Good Times (1974–1979): Season 3, Episode 10 - Willona's Dilemma - full transcript

Willona is interested in a man who is deaf. While they have good times, she is not interested in marrying him. When Willona thinks the man is going to propose to her, she does not know how to turn him down.

♪ Good times Any time
you meet a payment ♪

♪ Good times Any
time you need a friend ♪

♪ Good times Any time
you're out from under ♪

♪ Not gettin' hassled
Not gettin' hustled ♪

♪ Keepin' your
head Above water ♪

♪ Makin' a wave when you can ♪

♪ Temporary layoffs Good times ♪

♪ Easy credit
ripoffs Good times ♪

♪ Scratchin' and
survivin' Good times ♪

♪ Hangin' in a chow
line Good times ♪

♪ Ain't we lucky we got 'em ♪



♪ Good times ♪♪

What's the matter, James,

don't you like your vegetables?

Oh, they're good, Florida,

but this is three days
straight, just vegetables.

I'm tired of eating
what the cow eats.

For once, I'd like
to eat the cow.

I'll have some more, Ma.

You can have a lot.

You know, I just
don't understand

why we have so many
leftovers this week.

I do, because J.J.'s
missed dinner every night.

Yeah, Ma, you're not feeding

the garbage
disposal of the ghetto.



Thelma.

I'm sorry, and besides,

it's no fun insulting
J.J. when he's not here.

Yeah, if J.J. was here,
he probably would say,

"Who you calling garbage
disposal, melonhead?

"Your mouth is as
big as the bathtub

with both faucets
running at the same time!"

Michael.

That's what J.J. would've said.

I never would've thought of it.

James, you know,
I'm worried about J.J.

This schedule he's keeping

just isn't healthy for him.

What you talking about, baby?

Oh, you know, working all day

delivering orders for
the Chicken Shack,

coming home,
changing on the run,

and then rushing off to
that art school every night.

Oh, I kind of wish he
was in regular college.

Oh, baby, Junior's
doing just fine.

He's working hard.
He's studying his art.

You know what makes
me proudest of all?

He's finally becoming a man.

Greetings from
the Chicken Shack!

This ain't no fake
out. This is take out.

We got stacks of
backs, kegs of legs,

blizzards of gizzards...

and the rest is breast!

Our man is home.

All I see is a chicken
sitting on a turkey.

Look here, Thelma...

I've been delivering
greasy fried chicken parts

for the last three weeks,

and I still ain't delivered
nothing half as ugly as you.

Who are you calling
ugly, pheasant face?

Pheasant face?

I don't wanna hear that...

All right, you two,
knock it off now.

Daddy!

Sit down, J.J.
There's plenty left.

And you could use a decent meal.

I don't have time, Ma.

I gotta change for art school.

Oh, Junior, you ain't nothing
but skin and bones now.

You keep skipping meals,

you gonna disappear altogether.

No, Dad, I've been
nibbling all day.

They give you all
the free fried chicken

you can eat.

Only trouble is, every
time I see an egg,

I have a strange
desire to sit on it.

J.J., how come you got home

so late tonight?

Oh, I got into a
little accident, Ma.

A cab hit my delivery
truck from behind.

J.J., are you all right?

Sure, Ma. It was only a tap.

But I got a chance
to see something

very few men get
a chance to see:

Fifty-six orders of fried
chicken flying again.

Oh, listen, I want
you to be careful

driving around, you hear?

Sure, Ma.

J.J., are you sure
you don't have time

to eat dinner?

No, Ma.

Uh, by the way, is it all right

if I bring a friend home with me

from art school tonight?

Of course it is, J.J.

Good, because he wants to see

some more of my paintings.

Michael, come help
me count my tips

while I'm changing.

Sure, J.J.

And if you do a good job,

I'll let you watch
my mustache grow.

Is that what that is?

Man, I thought you was
drinking chocolate milk.

Hey, get out of here!

Hi, y'all.

Willona!

Ooh, girl, that
dress is fantastic!

Oh, you like it, Flo?

It's just a little something
that I... threw on.

Looks like you missed.

All right, Willona,
what's going on?

Oh, girl, I got this heavy date

with this dude tonight,

and this dress is a test.

If his eyes don't
pop, he's dead.

Well, I ain't in the mood
to stick around here

for all this girl talk.

Y'all excuse me,
I'm going in the room

and catch this John
Wayne movie on TV.

How do you know there's
a John Wayne movie on?

There's always a John
Wayne movie on, kid.

Ooh, Willona,
that is a bad dress!

I bet it was expensive, huh?

Oh, yes, it ran me back $80.

What? Mm-hmm.

Sixty dollars for the
dress and... I know!

And $20 to cure the
cold you're gonna get.

Oh, no.

Willona, who are
you going out with?

