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 *

Just think, Thelma.

J.J.'s on his way to New York

for his first advertising convention.

Yeah, I hope he finds that sandwich

I put in his jacket pocket.

Yeah, I hope he finds it too,

because if he doesn't,

the plane will never leave the ground.

Funny, Michael. Funny.

Hi, Thelma. Hi, Michael.

MICHAEL: Hi, Penny. Hey, where's Gary?

Yeah, aren't you supposed to be keeping an eye on him?

He's coming.

[DOOR OPENS]

So there you are!

Woman, what's the big idea of you running away from me?

Gary, I wasn't running.

Your legs are just too short.

Whose legs are you calling short?

Woman, that's no way to talk to your man.

Gary, you're not my man.

We're just good friends.

[MUTTERS]

He's impossible.

Well, I think he's cute.

Wait your turn, mama.

Gary, this may hurt you,

but personally, I like older and taller men.

Girls.

Yeah, Gary,

but we would be lost without them.

Now, why don't the two of you

go in my room and play for a little while?

Okay, Penny.

To the room.

Boys.

Hey, Thelma, how's that soup coming along?

Let me taste it and see here.

Delicious.

Ha-ha. Delicious.

You ought to be ashamed of--

Girl, I can't wait to--

Hey, you ladies sure do sound in a good mood.

Look.

My first check from the beauty parlor.

Mm. Some cash, huh?

Yes, and as of today, I'm officially off welfare.

Congratulations, Joyce.

Well, I am kind of excited.

"Kind of excited"?

Honey, we got on the bus with a $5 bill,

and we needed change,

and before the bus driver could give us change,

Joyce had washed, set, and blow-dried his hair.

Girl, that's a lie.

Want some coffee?

Yeah. I never lie.

Where's Gary?

Oh, you mean:

[HIGH-PITCHED VOICE] "Wait your turn, mama."

THELMA: The kids are in my room, playing.

Gary, you're wrong.

I am not.

You are. I am not.

You are! I am not!

You are! I am not!

Oh, hi, Mama.

Hi, baby.

Is there a holiday next week?

No, I don't think so.

Yes, there is,

because Mrs. Simpson told us

the daycare center will be closed starting Monday.

What? See?

Honey, maybe you just misunderstood.

Then why did that jive teacher

have us take all our junk home?

Uh, Penny, why don't you take Gary over to our place

and play for a while? Okay?

Okay.

Outta sight. We could play doctor and nurse--

Hold it, doctor.

Now, ain't nobody playing doctor

with my daughter unless he's had

four years of medical school,

two years' internship,

and a MD license plate on his Cadillac.

You got that?

Now, get.

Okay. After you, mama.

Hi, Penny. Hi.

Hey, Gary, old buckaroo!

Yech.

Watch the threads, Lardo.

Whoo-whoo.

Well, Lardo...

[LAUGHS]

what do you want?

Well, I figured since Ms. Daniels is a hairdresser,

maybe she can give me a new look.

Buffalo-butt, why don't you wait for the game warden

to come by and tag your ear?

[BOOKMAN LAUGHS MOCKINGLY]

Bookman, my son just told me the funniest story.

He said the daycare center

is closing down.

[ALL LAUGHING]

It is closing down.

Are you serious?

Oh, no.

It can't be.

Not now.

Bookman, how can they close the center?

Not enough money, I guess.

Why don't you talk to Alderman Davis?

He makes these decisions.

Are you kidding?

[CHUCKLES]

Alderman Davis?

That's like playing a jukebox.

You don't hear one sound till you drop in the coin.

If the daycare center closes,

I'll have to hire a sitter for Gary,

and by the time I pay for a sitter,

I'll be taking home less from my job

than I was making on welfare.

Ms. Daniels, maybe you can find

another daycare center.

I was on the waiting list for six months

before I got Gary into this one.

Hey, Ms. Daniels,

you can probably get back on welfare.

I don't want welfare.

I want to make it on my own.

It seems like every time

I manage to pull myself out of a hole,

somebody is waiting at the top to kick me back in.

What's going to happen to me now?

Hey, does this mean you're not gonna give me a new look?

Oh, Bookman...

Bookman, uh, while you're here,

you know, the lock on the door is just not working.

Can you fix it for us please?

Sure, yeah. Thank you so much.

[DOORKNOB RATTLES]

Working fine now.

Hey, I can't get back in!

I know.

Uh, who are you calling, Willona?

