Esther Rolle credited as playing...
Florida Evans
- Florida: I don't have to ask who hung this picture up here, Michael Evans, but before I hang you in its place, why?
- Florida Evans: And I must give thanks to the good Lord above for giving us such a beautiful Christmas gift: a loving family and warm friends.
- Florida: Junior the alarm's set for 6AM.
- JJ: Only ones up at that hour is the garbage men. And the way the streets look, they droppin' it off insteada' pickin' it up!
- Florida: Where's Thelma?
- JJ: In the bathroom, as usual. She spends more time in there than the tidy bowl man!
- Florida Evans: [Florida is shocked when she sees the young boy who delivers drugs to people, like J.J's girlfriend] But James, he's still a baby!
- James: Well, this ain't his talcum powder!
- Florida: [after discovering J.J's illegal gambling] J.J, there are two roads out of the ghetto. So far, we've managed to stay on the right road.
- J.J.: That's what's taking us so long to get out of here! Look, Ma, tell me one dude in the projects who's got a future that ain't in the rackets.
- Florida: You, because you just resigned.
- J.J.: Oh, no, Ma. It's MY way out and I'm going to take it.
- Florida: Then you can start by getting out of here.
- J.J.: Oh, come one, Ma...
- [moves forward to hug Florida]
- Florida: [pulls away and begins gathering his belongings]
- J.J.: Now, Ma! Let's be reasonable...
- Florida: [shoving his belongings into his hands] And take these things with you!
- J.J.: Ma, you haven't even...
- Florida: [angrily] J.J, get the HELL out of my house!