Original subtitles

Good time, anytime you need it, baby. Good time, anytime you need it, baby.

Good time, anytime you're up and under.

Not getting hassled, not getting hustled. Keeping your head up for water.

Making a way when you can.

Temporary.

Boy, she's really been on the warpath all week.

laying in your right position for your funeral.

I don't know what y 'all are so worried about.

Just because Mama's a little bit uptight?

A little bit uptight? She's yelling at every little thing.

Last night she jumped on me for drying out my pantyhose over the curtain rod in

the bathroom.

I always dry out my pantyhose over the curtain rod.

Yeah, I know.

Twice this week I took a shower without turning the water on.

don't know how to handle mama and you do huh you looking at the number one mama

handler in the business see i give her my famous jj technique

i lay on my charms and she cuddles me in her arms

just as you are. A vision of loveliness.

One perfect and exquisite rose.

That's not much coming from one tall weed.

I wouldn't fall for that crock if you were Harry Belfonte.

Shut up, JJ. Get out of that blanket.

You look like the tent pole of a teepee.

possible that i'm turning you off move it move it

why aren't you stirring this oatmeal

i didn't know it was cooking mom it's not it's burning and if you didn't drown

yourself with all that fancy toilet water you'd have smelled it sorry mom

got to go down to the laundry room just keep stirring girl you find a lump in it

just unload

Do something useful and make up your bed.

Okay, Mom. Oh, never mind. You always mess it up anyway. I'll do it when I get

back. I should have been born an octopus.

You need eight hands to run this house.

Oh, boy.

Clyde, if I hear one more door slam around here, I'm going to... Where's

mother? Taking down the laundry, Dad.

Boy, that woman's about to drive me up a wall.

What's the matter with Mama, Daddy? I don't know, son.

It's like she all of a sudden declared war.

I tell you, boy, lately sleeping with her is like being in a phone booth with

Joe Frazier.

Something's really wrong with her, Daddy. Who you telling, Thelma?

I come home last night after work until four in the morning like a dog, and

she's laying up in the bed asleep.

And I mean calling hogs, too.

So I get in the bed and go to sleep. I ain't sleep two minutes before she wakes

up with rocks in her jaws talking about, James, I want to talk.

I say, well, baby.

Can't wait till the morning. I got to get some rest. She said, no, James, I

to talk now.

I said, okay, Florida, let's talk.

Then she says, James, I ain't got nothing to say.

Then she rolls over and goes back to sleep and calls some more hogs, and I'm

the rest of the night trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

Come on, Dad, now. Shut up, Junior.

So far, I'm batting 1 ,000.

on the 14th and a half floor.

14th and a half floor?

Mm -hmm. See, there's a dude on the 14th floor who makes out with a chick on the

15th floor, and they kind of like to meet each other halfway.

I meant that joke to start the day. I think I just finished it.

Damn. Fire it up.

I felt like saying damn, and I said it. Now I got it out of my system, I don't

have to say it anymore.

Well, is that damn?

you're talking about me and james ain't about to get no divorce i love him and

he loves me i know that i'm talking about a person not being satisfied with

itself all of a sudden florida i don't know whether you're ready for this but

when i got the downs i went for help i went to this place where you can talk

about these things i still go there now and then uh helps me out a lot well

honor i got a house and family to take care of i ain't got time for that

foolishness

Well, what do you know?

The proud bird with the slow tail finally rose.

Are you coming, Malona? No, you go on ahead. I just remembered. I forgot a few

things.

Uh, James, can I come in and talk to you?

Well, half the talks is already in.

You may as well bring in the rest of it.

I want to talk to you about Florida.

Something's bothering her.

Hey, you kids hear that?

All week long, your mother been slamming doors, drawers, and hollering at

everybody and keeping me up all night. Now the Rooney Barrett of the projects

comes in.

With the hot news flash that something's bothering her. Well, thanks, Winona,

for telling us, because we never would have known.

interfere. Then don't.

Florida's my best friend, and I care what happens to her. And I think I'm the

only one who knows what's wrong with her.

Oh, you are, huh?

Okay, genius, let's hear these pearls of wisdom. Come on, tell me, what's

bothering her? She doesn't have enough to do.

What? She doesn't have enough to do.

Wellona, your bread ain't baked.

Wellona, Mama has plenty to do. She's so busy, sometimes she finishes the thing

before she starts it.

Yeah. The other morning, she folded up the bed, and I was still in it.

That's one thing she can never complain about is not having nothing to do. I let

her do all the washing, cleaning, scrubbing, sewing, shopping.

I ain't the kind of man that interferes with a woman's pleasure.

Well, that's mighty white of you.

Jane, look.

Now, you go off to work. The kids go off to school.

and stretch two dreary hours of work into one big nothing of a day.

What? Now, you think cooking and sewing and scrubbing is Florida's thing?

She's wasting herself, James.

