Original subtitles

Good times, every time you need a payment. Good times, every time you need

break. Good times, every time you're out for Monday.

Not getting hassled, not getting hustled. Keeping your head above water.

Making a way when you can.

Temporary layoffs. Good times, easy credit ripoffs.

Good times, scratching ass.

such word as a snark?

Oh, yes it is, Michael. It's a ferocious flea.

You ever heard of a dog having snarks?

Michael, they don't get on dogs.

Snarks are from Africa.

They only get on gorillas. And nobody tries to knock them off.

JJ, you just making that up.

Hey, brother, check it out. Check it out.

I will.

Well,

let me take down here.

Thelma's friends will be here soon, and the one thing this couch don't need is a

bony cushion.

Oh, Mom, I was just about to meditate to experience a growth of consciousness.

If you don't get up, you're going to experience a growth of not.

Yeah? Is that a threat?

No, that's a promise. Your face is a threat.

You two squash it.

J .J., I said get up.

Oh, Ma, how come a black student union got to meet here?

You know, this ain't no union hall.

It ain't no concert hall either.

So quit singing the blues and get your butt up.

Well, J .J., I was right. I looked and I couldn't find any such word as a snort.

And you know why, Michael?

I'll tell you why.

Because you're looking in the old dictionary.

A snark is one of them new fleas, one of them new Africans.

Michael, one of the guys that's coming to the meeting is from Africa. And you

can ask him about J .J.'s weird old flea. You mean a real African from

going to be here this afternoon?

All right.

Thelma, that sounds exciting.

I can hardly wait to meet him.

You might not like meeting him, Ma. He is the world's greatest male chauvinist.

Hi, y 'all. Hey, Mama. How you doing?

Here, Thelma, here's the dip for the meeting.

Oh, Alona, thank you, but you didn't have to go through all the trouble of

making all this.

Honey, I didn't. I bought that from the store.

The last dip I made was like quicksand.

The Fritos wouldn't go in there without life jackets.

Well, you made this look like a training table for the Chicago Bears.

Don't you have to feed the entire black student union? No, no, no, this is just

a meeting with the action committee. We're supposed to try to change some of

conditions in the cafeteria.

Oh! Hold on, Thelma. You mean all the injustices black people are suffering

throughout the world, and you turkeys are going to start a revolution in the

cafeteria? Michael, three students got toe -main poisoning.

Wow, that sounds like my old lunchroom.

There was always something brown in the soup.

It tasted terrible, but did a heck of a backstroke.

Well, every Friday they serve us leftovers from the whole week.

up, burned up, and covered up with some lumpy sauce.

Now watch your mouth. That's what I'm making for dinner tonight.

Tell me, have you complained to anybody about this?

Yeah, we tried complaining to the dean, but his assistant blocked us. He said,

students are in school to learn, not to eat.

That's funny. Lunch is always my best subject.

I got it.

Hi, Tom.

I'm delighted to meet everyone, especially the lovely ladies.

Are you the one from Africa?

Yes, I am.

Habarigani.

What?

Habarigani.

That's Swahili for what's happening.

Didn't you know that?

Swahili is spoken mostly in East Africa, Michael.

I'm from Nigeria, and that's in West Africa.

And our official language is English.

Well, why don't we... I'll just sit down.

You pay?

Thank you.

Oh, look here, Ebby, my man.

With all that warm, colorful climate you got there in Nigeria, why'd you leave

there to come to the cold, dull climate in Chicago?

My father owns a textile plant.

I'm here taking an advanced business course so I can learn how to run it more

efficiently. He's working on his master's degree.

I hope you don't mind my saying this, but you are two of the most beautiful

women I have seen in America since I've been here.

Wow.

How can we mind you telling it like it is?

If that's chauvinism, I don't mind being chauved.

And you, Mrs. Evans.

Yes? You have the same graceful features as my mother and other elegant women of

my tribe. Oh, thank you, eBay.

I'm very flattered.

Hey, Ma, maybe you have some ancestors from Nigeria.

You know, come to think of it, there was an uncle on my mother's side in Georgia

whose father lived in Tennessee, but whose grandmother came from Virginia.

Excuse me for interrupting the Evans version of Roots.

But I got to run. I'll see you later.

