Original subtitles

Making a way when you can.

wonderful night, Larry.

Not so fast. Wait a minute, wait a minute. The evening is not over yet. We

tell him.

I told you we will. Now stop mixing business with pleasure.

You

know

something? I love you, baby cakes.

two pudding pies.

Well, is this the ending of a date or the opening of a bakery?

How long were you standing there watching us?

Long enough to know he could improve his technique.

Get out of here, JJ.

Hey, hold on, man.

What you doing messing with my sister?

What's that to you?

Just questioning your lack of taste.

It's okay, honey.

Every family has its skeleton.

Only ours isn't in the closet.

Baby, I really think it is time we told your parents.

Larry, I've been thinking.

Maybe I should tell them alone first.

Tell them what, baby cakes?

No, but listen, this involves the two of us. We both... We both should tell

them. Both tell them what, pudding pie?

I just hope they understand.

Oh.

Hey, Thelma.

That looked like a ring to me.

Oh, right. It's a ring and not so loud.

You mean your gay zone pudding bar?

Yeah.

But we didn't tell Mom and Dad yet.

Hey, that's great. My little sister engaged.

Till death do you part.

Which won't be long once Dad finds out.

J .J., I don't think he's going to be mad if I sit down and talk to him man to

man. J .J., this is really important to me, so please, please let me explain it

to my dad.

Thelma, if it's one thing I like, it's fireworks.

Hi, everybody. You remember Larry?

Sure. How are you, son? Very good, Mrs. Evans.

Thelma and I have something to eat. Larry, not now. Take off your coat and

a seat.

Hey, I bet you kids are hungry, and I got just the thing for you.

Oh, by the way, how were your dates tonight?

Oh, wonderful.

Terrible. Everything that came out of my date's mouth was a four -letter word.

Stop. Don't. No, no.

I'm sorry to hear that, Junior, but as the father of my own daughter, I'm glad

to hear it.

I trust you had the same problem tonight, Pete.

Daddy, this is Larry.

Oh, I haven't been out with Pete in six months.

Oh, nice to see you again, Mr. Evans.

Oh, you too, Larry.

Larry is pudding pie.

You know, I hardly recognize you without your mustache.

I never had a mustache, Mr. Evans.

Dad, the one with the mustache was my date.

And, James, you always manage to forget who he is.

But that's going to change.

Ma, Dad, Larry and I have... Wait, Thelma, let me handle this, okay?

Uh, Mr. and Mrs. Evans, there's something very important we'd like to

you about.

Oh? Like what?

Uh, maybe we should sit down.

Uh -oh.

It's a sit -down -er.

It might even be a lay -downer.

All right, what you all want to talk about?

Well, I've known Thelma for a long time, and we love each other, and, uh... And,

uh, what?

Well, tonight we became engaged.

Oh, my Lord, Thelma!

Baby, what you mean, you became engaged?

Well, Michael, get ready for the Fourth of July.

Whenever they get into heavy stuff, I always have to go to another room.

Michael, why don't you go into our room and study?

I knew it.

Boy, I may get A's in school, but I'm gonna flunk real life.

Now, what's all this foolishness about getting engaged?

Well, Mr. Evans, if you'll just let me explain, I think you'll understand.

But you're too young to be engaged.

Then you also should have known I was going to say no way, forget it. It ain't

going to happen. And there's the door, whatever your name is.

But why? Just tell me why.

Well, for one thing, you haven't finished your education.

Tell me you had plans to go to college.

I can still go.

Hey, Romeo.

Tell me something. How old are you?

20? Oh, you just a kid.

But Dad, that's how old you were when you married Ma.

Well, that was different. Why?

Because you said so, that's why.

I knew there was a good reason.

Children, you just can't rush into something like this.

But we're not, Mrs. Evans. We thought it all out.

That's right, Ma.

talking it over with your mother and father?

Mom, I'm almost 18.

