Original subtitles

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.