Original subtitles

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

Good time, any time 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.

and there's a new morality going around.

Nah, that ain't gonna work.

Hey there, Ma.

Boy, you really looking beautiful today. You know, at first, I thought Nina

Horne had moved in here.

Say, about that new morality going around.

Nah, that ain't gonna make it.

open -minded sweetheart mama of mine.

Guess how your son's gonna make some money.

You sold your brain to the junkyard.

What are you doing sneaking up on people?

I always sneak up on people when they start talking to thin air.

Well, I'll have you know, ugly little sister, that I've just got permission to

paint a portrait.

You're kidding.

No, I ain't. And this could be my big chance.

Next thing you know, I'll be hung in a museum.

Oh, it doesn't matter where so long as they hang you.

Mrs. Charlene Brooks.

The lady who just moved in upstairs?

The one with the shake -em -up shimmy?

The one everybody's talking about?

The only reason they're talking about her is because they're jealous. They

know that she happens to be a real hip lady who wears real cool clothes.

She's right.

That lady doesn't wear strapless dresses. She wears dressless straps.

This time, her skimp is not the problem.

What is?

The fact is that when I paint her, she ain't going to be wearing no skimp at

all.

That lady wants you to paint her in the nude?

That's right. That altogether lady wants me to paint her in the altogether.

I got some good news. And some bad news.

Uh -oh, what happened?

Well... Ah, Thelma, let me tell it, please.

Well, I just want to give him the bad fact. Shut up. This is too important to

me.

What is, JJ?

Well, my open -minded, lovely, sweetheart mama... Mames, we're in big

I don't know. It all depends on how you look at it. How you look at what,

Junior? Okay, I'll tell you.

I've just been commissioned to paint a portrait of a lovely young lady.

It's a birthday present for her husband.

Oh, J .J., that's wonderful. I'm proud of you. Yeah, congratulations, Junior.

Thanks, Dad.

I'm getting paid $50 to paint it. Hey!

Yeah, J .J., you forgot to tell him what kind of portrait.

I'll get to that.

I know. I can hardly wait.

Thelma, will you shift your lips into park?

Okay, JJ, give me the bad news. What kind of portrait is it?

Let's hear it straight, Junior.

Well, it all started when I was in the third grade.

The teacher put a paintbrush in my hand. I said, let's hear it straight, Junior.

What kind of portrait?

Well, about two weeks ago, a moving van pulled up front.

Junior, I want to hear what kind of portrait, and I want to hear it in one

News.

You gonna paint a woman in the nude?

Us artists call it, oh, natural.

And us mamas call it, oh, no, you ain't.

Oh, my, times have changed. Don't be so old -fashioned.

Well, maybe times have changed, but mamas haven't.

I don't see anything so terrible about it.

Tell me, you mean to say you take a junior side?

Well, I guess I am.

Don't do that. That could be a shock to my system.

to be ashamed of. All artists have painted nudes.

That's right. There was Michelangelo, Picasso, Ruben, Gauguin. Then there was

Spanish dude named Goya who painted the naked duchess. And that didn't bother

the duke none.

Maybe the duke copped out when the pressure got heavy.

Ginger, your father and I know that you're talented.

Can't you paint fruit or trees?

Or chicken?

Because nobody will pay $50 for a picture of a naked chicken.

Well, maybe it's not that bad after all.

The way J .J. paints, you might not know what it is anyway.

Dad, now let me appeal to you.

You out there in the street every day, you know how hard it is to make $50?

Yeah, you got me there, Junior. And you know how much art supplies I can get

with that and how long that'll keep me going?

Yeah. Well, Florida, what do you say?

Well, you got... What do you think? You're the head of the house.

Hey, now, wait a minute. How come I'm always head of the house when you want

say no, but you're the head of the house when you want to say yes?

James, you're just not thinking.

Now, we know that J .J. is talented, and we know the importance of $50, but what

kind of a woman would pose naked in front of an 18 -year -old boy?

What kind, James?

Well, my guess is that she probably... Oh, never mind. You're a man. I already

know what you get.

Oh, now, come on, Mark.

You got the wrong idea.

Mrs. Brooks happens to be a very lovely lady.

Mrs. Brooks?

The Wiggler?

Who calls her the Wiggler?

Anybody with 20 -20 vision.

She shakes like jello on a roller coaster.

She can't help but shake. It's built in, like the Shimon Moore. Moonlight on

Lake Michigan when you can see through the sewage.

