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.

I know tuxedos are tough to run around New Year's Eve time, but ain't you got a

little something a little cheaper than that?

How about a little lower than that?

A little lower than that.

JJ, will you stop tying up the phone?

Okay, Ma.

Uh, look here, man.

Suppose, uh, I left out the cummerbund.

How about the shoes? I can always paint my sneakers black.

The shirt's thud.

The shirt?

You'll be down to your underwear pretty soon.

Now, will you get off the phone? You know I'm expecting a call from your

Sure, Ma.

Hey, uh, look here, man.

I have to get back to you.

Yeah, okay.

I gotta consult my business manager.

Bye.

Uh...

Now, you know he's short on money. Else, why would your father have to take an

extra job out of town?

Ma, this last year's dress is perfect, but you had to take in the weight,

Little, because I've lost a few pounds. Well,

I may have found them.

Well,

Thelma, I'm glad to hear that you lost some weight. Now you only have one

unsightly bulge, your face.

Look who's talking, the big...

tuxedo. Well, I got news for you. They don't have a size 10 chest and 42

You got something on your man's head. All right, you two, that's enough.

Hello?

James! Daddy!

How are you, honey?

Oh, good.

Yeah, everything here is fine.

Honey, when do you think you'll be through with your chart?

Your daddy is going to be home for New Year's Eve.

Yeah,

yeah, yeah.

Yeah, all the kids are going out for New Year's Eve.

Now, I don't want to go anywhere.

Just staying home with you is a celebration enough.

Have mercy.

We can't wait to see you.

We miss you so.

Now, look, I know this phone call is costing money, so I'm going to say

Okay, bye -bye, sweetheart.

Bye, Daddy.

Your daddy's taking a bus Wednesday morning, and he's going to be here by 3.

Hey, all right.

Couldn't have gotten here that fast.

I got a 55 -mile -an -hour speed limit here.

Florida.

But I know you.

May I come in?

Well, uh... Yeah.

Well, well, well.

You're Thelma. That's right.

And I don't have to ask who this is.

How are you, J .J.? How? You know us all.

Well, look here.

If you're from the Internal Revenue, the reason we ain't pay no income tax is

because we don't have...

The internal revenue?

This is just like I pictured it.

This is nice.

Real nice.

Yeah.

Homey and cheerful.

This is the perfect place.

The perfect place for what?

The perfect place for me to die.

Hey, uh, look here, man.

I think you got the wrong address. Yes.

Fenway's mortuary is five blocks down the street.

And they usually don't deal in the deceased until after they stop moving.

What are you talking about, Mr... Johnson.

Hubert Johnson.

Well, I think you'd better explain, Mr. Johnson.

Like I said, I came here to die.

It could be a couple of days, maybe a day, maybe an hour from now.

Maybe even the next five minutes.

Oh, that's nice.

While you're waiting, would you care for a cup of coffee?

I don't think you have time to boil the water, Ma. It would be nice to have a

cup of coffee.

All right.

Can I ask you one question?

Of course.

If you really think you're going to die, why did you pick our apartment?

Because I like this family.

But how do you know us?

Hi, Ma. Hello, sweetheart.

Hey, Mr. Johnson.

Michael. Hey, what are you doing here? I was looking for you and I got worried.

Michael, you two know each other? Yeah, Ma.

You have a real nice boy here, Florida. You know, on his way home from school,

if I'm sitting out in front of the rest home...

He always stops to talk to me.

He's the only friend I got. You know, not too many people stop to talk to old

folks. Mama, don't listen to him. He's not old. And besides, we're really

running buddies. Except we don't do too much running together.

Don't you have any friends at the rest home?

No. In fact, don't even bother to introduce myself.

No sense saying how -do to someone that's done.

That's why Michael here is my main man.

He keeps me up on things.

Come on, Michael. Show him what you taught me the other day. All right. But

remember, we start on the right foot. Ready? And go.

One, two, three, four.

Five, two, three, four.

Oh, that's nice, Michael.

Oh,

that's the hustle.

