Good Times (1974–1979): Season 1, Episode 9 - The Visitor - full transcript
Michael writes a letter to the paper complaining about the conditions in their building. However, Florida and James aren't too happy due to the fact that it might get them kicked out of their apartment. To make matters worse, a representative from the housing authority is sent over to discuss the matter and things get really interesting when the man's cab driver runs off to avoid being caught in the middle of a rumble. Now he gets a first hand view of life in the ghetto by having dinner with the Evans family.
ANNOUNCER: From
Television City in Hollywood:
♪ Good Times ♪
♪ Any time you meet a payment ♪
♪ Good Times ♪
♪ Any time you meet a friend ♪
♪ Good Times ♪
♪ Any time 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 in a chow line ♪
♪ Good Times ♪
♪ Ain't we lucky we got 'em ♪
♪ Good Times ♪♪
Will you hold still, girl?
How can I paint you when
you're moving like that?
What you doing, anyway?
Dancing to the music.
What music?
The music in my head.
I guess there is room
for a hi-fi up there.
Are you calling me stupid?
If you answer to any
other name, it'd be an alias.
Well, I don't dig
this modeling jive.
I'm quitting it.
Then I gather, little sister,
you are no longer interested
in these tickets to the
Marvin Gaye concert,
which I will only relinquish
upon the completion
of this portrait.
You're a cold dude, JJ.
You got what I want, so
you hassling me, right?
That's right.
Right now it's me and the
Arabs running the world.
Now get back to posing.
Waste of time posing
for an amateur like...
Hey!
Are you crazy, JJ?
You got me 7 feet tall!
I look like Wilt Chamberlain!
You're looking at a
James Evans original.
I paint part impressionistic.
You made me ugly.
That part is right on.
Well, I think it's junk.
It's a fine painting!
Fine painting my foot, JJ!
Hey, kids... kids...
(gasping) Y'all
know the elevator...
the elevator...
I just walked up
17 flights of stairs.
[BICKERING]
Mama, what's the matter?
I never have any trouble
landing in the right apartment.
I just pick up kids screaming
and come in on automatic pilot.
The elevator is broke.
I just walked up
17 flights of stairs.
Here, take this.
That's terrible, Mama.
Man, they tried to put
up an "Out of Order" sign
but every time they
tried to nail it up,
they knocked down a wall.
Ma, what I'm gonna do
with the milk and the eggs?
What you always do with
milk and eggs, Thelma.
Put 'em in the refrigerator.
I thought you knew, Ma.
The refrigerator
broke down again.
Oh, no. Now all my
food is gonna spoil.
No, it won't, Mama.
The heat went
off a half-hour ago.
This is the worst run
building in this whole project!
Nothing is ever fixed!
Damn!
Ma! Ma!
Forgive me, Lord,
but under the circumstances,
that is the politest
word that comes to mind.
Well, I'm gonna call
this project manager
and shake him up a bit.
It won't do any good, Ma.
All you're gonna get is one
of those recordings saying,
"Leave your message
after the sound of the beep."
She's right. It just beeped.
Oh, yeah? Well
dig this, Mr. Beep,
either you get this
project into A-1 condition,
or I shall see to it personally
that you are out of a
job, and I mean rapido.
This message is signed
Mayor Daley or Muhammad Ali,
whichever scares you the most.
Give me that phone!
Florida, guess what.
The elevator ain't working.
I just walked all the way
from the laundry room.
You went down to that
laundry room by yourself?
You're taking a chance.
You could have
been attacked by...
I doubt it.
There ain't nothing in this
building that's operating.
You know, there are
eight machines down there,
and I finally found the
one that was working.
You wanna see
how it was working?
Look at it.
10 percent acrylon,
90 percent confetti.
Oh, I know the machine you got.
It's the one with
that special cycle...
Wash and tear.
Aunt Willona, that's terrible.
You better believe me,
them dudes gonna
pay me for my sweater.
You should make them pay for it.
The elevator ain't working.
I had to walk up 17 flights.
(everyone talking at once)
Guess what.
The elevator ain't working!
You know something? A man's
home is supposed to be his castle.
But in this one, the
drawbridge is always stuck.
Well, drawbridge
or no drawbridge,
ain't you gonna kiss me hello?
Baby, I'm so mad, I might bite.
I'll accept anything.
Boy, you work hard all day
to pay the rent on a
building that's falling down.
You come home
and half the light bulbs
in the hallway ain't working.
The elevator ain't working.
Hey, it's cold in here!
Don't tell me the
heat ain't working.
It decided to keep the
refrigerator company.