Nice to have met you, eBay.

The pleasure was all mine.

Ooh, honey.

If all the men in Africa are as suave as you, I'm ready to pack up and scram on

the next Pan Am.

Have you ever heard of an African insect called a snark? A what?

Oh, Michael, I thought this man was small, petty question.

Childish question, childish.

Hi. Oh, Valerie, come on in. Take off your coat.

I got you. Yeah, that's my mother.

Hello, Mrs. Evans. Hello.

I'm delighted to meet you both.

Well, so I know I'm going to my room, but if you need any help, just yell.

Ma. And this is my brother, Michael. Hey, what's up? And my brother, Jeff.

I'm her brother, James.

better known as the Dr. J of love.

Why don't you say me and you fast break down the court and go for a game of one

-on -one?

Why don't you take your game to the hoop and stuff it?

Hey, Michael, I may have missed a shot, but I'm in perfect position for the

offensive rebound.

Well, Ordinarily, I stay and listen, Thelma. But I gotta meet somebody at the

library. Nice meeting y 'all. Okay. All right, everybody, let's sit down and

start the meeting. Good.

I'm ready to go to war.

Swallowing that cafeteria food is like eating a live grenade.

Uh, JJ, don't you have some place to go?

Oh, don't worry about me, Thelma. You won't even know I'm in the room.

Quiet as a little mouse.

So, let us begin the meeting.

Well, you know, the first move I think we ought to make...

Pardon moi.

You have a very strange brother.

Okay, now who's going to keep the minutes?

That should be either you or Valerie. Now, I have a plan that I think... Wait

minute, Evie. Wait a minute.

What do you mean it should be either me or Valerie?

Well, keeping minutes is secretarial work. In my country, that's woman's

Yeah. But you're not in your country. You're in this country.

And that woman's work stuff is dead.

Thank you, Thelma.

We ain't here to fight each other. The enemy is the cafeteria.

He is right. And what we have to do is speak to that dean. And the way it

that's not about to happen. It can happen if we hold a demonstration.

Right. You sneak down to the cafeteria at the dark and blow that sucker up.

We want to change the cafeteria. We don't want to destroy it. Well,

it definitely will change it. Thank you, brother.

Oh, come on, Richard.

That's dumb. Nobody's going for that.

Hey, I know what we can do. We can hold a boycott, and we can pick it outside

until we get some results. That's right. Yeah, and I'll paint the signs.

J .J., are you a sign painter?

Look here, Mama, I'm a master sign painter.

Matter of fact, I've just been struck.

With a vision.

I can see it now.

A gigantic deceased fly.

Laying straight on his back.

Legs stiff as a ball.

With a caption underneath reading, I ate in the school cafeteria.

J .J., that is very heavy.

You know what they say, Mama.

Some of us are blessed and the rest flunked the test.

That's a D - for you, clown.

So all in favor of boycott? Aye.

Not me.

Boycott's a battle.

Gotta do something more aggressive.

All right, then. While we're outside picketing, you go inside and you punch

the jello.

Listen, since we agree to boycott, we must choose a spokesman to handle the

media. Okay.

Thelma organize this committee.

So I nominate her. Oh, no, that won't work. Thelma is a woman.

So spokesman is also a leader. And only men were meant to lead.

Well, somebody better lead you back to the jungle.

Well, it's obvious that a woman's tongue get more usage than her brain.

I heard some commotion.

You know, Ma, everything's fine. We just had a little minor disagreement here.

Okay, now, everybody, why don't you go and eat? The food is right there on the

table. Enjoy yourself.

That was beautiful, brother. We get that from Kipling.

Thelma, did you decide what to do about the cafeteria?

Uh -huh. We're going to boycott, Ma.

Boycott?

Now, Thelma, I don't want you to do anything that's going to jeopardize your

scholarship. Don't worry.

Most of us, they want scholarships.

So it's going to be very, very peaceful.

Oh, honey, I know how important your boycott is, but you must remember that

there are more important things at stake.

Thelma.

What do you want?

I want to apologize.

It's very difficult for a man to go into another country and not to take his

customs and values with him. Tell me all about it.

Valerie is right.

You've organized this committee and you'll be a very good spokeswoman.