Oh, well, it's a blind date,

a cousin of one of the girls
that works at the boutique.

She's been trying to get us
together for the longest time.

She said he's real classy, a
great dresser, a good dancer,

and a big spender. Woo-oh!

All the simple
qualities I like in a man.

Well, have you any
idea what he looks likes?

Well, I know for sure
he's tall and dark,

so handsome can't be far behind.

All right!

Oh-ho!

Willona... you look so fine,

you must have all the
dudes standing in line.

Oh, merci, J.J.

Do you like my French perfume?

I can't smell a thing, Willona.

I've been delivering
fried chicken all day.

Hard for anything
else to get through.

By the way, how come you haven't

been by the place
to get anything yet?

Because all y'all
got is chicken.

The Colonel's got ribs.

Well, I gotta be going.

Otherwise I'll be late.

Okay, but you come
straight home from art school,

you hear?

Sure, Ma,

and don't forget I'm bringing
my friend Walter with me

home after school tonight.

Who's Walter?

Oh, he's an older
dude I met at art school.

You know, Willona... Hmm?

Too bad you can't be
here when he gets here.

I think you'd really dig him.

Oh, thanks anyway, J.J.,

but I got my date for tonight,

and from what I
hear, he's pure...

Dy-no-mite!

How's it going, James?

Oh, not bad, baby.

I ought to be through
in a few minutes.

Michael, hand me
that monkey wrench.

Are you sure you don't
mean the pliers, Daddy?

I know what I'm doing.

Hand me the monkey wrench.

But, Daddy, pliers
would be better.

Will you hand me the
monkey wrench, please?

Hand me the pliers.

Are you sure, Daddy?

Will you... Will you
hand me the pliers?

Hi.

Willona, what
happened to your date?

It's only 9:30.

Honey, I thought I was
gonna go out with a big fish.

You know, I wound up
with Charlie the Tuna.

Oh, Lord, Flo.

You got anything to eat?
I am starving to death.

You mean you didn't have dinner?

How could I?

With that octopus, I
didn't have a free hand.

Willona, we had vegetable stew.

Do you want me to
warm you up some?

Oh, thank you, honey.

Come on.

Hey, everybody!

I want y'all to meet my
main man from art school,

Walter Ingles. Hey.

Come on in, Walt.

This here's my mother.

Hello. Hello.

My father. Walter.

My little brother, Michael.

And the one over there
with her face in the pot

is my sister, Thelma.

Hi.

What's happening, Willona?

Oh, uh, and this
here's our neighbor

and dearest friend,
Willona Woods.

Hey, Willona, how are you doing?

Oh, a whole lot
better than I was doing

a half hour ago.

Uh, Walter, can I get
you a cup of coffee?

Oh, no thanks, Mrs. Evans.

I just came by to see
some of J.J.'s paintings.

I'll get them.

You got yourself a
talented boy there.

Well, thank you.

We know that, Walter.

Well, you must be
pretty good yourself.

I mean, going to art
school and all, huh?

No, I just do it to relax...

but when I was a kid,
I only had one dream,

and that was to
be a great artist.

My parents sent me
to the best art schools,

and then one day,

one of my teachers
called me to the side

and told me something that
made me change that dream,

something profound.

Yeah, what was that, Walter?

"You ain't got it, man."

So now I own my own
machine shop downtown.

You own your own machine shop?

And did you say
you were married?

Florida.

I'm not.

I never had time, I guess.

Ah... Well, then...
Come on over here.

James! Come on.

Hey, uh, Walt,

why don't you
come into my studio

and let me show you

that I'm the Van
Gogh of the ghetto.

Okay.

Willona, would you
like to accompany me

to a private exhibit

a young friend
of mine is having?

Oh, why not? I'd be delighted.

James!

James, what are you doing?

I know you, Florida.

I know just what
you're thinking.

Oh, I get it.

You think just because

the most perfect man for Willona

just walked into this house

that I'm already thinking
they should get married?

Yeah.

The thought never
crossed my mind.

I bet you're already picking out

Willona's wedding
dress, ain't you?

This early?

Well, we first got to worry

about the reception
hall, the minister,

and the flowers. Bingo!

James...

And, uh, this
here's one I painted

when I was really depressed.

I had a date with
these three chicks

for the same party,
and they all showed up.

I call it "Three Dog Night."

Well, what do y'all think?

I think the artwork
here is fantastic, and I...

Uh, the painting's
over this way.

Oh, I'm sorry, J.J.

Great. Great.

Hey, Willona.

Hey, I bet you'd
make a perfect model.

Me?

Oh, maybe 10 years
ago, but since then,

the contents of this
package has... settled a little.

Looks to me like it all
landed in the right places.

Woo! Thank you.

Willona, here's your dinner.

