♪ 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 A chow line ♪
♪ Good Times
♪ Ain't we lucky we got 'em
♪ Good Times
ANNOUNCER: It's 98-all. Lakers have the ball.
Jabbar shoots,
Artis Gilmore grabs the rebound,
feeds off to Scott May.
May's going up the middle.
Dribbles around Lucius Allen...
Get down. Get down.
Fakes Kermit Washington out of his shorts and slam-dunks,
and Chicago goes into the lead.
Oh, yeah!
J.J.: Slam dunk, all in the man's face.
In the man's face!
Hey, Ma, we were watching the game.
Oh, I'll give you the game.
Florida Evans has the dust cloth in her hand.
She wipes it over the TV,
sweeps it around the table,
and cleans the phone right off the hook,
and she's gonna slam-dunk her kids
if they don't get up off the bench
and get their butts into gear!
Sorry, Ma, we didn't see you doing all the work.
Don't "Sorry, Mama" me!
Now, the next time you see me cleaning house,
it'll be on television,
on Dusting for Dollars...
so you won't miss it.
Now, get busy!
All right, Thelma, you get the dishes and the bathroom.
Michael, you do the dusting.
All right.
Well, Ma, got 'em on the move now.
Oh, boy.
J.J... Yes?
Are you comfortable, sweetheart?
Oh, yeah, Ma.
Oh, how about a pillow for your head?
I didn't even think of that.
[J.J. LAUGHS]
And one for your little footsies.
Oh, that's wuv-ly.
Yeah.
Are you comfortable now, dear?
Oh, yeah, Ma.
That's great.
Now, you do something with that bag of bones
besides feeding it!
Oh, yes, sir, Ma.
Yes, sir.
Oh, that looks funny,
a broom pushing a broom.
And as for you, Miss Black Lethargy of '77,
I want you to stop running your jaws,
and get busy!
Ma... [SHARPLY] What?
I just wanted to say I agree with you.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
If that ain't Muhammad Ali,
he'd be wise to stay out.
You keep cleaning.
Hi, Mrs. Evans.
Nice day, isn't it?
What do you want, Bookman?
You know that leaky faucet in your bathroom?
The one that's been going,
"drip, drip, drip, drip, drip" for weeks?
Oh, yeah, I know that leaky faucet in the bathroom.
The whole world knows
that leaky faucet in the bathroom.
Well, I'm here to fix it for you.
Then where were you when I reported it
six weeks ago?
Yeah, Bookman... Shut up, J.J.
Just saving you the trouble, Ma.
Hey, I'm sorry it took so long.
The washers were out of stock.
Everything is out of stock around here,
you old... um...
What's that name the kids call you?
Buffalo Butt?
Bingo.
Hey, Mrs. Evans, you know,
I came up here as a friend who cares,
you know, out of the spirit of helpfulness,
and you sound as though
you don't like living in this building.
How dare you threaten to evict us.
I didn't threaten to evict you!
That's twice.
Now, the next time you say it,
I'm gonna evict you through that wall.
Ma, at the risk of life and limb,
can I say something? What?
Thelma ain't working.
I am too working.
Mind your business and sweep?
All right, shut up, both of you!
The only thing that's working is your jaws.
Bookman, you can go and fix the faucet,
if you can squeeze your butt through that bathroom door.
Come on, Mrs. Evans.
Now, I came up here as a friend,
and all you've done is abuse me.
I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna leave,
and you can spend your evenings
with that faucet going, "drip, drip, drip."
Drip.
Look, I'm gonna go and get ready for work,
so I want you all to get busy,
and I want to see some smoke out here.
This is ridiculous.
[ALL PROTESTING]
I said, smoke!
You know...
I've been a member of this family
for many, many years,
and I can never remember Ma in such a bad mood.
I remember the time Ma bawled me out,
when I failed geometry... for the third time.
Yeah, and I remember when she grounded me
for staying out late.
That ain't nothing.
I remember the time when she took a piece out of me
for playing basketball in my new shoes.
Yeah.