It's an empty existence.

Well, honey, the only thing empty around here is your head.

Don't tell me nothing about my wife. I'm her husband. If there's something

bothering her, I know what it is. Okay, what is it?

I do know, too, and I should have known a long time ago. The only trouble with

that woman is she's spoiled.

I've been pampering her.

That is right. We've been treating her like a princess. Shut up, Junior.

You know, I've been treating her like a princess.

From now on, no more Mr. Nice Guy.

I'm going to put that lady in her place.

Well, I can see there's no use of me trying to get through to you, James.

And with that, I will say goodbye.

See you kids later. See you, Mom. Bye, Mom.

I don't know. What you doing here? I thought you said you forgot something.

You see how forgetful I'm getting?

I thought this was my apartment.

I couldn't get the laundry done. All the machines were taken.

Some of the least you could have done was put breakfast on the table.

Sorry. Never mind.

Want something done around here, you have to do it yourself. Floyd, I want to

talk to you.

I'm busy.

bothering you. Ain't you happy?

I'm happy.

You sure don't act like you're happy. Well, I am happy. I'm very happy.

If she gets any happier, she's gonna break every dish in the house.

Well, if somebody's supposed to be happy, you sure act strange.

Don't you act strange?

Personally, I think that you should... Oh, shut up, Junior.

You know, I ain't seen you smiling. in the last few days. A happy person is

supposed to smile.

So come on, woman, smile.

All right, I'll smile.

You ain't gonna win no toothpaste ad with that.

Florida, you ought to be counting your blessings instead of complaining. I

you got a nice home, kids who love you and understand and husband.

Ain't that right, Florida? Ain't you got nice kids and understanding husband?

Damn right. I don't want to hear no more of your lip. I'll button it, you hear?

I told you to put your fist in it.

I paid for that oatmeal. I eat it any way I want to.

I don't need no more of your lip, neither.

Maybe I ought to not hear any more of yours because I am getting... Mama,

please don't argue. Stay out of this. It's none of your business, Michael.

Now listen to me. No, you listen, baby, because I'm going to do some talking

now. No, I'm going to talk and you're going to listen, Michael.

Oh, my God.

still busting our butts to break loose from a bucket and a broom.

Right, all right.

Oh, I don't know, Cora, that may sound good here, you know, but just try

that to my husband.

He don't listen minute number one. He just sits there and gives me the silent

treatment. Well, honey, I settle for what you got any day, Bernie, don't you?

Oh, no, you wouldn't. Now, I try telling the truth to George.

He listens, nods, then knocks me back on my bucket. Oh.

Juan, do you get up off of that cake?

This is what's happening.

A man spends most of his day getting his tail kicked by someone. That's right.

Drags himself home, and who does he take it out on? The first one he sees, you.

Yes, yes. If my man didn't beat me up on Friday, I wouldn't know the next day

was Saturday.

That's what I'm telling you.

You've got to find the inner strength to stand up to him. I'm loaded with inner

strength. What I've got to find me is a good left hook.

You back for a refresher course?

Yeah, it never hurts, and I brought a friend in need. I don't need it. Florida

Evans. Meet Florida Evans. Hi, Florida.

And Florida, these are the lathes that are going to help you get your stuff

together. Right, girl? Right.

Welcome,

Florida. Now, we're short on rules here. We just keep rapping, and no holes

barred. So whenever you get the feeling, you're welcome to join in and let it

all hang out. Right on.

Hey, Bernadine, how you doing? Things getting any better? Well.

My problem's not the same as Wanda's. Nobody.

No, but you know, now that I'm working, my husband got his nose out of joint

because I'm making more money than he is.

You know, they only understood that we were not out to get them. We're out to

find us, right? You know, the big thing stopping us is that most men still think

that we're only good for two things.

Now, if I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times.

Wanda, a good wife, does her best work in the kitchen.

that the way it is with you? Well, I'm sorry to be different, but it isn't at

all that way with my husband.

Oh, you mean he considers you a person?

Yes, a person.

Not just a cook or a sex object.

Oh, yeah?

How often you have relations?

That's none of your business.

And plenty.

Hit Michael.

She hit her husband?

You have me there, sister.

Michael is my youngest child. And, Rolona, this is no place to discuss

as personal as that. This is exactly the place to talk about it, Florida.

Florida, why did you hit your son? I don't have to answer that.

I don't know.

She was ashamed it wasn't her husband.

is really bothering you. Look, I don't know about the rest of you, but I got a

family and a house to take care of. Sure, Florida, but for how many hours a

Your family don't need you the way you think they do, honey.

Well, Lorna, I don't know what you're talking about, and it ain't so.

You're probably holding on to them because that's all you got. That is not

My family depends on me, and I don't need a bunch of cackling hens with

else to do except try to say what is bothering me.

Because nothing is bothering me.

Nothing is bothering me.

I think she did rather well for a beginner.

