was in the bathroom dead when J.J called her and didn't get a response? I mean what else would you think when watching this episode for the first time?-lol I remember saying to myself-"Oh my god is he going to open the door and see her laying there on the floor dead? How many others thought the same?

same here

Sorry knew she jumped ship!!

The way she carried on about having to get outta there and wanting to speed things up, I knew she flew the coup.

She needed her fix too bad I knew she had climbed out the window. And probably pawned JJ's ring.

She needed her fix too bad I knew she had climbed out the window. And probably pawned JJ's ring.
PROBABLY?????? LOL That girl will pawn ANYTHING. She probably went on to sell herself.

Debbie Allen did a good job in playing the role of a Drug addict. A Very Good Job-lol

I was always under the impression that Diana committed suicide by jumping out of the window (why does it feel like I've written this sentence before?), mainly because of JJ's stunned reaction and the gasps from the audience, not to mention James's frantic voice over the phone. The "she went out to sell herself" scenario just doesn't jibe with what was presented onscreen, which was that of something extremely tragic having just occured.

But that's just me...

I was always under the impression that Diana committed suicide by jumping out of the window (why does it feel like I've written this sentence before?), mainly because of JJ's stunned reaction and the gasps from the audience, not to mention James's frantic voice over the phone. The "she went out to sell herself" scenario just doesn't jibe with what was presented onscreen, which was that of something extremely tragic having just occured.

But that's just me...
I am confused abt your statement that the scenario abt Diana possibly selling herself doesn't make sense. The girl came from what appeared to be a good home, good family AND YET SHE DID DRUGS. So anything else is possible. Doesn't mean she went and became a full-fledged prostitute, but when one does drugs, they become desperate for money!!!!! As for killing herself when she jumped out the window, IMPOSSIBLE. I took a good look at the outside when the motel clerk had the door to the motel room open and there was a cement floor there with metal railings. The bathroom window is on the same wall as the motel room window. Being that they were both on the same wall, whatever was right outside would be the same regardless of which window one went out. So she simply climbed out and if she went to the left, she would have had to duck down so JJ didn't see her pass the window. If she went to the right, JJ wouldn't have seen her.

The ending to that episode will always be confusing. Diana leaving to find more drugs doesn't make sense because where would she have gone? So I too think it was something tragic that had J.J in state of Shock.

I am confused abt your statement that the scenario abt Diana possibly selling herself doesn't make sense. The girl came from what appeared to be a good home, good family AND YET SHE DID DRUGS. So anything else is possible. Doesn't mean she went and became a full-fledged prostitute, but when one does drugs, they become desperate for money!!!!! As for killing herself when she jumped out the window, IMPOSSIBLE. I took a good look at the outside when the motel clerk had the door to the motel room open and there was a cement floor there with metal railings. The bathroom window is on the same wall as the motel room window. Being that they were both on the same wall, whatever was right outside would be the same regardless of which window one went out. So she simply climbed out and if she went to the left, she would have had to duck down so JJ didn't see her pass the window. If she went to the right, JJ wouldn't have seen her.

As I said before, that was the impression that I got from that scene...we really DON'T know what happened to Diana, but, considering what the message was in these two episodes...mainly, that DRUGS DESTROYS LIVES...why would anyone viewing this scene not think that something horrible had happened?

And why is the notion that she killed herself so "impossible"? Remember, Diana was going through a severe chemical withdrawal...can you imagine the searing pain she must have been going through? The psychological agony? Compound that with the fact that these kids were miles away from home...in another state...where they didn't know anyone and no one knew where they were...and this suddenly becomes a very desperate situation, indeed.

So, given the situation above, what do you do? You go out the window so you can find more drugs, of course...but suppose it was a steep drop from the bathroom window to the street? If you'll recall, the room JJ and Diana were given was on an upper floor (this is supported by the fact at the beginning of the scene when the manger shows them their room and makes a referece to being "downstairs"), so, even if they were on the second floor, we're talking a pretty far drop to the street. And considering Diana's physical and mental state, this wouldn't have been a very graceful drop...and, even under the best conditions, she would have suffered a serious injury...

But the pain would have stopped. And that's all she really wanted.

Well, anyway, that's my theory, and I belive the producers planned it to be ambiguous so as to not offend too many viewers by telling us what explicitly happened to Diana.

But it sure made an impact, nonetheless.

