♪ 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 ♪
Michael, you better stuff them pamphlets faster.
Look at the big pile we got left here.
Why do we have to stuff for Fred Davis?
Because me and your mother always vote for him.
Daddy, why do you and Mama
always have to vote for him?
Because he's the best man for the job.
Now, shut up and keep stuffing.
All right, but I'm stuffing under protest.
What did you say, young man?
I said I wish I was old enough
to vote for Fred Davis.
That's what I thought you said.
You stuffing under protest too,
young lady?
Well, frankly, Daddy, I don't know about Fred Davis.
The other day,
I heard him talk for a half-hour,
and he didn't say nothing.
Well, Thelma, he's a politician.
He ain't supposed to say nothing.
Uh, what I mean is, uh, he ain't a talker.
He's a doer.
But he's been the alderman in this ward
for over 20 years.
Don't you think it's time
for somebody with some new ideas?
You know somebody better for the job?
Yeah. Jimmy Pearson.
Jimmy Pearson? That kid?
Daddy, Jimmy Pearson's not a kid.
He's 26, and that's old.
Well, I ain't voting for nobody that's still wearing Pampers.
That's what's wrong with this country...
too many decisions being made
by people still in their playpens.
That's because all the old politicians
are in state pens.
Just shut up and keep stuffing, mister.
Hello, dear brother.
Hello, dear father.
Hello... whatever that is in a dress.
Well, at least I fill out a dress.
Paint some numbers on your body
and you'd look like a thermometer.
You got some nerve, you old fever face...
All right, will you two knock it off?
Junior, you get them Davis posters up
like I asked you to?
I sure did, Dad.
Fred Davis is painted all over the ghetto.
I put one on the back of a passing bus,
one on the back of a police car,
and you know that chicken place
with the Kentucky colonel smiling down at you?
Yeah.
Well, now Fred is smiling right back at him
from the bucket.
I even put one on Ned the Wino's chest.
What you do that for, Junior?
Great exposure, Dad.
When people step over him in the gutter,
they've got to see his face.
I tell you, I use my head.
Only to separate your ears.
Be quiet, Thelma.
Otherwise, I'll put a Fred Davis poster
on your face.
It'd be a definite improvement.
Look who's talking about faces.
If you ever ran for dog catcher,
you'd lose to the dog.
You, uh, thinking
about running against me?
That's enough of that.
Both of you knock it off
or you gonna be absentee ballots.
[CLEARS THROAT]
By the way, Dad, uh,
how much we getting paid for this?
Nothing.
Junior, this is volunteer work.
Why, don't you ever do anything besides think about money?
Yeah.
I think about girls, which brings me back to money.
Hi, kids.
Hi, Mom. Hey, Mom.
JAMES: Hey, baby.
James, you're home.
I thought you went bowling tonight.
Yeah, I was gonna, but I promised Fred
I'd get these pamphlets out for him.
Where you been?
Oh, out.
Out where?
Oh, the usual places:
the market, the bakery, the five-and-dime,
Jimmy Pearson's rally,
the drugstore, and then... Wait a minute.
Hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it.
Back up there a minute.
Where did you say you were?
The drugstore?
No, go back a little bit more.
The five-and-dime.
Back a little bit more.
The market.
No, baby.
Now come forward just a wee taste.
The bakery?
Uh-uh, not the bakery.
Jimmy Pearson's rally?
Bingo.
Now, Florida, have you lost your mind?
I mean, that's just like Reverend Jesse Jackson
cheering for Lester Maddox.
That kid is the opposition.
Oh, James,
I have watched Jimmy Pearson grow up
since he was a little boy,
and he has really come along.
You know, he's young, he's bright.
Honey, he is the future.
Yeah, but baby, where's your gratitude?
If it weren't for Fred Davis,
we would never have got into the projects.
Well, it's about time
somebody got us out of the projects.
Well, Fred always helped us
when we needed it.
