Original subtitles

Good time, anytime you need a payment. Good time, anytime you feel free.

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 layoffs. Good time.

from there.

J .J., honey, it isn't time for the news yet.

You still got ten minutes.

Yeah, Ma, but you know how long it takes for this set to warm up?

Five minutes for the pitch and sound to come on.

Three minutes to keep it from slipping down.

Two minutes to focus it. And two minutes to set it soundproof so the whole thing

didn't blow up on us. Come on, the set isn't that old.

Now, Ma, you got to be jiving.

That's that soul that still shows Jackie Gleason on Saturday nights.

Has it started yet? Did I miss anything?

Oh, simmer down, Velma. Nothing has happened yet.

I want you to put the potato chips and the popcorn in some bowls and set it in

front of the TV set. Okay, Ma. Potato chips and popcorn?

Wow! It ain't every day that your daddy is on TV.

To tell you the truth, I'm getting a little excited myself.

Yeah, I can just hear it now.

This is Walter Cronkite, and here's what's happening.

The biggest story of the day takes place right here in Chicago.

The Windy City's foremost car wash expert, James Evans Sr.,

father of James Evans Jr., and two

other incidental children.

found a paper bag that contained $27 ,000.

The money was the loot from bargain supermarket holder.

Oh, quit clowning, JJ. Your daddy did a very wonderful thing in returning that

money, and we all should be very proud of him. Mama, daddy wasn't really too

anxious to give the money back, was he?

Who are you talking about, Michael? I heard y 'all talking about it last

Daddy said, ain't no way I'm giving that money back. And you said, but James,

you got to. Then daddy said, I do.

Then you said.

Ain't no other way, James.

Then Daddy said, okay. Then you said, that's my James.

Then after that, I ain't hear no more talking.

Well, your daddy may have had a few moments of doubt, but he knew right from

wrong.

All I know is that if I would have found that money, I'd have walked right into

the bank and said, my long -lost uncle just kicked the bucket.

And he left me a bundle.

So point me to the new O 'Counts department.

J .J., that money was stolen. And if you start talking about uncles kicking

buckets, Uncle Sam will kick your bucket. And your new O 'Counts

be San Quentin.

Yo, are you ready for this?

James is in all the papers.

And the defendant got a picture of him. Oh, my children, don't your daddy look

out?

Oh, one thing bothers me, though. What?

He should have had a better crease in his pants.

Come on, you can't even see his pants. It's from the waist up.

Honey, a man is handsome. A man as famous as your daddy is, he deserves a

crease in his pants.

Hey, check out what it says under his picture.

Portrait of an honest man. Right on, daddy.

Hmm, it'd be better if it said portrait of the shrewd dude that kept the $27

,000.

A lot of people think that way.

Today a lady walked into the boutique and she said, you're a friend of the

family, the one that found that $27 ,000 and gave it back. I said, yes, I am.

She said, well, do me a favor and tell them to me I think they stupid.

Well, I hope you told her off.

I did better than that. I sold her a pair of pantyhose two sizes too small.

She'll be twisted out of shape like the hunchback of Notre Dame.

Hey, what's that?

That's the TV set.

Gunfight in the high country.

Tomorrow's matinee movie.

Coming up next, the six o 'clock news.

That's my seat. Put your seat in another seat.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

We know it's the 6 o 'clock news. Just bring on Danny.

On the national front, there was more talk on Capitol Hill today on pending

legislation on Gerald Ford's... Oh, Michael, turn that down. We know what

happened in the nation today.

Food prices are up. Clothing prices are up.

Unemployment is up. And in Washington, they ain't got down to the oops that's

keeping us down.

Then he goes into his own series, Little House in the Ghetto.

JJ, they already got to show Little House on the Prairie. Yeah, but if they

don't do something about the ghetto pretty soon, this is going to be a

I just had a horrible thought.

What, Ma?

I hope James don't wear his pants on TV.

What? I mean, I hope he don't show his pants on TV. Oh, Ma, don't worry about

the creases. He'll look great. You'll see him.

This set's so old, even the faces got creases.

Don't you worry about nothing. Because when James gets that reward, you can buy

a brand new color TV.

Do you think they're really going to give him a nice reward? Sure.

Why are they making all this fuss if it ain't for money?

Turn this ad back up. Maybe they're up to the local news.

And the question is whether Congress can override the expected veto.

On the local front, the big human interest story is about James Evans.

Only he found a sack of money.

part of the haul from a robbery at Borgin's supermarket.

The sack contained $27 ,000.

Yeah, I counted every penny of it personally as it left this house.

Mr. Borgin, president of the supermarket chain, is here in the studio with Mr.

Evans to personally congratulate him on his honesty in returning the money.

Here, come here, Daddy.

Mr.

Evans, may I congratulate you on your house?

Thank you.

It is in times such as these that we would do well to dwell on the positive

aspects of our lives rather than on the negative.

Our first gesture of appreciation is this plaque, which the Borgen

wishes to present to you.

Thank you. You know, someone once said that an honest man is the noblest

Thank the Lord for not showing his hands. Thank you.