Well, I'm gonna
get out of all this.
I opened a fortune cookie
last night and listen to this!
"You are about to meet a
tall, dark handsome man
"who will take you away
from your present rundown pad
"to a fancy apartment
overlooking Lakeshore Drive
"with heat, hot water,
"and an elevator
that runs all the time."
Willona, what
does it really say?
"Chicago Noodle Company."
Well, I'm gonna make
some hot tea for everybody.
WILLONA: Oh, that sounds good.
Thank heavens
the stove still works.
Yeah, hallelujah!
Take back your hallelujah.
The water ain't running.
You've gotta be kidding.
The elevator ain't
working, no heat,
no nothing, no water.
I had better conditions
than this in Korea.
Boy, pretty soon we're gonna
have to go to the bathroom
at the gas station.
We only gonna be able to
go on odd-numbered days.
You know, James, I really think
we ought to make
a noise about this.
Baby, that ain't
gonna do no good.
You know we've been to that
manager over a hundred times.
Maybe Michael's
got the answer, Dad.
He's been sending
letters to the newspaper
making complaints
about this place.
The Militant
Midget strikes again.
Can you believe that a newspaper
would print a letter
from an 11-year-old kid?
Besides, where'd he get
the money for the stamps?
He don't need no
money for no stamps.
The last six letters,
I painted them on.
JJ!
Well, I'm gonna get
on back to my place
and look at my
favorite daytime serial.
It's even sadder
than this building.
Willona, what could be
sadder than this building?
The 4:00 news.
Well, JJ, I'm gonna need
some water for dinner...
I know.
So I want you to go...
Go downstairs 17
floors, get some water.
Here goes Jack without Jill.
Baby, it's down to 55.
Feels like 40.
I sure am glad I got
me an ample woman
to sleep with tonight.
Speaking of ample,
I bet you sorry
you didn't marry
Emmaline Watson.
Emmaline Watson.
How you remember
Emmaline Watson?
How can you forget
Emmaline Watson?
She weighed 300 pounds.
Daddy, you used
to go out with a lady
that weighed 300 pounds?
Yeah, but I only went
out with her one time.
See, I was courting your mother,
and so I had this
friend of mine fix me up
with a heavy date
to make her jealous.
Lord knows I
didn't know the date
was gonna be that heavy.
Hey, Ma, were you jealous?
Well, I was before I saw him
dancing with Emmaline Watson.
He was showing off, you know,
being real cute.
So when they got
by where I was sitting,
he dipped her real deep.
And it looked pretty
good for a while.
Only when your daddy
was done dipping,
Emmaline wasn't.
She couldn't come out of it.
It took your daddy ten minutes
to squirm loose.
JJ, what you doing back so soon?
Somebody mugged my buckets.
That's just too much.
This building's about
to drive me... James!
What the hell is
that? Are you all right?
I'm all right, but
the floor ain't.
It's so cold in here, one of
the tiles has popped loose.
It could be termites.
Mom, Dad, guess what.
ALL: The elevator's working?
No, they printed my letter
in the "Chicago Defender"!
Is that the one I painted the
Eisenhower stamps on? Uh-huh.
Couldn't be too bright
at the post office.
I painted him black.
You putting us on, boy?
Daddy, "boy" is a
white racist word.
Michael, you mean
they actually printed
something you wrote?
They sure did.
[EVERYONE SPEAKS AT ONCE]
FLORIDA: Come on,
Michael, I want to hear it.
Listen to this. "Dear Sirs.
"It's time people knew
about the terrible conditions
"in the projects area.
"They are becoming a slum.
"Complaints are ignored,
"and it's a disgrace
to our fair city
"and the entire United States.
"Signed Michael Evans, Esquire."
Well?
You better get your
esquire off that chair.
Daddy, you've been trying
to complain about
this for months.
Mama, we supposed to
fight for our rights, ain't we?
Well, we're all
for that, Michael,
but we also got to remember
that we were on a
waiting list for two years
to get into this project.
And it's a whole lot better
than that cold water flat
we used to live in with the
bathroom in the hallway.
Did we live in one of those?
Yes, we did, son.
I don't remember
being cold, Mama.
You weren't. You
were warm in my belly.
I'm glad you waited
to have me last, Mama.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
Well, at least the
phone is still working.
Hello.
Yeah, this is Mr. Evans.
The housing authority?
Look, about that letter
in the newspaper...
Uh-huh.
We'll be here, but I think
I ought to tell you that...
Uh-huh... uh-huh.
Yeah, okay.
Well, that was the man
from the housing authority.
They read about your
little letter in the newspaper,
and they want to talk to us.