As I said before, that was the impression that I got from that scene...we really DON'T know what happened to Diana, but, considering what the message was in these two episodes...mainly, that DRUGS DESTROYS LIVES...why would anyone viewing this scene not think that something horrible had happened?

And why is the notion that she killed herself so "impossible"? Remember, Diana was going through a severe chemical withdrawal...can you imagine the searing pain she must have been going through? The psychological agony? Compound that with the fact that these kids were miles away from home...in another state...where they didn't know anyone and no one knew where they were...and this suddenly becomes a very desperate situation, indeed.

So, given the situation above, what do you do? You go out the window so you can find more drugs, of course...but suppose it was a steep drop from the bathroom window to the street? If you'll recall, the room JJ and Diana were given was on an upper floor (this is supported by the fact at the beginning of the scene when the manger shows them their room and makes a referece to being "downstairs"), so, even if they were on the second floor, we're talking a pretty far drop to the street. And considering Diana's physical and mental state, this wouldn't have been a very graceful drop...and, even under the best conditions, she would have suffered a serious injury...

But the pain would have stopped. And that's all she really wanted.

Well, anyway, that's my theory, and I belive the producers planned it to be ambiguous so as to not offend too many viewers by telling us what explicitly happened to Diana.

But it sure made an impact, nonetheless.



Well, my theory is that she just went out the window and hit the streets looking for a fix. If they were trying to hint that she killed herself by jumping out the window, then why did JJ act like he did? He just went back and sat on the bed and stared at the phone instead of calling the cops and reporting a suicide.

The ending to that episode will always be confusing. Diana leaving to find more drugs doesn't make sense because where would she have gone? So I too think it was something tragic that had J.J in state of Shock.
His state of shock was from the fact THAT DIANA LEFT HIM. He loved her and the notion that she left after they said they would get married, would shock anybody who was in love. Not only that, it started to get into his head that what his father was telling him abt Diana being a junkie was true. Remember, JJ was still believing that his folks were trying to stop them from being married. Not until he saw that Diana was gone, did he realize the truth and was SHOCKED. If in fact she could have harmed herself or fallen several stories (which wasn't the case as I pointed out about the balcony floor) JJ would have ran out the door to see her. Logic would have made me run out the door to my loved one if they had gone out the window and the possibility of them having fallen. Since JJ didn't do that, that is also proof that she simply ran off. Where? who knows. She needed a fix, and she would know what she needed to do to accomplish that. It doesn't only take $$$ to buy drugs, you can also do a "trade". Being that Diana was a beautiful girl who was desperate for a fix, no doubt she could find some dealer who would want what she could offer.

As I said before, that was the impression that I got from that scene...we really DON'T know what happened to Diana, but, considering what the message was in these two episodes...mainly, that DRUGS DESTROYS LIVES...why would anyone viewing this scene not think that something horrible had happened?

And why is the notion that she killed herself so "impossible"? Remember, Diana was going through a severe chemical withdrawal...can you imagine the searing pain she must have been going through? The psychological agony? Compound that with the fact that these kids were miles away from home...in another state...where they didn't know anyone and no one knew where they were...and this suddenly becomes a very desperate situation, indeed.

So, given the situation above, what do you do? You go out the window so you can find more drugs, of course...but suppose it was a steep drop from the bathroom window to the street? If you'll recall, the room JJ and Diana were given was on an upper floor (this is supported by the fact at the beginning of the scene when the manger shows them their room and makes a referece to being "downstairs"), so, even if they were on the second floor, we're talking a pretty far drop to the street. And considering Diana's physical and mental state, this wouldn't have been a very graceful drop...and, even under the best conditions, she would have suffered a serious injury...

But the pain would have stopped. And that's all she really wanted.

Well, anyway, that's my theory, and I belive the producers planned it to be ambiguous so as to not offend too many viewers by telling us what explicitly happened to Diana.

But it sure made an impact, nonetheless.
Anyone who has stayed at a motel knows there is the balcony/floor regardless if it's second floor or 12th floor. The bath window faced the balcony!!!! Case closed. She didn't fall to her death. Read my post. Thank you. :lol:

Anyone who has stayed at a motel knows there is the balcony/floor regardless if it's second floor or 12th floor. The bath window faced the balcony!!!! Case closed. She didn't fall to her death. Read my post. Thank you. :lol:

I've worked at a couple of motels in my time, so I am familiar with their basic layouts, and usually there ARE no windows in the bathrooms...it cuts down on people trying to skip out on their bill...

