Original subtitles

Good time, anytime you need a payment. Good time, anytime you need a break.

Good time, anytime you're up and under.

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

Making a way when you can.

Temporary layoffs. Good time.

Warm as you feel.

Simply a case of mind over matter.

Well, I think you better stick with matter, because your mind ain't

brother.

Will you look at this, Melona?

Mama, either the water's rusty or you done burned it.

Oh, this is getting to be too much. Now we got to deal with rusty water? I'm

calling Bookman right now, honey. Melona, it won't do any good. We've

tried, and Bookman hasn't shown up. Oh, it's the same old song.

When things break down and nothing goes right, good old Bookman is out. Out of

sight. I'm going to get some action here this time.

That's right. It takes a man to get results around here. And I'm determined

get results.

You know what I mean? I had enough.

Well, speaking of results, welcome to the igloo there in that nook of the

ghetto.

How you doing, honey? Where you been?

I'll tell you where she's been. Up and down the halls defacing the property.

Look at what you're flapping about now.

Miss Wood, Penny's been writing all over the floor with chalk.

Is that true, honey?

Yes, Mama. Penny, you haven't been writing naughty words, have you, Penny?

Of course not.

What have you been writing?

Numbers. Writing naughty numbers?

We were playing hopscotch, and Mr. Bookman's just mad because I beat him.

Oh, Booker, I know you're not wrapped too tight.

But don't you have anything better to do than play hopscotch with the little

kitties?

Yeah, like fixing the water pipes.

Yeah, Bookman, what about getting us some heat?

Look at that coal in here. I feel comfortable.

That's because you got enough blub on you to keep it bad.

Look, I'd like to help you out, but I ain't got time.

Mrs. Bookman and I are going to visit her mother.

Oh, come on, Bookman. Anything to get out of work. Hey, young lady, you got a

complaint? Put it in writing.

That's cool, old man, but who's going to read it to you?

like to chit -chat with you, but I ain't got time.

See, Mrs. Bookman's waiting, and when she's kept waiting, she becomes a fire

-breathing dragon.

Why don't you put her in the furnace?

Maybe then we'll get some heat.

I see you made some coffee. Don't mind if I do.

Like some cream and sugar in that?

No, thank you.

Sure is delicious.

I sure wish you'd show Miss Bookman how to make coffee. Hers always come out

like rusty water.

I'll get it.

Hi, Miss Bookman. I was just leaving, Violet. Good.

Mother's waiting, and you know how Mother hates to be kept waiting.

Is she a dragon, too?

I'm going to show you how she makes her coffee. And what is wrong with my

coffee? Pure nectar, my sweet.

Nectar. Oh, is that anything like rusty water?

I can explain anything, Violet.

Disgusting as mothers.

Violet, we are slowly but surely freezing to death. Now, that's more

than going to your mother's. More important than going to see my mother?

Miss Wood.

Yes, Vi.

Oh. All tenants have their little problems, but Mr. Bookman and I have our

personal lives, too. So let's try to be a little more considerate of others,

shall we?

Otherwise, I'll have Nathan evict all of you so fast, your butts will hit the

street before your feet.

In the meantime, man, what are we going to do with the heat?

Get another stick and rub it up against your brother, J .J.

That does it.

That does it. It's time for some action. You're right, Walona. You are right.

Now, I hope you have something really dirty and unhandy in mind.

No, I was thinking of something a little more subtle for Nathan.

How about Hitman from Detroit?

Hey, remember?

Bookman said that if we had any complaints, to put them down in writing.

Well, that's just what we're going to do. We'll put them down in a petition.

A petition? That's right. Well, Lana, it'll only end up in a pile of red tape

some politician's desk.

You know, Michael's right. A petition ain't strong enough for him. I vote for

the hitman from Detroit.

Honey, it will be strong enough if we get every tenant in this building to

their grievances and sign.

Yeah, that'll scare Bookman into doing something.

Well, let's stop talking about it and let's get on with it.

Yeah, Michael.

Let some of that Chicago hawk in here.

Hey, y 'all, I'm trying, but it won't budge. Wait a minute, Michael. Let me

handle that.

I really need somebody English in there.

Lord have mercy.

We asked Bookman for heat, and he's about to kill us.

Boy, now I know what a TV dinner feels like in a microwave oven.

