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 Ripoffs *

* Good times *

* Scratchin' And survivin' *

* Good times *

* Hangin' In a chow line *

* Good times *

* Ain't we lucky We got 'em *

* Good times *

And this matchbook is from the restaurant

Mama and I went to last week.

Oh, Penny, you know,

your matchbook collection is really growing.

And look at this wooden one.

The top flips open.

Hey, where'd you get this one from?

Ferguson's Funeral Parlor.

Oh. I should've known.

It says "seal lid before striking."

Yeah? Look at this.

Sidney's Meat Market, Tony's Ice Cream Shop,

Venus Massage Parlor--

Venus Massage Parlor?

I found it on the bus.

Hi, y'all. MICHAEL: Hi, Willona.

Whoo. Wait till you hear the news.

What news?

Wait till you find out what happened to me.

What happened? Uh-uh. Guess, somebody.

Just guess. You got mugged?

Now Gramps, you know I didn't get mugged.

I always look like this when I get off the bus!

Come on, Willona, tell us. What happened?

You are looking at the new head buyer

at the boutique. The head buyer!

Willona, you got the promotion?

Oh, that's fantastic! Congratulations.

Isn't that great? Oh, Mama, I'm so happy for you.

Oh, baby. Just think, my mother's a buyer.

Wait till I tell the other kids my mother's a buyer.

Right.

Mama, what's a buyer?

What's a buyer?

Uh, a buyer is-- Well, you see--

A buyer has to--

A buyer has to know all about the fashion--

No. A buyer-- Never mind, honey.

A buyer is this.

If there wasn't no buyers in the world,

we would be running around in our jockey shorts.

Willona, do you think you can handle it?

Honey, "can I handle it?"

Ooh, child, when it comes to spending money,

I am good.

But when it comes to spending somebody else's money,

I am sensational.

Willona, you'll be the best buyer that boutique ever had.

Oh, thank you, Gramps.

You know what,

I can't tell you kids what this promotion means to me.

Not just the glory of it, although I sure will enjoy that.

But since I was 16, I been scratching and scuffling

and struggling for survival.

Honey, ain't nobody ever gave me nothing.

You hear me? Huh.

So now that's what makes this promotion so sweet.

Know what I'm saying? Earned it.

I earned it. That's my Mama.

Hey, hey. [KNOCK AT DOOR]

Oh, Willona, there's no stopping you now.

Honey, if I keep on keeping on,

Neiman Marcus, watch your carcass.

Hey, Michael.

What's happening, Frank? Frank!

Well, you gonna stand way over there,

or you gon' come in kissing distance?

Oh, baby!

Muah. Ooh.

Penny. Penny, Penny, Penny.

Oh, you look good, Penny. Thank you.

Oh, hi, Frank. Thelma.

Hey, uh, somebody's missing. Oh.

Yeah, J.J.

Even when he's here, he's missing.

Frank, he's on a date with Wanda the Watusi.

You say Wanda-- Thank you-- The Watusi?

Yeah. "Wat-u-si" is what you get.

Oh, Gramps. Boo.

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

What have you have in the boxes, Frank?

Oh, just a few little goodies here

for my favorite family.

Thelma. Ooh, thank you.

Yes, and Penny. Thank you.

Michael, and one for J.J.

Hey, bro, where were you at Christmastime?

Tell you what, why don't you do me a favor

and go, uh, open the presents, uh, in your room?

What's wrong with out here?

Michael, how did you get to be 16

and not know anything?

Oh. Oh, oh! THELMA: Okay.

Oh, oh. Oh, oh.

Oh. Oh.

Frank, what are you doing here?

I couldn't get an answer at your place.

Oh. No, the last time we talked,

you were going to Venezuela or something

to put up some buildings.

Well, I put 'em up, and once they were goin',

you know, it was adios, amigos.

Oh, well, señor, where are you off to, uh, Argentina next?

Or Montego Bay?

Would you believe Lakeshore Drive?

Too late. Baby, they already built that up.

No. I mean to live there.

Frank, you're going to move to Chicago?

Frank, you're jiving me. Look here, baby.

I'm going to buy a pad so bad,

the toilets won't even flush.