Alderman Davis?

This is Willona Woods speaking.

Now, listen, you jive-time turkey.

What is this I hear

about you closing down the daycare center?

Now, you listen,

the same folks that vote you in can vote you out.

You got that, chromedome?

You told him! You sure did, Willona.

What did Alderman Davis say?

Honey, he did not say a single, solitary word.

He didn't say a word?

Because I was talking to, uh, his answering machine.

Well, I guess I better go collect Gary.

I've got some heavy thinking to do.

Hey, baby, look,

hang in there, okay?

Sure.

Something will work out.

See you, Joyce. Catch you later.

Oh, I guess it's hard being a single parent

and trying to raise a kid

and make ends meet all at once.

Amen to that.

We've got to think of something to help Joyce out.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

I just wish I knew what.

Hey.

Look who's here.

Alderman Davis.

Hi, Alderman Davis.

What can you do us out of this time?

Well, it's close to election time,

so I thought I'd drop in on my favorite project people,

the Evans family.

And of course,

my warmest and heartfelt greetings and salutations

to you too, Winnefrieda.

Alderman Davis, what is this I hear

about the daycare center closing down?

I have one question I'd like to ask you.

Do you have any idea

how important that daycare center

is to the working women?

How could you let them close the center down?

I'm glad you asked that question, Winsomnia.

My name is Willona, baldy.

Let me make one thing perfectly clear...

I see you got a new couch.

The Alderman Fred C. Davis supports daycare.

In fact, some of my favorite small people are children.

That's only because they're too young to vote against you.

Nice chair too.

Let me assure you

I am doing all I can to expedite matters.

You see, the center depends on funds

from the federal government

that are channeled in through the city payroll.

Unfortunately, those funds are temporarily frozen.

Huh. Frozen?

[LAUGHS]

I suggest somebody look in your pocket.

I bet they find some icicles.

I'm going to let that one slide, Wyomia.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Well, we have to find a way to raise some money

to keep that center open,

and I thought of a cake sale.

Cake?

No, Thelma. No, no, no, no.

If you make a cake,

only half the money will go for daycare.

We'll need the other half for Medicare.

Oh, wait, wait, wait a minute.

I've got an idea. Yeah?

We can put on a show and raise some money.

We've got enough talent here in the project.

That's a good idea! [SQUEALS]

Fantastic.

And dear friends,

the owner of the Slipped Disc Disco

will gladly donate his facilities

for a worthy cause such as yours.

He will?

How can you be so sure?

Either he cooperates,

or as chairman of the building commission,

I've just found a new site for a municipal parking lot.

That's a good idea.

I'll tell you, for a politician, he's not a bad guy.

Alderman Davis.

Alderman Davis, I have misjudged you.

Well, anybody can make a mistake,

Waldorfastoria.

What is that? A hand calculator?

No, this is my remote control answering service.

I merely push this button...

[BEEPS]

and the machine in the office

plays back all the messages people left while I was out.

Uh, e-every message?

Every last one.

Oh, here's one from you.

WILLONA: ...the same folks that vote you in can vote you right out.

You got that, chromedome?

[PLAYING FUN, HAPPY MUSIC]

[AUDIENCE CLAPPING RHYTHMICALLY]

[APPLAUSE]

Oh, boy.

Hey, am I on yet, Miss Woods?

Hey, will you please stop walking

on the back of my shoes?

I told you, you was not on the program.

Hey, Miss Woods, give me a shot.

I know I can knock 'em dead.

Only if you fall off the stage

and on somebody's head.

Now, will you please go away?

Willona, have you seen this?

What is that?

"Save the Daycare Center Benefit,

"starring Harry Belafonte,

"Wolfman Jack, Carol Channing,

Tony Bennett, John Wayne..."

Girl, where did you find this?

Right outside.

These are all over town.

Well, Joyce, don't you worry about nothing,

because the people that came here tonight

came to give to a very worthy cause.

They did not come here to see any celebrities.

No problem.

AUDIENCE: We want Belafonte! We want Belafonte!

We want Belafonte!

We want Belafonte!

Lord, child, I think we got...

BOTH: A problem.

We want Belafonte! We want Belafonte!

What's going on?

I better get out there.

I better go out there now.

We want Belafonte!

Hello, ladies and gentlemen. All right.

We got a great show--

AUDIENCE: We want Belafonte!

Cool it, cool it.

We got a great show for you, I'm telling you.

