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 **

Samantha, I think I caught this cold

from Keith the other night, you know?

We drove down to Oak Park, right?

We parked the car.

And then he put his arms around me.

And then he started to--

Smoke!

Oh. Smoke!

Oh, my goodness.

Oh, boy.

Oh. Ah.

Hey, girl.

What's burning in here?

Ain't nothing burning.

Then I hope you get your smoke signals

through to Geronimo.

Girl, it smells

like you're barbecuing a boot in here.

Ma is shopping, and I'm cooking.

Look here, girl...

I'm gonna get you a microwave oven,

so you can burn the food in one-tenth the time.

[SIGHS]

I guess I was on the phone a little too long.

I kind of burnt the beans, huh?

Burnt the beans?

Girl, when are you gonna learn

the color of the food

doesn't have to be the same color as the eater?

Well, ain't nobody forcing you

to eat my food, now.

You know,

that's gonna work out just fine.

Just fine, Froggy.

'Cause me and Michael

will not be gracing the dinner table this evening.

Why not?

Because I'm taking Michael

to the father-son dinner at his school.

Michael didn't mention anything

about a father-son dinner tonight.

Chello, Viola?

J.J. here.

Look here, I got to cancel our date for this evening.

[CHUCKLES]

Yeah, see, what happened,

see, I ran into a guy from Michael's school,

and they're having a father-son dinner.

So, naturally, as man of the house,

I will be taking him.

However,

you are fortunate in the case

that I will be doing nothing tomorrow evening.

Am you available?

Lighten up, Mama.

Men don't even talk that way to other men.

That was very considerate of you, J.J.

Well, you know,

Michael's my only brother,

and you're my only sister,

which reminds me, uh...

you want tickets

to that KC and the Sunshine Band concert?

Yeah, J.J.--

Well, I am not without influence

in the world of popular music.

I just happen to have a couple of tickets.

Aw, thanks, J.J.,

but Carl already got 'em for me.

Oh. Carl.

Well, I guess

you wouldn't want to sit in the front anyway.

The music'd be too loud for your ears.

You know, J.J.,

you can really be sweet when you want to be.

J.J.: Brown sugar don't only come

in the female size.

You know, J.J.,

I'm gonna tell you a secret.

I'm glad you're my brother.

You know, what can I say?

I love you.

I love you too, Thelma.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Excuse me, folks. I'm in the wrong apartment.

Oh, Ma.

Hey, Ma, J.J.'s taking Michael

to the annual father-son dinner tonight

at his school.

Michael didn't say anything to me about a dinner.

I wonder why.

Well, Ma, with Daddy gone,

maybe he felt kind of touchy about talking about that.

Well, I can understand that.

J.J., when did he ask you to take him?

He didn't. It's gonna be a surprise.

Oh, J.J., that was very thoughtful of you.

Yeah, and look at the sweater I got him.

Oh, that's beautiful.

Oh, cashmere.

Well, you know...

J.J...

This must've cost you a whole week's salary.

And a month's tips.

But I want Michael

to really look good tonight.

J.J., I hope you're not gonna feel out of place

talking to all those older men.

Oh, no, Ma.

Voilà.Look at this.

Time. Fortune.

Newsweek.

Whatever the conversation turns to,

I'll be there with the latest information.

Look here, girl.

Ask me any question here in Time.

Ask me business. Law. Medicine.

Did you know that the famous bassoonist,

Kevin Kang,

died today in Paris at the age of 83?

Right there in Milestone.

Hey, J.J., now, wait a minute now.

What if they ask you a question like this?

Why are the students in Spain rioting?

I'll just tell them

that the students in Spain are upset

because the famous bassoonist, Kevin Kang,

died in Paris.

Everything is gonna work out fine, Son.

Just be yourself.

All right, Ma,

but I really want Michael to be proud of me,

'cause, see, when I was his age,

I had a father to take me to these things.

Michael doesn't.

Well, we don't have a father in this house,

but we sure as heck got a man.

I know.

See, in baseball,

I'd be known as the "D.D."

Designated Daddy.

And you wanted to go to your cousin Ros' house

in South Bend?

Well, I made arrangements

to borrow the rib truck that night.

I'm sorry, J.J., but Carl's taking me.

Oh.

Carl's taking you.

You wouldn't want to ride in that rib truck.

By the time you got down there,

your cousin, Ros, would probably ask you,

"What's that weird perfume that you're wearing?"