If it hadn't been for him, Junior wouldn't have been born.
What?
You remember when we first got married,
we said we couldn't afford to have no children
until I got a job?
It was Fred that got me
that temporary job at the stock yard.
Then we had you.
One more reason to vote against Fred Davis.
That'll be enough out of you, young lady.
I think I feel
another hair in my beard growing.
It must be a full moon tonight, werewolf.
[HOWLS]
Daddy, I don't see anything wrong
with Mama going
to the Jimmy Pearson rally.
Jimmy Pearson wants us to have dignity.
He wants us to be able to walk with our heads high,
and he is for equal rights for women.
Oh, now, Florida, what you talking about?
You've always had equal rights
as far as I'm concerned.
Every time we have a problem,
don't I always discuss it with you first
before I tell you what we're going to do about it?
But Daddy,
Jimmy Pearson would really do a better job for us.
Thelma, you just saying that
because he's young and good looking.
Oh, Thelma, if it were up to you,
we'd vote for Billy Dee Williams for president.
What good would it do?
They'd still call it the White House.
Look, I don't want to hear
no more talk about Jimmy Pearson,
and that's final.
♪ Hail, hail The gang's all here ♪
Lord... I think I better change that song
to "Help Me Make It Through the Night."
He didn't go bowling, Willona.
Yeah, but there's a couple of pins
he's about to knock over right now.
Willona, what you doing here with that poster?
What poster?
Oh, you mean this poster?
Well, uh... James,
the reason Willona brought the poster in
is because I invited Jimmy Pearson over
tonight.
We're helping him with his campaign.
Oh... Oh, James, come on,
what is wrong with supporting youth?
Half the population of this country
is under 40.
Right.
Not your half, sweetie.
Okay, James, I owe you one.
James, you know,
I been voting for Fred Davis for a long time,
but I'm beginning to realize
he's nothing but a political hack.
Yeah, he thinks just because he gives out
free turkeys on Thanksgiving,
everybody's got to vote for him.
Michael, that's the way the game is played.
I mean, he does small favors,
he gets small favors done back.
It's a case of one hand washing the other.
Yeah, but they don't get clean
if they're washed in dirty water.
WILLONA: Whoo!
Yes!
Y'all calling Fred Davis a crook?
Well, all I figure is,
if any man that can afford a new Cadillac every year,
spend a month's vacation in Bermuda every winter,
buy his wife fancy mink coats,
all on an alderman's salary,
is either a crook
or makes a whole lot on Let's Make a Deal.
I don't want to hear no more bad mouthing
about my friend Fred Davis,
and I don't want that Jimmy Pearson in my house.
You keep saying "my house."
The last I remember, it was our house,
and I did invite Jimmy Pearson over...
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Yeah, well, if that's him,
I'm gonna uninvite him.
Now, James. James. James...
Baby, take it easy.
I'm gonna be polite.
I'm gonna treat him real gentleman-like.
You ain't welcome here!
Uh, sorry, Fred.
[LAUGHS SHEEPISHLY]
I thought you was a bill collector.
I know the feeling.
Many a time, the wolf was at my door.
Yeah.
He probably skinned it
to make another fur coat for his wife.
What did you say, Willona?
I said... She said, uh...
She hoped you didn't skin your knuckles
when I slammed the door.
Uh, ain't y'all gonna say hello to Fred?
Well, hi, everybody.
It's good to see the Evans family again.
You know, you're my favorite family
in this whole project.
I had to work like mad to get you in here,
but it was worth it.
You're good people.
The Evans family
always votes for the straight ticket,
and you too, Willona...
and that's why I never forget you.
My goodness, J.J.,
you get bigger every time I see you.
I'm Michael.
Oh, of course.
I can still remember the christening
when I held you in my arms.
That was me.
When Michael was christened, you were in Bermuda.
Oh, yes, one of my rare vacations.
