Original subtitles

From Television City in Hollywood:

♪ Good Times ♪

♪ Anytime you meet a payment ♪

♪ Good Times ♪

♪ Anytime you meet a friend ♪

♪ Good Times ♪

♪ Anytime you're out from under ♪

♪ Not getting hassled Not getting hustled ♪

♪ Keeping your head above water ♪

♪ Making a wave when you can ♪

♪ Temporary layoffs ♪

♪ Good Times ♪

♪ Easy credit rip-offs ♪

♪ Good Times ♪

♪ Scratching and surviving ♪

♪ Good Times ♪

♪ Hanging in a chow line ♪

♪ Good Times ♪

♪ Ain't we lucky we got 'em ♪

♪ Good Times ♪♪

Hey, Thelma, turn down that noise in there!

What?

I said turn down that noise... In there.

What you yelling for?

You made me make a mistake.

So, what's the big deal?

Everything you paint is a mistake.

That's the same thing Rembrandt's wife said to him.

I don't know whether he divorced her

or punched her in her big mouth.

You're my sister, so I can't divorce you.

My name ain't Jack,

and I don't get scared by no beanstalk.

Thelma, where's my gold paint?

How should I know where your gold paint is?

Because every time it's missing,

you come up with a new pair of psychedelic dungarees.

You can never find nothing.

Now I know why you can't paint.

You can't see.

Hey, JJ.

Hey, Michael.

What you painting there?

Hey, that's a street hustler.

Don't you know what today is?

Yeah, blue Monday,

followed by broke Tuesday,

followed by disastrous Wednesday.

From there, the rest of the week goes downhill.

Today is the beginning of Black History Week.

Sweet Daddy Williams is black.

But you should be painting

someone more relevant to black history.

Relevant? Are you jiving?

Sweet Daddy Williams owns three apartment houses,

two Cadillacs and a Lincoln,

ain't never worked a day in his life

and ain't never been to jail.

He's the same dude that got shot five times

and ran seven miles to the hospital.

If that ain't black history, I don't know what is.

The Pan-African Council

is sponsoring an art show this week.

If you had a better painting, you might win a prize.

If I can get Sweet Daddy Williams together,

we just may make that scene, Michael,

but first I've got to go downtown

and get some art supplies.

How are you going to get art supplies?

You don't have any money.

Never bothered Robin Hood.

You'd better not let Mama hear you say that.

Wow! Out of sight!

This is fantastic!

When did you paint this, JJ?

What? This.

Oh, last week.

What is it?

I call it Black Jesus.

Black Jesus.

Now, this is what the brothers need.

Groovy, super heavy, yeah!

Relax, Michael.

It's only a painting, not the second coming.

Hi, Michael. What's happening?

Hey, Thelma, how you like this?

What is it?

Don't show your ignorance.

This is Black Jesus.

Black Jesus, my foot. That's Ned the Wino.

You mean the dude who's always walking up and down the street

drinking wine and preaching?

Ned the Wino,

better known as the Ghetto Prophet.

Yeah, he's always predicting the end of the world

and asking for a dime for some wine

so he can die happy.

Which he does, every night.

JJ, you sure know how to pick your models.

A wino Jesus.

He's only a symbol of Jesus.

Hey, JJ, you should enter this

into the exhibit.

No way.

Now, Sweet Daddy Williams here is one of a kind.

Just a few finishing touches

and he's going to be ready for black history.

It sure is a shame to keep this in the closet.

Hey!

Since both are just symbols of Jesus,

a black family should have a black symbol.

If Mama sees that there, she's going to kill you.

Jesus may have your soul,

but Mama's going to have your behind.

You're gone now, baby.

Thelma, put that magazine down

and get in that kitchen and clean it up.

Hi, Mama!

How's things down in the laundry room?

Well, I had a chat with Princess Grace

and Elizabeth Taylor.

The princess was rinsing her husband's shorts,

and Liz was waiting for her diamonds to dry.

Now move out of my way. I've got work to do.

But, Mama...

Honey, why do you keep jumping up in my face?

I know what you look like.

Now, move.

Well, I hope the space lab is out of the way,

because I am just about to go into orbit!

I don't have to ask who hung this here,

Michael Evans,

but before I hang you in its place... why?

Mama, it's just a symbol of Jesus.

Well, hello, symbol. And goodbye.

But JJ painted him.

Don't finger me, Michael.

I had him in the closet

where he wasn't performing no miracles for nobody.

Mama, couldn't we at least

let Black Jesus hang alongside?

Forget it.

The only Jesus I know is him,

and the one thing he don't need is a partner.

Mama, how do we know Jesus wasn't black?

He could've been from the lost tribe of Israel.

They were supposed to be black.

