All language subtitles for Good Times s02e05 The Man I Most Admire

Not getting hustled. Keeping your head
up for water.

Making a way when you can.

Temporary layoffs. Good times.

Easy credit.

Finish that milk.

Mama, don't Thelma look beautiful all of
a sudden?

She didn't stop that foolishness.

Tell the truth, Ma.

Isn't this a face only a mother could
love?

Shake it, Mama!

Jesse Jackson and what he's done for our
people. Oh, that's a good choice. He is

a great American. And Michael, he has
done a lot of good for all people.

Oh, Ma, this dress is beautiful.

You're a miracle worker, Ma.

You know, you're better than those fancy
French designers that sell to the big

department stores.

Thanks. Next week, I'll have a showing
of my fall lying down in the laundry

room.

You know, it sure wasn't easy to decide.

I can't get over it. How'd you do it?

Oh, it was easy.

The blouse is from your old blue, the
skirt is from your old red, and the

belt... this from the old sofa.

Boy, Ma, you don't waste nothing.

I got a feeling the old bedroom curtains
used to be my shorts.

Not again, JJ.

They used to be Thelma's old pillowcase.

Good morning, family.

Good morning, Dad.

Dad, you look great.

You look real handsome, Dad.

Your father is going on an interview for
a real important job, assistant foreman

of a van and storage company.

And, James, you're going to get this
job. I just feel it. Well, baby, since

feel it so strong, why don't you go out
and get the job for me? Oh, James.

No, I'm just kidding, Florida. But
somehow, baby, I feel like this is just

to be another door slam.

Oh, honey, you look so fine.

I'll hire you myself.

Well, you know, if I do get this job,
Florida, I got you to thank for it.

give me all that confidence to go and
get it.

Come on, kids, let's hear it for your
mama.

Yeah!

Give me an M! Oh, yeah!

Give me an A! Oh, yeah! Give me an M!
Oh, yeah! Give me an A! Oh, yeah! What

does it smell?

Oh, yeah!

Mama, yeah!

Yeah, right, mama, right, yeah!

Oh, JJ.

Just jiving, y 'all, just jiving.

Thanks, kids.

It's nice to be appreciated.

You want some coffee before you go,
James? Oh, no, baby. I don't want to be

for this one. It's going to be a biggie.

Daddy, do they know you're black?

Well, Michael, they don't ask that on
the applications no more, but the minute

get there, I'll be sure and tell them.

See you later.

Get back, Heidi. Thank you.

Ma, what do you think? You think I
should write about Jesse Jackson?

I think it's a good choice.

You know, I kind of lean on him because
he's the only real important brother I

know personally.

You know Jesse Jackson personally?

Sure do.

Last year, he was coming out of the
Sheraton Hotel, and I was passing by,

looked me straight in the eye and said,
Hello, little brother. Then he got in

the cab and drove away.

In that case, I know Walter Cronkite
personally.

me and he says, good evening.

Michael, why does it have to be a man
that you admire?

Why can't it be a woman?

Why can't it be any person?

Because all the great any persons are
men.

You know what you are? What? A male
chauvinist. Hey, now don't call my kid

brother nothing to do with Russia.

A male chauvinist is someone who
believes that men are superior to women.

In that case, he's not a chauvinist nor
communist.

He's right on.

And I think there are a lot of great
women Michael could write about.

There's Shirley Chisholm. There's O .J.
Simpson.

Coretta Scott King.

O .J. Simpson.

Harriet Tubman. O .J. Simpson. Why is
your needle stuck on O .J. Simpson?

Because me and O .J. got... a lot in
common.

Yeah. O .J. Simpson is a great football
player and all you're good for is one of

the goal posts.

Better hold on there, little sister.

Name me one major league football player
of the opposite sex.

Just give us time.

You got a point there, darling.

Women weren't exactly built for contact
sports.

Yeah. but for some contact sports, they
build perfect.

There he goes again, the typical male
chauvinist remark, making women sex

objects. That's my ambition.

You may be surprised, J .J. Someday
women may really play football. I tell

one thing, Mama, I ain't going out with
no chick that looks like Dick Buckets.

She protects me from muggers.

I'm sorry I started all this.

Don't be sorry, Michael. Let's be humble
in our superiority.

Hold on, Long John.

You're getting too high and mighty.

No, Ma, I'm not talking about me
personally. I'm talking about men like,

Christopher Columbus, who discovered
America.

And how about a queen named Isabella who
gave him the money for the ships?

pastor who discovered how to pasteurize
milk.

And how about those dudes who keep
raising the price of milk so we can't

to drink it?

and you stick to it. It's a good choice.

Okay, Ma.

Ma, is the dress ready for me to try on
here?

Sure, honey.

Hi, everybody.

Hey. Hi, Malona. Hey.

Isn't it beautiful?

Oh, that's a real knockout.

Mama just made it for me.

Florida, you are a stone genius.

Oh.

Graham, she ought to be quiet today.

What you up to?

We have to write a composition in
English on the man I most admire.

Yeah? And I can't figure out who it
should be. What do you think, Malona?