A man needs a little rest
from the hard work of helping run the city.
A man needs a lot of rest
if he can't tell a boy from a girl.
Hey, Mr. Davis.
What's happening?
J.J.
Uh, you are J.J., aren't you?
Am I J.J.?
Are there black people in Harlem?
Ah, talking about growing,
you're really springing up there.
And, uh, hey, do I detect
a little beard coming out there?
Yeah, I must have missed one of the hairs.
Well, two out of three ain't bad.
And, uh, Mr. Davis,
speaking of shaving cream,
you know, shaving cream costs money,
and I been doing all this volunteer work here,
and I was wondering... Junior.
I am very, very happy to do it,
without a doubt.
That's why I love this family...
and you too, Willona.
Everybody pulling together for the cause.
You know, I've been in politics a long time.
A long time.
A long, long time.
Let me tell you what wins elections.
It's good, loyal precinct workers
like you, James.
Well, I do what I can to help, Fred.
And I appreciate it.
You know, any time you got a problem,
you feel free to call on me.
Will do. I want to be more to you
than just a turkey at Thanksgiving.
To me, he's a turkey all year round.
Each of you is a cornerstone that built my career.
James, Florida... and you too, Willona.
I can always count on your votes.
[CLEARS THROAT]
And, uh,
I'm gonna be voting too this year, Mr. Davis.
It's my, uh, first time.
Oh, that's wonderful.
Welcome to the American dream, son.
Yeah.
I'm gonna be in that voting booth,
pulling them levers.
I'll be double clutching so fast,
I'll punch out the name Davis three times
before I slap it back up into park.
No, no, just your one vote will be enough.
The one thing that we're proud of
in our Chicago elections is their honesty.
You know,
it just warms my heart to see this whole family...
And you too, Willona.
Yes, and you too, Willona.
You know, just between you and me,
the opposition blew it this time
putting up that young egghead against me.
And what is wrong with that young egghead?
Yeah. Yeah, what's wrong with him?
Same thing that's wrong with all young eggheads.
He's soft-boiled.
You get the yoke?
And you'll need a man like me in this area
who understands the problems.
He should understand them.
He created them.
I want to ask you something.
Jimmy Pearson has been trying
to debate the problems with you.
Why do you keep avoiding him?
Oh, I haven't been avoiding him.
Oh, yes, you have.
In fact,
if the poor kid was here right now,
I'd tear him apart.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Well, here's...
Here's your chance, Mr. Davis.
Meet Jimmy Pearson.
I think the grits done hit the pan.
How are you, Pearson?
Fine, thank you, sir.
My goodness.
You look younger than your pictures.
Oh, really?
How old are you, son?
26, sir.
[LAUGHS]
26.
I remember when I was 26.
Just getting started.
Yeah, you and the Mills Brothers.
[WHISPERING]
No, I didn't have nothing to do
with him coming over here, Fred.
Florida invited him.
I don't know what's gotten into that woman lately.
What's gotten into me is some sense.
When Fred Davis asked me to vote for him
after 20 years of doing nothing,
I say nothing doing.
You know, Mr. Davis,
I've been trying to get in touch with you
for quite some time now
to discuss the issues, but it seems
like every time I call your office,
your secretary says that you're out.
Well, uh, I can understand that.
I mean,
when a man's messing with his secretary,
he don't like to be... interrupted.
You know, the law says he's old enough to vote,
but they ain't heard him talk yet.
Nevertheless, Mr. Davis,
I am glad that we had this opportunity to meet,
because I would like to discuss
some questions and issues with you.
No more than me, son,
but right now I have to rush off.
I left my car in a no parking zone.
That shouldn't bother you.
You fix everybody else's tickets.
That's cold, Florida...
but I understand.
If you want to vote for a loser this time...
A loser?
It's okay with me. Goodbye.
No, no, Davis, please don't rush off.
Let's talk issues.
Tear him up, Fred.
All right.