That's why I can't understand all this talk about you dying.

What do you mean?

You're not going to die, Mr. Johnson.

Michael, my time has come.

My heart can't pump any longer. It's got more leaky valves than a 61 Buick.

And my blood, it don't circulate anymore. It just shuffles.

We're sorry to hear that, Mr. Johnson.

Now, don't you feel sorry for me?

I've lived my life, had my fun, and sold my wild oats. Now I'm just waiting for

that top dude to make his house call.

You mean he's coming here?

Hey, look here. I hope he knows which one of us he's coming here to get.

J .J.!

Don't worry, son.

I'm the one that's got the reservation.

You know, I'm still confused.

Of course, I don't really think you're going to pass on, but if you think you

are, tell us, why here?

Because there's somebody here that I love.

The rest home ain't no place to die.

No dignity.

It's just a body.

You know, when somebody dies there, they make the rest of us go in our room and

close the doors, and then they sneak out to the seat.

Don't even give you a chance to wave goodbye.

Oh, that's terrible, Mr. Johnson.

So I said to myself, Hubert, one place you ain't gonna die is that rough home.

No, sir. You're gonna die like a man's supposed to with a family around him.

Don't you have a family of your own? Oh, sure.

I got a son in California and a daughter in Savannah.

But, Mama, he hasn't seen him in over 15 years.

They love me like children love old folks these days.

Far away.

Well, I know when my time comes, I'd want my family around.

Don't worry, Ma.

We'll be there.

Wouldn't miss it for the world.

Uh, what I mean is that, uh, well... Uh, we're getting close to New Year's, but

you're still the April Fool's.

That's right. Still got your Halloween mask over there.

Is there a Mr. Dotson here?

That's me.

Rental service.

Sign here, please.

Thank you.

What's this?

Oh, didn't want to worry you none.

Use none of your beds. So I rented one of my own.

Oh, now, wait a minute, Hazel.

I just saw them delivering a bed. What's going on?

Michael told me all about you. He told me that you were a beautiful woman, and

you are a beautiful woman.

Oh, Michael has a way of exaggerating. And bless his heart.

I'm Hubert Johnson.

Walona Woods.

You here for a visit?

Yeah, but according to him, he ain't gonna stay too long.

Mr.

Johnson here has some crazy idea about coming here to die.

You're jiving, ain't you?

No, I'm not.

And I only want to stay here till I go.

Mr. Johnson, this is just too big a responsibility for us to take on.

Florida, I'll make a deal with you.

It's only a couple of days to New Year's. If I'm not going by then, I'll

to the restaurant.

We're going to have to talk about this. You mind going into the other room while

we discuss it? J .J., sure. Not at all.

I sure hope and trust you vote my way.

Oh, Ma, you can't turn him down. This means so much to him. I know that,

but think about it.

What is your father going to say when he gets back?

Oh, Mama, Mr. Johnson's not going to die. And besides, we'll just be making

happy for a couple of days.

Yeah, we all can help take care of him.

I'll pitch in with the cooking.

There goes his chance of being happy.

missing the point altogether.

Now, this man is convinced he's gonna die.

And he might.

Well, it's just too big a burden for me to have on my shoulders.

Oh, but Mama, it'd be terrible to send him back to that restaurant.

Oh, Michael.

No, Mama, listen.

One time I went inside to visit him.

Mama, it was sad.

All those old people just laying in their beds looking at nothing.

Ma, I know he'll be a lot happier here.

Thumb up for once, I have to agree with you. No.

Well... Mama, please.

Oh, Michael.

Michael.

All right, he can stay. All right, all right.

Now you're talking.

Hey, Mr.

Johnson, Mr. Johnson. You can come out now.

Michael, how did the vote go?

I'll let Mama tell you.

Mama?

Mr. Johnson, you're welcome into our home.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you.

I really appreciate that.

Michael, one more time.

Come on. And move it.

the sunshine of my life.

Hey, Michael, why you getting out of that bathroom?

Hey, Hubert, happy day before New Year's.

