Andy Taylor (The Andy Griffith Show) (Andy Griffith), now living in Cleveland as a U.S. Postal Inspector, returns to his native Mayberry to see his son Opie Taylor (Ron Howard) become a first-time father, and also to run in the soon-to-be held sheriff's election, as he has already asked county clerk Howard Sprague (Jack Dodson) to prepare the paperwork. But when Andy learns that his old deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts), now back in Mayberry himself serving as acting sheriff, announced his own candidacy while Andy was on the road back to town he quietly tells Opie, "I won't run against Barney."