They'll hum.

[HUMMING]

Yeah.

It's that laugh, baby.

Oh, it's so good to hug you again.

Mm, the hugee don't mind it one bit.

Hey, you remember when I left,

you promised me that if I came back

and settled down in one place,

we'd do it as man and wife?

I, uh, do have some vague, uh, recollection of that.

Well, I'm gonna hold you to that promise,

Ms. Willona Woods. Oh?

There you go.

Oh, Frank.

Honey, this isn't a diamond.

This is a flash cube!

Hey, Mama--

Oh, are you two at that again?

Oh, Penny, um...

Well, it's all right.

You don't have to stop on account of me.

Well, all right, then. Good.

Don't tease her.

Uh, Penny, how'd you like your present?

Yeah, that's what I came to ask you about.

What is it?

Well, it's a genuine Venezuelan charm necklace,

made from real monkey teeth.

And the natives say that it brings good luck.

Well, if it's supposed to bring you good luck,

then why is some poor monkey down in Venezuela

gumming bananas?

[LAUGHING, MUMBLING]

I never thought about that, Penny.

But it'll be fun wearing it. Thanks, Frank.

You're welcome, Penny. Penny, wait a minute, baby.

Mama has a little problem.

I want you to help me decide something, okay?

Okay.

Frank has decided to stay here in Chicago,

and he wants to marry me.

He does?

What do you think?

Hmm.

[WILLONA CLEARS THROAT]

Mmm...

He'll do. All right, Penny!

Michael, Thelma, come here.

Guess what. What? What? What? What?

Hey, what's happening? We're gonna marry Frank.

Look at my ring, honey. Look at the diamond!

Frank, thanks for the gift, man. Congratulations.

Thank you.

Oh, I'm so happy for you. Thank you, Thelma.

Oh, Frank, I think we got the seal of approval.

Yeah, it's the first time I ever proposed

to a whole family.

Oh, Willona. I'm so happy for you.

Thank you, baby.

Oh, what a day this has been.

First the promotion, and now a proposal.

You got a promotion?

Yeah. Mama's a buyer.

Not just a buyer.

You are looking at the boutique's head buyer, Frank.

Well. Congratulations. I'm proud of you, baby.

Oh, thank you, baby. I'm so happy.

Well, Miss New Head Buyer... Yeah?

When are you gonna hand in your notice?

What notice?

You know, your notice.

Hang it up. Quit. Say goodbye.

Quit what?

Your job, so we can get this marriage rollin'.

Honey, I ain't quitting my job.

Of course you are.

What do you mean, "of course"?

FRANK: You are going to be Mrs. Frank Mason.

Um, um, how many invitations are we gonna need? Come on.

Frank, why do I have to quit my job to be Mrs. Frank Mason?

'Cause you won't have to work anymore.

Honey, don't I have any say-so

about whether I wanna work or not?

Hey, hey. Listen, you lovebirds, I got a great idea.

Why don't you get married in Reverend Beasley's Church?

I heard that if you get married on a Friday night

before midnight, you get a free bingo game.

Willona, don't be ridiculous.

You've been working all your life.

Frank, so have you, baby.

I'm not asking you to quit your job.

Hey, can I be the flower girl?

But that's different. Frank,

all I'm asking for is a choice.

Now, you are acting like a dictator.

I'm gonna be your husband. It doesn't give you any license

to drive my life, honey.

Now, may I ask you,

have you ever seen two people more in love?

J. Edgar Hoover and Ma Barker?

Willona...

Willona, you're making something out of nothing.

Baby, it may mean nothing to you,

but to me, it is definitely something.

Hey, pretty, pretty, you don't understand.

I'm gonna give you the world.

Jewels, furs, a car,

a chauffeur. A white one if you want it.

Oh, Frank. Two.

Oh, baby, baby.

Look, you ain't gonna have to lift a finger.

We'll hire somebody to lift it for you.

Oh, Frank, I--

[BLOWS RASPBERRY]

What are we doing?

Baby, it's been a long day, and I'm excited and everything.

Why don't we talk about it some other time, okay?

Come on, don't be mad, now.