I bet they were.

If ever a people were lost, we're it.

Now, just hush up, both of you.

This picture has been in my family

for as long as I can remember.

When I was a baby, I don't know what I saw first,

my mama, my papa or this Jesus.

Now, he's the one I know and love,

so let's close the subject.

If Jesus was black, the Bible would've said so.

But it does say so!

What are you talking about?

I read about it.

It's in Revelations. Chapter 1, verse 14.

I read about it in Mohammed Speaks.

It says, um... "His hair is like wool,

and his eyes are like flame of fire."

Well, Lord have mercy.

It sure do say that, don't it?

And see, Mama?

Look at that hair. Like wool, ain't it?

And look at them eyes. Red like fire!

Yeah, they sure is.

Junior, how come you decided to paint this?

I don't know.

All of a sudden,

I just had divine thoughts on my mind.

And for JJ, that's a first.

What? Having divine thoughts?

No, having a mind.

I guess I ought to be grateful

for JJ having Jesus on his mind

in any color.

Then we can hang him on the wall, Mama?

Please, Mama?

All right, but just for Black History Week.

After that, he comes down.

Good. I'll go get a hook for it.

Hi. I'm Willona.

Fly me.

Fly me straight to the kitchen and pour me a cup of coffee,

and make it like I like my men:

Hot, black and strong.

Willona, don't you ever come in

without making a joke?

No, but I was out with one last night.

Five-feet-one, 250 pounds,

bald-headed, with eight pair of hands...

all working at the same time.

One of them, huh?

Well, at least you had a night out.

Where'd he take you?

To see The Day of The Dolphin.

Do you know what it's like watching a dolphin

while you're trying to fight off an octopus?

Your old man not home yet?

No.

Which one of his three underpaid jobs

is he working overtime on?

He had to take off from work this afternoon

and go down to the Internal Revenue.

They're going to audit him.

Thanks, baby. Audit him? What for?

They disallowing the use of his yacht

for business?

I don't know what's going on.

They said in the letter

that they claim he owes them $110.

You've got to be kidding.

The president made $200,000 and only paid $700 in tax.

I wonder what kind of deduction he put on his return.

Took Israel to lunch.

Hi, Willona.

Hi, Gramps. What you got there?

This is Black Jesus.

Oh, that's nice.

He's hanging there for Black History Week.

Junior painted him.

Thelma, when I sent you into the kitchen,

I told you to clean, not lean.

Junior, what made you paint Black Jesus?

His face came to me in a vision.

It seems to be coming to me in a vision too.

It's Ned the Wino.

Uh-oh.

Would you say that again?

Uh-oh.

I meant her.

I said it's Ned the Wino.

No wonder his eyes are red like fire.

It's from drinking muscatel.

Michael, did you know this was Ned The Wino?

Sure, but that's not important.

It's just a symbol.

It is important.

Junior, before I tear your divine skinny arms

out of your divine string-bean body,

why did you pick of all people

Ned the Wino for Black Jesus?

Well, he passed out in the gutter,

and he's the only one who'd hold still long enough

to pose.

Well, that does it.

Black History Week or no Black History Week,

he's coming down off that wall

and out of this house. Take him down.

Have no fear, because Santa Claus is here.

Hey, Daddy!

Thelma, this is for you.

And this is for my little man.

You ready, set, hut! Hut!

And JJ, here you go, man.

Out of sight! Thanks, Dad!

Hey, cool, a new pair of sneakers!

Just what you need for your next protest march, huh?

Too much!

I may wear these outside my clothes!

I want to know where you got the money.

Wait a minute, baby.

I got one more magic trick.

Now, just turn around and close your eyes.

James... Turn around and close your eyes.

Oh, all right.

All right, now, just keep your eyes closed.

Hush, hush, hush.

All right, baby, open your eyes.

James, this is the coat I wanted!

What did you do, James?

Go partners with the Chicago police?

I love having a coat to keep me warm,

but I don't want one that's hot.

This money come right from the Internal Revenue.

I thought you owed them.

I did, and I paid them... out of what they owed me.

What?

Remember last year all that money we spent

on that operation you had?

Baby, it turned out that that money

was what they call a medical deduction.

After I finished paying them,

I still walked out the door with 140 big ones.

I tell you, Florida, I can't believe it.

It's like we all of a sudden got a miracle.

James, just 'cause you got some money back

from the Internal Revenue

don't mean he had anything to do with it.

Baby, I don't know what you got

against Black Jesus there.

Nothing, except I got a lifetime contract

with the real one here.

Maybe you ought to hold out for one season,

see if he comes up with better terms.

James, that is pure blasphemy,

and I'm not going to have you talking that way

in this house!

Where are you going?