I tell you, our petition got results, all right.

But instead of freezing, we're frying.

Did you try banging on it?

Maybe you'll loosen it.

Fanny, see, you're just a little girl.

Obviously, you don't understand the finer points of mechanical engineering.

What the situation is here is that we've had a sudden climatic change.

which has added molecules to the wood, which therefore has taken away the

unlooseness of the situation.

Let me try.

Go ahead, little girl, try.

Just a lucky punch.

Are you sure you're not Hitman from Detroit?

Hi, Penny, is your mother in? Yes.

I'd like to talk to her. Why didn't you say so?

Well, welcome to the steam bath, Bookman.

Booger, booger, booger.

What are you doing to the furnace?

It's over 90 degrees in this building.

Hey, look, I apologize, Miss Wood, and as soon as I can get down to the

basement, I'll cut the heat down.

Yeah, well, we could lose half the hot air in this room as soon as you leave.

Well, is there anything else you need repairing?

Is the water running clear now?

Yes, yeah.

Uh -huh. How about the stove? The pilot light working?

Yeah. Oh, good.

Nice of you to ask.

Well, you know, this apartment holds such fond memories for me.

See this window?

First window I ever replaced.

And probably your last.

You can still see my thumbprint right here where the putty dried.

Oh, come on, Booger.

Enough of this.

Waddling down memory lane.

What is going on?

Well, I guess I'm not myself after what happened. What happened, Bookman? You

didn't make your eviction quarter for the week?

I wish it was that simple, man.

Folks, I just got the word.

I'm being replaced.

You're being replaced?

You mean you got fired?

They call it terminated.

I think they gave him the ax.

Is there a reason why they, uh, let you go? The city don't have to give you a

reason. Oh, this dog's a little squeaky. I'll just give it a little sprint.

Oh, thanks, Bookman, but you really don't have to do that.

Yeah, Bookman, sit down here and have a piece of Thelma's cake.

At least I'll make you forget your other problems.

No, thanks, I'm not really hungry.

Well, maybe just be sociable. Yeah.

Uh, Bookman, listen, uh, are you... Positive that they didn't give you any

reason for firing you? Oh, I'm positive.

But I can live with that.

It's my wife that I'm worried about.

I can't ever remember seeing her so upset.

Think back to your wedding night.

What are you going to do now?

I'll just have to remain positive.

I mean, you know, you fall off a horse and you just get back on again.

Right. Are you going to become a jockey?

No, I'm going to... and find myself a new job. Hey, that's the spirit,

Yeah. Yeah, as scarce as they are.

Do you know that 34 % of the black community is unemployed?

Hold on. I heard it was 25%. Oh, no, no. That was last week.

But I ain't gonna let it get me down, baby, because I'm gonna be out there

pounding the pavement, knocking on doors to my... Knock, knock, knock.

Knock, knock, knock.

I know.

Boy, it sure is nice to see you grow up to a beautiful young woman, Selma. Oh,

thanks, Bookman. That's really nice of you to say that.

No matter how hard it is to believe.

Hey, you know something else? This is the first time, the first time we've

had a chance to sit down and talk.

I mean, I've always been so busy, and I never got a chance to see what nice

folks you really are.

We try.

We try.

Hey, listen, we'll see you around, though, Bookman. You know, right?

No. The apartment goes with the job, and it goes when the job goes.

Oh, Bookman, I'm sorry. to hear that.

Wilona, Wilona, please, call me Booger.

I mean, when a man is down on his luck, little things like that mean a lot.

Oh, but then you'll find some, please. Of course you will. Yeah, shortage of

housing and unemployment.

But these are my problems. I ain't got no business putting that on your

shoulders. Hey, hey, hey, don't take it so hard on him. That's what friends are

for. Yeah, some friends we are, huh?

Well...

You ain't gonna have old Nathan Milhouse Bookman to kick around anymore.

Try not to blow your cool.

Well, folks, you've just seen the final days of Bookman.

J .J., a man losing his job is no joke.

Yeah, and it was our petition that got him fired.

Yeah, and he was so sweet and nice to all of us.

He has no idea we did it.

So you think they fell for it?

I'm going to lay so much guilt on them, they'll never sign a petition again.

I'll have my job back in no time.

Suck it to them, Naysa!

I never thought Bookman would lose his job. I just wanted to light a little

on them.