They gonna be here at 5:00.
See, Daddy? We're
getting some action.
Yeah, I ought to
give you some action.
Well, thanks a lot, Michael.
In about two hours,
if we want water
we won't have to send
JJ down into the street.
We'll be living down there!
I ought to light your
behind up right now.
Baby, it's down to 45 now.
My teeth are chattering so much,
it sounds like a crap game.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
That's got to be the man.
Look, y'all let me
deal with this here.
Daddy, I think you
should show some unity.
Michael, if you don't
be quiet, I'm gonna unify
your behind with my belt. Amen!
Guess what.
ALL: The elevator ain't working.
Oh, you know already.
Maybe you better sit down.
You don't look so good, man.
17 flights.
Do you know somebody's
mugging somebody
on the 14th floor?
You're lucky the mugger
was busy with somebody else.
Otherwise, you'd
have been the muggee.
I'm sorry.
In all the excitement, I
didn't introduce myself.
I don't live here.
Oh, I would have
never known that.
I'm William Stonehurst
from the housing authority.
Now I know I'm late,
but I had a terrible
time getting a taxi here.
Every time I told them
where I was going,
they turned on
the "Off Duty" sign
and slammed the door in my face.
I finally got one.
He's waiting for me
downstairs, so I'll be brief.
Mr. Evans, that letter you wrote
caused some commotion
down at the office.
When a letter like
that is made public,
it can cause a lot of trouble.
You shouldn't have
written it, Mr. Evans.
I didn't. You're
not Michael Evans?
No, the Mr. Evans
you want is my son.
I'm Michael Evans, Esquire,
and I just want to say...
Michael!
What my son wrote is true.
There is an awful lot
wrong with this building,
but we didn't expect
our complaints
to be printed up
in the newspaper.
Good, then it was a mistake.
You just see to it
that the boy learns to...
"Boy" is a white racist...
Just see to it
that the little fellow
learns to be a little more
discreet in the future.
Remember, all we're trying
to do is satisfy the tenants,
be economical and keep
these buildings in the black.
Ah... eh... ah...
well, good-bye.
Extra! Extra! Hear all about it!
What happened?
The War Lords and the Dukes
are having a rumble again,
and... whoo.
Sorry, I didn't know
you had company.
This is Mr. Stonehurst.
From the housing authority.
The War Lords and the Dukes?
Does that mean there's
a gang fight going on?
They ain't having a block party.
I better get down to my cab.
Oh, was that your cab?
What do you mean "was"?
It just took off at
60 miles an hour
on three wheels.
Goodness, Mrs.
Evans, what do you do
when there's a gang fight?
Well, we count our children,
thank the Lord that
they're not in it and sit it out.
And this rumble's
gonna be a longie.
Some cats done set
up a food concession.
When you say "long,"
how long?
We've seen 'em go till 2:00,
maybe 3:00 in the morning.
Yeah, this one could
last longer than that.
The War Lords and the Dukes
are fighting for the championship
and a chance to work their way
up in the Super Bowl Rumble.
Goodness, I guess that
means I'll have to stay here.
Look at the bright
side, Mr. Stonehurst.
If the rumble lasts long enough,
Bob Hope will come
into the neighborhood
and entertain the troops! Ha-ha!
I'll keep you all posted.
Oh, oh!
Something hurting
you, Mr. Stonehurst?
I suffer from
migraine headaches.
They're brought on by tension.
Well, you came to the right
neighborhood for tension.
Thelma, get Mr. Stonehurst
two aspirins, please.
Okay, Ma.
Would you mind if I
telephoned my wife?
She's expecting
me home for dinner.
Oh, no, use the phone.
It's right over there.
Oh, thank you.
You're perfectly
welcome to stay for dinner.
It's not top sirloin.
We're just having corn bread,
fatback and turnip greens.
Oh, soul food!
Sounds delightful.
You'll find our diet
has too much starch
and not enough
vitamins and proteins.
Will you get off the soap box,
and go and set the table?
And put an extra chair
up there for Mr. Stonehurst.
Hello, Emily?
Emily, this is William.
Look, I had to stop
by one of the projects,
and I can't get away right away.
Well, it's going to be fine.
I'm having dinner
with this family.
We're having fat
greens and turnip backs.
No, no, no, no, no. There's
nothing to worry about, dear.
It's perfectly all
right. It's safe.
Good-bye.
Here's the aspirins,
Mr. Stonehurst.
Oh, thank you. May
I have some water?
We don't have any.
No water?
Oh, we have water,
but it just ain't making a
personal appearance today.