Uh, Willona, you
haven't eaten dinner yet?

No.

Well, neither have
I. It's still early.

Why don't you let me
take you out to dinner?

Oh, oh, no. No, I couldn't.

I mean I hardly know
you. We just met.

Flo, cancel the stew!

Well, it was nice meeting
you, Mr. and Mrs. Evans. Kids.

See you tomorrow
night in class, J.J.

Bye-bye.

Walter, before you
pick out a restaurant,

I think there's something
you ought to know about me.

I beg your pardon?

Were you saying something?

Yes, I was.

I kind of felt you were.

What were you saying?

Well, I was saying,

before you pick
out a restaurant,

there was something you
ought to know about me.

I can't eat seafood.

Well, as long as
we're being honest,

there's something you
should know about me too.

What?

I can't hear a thing.
I'm totally deaf.

Ain't that a blip.

Walter, I can't believe it. I
can't believe you're deaf.

Well, I only lost my hearing

a little over a year ago,

so I can speak well,

and I've learned lip reading,

so I can tell what
a person's saying

as long as I can
look at their lips.

Which is a problem

when you're talking, Willona,

because you got
a lot better things

I'd rather be looking at.

Woo-hoo!

You're right. You do talk well.

Hey, uh, Walt, how
come you never told me?

Never seemed to be a good time.

Besides, the minute you
tell people you're deaf,

they treat you differently.

Oh, now, that's
simply ridiculous.

I mean, who... would... do...

a... thing... like... that?

Hey, J.J., you can
speak normally.

I only need to read
your lips, not your tonsils.

Um... If you're deaf,

how do you wake
yourself up in the morning?

I mean, you can't hear an
alarm or anything like that.

Michael... That's
all right, Mrs. Evans.

I don't mind talking about it.

Um, some deaf
people rig a bright light

up over their beds,

plug it into their alarm clock,

and when the clock goes
off, light shines in their faces.

And then there
are others like me

that have a gadget
that shakes the bed.

Well, that takes a
little getting used to.

I remember the first
time that thing went off,

shaking like crazy.

I ran out into the street
yelling "Earthquake!"

And I wasn't wearing my pajamas.

Say, Walter,

you say you got this
machine shop... What?

You got this machine
shop downtown.

That must be kind of hard.

I mean, you can't
hear and all, huh?

It's an advantage.

I got 10 people working
under me, all deaf.

The average person can't
stand the noise of the machine.

But I'm an equal
opportunity employer.

I'll even hire people
who can hear.

Hey, uh, Walt,

uh, you say that
you're your own boss.

Could you use a
hardworking, aggressive,

extremely intelligent young man?

We always can. You know one?

Hey!

Well, that's another
advantage of being deaf.

I don't have to listen
to my own jokes.

Too bad. We have
to look at ours.

Walter. Walter...

I really admire your courage.

You know, being deaf
doesn't bother you at all.

That's really out of sight.

Well, I figure
there's an advantage

to everything.

Like, I watched

every Monday Night
Football game this year

without once hearing
Howard Cosell.

You know, Walter.
You ain't alone there.

I know a lot of people that
watch with the sound off.

Hey, but I got a better
thing going in baseball.

You know, like, when there's
a close play at the plate,

and the umpire and the
manager are standing belly to belly,

yelling at each other,

and everybody in the stands

is wondering what
they're saying...

I read lips.

I know what they're saying.

Well, I don't read lips,

but I still know
what they saying!

What are they saying, Daddy?

Never mind.

Well, I think we've
held you two up

long enough.

If you're gonna have dinner,

y'all better get going.

That's right, Flo. Walter...

Come on. We'll
see you guys later.

Okay, now, have fun.

Have a nice time, Willona.

Thank you. Bye-bye.

Good night.

Good night, Walter.

Mmm.

Ah, Willona. Huh?

I think there's
another advantage

about being deaf I
ought to tell you about.

What's that?

I can't hear it when
a girl says "no."

Oh...

Well, so long as you
understand... it's cool.

Come on.

James, will you hurry
and get dressed?

Walter and Willona
will be here soon.

Yeah, I'm trying to get dressed,

but I can't find
my good brown tie.

You seen it?

I gave it to J.J. He needed it.

He's working tonight.

He's delivering
chicken in my brown tie?

I'll kill him!

James, he'll be careful.

I don't know about that.

How about my watch
and my handkerchief?

I can't find them either.

Oh, yeah, I gave
your watch to Michael

because I want him home by 10,

and Thelma needed
your handkerchief

because Larry is taking her
to one of those sad movies.

Well, thanks for not
giving away my pants.

Hi, y'all...

James, we're supposed
to be going out to dinner!

Why aren't you dressed?

Because Florida
done turned my closet

into a Salvation Army
depot, that's why.

Flo, what is he talking about?