Oh, that's easy right about John Wayne.

compliment you on the food. What do you
say?

Well, I played very modest. I say thank
you. I was up all night cooking it. Oh.

Florida, can I help it if I'd like to
give candlelight dinner parties and I'm

lousy cook?

Oh, it's all right, my lord. I love
doing it for you.

Thanks, Florida.

You know, there were three things that
led to my divorce.

What was that?

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

notice how bad my cooking was.

except Deanna would all rule.

The man I most admire is a person. She
makes clothes for my sister, sends my

father out on job hunting with a smile,
cooks for her friends. The person I most

admire is my mother.

Now you're talking, Michael. You
couldn't have made a better choice.

Oh, children, I'm flattered, but I'm not
famous.

Mama, a person doesn't have to be famous
to be admired.

The things you do around here are great.

family together.

And don't forget your biggest
accomplishment, me.

Every great person is entitled to one
mistake. And you was it.

And I was it.

Okay, okay, you two lovebirds.

Mama, you know, I was going to write
about Jesse Jackson, but I'm going to

his name and put your name in his slate.

Oh, not so fast, son.

The person who really keeps it together
is out there clawing.

scratching for jobs. That's your daddy.

No matter how bad things get around here
with us, he never quits. You know,

famous people get written about all the
time. But your daddy is a hero, too, in

his own way.

You know, Mama, I never thought of it
that way.

The man I most admire is my father,
James Allen.

I'm sorry, Floyd. I just couldn't stand
having another door slammed in my face.

I never even went for the interview.

In that case, I got a feeling he ain't
going to get the job.

What you all staring at?

Why don't somebody say something?

James has nothing to say.

It really isn't all that important.

I know what you're thinking, baby.
You're thinking I dogged you. Well,

wrong. I just outsmarted that fancy
personnel director, that's all.

I didn't give him a chance to go into
that old put -down routine.

You know how it goes, baby.

Mr. Evans, as you know, we're an equal
opportunity employer, so your color

really isn't important.

Meanwhile, a dude is looking me up and
down like he's trying to figure out how

many watermelons a day I can knock off.

Then the cat asked me, say, have you got
any van and storage experience?

I mean, can you imagine the nerve of
that cat asking me a question like that?

Me, the one who moved every stick of
furniture in this house in here with my

bare hands and on my back?

That's right, Dad. And you did a great
job, too. This house looks

vanned and storage.

But when I tell him that, does he get
through to him? No.

Then he says to me,

Mr. Evans, what is the extent of your
educational background?

I said, well, I got a sixth grade
education.

He said, well, it doesn't matter.

Meanwhile, the cat is writing on his pad
like, no way in the world I'm going to

hire this dude.

Then he sticks out that four -bit
manicured hand and says, thanks, Mr.

Don't call us. We'll call you, which is
the same thing as a preacher pronouncing

the last rites. Well, baby, this is one
cat that didn't have a chance to take

through them changes. No, sir. I fired
him before he had a chance to fire me.

just letting off steam and I don't blame
him.

Sometimes he must get the feeling that
the whole world is kicking and it's all

aimed at him.

Thelma, can I use your room to do my
composition in? Of course you can,

Thanks.

You still gonna write about your daddy,
aren't you, honey?

I'm not sure, Ma.

I have to start all over again.

Thelma, put on some water for some tea.
Maybe your daddy would like some.

Okay, Ma.

Thelma, as the oldest children in the
Evans household, I feel we should do

something to lift Daddy's morale.

You can start by running away from home.

Anyway, if we're going to make Daddy
feel important, we have to think of

something sensible.

The last time you thought of something
sensible, come to think of it, there was

no last time.

Oh, now, come on, Thelma. Who are you
talking to like that? JJ, stop. the

Hey, I got a way to make Daddy feel real
happy.

Oh, Florida, I don't know what came over
me.

I guess standing there waiting for that
bus, I just had too long to think about

getting turned down.

You know something? If we had faster bus
service, I might have gotten that job.

Oh, James, you'll get the job you want
someday.

I just know it.

When I married you, I married the best.

Well, baby, you're one great lady.

You're entitled to the best.

So his headache is gone, but it's been
replaced with conceit.

Don't stop rubbing, baby. That feels too
good.

Well, I'm a lucky man.

Got my own massage power.

Yeah, but this one is rated G for
general audiences.

Maybe we could change that to PG.

James, it's the middle of the day.

Not in London, baby.

Four o 'clock? Come on, I got something
brewing for you.

Come on, James.

All right. Well, that's one you owe me.

Water boiling, Thelma? Yes, Ma.

Daddy?

Can we talk to you for a minute?

Sure, baby girl.

Thelma and I have been having a
discussion.

That's like George Foreman having a
discussion with Muhammad Ali.

you can help us.

Yeah, we need a man with the wisdom of
Isaac Hayes and the worldly experience

Metal Lock Lemon.

What's the problem, Thelma?

Well, Daddy, JJ and I are going to be
graduating from high school this year,

we don't know what to head for.

I don't know whether to study to become
a teacher or a nurse or maybe a

professional dancer.