Those were the good old days.
Yeah, something must be really bugging Ma.
She's never been this cranky before.
Maybe she's going through the change.
Yeah?
If she is,
it sure ain't a change for the better.
[DOOR OPENS]
Ta-da!
Whoo, Billie Jean King, eat your heart out,
because Willona's on her way.
Whoo! Wow!
Willona, that's the fanciest outfit I ever seen
for swatting flies.
This is a tennis racket.
I'm going on vacation next weekend
to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, honey,
where the elite meet and raise their glasses,
and look down their nose at the lower classes.
Hey, where's your mama?
She's inside, getting ready for round two.
What?
Willona, if you're smart,
you'll go on your vacation right now.
Yeah, and take us with you.
Now, what are y'all talking about?
Ma is in a rotten mood.
[LAUGHS]
In a rotten mood? Your mother?
You've got to be jiving.
She is the dearest, kindest, sweetest, most loveable woman
you ever met in your life, honey.
Hi, Flo.
Get lost.
If she gets any more loveable,
she won't be worth living with.
Flo, like my outfit?
[CHUCKLES]
[SNICKERS]
Little fancy for swatting flies.
Flo, I'm going on a vacation.
Bye.
I'm going to Lake Geneva for $48.
You get 48 hours of sun and fun.
Girl, I wish you was going with me.
That's all right for you.
You're a member of the idle rich.
I still have to work for a living...
and so do you three!
Now, when I get back here,
I want to see this place spotless,
because if it isn't,
you're not gonna have to worry
about Bookman putting you out.
I will!
Kids... ALL: Shh.
I said, smoke!
Willona, we've never seen her like this before.
What's wrong with her?
She's tired and worn out, that's what's wrong with her.
She's working day and night,
trying to keep the family together,
and it's beginning to get her down.
She needs a vacation. I've got an idea.
When she comes home from work tonight,
be on your best behavior.
Give her a couple of really relaxing hours.
Can we make a deal? All right.
Okay, we got a deal.
Okay, now I'm gonna split. I don't wanna be here
when Hurricane Flo comes flying back through, child.
I think Willona's right.
Ma does need a vacation.
Yeah, and more than just a few hours.
Look at this brochure on Lake Geneva.
It is bad!
I wish Ma could go.
Hey, well, let's stop wishing.
Let's make it happen.
J.J., we don't have $48.
The only way we can send Ma to Lake Geneva
is to mail her!
Well, let's all chip in.
Thelma, how much you got?
Ten dollars. I have 10 dollars.
Michael, how much you got?
Hey, well, I got six, man.
That would get her to the bus station.
Yeah, if she don't get mugged.
Sixteen dollars.
Now, is that all we can come up with?
What do you mean, all we could come up with?
Where's your money?
Unfortunately, all my available funds
are tied up in pork belly futures.
What are you talking about,
"pork belly futures?"
Well, I was hoping to have a date
with a certain Ms. Nancy Ritter on Friday night,
to the chitterling party.
If you don't come across with the money,
your face is gonna be tied up in fat lip futures.
All right.
Turn your back and close your eyes.
Oh, Michael, he's going for the money belt now.
[LAUGHS]
[CLEARS THROAT]
All right, y'all can turn around now.
You got it from that money sock
you keep on that string, huh?
How'd you know that?
Well, when Ma thought you had a hernia,
it turned out to be $5.00 in pennies.
Come on, J.J., how much you got?
I got 14 dollars.
Um, altogether, that's $30.
All we need is 18 more dollars.
How are we gonna get $18?
Hey, maybe the travel agent
will let us make a partial payment now,
and come up with the rest later.
Hey, stay cool.
I'll handle this... [LAUGHS]
But this is going to take somebody
with the diplomatic skills of Henry the K...
and the sweet moves of Dr. J.
And all we got is somebody
with the diplomacy of Phyllis Diller
and the silky moves of old Godzilla.
All right, I'll see you all later.
All right. See you.
Thelma, you better make sure
you hang onto that brochure.
It might be the closest.
