bird down.

Won't do any good.

Why is that, Aunt Bee?

I know for a fact he wired the funds we gave him to some island out in the ocean, I think he said. Doesn't it sound real exotic? He said the Ark would pass right by this island place as we sail to the motherland with the animals.

Motherland?! Aunt Bee, did it ever occur to you that Africa is probably so full of wild creatures already, the last thing they'd want to appear on the horizon would be a boat load of domestic sheep? Especially them uncooperative ones from the Darby place. Believe me, ...

(looking over at Barney and grinning)

... we know.

I second that.