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| Season 6, Episode 22 Number (#131) in series (133 episodes) | ||||
| Tape date | December 14, 1978 | |||
| Air date: | September 18, 1979 | |||
| Network/Country: | Syndication / United States | |||
| Written by: | Michael G. Moye (teleplay) & Cecil M. Brown (teleplay / story) | |||
| Directed by: | Gerren Keith | |||
| Production code: | 622 | |||
 IMDB
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The Evans' Dilemma | |||
| Cast Information | ||||
| Starring: | Esther Rolle Jimmie Walker Ja'net Dubois Johnny Brown Bern Nadette Stanis Ralph Carter Janet Jackson Ben Powers | |||
| Guest starring: | Daryl Keith Roach | |||
| Episode guide | ||||
| Episode chronology | ||||
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| "The End of the Rainbow"' | "The Art Contest" | |||
| List of Good Times seasons/episodes | ||||
The Evans' Dilemma was the 22nd episode of Season 6 of Good Times, also the 131st overall series episode. Written by Michael G. Moye and Cecil M. Brown as a teleplay from a story written by Brown, the episode, which was originally scheduled to serve as the series finale, was directed by Gerren Keith; it aired in syndication on September 18, 1979.
Synopsis[]
The Evans family grows concerned about Keith's bizarre, yet irrational behavior and they believe he is acting out because he is depressed over his leg injury and ended up driving a cab part-time.
Plot summary[]
The Evans siblings (BernNadette Stanis, Jimmie Walker, Ralph Carter) are holding down the fort while Florida is away visiting relatives. Thelma is worried about Keith (Ben Powers) as his recent moods have consisted of anger and depression, upset over his part-time job as a cab driver and spending his days off job hunting with JJ. Keith then emerges from the bedroom and isn't in the best of moods.
JJ is ready to hit the job hunting trail but Keith is refusing to go, complaining that after three weeks of trying to find steady work, all he has to show for it is exhausted feet and scuffed shoes. The Evans siblings try to encourage him not to give up and to keep trying but Keith doesn't want to hear any of it, citing he has too much pride as he goes into the bathroom and locks the door behind him as he then pulls out a bottle of vodka he hid inside the toilet and takes a heavy swig of it.
While Keith is drinking away his sorrows, Willona (Ja'net DuBois) stops by the apartment with a batch of blueberry muffins she made for Keith as JJ warns her about Keith has been asking around the house lately just as his brother-in-law emerges from the bathroom and apparently in a more happier, jollier mood and is eager and ready to go job hunting with JJ. Then the telephone rings as it's an old friend of Keith's named Joe Stennet, who's in town visiting and wants to get together with him. Later in the day, JJ returns home after another day of job hunting and warns his siblings that Keith is back to being in a sour mood but Thelma tries to prove him wrong. She then sits Keith down and reveals that she called his friend, Joe, and invited him over for dinner but Keith isn't thrilled about it as he angrily snaps at Thelma, chastising her for meddling into his business and storms off to the bathroom again and throws JJ, who was already in the bathroom, out. Then, Bookman (Johnny Brown) comes storming into the Evans apartment, demanding to know where Keith is, as he reveals that Keith had insulted him by making cracks about his mother. JJ then explains to Bookman that Keith has been under a lot of tension and strain, citing that he's gone to "yo-yo city", which doesn't sit well with Thelma as she chastises her brother for what he said about her husband. Keith then comes out of the bathroom in a more jollier mood while rapping to himself, going into the bedroom. JJ and Michael quickly notice that every time Keith comes out of the bathroom, his mood is more chipper, prompted the Evans brothers to investigate.
As they search the bathroom for clues, JJ discovers the vodka bottle that Keith hid inside the toilet and that it's almost empty and that being the reason for their brother-in-law's constant changing of moods. The Evans brothers then take what's left of the liquor and flush it down the toilet.
Later that night, Keith's old friend, Joe Stennet, arrives as everything starts off on good but things quickly go south due to Keith's bizarre behavior and constant drinking, making everyone, particularly Thelma, concerned about his state of mind. Keith then only proceeds at making things worser by the second, insulting his friend, Joe to lashing out at JJ but he crosses the line when he raises a hand to Thelma, slapping her as she runs off and he instantly regrets his deplorable actions. JJ and Michael angrily denounce their brother-in-law for his cruel treatment towards their sister and Joe asks whom is more deserving of an apology: him or Thelma.
Realizing the error of his ways, Keith knows that he has a lot of making up to do as he goes into the bedroom to find a tearful Thelma packing up his belongings, proceeding to throwing him out. As she continues to pack up Keith's belongings, Thelma discovers a vodka bottle, another one that Keith kept hidden, inside a storage trunk and puts the pieces together. Keith confesses to Thelma on how difficult it's been for him to go from being one of the best running backs in the world to ending up driving a cab part-time due to his leg injury. Thelma then grabs the bull by the horns as she lays out some hard-hit truths to her husband, stating that life doesn't have to end because he injured his leg and she encourages him to push harder and wants everything he can give her regardless and she forces Keith to face that fact that the world will continue to go on whether he's sitting on top or stretched out under it.
Thelma concludes by telling Keith that he now has to make a choice, whether it's her and the bottle... He takes the bottle and stares at it for a few seconds before he furiously smashes it against the bedroom door as he breaks down and cries, taking Thelma into his arms. Thelma is grateful and is ready to swipe the slate clean and start all over but not before she pays Keith back for slapping her earlier as she proceeds to slap him. Keith concludes that they're now even as he and Thelma kiss and make up.
Note: Originally slated to air during "Good Times" sixth season, this is one of three episodes that were never telecast by CBS, though all have been included in the series' syndication package.
Absent: Esther Rolle, Janet Jackson
Guest starring[]
- Daryl Keith Roach as Joe Stennet (as Daryl Roach)