It is my pleasure to introduce to you

the newest singing sensation,

the baddest thing, oh, honey, in Chicago, you hear me?

Our one and only Michael Evans,

and my own adorable, talented Penny Woods!

[APPLAUSE]

[BAND PLAYING UPBEAT SOUL]

* Baby, come as you are *

* With just your heart *

* And I'll take you in *

* You're rejected and hurt *

* But to me you're worth What you have within *

* Now, I don't need No superstar *

* 'Cause I'll accept you As you are *

* You won't be denied 'Cause I'm satisfied *

* With the love you inspire *

* And you don't have To be a star, baby *

* To be in my show *

* You don't have To be a star, baby *

* To be in my show *

* Don't think A star has to shine *

* For me to find out *

* Where you're coming from *

* What is a beauty queen *

* If it don't mean I'm your number one? *

* There'll be no cheering From the crowd *

* Just two hearts Beating out loud *

* There'll be no parade No TV or stage *

* Only me to your dying day *

BOTH: * You don't have To be a star, baby *

* To be in my show *

* You don't have To be a star, baby *

* To be in my My, my, my, my, my show *

* You don't have To be a star, baby *

* To be in my show *

* And you don't have To be a star, baby *

* To be in my My, my, my, my, my show *

[SONG ENDS, APPLAUSE]

Weren't they wonderful?

Isn't it wonderful?

MAN: We want the Duke!

Well, we-- We want the Duke!

AUDIENCE: We want the Duke!

Well, hold it, hold it.

I-I got something for you.

I got something for you.

Be cool.

Now, this next young lady

that I'm going to introduce to you

will knock the Duke right off the back of his horse.

You hear me?

So hold on to your saddle horns,

and let's welcome Miss Thelma Evans.

Hit it!

[BAND PLAYING SWING SONG]

[BAND PLAYING DISCO]

* Young and pretty New York City girl *

* Twenty-five, thirty-five New York City girl *

* You grew up Riding the subways *

* Running with people *

* Up in Harlem Down on Broadway *

* You're no tramp But you're no lady *

* Talking that street talk *

* You're the heart and soul Of New York City *

* And love *

* Love is just a passing word *

* Ooh, ooh, ooh *

* It's the thought you had In a taxi cab *

* That got left on the curb *

* When he dropped you off At East 83rd *

* Oh, oh *

* You're a native New Yorker *

* You should Know the score by now *

* You should Know by now *

* You're a native New Yorker *

* Ooh... *

[APPLAUSE]

[BAND PLAYING UPBEAT SONG]

What do you think? Did they like me?

Oh, oh!

Wait a minute! Did they like you?

I had to call the fire department.

What for?

To hose down the audience.

MAN: We want the stars!

AUDIENCE: We want the stars!

That audience is getting ugly.

I wouldn't send my worst enemy out there.

I would. Where's Booga?

Willona, if we don't have any celebrities,

the people can demand their money back.

I wish I could find who put those posters up.

I would kill 'em.

I guess this means the daycare center is closing after all.

Hang in there. I'll think of something to do.

I'll think of something.

AUDIENCE: We want the stars!

Hey, hey, hey, you know what?

Hold it, hold it.

[IN SPANISH ACCENT] Attention.

[IN NORMAL VOICE] Have y'all heard that joke about--

AUDIENCE: We want the stars!

L-ladies and gentlemen, please, please.

I'm-- I'm-- I'm sorry.

It's obvious most of you came here tonight

expecting to see some big-name stars, huh?

AUDIENCE: Yeah.

Well, uh, like Harry Belafonte and those kind of people.

Well, look, the truth is--

BOOKMAN [AS HARRY BELAFONTE]: * Day-o! *

* Day-ay-ay-o! *

* Daylight come And me wan' go ho-ome *

[BAND PLAYING "SWEET LORRAINE"]

[AS WOLFMAN JACK] Hey.

[APPLAUSE]

Hey, this is Wolfman Jack.

We got a great show for you tonight,

but before we start,

we'd like to pay tribute to some of the greats,

like Nat King Cole.

[AS NAT KING COLE] * Say, I just found joy *

* I'm as happy as a baby boy *

* With another Brand-new choo-choo toy *

* When I marry sweet Lorraine *

[AS WOLFMAN JACK] And now Miss Billie Holiday...

