Where Have All the Doctors Gone?

"Where Have All the Doctors Gone?"
Season 6, Episode 17 Number (#126) in series (133 episodes)
Tape date	February 15, 1979
Air date:	June 13, 1979
Network/Country:	CBS-TV / United States
Written by:	Carmen Finestra (story) Mark Fink & Julia Ann Mason (teleplay)
Directed by:	Gerren Keith
Production code:	617
IMDB	Where Have All the Doctors Gone?
Cast Information
Starring:	Esther Rolle Jimmie Walker Ja'net Dubois Johnny Brown Bern Nadette Stanis Ralph Carter Janet Jackson Ben Powers
Guest starring:	Paula Kelly
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Where Have All the Doctors Gone? is the 17th episode of Season 6  of Good Times, and also the 126th series episode overall. Written as a teleplay by Carmen Finestra and Mark Fink from a story by Julia Ann Mason, the episode, which was directed by Gerren Keith, premiered on CBS-TV; it originally aired on June 13, 1979.

Synopsis

Penny gets sick while Willona is out of town and Florida takes her to the free clinic. The out-of-touch doctor has difficulty relating to the people in the inner-city and threatens to leave in the midst of a neighborhood health crisis.

Storyline

While Willona is out of town, Florida is taking care of Penny. Just about everyone in the apartment is sick with the flu. Florida takes Penny to the clinic, but doctors are scarce, and the remaining doctor has plans to close the practice.

Plot summary

Left in charge of Penny (Janet Jackson), Florida (Esther Rolle) rushes her to the local free clinic when the girl shows signs of suffering from the flu. Upon arrival, Florida is shocked to learn that the only doctor on duty (Paula Kelly), a product of the ghetto herself, is fed up with her shabby surroundings and is preparing to leave for a better-paying job. Desperately, Florida tries to persuade the departing doc to stick around long enough to avert what threatens to become a flu epidemic.

Guest starring

• Paula Kelly as Dr. Kelly

Quotes

Dr. Kelly: I'm a doctor, not a saint.

Florida: You got that right. Saints walk with people, they don't float above them.

Dr. Kelly: It's no wonder so many of you black people have high blood pressure. All the short ribs, pork's feet and pig's ears.

Florida: Maybe you haven't noticed, doctor, but there's a shortage of caviar in the ghetto.

Dr. Kelly: I'm talking about maintaining a simple, balanced diet, red meat, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Florida: You're talking about health, but in the ghetto, it's survival of the fittest. We buy what's cheap, and they make damn sure it's not cheap.

Dr. Kelly: Mrs. Evans, it's after 4:00. Do you know what would happen if I visited all my patients after hours?

Florida: They'd probably die of shock from seeing you.

Dr. Kelly: Look at this, Mrs. Evans: my drugs have been stolen, my equipment vandalised. I have to close up my office at four in the afternoon so I stand a chance of getting home without getting mugged.