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"The Family Gun"
Season 3, Episode 2
Number (#39) in series (133 episodes)
Tape date July 17, 1975
Air date: September 16, 1975
Network/Country: CBS-TV
Written by: Bob Peete
Directed by: Herbert Kenwith
Production code: 302
IMDb logo IMDB The Family Gun
Cast Information
Starring: Esther Rolle
John Amos
Jimmie Walker
Ja'net Dubois
Bern Nadette Stanis
Ralph Carter
Guest starring: David Moses
Episode guide
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"The Real Cool Job"
(Season 3 premiere)
"Operation Florida"
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The Family Gun is the second episode of Season 3 of Good Times, as well as the thirty-ninth series episode overall. The episode was written by Bob Peete and directed by Herbert Kenwith. It originally aired on CBS-TV on September 16, 1975.

Synopsis[]

Because of all the recent rash robberies and attacks in the neighborhood , James buys a gun to protect his family from the dangerous environment of the building but Florida isn't thrilled about the idea of having a gun in the house. But after Thelma is attacked, James explodes as he is ready to take out his daughter's attacker but then discovers that his gun is missing.

Plot summary[]

The crime rate in the Evans' neighborhood has escalated to an all-time high, in which James (John Amos) isn't willing to take any chances as he goes to great lengths to protect his family: he buys a gun as a result. Florida (Esther Rolle) becomes agitated and uneasy over the idea of a weapon in the house but things go from bad to worse when a hysterical Thelma (BernNadette Stanis) runs home and says that a guy tried to attack her which sends James into an angry rage as he heads for the hidden gun -- only to find that it is gone.

Demanding to know where and/or who took the gun, James angrily destroys the entire house in a frantic search for the stolen weapon but then a turn of events become nearly tragic after Willona (Ja'net Dubois) informs the family that a 5-year-old boy in the apartment complex accidentally shot himself after getting ahold of a gun and it went off and that nobody knows where it came from. After hearing this, James becomes frantic, believing that his gun somehow wound up with the wounded child, making him responsible (and into trouble with the law).

But then Michael (Ralph Carter) reveals that he is the one who took James' gun and hid it out of worry that his father would lose his temper and land himself in trouble with the law. James is grateful for the gesture but he still punishes Michael for removing the gun after warning everyone not to touch it and Florida warns the youngest Evans child that guns not toys to be played with to which Michael replies that he knew to take the bullets out before hiding the gun as he takes the gun to prove it as he aims it towards the ceiling but the gun goes off !

Guest starring[]

  • Dave Turner as Officer Wigmore


Quotes[]

Florida: James, I don't know WHO took that gun, but you better BELIEVE I didn't

James: Florida, how do you expect me to believe that when you the one said you wanted me to get rid of it and you the one said you couldn't sleep with it in the house ?

Florida: And I am also the one who is so afraid of a gun that if I laid one finger on a gun, I'd turn white as a sheet

JJ: And if that don't prove Ma is innocent, nothing will.


James: Now Florida, I can't be looking for no gun if you goin' stand here playing "This is the way We Fold our Clothes"...(snatches clothing from Florida) Go look in the closet (tosses clothing) !



Willona: (walking in) Hey, Flo...(looking around) where'd you get your new layout from, from "Better Homes and Garbage" ???

Florida: You can thank my interior decorator here: The Black Tornado....

Willona: Well, I ain't goin' hardly get into that mess....just came by to see if your heard the news.

James: Yeah, we heard the news, Willona, now go home !

Florida: James !!!

James: I ain't in the mood to hear none of that Mickey Mouse gossip !

Willona: This ain't no Mickey Mouse gossip, grumpy; a 5-year-old kid on the third floor accidentally SHOT himself this morning.

Florida: Oh My God...

Thelma: What ?!!!

Willona: Yeah, it was like you read in the papers all the time: a child plays with a gun and it went off and from what I hear, nobody knows WHERE the gun came from.


Florida: I never thought that having a gun in the house could make me feel so good......now get rid of it !

James: No, No Baby....we still need it for protection. I'm glad for what you did, Michael, but I'm still goin' have to punish you cause I told all of y'all I didn't want nobody touching this gun and you did !

Michael: I'm sorry, Daddy, but I just didn't wanna see you do anything that might've gotten you into trouble.

Florida: He's right, James. But Michael, that gun is NO toy for you to play with !

Michael: Mama, I'm no dummy, I had enough sense to take the bullets out before I hid it (takes gun)...see....(aims gun towards ceiling)...

***GUNSHOT***

(The Evans family frantically duck in fear, Michael frantically drops the gun on the floor)

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