Original subtitles

Good times, any time you need a payment, good times, any time you feel free,

good times, 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 times.

Hey, can I fix your assignment? Just a minute, Ma.

I'm painting an eyebrow on this chick here, and it's a very delicate job. I

to have absolute quiet.

Ah!

Now instead of an eyebrow, she's got a mustache.

Michael, you have to slam the door like that. That's the only way I know how to

slam it.

Real wise guy, huh?

Well, I would punch y 'all, but y 'all weigh me by 15 pounds.

Well, a broomstick outweighs you by five.

You got something on your cantaloupe hair.

That's enough.

That's right. Be quiet.

I need to have to look quiet for this painting because I got to get this

just right.

Now instead of an eyebrow, she's got a goatee.

I'm trying to paint this chick here, and she's turning out to look like Bill

Russell.

That still makes her better looking than any chick you've ever taken out.

Look who's talking. The girl whose face looks like Dog Day Afternoon.

That's right, your mahogany face. Get out of here.

Now, if anybody else slams that door, they're going to hear from me, and

going to hear from me good.

Because I'm mad.

You have just disturbed the artiste.

Hey, Junior, who's the fox?

She looks a little bit too old to be one of yours.

Oh, it's nobody, Dad. It's just the face in the crowd.

Yeah? Well, it looks like somebody I've seen around.

It looks like someone who's been around.

Now that you mention it, James, she does look familiar.

Like somebody in the neighborhood.

Mm -hmm.

Tell you what, Junior, tack another eyebrow on and...

Maybe we'll be able to recognize him.

Oh, it's nobody in particular, Dad. It's just a face that developed in my head.

Ah, that figures.

Your head is a darkroom.

All right, don't stop hassling him and let him finish his work.

All right.

I'm sorry, baby.

Somebody must have put the booba trap on the beer again. It's warm.

No. That refrigerator is out again.

This is the third time this week, James.

Hi, everybody.

Hey. Hey,

Picasso, creating another masterpiece?

Well, you know, what can I say?

What are you doing painting Savannah Jones?

Savannah Jones?

Yeah, that's sweet.

I knew I'd seen that face around here somewhere.

JJ, why are you painting now?

And how come you didn't want to talk about the painting before, huh?

Uh, how come I didn't want to talk about it, huh? Yeah.

Well, uh, uh, Dad, you always say that I have a big mouth, so this time I

thought I'd keep it shut. Uh, ha, ha.

Uh, that's what I did. Out of respect to you, Dad.

Now, come on, Junior. What's the story behind this painting?

Well, uh, you know, Sweet Daddy Williams digs my artwork. Now, are you out of

your mind doing business with that hoodlum?

He's the biggest number runner in the project.

Yeah, that's right. He's great to all the black people in this community.

JJ, you should have more sense than to associate with a man like that.

Ma and Dad, you're both right. But this is my big opportunity.

This is not for me. I'm doing this for my country.

What are you talking about?

Well, you see, Sweet Daddy Williams is paying me money to do this painting. And

this money can go into the economy.

Now... Y 'all may not dig it, but President Ford will be thrilled.

How much are you getting paid?

One never discusses money when dealing in services with Sweet Daddy Will.

I'm sure Savannah does.

You ever seen those ladies, baby?

Boy, she's about 5 '4", pure dumb.

The original UFO, too.

Ugly, quickie, and obnoxious.

Well... Well, June, you got to be out of your mind doing business with that

hoodlum.

One thing we don't need is money from that parasite.

Say, is J .J. Neal... Tell him that Sweet Daddy Williams is here.

Sweet Daddy!

Hey, hey, there he is, kid.

Dynamite himself. What's happening, my man?

I'm more concerned with what's going to be happening.

Come on in.

You can come on in. You can make a U -turn and go on out.

Say, baby, why the hostile attitude?

attitude.

I'm hostile.

Well, peace, I mean, peace, brother. I mean, sweet daddy ain't here for no

hassle. I come to see how bloody it was doing.

Well, he's doing just fine, Mr. Williams.

But there's one thing you might as well know right out front.

We don't want our son doing business with you. Oh, I love doing business with

him, you know. I mean, you got a son who is too much.

I done seen the dude's painting. Here's what you call...

Out of sight.

Well, we'd both feel better if you was out of sight.

Say, son, you gonna be an artist like J .J. when you grow up?

No, man, I'm gonna be a lawyer, and I'm gonna clean the ghetto out of all the

lowlifes like you, turkey.

How's the painting coming, ma 'am?

It's almost done. Oh, far out. See, because Savannah's going to be in from

in a couple of days. You know, I want to surprise her. So, like, can I steal a

look?

Why not? You steal everything else.

Oh, look here, Mama. We haven't met.

I don't think so.

I've never been in Leavenworth.

