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 **

Thelma, how come the cakes you make

never come out like the cakes on this box?

Oh, I was gonna let you lick the spoon,

but if you feel that way about it,

lick the box.

Oh, Thelma,

you did a nice job on that cake.

Thank you, Ma.

I wonder why your cakes

never look like the picture on the box.

Yeah.

Oh, well.

Ma, you know, I don't even know how old Willona is.

How many candles should I use?

Oh, let me see now...

Ten, twenty, thirty...

[MUTTERS TWICE]

No,

you better not use that many.

We don't want to start another Chicago fire.

Ma,

why is it that women are so sensitive

about their ages?

That's not true. I'm not sensitive.

All right, then how old are you?

Thirty, forty--

How would you like me to go upside your head?

That's it, I'm finished.

I decided to use one candle.

Ah, now,

that was being tactful.

No, that's all we got left.

Oh.

Well, I better hide this cake in the bedroom

so Willona doesn't see it.

Right, right.

Ma, I wonder if J.J.'s gonna

stick his elbow in the cake again

like he did last year.

That sure was funny.

I don't think that was so funny.

J.J. messed up a good suit,

and Willona kept wondering

why the cake was so low in the middle.

Is it safe?

Yeah, J.J. It's all clear. Come on.

Boy, I can't tell you

the hassle I had carrying this thing

on the bus here today.

This lady kept yakking and yakking at me.

About what?

I don't know.

When I stood up to find out, she went and took my seat.

Come on, son, let's see it.

All right.

[GASPING] Wow.

Oh!

All right!

J.J., you had it framed so nice.

Oh, I'm sure Willona's just gonna love it.

But how were you able to paint it

without her knowing it?

Hey, painting it without her knowing it

was no big problem.

Painting it when she wasn't talking,

now that was the problem.

Well, Willona will be here any minute,

so hide the painting in my room, okay?

Right!

Oh, Ma, you know,

do you think we did the right thing

by inviting Ray?

You know, he and Willona

have been divorced, like, six years,

and you know how Willona feels about the man.

Yeah, the way a barber feels about Kojak's head.

You know, when Ray called,

I couldn't do nothing else but invite him.

That man sweet-talked me so much,

by the time I hung up that phone,

I had gained five pounds.

J.J.: Thelma, you dummy!

The cake. Oh!

Girl, how many times I tell you?

J.J., let me see your sleeve!

Oh, it's all right.

What a relief!

We thought you stuck your elbow in the cake again.

No way.

FLORIDA: J.J.!

Oh, J.J., you did it again.

Thelma, how many times I tell you

not to put the cake

where somebody's gonna sit?

I don't have eyes in my behind.

No, just brains.

Either change your pants,

or put some frosting on your shirt to match.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Now, that might be Willona.

Come on, kids.

But remember now,

this is supposed to be a surprise.

Go ahead. Go ahead.

[TOOTING]

Light up the candles,

toot on the horn, today is the day

that Willona was born!

Whoo!

Whoo!

Willona, we wanted to surprise you.

Well, honey, you see,

I knew you wasn't gonna let my birthday pass

without a party,

and I knew it was my birthday

the first thing I woke up this morning, honey

crying.

Willona, why were you crying?

Because I knew I would never see 24 again.

[LAUGHING]

You haven't seen 24 in so long,

you'd hardly recognize it.

Flo, you know, that was very cold.

Happy birthday, Willona.

Thank you, baby.

Happy birthday, Willona. Thank you, sugar.

And many, many more.

Oh, Flo.

Okay, let's get the party on the road.

Hey, what's your hurry? What's your hurry?

If we start it a little later,

the birthday'll last a little longer.

Mm, well. Well, come on, Michael.

Let's go see if we can help J.J.

Yeah, he needs it. Flo, sit down.

I got some news to tell you. Oh, news!

Yes, I do, yes I do. All righty.

What is it? Guess who called me.

Give me a hint.

Well, he's tall, dark, and double-crossing,

and I used to be married to him.

You used to be married to him?

Mm-hmm.

Give me another hint.

Flo,

Ray is back in town.

Ray is back in town?

Yes, Lord.

Ooh, I know you can hardly wait to see him.

Are you crazy? Hmm?

I mean, take another ride on that roller coaster again?

Uh-uh. Not yours truly.

I mean, that dude got more girls' phone numbers

than the Chicago telephone book.

Now, I wouldn't say that Ray catted about,

but I will say when we got our divorce,

he got custody of the kitty litter.

[LAUGHING]

Uh, Willona, I might as well tell you the truth.