Ma will ever get to Lake Geneva.
Hey, Michael, what you doing?
Getting ready to dry my sneakers in the oven.
Oh, no, you're not.
My chicken's in there.
Now, if you think Ma was cranky before,
wait till she comes home
and eats a piece of chicken that tastes like a foot.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
The way you cook chicken, girl,
anything's an improvement.
Hey, J.J., what you got there?
Voilà!
You're looking at Ma's vacation!
J.J., is this how Ma's going
to Lake Geneva?
In a box?
He is gonna mail her.
Come on, J.J., is this the best you could do
with the travel agent?
Well...
Ma's got reservations for Friday, you all,
and this is how she's gonna get there.
J.J., you're gonna send Ma
to Lake Geneva in her underwear, huh?
She's gonna look pretty funny in that hotel lobby.
She ain't gonna be wearing the underwear.
Good.
We're gonna be selling the underwear,
and with the money that we make,
we're gonna send Ma to Lake Geneva.
Uh-uh, you're gonna return that underwear
and get our money back.
That's right.
Either that, or we're gonna put your nose
in your hip pocket.
Now, wait a minute.
I can't do that, Michael.
I brought it from a warehouse, and the man,
the next to last thing he told me was, "No refunds."
What was the last thing?
He said, "So long, sucker."
J.J., you have the intelligence of a Q-tip.
How did you get conned into such a stupid scheme?
Pure luck.
I was coming out of the travel agency
when I met my man, Gary Tomkins.
You remember Gary?
That dimmy?
Man, he went to trade school for two years
to become an elevator operator.
Well, anyway, Gary is now working
for an underwear company that's going bankrupt,
and he tipped me to this real shrewd deal.
J.J., you didn't put all our money
in this real shrewd deal, did you?
Certainly not.
I spent $12.50 for $125 worth of underwear.
Ten dollars to the travel agency for a deposit for Ma's trip,
a mere $5 to Gary for tipping me to this bonanza,
and a few meager little pennies for me,
to buy some Snicker bars to replenish my strength
after carrying that heavy box all the way home.
Okay, J.J., give us what you've got left.
Voilà!
A Snicker bar?
All right, Michael,
I guess we're stuck with the underwear. Yeah.
And you, mister, tell us how we're gonna sell it.
Hey, no problem at all.
Now, see, peoples will go without a coat,
they will go without shoes,
but no one in this vast, wide world
wants to go without underwear.
You see, underwear is lucky.
J.J., what are you talking about?
It's like Ma always says,
"Always wear clean underwear,
just in case you get into an accident."
And you see, I've been wearing clean underwear
all my life,
and I ain't never been in an accident.
You mean you were born with that face?
All right, J.J.,
tell us where we're gonna put this stuff,
so Ma won't see it.
In Thelma's room. It's only for one day.
Yeah, and how are we gonna let everybody know
we're selling drawers?
Advertise it on TV?
Plain and simple.
Just tell Willona, and swear her to secrecy.
Oh, J.J., if you pull this one off,
you're gonna be the apple of Ma's eye.
Yeah, and if I don't, I'll be known as...
the Fruit of the Loom.
Hey, J.J., I just set the table.
What you doing?
I'm clearing the table.
We didn't eat yet.
I know that, but we gotta
make believe like we did.
See, those people are gonna be here
buying them underwear pretty soon,
and we've gotta get Ma out of here
as soon as possible.
J.J., she's gonna catch on. You just know she is.
Oh, no, she ain't, Michael.
We tell her that we ate already,
Thelma cooked the meal, and it was great!
But then she'll know we're lying.
J.J., you think Willona spread the word
about the underwear?
Are you kidding?
Willona, the Galloping Gossip of the Ghetto?
If her mouth were any bigger,
you could hold a garage sale in there.
Well, I don't know
what's taking Ma so long this morning.
I don't think this thing is gonna work.
Relax, Michael.
She's in there getting dressed for church.
Hey, that's great.
Going to church always puts her in a good mood. Yeah.
MICHAEL: Yeah.
