Original subtitles

* Good Times *

* Anytime You meet a payment *

* Good Times *

* Anytime You feel free *

* 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 *

Bird, you still tough.

If you were alive, you'd be a Marine sergeant.

Back you go,

and I want you to hang in there till you tender up.

Hup, two, three, four.

Hup, two, three, four.

There you go. Hi, Ma.

Hi, honey.

Oh, you found the paper.

I looked all over the hall for it.

Yeah, it's a little messed up.

One of our neighbors got to it

before we did.

Mm, must have been that Miss Crutcher.

She's always stealing our paper

and then complaining

about how the crime rate is going up.

I want to see if they got anything in here

about J.J. winning the award for his art exhibit.

Mm.

Ooh, Ma, you must be some kind of magician.

You finally figured out a way

to make ham hock smell like chicken.

I did better than that.

I made chicken smell like chicken.

Whoo.

This is some big occasion, huh, Ma?

Biggest we had in months.

J.J. winning the award.

Whoo.

When we celebrate, we eat chicken, right?

Mm-hmm.

What do chickens eat when they celebrate?

Less fortunate chickens.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

Thelma.

Hello?

Ah.

Hello, Alderman Davis.

No, J.J. isn't here right now,

but I'm expecting him any minute.

Yes, I'll tell him.

Well...

There's a surprise.

That was Alderman Davis. He's coming over to see J.J.

Now, what does that buzzard want with our gooney bird?

Ooh, here it is.

"J.J. Evans wins Urban Community art show,

"second year in a row.

"The award ceremonies were taped

and will be shown tonight on the 6:00 news."

All right.

Hi, Ma. Hi, Thelma.

Hi, baby.

Michael, we got a big surprise for you.

J.J.'s going to be on TV tonight.

How did you know?

Miss Crutcher told me.

Now, what's your surprise?

Never mind. Turn on the TV.

We don't want to miss J.J. Okay.

Ma, you think J.J. knows he's going to be on TV?

I ain't rolling nothing but sevens and 11s.

Here come the TV star, J.J. Evans.

He knows.

Hey,

when does the ebony idol of the airwaves

grace the boob tube?

Well, you still have

a few more minutes before you boob up the tube.

Thelma...

Let's get this thing rolling here.

Come on, let's get this picture happening.

NEWSCASTER: On the national scene,

Governor Carter was in Oregon today,

President Ford made a speech in Iowa,

and it is reported that Secretary of State Kissinger

was seen in Washington.

And now for the local news.

Oh, local news.

The Urban Community Center presented its coveted

annual awards for excellence in the arts.

Here was the scene

as the director of the center made the presentation.

DIRECTOR: And now for the award in visual arts.

Hey, I'm standing up now,

getting ready to walk down the aisle.

In a second, you'll hear me clear my throat.

This young man's painting

of contemporary black athletic heroes

was the highlight of this year's show.

[CLEARING THROAT]

Uh, that's me clearing my throat.

It sounds fine, J.J.

Here I come.

And now, here is this year's--

[TELEVISION STOPS WORKING]

Oh, come on, tube. There I go.

Come on, TV. Oh, come on.

Honey, try flipping it off and on.

Oh, why me, Lord?

Why couldn't this happen during the Ford/Carter debates?

They ain't got nothing to say anyway.

Baby, quit kicking it.

Show some respect for the dead.

Hey, well, you know what?

Let's go watch it on Willona's TV.

Oh, good idea. Ooh, hurry up.

Hi. Ain't got no time.

Going to watch me at Willona's house on TV.

Hello.

I saw you on TV, J.J.

That's more than I can say.

I was so disappointed.

Give it to me straight, Willona.

Was I as great on TV as I am in person?

J.J., you were fantastic.

Well, you know, what can I say?

At the beginning, I had a little trouble seeing you.

You were standing behind the flagpole.

Only kidding, honey.

Now, come on, Willona.

Tell me, truthfully,

what did I say to the man?

J.J., what do you mean, what did you say?

You were there. You should know what you said.

It's not the words, it's the execution.

Well, I'll vote for that.

Ma, we got to get a new TV. That one's had it.

Yeah, I expect to be winning many more awards, Ma,

and I can't stand to watch myself

blow up on TV every week.

Yeah, Ma, we missing all the new shows.

That's right.

Missing all the new shows.

My friends, Poppo and Head,

they was telling me about this new show

called The Bionic Black Man...