Say, how about washing them
down with a little muscatel?
Muscatel?
Yeah, that's the
champagne of the people.
It don't sparkle,
it don't bubble,
it just kind of lays there.
Mr. Stonehurst, let
me make a wild guess.
You've never been around
many black families, have you?
Well... oddly
enough, you're right.
But we do have
a colored... Ne...
black maid.
Oh, isn't that nice.
Come on, Thelma, help me
put the dinner on the table.
Here we go, Mr. Stonehurst.
This ought to wash
those aspirins down.
Oh, thank you.
Mmm...
I'm sure three out of four
physicians don't recommend this,
but it's a very pleasant
way to swallow aspirin.
Yeah, sometimes you
don't even need the aspirin.
Want some more, huh?
Oh, don't mind if I do.
Well, since this is wine,
I suppose we should
propose a toast.
Well, I ain't no expert
in making toasts.
I know a very clever one I
use down at my club. Yeah?
Under the teeth
and over the gums.
Look out, stomach,
here she comes.
Well, imagine that.
That's the same I
use down at my club.
Well, you can't keep a
great line from getting around.
We can sit down
now. Come on, JJ.
I'd leave my coat
on if I were you.
It's cold in here.
Well, I've been
meaning to ask you.
Why haven't you
turned up the heat?
Cause there ain't
no heat, Stoney.
I'm sorry. Well, don't be.
We know you ain't
personally responsible.
Gee, it all looks so good,
especially the green
backs and corn fat.
Nice try, Mr. Stonehurst.
Come on, sit down.
I'm not really as much
at ease as I appear.
I guess we should
be thankful it's cold.
With the refrigerator
not working,
it keeps the food from spoiling.
Your refrigerator
is out of order too?
Isn't anything
working in this house?
Just my husband...
at two different jobs
to afford all the things
around here that don't work.
I hate to bring you people down,
but it's awfully depressing
to hear things like that.
Forget about it right
now, Mr. Stonehurst.
Michael, baby, say the blessing.
JJ!
Thank you, Lord, for the
food we are about to receive.
And I hope what
Mama cooked for five
will go into six.
Amen!
Michael!
There's nothing to
reprimand him for, Mrs. Evans.
Your son has every
right to be angry.
It is disgraceful that
a nice family like yours
has to be subject
to such conditions.
I guess we get so
bogged down in paperwork,
we get out of touch with people.
Look, we know the
projects is a big operation.
You ain't got time to get
around to everybody personally.
No, Mr. Evans, I'm not going
to accept that as an excuse.
Not for me nor
for my colleagues.
No, something's got to
be done about all this,
and I'm going to do it.
Oh, Mr. Stonehurst, I've
heard that song before.
We've been down
to see that manager
over a hundred times.
No, no, you don't understand.
I'm from the district office.
I'm one of the top
men down there.
I can get things done.
[EVERYONE TALKS AT ONCE]
Well, I'm starved! Let's dig in.
Extra, extra! The
latest bulletin...
The rumble is off. Bye.
Well, I want to thank
you all very much
for your hospitality.
Ain't you gonna stay
and have dinner with us?
Well, I'd love to really,
but I should get on home.
Well, what about the building?
I mean the refrigerator
and the heat...
Well, unfortunately
this is Friday night.
But mark my words.
I'm going to be there bright
and early Monday morning
and really get things moving!
Well, did you hear that, kids?
That's wonderful! All right!
I like the way
you're talking now.
You have my word.
Everything that's wrong
in this building is
going to be fixed!
That's the best news
we've had in weeks.
JJ: You all right, Stoney baby!
How long do you
think it'll take?
I guarantee I'll have this place
in perfect shape just like that!
Dy-no-mite!
Now that's the kind
of talk I like to hear.
But, Mr. Stonehurst, you didn't
tell us how long it would take.
13, 14 months tops. Good-bye.
Well, pass the corn bread.
And don't forget the
green backs and turnip fat!
Guess we gonna have
to wait till JJ gets back
with the water before we
wash the dishes, Thelma.
Okay, Mama.
Oh, mercy, the water is on!
Hey, James! James!
The water's running!
Oh, that's great, baby.
With the heat still off, I can
take a bath in my overcoat.
Oh, James!
Baby, come back here
and keep me warm.
You know, I could always trade
you in on Emmaline Watson.
Just you try it!
♪♪♪
♪ Mmm ♪
♪ Just looking out
of the window ♪
♪ Watching the asphalt grow ♪
♪ Thinking how it all
looks hand-me-down ♪
♪ Good Times, Good Times ♪
♪ Keeping your
head above water ♪
♪ Making a wave when you can ♪
♪ Temporary layoffs ♪
♪ Good Times ♪
NARRATOR: "Good Times" is
recorded on tape before a live audience.