What?

Ray called me.

What?

He wanted me to invite him over.

Well, did you?

Oh, Willona, I'd just as soon

stand on my head in Marshall Field's window.

Mm-hmm.

Willona, would it hurt you to see him?

Flo, aren't you hip to Willona's golden rule?

Do unto the dude

before the dude do it unto you.

You know, if that dude walked in here

right this minute,

I would stomp up one side of him, honey,

and down the other.

So what else is new?

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Flo, are you gonna open that door?

Door? What door?

Honey, you better see a doctor

about your ears.

Somebody is definitely knocking on this--

Ray.

Hi, Willie.

Oh.

So when does the first show start

at Marshall Field's?

You remember six years ago,

when you told me to go to hell?

Well, I'm back.

Big deal.

Willona, you could at least talk to him.

Ray, come on in.

I'm a changed man, Willie.

Sure, and a tiger can change his spots.

Stripes. Tigers have stripes.

Whatever.

Well, I guess I better check on the kids.

Yeah, that's a good idea.

Now, don't blame Florida.

It's your birthday,

and I missed you.

Humph.

Happy birthday, Willie.

Hey! Don't touch me.

Anyway, you're still number one my charts.

Ooh, now, where have I heard

those words before?

Oh, yeah, I remember.

That came right after,

"Honest, baby, never again."

Now, that was then, but this is now.

And that's the door.

Use it.

Now, you know you don't mean that.

Hey, try me.

Get out of my face and leave me alone, Ray.

I can't leave you alone.

You're everywhere I go, baby.

Hey, what did you come back for?

You sure know how to louse up

a birthday.

* Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you *

* Happy birthday, dear Willona *

* Happy birthday to you **

Oh, thank you, thank you.

Oh! Yay!

What'd you wish for?

Same as last year.

That the cake wasn't so low in the middle.

Oh, J.J., you didn't.

Hey, Ray, my man.

Hey, Ray.

J.J. Hey, Michael.

Oh, no, no. Now, don't tell me.

Now, this couldn't be Thelma.

It's me.

I'll say it is.

You know, I go away for six years,

and you come out to be a beautiful young woman.

Thank you, Ray.

Hey, Ray, you still playing bass?

* Chicka-ding Chicka-ding *

* Chicka-ding Chicka-ding *

What else, man?

But, uh...

it's off the road for this musician.

No, I'm settling in.

A little combo at the Sheraton.

Finally got my head straight.

Honest.

Don't mean chitterlings to me.

Now, why don't we all sit down

and have some cake and coffee?

Oh, Florida, I am sorry, baby.

God knows, I should have told you

how good it is to see you again.

Oh, Ray.

You always been the sweetest thing

since sugar to me, baby.

Oh, thank you.

Whoo, sweet-talked me again.

There goes another pound, Ma.

Oh, shush.

Ah-ha!

Well, well, Willona.

We did not forget your birthday.

We got you a present.

Voilà.

Oh, J.J., I love it.

It's gorgeous.

It's sensational.

It's fantastic.

It's me.

Oh, honey, thank you.

Willona, how about a little sugar for the frame?

Mmm. Thanks, everybody.

You know, J.J.,

I mean, you are some kind of genius, man.

Well, you know,

what can I say?

You have captured the picture

that I have been holding in my heart

all these years.

You might have held it in your heart,

but in your wallet,

you had the pictures of three other girls.

Here we go, here we go.

Willona,

why don't you cut the cake?

Okay.

Make mine an end piece.

Since J.J. sat in it, they're all end pieces.

Looks good to me, Thelma.

Oh, well, thank you for this.

It's beautiful.

Oh, I'm glad you like it.

Yeah.

Here you go, Ray. Thank you, darling.

Well, Ray, where are you staying?

Oh, I took a small apartment not far from here.

Oh? Very quiet place.

You know, you'd be surprised how domesticated I've become.

Oh?

I mean, I cook. Everything.

Oh!

Cook?

I remember in the olden days,

I couldn't even get you to make the toast.

You were never home long enough

for it to pop up.

Even so, baby, those were the good times.

I remember you'd come by the club,

and we'd go out for burgers and fries

at Sneaky Sam's.

And remember the waitress you was always hitting on?

Sleazy Sarah?

You know, I never minded you over-tipping her,

but I just didn't dig

where you put the tip.

[LAUGHING]

Ah, baby,

I guess you'll never get over being uptight.

I'm sorry, Florida.

That's all right. I tried.

Kids.

Oh,

by the way.

A little birthday present.

For the good times.

