Original subtitles

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

Good time, any time you have a Monday.

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

Making a way when you can.

Temporary layoffs. Good time, easy credit ripoff. Good time, scratching.

Faithful wife.

We will return to An Affair of the Heart right after these messages.

Tom, are you watching that Jive soap opera again?

Don't touch that doll.

How it's about to leave, Cynthia.

It's been leaving her since I was 12 years old.

I want to watch Win a Fortune.

Are you serious, JJ? You watch that stupid program.

Michael is not stupid, and I love to watch them women win them prizes.

The emcee always goes, Annabelle, are you ready?

Pull the curtain.

Annabelle, you have just won a genuine Hollywood meet coat.

She goes crazy.

She kisses and hugs the emcee. Then she grabs the coat and runs out and hocks

it.

What are those daytime soap operas? I want to watch the news. Hey, what's so

special about the news?

Since the new family programming, it's the only place a kid can see sex and

violence before 9 o 'clock.

Well, Michael, you want to see sex and violence, look out the window. We're

going to watch Winter Fortune.

Well, then why don't you tell me, Ma?

Because when your tummy hurts and you don't feel right, that's the time to

Dr.

Dynamite!

I'm going to check here in the medical encyclopedia.

Well, I don't think you're going to find much in that book, J .J. I already

checked there.

Well, maybe you didn't look in the right place. These things take a certain

medical savoir -faire.

Are your toes numb?

No. Well, then it ain't frostbite.

Aunt Ma's problem?

No, it's yours.

Let me diagnose your problem.

In simple medical terms, you got a bad case of the uglies.

Well, then I must have caught it from you, fungus face.

Fungus face? You got something on your amoeba head. I don't want to hear that.

Darling, JJ, watch how cool it. Can't you see Mama doesn't feel well?

Here, Mama, have a seat. Honey, I'm all right. Just a little tired, that's all.

Too much toting that barge and lifting that bale.

You got a tropical disease, Ma.

You ever been bitten by a T .C. fly?

There are no T .C. flies in Chicago.

Well, when you get bitten by a T .C. fly, you don't ask him what he's doing

Chicago.

Hey, now, stop that nonsense.

But, Ma. Now, listen.

When your daddy gets home, I don't want you all saying nothing about this to

him, you hear me?

It'll only worry him.

Mama. Why don't you go to see a doctor?

I'm sure it's nothing, Michael. Besides, you know I always hated going to those

clinics. How about a take one, Ma?

Feel anything wiggling?

J .J., if I have to get sick, will you please do me a favor?

Yeah, what, Michael? Keep your giant turkey hands off me.

Hey, y 'all.

Hey, J .J. Baby, you're looking at a man who hasn't made it. We are moving up...

Oh, yeah? What you doing? Giving up your job for unemployment insurance?

No, baby, I got a 15 -buck raise.

That's wonderful.

Yeah, I just asked for it, and I got it.

Walked right up to the foreman, I said, Hey, Pete, seen you having lunch with

the boss's wife.

Just jiving, baby, just jiving.

But I did get the raise, kids, that's for sure.

Yeah, now I can get a basketball and a hoop.

Oh, where you gonna hang it? In here? Well, Bill Russell's got one in his

office. Step aside, young lady.

Let the eldest offspring get in here.

Now, Dad, what I would like is an Eldorado Cadillac.

Stereo tape deck power asterisk.

Junior. On second thought, Dad, make that a skateboard.

Baby, you ain't saying nothing. Ain't you proud of me? Oh, cool. Yes, I'm

of you, James. That's the biggest raise you ever got.

Florida, you feeling all right? Sure, I'm feeling fine, honey.

Couldn't feel better.

Sure, Dad, mine's okay.

Yeah, I couldn't find a thing in the medical book.

Medical book? What you looking the medical book for?

Baby, what's wrong? What's the matter?

Nothing, James.

Florida, I said, what's the matter? Honey, it's nothing. I just got a little

pain in my side, that's all.

Well, baby, how long you had it?

Not long.

How long?

Promise you won't get upset?

Baby, I promise you I'm not going to get upset. Now, how long did you have it?

Two weeks. Two weeks? What the hell do you mean, two weeks?

Well, at least you didn't get upset.