Come on. Okay.

Okay. Hey, look.

I got over here so fast,

I didn't have a chance to pick up my bags.

I'll go to the airport, pick 'em up,

arrange for the hotel, and I'll talk to you later.

Okay. Okay.

Say goodbye to the kids for me. I will.

Oh, uh, you might as well think about

that letter of resignation. Frank.

I'm sure you'll see it my way. Frank--

Uh... Good night, Mrs. Mason.

WILLONA: Hi, Mavis.

Hi, Willona.

Willona?

What you want, Mavis?

Girl, where are you?

I'm in here.

Lord.

Boo.

It's a good thing you came out, girl,

'cause I was about to get somebody to come

and mow your counter.

Whoo, child, isn't this ridiculous?

I tell you, Frank is either trying to build up points

or build me my own Rose Bowl float.

Well, the last green thing my boyfriend gave me

was a bottle of Scope.

Ahh, that's cold-blooded.

Do me a favor, baby. Take some of these flowers

to your counter. Oh, okay.

Okay? This is my first day as a buyer,

I want everything to go right.

Know what I mean? Mm-hm.

I'm expecting a salesman to come in too this morning. Woo-ee.

You know, I had a boyfriend once who was a salesman.

A traveling salesman?

Aren't they all?

You ought to take something for that.

Oh, boy, this is pretty, though.

Guess who. Oh, no,

don't tell me it's Frank Mason

with more flowers?

No flowers. Candy, baby.

Oh, Frank. Ha, ha.

You got chocolates from Australia,

bonbons from Paris,

and Turkish Taffy.

All you got to do is walk by this counter,

you can get acne

in 15 different languages.

Kiss me.

Baby, not here. Well, why not?

Not here. Uh, this is my place of business.

Now, why don't you do me a nice favor and go browse?

I'm browsing. I'm browsing. Frank, if you don't

leave me alone and get out of here...

Okay, I'm going. Go on.

Got nothing else-- Get going, Frank, please.

Please, please. Yeah, okay.

Who was that man?

Frank.

Lord.

Hi there. Skip Casey, St. George Fashions.

Oh, hello. Willona Woods.

You're gonna love our new spring line.

Everyone's wearing it.

Yaphet Kotto wore a shirt identical to this

in his latest film. Not only did he look fantastic in it,

but after he was shot,

the blood washed right out in cold water.

How many dozen would you like, Willona?

Now, wait. Before I decide,

I'll have to see one on a model.

Saved you the trouble.

I'm wearing one. Oh.

Feel the material. Let's see, now.

Oh, it's soft.

Yeah. Silk, huh?

Very nice. Working hard?

Oh, honey, uh-- Mr., uh...

Casey. Skip Casey.

St. George Fashions.

Yeah, I'm Frank Mason, fiancé.

[GROANS]

Frank, don't do that, darling.

Frank, uh, he was just showing me

his line of shirts, dear.

That's right, Mr. Mason. Care to feel the material?

Don't mind if I do.

Frank, put him down. It's strong, yet lightweight.

Put him down, please, darling.

Uh, see? Not a wrinkle.

Not a single wrinkle.

Isn't he funny? Yeah. Ha, ha, ha.

You see, he's a weight lifter, so he keeps practicing.

You just stay here one minute. I'll be right back, okay?

May I speak to you one moment, dear?

Of course, darling. In private.

Nice meeting you, uh, Skip Casey.

SKIP: Uh, yeah.

Are you crazy? What are you doing?

I was only trying to help.

If the boss had seen that, I would lose my job.

Mm. Oh, Frank...

That's what you're trying to do, huh?

Help me get fired.

Of all the rotten, low-down things to do.

Hey, baby, hey. Whoo-wee.

Okay, okay, it was a rotten thing to do.

I won't ever do it again if you promise

to have dinner with me tonight.

Oh... Anything, anything, anything.

Just go away, Frank.

Mavis, do me a favor, please. See Mr. Mason out.

I'll go, but dinner tonight? Okay.

Okay. I'll be there.

What time?

Good morning, Mae. Hi, Willona.

Whoo, child.

Got the coffee going?

Yeah, it's perkin'. Good.