Soon I'll be of legal age to get married without your permission.

But we're not getting married yet. We're just engaged.

And we want your permission. That's why we're talking to you.

You want to talk about it? We'll talk about it.

I'm against it. Now I'm through talking.

Baby,

you don't mind giving up your future?

Now, you say you'll go to school, but you'll probably have to quit to support

Larry while he goes to school.

I don't go to school.

Oh, you graduated already.

No, I quit.

Oh, you're a dropout, huh? Well, I've got a good job.

He works in a garage, Daddy.

Yeah? What you do in the garage, mechanic?

No, Larry's not exactly a mechanic.

Well, what do you do in the garage? You lube jobs?

Well, not exactly.

Well, what does he do exactly?

He exactly pumps gas.

Well, forget it, Jack.

Because my daughter's marrying somebody that's got a future.

James, honey, let's don't be too hasty. I don't think we are, babe. I think

they're being too hasty. Mr.

Evans, I do have a future if you just let me tell you about it. I mean, Thelma

and I do have plans. We're not just going to rush into marriage. We're going

be engaged for at least a year.

And I am going to be a mechanic because I'm going back to trade school for it.

I figure I should be a full -fledged mechanic in about six years. Man, they

out brain surgeons faster than that.

I'm not finished yet, sir.

Someday I plan to own my own gas station.

When is someday, Larry?

About ten years, ma 'am. There won't be no gas left by then.

Well, I am sorry, but that's how long it takes. I mean, that plus a lot of hard

work, and I'm going to do it.

And I'll only be 30 years old by then.

Yeah, well, I'm through talking. Mr. Evans, can we... Larry, maybe I should

to them alone. You go downstairs and walk around for about 15 minutes, okay?

No, Thelma, we're not going to put this out. Larry, Larry, I think Thelma is

right.

Okay, Mrs. Evans.

But I'm coming back, sir, in 15 minutes.

I'll be right here waiting for you, son.

one of you are ready for this.

After an engagement, the next step is marriage.

Yeah, and the next step after that is kids.

I don't want my grandchildren's first words to be, check your oil, Mac.

I promise, nothing's gonna happen for at least a year.

Ain't nothing gonna happen, period.

So I'm gonna tell me something now. What do you think? Let's do it anyhow.

For real, Mac.

Well, I feel right with Larry. I feel safe with him.

Tell me you ain't got to get engaged to that chump to feel safe.

I'll get you police protection.

Daddy, I love him.

Baby girl, what do you know about love?

Just a charm.

Ready to get engaged to the first chump that comes along and says, I love you,

sweet 'em face.

Dad, it's baby cakes.

Baby cakes?

Oh, brother. What are you doing out here?

Came out to stretch my legs, Mom.

Go back in that room and study.

Mama, this is taking so long. I've already studied halfway through college.

Then go study the other half.

Daddy, why do I have to study? I mean, I'm getting tired.

Well, moving on, y 'all.

And as for you, young lady, I think we all know how this conversation is going

to end, so why don't we do just that right now?

When are you going to stop treating me like a baby?

Why can't I run my own life?

Thelma, what you talking about? You're free to do anything you want to do, as

long as you check with me and your mother first.

Ma, you understand, don't you?

Larry loves me.

Look.

He gave me this diamond engagement ring.

It's a beautiful ring, Thelma.

I see the ring, but where's the diamond?

James, no.

The jeweler said it's a perfect diamond.

It's got to be perfect.

There ain't no room in there for a floor.

Oh,

I thought you'd all be happy.

Baby, baby, it's a beautiful ring. And I know what it means to you.

And it isn't that we don't like Larry.

But we got to think of what's best for you, honey.

And you should, too.

Add up all you got.

in for you. You got brains. You got personality.

And look at that face.

Thelma, you better grab him quick.

So you love him, you love him, you love him.

Honey, you're okay on those first two, I love him.

But that third one worries me.

Well, it don't bother me at all.