That's the same thing they said to Jonah Varkin. Look what happened to her.

Oh, Alona, don't feel guilty. It's not your fault.

Yes, it is.

The petition was my idea.

Yeah, but I drafted it.

I signed it. We all signed it. I didn't.

Well, Lona, you shouldn't regret the past. I mean, guilt only immobilizes

That's the same thing I say to all the chicks I go out with.

But that's the only way I can get immobilized.

Mama, can't we do something about Mr. Bookman's job?

I like him.

When we play hide -and -go -seek, he's a good place to hide behind.

And I can beat him in hopscotch, too.

He buys all his kids ice cream when the truck comes around.

Hey, Wilona, do you think Alderman Davis could pull a few strings?

Who's Alderman Davis?

Just look in the yellow pages under crooked politicians.

made one mistake, I am not about to make another.

But we ought to be doing something for Mr. Bookman. Honey, we're thinking about

that now. That's what we're trying to do. Oh, Bookman, my good man.

We were just saying a few kind words about the soon -to -be -departed.

That's really nice of you, J .J.

But what else can you expect from such a warm -hearted bunch of people?

Hey, right now, there's somebody I want you to meet.

Hey, Stanley?

Folks, this is... Stanley Sifford, my replacement.

Hi. It's nice to meet you, folks. Nathan here has been showing me the ropes. And

you know that's strange, because most guys would have turned their back on

somebody who's taking their job.

It's not your fault, Stanley. It's not anybody's fault.

See? You see what I mean? He is one of a kind.

Now, you know they broke the mold when they made him?

I think I know why it broke.

Well, now that I'm here, is there anything that needs fixing?

The shower drips a little.

Well, I always say, why put off until tomorrow what you can easily do today?

That's funny.

Bookman always says, why put off tomorrow what you can put off forever?

Hey, look, Stanley, I know it's your first day at work and everything. You

want to tire yourself out.

Well, I'll just take a look at the shower.

I always say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

We ain't never had the prevention or the cure, but we sure had the pounds.

Ah, just remember, I got something to take care of.

Listen, I'll be back later to say, um, goodbye.

You know, J .J., it's really going to be strange living in a building where

everything works.

Including the janitor. Hey, hey, hey, wait just one minute.

This just might work out for the best after all. You know, you're right,

can't help it if bookman didn't cut the mustard now we had no idea we had no

intention of getting that man fired right right but if he is fired say lovey

again say si bon mama you mean we don't want mr bookman around

anymore honey he'll find another job yeah where do you put a man who's lazy

mouths off and never keeps his promises send him to washington

Violet and I decided to make the final rounds together.

She's very upset.

This is the third box of Kleenex.

Oh, Ms. Bookman, how are you? These are hard times.

I don't know what Nathan's going to do.

Come on, now. I told you to stop bothering people with our troubles.

Violet, you promised. No more crying.

rough times before.

I know, but never as bad as this.

Yeah, I know.

I know.

Keep a whip and open window.

J .J., sweet Thelma, darling Michael,

I'm sure you understand what I'm going through.

I know how bad I felt when your father lost his job.

I think it's time we should be leaving, Violet. Yes.

I need some fresh air.

Wait a minute, Mrs. Bookman.

Take it easy.

The door's this way, Mrs. Bookman. The window's faster.

Take it easy.

Take it easy.

Miss Wood, we'd like to ask you one last favor. Anything.

We'd like for you to have this.

Oh, I couldn't take that.

It's an antique. It's been in Violet's family for years. Just hand it down from

generation to generation. Careful, Nathan. Don't be the generation that

it.

This beautiful, expensive clock.

That's something you never let go of. Knowing it's with you would make us feel

so much better.

Dear friend, I'd rather see it on your table than in the window of some hot

shop.

If I'm still here to see it.

Please.

Let's go, Violet.

I'll have to watch her like a hawk every minute.

Well, folks, your shower's all fixed.

All it needed was one little washer. Oh, that's nice, Stanley. Thank you. Oh,

sure. And, Miss Woods, if you don't mind, I'll go over and see if I can fix

anything in your apartment.

Thanks a lot, Stanley.

We sure have a great new janitor, don't we? Yeah, I tell you, that Stanley's

something else. You know, he really gets the job done.

Yeah, Stanley's my man.