She don't know what she missed.

All right, let's look at the masterpiece.

Oh, yeah.

Mm -hmm. It's sweet. I dig that, J .J. I dig it, man.

Thanks, man. Thanks. Let me tell you something else. I'm paying good money.

understand me. Good money for this. So does it have two coats of paint?

Yeah, anything you want, sweet daddy.

Right on.

Say, my throat's a little dry. Can I get a beer or something?

Yes, sweet daddy. We got beer, but our refrigerator... Now, you heard the man.

Show some hospitality, son. He wants a beer.

Give him a beer.

I really hate to bother you, but I like it. Dusting these old funky buildings

always gets in my throat and makes me choke.

Too bad the condition ain't permanent.

It's true.

Uh, Sweet Daddy, here's your beer, but I told you before. Junior, how many times

have I got to tell you? You're going to show somebody what you're trying to do.

Just give me a beer.

I'm sorry about that, Sweets, but we forgot our... Refrigerator's broken. Oh,

yeah. Well, no sweat, man. No sweat. Because I got 27 more suits like this at

apartment.

But this show is a cold way to treat J .J.

Sponsor. Sponsor?

What you talking about sponsor?

Well, for the truth, I brought by the lady big news on you. You see, I have

rented the Rose Room. You understand me. The Rose Room at the Majestic Hotel.

And in a week, there is going to be a one -man art show featuring none other

than James Evans Jr.

himself. The ghetto answer to, I don't know, Van Gogh.

A one -man art show? Me?

Mr. Williams, are you serious?

I don't jive about things like this, Mrs. Evans.

You see, when Sweet Daddy Williams is behind somebody, he backs them all the

way. Now, I send out invitations to all the most important people in Chicago's

art world. And when Sweet Daddy calls, you better believe they're going to, oh,

come on down.

Wow, Dad, I can dig them invitations.

Now, wait a minute, wait a minute.

Let me get this straight. This ain't no con you're really going to put on a one

-man art show for Junior? If you don't believe me.

Why don't you call the Majestic Hotel and check it out?

And you still won't speak daddy to leave.

Yeah.

Dad! Now, Junior, now, just be cool. I don't like the idea of you taking no

favors from no low -life honky -tonk hoodlum.

That show is cold, brother, but you lucky I don't get insulted easy.

Look here, J .J., look here, man. There's going to be a lot of big people

huh, who could buy a lot of paintings.

You could be on your way, brother.

Now, it's your move, Pop.

Hey, hey.

Maintain your cool and peace.

Well, James, it is a chance.

Florida, he's a hoodlum and it would be hoodlum money. I know it's bad money,

but for once, maybe it could be put to some good use.

Besides, you know how we've always dreamed of J .J. getting his big break.

That's right, Daddy. This could be a big picture for JJ.

Okay, now you all be quiet now.

Please, James.

Just for JJ.

All right, all right.

As much as I'm against this character, Junior, I ain't going to be the one to

stand in your way.

Thanks, Dad. I knew you would come through because you're the greatest dad

the whole world. You're kind, you're considerate, you're compassionate.

to think I couldn't wait till he said his first words when he was a baby.

Hi.

Michael, what are you doing home so early?

I got a ride in Sweet Daddy Williams' car.

Check it out, Mama. Two of his dudes picked me up in his silver and avocado

Cadillac. Mama, that is one bad set of wheels.

It's got tiger skin, upholstery, a stereo, a TV, a built -in bar, and check

out, they even got a telephone in the car.

A telephone?

Yeah, I guess that's just in case, you know, they run out of gas, they can just

dial up and order another capsule.

Michael, I don't want you riding with them anymore.

Now, we let Sweet Daddy make a fuss over J .J. because of that one -man show,

but we don't want anything else to do with him.

And he sure is making a fuss over J .J., too. The other day, J .J. told Sweet

Daddy he couldn't work on the painting because he had to deliver chickens for

the chicken shop. Do you know Sweet Daddy ordered all the chickens they had?

400 of them.

And they had to close up.

But what in the world would he do with 400 chickens?

The next day, he...

from that character.

Nora, forgive him.

He's trying to imitate one of your rainbows.

you look like you fell into a box of paint.

Enough of the admiration and accolades around here.

Sweet Daddy thought I should go to his town to get some custom -made threads.

It must have been tough making threads for a thread.

Now, them clothes may be super fly, but you're still super flea.

I should have expected that from you. The ugly sister being jealous of...

J .J., are you really serious about wearing those clothes?

Well, you know, now that I've arrived in the art world, Sweet Daddy says I

should wear threads more becoming of my stature.

I'm wearing this to the one -man show.