And I find it encouraging indeed that the common American man has not lost his

great sense of morality. Hey, everybody.

Later, man. We're watching that on TV.

Daddy! Daddy!

James!

Oh, honey, what are you doing here when you're still there?

Oh, that's what they call delayed tape. They did their thing over an hour ago.

But the Borg and Supermark... The market chain feels that this plaque in itself

is not enough to demonstrate our gratitude.

Therefore, right after this broadcast, we will present you a substantial

financial reward.

I'll get a paper bag to put it in. If that's not enough, I'll get a potato

This is what they give me.

Now look again, Florida. It's a gift certificate.

for $50 worth of groceries.

$50? The way they rip you off at bargain supermarket, $50 ain't gonna even buy

you $10 worth of groceries.

I know it's a little bit disappointing, but I still think we did the right thing

in sending it back.

Yeah, I know. You kept me up half the night convincing me.

Hello?

Yes, this is Mrs. Evans.

What?

Well, we thought returning it would be the only right thing to do.

Well, what a disgusting thing to say. What do you know?

Yeah, this is James Evans talking. You got something to say, you can say it to

my face.

Yeah? Well, come around here and say that, man. I'll have you on soup and

bananas for the rest of your life.

Damn. That's all I need. Some fool calling me up telling me I'm crazy for

turning the money back in. No, James, it ain't everybody. That's it.

Don't answer it, TJ.

Hello.

Goodbye.

Oh, my. Is this what it's going to be like? No, no, no, sweetheart.

This will pass.

Now, give me... What the hell you want?

Oh.

This is for you, babe. It's Reverend Gordon.

Oh, no, James didn't mean nothing by that.

Oh, you saw the news on TV.

Yeah, you done heard about the generous reward. Now you're looking for his cut

for the church.

No,

Reverend, it would be no trouble at all. We'd like for you to come over. We want

to see you.

Come. Just come right on by.

Oh, that just about makes my day. That jack leg.

He probably tell you how much better it is to give.

Then to receive.

Yeah, especially when you're doing the giving and he's doing the receiving.

Hello.

The same to you. Goodbye.

I don't know, but I think we just got cussed out in a foreign language.

Well, you let me answer the next phone call because I got some choice words I

haven't used in years.

Now what?

please, Florida.

First it was that lousy gift certificate, then them stinking phone

somebody got my daughter all upset.

Makes me damn glad I did what I did.

What'd you do, James?

James, I hope you didn't do nothing you'll be sorry for. Only thing I'm

for is that I didn't do it bigger. James, what did you do? You want to know

I did? I'll show you what I did. This is what I did.

Dad, it was $29 ,000 in that sack.

I kept that before I gave back the rest of the money.

Well,

what y 'all looking at?

All I did was take the reward in advance that he wasn't going to give me in the

first place.

Yeah, I kept $2 ,000 of the money.

Dad, how could you do a thing like that?

Keeping that $2 ,000.

You should have gave that back and kept the rest.

James, this money, it ain't ours. No, you're wrong, baby. It wasn't, but it is

now.

Honey, that's a crime.

Yeah? Well, then I just have to ask for a pardon.

the biggest ripoff in the community.

He sells us yesterday's groceries at next week's prices.

Well, Eleanor, you sticking up for stealing?

I'm not sticking up for stealing. I'm sticking up for sticking it into the

that stuck it into James.

Later.

See you, Peter.

Well,

I'm on Dad's side, too. But it ain't got nothing to do with the... black

community. It's got to do with that green community lying on that table.

A fine example you're setting for your kids, James.

I ain't saying what I did was right. I know what I did. But it's time these

found out what the world is really like.

You and Ma have always taught us about honesty.

What would the world be like if everybody did this, Daddy? Thanks, baby.

For some, that's what makes the world go round. I mean, that's how it works.

And when in Rome, do as the Romans do. All I did was just let a little money

roam into my hand.

Don't answer me, J .J.

Don't worry.

I'll handle it. I ain't afraid.

out that you and your folks are holding kind of heavy. We wondered if we could

float alone. You know, for a good cause.

Namely, us.

My folks ain't got no money. They gave all that money back.

Yeah, man, but you got a big fat reward. We heard it on the TV. Yeah, but...

Come on, Bones!

Yeah,

your crib is the Fort Knox of the projects.

Hey, what you say, brother?

So long as you are so easy about dealing the way you're bred.

Was that about the money, Junior?

Yeah, Dad.

Come on, son.

Dad!

More trouble, James?

Two slammed doors equal trouble.

James, there isn't one word you could say that'll make me want to keep that

money. No?

How about hunger, baby?

We've been there, you know.

We got a lot more use for that money than people down at that Jive

James, I wouldn't have their guilty conscience. It's not for all their

Yeah? Then they wouldn't take our income for your good conscience.

Honey, we get by.

Yeah, well, I'm tired of getting by. I want to get over for a change.

James, what you doing?

I'm going to show you how we're getting by, baby. James, what are you doing? I'm

going to show you how we're getting by. James!

James, I told you to listen to me now.

