All language subtitles for Good Times s03e05 Floridas Rich Cousin

Good times, any time you need a
statement. Good times, any time you feel

Good times, any time you're up and
under.

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

Breaking away when you can.

Temporary layoffs.

Good times.

Hey, J .J., seems like you've been
staying at that canvas for over an hour.

What's the matter? You can't get
started?

Tell you, Michael, there's just no
inspiration.

It'll come.

You know, painting just doesn't come
from the hands. It's got to come from up

here. No wonder the canvas is empty.

Oh, yeah? Well, I would paint your face,
but I don't feel like painting a dill

pickle today.

Then why don't you paint your face?

That's for sure. Daddy sure has been
grouchy. Last night he yelled at me for

whole half an hour.

Don't complain he yelled at me for a
half hour, too.

Well, the problem is you kids don't know
how to handle Dad.

See, he hasn't yelled at me all week.

Oh, what's the secret, honey? The secret
is he hasn't spoke to me all week.

Say, it ain't been easy sleeping with
him.

That man snores angry.

I met him in the elevator this morning.
I said, good morning, James. He said,

hmm. I said, nice day, huh, James? He
said, hmm. So I figured if you can't

him, join him. So I said, hmm, hmm. He
said, well, don't go telling me your

troubles and walked away.

Now we're just going to have to bear
with him. We all know he's not been

lately. Mama, I think I know what the
problem with Daddy is. I think he's

through male menopause.

Michael, that's not so.

Where did you pick that up from? In a
magazine. It said that a man goes

the same changes as a woman does. He
gets bad -tipping and turns on his

But the family has to be patient with
him, try to understand him, and hide

behind Mama when he comes home.

Michael, your daddy has been under a
strain lately, that's all.

But you're right about one thing.

If you kids really want to help, you'll
try to do something nice for him.

Hey, Ma, that's a great idea.

And I got just the thing.

Thelma, why don't you run away from
home?

Well, I got a better idea.

Why don't you stay here and all the rest
of us will run away?

Daddy was fine until you came home with
that $325 dentist bill.

Oh, sure.

$325.

You could have bought a whole lot of
chicken wings with that.

You're our dentist's will.

Hey, Ma.

You know what I think?

I think this is highway robbery. I don't
think we should pay this bill.

I mean, what kind of dentist charges
$325 for a mere 12 cavities?

12 cavities?

Honey, what you been brushing your teeth
with? Hot fudge sundae?

Well, there's no use crying about it.

The bill has got to be paid.

Oh, maybe we could hock Thelma. That
would be good for some small pocket

You think you got holes in your teeth?

What about the one in that pointed head
of yours?

You got something on your guacamole
dick, I don't know.

I am

sick and tired of coming home every
night to a dog fight.

Just to make sure it don't happen again,
both of you are grounded for a month.

A whole month? Oh, Daddy, I got dates
and plans and things to do. Oh, Thelma,

how selfish can you get?

Now, Dad, I'm not speaking for me.

I'm speaking for all those chicks out
there.

I mean, they're going to be uptight if
they have to go a whole month without a

kid.

Dynamite!

You heard me, Junior.

You're grounded for a month.

I'll see y 'all later.

And you, Michael. Yes, Daddy?

Don't give me none of your disrespect.

You're grounded for a month, too.

A month?

I'm not even old enough to go out at
night yet.

being a little hard on the children.
James, come on, give him a kiss. Boy,

you're grounded, too.

Me? Grounded? I don't even live here.

Well, thank you for small favors.

Well, I better not get into that or else
I'll be grounded, too.

Well, that just about does it, James.

Do you know what I'm going to do?

I'm going to take my groceries and go on
to my own house. And I ain't going to

never come back to this house no more.

Until tomorrow.

You got that right.

and set the table for me. Tell me, will
you help me with dinner? I'm running a

little late.

Sure, Mom.

Hey, Dad.

Uh, let me help you with that.

Junior, don't be grinning at me with
them $325 teeth.

There's absolutely nothing we can do
about it now.

There's nothing but except pay the $325
for his teeth.

Boy, if there ain't something stupid
coming out of his mouth, there's

expensive going into it.

In addition to the $325 for his teeth, I
still ain't paid off the bills on that

gallbladder operation of yours yet.

Honey, I'm sorry about the gallstones.

Oh, baby, don't worry about it.

Lord, it's just that I'm tired of living
like this. I mean, always behind.

Don't it bother you?

Well, somehow.

