Z: The Beginning of Everything

Thank you.

Man: Mr. Fitzgerald, I'm your very biggest fan America has.

It's such an exciting voice you have.

I read it from cover to cover.

Greatest book I've read in ages.

A masterpiece.

It's as if you're writing about me.

Oh.

- No empty glasses -

No empty glasses. This is from my personal stock.

Good evening, everyone. I'm Harold Ober.

The greatest literary agent an an author could ask for.

It's easy when you represent such remarkable authors.

And on the subject of remarkable,

it's quite something when a novel sells its way

through a 5,000-copy printing.

Now meet the wonder boy of the year,

Mr. F. Scott Fitzgerald,

who has sold his way through a whopping 20,000 copies

in two weeks.

- Man: Bravo. -

From H.L. Mencken, who, as is to be expected,

says it better than the rest of us,

"Just read 'Paradise.' Stop.

"Then best American novel I've seen of late.

"Stop.

"I pity the next book I pick up.

End. Stop."

It's a rare author that debuts to universal praise.

- Man: Bravo! - Nearly universal.

Now, now, no more about Heywood Broun.

Nobody reads the "Tribune" anyway.

- - Ober: To Scott Fitzgerald.

To all of you

for your infinite good taste.

- All: Cheers! - Man: Well done!

Scott, there's someone I want you to meet.

You know Jerry, this is nephew,

went to Princeton, class of '16?

Oh, of course...

Dutch!

- Quite the occasion. - Oh, isn't it?

I'm so happy for Scott, I'm grinning like a possum.

Look at you, Zelda.

You certainly know how to stand out in a room. Don't you think, sister?

Nothing makes me homesick like a well placed ruffle.

We're having tea at the Ritz tomorrow, darling.

- Do say you'll come. - Oh.

- Vincent! - Man: Miss Millay!

Edna St. Vincent Millay, the poet.

Hello, darling. Who is this?

Zelda Fitzgerald. How do you do?

- The wife. - That's right. Mrs. Fitzgerald.

Vincent Millay.

I thought there was an Edna or Saint in there someplace.

Oh, I've never been much of an Edna.

And no one would call me a saint.

Well, I've read all your poetry.

I'm sure I'm one of your biggest fans.

"My candle burns at both ends;

"It will not last the night;

"But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends...

It gives a lovely light!"

Oh, it's just gorgeous.

How lovely, you memorized all four lines.

Well, I've always wanted to meet you,

and now I certainly have.

Oh, I don't know what she thought would happen,

waltzing around the Algonquin in that fucking frock.

- Girl reeks of antebellum. - Mm-hmm.

- Zelda, there you are. - Here I am.

I need more time with you.

We are going to have to make a date to go shopping.

Oh.

That way I get you all to myself.

Yes. Let's do that.

The Bankheads lost their accents.

You'd never know they were from Montgomery.

- Tallulah's an actress. - Oh, is she, darling?

I love your drawl, darling girl.

Don't you ever lose it.

Lose it? I wouldn't know how.

You are a genuine marvel.

Someone should kiss you.

Someone should.

The priority, my dear boy, is your next novel.

The entire country is waiting to see

what F. Scott Fitzgerald will think of next.

Absolutely.

You're a fine artist, Fitzgerald.

The literary world awaits.

However, the Biltmore also awaits.

Payment for a certain room?

1815?

So perhaps a story for, say,

"Collier's" or "McCall's."

Every magazine is clamoring for your next short story.

It's your bread and butter.

Who's bread and butter?

Submit a story that they've already rejected.

See if the name Fitzgerald means something to them now.

And as to the advance,

you realize that it's meetings like this

that take up all my writing time.

Well, let's not worry, shall we?

The book reading today will benefit all of us.

What book reading.

At the National Arts Club.

I didn't agree to that, did I?

As I recall, a couple Martinis,

and you thought it was a marvelous idea.

You can't take my drunken word for it.

What else have we?

It'll be grand. Fans, critics.

H.L. Mencken.

Burton Rascoe. Heywood Broun.

But Broun hates me.

Only until he hears you read.

Well, they just keep coming and going.

Isn't it wonderful?

Anything you ladies would like to try on,

we're at your service.

Zelda?

No, no.

Now, this.

What do you think?

Now, Zelda, where would you wear at thing like that?

Well, that's the fun.

You put the gown on, and then you're practically obligated

to find an occasion worthy of the thing.

Shall I try it on?

If you'd like.

I'm just afraid that a dress like that

would end up wearing you.

But I would love to see you in a number like this.

Oh, I don't know.

A Jean Patou suit makes you look like you were born in the city.

Of course, it's up to you, dear. Try it on.

- All right. - Mm-hmm.

- Shall I come with you? - Please do.

Thank you.

Your dear husband is just going to lose his mind

when he sees you in your new suit.

- Ladies? - Waldorf salad, thank you.

Could the kitchen make me some tomato finger sandwiches?

- Of course. - Thank you.

Well, what's thepoint of a dress

if it doesn't send a man straight to the asylum?

God bless Scott for knowing something clothing.

I swear, I could wear a burlap sack

and Harold wouldn't even blink.

When did you and Scott talk about fashion?

Last night at the party.

Scott told me that you came to town

with a trunk full of clothes from Montgomery, that's all.

And when he suggested that you might want to pick up a few new things,

I jumped at the chance to take you on your first trip to Ladies Mile.

How sweet of you.

Not half as sweet as Scott.

You should have heard him go on about what styles would suit you best.

He must have said a dozen times the suit had to be a Jen Patou.

If you asked Harold, "What's a Patou?"

He'd probably say, "Gesundheit."

He's just gonna die when he sees you.

What about the part where Amory is trying time kiss Eleanor

and he calls her stupid?

Am I the muse?

It's a favorite of mine as well.

It's possibly too callow for this crowd.

You. Callow.

Immature perhaps.

This... This crowd will be filled with

high-brow literati.

I have to choose the perfect passage.

I'll ask Zelda. She'll know.

Darling girl, I need your help.

Is that so? I thought it was the other way around.

What does that mean?

I suppose there's some reason you sent that woman

to pick out my clothes like I was a child,

but I can't for the life of me imagine what it is.

I was trying to help.

I just wanted to make you feel that you belonged here.

The women in this city, they have a uniform.

I don't care what the women wear.

And I have no idea why you're so worried about it.

Zelda, I love you. I just want people to see you the way that I see you.

No one can see you under a thousand ruffles.

I like ruffles. And how is this dress any different

than the ones I wore in Montgomery

when you were telling me how beautiful I was?

We're not in Montgomery any more.

I'm well aware.

Zelda, this is our time to soar!

We need to put our best foot forward.

You were at the party. You saw how they were dressed.

- We need to ma... - That Heywood Broun is right about you.

You're just as phony and juvenile and pretentious as they say.

I know you don't mean that.

Oh, I mean it.