And you'd have to tell her,

"Essence de Hot Sauce."

Oh...

Well, if you'll excuse me,

I'm gonna slip into something

a little more mature.

Good.

Hi. Here's your favorite quiz person, Willona Woods,

asking you, can you name this tune?

[HUMMING "A HOT TIME IN THE OLD TOWN TONIGHT"]

[HUMMING]

I got it. I got it. I got it.

What, what, what ?

"Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight."

Bingo! Well, you got that right.

Now, for that perfectly correct answer,

you win an evening out with Carl Dixon.

What are you talking about?

I ain't finished yet.

Close your eyes. Turn around.

To make the evening a little more enjoyable,

look over here, honey.

Oh.

Sassy satin lounging pajamas.

Honey... these are L.P. L.P.s--

long-playing lounging pajamas.

Girl, this outfit was so dangerous,

they delivered it in a brown paper bag.

Oh, Willona, this is bad.

Isn't it bad? Yeah.

Carl and I are just friends, Willona.

Mm.

We're not even close

to the lounging pajama stage.

If you wear these, you will be.

Oh...

Flo, honey, you got to understand

that most men are creatures of habit,

including some of the creatures I go out with...

whose habits I don't even want to discuss.

Now, science has discovered

a way to change a man's behavior,

but it takes years, Flo.

Now, if you wear this lounging pajamas right here,

you'll change Carl Dixon's behavior overnight.

You know what I mean?

Wearing those pajamas

is just like waving a red cape

in front of a bull.

Olé, honey!

Hold on, girl. I'm holding my briar.

Stand back before I light your fire.

Ooh! Lord, have mercy.

Who is this tall, dark,

uh, very mature-looking man?

It looks like J.J., and it sounds like J.J.,

but that can't be J.J.,

because J.J. doesn't smoke.

Neither does this pipe.

First time I ever saw a pipe cleaner holding a pipe.

J. J., you are a bona fide fashion plate, honey.

If you was just 10 years older, whoo!

Lord, have mercy.

And if I was just 10 years younger.

I'd still be lying about my age.

Mm-hmm.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

Did I tell you?

What?

J.J.'s taking Michael

to the school dinner tonight.

Oh, he's gonna love that.

Baby, that's very nice.

How do you like this lounging pajama set?

Hey, Willona, that is fantastic.

Mm-hmm.

I mean, that's out of sight and a definite delight.

That's the kind of thing I like to see on a lady.

I'm trying to get your mama to buy 'em.

My mama wear this outlandish clown suit?

Hold on, J.J.

Now, you might be playing father

to your baby brother.

But you remember,

I'm older than you, Michael and that pipe.

Ooh-hoo-hoo, honey, I heard that.

In the meantime,

I'll just put this on "Will hold."

'Cause that's exactly what's gonna happen

if you wear these numbers.

Oh, go on.

Honey, them red flares ain't gonna make it.

Hi, Gramps. Hi, Willona.

Bye, Gramps.

Bye, Willona.

That's what I like to see...

a deep, meaningful relationship.

Hey, Ma, I won't be home for dinner tonight.

How did you know that, Michael?

I'm gonna be taking you to the father-son dinner.

You're taking me?

Yeah.

Even got you a sweater.

Check it out.

Well, um-- Try it on, Michael.

Hold on, J.J. [KNOCK ON DOOR]

Or you can wear a suit.

I like the sweater-- The suit like mine.

Carl, what a pleasant surprise.

Yeah, Michael asked me to take him

to the father and son dinner tonight,

and I told him it would be my pleasure.

Uh, Carl...

it was very nice of you

to offer to take Michael to the dinner tonight,

but J.J. has already planned on taking Michael himself.

Oh, I'm sorry, J.J.

I didn't know that. I...

Yeah, J.J.

I didn't know you wanted to take me, man.

Well, he did.

Michael, that's why he bought you the new sweater,

and he even canceled out a date.

J.J., I'm sorry there's been a misunderstanding.

There's no problem.

You take Michael.

Take him where?

To the father-son dinner.

Oh.

Are they having one of those things again?

J.J...

stop the nonsense.

You know you planned on taking Michael.

I didn't plan on taking him anywhere.

J.J., that is not true.

Now, why did you get all dressed up, huh?

This ain't dressed up.

I dress better than this

when I clean the grease trap at the rib joint.

J.J., stop the foolishness

and take your brother to the dinner.