♪ Ain't we lucky we got 'em ♪
♪ Good Times ♪♪
Television City in Hollywood:
♪ Good Times ♪
♪ Any time you meet a payment ♪
♪ Good Times ♪
♪ Any time you meet a friend ♪
♪ Good Times ♪
♪ Any time 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 in a chow line ♪
♪ Good Times ♪
♪ Ain't we lucky we got 'em ♪
♪ Good Times ♪♪
Will you hold still, girl?
How can I paint you when
you're moving like that?
What you doing, anyway?
Dancing to the music.
What music?
The music in my head.
I guess there is room
for a hi-fi up there.
Are you calling me stupid?
If you answer to any
other name, it'd be an alias.
Well, I don't dig
this modeling jive.
I'm quitting it.
Then I gather, little sister,
you are no longer interested
in these tickets to the
Marvin Gaye concert,
which I will only relinquish
upon the completion
of this portrait.
You're a cold dude, JJ.
You got what I want, so
you hassling me, right?
That's right.
Right now it's me and the
Arabs running the world.
Now get back to posing.
Waste of time posing
for an amateur like...
Hey!
Are you crazy, JJ?
You got me 7 feet tall!
I look like Wilt Chamberlain!
You're looking at a
James Evans original.
I paint part impressionistic.
You made me ugly.
That part is right on.
Well, I think it's junk.
It's a fine painting!
Fine painting my foot, JJ!
Hey, kids... kids...
(gasping) Y'all
know the elevator...
the elevator...
I just walked up
17 flights of stairs.
[BICKERING]
Mama, what's the matter?
I never have any trouble
landing in the right apartment.
I just pick up kids screaming
and come in on automatic pilot.
The elevator is broke.
I just walked up
17 flights of stairs.
Here, take this.
That's terrible, Mama.
Man, they tried to put
up an "Out of Order" sign
but every time they
tried to nail it up,
they knocked down a wall.
Ma, what I'm gonna do
with the milk and the eggs?
What you always do with
milk and eggs, Thelma.
Put 'em in the refrigerator.
I thought you knew, Ma.
The refrigerator
broke down again.
Oh, no. Now all my
food is gonna spoil.
No, it won't, Mama.
The heat went
off a half-hour ago.
This is the worst run
building in this whole project!
Nothing is ever fixed!
Damn!
Ma! Ma!
Forgive me, Lord,
but under the circumstances,
that is the politest
word that comes to mind.
Well, I'm gonna call
this project manager
and shake him up a bit.
It won't do any good, Ma.
All you're gonna get is one
of those recordings saying,
"Leave your message
after the sound of the beep."
She's right. It just beeped.
Oh, yeah? Well
dig this, Mr. Beep,
either you get this
project into A-1 condition,
or I shall see to it personally
that you are out of a
job, and I mean rapido.
This message is signed
Mayor Daley or Muhammad Ali,
whichever scares you the most.
Give me that phone!
Florida, guess what.
The elevator ain't working.
I just walked all the way
from the laundry room.
You went down to that
laundry room by yourself?
You're taking a chance.
You could have
been attacked by...
I doubt it.
There ain't nothing in this
building that's operating.
You know, there are
eight machines down there,
and I finally found the
one that was working.
You wanna see
how it was working?
Look at it.
10 percent acrylon,
90 percent confetti.
Oh, I know the machine you got.
It's the one with
that special cycle...
Wash and tear.
Aunt Willona, that's terrible.
You better believe me,
them dudes gonna
pay me for my sweater.
You should make them pay for it.
The elevator ain't working.
I had to walk up 17 flights.
(everyone talking at once)
Guess what.
The elevator ain't working!
You know something? A man's
home is supposed to be his castle.
But in this one, the
drawbridge is always stuck.
Well, drawbridge
or no drawbridge,
ain't you gonna kiss me hello?
Baby, I'm so mad, I might bite.
I'll accept anything.
Boy, you work hard all day
to pay the rent on a
building that's falling down.
You come home
and half the light bulbs
in the hallway ain't working.
The elevator ain't working.
Hey, it's cold in here!
Don't tell me the
heat ain't working.
It decided to keep the
refrigerator company.
Well, I'm gonna
get out of all this.
I opened a fortune cookie
last night and listen to this!
"You are about to meet a
tall, dark handsome man
"who will take you away
from your present rundown pad
"to a fancy apartment
overlooking Lakeshore Drive
"with heat, hot water,
"and an elevator
that runs all the time."