[AS BILLIE HOLIDAY] * All of me *

* Why not take all of me? *

* Can't you see I'm no good without you? *

* Well, you took the part *

* That used to be my heart *

* So why not *

* Why not take all of me? *

[AS WOLFMAN JACK] And now Miss Carol Channing:

[AS CAROL CHANNING] * A kiss on the hand Can be quite continental *

* Diamonds are a girl's Best friend *

[AS WOLFMAN JACK] John Wayne:

[AS JOHN WAYNE] Well, I've never been kissed.

Not on the hand, anyway, pilgrim.

Let's take it away.

[AS WOLFMAN JACK] The man who left his heart in San Francisco, Tony Bennett.

[AS TONY BENNETT] * I left my heart *

* In Fris-can-cisco *

* High on the hill *

* High on the hill It calls to me *

* When I come home to you *

* Sis-can-franco *

* Your golden sun *

* Will shine for me *

[AS WOLFMAN JACK] The ambassador of goodwill, Mr. Louis Armstrong:

[AS LOUIS ARMSTRONG] * I feel the room swaying And the band keeps playing *

* Our old favorite songs From way back when *

* Yes, so Now, take her wrap, fellas *

* Find her some empty laps Fellas *

* Dolly will never go away *

[SCATTING]

* Dolly will never go away Again *

[SCATS]

* Oh, yeah *

[WILD CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

Ms. Woods, how'd I do?

Oh, you were wonderful.

Thank you. You were wonderful.

Did you really like it?

Yes. You were great.

You know, I think those posters that I put up

really brought the crowds in.

You put up these posters?

Yeah! Ha-ha-ha.

When I get finished with you,

you're gonna wish you had never learned to write.

Not in the mouth.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am not here tonight to campaign for public office,

though the election is a scant six months away,

and I'm sure you will remember the name

of the honorable Fred C. Davis, incumbent,

when you step into the voting booth.

[CLANGS]

You've been gonged. Get off the stage!

Move it, cue ball. This is show biz.

[CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY]

I love that kid.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,

may I present the incomparable, indubitable,

Ms. Willam--

Uh, Ms. Wilm--

Ms. Willini-- Willona Woods, you shnook.

Ms. Willona Weeds!

* As long as she needs me *

* I know where I must be *

* And I will stand steadfastly *

* As long *

* As you need me *

[BAND PLAYING JAUNTY SWING]

* For once in my life I have someone who needs me *

* Someone I've needed so long *

* For once unafraid I can go where life leads me *

* And somehow I know I'll be strong *

* For once I can touch What my heart used to dream of *

* Long before I knew *

* Someone warm like you *

* To tell my troubles to *

* For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me *

* Not like it's hurt me before *

* For once I have someone I know won't desert me *

* I'm not alone anymore *

* For once I can say *

* "This is mine You can't take it" *

* Long as I know I have love I can make it *

* For once in my life I have someone who needs me *

* Yeah *

* He needs me, I need him bad *

* Tell you what it is *

* She needs me I know it, know it, know *

* He needs me *

* He needs me *

* He needs *

* Me *

* Yeah *

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Did we raise enough money?

Willona-- Willona, we're $300 short.

Oh, no!

What are we gonna do now--?

Well, dear friends,

never fear nor doubt.

Fred C. Davis will pull you out.

Friends, neighbors and constituents,

I want to make one thing abundantly clear.

[AS RICHARD NIXON] I am not a shnook.

[NORMAL VOICE] That's why I have decided,

out of the kindness of my heart,

to donate, from my own pocket,

the 300 votes-- Uh, uh, dollars you need

to keep your daycare center open!

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

Isn't that fantastic?

You know what we're gonna do?

We're gonna rename the center--

What is your name, sucker?

[MOUTHING] Fred C. Davis.

To "The Fred C. Davis Day Care Center," right?

Let's hear it. [APPLAUSE]

Isn't that great?

No, no, no, no. No, no.

Modesty prevents my accepting such an honor.

I insist you name it after you kind people.

Name it, "The Friends of the Honorable Fred C. Davis

Day Care Center."

You know, you are a champ.

He's a champ.

* He's a champ *

Say it!

* He's a champ *

Come on, baby.

* He's a champ *

* Fred Davis is a champ *

One more time!

* He's a champ He's a champ *

* He's a champ *

* Fred Davis is a champ *

Whoo!

* He's a champ Champ, champ... *

[***]

* Mmm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm *

* 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 Rip-offs *

* Good times *

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

* Good times *