Original subtitles

* Good times Any time you meet a payment *

* Good times Any time you need a friend *

* Good times *

* Any time you're out from under *

* Not gettin' hassled Not gettin' hustled *

* Keepin' your head Above water *

* Makin' a wave when you can *

* Temporary layoffs Good times *

* Easy credit rip-offs Good times *

* Scratchin' and survivin' Good times *

* Hangin' in a chow line Good times *

* Ain't we lucky we got 'em? *

* Good times **

Ooh! Hurry up, Daddy, hurry up!

Yeah, Daddy, we can't wait to hear

how our new stereo sounds.

Yeah, my body's ready for boogying.

All right, cool it.

I'm just trying to make sure

I got these speaker wires hooked up right.

Come on, let's hook 'em up.

Let's get on with it.

Your daddy is right. Be patient, children.

Boy, Ma, that stereo's a beauty.

You going to church all this time

has finally paid off!

J.J.,

for the first time in my life, I won a raffle,

but that ain't why I go to church.

I go to pray.

Well, Mama, you must have prayed real hard this time

to win that.

Yeah, for a $250 stereo,

you gotta give the Lord a few extra amens.

And hallelujahs.

Hallelujah!

Yeah, well, let's get on with it.

You all cut that out.

I didn't pray to win no raffle.

Well, it's about time you won something.

Well, it's all set.

Thelma, you can put a record on now.

All right! All right!

Let's go on.

[SOUL MUSIC PLAYS]

Whoa, listen to that sound!

Yeah!

That's stereophonic soul!

Soul Train,watch out!

[***]

FLORIDA: Go ahead.

MICHAEL: Go on, Thelma!

FLORIDA: Hey, look at this.

JAMES: Go ahead, Junior!

[FLORIDA AND JAMES LAUGH]

JAMES: Look at you.

[LAUGHS]

JAMES: Junior.

FLORIDA: Michael, I didn't know--

Look at Daddy!

Come on, baby, let's dance.

Me?

No! No!

[ALL TALKING AT ONCE]

Come on, your knees is waiting.

Honey, I--

We can do the bump.

Do the bump! Do the bump.

Hey... Hey!

[LAUGHS]

Oh!

[ALL LAUGH]

Ah!

[MUSIC WARBLES OFF] Oh!

Hey! What happened?

Power failure.

Somebody must've raised the price of oil again.

That's all right. I'll hit the breaker switch.

That ought to get it.

[MUSIC STARTS AGAIN]

That's better. Whoo!

Yeah.

[MUSIC WARBLES OFF]

Aw... It must be something in the building.

No, it can't be.

All the lights in the other apartments are on.

Wait a minute. Thelma, turn that thing off a minute.

I wanna try something.

Okay, Dad.

It's off.

All right.

Now, turn it back on.

Okay.

[MUSIC STARTS]

[MUSIC WARBLES OFF]

Oh. No, that's it.

Turn it off. Turn it off.

THELMA: Okay.

That's what it is, baby. It's the stereo.

But how can that be, James? It's brand new.

Oh, that don't mean nothing, baby,

not the way they build stuff today.

You know, they used to build stuff

to last a lifetime. Hmm.

Then they started building it to last

until you made your final payment.

Now they just build it to last until you get it out the door.

What a rip-off.

Don't worry, children. [KNOCKING ON DOOR]

I am sure they will exchange it.

Now, settle down everybody.

Mrs. Evans?

Yes.

Federal Bureau of Investigation.

I'm Special Agent Reardon. This is Special Agent Monroe.

I never thought blowing a fuse was a federal offense.

Can we talk to you, please?

I don't understand. What about?

Hold on there, Ma. You don't have to say a word.

They forgot to say,

"Anything that you say will be held against you."

Now, just be quiet, Junior.

Uh, you may continue the interrogation.

Go on.

What you want to talk to us about?

If you let us in, we'll explain.

Oh, well, come on in.

Mrs. Evans, uh...

You have a nephew, Cleatus Jackson?

Yes, that's my sister Clara's son.

What about Cleatus?

We believe he was involved in a robbery of the

Dayton National Bank in Atlanta, Georgia four days ago.

Twenty-five thousand dollars was stolen.

Cleatus? Oh, that can't be.