Because the engagement is off, Larry is out, and I don't want to hear no more

about it.

Dad,

could I say something?

Dad, I love and respect you, but in this case, you're wrong.

What?

This time I got to hang in there with Thelma.

Well, that's just what's going to happen. You keep popping them chops.

No, Dad, I mean, Larry's a good man. And if Thelma loves him and she thinks that

he can make her happy, they should have the right to take a shot at it. J .J.,

is that you saying that?

I can't believe it either.

Well, if it is, he better unsay it.

Now, Junior, I don't want your opinion on this. Matter of fact, I want to hear

another word out your mouth on this. Here, son.

No, Dad.

Junior,

maybe I didn't say that quite right.

Now, I don't want to hear another word out your mouth on the subject. Now,

that's clear now, isn't it, son?

No, Dad.

All right, Junior, I'm going to say this one more time.

I don't want to hear one more word out your mouth on the subject. Not one word.

Now, that's clear. Now, I ain't a junior.

No, Dad.

James, James, please.

This is not a family discussion. This is a family war.

Nothing ever goes right around here.

Thank you, J .J.

Dad,

I know you're the head of the family, and I know I went against you, and I

what you might do.

I'm 6 '1", and if you gave me a shot to the top of my head, I'll be 4 '8".

you can simply break me in half.

Now, I have two of you running around here.

No, I never do that, Junior. All I want you to do is zip them lips.

It is a matter that's going to be decided between me and your mother.

Mama, I'm hungry. Can I get some cookies? Of course, honey. Come on.

Let's sit down and try to talk about it calmly, huh?

All right, baby. We'll sit down and talk about it calmly. Good.

Michael, get your daddy a beer. Yeah, I could use one.

Yeah, get me one too, Michael.

You know you don't drink beer.

Well, if Dad's going to do to me what I think he's going to do to me, a man

deserves to enjoy his last hour on Earth.

Nobody is going to do nothing to nobody.

Mama, we're out of beer.

Now, that's just great.

A man comes home after hard days working, can't even get a can of beer.

oldest son give him a lot of lip. His only daughter getting engaged.

That's what we're supposed to be arguing about in the first place. Thelma

getting engaged.

See, you did it again. You got me off the subject. You're always doing that.

Yeah, I'm so unreasonable.

I don't want to hear about your hang -ups now.

I don't like disengagement business, Florida. I'm telling you, I don't like

Yes? Thelma, you all right?

Sure.

And J .J.? Yeah?

It's nice of you to worry about me.

Well, Thelma, if you ain't at full strength, I don't have anybody to hassle

with.

J .J., come in.

You inviting me into your off -limits area?

Next thing I know, you'll be giving up your bathroom time to me.

I want to thank you for taking my side against dad.

Well, sue me. I like to live dangerously.

You really stood up for me.

I almost fell down for you.

JJ, I want to apologize for all the times I called you ugly.

That don't bother me, thumb. I mean, what's your word against all the rest of

them chicks out there?

But I just want you to know, I never meant it.

In your own way, you're beautiful.

I know.

And for being so nice to me and laughing,

Let's not go crazy here.

Well, I want to. You're the best brother girl I've ever had.

I agree, but I'm in demand, Thelma, and I can't be wasting these lips on family.

Okay, then you're going to stand right there while I hug you.

You took my side, and I love you for it.

You're the only one who understands about me and Larry.

I wish Daddy could.

Take it easy, Thelma. I mean, everything's going to be all right.

You'll see.

But James Larry seems to know what he wants. He's a hard worker and a nice

Nice? Nice don't buy no groceries.

Nice don't buy no clothes.

Nice don't buy none of the things we want for Thelma. You heard all that jive

was giving up about having his own business?

Someday. About getting ahead and having a better life someday.

Wolf tickets.

James, doesn't that all sound a little familiar to you?

Huh? You said the same things to my father.

Well, that was different.