I'm going to show you where... I'm going. You want to know how we're

That's how we're getting by, baby. Me working two jobs, you working now and

again. And what we got?

Look at this money over here.

You know what this means, the bargains? About as much as ten cents does to me.

I mean, hell, even less.

Now, come on, Florida, no more please.

I want you to see how we're getting by.

Dad's doing the spring cleaning a little early this year.

You better be quiet or he'll clean up on you, too.

Now, this is it, baby.

Throw in whatever else the kids got.

And that's all we own. Which is still no reason for a Stephen and James.

Now, don't let nobody move. I'm going to deal with this one. See, this might be

another one of them friendly calls.

I'm so sorry.

Hello, children.

Hi, Reverend.

I see the Lord has been good to you.

Yeah, he helped one who helped himself.

Putting scriptures for your own ends ain't gonna do no good.

I assume this is the reward they gave you for your unselfish act. Yes. How

yes and no?

No, they wasn't gonna give me nothing, Rez, so I just helped my damn self.

But he's going to give it back.

Isn't that the right thing to do, Reverend?

Perhaps. Perhaps.

Give it back, ref, $2 ,000 to that jive rip -off supermarket?

Now, I ask you, Reverend, would God want me to give it back?

Perhaps.

But what else would a good man do but give it back? Isn't that the answer,

Reverend? Perhaps.

Now, good is measured in many ways.

Sister Evans.

Yeah, like maybe a piece of this action being a donation to the church, huh,

Rev? Perhaps.

The church don't want no dirty money. A few more behalves and he gonna get it.

It isn't so much the money or the source, Sister Evans, but what can be

with it.

Now, some of this money can fill a lot of hungry bellies.

But with stolen money, Reverend? But is it stolen money? Or did James find it?

Could this be God's way of providing?

Now, James did what he thought was right. It wasn't. No doubt about it, it

wrong. But if some of that money were to come to the church, which would be

good? The old wrong or the new right?

God does work in mysterious ways.

Yes, Lord.

Amen, brother.

You know something, baby? The Reverend got a point. That money can do a lot of

good. Right here.

Believe me, James.

That kind of money can't do us no good.

Michael, that $2 ,000 gets you that much closer to law school.

How about you, Junior? How about painting on canvas instead of cardboard

change, huh? Yeah.

And Thelma.

Wouldn't you like to go to a real nice school for them acting and dancing

lessons?

What about you, baby? I mean, if you get sick, how about having a chance to call

a good doctor instead of going to that jive clinic?

James, believe me, I know there are a million and one things this family could

use, but this is not the way.

Give it back, James, please.

For what? So I can be poor but honest?

You make it sound like something terrible.

Well, don't it make no difference to you how the rest of the world is running?

Forgive me, James.

But this, this is the only world that matters.

Amen to that, sister.

Now, we can do without the heavenly cheering section, Rev.

James, there is no need to lose your manners.

Yeah, well, that's about all a poor man's got left to lose.

All right, Rev.

Go ahead. The money ain't brought us nothing but grief, no how. Take it.

Maybe you can do some good works with it.

Excuse me, Reverend.

My dad isn't used to being in the upper income bracket.

The thin atmosphere didn't go on to his head.

You better shut up before I go to yours.

What do you say, ref?

The decision isn't mine to make, Mr. Evans.

It's yours.

He didn't seem to be much help, did he?

Dad, if you're having any trouble making that decision, I'll be glad to make the

decision for you.

Like I said, I'll let you make the decision.

I've already made it. We're going to keep the money.

All right, now you're getting with it, baby.

Michael, why don't you take yourself over to Big Daddy Williams' place?

What you talking about, Florida?

Well, I'm sure a big -time operator like Daddy Williams could use a smart 12

-year -old to run numbers.

Nobody's gonna suspect a little boy like that, and Michael could pick up some

real good money.

Florida ain't got nothing to do with this, baby.

Thelma, you remember that red dress I made for you last year?

Yeah, Ma, but you said it was too short for me. Well, I changed my mind.

You put it on and go downtown.

There must be an awful lot of work a pretty little girl like you could get in

those places down in the woods.

Woman, have you lost your mind?

Don't stop me now, James. I'm just getting down with it.

James, hurry.

Why don't you run over to the market and get dinner for all of us?

Okay, Ma, but I don't have any money. Oh, you don't need no money.

Just find it.

All right, Claudia, you done made your point. I understand where you're coming

from. That means you're going to give the money back then?

Yeah, that's exactly what it means, son. That's exactly what I was afraid of.

Thanks, James.

Honey, this family is our strength.

It don't matter what some crazy, sick people say.

As long as we do the thing that'll keep us together.

You know something, Florida?

There's a cold world out there, and we can't change it.

Well, maybe we can't change it, James.

But we sure can't let it change us.

You see, James, a lot of people thought we did the right thing.

Yeah, baby, I guess everybody out there ain't sick.

Well,

according to the latest JJ poll, that's 212 against and 63 for

us. Catching up, though.

Oh, here's one from Reverend Gordon.

Is he for or against?

Neither. It's a new category.

Perhaps.

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

thinking how it all looked and it died.

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.