About this black dude gets into an accident,

the white scientists want to save him,

but they don't have enough bionic parts,

so they put the dude together

with old parts from his Cadillac.

Well, we can stand a new TV set.

Well, honey, all you're going to see on television

is some kind of debates.

They got a debate now between President Ford and Jimmy Carter,

and Jimmy Carter wants it to be winner takes all,

and President Ford wants it to be two falls out of three.

And both the candidates come on the air with dyed hair,

caps on their teeth, whole lot of TV makeup on,

and they got the nerve to say, "Trust me"?

And you'd be surprised how the debate

has influenced the clothes coming into the boutique, honey.

They got this new number called the election special.

Whoo! Cut low, making all kinds of promises

you know you just ain't going to keep.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

I'll get it, Ma.

Hey, hold on there, Michael.

If that's one of my chicks,

tell her I'm busy till 1989.

All right.

Oh, Alderman Davis.

Hello, Florida.

It is indeed a rare honor to cast my eyes

on my favorite family in the entire precinct...

And you, too, Willona.

Honey, hide the silver.

Come in, alderman.

Thank you, Florida.

My, but your family has grown.

I wouldn't have recognized you, Theresa.

That's Thelma.

And you, Mitchell.

Uh, that's Michael.

And, of course, everybody knows you, J.J.

Nice of you to remember my initials, Alderman.

Son, I wanted to tell you

how impressed I am with your current art exhibit,

so I decided to come over here

and personally compliment you.

Flo, hide the paper napkins, too.

Down at the community center,

they tell me

that they never had so many young people

get so excited about an art exhibit.

Well, you know, what can I say?

When you got it, you paint it, you frame it, you hang it.

And, Davis, you can stuff it.

J.J., you're a vital force

among the young people in our community.

Get to the point.

Exactly what do you want from J.J.?

Now, Florida, why in the world

would you doubt my sincerity?

Oh, it's not that I doubt your sincerity.

I've just that I've never seen it.

Florida, I do what I do.

Remember, I'm merely the people's servant.

Oh, servant, huh?

Do you do windows?

Willona, I am constantly amazed

at your wonderful lack of humor,

but going from the ridiculous

to the sublime,

J.J., I want to congratulate you.

Your art speaks

for all the young people in our community.

Well,

as usual, it's been a pleasure

seeing all the Evans' glowing faces,

and yours too, Willona.

And I bid you goodbye.

That Davis has just got to be sick.

He didn't ask for anything.

And that's like a fox going into a chicken coop,

ordering a vegetable plate.

Oh.

There's one little thing I just remembered.

Cancel the vegetable plate.

There's a pre-election dinner

being given in my honor,

and here's four tickets for you good people.

There's one in there for you too, Willona.

By the way, they're $5 apiece.

You can put the money in the envelope.

That's very thoughtful of you, but--

Ah, now, now, Florida.

Don't beg for any more tickets.

That's all I can spare you.

Well, it's nice to know he's his rotten self.

This way, we don't have to worry about him going bad on us.

Well, well, well.

Long time, no see.

There's one more little thing

that I just remembered--

[SNIFFS] Mm.

If these old nostrils of mine

don't deceive me,

that aroma I smell

is Florida's famous home-cooked chicken.

Bring along a few of those

famous birds of yours, Florida.

Alderman, I'd love to give you the bird.

Uh, Willona,

you can bring some coleslaw.

Anybody can cut cabbage.

But it takes a cabbage head to know that...

Balderman.

Goodbye, all.

Ma, you're not gonna really fix him any chicken, are you?

Because--

There's another little thing you just remembered.

Based on your influence with the young people, J.J.,

I'd like for you to head up the YAM committee.

What's YAM?

Y-A-M.

Young Artists for Me.

Perfect.

Yams go good with a stuffed turkey like you.

J.J., I'd like for you to sit on the dais with me

and make a little speech in my honor.

Yeah, but I ain't no speech writer.

No sweat, son.

We'll have an extemporaneous speech

all prepared for you.

You'll be picked up at 7:00 by a limousine

from the Green Funeral Home.

Oh, I hope it's the one with the seats in it.

All right, then it's all settled.

I'll see you at the dinner.

Hold it, alderman.

Nothing is settled.

Now, I'm not about

to let J.J. be bait for you

to get in your young voters.

These young people nowadays

can make up their own minds.