Well, hello there, mother dear.
Don't you look lovely this morning.
I swear, you never stop getting younger.
J.J., if you don't shut up,
I swear you're gonna stop getting older.
Now, what do you kids want for breakfast?
On, nothing, Ma.
We already ate.
Thelma cooked the meal, and it was delicious.
Wasn't it?
Oh, yeah, Ma, it was delicious.
We had oatmeal.
Sorry you missed it, Ma.
Yeah, well, I guess you overslept, Ma.
Well, just time
for a quick, little cup of coffee,
and then it's off to church.
Oh, J.J., I've got plenty of time.
Oh, no, you don't, Mama.
[LAUGHS]
You see, the rev called,
and he said he'd like to have you at church
a little early this morning.
Yeah, Ma, and he had a good reason too.
Yeah? What was it?
Uh, what was the reason?
Um, I don't know.
Thelma took the message! Thelma.
Uh, you know... You know, Ma,
just as the reverend was about to give me the reason,
J.J. snatched the phone out of my hand.
J.J.?
[MUMBLES INCOHERENTLY]
What happened there, you see, was, uh...
Wanda got a little sick this morning,
and the rev needs an extra person in the choir.
And he asked me?
Why not, Ma?
Maybe he's never heard you sing.
Michael, get Ma's coat, will you, please?
And, Thelma, get her bag.
Okay.
Wait a minute, J.J.,
something smells fishy.
[SNIFFS]
Mm, I told you, Thelma cooked the breakfast!
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
Get the phone.
I'll get it.
I'll get it, children.
Hello?
I don't know what this world is coming to.
Who was that, Ma?
Some pervert.
He asked me if he could come around here
and see my underwear.
Well, Ma, it's time to go.
J.J., stop shoving me!
Is everything all right?
Oh, Ma, everything's okay.
Now, we'll see you later.
Go ahead.
You're darn right you will.
So clean that kitchen,
straighten up your room, and dust in here.
Say hello to the deacon for me, will you?
Well, let's get out the underwear.
Oh, hold it. You know Ma.
Now, you know her.
ALL: I said, smoke!
Now?
Now. Come on.
Come on. Let's go.
WILLONA: I saw your mama go.
Now, bring on the customers.
Don't worry, Willona.
They'll be here shortly.
You know, the smart buyer
doesn't rush out first thing.
Forget the smart buyer.
What we need is a weird buyer.
Uh, Michael, you see, these are seconds.
They have some slight imperfections.
Hey, slight imperfections?
This looks like it belongs to the circus.
Child, if David had this,
he could knock off Goliath and two of his brothers.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Well, this could be opportunity knocking.
Display the goods.
Okay.
All right, we got them.
Y'all open yet?
Just waiting for you, young lady,
just waiting for you.
Something in a frilly lace for yourself?
Oh, no, I want some simple underpants
for my granddaughter.
Oh, well,
then you want to speak to our Mr. Michael.
Mr. Miguel.
Mr. Miguel?
He's in charge of our jolly junior department,
and, don't forget,
we only have a one-price policy.
Everything only 50 cents,
so just go ahead and browse.
Make yourself right at home.
Hold on, J.J.
Ain't no way you'll get me to sell no girls' underwear.
Michael, don't think of it as girl's underwear.
Think of it as Ma's vacation.
Head on over there, brother.
Easy, now.
MICHAEL: Yes, miss, may I help you?
Oh, these are lovely.
Oh, they're lovely.
Do you have a training bra?
A training bra? I quit!
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Welcome, one and all, to Underwear City.
Be it winter, spring, summer, or autumn,
we can cover your top and warm your bottom!
[TALKING AT ONCE]
J.J.: Come right on in.
Just browse.
Everything's only 50 cents.
Fifty cents?
Now, how can you sell it so cheap?
Girl, all this stuff's got to be hot.
That's right.
It's not hot, ladies.
I just brought it at a bargain.
Sure, we know it ain't hot.
Yes, sir, what can I do for you?
I'm looking for something for my wife.