Oh, I bet you're just picking on him

because he's a member of the Black Falcons.

All right, now, be cool, Michael.

Daddy, I'm just standing up for what's right.

Yeah? You keep popping your chops,

you're gonna be standing up all night.

Y'all sure about this?

Well, closed circuit TV cameras took pictures

during the robbery.

Though they're not too clear, it looks like him.

Well, "looks like" ain't the same as "is."

That couldn't be Cleatus. He would never do such a thing.

We're not saying definitely he's the one,

but it is a coincidence that he's suddenly

dropped out of sight and we can't find him,

and until we do, he's a suspect.

Well, what's all that got to do with us?

Yeah! What's this got to do with us?

Uh, shutting the mouth.

Mrs. Evans, have you seen him at all lately?

I haven't seen Cleatus since two Christmases ago.

Instead of wasting time with Cleatus,

why don't you find the guy who shot Medgar Evers?

Well, uh...

If you do see him or hear from him,

we'd appreciate you letting us know.

We're very anxious to get in touch with him.

You can reach us at this number right here.

Well, I'm sure it's a mistake.

Well, if he's innocent,

then he has nothing to worry about.

MICHAEL: Um, sir?

Can I ask just one question?

Certainly, son.

Who is looking for the guy who shot Medgar Evers?

[CLEARS THROAT]

Well, thank you for your time

and, uh, good night.

[EXHALES]

James, I'm still shaking.

All this crazy talk about Cleatus,

FBI coming to our house investigating us...

Maybe they're getting tired of people investigating them.

Boy, oh, boy, the FBI in our house.

Wait till I tell my running partners

how cool I was and how easily I handled them.

No, Junior. That's exactly what you ain't gonna do.

We're gonna keep this in the family,

and we don't let it get no further.

Last thing we need is neighbors knowing about this.

Don't worry, Dad, my lips will be sealed.

Hmm. It'll take an awful lot of glue to seal those lips.

JAMES: Oh, will you two knock it off.

And, Florida, please, whatever you do,

don't tell Willona.

You don't have to worry about that, James.

Oh. This kind of news is something

I wouldn't like to get around.

Well, that's good.

I tell you, last person needs to know about it

is motormouth.

Hi.

Those FBI dudes give y'all a hard time?

Well, the news will be in Uganda by morning.

Willona, how did you know it was the FBI?

Are you jiving?

Two white dudes walking through the projects at night

with their Efrem Zimbalist suits on.

Flo, I hope you didn't say nothing about Cleatus to him.

Willona, how did you know about Cleatus?

You know, I think one of her earrings

is a listening device.

Well, let's just say I have instinct and intuition...

and, besides, it's in the newspapers.

JAMES: Huh? What?

[ALL SHOUTING AT ONCE]

J.J.: Hold it! What's going on here?

How can you tell? That picture's so fuzzy.

I don't know.

Yeah, but it does look like Cleatus.

Oh, no, it can't be.

You can't tell anything by this picture. It's too far away.

Besides, the cat in this picture's wearing dark glasses,

and he's not even facing the camera.

You know, Michael, as a rule, when you're robbing a bank,

you don't stand there and pose for pictures.

Amen. I say that too. I say it was Cleatus.

But you know me.

I do not stick my nose into nobody's business.

Ha!

Well, I say it isn't Cleatus...

and I should know better than anybody else

what Cleatus looks like.

Even the FBI ain't sure.

Well, if you want my opinion,

I think that, uh--

Uh, when I have one,

I will definitely relay it to you.

[CHUCKLES] [KNOCK ON DOOR]

Oh, who's that now, the CIA?

The CIA, the FBI, we being alphabeted to death here.

Junior, just answer the door, will you?

One more alphabet,

and I'm gonna leave home and never come back.

A-B-C-D-E-F-G.

And answer the door on your way out.

Oh, boy, keep that up,

I'm gonna get the feeling I'm not wanted around here.

FLORIDA: J.J.!

Yeah, what y'all want again?

Good evening again, uh, Mrs. Evans.

Do you mind if we use your phone?

Of course not. It's right over there.

Thank you very much.

It better be a local call.

Michael.

Well, as a matter of fact, it is. He's calling a cab.

Somebody stole all four wheels off our car

while we were here.