I just know we're going to make ends
meet.

Well, I know where to reach my end.

Daddy, you always say that, but yet you
come back fighting.

You're the greatest. That's why we love
you.

I love you, too, son. Good. Now, can you
please take me off your ground a

little?

Ooh, I'm just diving, Daddy.

James, honey, there really is no need to
get so upset.

We agreed last night we'd ask Betty and
Edgar for the money.

Hey, that's a great idea.

Ma's rich cousins come through again.

Saved by the bell.

You know something, June? You keep
popping them chops, you're going to be

for the count.

Say, Jane, Edgar's been an architect for
a long time, and he is comfortable, but

they're not rich.

James, can I ask you something? Florida,
I've been thinking about them. It's

been sticking in my craw all day. I
ain't going to ask your cousin for the

money. Why not? We borrowed from them
before, and we paid them back every

I know that, Florida, but we ain't never
hit him up for this kind of money

before. I mean, it was always $50 here,
$100 there.

But now, between everything, we're
talking about $500.

$500, Florida.

Oh, Edgar don't mind. He's always so
nice.

Yeah, that's the part I hate. We ain't
get off being so nice.

Loan sharks ain't nice.

Bankers ain't nice.

James, what is wrong with being nice? It
just ain't natural.

Boy, every time you borrow from me, you
always got that smile on his face.

You get behind on your payments, he
don't never hound you.

You even have the nerve to ask if you
need some more.

Why can't I borrow from a louse like
everybody else?

Well, we're going to get the money
somehow, James. Well, Florida, I ain't

to the well no more. I mean, we borrowed
from Edgar when we first got married,

and we're still borrowing from him. That
means we ain't moved one inch in 20

years.

That's not true, James.

We have a lot of things now that we
didn't have 20 years ago.

Yeah? Name one thing.

Me!

In case you've forgotten, James, we used
to live in a crummy one -room

apartment. Yeah, you got me there. Now
we live in a crummy three -room

apartment.

We managed to raise a family.

A beautiful family.

All right, so we got a family.

I'm just thinking a man my age ought to
have more to show for it than that.

You know what I'm going to leave the
world when I go to Florida?

A tombstone that reads, Here Lies James
Evans.

Back in the hole again.

Oh, now, honey, you're just upset,
that's all.

You know, lately, you've been putting in
some long hours.

Yeah, you're right, baby. I'm tired,
too.

I think I'm going to go lay down until
dinner's ready. I feel another one of

them headaches coming on. Hey, Dad, what
kind of headache is it? An aspirin

headache or an acetylene headache?

What's the difference, Dr. Cavity?

Uh, just trying to inject a little
humor.

Well, you got the body for injecting.
You're built just like a hypodermic

needle.

You got something in your alcohol face.
I don't want to hear it. Don't kill me.

Mama, you sure the problem with Daddy's
not male menopause?

Yes, dear, I am sure. Now, what's wrong
with your Daddy is something called male

pride.

And it ain't gonna get no better when I
tell him what I gotta tell him. What's

that, Ma?

Well, we still need that money very
badly, and I have asked Edgar and Betty

come over for dinner tonight. Oh, my
daddy's not gonna like that.

Yeah, that's like saying everybody in
the water when you know the shark is

offshore.

Well, it's my doing, and it's up to me
to tell him.

And I might as well get it over with
right now.

Uh... Mom?

Yes, JJ?

We know that Dad's in a bad mood, and
what you're going to tell him is only

going to add fuel to the fire.

So I feel as the eldest child in the
family, it is my job to help you out of

this delicate situation.

Mom? Yes, honey?

Good luck.

Is your headache any better, honey?

Nope.

Can I get you a cold compress for your
head?

Nope.

How about a nice hot cup of tea with
lemon?

Nope.

Is that all you've got to say, nope?

Yep.

James. Huh?

I got something to tell you.

You're gonna like dinner tonight.

We've got pork chops.

Pork chops?

Florida, how are we going for pork chops
with the mess we in?

Well, um, they had a sale on them.

Yeah? What kind of sale?

Well, instead of being awfully
expensive, they were just very

And I wanted to have a nice dinner
tonight.

Well, um, well...

With Betty and Edgar coming over. Now,
go ahead and have a... Betty and Edgar!

How are you going to have them over here
without checking with me first?

Well, I thought it was a good idea.

Yeah, well, just forget it, Florida,
because I ain't asking your cousin for

more money. Oh, James, I've already
invited them over. What can I do?