Oh, yeah? What size is she?
Have you tried a leash?
Thelma, bring over our large, extra-large,
and el gruesos.
Say, mister, do you have a training bra?
Training bra, let me take a look in here.
I don't see anything with wheels on it.
WILLONA: Welcome, one and all,
to Underwear City.
Fifty cents an item, 50 cents, that's all.
It's all hot.
Willona, there are some weird folks
running around in here.
Honey, tell me.
A chick wanted to buy six pair of undershorts
for her husband, in six different sizes.
Here, miss.
Do you have a training bra?
If you could train this, it's yours.
Oh, thank you, honey.
This is just right for my cousin Louella.
Oh, well, I understand we're selling underwear here.
Yeah, Bookman,
and you should feel right at home...
because we've got every size
from rhino rump to buffalo butt.
Speaking of home,
your next one's gonna be in the park.
What are you talking about?
I'm talking about you,
violating Article five, Section three of your lease.
I mean, using this apartment for commercial purposes.
Come on, Bookman, give us a break.
We're trying to raise some money so our ma can go on a vacation.
These sure are smart.
Hey, look here, Bookman.
How many pair of underwear do you want?
You know, after all,
you're one of my favorite families.
All right, Bookman, how many pair?
Well, I figure six ought to do it.
Why not make it an even dozen?
Well, okay, then, 13.
Thirteen, huh?
A typical Booger's dozen.
The name is Bookman.
B-O-O-K-M-A-N.
Hey, give the man 100 for spelling!
And 100 for splitting.
Get out of here, fat boy.
J.J., that Booger ripped us off again.
Oh, no, he didn't.
Those were seconds.
What was wrong with them?
No flies.
We got him good.
Well, I'm going to run.
Oh, Flo.
What are you doing back here?
I thought you went to church.
Well, I changed my mind.
You know, I started to feel guilty
about how rough I was on the kids,
so I thought I'd spend the day with them.
Oh, but that's... That's nice.
That's nice.
You know, but they'd be much happier
if you went back to church, Flo.
Show me a black man wearing red underwear,
and I'll show you
a black woman sleeping by herself.
Willona.
Huh?
They came out of my apartment!
Oh, don't be ridiculous.
How could they come out of your apartment?
Ridiculous.
Hurry up, Edna,
they'll be all out of my size.
Now, just a cotton-picking...
Flo, wait, wait a minute,
will you, please?
Will you wait a minute?
What's going on?
Who are these people?
J.J., what is all this underwear doing around here?
What underwear?
Don't you "what underwear?" me!
Hey, lady, don't shout.
Just help yourself
to some of this hot underwear here.
Hot underwear?
All right.
Everybody out!
Out. Out!
Let go.
Hold it.
Not you three.
J.J., Michael, Thelma, get over here.
Now, I want some answers,
and they better be good ones!
Well, for one thing, Ma,
this stuff is not stolen.
Yeah, we brought it from a warehouse.
How dare you lie to me!
This is the worst thing you've ever done.
But, Ma, we're not lying... Shut up!
You're in enough trouble right now, mister.
Flo, they had a very good reason.
What kind of a reason could they have
for doing a foolish thing like this?
They was trying to get enough to send you to Lake Geneva...
I don't care where they were trying
to send... Say what?
They wanted to surprise you.
They were gonna send me to Lake...
Lake Geneva? Yeah.
Unfortunately, we couldn't raise enough money.
You all were gonna send me to Lake Geneva?
Yeah, Ma,
we figured you needed the vacation.
Yeah, either you or us.
If that isn't just about the nicest thing
you've ever done.
Oh, kids, I'm sorry for the way I behaved.
Hey, Ma, we understand.
We're just sorry we didn't make enough money.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Excuse me,
I heard you could get a good deal
on some drawers here.
I'm sorry, bro,
but the business is closed.
Closed?
With all this stuff here?
Oh, well, then,
you want to speak to our Miss Florita.
Hey, sir,
can we show you some of our underwear?
I called you earlier.
♪ 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