And I'm not about to cook you any chicken.

You cook your own bird.

Give it to him, Mama.

And, uh, Balderman,

you do know what you can do

with your cabbage, don't you?

Tell it like it is, Willona.

Well, we have a saying down at city hall.

"How soon they forget."

Florida, it pains me to remind you,

but it was through the good graces of my office

that I got you this apartment in the first place.

And you never let us forget it.

Oh, look, Florida.

Now, what possible harm could it do

if J.J. would say

a few modest words to those young people?

Well, why don't we just ask J.J.?

I agree with you, Ma.

I'm getting tired of Alderman Davis

coming up here blackmailing us

about this apartment.

You know, alderman,

I think it would be a crime

if the people in this district

reelect you,

and I am not about to let J.J.

become an accessory to a crime.

All right.

If that's how you want it, Mrs. Evans.

All well and good.

We have another saying down at city hall.

"The essence of democracy is the freedom of choice."

May I use your telephone--

Hello, Bookman.

Alderman Davis here.

Bookman, an apartment has suddenly become available

in your project.

The Evans family have freely chosen to leave.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Just what do you want, Bookman?

Well, since you're getting out,

Alderman Davis requested

that I take inventory for the new tenants.

Ma, he can't do this to us, can he?

I mean, there are laws.

That's true, honey.

Unfortunately, it's politicians like Davis

who make those laws.

This place will have to be completely redecorated.

Oh, yeah? What you plan on doing?

Bringing in a new set of roaches?

Bookman, how come you got

a "Win With Ford" button

and a "Win With Carter" button on each side?

Because Nathan Bookman's

always on the side of the winner.

Yeah, but they both can't win.

And they both can't lose, either.

Look here, no matter who's in the White House,

a donkey or an elephant,

there'll still be

a horse's behind running this building.

Now, that's a cold shot.

You're right.

Now, J.J., you should not have said that,

and I want you to apologize...

To horses everywhere.

Okay, I'll see how smart you are

when you're living out on the streets.

Now, I got to get back to this inventory.

Let's see, now. One sink.

Chipped and rust-stained.

Mint condition.

Two faucets.

Needs washers.

Excellent condition.

One stove.

Pilot light keeps going out.

Ideal. Saves on gas.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

The door sounds fine, too.

Hello. We came to look at the apartment.

What?

Is this the Evans apartment?

Yes, it is.

Oh, I'm Mr. Gillard.

This is my wife, Margaret.

Hello.

Alderman Davis sent us over.

He said this apartment is available.

Alderman may be rotten, but he sure works fast.

Oh, come right in, folks.

I'm Nathan Bookman, the supervisory engineer.

Better known as Buffalo Butt, the janitor.

We're going to miss that kid.

You folks, excuse the conditions.

The last tenants were a little sloppy

in the housekeeping department.

Just a minute, Bookman.

But with a little paint and a little plaster,

you folks will have a beautiful little honeymoon cottage.

Come on, let me show you the layout.

Now, right over here we have the master bedroom.

Right here.

Look, George,

it has a separate bedroom.

Yeah, sure is nice.

Where we live now, there are four of us in a single.

Mm. You see, this is one of our most sought-after apartments.

Yeah, right now it's eight to five

the rats will take it from the roaches.

Uh, you know something?

You really won't be happy here.

I mean, the bathtub leaks, and the pipe freezes,

and sometimes we have to wait 20 minutes

before the water warms up. It's tough.

Yeah, but your bathroom is in the apartment.

Ours is down the hall,

and we have to share it with six other families.

Uh, hey, well, um,

if you like snow in the wintertime,

you don't have to worry

about going outside to get it,

because it comes right through that window.

Well, our windows are all boarded up.

Lots of vandals in our neighborhood.

Well, you know,

this neighborhood ain't exactly peaceful.

You don't have to watch TV to get sex and violence.

We got it on either side of us.

One side, the battling Johnsons, and the other side,

a religious fanatic known as "Our Lady Of The Streets."

That's right.

[INDISTINCT]

FLORIDA: It's all right.

It's all right.

Look, Mr. and Mrs. Gillard.

This may not be the best place in the world,

but it is our home.

Now, we are being forced out

by your friend, Davis,

and he just might do the same thing to you.

We'll take that chance.

It's so much nicer than what we have now.

Then it's settled.

Yours is a lease,

and yours, Mrs. Evans, is an eviction notice.