I'm going to enter Sweet Daddy Williams

in the art exhibition.

You're going to enter a street hustler?

The only prize you'll win is from the Mafia.

Ain't no doubt I'm going to win.

Already got my acceptance speech memorized.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the Awards Committee,

"I humbly accept first prize for my masterpiece.

"Time does not permit me to thank everyone involved,

"but I would like to thank

"a few people who made this possible.

"First, my mother and father, who made me possible.

"And also my sixth grade teacher

"for not turning me in to the principal

"when he discovered my first painting

"in the boys' bathroom.

"And last but not least, I would like to thank myself

for being the ebony genius that I am."

If he don't win first prize for talent,

he's bound to win it for guts.

I'm going to leave it up to you, Mama.

Fix anything you want for my victory dinner.

I'll tell you something, baby.

If this painting here

brings Junior as much luck as it brought me,

you could start

fixing that victory dinner right now.

Oh, James, one lucky break don't mean a thing.

Hey, Ma! Dad!

You'll never guess!

Something I always wanted. What is it?

You know Larry Williams?

He asked me

to go to the Isaac Hayes concert tonight.

You know, the Larry Williams asked me.

Oh, Ma, can I go?

It's all right with me. Okay.

Thanks, Ma. I'm so happy.

This is my lucky day!

It still don't mean a thing.

It don't, huh?

Looks to me

like Black Jesus is doing his thing real good.

Thelma going to an Isaac Hayes concert

don't exactly compare

to the miracle of the loaves and the fishes.

Daddy, I'm going to be

the foxiest sister at the concert.

I know you will be, baby.

Ooh, thanks, brother!

I hope you're proud of yourself, James.

Now you got her worshiping a wino.

Baby, all I know is

things are finally getting together.

The Evans family is starting to get some luck!

James, luck is not

what Jesus was sent to us for.

He was sent to us to teach us humility

when things are going good

and faith to carry through when things are bad.

Now, get this straight.

Jesus has nothing to do with luck.

Hey, man, your number hit!

Your number came in!

25 pennies gets you 150 of the long green.

Oh, have mercy.

Oh, BJ, you really got us a roll going, baby!

James, you know that's just another coincidence.

Anyway, you promised you wouldn't gamble.

This ain't gambling.

With this dude blowing on the dice,

ain't no chance of me crapping out.

With you talking that way,

there's every chance of me walking out.

I know you wouldn't leave me now...

not just when things are starting to go good.

That's the best time.

I love you too much to leave you when it's going bad.

Florida, I've got something to tell you.

Is it good news? Yeah.

Don't tell me.

What's happening, Willona?

Well, that good luck hanging there

is seeping right through the walls

into my apartment.

I just got a call from the octopus

asking me for another date.

That don't sound like good news.

Well, it is.

I just found out he owns a gas station.

Now I'll be able to say those three little words.

I love you?

No, "Fill 'er up."

You're cashing in too, huh, Willona?

I just hit the number.

Black Jesus, you're really turning it on,

honey.

Don't you two understand?

It's still just a few other coincidences.

I just got $5.00!

Oh, no!

You did it, BJ! You did it!

Where did you get $5.00 from?

Well, I was walking down the street,

and there was this accident,

and the guy in the car gave me $2.00

to say that the guy in the truck did it,

and the guy in the truck gave me $3.00

to say that the guy in the car did it.

Did you see the accident?

Nope.

Then why didn't you give those people

their money back?

I tried to, Mama, but by then a cop came,

and nobody wanted no money back.

Hey, Thelma, I just got $5.00!

Great, Michael! Well, how do I look?

This is what I'm going to wear tonight.

Ooh, honey, let me look at you.

You look just like I looked... five years ago.

Mm-mm-hm.

Ten.

Hmm?

Fifteen, and that's my last offer.

Thelma, you look just fine.

Nobody going to be looking at Isaac Hayes

at that concert tonight.

Here. Take $5.00 spending money.

James, she's already got enough money

to go on a date with a boy...

a dollar and a dime.

A dime to call me if she needs me,

and a dollar to get home if she can't reach me.

A dollar and a dime, hell. Keep the 5.

Let the boy know he's going out with a rich man's daughter.

Thanks, Dad!

Well, I'm going to go back to my place

and wait for some more good news.

Maybe they'll call to tell me

that my ex-husband's double hernia came back...

and I'm getting custody of the truss.

Well, what do you got to say now, woman?

Just one thing.

I've had it with everybody believing in this.

Ned the Wino is going back to the closet.

Let him perform his miracle of the mothballs.

No, Black Jesus is going back up on the wall,

where he's going to continue to perform

the miracle of the Evans family.

That's final, baby.

Now, look here, Florida.