Did they steal the spare too?

No.

Mere amateurs, then.

If they were professionals, they would have left you nothing

but the driver's manual in the glove compartment.

Uh, I'd like a cab, please.

Yeah. 963 North Gilbert.

Yes, that's right. As soon as possible, please.

Thank you very much. Bye.

Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Evans, uh...

Uh, you really expect a cab to come here?

Well, sure. Why not?

[CHUCKLES]

James...

They really-- They--

They really expect--

[ALL LAUGHING]

You expect a cab...

tonight?

In this neighborhood?

And you work for the FBI?

[LAUGHING CONTINUES]

Whoo!

If this is The FBI, no wonder they're into rerun.

Yeah, we laughing... but that was the FBI.

This whole thing is turning into a nightmare.

Flo? What?

Have you heard anything from Cleatus lately?

No. But the last time I talked with my sister Clara,

she said everything was just fine with Cleatus.

She's real proud of the work he's doing

with the Black Falcons.

You know, the free lunch programs for the kids,

counseling youngsters that are in trouble, all that.

Mama, maybe that's the reason why they're hassling Cleatus.

You know, a lot of people don't like the idea

of the Black Falcons trying to help us stand on our own.

Hey, Cleatus is a hero.

Hey, now, wait a minute, now.

We ain't sure if he's innocent or guilty.

I mean, this picture in the paper

looks too much like him.

It could be him.

You just be careful how you pick your heroes, mister.

Oh, James...

Now, I have known Cleatus since he was a little boy.

Mm.

And he's always had nothing but good in him.

Flo, I know you're right, honey,

but if anything happens, let me know.

Why? You always know before we do.

[LAUGHS]

Very funny.

You know, J.J., I'm just like you.

Sometimes, I get the feeling I'm not wanted.

James...

Whatever you was about to fix in your mouth

to say, forget it.

[CHUCKLES]

I'm going.

[CLUCKS TONGUE]

Aw, don't worry, Ma.

We haven't seen Cleatus in over two years,

and he's not our responsibility.

Yeah, she got a point there.

Florida, look here, that store we got the stereo from,

is it still open at night?

Yeah, until 9:30.

Good. Why don't we go down there and talk about exchanging it?

Ain't no sense in this thing

sitting up here just blowing out the lights

every time you turn it on.

You know, James, you're right.

I think I still have the guarantee in my purse.

Sure. Hey, yeah!

Let's get one that works,

then I could call up one of my current foxes,

invite her over,

and we can do...the hustle!

The hustle, huh!

I saw your current fox.

She looks more like a cow you rustle.

You got some nerve insulting my chick.

You should be in that new movie Mahogany,

as one of the termites.

Who you calling a termite?

You got a body like an anteater's nose.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

James, I got the strangest feeling

that's Cleatus.

Oh, Florida, don't be silly. That could be anybody.

No, James, I think it's him.

Hi.

If that's Cleatus, he sure has shrunk.

Hello, son. What is it? You selling something?

You the Evans family?

Yeah.

Is anybody else here?

No.

Well, thanks. Bye.

Now, what was that all about?

JAMES: I don't know, baby, but--

Cleatus.

I've been running hard, Aunt Florida.

I need a place to stay.

Can I come in?

James?

Yeah, let him come in, Florida.

We ain't sure he did anything.

Come on in, Cleatus.

Thanks, Aunt Florida.

Hi, Uncle James.

J.J., Thelma, Mike. Cleatus.

Cleatus...

The FBI's been looking for you.

I know. I saw them downstairs.

That's why I sent that little kid up to check

to see if they left anybody up here.

All right, Cleatus, I'm gonna ask you a question

right down front.

Did you rob that bank?

No, I didn't, Aunt Florida.

I knew it.

I knew he couldn't have done it.

Yeah. Well, if you didn't rob the bank,

how come you've been slipping and sliding

and dodging and hiding?

Because I'm a Black Falcon.

You know how they feel about the Black Falcons, Uncle James.

They'd never believe me. I wouldn't stand a chance.

See, what'd I tell you?

J.J., what you doing?

Just, uh, checking something out here.

Just checking something out.

Mm-hmm. How you doing, Cleatus. Nice to see you.

Uh, why don't you give me a little sideways there.