Perhaps the motel in this episode was one of those with the wraparound balcony, perhaps its one where the bathroom windows face a blank wall. The fact remains that, whether Diana ran out on JJ or she killed herself, something tragic DID occur in that motel room. On this, I think we can all agree.

I've worked at a couple of motels in my time, so I am familiar with their basic layouts, and usually there ARE no windows in the bathrooms...it cuts down on people trying to skip out on their bill...

Perhaps the motel in this episode was one of those with the wraparound balcony, perhaps its one where the bathroom windows face a blank wall. The fact remains that, whether Diana ran out on JJ or she killed herself, something tragic DID occur in that motel room. On this, I think we can all agree.
Um, did you read my previous post abt the bathroom wall was facing in the same direction as the motel room window. I think this was the case, since everything had to face the audience. The bath window faced the audience, plus it was on the same wall as that room's window. So, two windows facing the same direction. There was no brick wall. There had to be rooms on either side of the motel room. This wasn't the only room on that floor. Some motels have their bathroom window facing the same direction as the one in the room, but those that do not, are on the opposite or different wall. Just look at the episode again when the motel room door is open. That's all. And no, alot of people don't agree that she jumped out and died. Doesn't make sense that JJ didn't RUN OUTSIDE LIKE ANY REASONABLE PERSON WOULD HAVE. The writers wouldn't have wanted that. Same reason in the episode where JJ's basketball superstar friend wanted to die. Writers wouldn't have wanted the storyline to go that way. Seems they want to show that "good little girls from good homes" can stray and do drugs.

I was always under the impression she killed herself, because of the way it ended.

I was always under the impression she killed herself, because of the way it ended.
Because of how what ended? It showed JJ looking in a bathroom and seeing that the woman he loved (and who he thought loved him) disappear from a bathroom window. Of course there was nothing more to show because the GIRL WAS GONE. She took off. She left. She went to fufill that need, however she was going to do it.

If she had jumped to her death, don't you think JJ would've panicked and ran outside to help her? All he did was sit quietly on the bed because he realized that his parents were right about her.

I was always under the impression she killed herself, because of the way it ended.

I was always under that same impression as a child. Good Times used to scare me as a child.

If she had jumped to her death, don't you think JJ would've panicked and ran outside to help her? All he did was sit quietly on the bed because he realized that his parents were right about her.
AMEN!!!!!! That's what I have said numerous times and Brian posted this statement before. I don't get what is so hard to understand. :rolleyes:

AMEN!!!!!! That's what I have said numerous times and Brian posted this statement before. I don't get what is so hard to understand. :rolleyes:



I thought I said this first........but that's alright, as long as we know we're right. ;)

I thought I said this first........but that's alright, as long as we know we're right. ;)
You were the first one on this thread; it was mentioned b4 on something else. Anyhow, let's consider this thread CLOSED. DIANA RAN OFF!!!!!!! :wave: :bash: :clap: :thumbsup: :cheer:

I actually thought she had jumped.

I actually thought she had jumped.
OH GOD!!!!!!!!! :bash: :bash: :wave:

I actually thought she had jumped.

As did I, but no one here wants to consider that scenario.

There is a certain finality to that particular scene, and, given the context of the entire story arc, Diana just "up-and-leaving" to find more drugs is rather anti-climatic.

I realize that there are folks here who really identify with these characters, and as a result don't want to consider that anything so horribly tragic would befall them, and I do respect that. Speaking as a creator myself, that sort of attitude towards a fictional creation is a writer's/artist's dream.

But, given that the storyline was about drug abuse, and also given to the inescapable fact that "Good Times", like all of Norman Lear's shows on the air at that time, was not known for its subtlety, any point the writers and producers were trying to make about this subject was going to be, at the very least, hard-hitting and rather unsettling.

Such was the case here.

As I said before, that was the interpretation I got when I first saw this episode thirty years ago, and that is the interpretation I get every time I saw this episode in the interviening years. And, until the day that the writers of that particular episode come to this board and tell us otherwise, I will contiue to arrive at that selfsame conclusion.

But, of course, that's just me...

As did I, but no one here wants to consider that scenario.

There is a certain finality to that particular scene, and, given the context of the entire story arc, Diana just "up-and-leaving" to find more drugs is rather anti-climatic.