You got any other explanation for all this good luck?

Yes, I have. What?

Has it ever occurred to you that this is the first time

this family sat down for more than five seconds

discussing the Lord?

Maybe that's why

all your good things are happening.

Now, look, baby,

I'm not putting down what you believe in,

but I also ain't giving up the first good thing

I ever had going for me.

All you've got going for you is superstition.

Call it what you to, but, baby, it's working.

Now, look, I've got an interview

for a job tomorrow, and it's a good one.

Maybe this time they won't turn me down

'cause I only got a sixth grade education.

Florida, I've got a feeling I'm going to get it.

And with Black Jesus' help,

baby, I could work myself up to foreman,

then plant manager,

then owner of the factory.

No, that's asking too much.

I'll settle for foreman, BJ.

You ought to settle for a straitjacket.

What are you saying?

Look, James, don't you know

I'm wishing all the best for you too?

When you go on that job interview tomorrow,

I'll be praying for you.

Baby, you can pray all you want.

Now, he ain't going to hurt, but he's going to help.

Would you stop that noise?

Hush the noise. Hush the noise, now.

Hey, Junior, how did it go?

I didn't even enter.

When I got there, eight other dudes

had a painting of unique Sweet Daddy Williams.

I think he's this month's Jet Magazine centerfold.

Hey, JJ, did anybody have a painting like this?

No.

Like I told you in the first place,

this is the one you should enter.

The Pan-African Council would really dig it.

Maybe you're right, Michael.

Maybe that's the kind of jive they go for.

Now, wait a minute, Junior.

You ain't going to enter that in the exhibit.

But, Dad, it's his best shot.

Yeah, well, it's my best shot too, son.

Now, I need him here, Junior.

He's made things happen for me.

Now, you've got a lot of other paintings.

There must be something else you can enter.

Nothing else as good.

You're going to have to find something, Junior,

'cause my luck ain't leaving this wall.

JJ couldn't win a prize

with any of his paintings anyway.

That's how much you know. JJ has real talent.

Yeah? Well, if he's got real talent,

how come he never sold anything?

He will. Just give him time.

He's had lots of time,

but nothing's ever happened.

He said he was going to be star

of the basketball team,

and the coach dropped him after the first practice.

That's only because he was too tall.

When he jumped, his nose got caught in the net.

There, he's clumsy.

That's enough of that, children.

He's not supposed to be an athlete.

He's an artist.

An artist? He's an amateur.

Thelma, that's enough

of you putting your brother down.

No, Ma.

Maybe Thelma's right.

Where do I get off

thinking I could win a prize, anyway?

You need a whole bunch of talent and training for that.

I ain't even close.

Now, you hold on just one minute, Junior.

You're my son,

and the last thing I ever want to hear you doing

is running down your own thing.

Now, painting is your thing, ain't it?

Well, I want it to be.

Well, all right, then. Paint on.

What are you going to do, James?

Look, I know what I'm doing. Just let me deal with this.

Here, son, you take this down to the art show

and take it down there proud,

'cause you've got just as much chance of winning

as any of the rest of them cats.

But what about your luck?

Junior, that's your painting. It ain't mine.

I ain't got no right to it.

Don't just sit there with your butt glued to the chair.

Get up and get to stepping.

Yes, sir. Thanks, Dad.

All right.

Uh, Junior...

You think maybe you could get it Xeroxed?

Don't that make you feel good?

Yeah, baby, but you know,

it would have made me feel a whole lot better

if I'd have waited another half-hour

before I got rid of Black Jesus. For what?

By then, the results would be in from the last race.

James...

Hey, Junior, how did it go?

I lost.

Oh, son, I'm sorry.

That's all right, Mama.

Van Gogh wasn't famous till after he was dead.

I ain't even lost an ear yet.

Uh, wait a minute, Junior.

Put him back in the closet.

Huh?

He ain't brought you no luck.

I think Black Jesus' winning streak is over.

Okay.

Put him back on the wall, JJ.

Huh? You mean that, baby?

We might as well have both of them up there.

With this family,

we can use all the help we can get.

Dy-no-mite!

♪ Just looking out of the window ♪

♪ Watching the asphalt grow ♪

♪ Thinking how it all looks hand-me-down ♪

♪ Good Times Good Times ♪

♪ Keeping your head above water... ♪

♪ Thinking how it all looks hand-me-down ♪

♪ Good Times Good Times ♪

♪ Keeping your head above water ♪

♪ Making a wave when you can ♪

♪ Temporary layoffs ♪

Good Times is recorded on tape

before a live audience.

♪ Easy credit rip-offs ♪

♪ Good Times ♪

♪ Ain't we lucky we got 'em ♪

♪ Good Times ♪♪