I said,

I'm not taking him anywhere.

If he wants to go with Carl, that's cool with me.

Look, J.J.,

Michael asked me

because he didn't know you had planned on taking him.

Well, as of now, all my plans have changed.

I'm not taking him anywhere.

Hey, hold on, J.J., man.

I think I have something to say to this.

This does not concern you.

Hey, J.J., come on,

take your brother and have a good time.

Hey, look, no chance. You take him.

No, you take him.

I'm not taking him anywhere.

You take him.

I'm not coming between two brothers. You take him.

He's yours, signed, sealed and--

Hey, wait, wait.

I'm not a Frisbee, y'all. Come on.

Michael is right.

Now, the way you two are acting,

you can just throw Michael

to the dinner. Yeah.

J.J., I'm not gonna say this again:

You take your brother to that dinner.

I'm not--

I'm not taking him anywhere, and that is final.

J.J...either you take your brother

to that father-son dinner,

or you and me are gonna have

a mother-son hassle.

Me and you ain't having nothing.

Hey, soldier, you're out of line.

Hey, look, man, that war jazz is over.

Don't lay that "soldier" business on me.

J.J., you be civil.

Mr. Dixon is a guest in this house.

He ain't no guest of mine.

You hold it.

That's your mother you're talking to.

Hey, look here, man.

I don't need anybody that's coming between me and my brother

to tell me who my mother is. J.J.!

I don't need any of you.

[SHIVERING]

This has got to be

the coldest night in the year.

Yeah, it's colder out there than an Eskimo's outhouse.

Kids?

Huh, looks like everybody's out.

You know, I ought to sell a lot of snow shovels

in my shop tomorrow,

but first, I'm gonna have to buy one

to find my shop.

Hey, Florida.

What?

Oh, I'm sorry, Carl.

I was thinking about J.J.

Oh, not now, Florida.

Let's have some time for ourselves.

You're right.

How about something to warm you up?

Yeah.

Like a hot cup of coffee?

Well, if that's all you got.

At ease.

And a nice piece of sweet potato pie.

Well, now...

that is something

that can help a man's appetite.

That feels awfully good.

I can't think of anyone else

I'd rather do this to.

[GIGGLES]

[CHUCKLES]

You are a tricky lady.

Uh, please sit down.

I'll get the pie.

You mind if I, uh, smoke?

Oh, not at all.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

Whoops.

[RINGING]

All right, all right, all right.

Hello, J.J.?

Michael.

It's after 11:00. You should be home.

I don't care if Lola does say that her home is your home.

So you say good night

and get your little narrow behind over here.

I remember when Michael

was just a small headache to me.

Now he's right up there with J.J.

Yeah, kids can be a problem sometimes.

That pie looks good.

Hmm. Boy, oh, boy, oh, boy.

Mmm, mm.

I'm glad you like it.

The only thing I like better

is the lady who baked it.

You like Sara Lee better than you do me?

I sure enjoyed that movie we saw tonight.

All that warm sunshine

in those beautiful islands.

Well, if you have to live

in the ghetto,

might as well live in one

in the Pacific.

You know,

I was stationed in one of those islands,

and I can tell you something:

it was a whole lot more fun

doing time with you in that balcony

than it was in doing time over there.

Relax.

This is one island

you're not taking tonight.

Whew! You're right.

It is the coldest night of the year.

I'm sorry, Carl.

You know,

there's nothing I'd like better

than having your arms around me, but...

You're afraid the kids are gonna walk in.

I'm worried about one who isn't walking in...

J.J.

He still hasn't gotten over

that father-son dinner.

I am sorry I caused you any problems, Florida.

Oh, it wasn't your fault.

Wasn't anybody's fault.

It's just that...

J.J. is trying to fill his father's shoes

too fast.

Yeah, I know.

You know,

for the past two nights,

he hasn't been home at all.

And then this morning,

he called Thelma and told her

that he was thinking about moving in

with some of his friends.

He says his family doesn't need him anymore,

but that just isn't so.

I know how he feels.

I've been there myself.

Carl...

Mm-hmm?

You're good at fixing things.

You know, like TV sets and toasters.

How about fixing J.J.?

W-w-wait a minute, Florida.

Now, you don't fix J.J.

like you do a vacuum cleaner.

J.J.'s an original.

Where would I get the parts?

Hmm.

I just love a man who smokes a cigar.

It's so sophisticated.