Your father was a bull -headed ox.

I'm sorry, baby. It's just that I don't see why she wants to get engaged to this

kid. I do.

Larry reminds her of you.

Oh, no, that don't make no sense.

Just because you and I had plans for early marriage and a big future, that

make us the same.

Oh, it goes deeper than that, James.

He's nice to her.

He's polite and handsome and big and strong, just like you, James.

You may have something there.

Honey, you know, you have always been Thelma's idol.

She sees you in Larry.

Yeah, but baby, I want her to have somebody better than me.

And what's wrong with you?

I couldn't have done better than you with any man.

Oh, yeah, you could. I mean, you could have married Charlie Harris.

He owns his own hardware store.

Oh, sure.

And I could have had all the nails and sandpaper I wanted for the rest of my

life.

Now, Florida, you know what I'm talking about.

What I'm trying to say is that we wanted somebody to get out of the ghetto.

Wanted her to go on to college to get a good education.

Marry a professional man. Build a better life for herself.

Not have to struggle the way we did.

Was it such a terrible struggle, James?

Well, it wasn't no piece of cake.

Well, James, I... I never said we had it easy, but we had a lot of good times

mixed up with the bad.

You remember the first apartment we ever rented?

A one -room flat with no heat.

Yeah, but that was the first year we got married, so we didn't notice too much,

did we?

And remember when J .J. was born?

Yeah. We couldn't afford a crib.

he had to sleep in the top drawer of the chest.

Yeah, but it wasn't too bad, baby, because J .J. was so skinny, I still had

plenty of room left over for my shirts.

Except for that one time when I was in a big hurry for a job interview, I liked

to slip Junior on as a necktie.

Ah, but things got better, though.

Yeah. You had a pretty good job by the time Thelma came along.

Mm -hmm.

We were able to buy her a nice crib and a layout.

That's right.

Florida, you know Summer was the cutest little babe I... You did it again,

didn't you?

You did it again. You got me off the subject again. Well, I don't care,

I still don't like being engaged to that kid.

James, being engaged isn't the worst thing in the world.

Remember ours?

Those wonderful evenings we spent together sitting on the couch?

Yeah. With your mother and the bull -headed ox sitting in between us.

Well, they were a little protective, but they loved you.

Yeah, they must have. They never let me out there safe. Oh, shit.

What you doing back here?

I said I'd be back in 15 minutes.

Yeah, well, you're two minutes early. Wait in the hall.

Thank you, Mrs. Evans.

You'll have to excuse my husband. This isn't one of his better days.

Yeah, it ain't exactly one of mine either.

Just with Christmas, Santa Claus wouldn't have the guts to come in here.

Ma and Dad, I've been thinking.

If you don't want me and Larry to be engaged, okay, we won't be engaged.

Hallelujah! Wait a minute.

Selma, what are you talking about? Let me finish.

Larry makes you that upset, then we'll just forget it.

Here's your ring back, Larry.

Wait, Selma, no. I don't want it back. Here.

All right, Daddy. See? I gave him back his ring. We're not engaged anymore.

Satisfied? Yes, I am, baby girl.

I'm satisfied.

But I want you to know one more thing.

Larry and I are going to keep right on seeing each other.

It used to be three times a week. Now it's going to be five times a week.

And since you don't like Larry, I'll go over to his folks' house and spend time.

But Larry and I are going to go to the movies together.

We're going to go to dances together.

Why don't you and Larry, why don't you all get engaged?

Daddy!

Oh, James, that's a fine idea.

But we've got to give credit where credit is due.

J .J. saw it all along.

Junior, I just want to say something.

Well, the way you stood up for your baby sister made me real proud of you, son.

Looking out of the window.

Watching the asphalt road.

Thinking how it all looks. Can we die?

Good times.

Keeping your head above water.

Making a wave when you can.

Temporary layoffs. Good times.

Good times is recorded on tape before live audio.

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