With that outfit on, you are a one -man show.

about your one -man show but your daddy and i are not happy about all the

presents sweet daddy is giving you nor about the way you're trying to imitate

him you just remember who that man is and how he makes his money now we

don't want any more presents from him this refrigerator is compliments of

daddy williams he don't want nobody having to drink warm beer

can't keep that thing. We've got to send it back.

We can't do that, Ma. We can, and we will. You understand?

Ma, we can't do that. Sweet Daddy's very sentimental about the presents that he

gives. Matter of fact, when one of his business associates died, he made sure

the widow hits the number for a week.

That's very touching, JJ.

But what is your father going to say when he sees this thing?

He'll be furious.

Well, my witness tell him the truth. He tried to make them take it back, but

they wouldn't.

Yeah, Ma, we'd be foolish to give this back.

I mean, look at this.

Automatic ice cubes.

Crushed ice.

Ice water.

I bet you there's even a spigot for Kool -Aid inside here.

Lord have mercy.

Well, you know, they say in that commercial, you only go around once.

But the way this is stocked, once is enough.

Your father isn't going to like this at all.

And JJ, take off those silly clothes.

Oh, Ma, can't keep it on just a little while longer. I'm getting used to this

silk lining inside here.

I think I'll go in the bathroom and give the mirror a three.

That might be the hottest cold refrigerator you ever saw.

Oh, hi, honey.

James,

about that refrigerator.

Please, I am not in the mood to hear a whole lot of yang -yang about no

refrigerator. I spent half the day loading up a truck. After I unloaded the

truck, it broke down.

Then I had to unload it while they fixed it. The last thing I need to talk about

is some raggedy refrigerator.

What I need is a beer. I wouldn't even mind a warm one.

I'm telling you, if I got to go through another day like today, I wouldn't do it

today, boy.

What the hell is that?

Sweet Daddy sent it over. They put the old one down the basement. Yeah, well,

they can get it out of here.

Naturally.

Junior, only because he's giving you this one -man show am I not interfering.

But that refrigerator's got to go. I ain't taking nothing from that hoodlum.

Now, what's this phone number? I'm going to call him and tell him to come over

here and get his oversized beer cooler.

We can't call him. He's going to get mad. I don't care if he gets mad.

Cool pots. You don't have to thank me, my friend. It was my pleasure.

Everybody, I want you to meet Sweet Daddy Main Lady.

This is Miss Savannah Jones.

Hi, y 'all.

Just flew in from Vegas.

D .C. 10.

First class.

Window seat right next door. Billy Eckstein.

He's a real gentleman.

Billy. Got up for me every time I had to go to the jar.

Ain't she something?

Yep, she's something all right.

Look, man, about that refrigerator... Hey, cool, cool, Pops. You don't have to

thank me. Hey, baby, that's J .J., the one I was telling you all about.

Your official portrait painter.

Ooh, I can tell you a real artist.

Well, you know... You look like you're starving.

You ain't got no idea how excited I am.

This is the first time I've ever been immoralized on camera.

All right. All right. If she is dying, you hear me dying to see the picture.

yeah. Hey, is it finished?

It's done.

All right. Well, go get it. Let's see the masterpiece.

Man, I bought that refrigerator. Cool, man.

Well, here's the painting.

Only me. You jive and me suck.

Well, I, uh, took it from the photograph that sweet daddy gave me.

See? I don't look like that.

And I ain't got no hard lines in my face like that. I'm sweet.

Ain't I sweet, sweet daddy?

Yeah, baby, you sweet. You real sweet. Well,

I figured they, uh... retouched the photograph a little bit, so I un

it to make it look like the real you.

You skinny alligator.

If this purse didn't cost me 150 bucks, I'd...

have to buy me a couple of more of them first souls before I forget this here

one.

And as for you, Beanpole,

you ought to know a lady when you see one.

Well, when he sees one, he'll paint one.

do something else, I could really make her look good. Hey, man, look here. In

organization, nobody, you understand, gets a second chance, man.

You made Sweet Daddy look like a fool in front of his woman. And listen, Sweet

Daddy is finding it hard, you understand, very hard to maintain his

Dig. The other day, you liked that painting.

Dig.

Well, I plead temporary insanity.

Now, you get yourself another back of your skin and stick.

Hey, but what about my brother's one -man show?

It's canceled.

Hey, you going back on your word, man? What you think you're doing here?

Oh, I see what you're doing.

Hey, boy, go get my stuff.

Hey,

what's going on here? Hey, I do not give no peasants and no losers the hat and

the watch.

The overcoat and the undercoat.

The shirt and the shoe.

The shirt and the shoe.

Peace. It's a case of bad news and good news.

The bad news is that you're not going to have a one -man show.

Yeah. And the good news is that those could have been sweet daddy's drawers.

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 above water,

making a wave when you can.

Temporary layoffs, good times.

Good Times is recorded on tape before a live audience.