Willona, what
does it really say?
"Chicago Noodle Company."
Well, I'm gonna make
some hot tea for everybody.
WILLONA: Oh, that sounds good.
Thank heavens
the stove still works.
Yeah, hallelujah!
Take back your hallelujah.
The water ain't running.
You've gotta be kidding.
The elevator ain't
working, no heat,
no nothing, no water.
I had better conditions
than this in Korea.
Boy, pretty soon we're gonna
have to go to the bathroom
at the gas station.
We only gonna be able to
go on odd-numbered days.
You know, James, I really think
we ought to make
a noise about this.
Baby, that ain't
gonna do no good.
You know we've been to that
manager over a hundred times.
Maybe Michael's
got the answer, Dad.
He's been sending
letters to the newspaper
making complaints
about this place.
The Militant
Midget strikes again.
Can you believe that a newspaper
would print a letter
from an 11-year-old kid?
Besides, where'd he get
the money for the stamps?
He don't need no
money for no stamps.
The last six letters,
I painted them on.
JJ!
Well, I'm gonna get
on back to my place
and look at my
favorite daytime serial.
It's even sadder
than this building.
Willona, what could be
sadder than this building?
The 4:00 news.
Well, JJ, I'm gonna need
some water for dinner...
I know.
So I want you to go...
Go downstairs 17
floors, get some water.
Here goes Jack without Jill.
Baby, it's down to 55.
Feels like 40.
I sure am glad I got
me an ample woman
to sleep with tonight.
Speaking of ample,
I bet you sorry
you didn't marry
Emmaline Watson.
Emmaline Watson.
How you remember
Emmaline Watson?
How can you forget
Emmaline Watson?
She weighed 300 pounds.
Daddy, you used
to go out with a lady
that weighed 300 pounds?
Yeah, but I only went
out with her one time.
See, I was courting your mother,
and so I had this
friend of mine fix me up
with a heavy date
to make her jealous.
Lord knows I
didn't know the date
was gonna be that heavy.
Hey, Ma, were you jealous?
Well, I was before I saw him
dancing with Emmaline Watson.
He was showing off, you know,
being real cute.
So when they got
by where I was sitting,
he dipped her real deep.
And it looked pretty
good for a while.
Only when your daddy
was done dipping,
Emmaline wasn't.
She couldn't come out of it.
It took your daddy ten minutes
to squirm loose.
JJ, what you doing back so soon?
Somebody mugged my buckets.
That's just too much.
This building's about
to drive me... James!
What the hell is
that? Are you all right?
I'm all right, but
the floor ain't.
It's so cold in here, one of
the tiles has popped loose.
It could be termites.
Mom, Dad, guess what.
ALL: The elevator's working?
No, they printed my letter
in the "Chicago Defender"!
Is that the one I painted the
Eisenhower stamps on? Uh-huh.
Couldn't be too bright
at the post office.
I painted him black.
You putting us on, boy?
Daddy, "boy" is a
white racist word.
Michael, you mean
they actually printed
something you wrote?
They sure did.
[EVERYONE SPEAKS AT ONCE]
FLORIDA: Come on,
Michael, I want to hear it.
Listen to this. "Dear Sirs.
"It's time people knew
about the terrible conditions
"in the projects area.
"They are becoming a slum.
"Complaints are ignored,
"and it's a disgrace
to our fair city
"and the entire United States.
"Signed Michael Evans, Esquire."
Well?
You better get your
esquire off that chair.
Daddy, you've been trying
to complain about
this for months.
Mama, we supposed to
fight for our rights, ain't we?
Well, we're all
for that, Michael,
but we also got to remember
that we were on a
waiting list for two years
to get into this project.
And it's a whole lot better
than that cold water flat
we used to live in with the
bathroom in the hallway.
Did we live in one of those?
Yes, we did, son.
I don't remember
being cold, Mama.
You weren't. You
were warm in my belly.
I'm glad you waited
to have me last, Mama.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
Well, at least the
phone is still working.
Hello.
Yeah, this is Mr. Evans.
The housing authority?
Look, about that letter
in the newspaper...
Uh-huh.
We'll be here, but I think
I ought to tell you that...
Uh-huh... uh-huh.
Yeah, okay.
Well, that was the man
from the housing authority.
They read about your
little letter in the newspaper,
and they want to talk to us.
They gonna be here at 5:00.
See, Daddy? We're
getting some action.
Yeah, I ought to
give you some action.
Well, thanks a lot, Michael.
In about two hours,
if we want water
we won't have to send
JJ down into the street.