I realize that there are folks here who really identify with these characters, and as a result don't want to consider that anything so horribly tragic would befall them, and I do respect that. Speaking as a creator myself, that sort of attitude towards a fictional creation is a writer's/artist's dream.

But, given that the storyline was about drug abuse, and also given to the inescapable fact that "Good Times", like all of Norman Lear's shows on the air at that time, was not known for its subtlety, any point the writers and producers were trying to make about this subject was going to be, at the very least, hard-hitting and rather unsettling.

Such was the case here.

As I said before, that was the interpretation I got when I first saw this episode thirty years ago, and that is the interpretation I get every time I saw this episode in the interviening years. And, until the day that the writers of that particular episode come to this board and tell us otherwise, I will contiue to arrive at that selfsame conclusion.

But, of course, that's just me...
Well, you may be waiting a REAL LONG TIME :read: :drool: :whistle:
Answer me this in the mean time, why then didn't JJ run out the door if his fiancee just leaped out the window to her death, whether accidental or intentional? Cuz he didn't care, he didn't love her?
By the way, you can wait with Soloman while he waits to hear from Norman Lear abt the sit-com spin-off question... :lol: :wave:

Well, you may be waiting a REAL LONG TIME :read: :drool: :whistle:
Answer me this in the mean time, why then didn't JJ run out the door if his fiancee just leaped out the window to her death, whether accidental or intentional? Cuz he didn't care, he didn't love her?
By the way, you can wait with Soloman while he waits to hear from Norman Lear abt the sit-com spin-off question... :lol: :wave:

He was in shock because the woman he loved left him...just like you said...only her leaving was more final than you descibed.

As you may well realize, everyone reacts to different situations in different ways. JJ Evans usually resorts to (some inappropriate) humor, in an effort to not let the situation get to him.

But the situation in Indiana was, in this instance, just too much for him to take...and, psychologically, he just shut down. Make no mistake, JJ was devastated by this horrific turn of events...stunned beyond words.

That's why he didn't run outside. It's that simple.


(By the way, if those writers never clarify what happened at the climax of this episode, that's all right with me...otherwise, we wouldn't be able to have such spirited debates!)

He was in shock because the woman he loved left him...just like you said...only her leaving was more final than you descibed.

As you may well realize, everyone reacts to different situations in different ways. JJ Evans usually resorts to (some inappropriate) humor, in an effort to not let the situation get to him.

But the situation in Indiana was, in this instance, just too much for him to take...and, psychologically, he just shut down. Make no mistake, JJ was devastated by this horrific turn of events...stunned beyond words.

That's why he didn't run outside. It's that simple.


(By the way, if those writers never clarify what happened at the climax of this episode, that's all right with me...otherwise, we wouldn't be able to have such spirited debates!)
I am sorry, but knowing the character JJ, he would be there immediately for anyone who was in danger. Remember how he spared his father's life and it was JJ who got shot? Later towards the end of the season we see JJ helping his friend who is trying to end his life. JJ may be a fool at times, he may be a dork, but he has his moments where he would be there for someone. He loved Diana and yes he was in shock, because she left him. He thought she was going to marry him. When one is in love as JJ was with her, defying his parents', defying her parents, standing up to his dad the way he did, it only makes sense that he would want to help his fiancee, no matter what the situation. Come on now, no way in hell would JJ just sit on the bed. He would have ran out, possibly screaming, "Diana, Diana". I have no problem abt a character dying (with the exception of James), so your theory abt us having something with the characters makes no sense. We realize it is a sit-com, we are only trying to convey that it is so easy to see that she didn't die. The writers wouldn't have made this scene complicated. They realize they had a young audience to deal with as well as adults. If the show were geared towards adults only, then they may have gone that route of Diana killing herself, intentionally or accidently. They may have gone so far as showing the audience when Diana actually goes out the window and flees into the darkness and meets a different fate. But it's a sit-com. It was an episode dealing with the fact that "anyone" is susceptible to falling victim to drug use. That, in itself is enough of an impact. We don't need to see, or imagine that she may have died going out that window.