Nothing.

Where is Walter?

He should have been here by now.

You sure he ain't out reading

some other lady's lips?

No, I don't think so. Not Walt.

Hey, you know,

you two have been
seeing each other

almost every night
since you met.

Sounds like it's
getting serious.

It is. A little too serious.

What do you mean?

He's a nice guy,

one of the nicest
guys I ever met,

and we have a good
time together, but...

Honey, I think he's
in love with me,

and I am not in love with him.

Are you sure?

Yeah, that's what's worrying me.

I think he is about
to pop the question.

Well, then you better have

a little talk with him.

It ain't that easy.

I want to keep dating
Walter because I like him,

but I don't want it
to get too heavy.

And I know if I
tell Walter that,

he's gonna misinterpret it.

He's gonna think
I'm putting him down

because he's deaf.

You know, I never
thought of that.

Flo, you're my best friend.

Now, tell me, how can I tell
him without hurting his feelings?

Willona, there's one thing

you can't do, and
that's... Hey, Ma!

Hey, Willona, what's happening?

Hi, honey.

This is for you.

Thank you.

Willona, why'd
you order chicken?

We're gonna eat out.

I didn't order it. Walter did.

Oh, he said he's
gonna be a little late.

Will somebody tell
me what's going on?

Well, you see, deaf people
can't use the telephone,

so every day J.J.
stops by Walter

and see if he has to
send me a message.

Aw...

Yeah. Some people deliver
messages by carrier pigeon,

Walter delivers his by chicken.

Junior, I thought I heard
your voice out here.

What you doing wearing
my best brown tie?

Oh, Dad, I need it for work,

but I'll keep it clean.

I ain't messy.

Why don't you wear one
of your own ties, Junior?

I can't.

They all got gravy
stains on them.

Junior,

now, either you
gonna take off the tie,

or I'm gonna take it off.

If I take it off, I ain't
going to untie it.

Untying the tie.

Hey, Willona, come on.

That must be Walter. Come on.

Oh.

Hi, Walter, come in.

Hey, everybody.

Hey, Walt.

How are you?

Remember what I
taught you, Willona.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

Uh-huh.

Ma, you sure they ain't
saying something dirty?

Junior!

All right, Dad, I'm leaving.

Bye, see y'all later.

Well, ain't that a sight? A
chicken delivering chicken.

All right. What do
you say we get going?

I'm hungry!

Me too.

Oh, before we
leave... Uh, Willona,

there's something
really important

I have to say to you.

Uh... Well, look, uh...

Right here, right
now? I mean, uh...

Look, if y'all need
some privacy, Willona,

why don't y'all go
talk in our room?

Okay. Thank you.

Florida, where are you going?

It's a problem.

Yeah, it's a problem.

It's a real bad problem, James.

It always is a real bad problem.

Every time you start
making matchmaker,

it's a real bad problem.

That's all you get.

Now, come on, sit down.

James... Baby, sit down.

Walter, I've got something
I have to say to you,

and I think I should
say mine first.

No, let me, let me talk first.

I mean, I got to say this.

Now, we have been seeing
an awful lot of each other,

and it has been fantastic.

Walter, please...

No, not until I finish
what I have to say.

Now, when you get to be our age,

steady dating for
a couple of weeks

means that things are
getting pretty serious.

Going steady ain't enough.

You start to think
about marriage...

But, Walter, I... No, no.

I know marriage is a big step.

A really big step.

Walter!

That's why if you're
thinking about it,

I got to tell you I
ain't ready for it.

Oh, Walter, listen, I
hope you understand...

What did you say?

Now, Willona.

You turning me down?

Well...

Willona, when I
taught you that word,

I didn't expect
you to ever use it.

Well, I got steamed
up a little bit.

Huh!

Well, look, I had
to get it straight.

Hmm!

Look, I love being a bachelor.

I enjoy my freedom.

I'd like to spend time with you,

but I don't want
to be tied down.

You understand, don't you?

Ain't this something?

What?

I was gonna tell you
exactly the same thing.

You were gonna turn me down?

Walter!

There's no need to yell at me.

How long have you felt this way?

Well...

I don't know, maybe a week.

And you didn't
say anything. Why?

Well, because I...

Because you were
afraid that I'd be hurt

because I'm deaf?

Yeah.

Look, I know you were
just trying to be nice,

but believe it or not,

that's the biggest
problem I have!

Being deaf is a handicap,

but most of us
learn to deal with it,

and we do all right...

But the biggest handicap

is people treating us like
we were handicapped.

We cool now, baby?

Uh... We're cool.

Well, um... they're waiting.

We better go.

♪ 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 ♪

Good Times is recorded on tape

before a live audience.

♪ Ain't we lucky we got 'em ♪

♪ Good times ♪♪