What do you think, Daddy?

I can tell you right from the jump, that
dancing sounds like a long shot to me.

You're going to need something solid to
fall back on.

Now, nursing or teaching sounds good,
but some of you got the brains to go on

and be a doctor.

Oh, thank you, Daddy.

I was confused, but I knew you'd
straighten me out. No problem, baby

Well, now that you got them on the right
track, here comes another

train.

I'm confused, too.

Yes.

My problem is that I'm a great artiste.

And as you know, great artistes don't
become famous till after they're dead.

Personally, I don't think I can wait
that long.

Yeah, you're right, Junior. Selling
paintings is a long shot.

But you know what you could be? What? A
commercial artist. You know, them cats

that do the billboards and then the
magazines and everything. Man, they make

lot of money.

commercial artist.

Now, how come I didn't think of that?

I can paint those big muscle dudes with
those seven foot shoulders going down to

the four inch jacket shorts.

You better paint him because he won't
ever pose for him.

Boy, Dad, thanks for the advice.

I don't know what we'd do without you.
You're the greatest father in the father

business.

Come on, JJ. Let's not bother Daddy
anymore and let him read his newspaper.

Yeah, I think he's okay now.

What you mean you think he's okay now?

Nothing, Dad, nothing.

Right there with nothing. No, he didn't
mean anything, Dad.

Oh, so that's what you meant by that
jive, huh?

Oh, no, Daddy. I should have figured it
from the jump. You talking all that,

gee, Dad, thanks for your wonderful
advice and all that. And Junior telling

gee, Dad, we don't know what we'd do
without you.

In Florida, all that sweet talking and
neck rubbing and telling me James, when

married you, I married the best.

James, I meant it. Come on, woman, I
don't want to hear none of that bull.

You know, the one thing I don't need
from none of y 'all is pity.

The man I most admire by Michael Evans.

The man I most admire is my father,
James Evans.

Boy, y 'all really spreading the
fertilizer thick this morning, ain't

You even got the militant midget in on
the act.

James, that is not so.

I don't want to hear no more. Now,
Michael, bring your body out here.

You know, one thing I don't appreciate
is being played for no fool.

Yeah, Daddy?

Come here, son. I'm going to teach you a
lesson that evidently the rest of the

family is too old to learn.

Michael, the worst thing you can try and
do is to try and con your own father.

Now, I know who I am. I ain't much, but
I'm the best James Evans I can be. And I

don't need you or nobody else around
here trying to change me into something

else. You hear me? So don't you never
try and pull a stunt like this again.

hear? But, Daddy, everything I wrote on
this paper is what I really feel about

you. Michael, let me see that. Floyd, I
told you, I don't want to hear no more

of that con now. But, Daddy, Michael
wasn't even in the room when J .J. and I

decided to try this.

And Mama wasn't either.

Daddy, me and J .J. are the ones to
blame.

Tell me I don't go pleading guilty till
we see our lawyer.

Shut up, J .J.

James,

listen to this.

My daddy may not be a famous man, but he
is great.

He gets knocked down a lot, but he
always comes up swinging.

Sometimes he gets angry at the world.

That's only because he wants us to have
all the things we need.

That isn't easy the way things are
today.

He doesn't have the best education in
the world, but he's the best father in

world. We wouldn't have a family without
him.

Oh, James, does that sound like a con?

Well, look at you, son. Can't you see he
means every word?

Micah, I'm sorry. I apologize to you for
not believing you here.

That's okay, Dad.

And, James, about what we were trying to
do.

Some of it was real and some of it was
not, but we were all heading for the

goal because we all love you.

That's right, Dad.

I mean, I should have never listened to
Thelma.

She made me do it against my will.

I'll sue you for assault and battery if
you touch one hand on this fragile

little body.

Most of them would die anyway.

I don't want to hear anybody... Well,
well, well. Now, what else could a

ask for in a loving family, huh?

Michael, I appreciate you putting my
name in your composition, son, but I

you ought to write about some of the
brothers that are really helping our

people. You know, cats like Thurgood
Marshall or Mayor Tom Bradley or Julian

Bond. Because them cats are where it's
really at, son.

Mama. I don't care what, Daddy. I'm
still gonna write about him.

Yeah, and you couldn't have made a
better choice, either.

Right on!

James,

where have you been?

I went down to see about that van in
Story's job.

What happened, Daddy?

Well, I walked in, and that fancy
personnel director said, Oh, I'm so glad

you're here, Mr. Evans.

I was about to call you. Would you like
you to go to work for us?

Oh, yes! You did it! You did it! You got
the job!

No.

But while I was standing there talking
to him about that moving the storage

another moving the storage company was
taking out all their furniture.

You know what the man said?

Oh, my goodness. We've gone broke.

I said, welcome to the club, baby.

Just looking out of the window, watching
the asphalt road.

Thinking how it all looks and it dies.
Good times. Oh, yeah.

Good times. Keeping your head above
water.

Making a way when you can.

Temporary layoffs. Good times. Good
times is recorded on tape before a live

audience.