You've been hurting and you didn't tell me? How come you didn't tell me? Well,

honey, I thought maybe you'll just go away.

Oh, now, Florida, it ain't no ordinary stomachache to be hanging around here

two weeks.

Yeah, even Thelma's oatmeal don't hurt that long.

We ain't waiting around here for you to hurt another two weeks. I'm taking you

down to the county hospital now.

Now, James, you know how I hate that clinic. It's too much trouble.

Besides, those doctors don't even know who you are.

It don't make no difference if they know who you are, as long as they know what

you've got.

See y 'all later.

All right.

Wait a minute, Charles.

Maybe Mars only got a deviated spectrum.

you never know.

When they deviate, they deviate.

I sure do hope Mama's all right. She didn't feel too good when she left.

Well, it's probably nothing, Michael. Try to remember, Mama's strong.

Yeah, all us Evanses are strong. It's in our blood.

The day after I was born, Ma was up and walking.

She wasn't walking. She took one look at you and started running.

The day after you were born, when the nurse held you up behind the glass,

father in the room said, I hope that one ain't mine.

Boy, that clinic. I tell you, people ain't nothing to them but bodies.

Take it easy, James. It's going to be all right. No, it ain't easy. I mean,

where'd they get off talking to you like that and treating you like that?

While we were down there, we should have had your blood pressure checked.

If you don't slow down, you're going to pop.

Should have popped somebody down at that clinic.

What happened, Mom? What did they find out? Well, honey, they took a lot of

tests, and then they found... Boy, and the way they bossed you around.

Wait in line.

Fill out that paper. Follow the yellow line. Sit down till we call you.

Mom, you gonna be all right? Oh, sure, sure, honey. I'm gonna be all right.

just said that I... Well, where's the application?

Can't you read?

Look at the sign.

Go back upstairs and fill out the application.

What are you doing up here without a registration slip? Go back downstairs

fill out a registration slip.

Boy,

well, wait in line. Knew you were in the wrong hall. Go down...

to wait 20 minutes to get a parking pass.

But, Dad, we don't own no car. You try telling that to them.

Change is not the clinic's fault. They just got too many patients.

Mama, you still didn't tell us what they said.

Well, children, I'm going to have to have an operation.

Operation?

Hi,

everybody.

What's happening?

Mom and Dad have been to the clinic. They're going to have to operate.

Oh, James, I'm so sorry.

Not dad, mom.

James, how come you're sitting down and Flo's standing up?

Oh, yeah, you're right, Malone.

Come on, baby, sit down.

Flo, honey, what's the matter?

Well, they say it's gallstones.

Gallstones? Yeah, they're fixing to operate in your mother's gallbladder.

When do you go in?

Tomorrow afternoon.

What's a gallbladder?

Oh, never mind.

Oh, one of those girl things, huh?

No, it isn't one of those girl things.

What's it do?

I don't know, Michael, but whatever it does, mine ain't doing it right.

Then it must be one of those girl things.

Well, don't worry about what you're going to wear. I'll lend you my peach

with the ruffles.

Sexy, you'll blow them on.

Thank you, Lorna. That means I'll be the bell of the operating room.

Don't they give gowns at the hospital?

They do, but don't turn your back on the air conditioner.

Boy, you ain't got no privacy at all. No privacy at all. All them interns poking

at you like you're some kind of guinea pig.

James, it's free and the doctors are good.

Well, Flo, the last time I was in there, I had five interns listening to my

chest.

know what they was up to? They knew what they was up to.

But I cooled them.

But, Florida, I don't want you going to that county hospital again.

Oh, James, please, don't upset yourself.

Everything's gonna be all right.

Florida, I'm gonna send you to a private doctor and see that you get to the best

hospital in town.

Now, James, don't start even thinking that way, because you know we can't

it. Well, why not, baby? I mean, I just got a raise, and I got the health

insurance at Brady's.

What's it all good for if we ain't gonna use it? I mean, you'd like that,

wouldn't you?

Well, then you got it.

Florida, you my queen.

And I love you.

And for once in your life, you're gonna have the very best. A semi -private

room.

Oh, James, this is so nice.

Just look at this room.

Yeah.

Almost like a honeymoon, ain't it?

Yeah.

Am I private?

How you feeling, baby?