Has that new line of imported French nightgowns

from Brooklyn come in yet?

No, but the Italian shoes

came in from Japan.

Good. I'll check 'em out.

Oh, there's something else you should check out first.

What? Mr. Simpson wants to see you.

Lord have mercy.

Just three days on the job

and already the boss wants to pat me on the back.

I hope it's my back he wants to pat.

Mr. Simpson, you sent for me?

Yes, Miss Woods.

Perhaps you'd care to sit in my lap?

What?

[LAUGHING]

I got you that time.

Frank, what are you doing?

Why are you sitting in the boss' chair?

If he walked in the door, I'd get fired this minute?

Sure, Willona, but first, you gotta answer my question.

Do you wanna sit in my lap or don't you?

Oh, Frank, come on, baby, get out of the chair.

This isn't funny. Get out of the chair.

Relax, baby.

You're gonna make me lose my job!

Get out of the chair.

If the boss comes in here... The boss is here.

Oh, baby, be serious. I am serious.

I just bought this boutique.

Lord have mercy.

You said you just bought this boutique?

Me and the bank.

Why? W-what are you trying to do?

Make money.

Looks like it's gonna be a good investment.

Oh, Frank, you don't need no more investments.

I know why you bought this place.

You figure if you're the boss, you can fire me.

Why would I do that?

Because you want a stay-at-home,

dutiful, boring wife.

Willona, you know that's not my style.

Oh, Frank.

Oh, baby.

Look.

Okay, so I was wrong to tell you you couldn't work.

That's my hang-up.

But baby, you got to realize where I'm coming from.

My mama worked hard all her life.

I watched her work herself into an early grave.

And I made myself a promise

no wife of mine would ever go through the same thing.

Oh, Frank, so did mine.

But they had to work for survival.

But it's different with me.

I'm working for self-fulfillment.

Okay, you're making it pretty clear

how you feel about that.

So if you wanna work, go ahead and work.

Oh, see? All that for nothing.

I got a surprise for you.

Oh, no, no, honey. No more chocolates. No more flowers.

No flowers, no chocolates, just this.

This? W--

This is your office. My office?

This is your boutique. My boutique?

You're in charge. Whoo!

Lord! Oh! I got a million things to do.

I can knock out the wall, bring in a new--

Honey, I am in charge!

My own boutique, baby. I'm in charge!

What do you know about being in charge?

Come one, all you got to do is sit over here and be pretty.

I sure will.

There you go.

All right. Look here.

Now, if you want to come in at 10:00,

go home at 3:00, that's fine. No, no.

If you wanna take three-hour lunches,

five-day weekends. Frank, no, no.

Tellin' everybody else what to do.

In fact, you don't even have to be here.

Frank-- You can just phone it in

from the country club.

What do you mean,

"phone it in from the country club"?

I thought you said I was in charge.

I have a million things to do

now that I am the boss.

Wait a minute, now. You're gonna be Mrs. Frank Mason.

You're not gonna have time for all them little petty details.

Petty?

Did you say "petty"?

I see, we're right back to where we started, huh?

You just don't want me to work.

Well, you may as well fire me.

But-- But Willona,

I thought you'd be happy about all of this.

Frank, I don't know what I feel right now.

You're gonna think I'm crazy when I tell you this, baby,

but there was a time when I thought all I needed

was a good man to take care of me.

Well, I tried that, honey.

It didn't work out.

I found myself out there in that world

with nobody to lean on.

And I wasn't gonna take welfare,

and I wasn't gonna take no handouts.

I had to stand on my own two feet.

I know that, Willona. Frank!

Listen, honey, in just four years,

I came from stock clerk to head buyer,

and now you come along and want to knock

the whole thing out from underneath me.

Frank, baby,

you're trying to buy my independence,

and baby, it's not for sale.

Willona, there is something

I don't understand.

Maybe you just don't understand me, Frank.

I don't get it. I just don't get it.

I mean, I can figure out

how to lay 50 miles of pipeline

through swamp and jungle,

but I will never understand the female mind.

The female mind?

[CHUCKLES]

It has nothing to do with being a female.

It has to do with being a person.