We'll be living down there!
I ought to light your
behind up right now.
Baby, it's down to 45 now.
My teeth are chattering so much,
it sounds like a crap game.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
That's got to be the man.
Look, y'all let me
deal with this here.
Daddy, I think you
should show some unity.
Michael, if you don't
be quiet, I'm gonna unify
your behind with my belt. Amen!
Guess what.
ALL: The elevator ain't working.
Oh, you know already.
Maybe you better sit down.
You don't look so good, man.
17 flights.
Do you know somebody's
mugging somebody
on the 14th floor?
You're lucky the mugger
was busy with somebody else.
Otherwise, you'd
have been the muggee.
I'm sorry.
In all the excitement, I
didn't introduce myself.
I don't live here.
Oh, I would have
never known that.
I'm William Stonehurst
from the housing authority.
Now I know I'm late,
but I had a terrible
time getting a taxi here.
Every time I told them
where I was going,
they turned on
the "Off Duty" sign
and slammed the door in my face.
I finally got one.
He's waiting for me
downstairs, so I'll be brief.
Mr. Evans, that letter you wrote
caused some commotion
down at the office.
When a letter like
that is made public,
it can cause a lot of trouble.
You shouldn't have
written it, Mr. Evans.
I didn't. You're
not Michael Evans?
No, the Mr. Evans
you want is my son.
I'm Michael Evans, Esquire,
and I just want to say...
Michael!
What my son wrote is true.
There is an awful lot
wrong with this building,
but we didn't expect
our complaints
to be printed up
in the newspaper.
Good, then it was a mistake.
You just see to it
that the boy learns to...
"Boy" is a white racist...
Just see to it
that the little fellow
learns to be a little more
discreet in the future.
Remember, all we're trying
to do is satisfy the tenants,
be economical and keep
these buildings in the black.
Ah... eh... ah...
well, good-bye.
Extra! Extra! Hear all about it!
What happened?
The War Lords and the Dukes
are having a rumble again,
and... whoo.
Sorry, I didn't know
you had company.
This is Mr. Stonehurst.
From the housing authority.
The War Lords and the Dukes?
Does that mean there's
a gang fight going on?
They ain't having a block party.
I better get down to my cab.
Oh, was that your cab?
What do you mean "was"?
It just took off at
60 miles an hour
on three wheels.
Goodness, Mrs.
Evans, what do you do
when there's a gang fight?
Well, we count our children,
thank the Lord that
they're not in it and sit it out.
And this rumble's
gonna be a longie.
Some cats done set
up a food concession.
When you say "long,"
how long?
We've seen 'em go till 2:00,
maybe 3:00 in the morning.
Yeah, this one could
last longer than that.
The War Lords and the Dukes
are fighting for the championship
and a chance to work their way
up in the Super Bowl Rumble.
Goodness, I guess that
means I'll have to stay here.
Look at the bright
side, Mr. Stonehurst.
If the rumble lasts long enough,
Bob Hope will come
into the neighborhood
and entertain the troops! Ha-ha!
I'll keep you all posted.
Oh, oh!
Something hurting
you, Mr. Stonehurst?
I suffer from
migraine headaches.
They're brought on by tension.
Well, you came to the right
neighborhood for tension.
Thelma, get Mr. Stonehurst
two aspirins, please.
Okay, Ma.
Would you mind if I
telephoned my wife?
She's expecting
me home for dinner.
Oh, no, use the phone.
It's right over there.
Oh, thank you.
You're perfectly
welcome to stay for dinner.
It's not top sirloin.
We're just having corn bread,
fatback and turnip greens.
Oh, soul food!
Sounds delightful.
You'll find our diet
has too much starch
and not enough
vitamins and proteins.
Will you get off the soap box,
and go and set the table?
And put an extra chair
up there for Mr. Stonehurst.
Hello, Emily?
Emily, this is William.
Look, I had to stop
by one of the projects,
and I can't get away right away.
Well, it's going to be fine.
I'm having dinner
with this family.
We're having fat
greens and turnip backs.
No, no, no, no, no. There's
nothing to worry about, dear.
It's perfectly all
right. It's safe.
Good-bye.
Here's the aspirins,
Mr. Stonehurst.
Oh, thank you. May
I have some water?
We don't have any.
No water?
Oh, we have water,
but it just ain't making a
personal appearance today.
Say, how about washing them
down with a little muscatel?
Muscatel?
Yeah, that's the
champagne of the people.
It don't sparkle,
it don't bubble,
it just kind of lays there.
Mr. Stonehurst, let
me make a wild guess.
You've never been around
many black families, have you?