Spokesperson. Ah, spokesperson.

Please accept my apology for making you angry.

Okay, I accept.

I guess I have a little apologizing to do, too, about that jungle remark.

I'm sorry. Listen, we all say things that we don't mean when we're provoked.

So let's eat, shall we?

Ladies first.

Oh, persons first.

Our time may have come.

His assistant, Mr.

Rogers, is heading this way.

Well, well, well. I suppose there's a leader to this little insurrection.

Yes, I'm Thelma Evans, spokesperson for the cafeteria boycott.

Well, Miss Evans, spokesperson, I've been ordered by the dean to tell you and

your comrades to end this little demonstration now.

Well, we're not going to stop picketing until the dean hears our grievances.

That's not about to happen.

Why won't the dean talk with us? Because there's nothing to talk about. Now,

either you pack up your little signs and move out, or I'll have the campus

police clear you out.

One of them suckers put her hands on me.

I can draw back enough.

Hey, we're not breaking any laws by picketing, y 'all. Come on, let's get

Say it one last time.

Say it one last time. End this demonstration now.

Mr. Bossman, you want to own up to the big house and tell master we said no

Now that's enough out of you.

Don't you talk to me like that.

I'm the assistant dean.

You act more like the assistant fool.

And who said that?

Your mama.

That did it. Now I'm taking all of your names.

And I'm putting this insubordination on your record. Oh, that's what you'd

expect from a stupid Uncle Tom. I heard you, Miss Evans.

I heard you.

Now, you are suspended from this university right here and now.

Now,

how do you like that from your Akatow?

Hey, Thelma, smile it up.

Hey, come on, Thelma.

Let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart.

The last few weeks, you've been a bigger drag than usual.

All because you got kicked out of school. I mean, what's the big deal?

It happened to Einstein, Edison.

And if you can believe this.

Even me.

You didn't see me walking around with my face all wrinkled up like some old

tired prune?

JJ, that's because your face was already wrinkled up like some old tired prune.

Thelma, come back here.

Ma, I know what you're going to say. Well, listen anyway.

Now, your counselor and I just had a long talk, and according to her, you can

get back in school anytime you want.

Anytime I want to do it their way. What does that mean?

She says you just have to apologize to Mr.

Rogers and sign a statement that you won't take part in any more

That's asking me to go to school and not react to anything.

That's some kind of zombie.

Hey, I zombied in school for four years.

It worked for me.

J .J., this is serious.

Thelma.

Your scholarship is at stake.

Ma, I'd rather lose the scholarship than have him take away my freedom of speech

and write the protest.

Well, Ma, I agree with Thelma. If you don't stand for something, you'll fall

anything. Standing for principles is fine, but Thelma is jeopardizing our

future.

Well, my sister's a martyr.

French had Joan of Arc, and we got Thelma of the ghetto.

Hey, come on in, bro.

Good evening, Mrs. Evans.

Hello, eBay.

You look troubled.

I'm fine, eBay.

Selma, who has the problem, she's suffering from a hardening of the head.

You know she still won't do anything to get herself back into school.

I wish I could say something to help, Mrs. Evans, but I've been suspended from

the university, too.

What? Oh, sounds like they're having a spring clearance sale on blacks.

Why were you suspended? Was it because of the demonstrations?

Oh, not really, Mrs. Evans.

This morning we met with the dean to air our complaints.

And somehow Talmud's suspension came up.

He and I began to argue over the terms of her reinstatement.

Well, he called it fair and became offended when I questioned his ancestry.

Well, have you got down?

to spend it because of me? I only spoke out for what was fair, Thelma. I'm a man

of principle.

Principles are becoming as contagious around here as the mumps.

But I can't let it go at that. I gotta thank you somehow.

Well, if you feel that way about it, you can thank me by having dinner with me

this evening.

Dinner? Good.

I'll pick you up at seven.

Hey, wait a minute. What if I say no?

Well, in that case, I'll pick you up at 6 .30.

big shock came when fanny found out that that plum red lipstick on her husband's

shirt was his very own you know what i mean

florida evans where are you oh i'm sorry i

just can't quit thinking about selma you know she still wouldn't do what they

ask her to do to get herself back into school

She's going to lose that scholarship for sure. Oh, she hasn't lost it yet. She

can still change her mind.