Oh, now,

come on, Ma. This is my big chance.

One commission could lead to another.

Besides, what's it new to me? I'm an artiste. After all, God made the human

figure in his own image.

He also made fig leaves.

Oh, Ma, all I know is that my whole art career is going down the tube. Oh, come

on, J .J., it's not that bad.

It is, Ma.

don't remember the last time I saw the painting, I'm beginning to wonder if I

really got what it takes.

Maybe I ought to just give up the whole thing.

Oh, now, Junior, you can't be serious about that. I am, Dad. I mean, like,

what's the use of knocking your head against the wall if ain't nothing

happening? Yeah.

Well, look, let me and your mother talk about this alone for a minute. I'll let

you know, yeah?

Okay, Dad, but I feel the need for some sympathy.

I think I'll go in the room and cut off my ear.

Now, look here, Florida.

Maybe we ought to... James, it just isn't right to paint some man's wife

Yeah, maybe Junior's right. Maybe we ought to be a little bit old -fashioned

about this.

I mean, after all, if God didn't intend for man to look at woman, then why did

he give them all them nice... What I mean to say is, how come he made them

so... Why'd he make them look so beautiful, baby?

Like you, sugar.

of J .J. painting a naked woman is something I just can't accept.

Well, I think we ought to at least talk about the thing some more.

Having another family discussion?

You stay out of this. I'm not even in it yet.

Why would the wiggler hire J .J.? What's a wiggler? Never mind.

Of course, he's the only pain in the projects. He's cheap and probably

she feels safe undressing in front of him. Who's going to undress?

Didn't I say never mind?

I thought you wanted me to participate in family discussions.

Not in this particular discussion. Now, go do some homework.

I want to be bused to another family.

Now, you're going to get out of here. I'm going to bus you with this belt.

Now, baby, you heard what Junior said. He's ready to give up on this painting.

I know you don't want that, do you? Honey, you know I don't.

You know, Florida, there's a lot of kids like Junior out on the street. They

ain't got nowhere to go, nothing to do. At least our son's got a talent. I mean,

he can paint.

If Junior ain't got his painting, he ain't nowhere.

Well... Maybe you're right, James.

He's got to go on painting. That's right.

I guess I was silly worried about J .J. and the Wiggler. I know we brought him

up right.

Sure we did.

He's my son.

Hmm.

Well, let's trust him anyhow.

All right, James.

If it's okay with you, it's okay with me.

Thanks, Mom and Dad. The minute I was born and met y 'all two, I knew that we

would hit it off.

Who are you calling?

I'm calling Mrs. Brooks to tell her it's all set.

Hello?

Mrs. Brooks?

Oh, uh, Mr. Brooks.

Yeah, well, uh, this is a hairdresser.

Uh, Mr.

Yeah,

I'm down here at the beauty saloon.

Yeah, I'm calling about a hair appointment today.

Yeah, I'm supposed to hot comb my afro.

Yeah, I'll hold on.

Junior, what is this Mr. Leroy business?

Dad, I don't want to blow the surprise.

Yeah, this is your personal portrait painter, James Evans Jr.

Yeah, I want to finalize the arrangement.

Yeah, it's all set. All you have to do is come down with a small down payment.

Say about 90%. Yeah, okay, I'll see you soon. Bye.

Well, I'm in business. It's all set.

I am in business, and she's on her way down.

Oh, Junior, I'm so happy for you. Yeah, me too, Junior.

What kind of a birthday present is that anyway?

Why give your husband a painting of yourself in the nude?

She'll beat the hell out them slippers I got.

Baby, you know, I got a birthday coming up soon.

Hi, Mr. Evans.

J .J. didn't tell me you had such a handsome father.

How you doing, Ms. Brick?

You'd make a wonderful model yourself.

and your head went up, too.

I brought the down payment, J .J.

I've only got $25 for now.

Oh, that's fine.

When do you want to get started?

How about 5 o 'clock tomorrow?

My husband Calvin thinks I'm getting my hair done.

Tomorrow will be fine.

You better give me the address of your studio.

Oh, you have the address.

Right here.

Here? Here?

you think i was gonna paint her i never even thought about it and now that i

think about it oh i don't want to think about it but don't you but mommy there

is no way in the world you're gonna paint a naked woman in that living room

i'll paint her here in the kitchen can i just have my deposit back uh

don't just stand and do something to help me i'm desperate i agree with mine

daddy it's crazy i thought you was on my side

That nonsense.