Ray, wait a minute.

Willona, aren't you gonna open it?

Ray, wait a minute.

Hey, I don't know what this is,

but, uh,

this is the first time

you ever gave me anything.

Willona, open it, please. Okay.

I'm so nervous...

Oh!

Oh, Willona, that's a beautiful locket!

Oh, yeah.

Ray...

Hey, thank you. It's lovely.

You know, I came this close to getting you a diamond ring--

Oh, ho, ho, ho.

But then I ran out of Cracker Jack boxes.

Hey, I know you.

When you decide to go, you go first class.

Oh, listen, Ray, maybe I have been wrong.

Maybe a tiger can change its spots.

Stripes.

Whatever, honey.

Ray, you haven't had your cake yet.

Why don't you stay a while?

Hooray! I thought you'd never ask.

First piece of cake for Ray, honey.

First slice goes to him.

Oh, thanks, baby.

Yeah. Yeah.

How do you like the cake, Ray?

How do you like it?

Dee-licious.

Thelma, honey, can you fasten this for me, please?

Okay, Ma.

You sure you don't want to go shopping with us?

I'm sure, Ma.

I have a lot of studying to do.

In high school, you can get by

if you just open the books.

In college, you got to study them bad boys.

Oh, Ma, I just broke it!

Oh, that's all right, honey.

Well, we won't be long.

I just got to match some threads.

* I'm in love I'm in love *

Oh, boy.

* I'm in love With a wonderful guy *

Oh, Willona, do we have to wait

for the bus to go downtown,

or could I hitch a ride on your cloud?

It shows, huh? Mm-hmm.

Uh-huh. For the last six weeks, ever since Ray's been back.

Oh, isn't it ridiculous?

I mean, no ordinary man

should have the power

to make a woman feel so good.

Ooh, Lord, but then again,

Ray is no ordinary man.

Willona, how does it feel

to be in love all over again

with the same man, huh?

It feels... Yeah?

...scary.

Because, this time, if anything goes wrong,

it would wipe me out.

Well, this time is for all time.

Believe me, I know.

Hey, hey, hey.

Can you two loudmouths keep a secret?

Oh! A secret? What is it? What is it?

Listen, I know you cool,

but every time Flo hears one little thing,

she goes down to the Laundromat and run her mouth,

blabbing all over the place.

Willona, when have I ever blabbed everything

all over the laundry room?

The time I threatened to put starch in your pantyhose

unless you told me what you heard.

Come on, Willona, tell us. All right.

Cross your heart and hope to die, you won't tell.

Willona, you're looking at a face without a mouth.

Now, here it is. Okay.

Yes, what?

Ray and I are getting married again.

[SHRIEKING]

Hey, hey, hey. What are you doing?

What are you doing?

Well, I got to tell somebody.

Oh, Flo.

I was only teasing.

Willona, that's wonderful.

Flo,

will you be my bridesmaid?

I did it before,

and I'm gonna keep on doing it

till you do it right.

This time, it's gonna be right.

You know, maybe we'll even have a baby.

Oh, that would be so nice for Ray.

I remember what James said when I told him J.J. was coming.

He said-- He said,

"If it's all the same with you,

could we have someone else?"

Oh, Thelma, that's not--

That is not true.

Wouldn't that be nice?

A little baby boy that looked like Ray?

Ooh! Oh, no, no, no.

No, you gotta have a little girl.

Then I get to teach her how to cook and sew.

And then I'm going to teach her about Women's Lib

so she wouldn't have to waste her whole life

cooking and sewing.

Come on, let's go.

Okay. Listen, honey.

Now, Ray and I are going out to dinner tonight.

Now, if he gets back before I do,

don't you let him get away.

Okay.

All right. Come on, Willona.

Oh, let's go.

Okay, see you all later, now.

Okay. All right.

[RINGS]

Hello.

Oh, hi, J.J.

No, no messages.

Sure I'm sure.

Honestly, nobody called you.

I am not lying!

Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

A chick just called here about a second ago.

Oh, yeah, and she said

she never wants to see you again.

And she also said

if you dare show your face around her place,

her father

is gonna introduce your nose to your left ear.

I don't know who she was. She didn't leave her name.

Now let him sweat.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Hey.

Hey, Ray.

You just missed Willona.

Yeah, that's what I thought

when there was nobody home next door.

Well, um, you're welcome

to wait here if you like.

Okay.

I have a lot of studying to do.

I have a French exam tomorrow.

Oh, hey, maybe I can help.

You know, I worked on a French cruise liner once.