Maybe Stanley'll buy us double scoops or buy us cream.

Oh, Stanley's a great guy.

I'm gonna miss Stanley.

Alderman Davis's office, please.

there, Wilma.

Nice of you to drop by. Usually it's me who pays you the visit.

Somebody always winds up paying when you stop by.

And the name is Wilona.

It warms my heart knowing my constituents feel free to come to me for

consultation and advice.

I wish I could be sure of the free.

Tell me, how are the Evans, my favorite project family?

Oh, they're fun.

And, of course, how are you two, Winoni?

Can we just get down to the business at hand? I came here, please.

I think I know why you're here. It's about Bookman being fired.

That's right.

And you came to thank me. Well, you needn't.

You see, it's all part of being a faithful public servant, keeping in

the people.

You put the touch on the people all right.

Your thanks isn't necessary.

You may, however, show your gratitude by making a generous donation to my

favorite charity.

The Alderman Fred C.

Davis Clinic for Unneutered Cats.

Alderman, I didn't... My secretary will accept your check on the way out. Good

day, Wilhelmina.

The name is Wilona.

I didn't come here to thank you.

I came to see if you could get Bookman's job back.

Get his job back?

Yeah. But you're the one who started this petition.

I know, but we just wanted him to shape up, not ship out.

Well, I was only acting in your best interest.

After all, my people deserve the very best.

And how come we got stuck with you?

I'm going to let that one slide, Wyoming. I

realize your

comments are an overstatement, like your hips.

Well, it's better than an understatement like your hair.

Well, what you're asking me to do is far more complicated than you could ever

imagine. Well, what's so complicated about getting a man's job back? Well,

see, the political bureaucracy is very complex. One must adhere to certain

channels and procedures.

Oh, channels and procedures. I get it. How much is it going to cost us?

Oh, now... If I didn't know better, I would think you were suggesting a bribe.

How much?

I'll have you know the word bribe is not in my vocabulary.

Not in your vocabulary.

How about political contribution?

That I've heard of.

But now, if I'm going to go out on a limb for you, there's something else I

in return.

I never, never want to hear you complain about Bookman again.

You got it.

And as far as your contribution, I'm sure we can work out some arrangement

nectar.

Perhaps some little token of your esteem for Mrs. Davis?

What kind of token and how much esteem, Baldy?

One good thing about Alderman Davis, he can't be bought, but he can be rented.

That's the price we have to pay, honey.

Surprise! I'm back.

Good. Now, would you give us some heat?

Hey, Tom, you should know better than that. You can't teach an old buffalo new

tricks.

Oh, by the way, I guess I owe you some thank you for getting me my job back.

You mean you know about that, Bookman? Yeah.

It's the least you can do, considering your petition got me fired in the first

place. You know about that, too?

Bet you, little lady. You mean this whole thing was a hustle?

Yeah. Beautiful, wasn't it?

You lost me my job, and I used you to get it back.

You mean little Miss Bookman was in on it, too?

Great little actress, isn't she?

Boy, we ought to be on the stage.

We're regular Farrah Fawcett and Lee Majors.

Yeah, Charlie's Devil and Six Dollar Man.

And you fell for it. Now give me my clock back.

Clock?

The man said he want his clock back.

We thought it was a gift.

Lone, lone.

It was hard enough for me to convince Mrs. Bookman to let me use it in a plan.

I'll hand it over.

Come here, Bubba. Listen, you have to understand the structure of a political

bureaucracy. You see, there are certain procedures and channels one must adhere

to. And if you elect... Hey, wait a minute. Hold it. I don't want to hear

that stuff.

Just give me the clock back.

Bookman, I don't think you heard the lady.

You got to give a little to get a little.

I don't think you understand.

Give me my TikTok back.

What they're trying to say, Bookman, is that in order to get your job back, they

had to bribe Alderman Davis.

Oh, that's all behind us. Now, I don't want to know about sordid details.

I think you want to know about this detail, Mr. Bookman.

Don't tell me you gave that man my clock.

We gave him your clock.

I asked you not to tell me that.

You know, you had no right to give that clock away. Neither did you.

But that's all behind us now, remember?

Look, I can't go home without it.

Bye -bye, Mr. Buffalo Bud.

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

thinking how it all looks and we die.

Good times is videotaped in front of a studio audience.