Give me a little pro-fill.

Oh, come on, man!

It would be easy to recognize you

if you had a pair of dark sunglasses on

and a pistol in your hand.

Stop that nonsense.

This picture don't look nothing like him.

I don't know, Ma,

for somebody that don't look like him,

it sure look like him.

I know it looks a little bit like me, but it ain't me.

But if I told the Man that, do you think he'd believe me?

No way, man. You wouldn't have a chance.

Right on, Michael.

Aunt Florida, I could sure use a cup of coffee.

I'm beat.

Oh, of course, son.

Thelma, make him some coffee.

You think you got trouble now, Cleatus,

wait till you taste Thelma's coffee.

You know, Cleatus, you sound very convincing...

but you can't stay here.

Now, I got a family,

and you got the FBI on your tail.

Hey, Daddy, why can't he stay here?

You know, one more word out of you,

and you're gonna have something on your tail.

Cleatus, son, you can't keep running forever.

I know that, Aunt Florida, but I gotta get my thing together,

scrape up some money

so I can get myself a good lawyer.

J.J.: Yeah, but, uh,

what about that $25,000 you took?

You looking for it, J.J.!

All right, now. Hey, hey, hey, hey!

Calm down, Cleatus!

JAMES: Easy.

J.J: Just jiving, man.

Just jiving.

Hey, look, I'm sorry I yelled.

I'm-- I'm kind of uptight. You understand?

Of course, son. Of course.

I mean, if I could get myself a good night's sleep,

I'd be all right.

I promise to leave in the morning.

All right, you can stay tonight.

Thanks, Uncle James.

JAMES: Yeah. Aunt Florida.

Thanks, Thelma.

Cleatus, your Mama's gonna be awfully worried.

I know she is right now, and I would call her,

but they've probably got her phone tapped.

Hey, Cleatus, can't you get help from the Black Falcons?

I mean, they have lawyers. They can help you.

Well, I've been thinking about that, Michael.

But right now, it's pretty hard for me

to make contact with anybody.

You must feel like the city of New York

trying to get in contact with President Ford.

J.J., you ain't changed a bit,

still clowning around.

Hey, man, I see you're getting yourself a mustache.

Oh, what can I say, bro?

Yeah, we call his lip the Astrodome.

It needs artificial turf.

[CHUCKLES]

[GRUNTS]

Son, you look exhausted.

Yeah, I can barely keep my eyes open.

I really gotta hit the sack.

All right, son, why don't you go in there and wash up.

You can sleep with the boys

on the sofa tonight.

Hey, thanks a lot.

Now, if y'all excuse me...

Hey, Cleatus the man,

let me help you with your bag.

Oh, no, Michael, that's cool. Come on, I'll help you.

No, man, let go of it!

Look like we hit the $25,000 jackpot!

Cleatus?

Okay. Okay, so now you know.

Hey, Cleatus, man, I don't get it.

I thought Black Falcons didn't steal.

That's right, brother,

but I ain't a Black Falcon no more.

I got tired of being hassled for the cause

and getting by on chump change...

so I decided that the only cause worth fighting for

is me.

Cleatus, you didn't have to steal.

Maybe, but I wanted my bread in one big loaf,

not one lousy slice at a time.

Yeah, well, take your bread and get out of here

before I turn both of y'all into a jam sandwich.

Hey...

Easy, now.

I ain't here to put you through no changes.

In fact, I'm willing to offer you top dollar

for temporary room and board.

What do you say to five big ones?

What you say to these five big ones?

Hey, don't y'all need the money?

Not that kind, Cleatus. Now will you just leave.

But Aunt Florida, we blood.

Yeah, and yours is gonna be all over here

if you don't hit that door.

Now split, man!

Cleatus, will you please go!

I don't want nothing to do with you!

And I feel sorry for your mama.

It's gonna break her heart

when she find out what you've done.

No chance of me staying?

Not in one piece. Now, hit the door, man.

Cool, man. Cool.

I guess I ain't wanted here, so I'll just split.

One thing I don't need right now is more trouble.

Cleatus, I'm disappointed in you. I thought you were

a Black Falcon willing to help the people and their problems.

What you doing? Get off me!

FLORIDA: My God,

Cleatus, what are you doing?