Give Meach an extra pork chop, because I
ain't going to be here. Oh, James,

that's not right.

James? James, where you going?

Out. Where out?

Out, out.

Well, when will you be back? When I get
back.

James!

Hey, Mama, Daddy left his keys.

It don't matter, Michael.

He just broke the lock.

Reed was telling me the same thing, man.

I don't know, man. I mean, I like you
and all that, but I'm going to ask the

for $500.

Now, give me another beer, will you?

This is your third, James. Two is
usually it for you, man.

I don't know, man. I mean, I need the
money, but I got to keep my pride.

I gave up my pride the day I bought
season tickets to the Bears.

You'd think a city the size of Chicago
would have a decent football team.

Tell me something.

What do you have to do to get ahead in
this world? I'm tired of being a loser.

So are the bears and the white socks and
the coat.

This town is full of losers.

If we had a city lottery, everyone would
lose.

Nigga, do I know you?

Let's keep it that way, huh?

See, Randy, the way I figured it is, if
I could just borrow... I got a riddle

for you.

What has two eyes, two legs, and no
arms?

I'm going to hate myself whether I
borrow the money or not.

Tell me something.

I mean, if you were in my shoes, would
you ask me for the money?

Ever seen the White Sox play baseball?

No.

Neither have I. And I went to every home
game this season.

I know what I'm going to do.

I am tired of crawling to people for
money.

Every time I ask Edgar for a dime, he
just lays that smile on me. I'm going to

wipe that smile off his face once and
for all because I'm going to tell him

exactly what he can do with his money.

I'm glad he's split. What a pest.

I wish I knew where your father went.

Oh, Mama, don't worry, Daddy. He'll be
back before dinner.

Oh, I hope you're right, honey, but
there isn't much time.

Well, if he's not back on time, I can
always hit on Edgar for the money.

You? That's right, and I know exactly
how to handle it. With diplomacy and

finesse. I got the perfect plan all
worked out. It is logical, rational, and

above all, low -key.

What's your plan, J .J.? Get him bombed.

Yeah, I'll stick so much grape down that
girl, he'll have to sleep on a wine

rack.

Don't be silly. Now, you know Cousin
Edgar always helps us out whenever we

needed it.

Oh, my goodness. I bet that's Edgar and
Betty now.

Oh, Betty, hello.

Hey, Cousin Edgar.

Look at you. Hey, Cousin Edgar. Have
some wine here.

Now, you know Edgar doesn't drink.

Oh, come on, Florida. There's nothing
wrong with a little nip on a special

occasion.

Let me freshen that up for you, cousin
Betty.

I swear you get pretty every time I see
you. Thank you. And Michael. Hi, cousin

Betty. Well, don't I get a kiss, young
man?

Oh, yeah.

That's better.

You're so big.

Oh.

J .J., this is very good wine.

but the best for you, Cousin Edgar, from
our private French stock. We call it

Chateau Muscatel.

Oh, no, no, no, hold it now. I've only
had a sip out of this. Oh, this is not

the sipping kind of wine, though, Cousin
Edgar. You chug it.

That's enough, J .J. Now, why don't we
all just sit down... Hey, Florida,

where's James?

Oh, he had to go... Yeah, he went...
Well, he'll be right back. Oh, so?

I haven't seen you all in so long. Oh,
he'll be back. He said he was... Well,

said it wouldn't take him any longer
than, um... Oh, my God, what am I doing?

Your family. I don't have to make up a
story for you.

Now, the truth is, we're having some bad
money problems. And I suggested that we

get the money from you. But you know
James.

He didn't think we should borrow from
you again. So we had a fight and...

I don't know where he went.

Florida, you know we're always happy to
help out. But we have to think of James,

too. And if he doesn't want the money
from us, well, maybe that's best.

I mean, a man's pride is important.

So are 12 cavities.

Well, we shouldn't offer him money if he
doesn't want us to.

No, as a matter of fact, I don't think
we should talk about money at all

tonight. Have another glass of wine,
cousin.

© BF -WATCH TV

2021

company. Oh, that just isn't fair.

I bet the only reason why they fired you
is because you're black.

Well, if they did, Michael, they fired
six other guys because they're white.

Betty, can we drop it?

Edgar, Betty, I didn't mean to add to
your problems by asking for the loan.

We'll manage.

So why don't we just sit down and have a
nice, pleasant visit?

James, I'm so glad you're here. Oh,
James. Hey, buddy. How you doing?