[COUGHS]

You know, being a man,

it'll be easier for you to talk to J.J.,

you know, to reach him.

Well, you know, after the other night,

I think I'm the last man in the world

he wants to talk to.

Oh, please, Carl.

Come on, do it for me, huh?

Do what?

You know.

Talk to J.J.

Try to talk some sense into him, huh?

You know what?

I already talked to J.J.

You already talked to him?

Yeah.

You know, it took me two days to find him,

and it took me two days

to talk him into meeting me

at my gym tomorrow

for a man-to-man talk.

You let me go through all that, and all the time, you knew, huh?

You're damn right.

And put out that rotten cigar.

It's making me sick.

And to think,

Willona tried to talk me into buying

a pair of satin lounging pajamas.

Satin...

lounging pajamas?

You know what?

What?

I just bought 'em.

Bring it here, honey.

[LAUGHS]

Hey, Charlie.

I'm expecting a guest.

Let me know when he shows up.

Oh, sure thing, Mr. Dixon.

Hey, uh, Mr. Dixon.

Listen, uh, how will I recognize him?

Well, he's sort of, uh...

Well, he's kind of, uh...

You see this guy?

Yeah.

He's the flip side of him.

Uh, pardon me.

Don't say it.

Let me guess.

You're looking for Carl Dixon.

How'd you know that?

How could I not know?

Hey, I'll go and get him for you.

I'll be back in just a minute.

[LAUGHING]

Hi, J.J.

Thanks for coming down.

Hey, uh...Mr. Dixon.

What did you want to talk to me about?

Look, just call me Carl like you usually do.

Right.

Why don't you join me?

Come on, sit down.

Now, put your feet in the stirrups.

That's quite a space suit

you got on.

There we go.

Getting the hang of it?

You know, J.J...

First off...

I want to take the responsibility

for that mix-up the other evening.

I should've checked it out

with you first.

Yeah, that would've been cool.

I wasn't trying to move in on your turf.

It just happened that way.

You know, life is full of hard-hit grounders

that take a bad hop.

Yeah...

and rowboats that don't go anywhere.

And the other evening

was just another bad hop.

Let's try something else.

Yeah.

Ooh, boy.

Enough of this canoeing down the Potomac.

You gonna try that?

It's here.

If the Russians can do it,

why can't I?

Push!

Somebody must've tried to steal one of these.

They got this sucker nailed to the floor.

Come on.

Hmm.

You know, I could have muscles like that...

but I chose beauty instead.

You don't have to look like those guys.

Some of those guys are doing it

just for their egos.

Yeah, well,

when you have beauty like mine...

you don't need an ego.

Yeah, but you know, J.J.,

in some ways,

you're stronger than they are.

Yours is an inner strength.

You're holding up more than just a barbell.

You're holding together an entire family.

Hey, Mr. Dixon,

is that what you called me here

to talk about?

Well, later, bro.

J.J., wait a minute.

Listen.

I haven't finished yet.

I admire you, J.J.

I mean it.

You mean...

the way I handle the ball?

I mean, uh...

as a person, I admire you.

[GRUNTS]

You do? Yeah.

You know, when I was your age,

I had a mother, three sisters.

Then I joined the army

to escape the responsibility of a family.

Oh, I sent 'em money out of guilt,

but you are hanging in there. And that takes character.

What did you say?

You're hanging in there, and that takes character.

Well, man,

I could have told you that.

You've got a fine family, J.J.

They need you.

They not only respect you...

they love you.

Oh, you're just saying that

'cause you think I'm mad about the father-son dinner.

Aren't you?

Hey, man, I'm bigger than that.

Of course you are.

That's right.

You know, I got a teenage brother,

a teenage sister,

a triple-teenage mother. Huh.

That family needs me, man.

I'm holding the whole thing together.

You know, why didn't I think of that?

Yeah.

You know, not only am I number one in that family,

I'm number!

You know, Carl, out of all the dudes

my mother could have went out with...

I'm glad that she went out with you...

'cause you make sense.

You know, J.J... I am really glad...

that you feel okay about all of this.

Okay?

Man, I feel higher

than the price of a cup of coffee.

You know, Carl, I know a place

where we can get the best sweet potato pie in town.

At your mother's?

Right.

Let's go get changed, huh?

Hey, bro, keep it up.

Pretty soon, you'll have half the muscles I do.

* 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 *

* Easy credit rip-offs *

* Good times *

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

* Good times **