I'll give you time for just one question.
Shoot.
All right, Davis.
How come you never tell what your position is
on the citizens' review board
to handle complaints against the police?
Well, um... you see, uh... [CHUCKLES]
Cute kid you got here, James.
Real cute.
He's gonna be even cuter
when he's got to sleep standing up tonight.
Yes, well, I happen to think it's a very good question,
Mr. Davis.
You're darn right it is,
and I've given it a lot of thought.
A lot of thought.
Well, what do you think about it?
I have very definite opinions about it,
very definite opinions,
and I appreciate an opponent
who's thinking on these matters.
Yes, well, Davis,
you don't have to patronize me.
Okay, now, I have one more question.
I'm curious to know exactly how you stand
on something
that is very important to this community.
Night care centers.
Night care centers?
Well, yes, uh, night care centers
are merely extensions of day care centers.
He knows that.
There are a lot of black women in this community
who work at night,
and they need a place to leave their small children.
I think that is a very good idea.
That's wonderful, Jimmy. About time.
Oh, yes, night care centers.
I have very definite opinions about that.
One thing about Davis:
he has very definite opinions.
Oh, come on, Davis.
Why don't you just admit it?
You're totally out of touch
with the problems of this community.
You are a relic of the past.
A relic, huh?
Exactly, sir.
All right, man. That cuts it.
You want to get down, then let's get down.
[CHEERING AND SHOUTING]
You are a real smart dude
with a lot of fancy words
you like to strut,
but when it comes to politics,
you don't know your head from your butt.
[CHEERING]
Come on, Jimmy, get him.
WILLONA: Get him, Jimmy.
Look, y'all, no, no.
Hold it, hold it, hold it.
I am not interested
in getting involved in street games.
Well, if you're not interested
in getting involved with this one, I am.
So you want to play the dozens,
huh, Davis?
All right.
You stand there
and say you're a man of the people,
but I say you'd steal everything,
including the church steeple.
Now, wait a minute, Fred.
Let me come to your aid here, brother.
Now, your eyes may shine
and your teeth may grit,
but that alderman's job, you ain't gonna git.
Hold on. Hold on. It's my turn.
Go ahead, Willona.
My turn.
Go ahead.
Now, those speeches you gave against crime
were real heart tuggers,
only things have gotten so bad
in those streets, the muggers
are mugging the muggers.
Well, well, well.
Let me say something here.
Don't worry about it, Fred.
I'll get all my chicks to vote for you,
because they don't picket, and they don't fight.
One taste of these lips
and they follow the lead of Kid Dyn-o-mite!
Go on, Thelma.
As usual, my brother the licorice stick
just said something
that proves his head don't tick.
Come on, Jimmy.
I want you to talk to this man.
Come on.
Jimmy, put the tacky turkey in the oven
and cook.
Please, please. Okay, please.
Look, I am only interested in the issues.
You know something? Jimmy is right.
The issues are the only thing that counts.
Nothing else.
Okay, Jimmy, you go on...
Well, I've done enough yakking
about the issues.
I got things to do.
Florida, Thelma... "And you too, Willona"?
Yes, and you too, Willona.
I'm disappointed.
After what I've done for you all,
I thought I could count on your support.
Wait, Fred, I'll go with you.
Florida got some people
coming over here to the house tonight,
and I don't want to hear nothing they got to say.
Yeah, Dad.
I think I'll go along with you too.
No, stay here, Junior.
Good idea, Dad.
I'll be the only one here who could speak up for Fred Davis.
On second thought, you better come with me.
Excuse me, excuse me.
Mom, Willona, we just got some more returns.
Hey, gang, more returns are in.
Shh, shh, shh.
For the 21st Precinct... Oh, it looks good.
Fred Davis, only 74 votes.
[CHEERING]
And... Hold it.
Jimmy Pearson... three.
Willona, that's our precinct,
and only three votes for Pearson?