Scared.

But being here makes me feel a little better.

Oh, that's good.

James, how much this room cost?

Now, don't you worry about that.

James?

Only 95 a day.

If that's dollars, I'm really gonna be sick.

Not that, Florida. I got the insurance.

And I mean, after all, I'm assistant load informant. My wife ain't got no

business sitting up in a ward at a county hospital.

Now, now, James.

Let's not start pretending we something we ain't.

Well, hello there.

I'm Mrs.

Andrews. I'm sharing the room with you.

Oh, I'm Florida Evans, and this is my husband, James.

How you do? Hello.

Oh, you're so... fortunate to have your husband here.

Leon had to fly to New York. He's an attorney.

Are you a professional man?

Yes.

I'm in... I'm in cargo management.

Oh, how interesting.

Yes, it's quite a load on his shoulders.

to get home.

We have a place on the North Shore.

Oh, where do you live?

Um, summer or winter.

Can we come in now?

Oh, come on in. Hi, Mama.

How you doing, Ma? Gee, this is some kind of place, Ma. They even have light

bulbs in the elevator.

Oh, Ma, you look so pretty.

Thank you, sweetheart.

Tell your boy, real class.

class. You even got your own John.

The kid's just joking. He's trying to cheer his mother up.

Of course.

Michael? Yeah, Daddy?

Go on downstairs and get your mother a dozen roses. Okay, Dad. All right.

Hello, Mr. Evans.

Doctor?

Well, how are you feeling?

Fine, Doctor. That's good, that's good. Doctor, is my mother going to be okay?

Oh, now, you mustn't worry.

Everything's going to be just fine.

Now, if you'll excuse us for a moment, please.

Oh, sure, Doc. We'll be out in the hall.

Okay. You'll be good now. All right.

All right.

Excuse me there, Doc.

I've been doing a little research here.

I think it's time that you and me ought to consult here.

Now, are you aware of the symptoms of the TC fly bike?

Here, baby girl.

Now, look here. That woman in there had a TV.

I'm going downstairs.

She can order one for your mother. Okay.

Good decision. Good decision.

Excuse me, beautiful lady.

You doing anything tonight?

A little like she already done done it.

A dollar and a half for an aspirin. Yes, sir. That's the normal charge.

That's just great. Look at this, Bill.

While the doctors were upstairs saving my life, you were down here killing my

bank account.

Good afternoon.

I'm Mr. Evans. My wife is in room 425. Yes, Mr. Evans. What can I do for you?

Did I hear right? A dollar fifty cents for an aspirin? Yes, sir. We have to

charge for pharmaceuticals.

Yeah, but I'm paying 95 a day.

But that only covers room and board. It doesn't include the other charges like

the operating room, the recovery room, lab work.

Lab? What lab work?

Tests. You know, blood, urinalysis.

You got to pay to go.

They charge you for everything else. Phone calls, Kleenex.

Kleenex? Damn, how much it cost to breathe around here?

Oxygen, $50 a day.

Well, it's a good thing I got insurance.

Oh, yes.

Reliable Mutual Insurance Company.

My boss said it was good for up to 80%. It is.

Up to a maximum of $42 a day and after $200 deductible.

Well, just lay it on me. How much am I in for?

Well... Not counting your doctor's fees and deducting your insurance benefits,

I'd say it's going to cost you roughly $600.

$600? Lady, I work on a loading dock. I can't afford that kind of money. Mr.

Evans, we have sick people here.

Yeah, you're looking at one of them.

Mr. Evans, believe me, I know how you feel. But hospital costs are going up

every day.

I work here, and I can't afford to be sick.

Mr. Evans?

Huh? What was it you wanted to talk to me about?

Well, I did come down here to see if I could rent a TV so my wife could watch

Red Fox.

After hearing these prices, I think it'd be cheaper to get them here in person.

Miss Andrews?

Yes? Excuse me, but could you help me?

I'd like to raise my head a little bit. Which one of these buttons do I push?

The one marked up.

Thank you.

That's the wrong arm.

It's the button on the other side.

the pills, the operating room, not to mention the lab costs.

Probably got to meet her on her electric bed.

I got the roses, Daddy. You owe me two bucks. But I gave you ten.

They cost twelve.

Take them back.