Well... oddly
enough, you're right.
But we do have
a colored... Ne...
black maid.
Oh, isn't that nice.
Come on, Thelma, help me
put the dinner on the table.
Here we go, Mr. Stonehurst.
This ought to wash
those aspirins down.
Oh, thank you.
Mmm...
I'm sure three out of four
physicians don't recommend this,
but it's a very pleasant
way to swallow aspirin.
Yeah, sometimes you
don't even need the aspirin.
Want some more, huh?
Oh, don't mind if I do.
Well, since this is wine,
I suppose we should
propose a toast.
Well, I ain't no expert
in making toasts.
I know a very clever one I
use down at my club. Yeah?
Under the teeth
and over the gums.
Look out, stomach,
here she comes.
Well, imagine that.
That's the same I
use down at my club.
Well, you can't keep a
great line from getting around.
We can sit down
now. Come on, JJ.
I'd leave my coat
on if I were you.
It's cold in here.
Well, I've been
meaning to ask you.
Why haven't you
turned up the heat?
Cause there ain't
no heat, Stoney.
I'm sorry. Well, don't be.
We know you ain't
personally responsible.
Gee, it all looks so good,
especially the green
backs and corn fat.
Nice try, Mr. Stonehurst.
Come on, sit down.
I'm not really as much
at ease as I appear.
I guess we should
be thankful it's cold.
With the refrigerator
not working,
it keeps the food from spoiling.
Your refrigerator
is out of order too?
Isn't anything
working in this house?
Just my husband...
at two different jobs
to afford all the things
around here that don't work.
I hate to bring you people down,
but it's awfully depressing
to hear things like that.
Forget about it right
now, Mr. Stonehurst.
Michael, baby, say the blessing.
JJ!
Thank you, Lord, for the
food we are about to receive.
And I hope what
Mama cooked for five
will go into six.
Amen!
Michael!
There's nothing to
reprimand him for, Mrs. Evans.
Your son has every
right to be angry.
It is disgraceful that
a nice family like yours
has to be subject
to such conditions.
I guess we get so
bogged down in paperwork,
we get out of touch with people.
Look, we know the
projects is a big operation.
You ain't got time to get
around to everybody personally.
No, Mr. Evans, I'm not going
to accept that as an excuse.
Not for me nor
for my colleagues.
No, something's got to
be done about all this,
and I'm going to do it.
Oh, Mr. Stonehurst, I've
heard that song before.
We've been down
to see that manager
over a hundred times.
No, no, you don't understand.
I'm from the district office.
I'm one of the top
men down there.
I can get things done.
[EVERYONE TALKS AT ONCE]
Well, I'm starved! Let's dig in.
Extra, extra! The
latest bulletin...
The rumble is off. Bye.
Well, I want to thank
you all very much
for your hospitality.
Ain't you gonna stay
and have dinner with us?
Well, I'd love to really,
but I should get on home.
Well, what about the building?
I mean the refrigerator
and the heat...
Well, unfortunately
this is Friday night.
But mark my words.
I'm going to be there bright
and early Monday morning
and really get things moving!
Well, did you hear that, kids?
That's wonderful! All right!
I like the way
you're talking now.
You have my word.
Everything that's wrong
in this building is
going to be fixed!
That's the best news
we've had in weeks.
JJ: You all right, Stoney baby!
How long do you
think it'll take?
I guarantee I'll have this place
in perfect shape just like that!
Dy-no-mite!
Now that's the kind
of talk I like to hear.
But, Mr. Stonehurst, you didn't
tell us how long it would take.
13, 14 months tops. Good-bye.
Well, pass the corn bread.
And don't forget the
green backs and turnip fat!
Guess we gonna have
to wait till JJ gets back
with the water before we
wash the dishes, Thelma.
Okay, Mama.
Oh, mercy, the water is on!
Hey, James! James!
The water's running!
Oh, that's great, baby.
With the heat still off, I can
take a bath in my overcoat.
Oh, James!
Baby, come back here
and keep me warm.
You know, I could always trade
you in on Emmaline Watson.
Just you try it!
♪♪♪
♪ Mmm ♪
♪ Just looking out
of the window ♪
♪ Watching the asphalt grow ♪
♪ Thinking how it all
looks hand-me-down ♪
♪ Good Times, Good Times ♪
♪ Keeping your
head above water ♪
♪ Making a wave when you can ♪
♪ Temporary layoffs ♪
♪ Good Times ♪
NARRATOR: "Good Times" is
recorded on tape before a live audience.
♪ Ain't we lucky we got 'em ♪
♪ Good Times ♪♪