I am sorry, but knowing the character JJ, he would be there immediately for anyone who was in danger. Remember how he spared his father's life and it was JJ who got shot? Later towards the end of the season we see JJ helping his friend who is trying to end his life. JJ may be a fool at times, he may be a dork, but he has his moments where he would be there for someone. He loved Diana and yes he was in shock, because she left him. He thought she was going to marry him. When one is in love as JJ was with her, defying his parents', defying her parents, standing up to his dad the way he did, it only makes sense that he would want to help his fiancee, no matter what the situation. Come on now, no way in hell would JJ just sit on the bed. He would have ran out, possibly screaming, "Diana, Diana". I have no problem abt a character dying (with the exception of James), so your theory abt us having something with the characters makes no sense. We realize it is a sit-com, we are only trying to convey that it is so easy to see that she didn't die. The writers wouldn't have made this scene complicated. They realize they had a young audience to deal with as well as adults. If the show were geared towards adults only, then they may have gone that route of Diana killing herself, intentionally or accidently. They may have gone so far as showing the audience when Diana actually goes out the window and flees into the darkness and meets a different fate. But it's a sit-com. It was an episode dealing with the fact that "anyone" is susceptible to falling victim to drug use. That, in itself is enough of an impact. We don't need to see, or imagine that she may have died going out that window.


You're right, of course...we really DON'T need to see it. But something bad did happen...that's an inescapable fact, not to mention the whole point of that story. And that point was driven home HARD!

Now, whether you choose to accept that version of the events of "JJ's Fiance-pt. 2" or not is your business...far be it for me to tell anyone what to belive.

But as I said before, that was MY interpretation of the events, and, given what led up to that scene, it seemed the most jolting way to make a point. (Diana's fate is not something I would wish on my worst enemy, and, belive me, I had a hard time accepting that denoument myself in 1976...but, for the mostly realistic "Good Times", that was, and is, the way life is.)

However, your reaction to my last post just proves my point about people's attachment to fictional characters...to a lot of us, the Evans family is just like our own realatives (Florida and my own mother{rest their souls} share many similarities in regards to spirituality and devotion to their families), and that's not necessarily a bad thing. JJ being arrested was frightening; his being forced to join a gang and suffer a gunshot wound was terrifying, and watching his future with the woman he loves crumble right before his---and our---eyes was heartbreaking.

Hard to accept? Hell, yes. It also makes for one hell of a good story.

I'm not writing this to mock or belittle you or your belifes...I'm just telling you all my interpretation of that scene and how I arrived at that conclusion, that's all.

You're right, of course...we really DON'T need to see it. But something bad did happen...that's an inescapable fact, not to mention the whole point of that story. And, belive me, that point was driven home HARD!

Now, whether you choose to accept that version of the events of "JJ's Fiance-pt. 2" or not is your business...far be it for me to tell anyone what to belive.

But as I said before, that was MY interpretation of the events, and, given what led up to that scene, it seemed the most jolting way to make a point. (Diana's fate is not something I would wish on my worst enemy, and, belive me, I had a hard time accepting that denoument myself in 1976...but, for the mostly realistic "Good Times", that was, and is, the way life is.)

However, your reaction to my last post just proves my point about people's attachment to fictional characters...to a lot of us, the Evans family is just like our own realatives (Florida and my own mother{rest their souls} share many similarities in regards to spirituality and devotion to their families), and that's not necessarily a bad thing. JJ being arrested was frightening; his being forced to join a gang and suffer a gunshot wound was terrifying, and watching his future with the woman he loves crumble right before his---and our---eyes was heartbreaking.

Hard to accept? Hell, yes. It also makes for one hell of a good story.

I'm not writing this to mock or belittle you or your belifes...I'm just telling you all my interpretation of that scene and how I arrived at that conclusion, that's all.
Okay gotcha. That's what interpretation is all about. It wouldn't be a forum if we all agreed. How fun would that be. My interpretation as well as some others believe this way and you and some others choose to see it another way. I guess we can agree that her fate, whatever it may have ultimately been, doesn't matter to us on a personal level. It is left open for those to ponder not WHAT HAPPENED, by why did this begin in the first place and how do we avoid it.

Okay gotcha. That's what interpretation is all about. It wouldn't be a forum if we all agreed. How fun would that be. My interpretation as well as some others believe this way and you and some others choose to see it another way. I guess we can agree that her fate, whatever it may have ultimately been, doesn't matter to us on a personal level. It is left open for those to ponder not WHAT HAPPENED, by why did this begin in the first place and how do we avoid it.

True, 'dat!