You mean you're not going to get any for Mama? We already did.

Kleenex.

Oh, come on, Dad. Everything will be all right.

Hey, Daddy, it's getting pretty late. Can we take a taxi home?

Daddy, boy, we're taking the bus home.

You mean we have to walk at night in this white neighborhood?

Mister, just take them flowers back.

Okay, Daddy.

Oh, no, I'm going to pay for all this. I can't afford it.

I mean, these dudes here hit you for everything.

Oh, Daddy.

Oh, right away I get a 15 -buck raise, and I think I'm a big man.

Don't blame yourself, Dad. You just wanted to do the best you could for Mom.

Yeah, but how good is that, Junior?

Couldn't even afford to give her some roses.

No problem, Dad.

There's a dude down in the icebox that don't need his roses no more.

We can all pitch in and help.

Baby girl, it ain't your problem. It's mine.

What do you mean? She's my mother.

Mine, too.

Now, look, kids, let's just plain face facts. We can't make it.

Your mother understand.

We still got time to get over to the clinic.

Well, everything's just fine, Mr. Evans.

I'm due over at County Hospital. I've got another gallbladder operation there.

You know, you're lucky.

I know a lot of people who wouldn't be able to afford this.

I'm one of them.

It's not that bad.

It ain't, huh?

Thelma, I love that woman in there more than any man in the world could.

They don't come no better than your mother.

Here she is sick, and I can't even afford to put her in a nice hospital.

Well, ain't no sense wasting time.

She can't stay here, and that's it.

Baby?

Oh, hello, honey.

I'm glad you're still here.

Yeah, well, Florida, there's something I got to tell you, and it's kind of

hard for me, baby, because I don't know how to say it. Oh, James, I'm so woozy.

They just gave me a sleeping pill.

Yeah, but why? The operation ain't till tomorrow. Why you got to take a dollar?

I mean, a pill now.

To relax, I guess.

Oh, James, this hospital is so nice.

They give you everything.

Baby, they don't give you nothing.

You know, if I press this button, a nurse comes right away.

That's nice, baby. But, Florida... You know, it sure beats being down there in

the clinic.

When you want a nurse down there, you gotta bang on the walls with your dinner

tray.

You know, Florida, I'm glad you like it here and everything, baby. And you know

I want the best for you, but we just can't... Florida, we can't...

Baby, you got to wake up.

This is the most expensive nap you done ever took.

And the food here, James.

Yes. I wish you could taste it. It's just like eating in a downtown

I hope you didn't tip the nurse.

You know, I found out that the cook here used to be the head chef on a luxury

liner.

Yeah, that's nice, baby, but... But, Florida, look here. What I'm trying to

is... Oh, I'm so tired.

Florida?

Florida.

Don't you go to sleep until I finish saying what I've got to say now?

Oh, Florida, please.

They even give you a choice of entrees for dinner.

Yeah.

Maybe all that's good, but... You know, I had no idea that this... James.

I love you.

I love you too, baby.

In Florida, I had no idea this hospital was going to be so, so fancy and so

expensive looking.

And I feel so safe here.

Yes. Whoever thought I'd be treated like, like a queen.

Yes. Thank you, James.

Yeah, you're welcome, baby.

Is anything wrong?

I just stopped to tell you, don't worry about tomorrow. I mean, it's going to be

a breeze.

And look here, you use up all this Kleenex you want in here.

Good night, honey.

Good night, baby.

God bless you.

And me too.

This place hasn't changed much in a week. Y 'all don't know how good it

be home.

Let me take that for you, Ma. Thank you, honey.

Come on over here and sit down for a while. Just take it easy. I'll make you

some tea, Ma. I'll put the flowers in water.

Is it too cold for you in here? You want a blanket or something, baby? Oh, now,

wait a minute, everybody.

I'm fine, really.

The doctor said I can do anything I used to do.

You sure, baby?

Yes, it is.

Well, then, Ma, I got this jacket that needs sewing up. Yeah, and I got ink

stain in my jeans I can't get out. Yeah, Ma, I have a big hole in my sock. Yeah,

and I popped a couple of buttons up my other work shirt.

Welcome home, baby.

when you can.

Temporary layoffs. Good times.

Good times is recorded on tape before a live audience.