Now, we gave in to the idea of a nude picture.

But not in our home.

We've got a 12 -year -old child here.

Oh, that's okay, Ma. I'll get him a fake ID.

I'll be 13 in two months.

Michael, you shouldn't even be listening.

Go into Thelma's room.

You can hear just as good in there.

I beg your pardon? I'm going, Daddy. That's what I thought you said.

Uh, just relax, Mrs. Brooks.

I'll think of something.

Uh, how about if I paint you up on the roof?

Junior, why don't you just give the lady her money back now?

Daddy, maybe J .J. can rent a studio.

Are you crazy, girl?

There ain't no studios around here.

Can I have my money back?

Okay, looks like I'm dead.

Here you go.

And there goes my whole art career out the window, and I wish I could go out

window with it.

Just a minute.

Mrs. Brooks.

I had a thought. Now, you want to give your husband a nice birthday present, a

portrait of yourself, right?

Right. Well, would it make any difference if you gave him a picture of

bathing suit?

But it's a birthday present. That's why I wanted it done in my birthday suit.

Well, do you think my husband would like it?

Mrs. Brooks.

My son's imagination, where that pain will come out just fine.

Yeah!

Mrs. Evans, I think that's a good idea.

We'll put what talents I have into a bathing suit and J .J.'s talents on

Oh, that's a great idea!

bathing suit. Is it cool for a 12 -year -old kid to come out now?

Well, I'm all set.

All I need now is my model who shall be here momentarily.

Junior, the most important thing about a painting like this is concentration.

Don't let nothing distract you.

What are you talking about, Dad?

Well, what I mean is you can see that even with a dress on that the woman is,

uh, together.

Are you noticed?

Well, just giving my son some advice, that's all.

Oh, now, you don't have to worry about me. Being an artiste is like being a

doctor. When I look at the female figure, all I see is a collection of

Well, don't forget the stop signs.

I don't know what's wrong with y 'all. Y 'all don't understand.

This is my profession now.

And they don't bother me with being around beautiful females.

They just call me the long to loose letrek.

James.

I'll get it.

Well, I'm all ready for you. All you have to do is go hang up your coat over

there. Oh, thank you.

I can't miss you.

Of course, doing it.

so tight about?

What do you mean? No, no, no, of course not, of course.

Well, remember, baby, if that was you standing there in a bathing suit, all

windows in the projects would be wide open.

I'm not bothering anybody.

No, no, no, no, no.

This is a typical evening in the Evans home.

Yeah, no trouble, no trouble at all.

the looking.

Oh, Florida, what you talking about? I ain't paying that girl no mind.

Hey, this stuff is cold. Give me another cup of thigh, will you?

Can

I

see it now?

Well, not until it's finished.

Well, this session will wrap it up, Miss Brooks. I think that's about it.

Good. I've been lying to my husband for six days, sneaking around, trying to

keep him from following me.

He's getting wise, and I'm getting pneumonia.

Well, I got to get another tube of paint. I'm running out of flesh tones.

You use up a lot of that.

question baby what the hell are you doing here yeah i bet there is now who's

dude

sometimes these things happen between a model and an artiste.

Now,

wait a minute. I was just immoralizing her on canvas.

Oh, what I mean was... I know what you mean, dude.

Wait a minute. I got something to say. Yeah, like what? Help, please.

Now, say your prayers, sonny. Mom!

Hey, hey, hey. What the hell's going on here?

Man, this brown bag of bones been messing with my wife.

Yeah. Well, just lighten up, brother, because this brown bag of bones happens

be my son.

That's right. You know, he's my dad.

Stop

that

nonsense before something falls off.

what's going on. That's right, honey. He was painting my picture as a birthday

present for you.

Hey, that's not what I was wearing.

Well, that's the way I see it.

Well, do you like it?

Charlene, you're something else.

Something else is the bathing suit.

Compliments of yours, truly.

Hey, when I sign that painting, I'm going to sign it J .J. Evans and Mama.

Honey, you did this for me? I sure did.

Oh, baby, you're fantastic.

She wasn't fantastic by herself.

It was a collaboration between artist and model.

JJ, you're a genius.

I know.

Yeah, and folks, that's some artist that got there.

Out of the window, watching the asphalt grow.

Thinking how it all looks and 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 live on.

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