Come with me, folks.

I'm so sorry.

It was nice meeting you.

Come on, let me take you down to the laundry room.

The way I keep that place, it should be in a magazine.

Yeah, Better Slums and Garbage.

Well, Ma, now what we gonna do?

The only thing we can do, son.

May I speak to Alderman Davis, please?

And in conclusion, ladies and gentlemen,

this year, 70 million people in our country will not vote.

A sad commentary on my opponent,

who seems unable to attract the voters.

Why, in this ward alone,

hundreds of young voters will not go to the polls.

Just remember, young people,

it doesn't matter who you vote for,

as long as you vote... for Fred C. Davis.

[APPLAUSE]

And now, I am honored to introduce

a young man who has asked to say a few words on my humble behalf.

That is the humblest lie I ever heard.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the winner of the Urban Community Award,

Mr. J.J. Evans.

[APPLAUSE]

Uh...

Ladies and gentlemen, Yams and Yamettes,

this is a rare honor to be able to speak

on behalf of a great public serpent...

That's servant!

No, that's serpent.

Who has dedicated his whole life to his fellow man.

Forgive him, Lord,

but apartments are hard to come by.

For Fred Davis, no sacrifice has been too great,

and I am thrilled to be able

to say these things about this man,

and I am overjoyed that he has allowed me

to speak on his behalf.

And I'm getting sick to my stomach

saying all this garbage.

I'm sorry, Ma, but I just can't go through with it.

Now, I'm going to tell you

about the real Fred Davis.

I haven't finished yet, Mr. Davis.

The Fred Davis who promised to increase

the number of people working, which he did.

The unemployment offices have doubled their staff.

[APPLAUSE]

I'm talking about the real Fred Davis.

You know what I'm talking about?

The real Fred Davis.

The Fred Davis you don't read about in the newspaper,

but the Fred Davis

that should be wrapped up in a newspaper, like a fish.

You can't say nothing bad about Fred Davis.

Why? Is it your turn, brother?

Sit down.

Boo! Boo! Boo!

You let him talk.

Right on, J.J.

Pluck that turkey.

Yeah, talk.

Even though Fred has walked

with the highest and the mightiest,

he has not lost personal, common touch with the people.

Matter of fact, there isn't one of us tonight

he hasn't touched personally for five bucks.

Whenever you hear the name "Fred Davis,"

you hear the words "honesty," "integrity," and "trust."

Unfortunately, these words only apply to his opponent.

And to all you young brothers

who have dropped out of the political arena,

drop back in.

Make your vote count.

Vote on election day.

[APPLAUSE]

Right on.

All right.

Well, Ma, I guess I blew it.

No, son.

You said what you had to say,

and I'm proud of you.

And I love you, J.J.

Hey, J.J., I'm proud of you, too, man.

J.J., you are the greatest thing that happened to politics

since they kicked Earl in the butts.

All right, Evans family.

This time, you've gone too far.

I know, alderman.

We're evicted.

Eviction is too good for you.

No more Mr. Nice Guy.

I am not a crook.

Don't punish them.

I was the one that did it.

That may be,

but all of you are going to get it.

Hey, hey, Fred.

Hey, have you heard what the crowd is saying?

Hey, it's a success.

Yeah, for that big-mouth kid.

No, it's for you.

I sure enjoyed that.

Funnier than any roast I've ever seen on TV.

And they say

that politicians have no sense of humor.

Yeah, come on.

Let's hear it for Fred...

C...

Davis.

[APPLAUSE]

Yeah.

Yeah.

They love you. They love me.

Yeah. Yeah, they think it's just like a Dean Martin roast.

Yeah.

Oh, Evans, you're still my favorite family.

And you, too, Willona?

J.J., I'm scheduling more campaign dinners for you,

and Florida, as long as I'm alderman,

you'll be living in the project.

And that's the sad part.

As long as there are aldermen like Fred Davis,

people like us will always live here.

In the ghetto.

* Mmm... *

* Just looking Out of the window *

* Watching the asphalt grow *

* Thinking how It all looks hand-me-down *

* Good Times * * Yeah, yeah *

* Good Times *

* Keeping your head Above water *

* Making a wave when you can *

* Temporary layoffs *

* Good Times *

* Easy credit rip-offs *

* Good Times *

ANNOUNCER: Good Times is videotaped in front of a studio audience.

* Good Times *