I'm just taking my little coz here

for a little walking insurance.

I mean, I'm gonna make sure

that you don't call the fuzz.

Oh, we won't call the police. Honest.

Cleatus, please.

Yeah, let him go!

He's never harmed you.

And I ain't gonna harm him, either,

so long as y'all keep cool.

Now, like I said, he's my insurance policy.

Hey, Flo, girl, I was--

Uh, uh... Avon calling, uh...

Y'all, uh... You don't want any cosmetics today?

Okey-dokey, I'll drop off the free gift later.

Uh-uh, you're gonna drop your butt in that chair

right over there.

You telling me to drop my butt in that chair?

You got it.

Dropping my butt in the chair.

That's it.

Nice and quiet.

Matter of fact, it's too quiet.

Turn on the stereo.

FLORIDA: The stereo?

The stereo.

Yeah, give me a little exit music.

I mean, make things sound normal around here, dig?

Yeah, I dig.

We don't want no trouble, Cleatus.

We don't want no trouble.

Now, Thelma, do like he say and turn on the stereo...

dig?

Okay, Dad, that's just what I'll do.

* Let's get on down *

[MUSIC WARBLES OFF] [SCREAMS]

CLEATUS: Hey, be careful!

[JAMES YELLS]

Turn on the lights, Thelma!

[MUSIC STARTS]

Get up!

[MUSIC SHUTS OFF]

Boy, you lucky he got to you first, Cleatus!

Aw, be still!

Aw, Junior, stop all that bouncing around like a fool!

Are you all right, honey?

Yeah, Ma.

Relax, Flo. Everything's cool now, honey. Okay?

Cleatus, I just don't understand.

You were always such a good boy.

You had dreams and ideals.

What happened, son?

Do you know what it's like out there, Aunt Florida?

I mean, scratching and scrounging

for every little penny?

I mean, what you gotta do to make it

if you're poor today?

Damned if I know, Cleatus. See, we so rich, we don't know.

We've been setting up here in this big penthouse

on Lakeshore Drive,

and all we do all day long, son,

is eat caviar, count our stocks and bonds.

What the hell would we know about being poor?

Huh?

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Yeah, come on in!

Uh, do you mind if we make another telephone call?

We've been waiting downstairs,

and that cab still hasn't shown up.

Yeah, but look who has!

Hey, what do you know, Cleatus Jackson.

[HANDCUFFS CLICK]

J.J., get the suitcase with the money in it.

Ah, here's his gun.

J.J.: You did have to remember that,

didn't you, Dad?

Get the suitcase, boy!

Just jiving. Just jiving.

This is Special Investigator Monroe, FBI.

We've got an emergency here. We need transportation fast.

963 North Gilbert Avenue. You got it?

Thank you.

Okay, let's go.

Thanks a lot for helping us out, Mr. Evans.

Yeah.

And, Mrs. Evans, I'm--

I'm sorry it turned out this way.

So am I.

MICHAEL: Daddy?

Yeah.

I wanna apologize.

For what, Michael?

For thinking Cleatus was a hero.

I acted just like a kid.

Oh, that's all right, son. You didn't know no better.

But I do know one thing for sure.

When it comes to heroes,

there's only one in this house.

Well, it's nice of you to say that, little brother.

J.J., I was talking about Daddy.

Oh, now, Michael, as much as I appreciate that,

I ain't no hero.

You don't have to be no hero to catch a chump like that.

You know, I think, son,

if you're talking about heroes,

you're thinking about people like

Martin Luther King or Thurgood Marshall

or Medgar Evers.

And James Evans, Sr.

WILLONA: Right on, James Evans, Sr.

[ALL TALKING AT ONCE]

If you've been outvoted, you've been outvoted.

[ALL TALKING AND LAUGHING]

Give me a smile. Give me a smile, babe.

You did your thing.

You did your thing.

[***]

* Mm-mm-mm *

* Just lookin' Out of the window *

* Watching the asphalt grow *

* Thinkin' how It all looks hand-me-down *

* Good times Good times *

* Keepin' your head Above water *

* Makin' a wave When you can *

* Temporary layoffs Good times *

ANNOUNCER: Good Times is recorded on tape

before a live audience.

* Ain't we lucky we got 'em? *

* Good times **