Don't you?

Uh -huh.

Uh -huh. Uh -huh.

Oh, okay.

Thanks, Mrs. Anderson. Sorry to bother you. Yeah, bye.

Boy, I don't know where she is. You know, it ain't like your mother to just

off like this without telling us where she went.

Don't worry, Dad.

I'm sure nothing happened bad.

Matter of fact, I read in a magazine one time that when women get the blues,

they go to a beauty parlor and try and change their hairstyle to cheer

themselves up. Oh, Junior.

Mama's liable to walk through that door with a blonde afro.

JJ, you think a woman's whole life can be changed in a new hairstyle?

If you had something in your head besides leftovers, then you'd realize

got a problem.

And it's all my fault.

Mama's all upset because she hit me, and it didn't even hurt.

Mama didn't hit you, Michael. She was hitting out at the world.

Maybe she was hitting out at me. And I sure hope a mugger don't try nothing.

Oh, J .J., don't say that.

Oh, I ain't worried about Mama. I'm worried about the mugger.

And the mood she's in, she's liable to tear him to pieces.

There's one possibility Mama might be at a doctor.

It don't take all day to see a doctor, does it?

You ever been to the clinic?

Hi.

Baby,

where you been? We've been worried about you. Oh, it's not important, James.

I'm home and I'm all right.

James.

I'm sorry I worried you.

And I'm sorry I was carrying on.

Don't give it a thought, baby.

I'll pick dinner. Don't worry about no dinner. Just sit down and relax.

Well, Florida, it sure is good to have you home.

Yeah, without a doubt. Thank you, James.

It's good to be home.

And James, I love you.

I love you, baby.

Michael, I'm sorry I hit you.

You know I love you, too. I know, Ma.

I love all of you.

I love this house and this family more than anything in the

world. Mama, hearing that makes all the shut -up JJs worthwhile.

Shut up, JJ.

Well, Florida, we sure did miss you. Sure did. Huh?

Yeah. Well, we were thinking all kind of places you might have gone, baby. Where

were you? Oh, James, it's not important.

Oh, you can tell me.

James, you wouldn't be interested.

I am, baby.

I went with Wilona to one of those meetings where women talk about their

problems. You know, all that silly talk about... trying to better themselves.

One of them women's groups?

Florida, I'm surprised that you're wasting your time at a crazy ladies'

like that.

Look at you sitting here bumping your gums when you ought to be in there

dinner.

James, you asked me to sit down.

I think you've said enough.

Well, if there's one thing I ain't got no patience with is women trying to push

in and take over a man's job.

James, that is not what women are after. Don't tell me, Florida. I see it every

day. They're taking it for...

I think you said enough. Hey, woman, what's wrong with you? You don't tell me

when to talk.

So you haven't been to one damn meeting right away you're flying in my face.

That means that's not what it's all about.

I'm going to tell you, you've been driving everybody crazy running around

and now you're going to them women's meetings.

I'm going to tell you something my Uncle Ed used to say and maybe he was right.

There's only two places a woman belongs. Don't lie to me.

Yeah, I'm going to say something.

You know something, James?

Huh? When I left that meeting, I was convinced that those women were wrong.

now, listening to you, I am sure they were right on. Huh?

They hit it dead on the head what was bothering me, only I didn't want to

it. I've made you and the kids my life, and now I don't have a life of my own.

Baby, don't say that now. Now, where does this differentiate your life?

I mean here, James, here.

Selma, I ain't blaming you and nobody else.

I dug this hole myself.

Well, what hole, baby?

Now, what's wrong with being a wife and a mother?

Nothing, except my family is all grown up now, and I still don't have nothing

talk about but my husband and my kids.

James, there's a whole world out there, and I'm not a part of it. I want to be

somebody, too.

Florida, you always been somebody to me.

But what I'm supposed to be with this new thing?

My husband.

a wife.

James, I don't want to walk ahead of you, but I don't want to walk behind you

either.

Howdy.

I want to walk with you.

Oh, isn't that nice, Michael?

Yeah, isn't that nice, JJ?

Yeah, it's nice, but it's kind of confusing.

Now I don't know which one to ask for a couple of dollars and which one to ask

to cook me dinner.

Oh, shut up, JJ!

Well,

what do you think about that?

I don't know. Mommy, that one looks interesting.

Hey, what you doing, baby?

Nothing. I'm just looking through this booklet to see what kind of courses

they've got down at that night school.

If I see one I like, I might sign up.

Oh, yeah. I looked over that book.

Hey, they got a class there on page nine that'd be perfect for you. What's that?

Yeah, here it is.

Home economics.

Sewing, cooking.

Just looking out of the window, watching the asphalt roll,

thinking how it all looks when we die.

Good times, good times, keeping your head up for water,

making a wave when you can.

Temporary layoffs, good times.

Good Times is recorded on tape before a live audience.

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