Yeah, yeah.

Look here, Edgar, I've been doing a lot
of thinking.

I may be in a $500 hole, but I ain't
borrowing one more dime from you. James,

Edgar doesn't have... Edgar ain't got
the right to come in here and make me

think I can't afford to provide for my
family. James, will you please listen to

me? Edgar, I don't care how much money
you got. I ain't borrowing no more from

you. James, he's broke.

Say what?

Edgar lost his job.

Yeah, that young at the goose that's run
out of golden eggs.

months, Daddy.

And the politicians say there ain't no
depression.

That's because they the only ones
working.

Well, one good thing, Edgar, you came to
the depression experts.

Who was having a depression when things
was good?

Look, you don't understand. We're not
that bad.

Yeah,

we used every trick in the world to get
by.

You all ought to see the budget Florida
has to feed us on.

Yeah, it ain't enough to make a flea let
out his belt.

But what I'm trying to tell you is that
Andrew... No, I told you to drop it.

Yeah, Mama, you're so good at saving
money, I bet you can teach President

how to balance the country's budget.

That's right, Michael. I'm going to tell
the President to do the same thing I

do. Make sacrifices, watch your pennies,
and buy neck bows.

Yeah, we do.

after they get by. Well, thanks for the
pep talk, everybody, but we're really

not that bad. Oh, Betty, for God's sake,
please. Honey, I don't know why you're

so worried. We're doing fine.

Edgar's been out on interviews and has a
lot of prospects for jobs.

They value a man with his experience.

Why, it's just a matter of picking the
best offer. Well, well, well.

Then the bar is now open again.

There stands a reason a man like Edgar
shouldn't be out of work too long.

Oh, he won't have any problem, no
problem at all.

Right, dear?

Wrong, dear. Dead wrong.

I don't understand.

I didn't want to talk about it. But if
you want me to tell it to you in front

the family, in front of the whole world,
all right.

I don't have any prospects.

But you told me at those interviews
they... They, they, yeah. Well, they all

have the same line. We're sorry, Mr.
Edwards. There's nothing for you today.

Nothing around.

If there is anything around, you think
they're going to call me, a man of my

with all those kids fresh out of
college, just begging for jobs, working

my price?

Honey, I didn't... No, no, no. You
wanted to hear it? Well, you just sit

and hear it all.

When I tell them I work for less, they
run and hide behind a big fat desk. They

think I'm too ready to collect a
pension.

So now I'm down to maybe one interview a
week.

But you get dressed and leave the house
every day. What do you do with yourself?

What do I do with myself?

I go to a movie.

And I watch it five times.

You know what it's like walking out of a
theater at 4 .30 in the afternoon

knowing you should have been at work?

Or go in your coat collar up and pray
that you don't meet anybody you know.

Yeah, but, Edgar, I mean, a man with
your education... Yeah, sure. I can't

get a job in a car wash.

I'm too educated for a good hot wax.

Honey, I can get a job. I know I can.
Sure you can. Then maybe we can pay the

gas bill, the electric bill. We have got
a house with a mortgage, a car, a kid

in college. We're just in too deep. I
can't make it.

What's happening to me now is there's no
tomorrow.

Florida, I'm sorry. I got no stomach for
suffering. Some other time.

I'm sorry, Florida.

I'm sorry, James.

We'll manage. I know, I know.

It'll be all right.

Oh, Florida.

Ma, what do you think will happen to
him? Oh, Edgar's having a little trouble

now, but I'm sure he'll bounce back.

You know something, Florida?

I've been thinking about what I said
earlier, you know, about not having

an inch in 20 years.

Yeah, James.

You know, we may have been living in the
basement all our lives, and Edgar may

have been living in the penthouse, but
he sure ought to drop from the basement.

Yeah.

You know, baby, just for once in my
life, I'd like to get up on top of that

penthouse. I mean, maybe I'd fall and
maybe I wouldn't.

But it sure would be nice to be up there
for a while just teetering.

Good

morning,

JJ. Good morning, Ma. Did you brush your
teeth real good this morning?

Sure did.

And have you been brushing them every
night before you go to bed?

Sure thing.

You're not eating any sweets.

No, Ma, I'm really watching it.

What picture are you painting today?

Something I'm going to frame and hang
up.

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

thinking how it all looks when we die.

Good times, good times, keeping your
head up above water,

making a way when you can.

Temporary layoffs. Good times.

Good times is recorded on tape before a
live audience.

If we love you, we gotta.