Hubert?

gonna die and i didn't believe him jj keep michael in the bathroom he must

known it was gonna happen he's got on his good suit he's all dressed up

That one is just fine.

Now, stop all this foolishness. You are not going to die.

Come on, let's all have some breakfast.

Michael!

Help me set the table, sweetheart. Okay, Ma. I'll make the oatmeal, Ma. Okay.

Uh -oh.

Thumb was gonna make the oatmeal.

How you want it? You with one lump or two?

music to my ears.

It is?

Sounds of a family. It's been a long time.

I can't tell you how I've enjoyed these last couple of days with you.

I'm glad, Hubert.

We've enjoyed having you over, Mr. Johnson.

Yeah, I love you.

Except for one thing.

What's that?

I ain't died.

what I'm written ready for. Oh, well, I am. Roy Webster's taking me to the Big

Bash at the Drake Hotel tonight, honey, and I want to look extra special.

You know, I think of what Roy is paying for the minimum, he might as well see

what Lona's, ooh, maximum.

There's something I've been meaning to ask you. What? How come a beautiful

like you ain't married?

You bet, Johnson. Is that a proposal?

Come on, baby.

Light my fire.

Are you, uh, sure you got anything left to, uh, burn?

Lights are faster than a green one.

Come on, sit down.

There's some fresh coffee on the table. Okay.

Hello?

James, I thought you'd be on your way by now.

What?

Oh, no.

Well, what time do you think you'll be coming in?

I'll wait up for you no matter what time it is.

Yeah, I'm upset too, honey.

You take care now.

Bye -bye, sweetheart.

What's the matter, Mom?

Your daddy ain't gonna make it in for New Year's Eve.

It was a big snowstorm and all the roads are blocked.

You know, this is the first New Year since we've been married that we didn't

spend together.

Well, Mom... I wish you're not gonna let you spend it alone.

Yeah, that's right.

We're gonna have a party right here. Oh, no, no, no. All of you have some place

to go.

Yeah, we can change that.

Larry's working late tonight and wasn't gonna pick me up until after midnight

anyway, so we'll just stay here. That's all. Yeah, instead of taking my date to

the Y to dance, I can take her here.

J .J., sometimes you can be thoughtful.

Well, it's 3 .50 ahead of the Y. It's free here.

Just jiving, Ma. Just jiving. I don't want you to be alone either.

Neither do I, Flo.

I'll tell Roy to cancel the reservations at the Drake. Oh, no. We're celebrating

right here. Now, listen. The money he was going to spend for the minimum, he

spring for a case of champagne.

A whole case?

Oh, yeah, honey. Because when the whole year goes out, well, Lona might just go

out with it.

Hey, Mama, I'll skip Debbie's party. She always wants me to kiss her. And when I

do, my bubba gonna get stuck in her braces.

This is so sweet of all of you. But you really, really don't have to.

No, Mama, we'll keep the party going until Daddy gets here. All right, thank

you very much.

Hubert?

Hubert?

Care to join us for the party?

Yeah, come on, Mr. Johnson.

Well, let's see what happens around 9 o 'clock.

And if I'm still alive, we might as well...

I'm just sitting here thinking. It looks like I'm going back to the vessel.

Yeah, Ma.

We'll talk about that in the morning. Right now, just enjoy the party.

I can't understand it.

By now, a preacher should be doing my eulogy. Oh, now, Gilbert.

Of course, I don't know what he's saying.

I was born a poor man, then a working man, then a married man, then a family

man, and now I'm an old man.

It isn't very exciting, is it?

You bet it might be more exciting than you know. I got to use you to bake your

potatoes. You have?

I'm going to give you a free example right now.

Come around here, brothers and sisters. Come on.

Gather around.

Gather around.

Brothers and sisters, we are gathered here tonight to say goodbye to Yuba

I think it's too late, honey.

Mama.

Mama.

Is he dead?

Yes, baby, but don't you cry.

It happened just the way he wanted it.

With a family and friends around.

It's all right, baby.

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

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 a live audience.