The Big Move
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"The Big Move" was a television episode of the family sitcom Good Times. The episode aired in two separate parts, on September 22 and 29, 1976, and served as the season premiere for the show's fourth season.
[edit] Plot
After a long time, it appears that the Evans family is finally going to get out of the Chicago projects. James is in Mississippi, working on securing a job in his uncle's garage, and his whole family is waiting for news on it, as well as packing up their apartment and getting ready to move out. A party is being thrown in their honor by Willona, and everyone in the building knows and is happy to see them get out of there...everyone, that is, except Bookman, who doesn't know that the Evans family is leaving. Florida is determined to keep it that way, as she fears that if Bookman finds out, he will have them evicted sooner than the two days they have remaining in the ghetto, and they won't be able to find anywhere to live.
The only trouble the Evanses have is with Michael, the youngest, who has fallen for a girl and doesn't want to leave her behind.
After getting everything packed, and wondering what it'll be like to finally be out of the ghetto and being better off, the party commences in the Evans apartment. The atmosphere is joyous, and nearly the entire project is celebrating. Michael has even decided that he and his newfound love can keep a long distance relationship, and agree to do so.
And to put a close on everything, the family finally tells Bookman of their plans to move, after he comes upstairs complaining about the party and the noise and finally decides to evict the Evanses. Needless to say, Bookman isn't happy that he has been one-upped, and leaves.
Finally, Willona alerts everyone to a series of telegrams she received to be read at the party, and figures that the time is right to begin reading them. There are several there containing well wishes from friends and other people in the area, congratulating them on their move, and one from Mississippi which is assumed to be from James. This particular one is read last, and since it's presumed to be from her husband, Florida insists on reading it, her upbeat tone drastically changing to shock when the meaning of the telegram is revealed: "We regret to inform you that your husband, James Evans, was killed in an automobile accident." The episode ends with the party in stunned silence and Michael Evans crying on his mother's shoulder.
Part two is the aftermath. The family enters the apartment after laying James to rest, and the repast for him is held in the apartment. A very somber mood grips everyone...everyone, that is, except Florida, who is acting very nonchalant about the whole thing and going about her life as she normally would with company over. Her apparent lack of grief is putting off everyone surrounding her, especially her children, who are rather upset over what has happened. They don't know what to make of Florida's good spirits despite the tragedy.
Thelma and Michael confront Florida later in the episode, in Thelma's room, demanding to know why she isn't showing any emotion over the death of her husband, and how she can actually be reminiscing about James with friends while laughing. Florida attempts to explain to them that she's not mourning James' death, but rather, celebrating his life. Thelma and Michael don't buy the explanation, and Florida, feeling disrespected (and likely vulnerable), angrily storms out of the room, going back to "celebrate James' life" with her friends.
Eventually, everyone who has come over to pay their respects to James Evans, Sr, slowly begin to leave. Willona is the final guest to leave, and by that time, Florida is having trouble concealing her emotions, and is unable to face Willona when she turns to leave. Shortly thereafter, Florida goes into the kitchen to put away all the food guests have brought and attempts to clean up the apartment. When J.J., Thelma and Michael attempt to help her, she tells them that she doesn't need any help, and when Thelma insists on helping, she screams at her, and the kids retreat to Thelma's room. Alone, Florida begins to clean up. Adding to her already increasing grief, she finds a red rose that was given to her at the funeral. She puts away some of the food, and then comes across the punch bowl Willona let her borrow for the occasion. The enormity of the situation completely enveloping Florida, namely the massive emptiness now present with her husband not there, cause her grief to come out, and she throws the punch bowl to the ground, shattering it. She then screams an uncharacteristic, "Damn, DAMN, DAMN!!!", and breaks down, crying uncontrolably in her children's arms.