I know you and I voted for him,
but who was the other one?
Well, I helped Ned the Wino into the voting booth.
Hey, y'all, don't leave, don't leave.
Come on. Please.
Don't go.
Hey, play something.
♪ Happy days are here again
♪ The skies above Are clear again ♪
♪ Let us sing a song Of cheer again ♪
♪ Happy days are here again
♪ The skies above
♪ Are clear again
♪ Let us sing a song Of cheer again ♪
♪ Happy days are here... ♪
Well, let's face it, Willona.
Everybody knows we lost.
Yeah, but we tried.
Hey, Florida, we thought we'd stop by
and invite you over to Fred Davis' headquarters
for the victory celebration.
Yeah, it's gonna be a real wild party.
At midnight,
they're gonna drop balloons into the cheese dip.
Come on, baby, cheer up.
We just want to let you know
what it's like to celebrate with a winner.
[LAUGHS HEARTILY]
[MIMICS JAMES' LAUGHTER]
Don't crow too loud, rooster.
You still got a lot of years in the same coop with this hen.
[LAUGHS]
You take Michael home, J.J.
Okay, Ma.
Come on, Michael.
I'll share a jelly apple with you
on the way home.
J.J., if I know you, all I'll get is the stick.
If you're going home with J.J., you already got the stick.
Y'all are just jealous because y'all lost.
Get out of here.
Don't feel bad, Ma.
You voted for the right man.
I know I did.
Willona, Thelma, Florida,
I would like to thank all of you
for all the help that you've given me.
It's all right. You're welcome.
I just can't believe
less than 40 percent of the people
even bothered to vote.
Well, Fred Davis made sure
all his people got to the polls.
Even had a hookup
with the Eternal Life Funeral Service
to make sure limos
carried his people to the voting booths.
He probably used the hearses too
and got a vote
from every stiff in the mortuary.
What's the difference?
Davis is in.
Flo, we just struck out.
Come on, Thelma.
Yeah.Okay.
I'm sorry, Jimmy.Yeah.
Jimmy, I'm sorry. Maybe next time.
It's okay.
Bye, Daddy.Bye. You too, Willona.
You know something, James?
You may have voted for a winner,
but that don't mean the rest of us were wrong.
Maybe you weren't wrong, Florida,
but Pearson here was.
What?
Pearson, you're a good man,
you got some good ideas
and you're better educated than Davis,
but when it came time to talk to the people,
you just didn't reach them.
Like before, when we were playing the dozens,
you was too high and mighty to get down.
James, please.
No, no, no, no. It's okay, Florida.
You know, I've been thinking
about exactly where I went wrong,
and James makes sense.
He makes a lot of sense.
I just wasn't getting through.
You got through to me.
Yes, Florida,
I got through to you and maybe a couple of others,
but it was not the people's fault.
It was mine.
I was talking at them
when I should have been talking to them.
Well, you let me tell you something, James.
You know, I'm gonna be back here for the next election,
and if I have to stand in the middle of State Street
in my underwear and do the dozens,
that's exactly what I'm going to do.
Well, go on! Go on, Jimmy.
You're right.
You tell us.
Yeah, so you tell your man
to watch out, Jack,
because there is no doubt that I'm gonna be back.
I'm gonna leave you now without a tear or a sob,
but next time I see you, man,
I'm gonna have that cat's a-job.
All right, all right.
[LAUGHS]
All right.
You know something, baby?
Mm-hmm?
I think he's starting to get the idea.
Mm-hmm. Who knows?
A couple years from now,
I might even vote for him myself.
You? Mm-hmm.
Oh... Does this mean we're friends again?
Oh, even more than friends.
Well, all right.
Now, that's the kind of election return
I like.
[NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE]
♪ 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 ♪
ANNOUNCER: Good Times is recorded on tape
before a live audience.
♪ Ain't we lucky we got 'em?
♪ Good times ♪