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| Season 5, Episode 2 (1b) Number (#87) in series (133 episodes) | ||||
| Tape date | August 11, 1977 | |||
| Air date: | September 21, 1977 | |||
| Network/Country: | CBS-TV / United States | |||
| Written by: | Sid Dorfman | |||
| Directed by: | Gerren Keith | |||
| Production code: | 502 (501b) | |||
 IMDB
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The Evans Get Involved: Part 2 (a.k.a. Meet Penny) | |||
| Cast Information | ||||
| Starring: | Jimmie Walker Ja'net Dubois Janet Jackson Bern Nadette Stanis Ralph Carter Johnny Brown | |||
| Guest starring: | Chip Fields Kathleen Doyle Bob Delegall Renny Roker Sarina C. Grant Alma Beltran Matthew "Stymie" Beard | |||
| Episode guide | ||||
| Episode chronology | ||||
| ← Previous | Next → | |||
| "The Evans Get Involved: Part 1" (Season 5 premiere) |
"The Evans Get Involved: Part 3" | |||
| List of Good Times seasons/episodes | ||||
The Evans Get Involved: Part 2 is the second episode of Season 5 of Good Times, and the 87th series episode overall; it is part of a season opening four-episode story arc. Written by Sid Dorfman, the episode, which was directed by Gerren Keith, premiered on CBS-TV, originally airing on September 21, 1977.
Synopsis[]
After Penny shows up clutching a broken arm, Willona and the Evans family are certain that her mother is abusing her, but they have a hard time finding someone who will believe them.
Storyline[]
Willona becomes frustrated in her attempts to report her suspicions that Penny is being abused. Things soon go from bad to worse when the Gordons suddenly move from their apartment, causing Willona to fear for Penny's safety.
Plot summary[]
In the concluding half of Good Times' fifth-season opener, after Mrs. Gordon and Penny (Janet Jackson) leave, Willona (Ja'net Dubois) and J.J. (Jimmie Walker) are certain that she is being abusive towards the little girl but Thelma (Bern Nadette Stanis) is not so sure, stating that they don't have any proof.
Later, Penny returns to the Evans apartment as she is greeted by Michael (Ralph Carter), who invites her to join the family at his school carnival, she happily accepts. The two bond while they imitate Sonny and Cher, singing "I Got You Babe" with Willona, Thelma and J.J. watching in the background.
Next, it is the day of Michael's school carnival with everyone dressed in costume as they're about to leave when they spot a sobbing Penny sitting on the bench outside clutching her arm and the girl lets out a blood-curdling scream after Willona touches her arm, believing her mother had broken it. Michael and Thelma go on to the school carnival while Willona and J.J. take Penny to a doctor.
Willona then gets frustrated after trying to convince the doctor that the burns and cuts on Penny's body is proof that she is being abused but the doctor dismisses her concerns and she storms out. Back at the apartment, Willona and J.J. once again try to convince Penny to tell them the truth about her injuries but just as the girl is about to confess the truth, Mrs. Gordon comes storming in with a police officer, accusing Willona of kidnapping Penny as the cop reveals that witnesses saw Willona leaving the building with Penny to which she reveals that she took Penny to a doctor and accuses Linella of nearly breaking the child's arm, which leads to an angry shouting match between the two women and Linella grabs Penny and leaves the apartment.
Willona then receives a call from the doctor who treated Penny earlier and tells her that he had been in contact with the police, who in turn, referred him to someone from the State Department of Children and Family Services and that someone will be meeting with her, Willona thanks the doctor for his help and is relieved as she tells J.J. that Penny will finally receive some much-needed help.
After Willona and J.J. meet with Mrs. Carpenter, the social worker from the Department of Children and Family Services, they go down to Gordons' apartment only to find it vacant as Bookman (Johnny Brown) reveals that Mrs. Gordon packed up and ran off with Penny, leaving Willona and J.J. terrified and worried for the girl's safety.
(Part one of "The Evans Get Involved" originally aired as a 60-minute "special" episode, which has since been re-edited into two separate half-hours for syndication purposes).
Guest starring[]
- Chip Fields as Mrs. Gordon, Penny's mother
- Kathleen Doyle as Mrs. Carpenter
- Bob Delegall as Dr. Blake
- Renny Roker as Patrolman
- Sarina C. Grant as Nurse in "The Evans Get Involved: Part 2" (as Sarina Grant)
- Alma Beltran as Mrs. Lopez
- Matthew "Stymie" Beard as Mr. Edwards (as Stymie Beard)