Her mind is the big problem. All she's got on it is eBay.

Oh, honey, I can't hardly blame her. Ooh, child, he is so fine.

He can charm the pants over anybody.

What?

Well,

what I mean is he really got his act together.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I trust Thelma.

What bothers me is how fast her head is.

Spinning over that man.

Flowers for the beautiful young lady.

JJ, you shouldn't have done that.

No, no, no.

Who are they? These are for Thelma. I got them downstairs from the delivery

Why come he didn't deliver them? Fear.

He says every time he comes to this neighborhood, he don't know whether he's

going to be delivering roses or pushing up daisies.

I wonder who they're from.

They're from eBay. And wait till y 'all read this note. Hot. Oh, JJ, that card

was for Thelma.

Now, you had... Absolutely no business reading it. Your mother is absolutely

right. You're just too nosy for your own good.

What does it say?

Wow.

Due to my newfound respect for Thelma's privacy, my lips are sealed.

Hi, everybody.

Hi. How do you like the new hairdo?

Oh, Thelma, honey, it's lovely.

You like it? Oh, yes. It's beautiful, honey.

A friend of B -Base did it for me.

Girl, look, your scalp is sprouting black spaghetti.

J .J., you have about as much class.

Oh, flowers.

Whose flowers?

Yours.

Roses, they're beautiful.

Oh, I wonder what this card says.

Uh, Thelma, may your dancing eyes always shine like they did last night when I

held you tight. Slightly in my arm.

You are just too nosy. I swear, you are so nosy. Come on, baby.

We have got to have a talk. Flo, Flo.

Take it easy.

Maya Wright.

There is something you should know.

What is it? What?

I'm thinking about changing my name.

You can't.

Godzilla's already taken.

What's your name when you're changing?

Your first or your last?

Both. I'm thinking of taking an African name.

Bisa Akua.

Bisa means greatly loved, and Akua means sweet messenger.

I get the message all right.

And I think this African number has gone too far.

Now, I like eBay, and I respect his tradition, but you're getting carried

because he was suspended from school, sticking up for you.

I'm not getting carried away.

Then how come your eyes are shaming and dancing?

You know guys, they'll say anything.

She got that right, honey.

Most of the dudes I date talk enough trash to feel too hefty back.

You're right.

I suppose if there were really anything to their relationship, she would say so.

With a smile as big as Jimmy Cox.

You mean to tell me it's a level -headed girl?

She wouldn't get involved without telling me. You would know before he

And like you said, it's just a novelty that'll wear off. Quicker than a pet

rock. I really don't have anything to worry about.

That's what I keep on telling you. So why the hell am I worried?

You're delicious.

Well, that's what they say about brown sugar.

You know, the last few weeks I've spent with you have been unlike any I've spent

before. Well, I can dig that.

I mean it.

In my country, you would be a queen.

In your country, a position that important could only be held by a man.

No.

In our constitution, the queen's position is clearly defined as woman's

It's funny that we can joke about that.

Just a few weeks ago, we were at each other's throats.

Now look at us.

Oh, I'd rather look at you.

Okay, never mind.

Thelma, I love you.

I thought you would never say that.

Then you knew?

No, I hoped.

Because I love you, too.

Oh, Thelma, Thelma.

Oh.

I don't know how I can live without you.

I want to see you, touch you, adore you all the time. Oh, Eva, I feel the same

way.

Thelma, I want us to live together.

Live together?

Yes, I want to be with you all day and all night.

Oh, Eva.

Living together, that's a big step.

I mean, don't you love me, Thelma? Oh, I love you, Eva, but it's like, you

know... But for all we need, it's just to share our mutual love together.

Well, it's not like that.

Thelma, please, say you love me.

Oh, Eva, I... Please, please. I love you, but I...

Yes, yes, yes.

Oh,

it's going to be fantastic.

You know, in my country, we have a saying.

When a man and a woman love as one, they cast a mighty shadow on eternity.

Well, in my country, we have a saying, too.

When Ma hears about me and my shadow, the grits

are going to hit the...

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 above water

Making a way when you can Temporary layoffs, good times

Easy credit and ripoffs, good times Good times is videotaped in front of a

studio audience.

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