A person that wants to fulfill their life.

Now, Frank, we couldn't even get married

because you were fulfilling your life,

traveling all over the world.

I never tried to stop you-- Hold it. Hold it!

I've been busting my butt here

trying to do something good for you,

and all I'm getting back from you

is lip-flap and backtalk.

Frank, you're getting my love.

But I guess that's just not enough for you.

Where you going now?

Someplace you can't buy.

Home.

Let's see what we got out here.

Forks, spoons,

knives.

Thelma, something's missin'.

What did I miss?

Where's the stomach pump?

Hi, Penny. Hey, Penny.

How's your mother?

Not too good. I think she's bored.

Well, no wonder.

She lost her job, and Frank didn't call her.

Yeah, know what you should tell her?

She should get interested in a hobby.

I tried that already. Did she do it?

Yeah, she's playing with my matchbook collection.

Venus Massage Parlor?

I found it on the bus.

Okay.

Well, hi, kids.

BOTH: Hi, Willona.

How's everything going?

BOTH: Fine, Willona.

Willona? What, Gramps?

You're sitting on my book report.

Oh.

Sorry. Want me to iron it out for you?

No, that's all right. I'll take care of it.

Well, anybody care for a movie or somethin'?

Oh, no, thanks, Willona.

Hey, Willona, why don't you go out on the town by yourself

and try to forget about Frank?

Frank? Frank who?

I haven't thought about him in days.

But, Mama, this morning-- Penny.

Oh, yeah, that's right,

you haven't thought about him in days.

[KNOCKING] I'll get it.

No, no, no, please. Let me do it.

Make me feel like I'm doing something important.

Hey, listen-- I'm not.

What do you want, Bookman?

Just wanted to let you know I won't be on duty tonight.

I'm going out. Oh, take me with you.

What am I saying?

Well, Mrs. Bookman and I are just

going to our regular club meeting.

Bookman, what club do you belong to?

The Jolly Janitors.

Tonight we're gonna discuss the relative merits

of pipe-joint compounds.

Oh, wow,

that sounds exciting.

Oh, Miss Woods,

listen, I can fix you up with a date.

Hey, my friend Leroy Hackett You'll love him too.

I mean, you both have

something in common. Like what?

He broke up with his sweetheart and he's out of a job too.

Mr. Buffalo Brain himself.

What ever happened to "Buffalo Butt"?

Your butt and your brain

is in the same place.

[KNOCKING]

Hey, that'll be the little lady.

She can't stand to be away from my side.

Baby, you ain't got no side.

Kiss me, my little kumquat.

Don't you think we should shake hands?

I think I'll wait downstairs.

Hi, Willona.

Um, Michael. Yeah?

Penny.

Thelma, you better do something about that nervous twitch.

Going like that. Michael, come on.

You're gonna break your neck.

I'm surprised to see you here, Frank.

I thought you'd be out buying up

half of the city of Chicago by now.

Yeah, well, I guess I deserved that one, didn't I?

I just came by to tell you

I pulled out of the deal to buy the boutique,

and I've arranged for you to get your job back.

Is that true?

No strings?

No strings.

I've had time to think about it,

and I'm sorry for trying to step on your dreams,

run your life.

Listen, I know how much it means to you.

Look, I guess, in all the time we've known each other,

we never took the time to really

get to know each other.

So what's gonna become of us?

'Cause, lady,

I happen to love you

very, very much.

Frank, I love you too.

Maybe we should take some time now

and try to work things out.

We know we love each other.

Now let's see if we can like each other.

Sounds good to me.

Me too.

Now, about this. Should I--

Uh-uh-uh. You leave that right where it is.

I'm not going anywhere.

Neither am I.

You know something? What?

I'm hungry.

Me too, honey. I'm starving to death.

Kids, let's go.

[MOUTHING WORDS]

[***]

* Just lookin' Out of the window *

* Watchin' the asphalt grow *

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

* Good times * * Hey, yeah *

* Good times *

* Keepin' your head Above water *

* Makin' a wave When you can *

* Temporary layoffs *

* Good times *

* Easy credit Ripoffs *

* Good times *

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

* Good times *