[FRENCH ACCENT] Learned to speak ze language

like a native of Chicago.

Well, let me get you some coffee.

That would be nice.

You know, six weeks,

and this is the first time

we've had to be alone.

Well, it's nice to have you back, Ray.

I can't get over

how much you've changed

since the last time I saw you.

Well, I do have a lot of work to do.

"The Parts of the Body."

Now, that's a typical French lesson for you.

La tête,the head.

Le dos,the back.

Les pieds,the feet.

La main.

Le bras.

Le cou...

Would you like, uh,

milk and sugar with your coffee, Ray?

Just sugar.

Thelma, you're so...

so lovely.

So sweet.

Oh, Ray, don't do this. Don't do this, Ray!

Oh, come here.

Don't do that!

WILLONA: Hi, baby!

Hey, I'm glad you got back so early.

I forgot to take the blouse to match the thread.

Thelma?

Is something wrong?

Thelma?

What's happening?

Thelma was studying her French lesson.

And I was teasing her. Oh.

Is that it, Thelma?

Well, Thelma?

Is it?

Ma, you heard Ray.

It was all in fun.

Excuse me.

Thelma, honey...

you know, if something happens,

you can't make it go away

by pretending it didn't.

Oh, Ma, Ray was just fooling around.

You know how Ray used to always tease me

when I was a little girl.

Yeah, but you're a woman now.

There's a big difference.

Well, nothing happened, Ma.

Like I told you, nothing happened.

Thelma...

you can shuck some of the people

all of the time,

and you can shuck all of the people

some of the time,

but you can't shuck your Mama

none of the time.

Now, what happened?

Nothing, Ma.

Nothing.

Nothing happened.

You don't want to hurt Willona.

Is that it?

Ma...

Ma, you heard what she said.

She loves him,

and they were getting married again, right?

Ma, nothing happened.

Nothing.

[SHOUTING] Well, well, well!

Caught you two in the act.

Oh, J.J., you should learn to knock.

Learn to knock? In my own house?

You know, Michael, I gotta knock in my own house now.

Oh. Oh...

Oh, Flo, listen.

We got to cut out. I'll see you later.

Come on, baby. Let's go.

Willona. Huh?

Something happened between those two.

Well, what do you--

what do you mean "something happened"?

Thelma, come out here.

Willona.

Thelma won't say anything

because she doesn't want to hurt you.

I don't want to see you get hurt either.

Flo, hey, what are you really talking about?

Come on, baby, let's go.

Willona, I've got to talk to you.

Come on. Let's go, baby.

Willona, will you listen? I am listening.

But what are you trying to say?

What I'm trying to say is

Ray has not changed one bit.

What? He's still a bum!

What the hell do you mean, "bum"?

Hold it. Wait a minute.

Would you just stop this?

You don't break up your friendship

over some creep like him.

What do you mean, "creep"?

Willona.

What?

I'm gonna tell you the truth.

What?

Ray, he came on pretty strong with me.

Oh, no.

Yes, he did. He grabbed me.

Now, she's lying.

What you gonna believe,

some flaky kid or your old man?

Now, make up your mind.

You're going with me or you're gonna stay.

Oh.

All right, Ray.

You get your nickel-slick bones out of here.

Well, Ray, you got the word. Split!

Willie--

You heard what my son said.

Hold it. Hold it!

Flo, please. Please!

J.J., you keep your hands to yourself.

Ray is mine.

That's my sweet Willie.

Ray.

Oh, Willona.

I'm so sorry, Willona.

That's all right, baby.

Look, I'm glad you told me.

I'm just so sorry it happened to you,

but if it wasn't you,

it would've been somebody else sooner or later.

Hey, Willona.

Don't worry.

I mean, you're a good-looking chick,

you know?

You don't need a turkey like that.

You can get any turkey you want.

That's right, Willona.

There are a lot of other fish in the sea.

Well, what I'm trying to say is--

Honey, listen.

I know what you're trying to say,

and there's also a lot of other pebbles

on the beach.

Right, and lots of other pebbles on the beach.

All right.

Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Hello.

Jackson's Bakery?

This is Willona Woods.

You know the cake I ordered?

The one with the three layers, the doves on the side,

silver bells, and the bride and groom on top?

Well, yeah-- That's the one.

I want to make one little, tiny, small adjustment.

You know where you were gonna write,

"Congratulations Ray and Willona"?

Change that to,

"Happy Bar Mitzvah, Stewart Goldberg."

Mm-hmm.

And I hope you find a buyer.

I couldn't.

* 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 *