Z: The Beginning of Everything

Things are sweeter when they're lost.

I know,

because once I wanted something and got it.

It was the only thing I ever wanted badly.

And when I got it,

it turned to dust in my hands.

He had some character say that.

It was the way he always looked at things.

Tragically.

But it might as well have been about me.

It was always about me.

Right to the very end.

Or maybe it was about us.

Not that it matters.

Because all that came later.

- Be careful, Zelda. - It's mighty high!

You'll break your neck!

Ish kabibble!

- Zelda! - Zelda!

What if someone sees? Good gracious!

Zelda!

_

She eloped?

Her mama and daddy think she's at

her cousin Effy's house for the weekend.

Good night. They'll be carrying on

at 18 Montgomery Street when they find out.

Whatever possessed Nelly to do such a thing?

- Lust. - Zelda!

Oh, come on, y'all saw them at that officer's dance.

They were all hot and bothered.

You know her daddy is never gonna let her marry a Yankee.

Zelda!

- Woo! - Zelda!

Greetings, my jellies.

They're sweet, but Montgomery boys

are such three minute eggs.

I'm tired of their foolishness.

Well, they're not so bad.

That Harry Gunther's a real hoot.

If you like little boys.

Zelda!

What time are we going to the dance tonight, kiddos?

Where is it?

Old city hall. I can't be there 'til 9:30.

My daddy won't let me go to a dance down there.

Then don't tell him.

Zelda, those dances are rough.

There's no chaperone, and what if...

That's the point, scaredy cat.

What time is it?

Oh, Dick's gonna pitch a fit.

I'll see you in the park at 9:30, Livy.

Bye, Ellie.

Let's just start without her.

Lil' Johnny's gonna bust out crying any minute.

In this house, we eat as a family.

Give me that baby, Tildy.

Oh, here.

How long are we supposed to sit here?

Katie, I'm here!

Oh, just in time, baby.

- Honestly, Zelda. - Where are your shoes?

They're in the hall. They're all wet.

Am I gonna have to buy you new shoes?

Judge, let's not talk about this right now.

They're fine, Daddy.

They just need to dry out.

Katie, I don't have a taste for roast tonight.

Can you make me one of your tomato sandwiches?

Of course I can, baby.

We've been waiting on you going on 23 minutes, Zelda.

You are going to eat roast like the rest of us.

Well, you didn't have to wait for me.

We always wait for you

and daddy always gets mad when you're late.

I guess I was just having too much fun.

- Zelda, go to your room. - Why?

Because you seem to forget that you're still living under my roof,

which means I expect you to act like a human being,

and not some swamp rabbit.

I don't see what you're so upset about, Daddy.

I'm here now, aren't I?

Tildy, pass me that iced tea.

Zelda, I ask very little of you.

But being late for supper is disrespectful to me...

Never mind, I'm not really hungry anymore.

Sit down.

You're having an awfully hard time

making up your mind tonight, Daddy.

Don't you push me, Zelda Sayre.

Katie, I'll take my sandwich in my room.

Oh, but darling, we've got a beautiful key lime pie for dessert tonight.

Well, then, I'll take a piece of that pie, too.

Butter beans, dear?

I'm sorry, but you should hear what people say about her, Mama.

Eddie Timpson told me she was dancing cheek to cheek

with Charlie Bumpass at that dance the other night.

She's just high-spirited.

She's just plain selfish.

What about that motor car she stole?

Poor daddy.

There you are.

Jesus.

Lieutenant Hammond. How nice of you to drop by.

One of these days, someone important's

gonna notice when you disappear.

Oh, I suppose it's a condition to which we should all aspire.

These boots get any shinier,

you'll be able to blind the Huns from a quarter mile.

Oh, anything I can do to aid the effort.

Well, you could aid the effort by training your men.

Oh, I think my boys are doing quite well.

Have you seen the trench they've been working on?

They're a lot better at digging trenches

than loading a stokes mortar, that's for sure.

Yes, and as I said, we are all very thankful

for your quick thinking and cat like reflexes.

Uh, here is my token of gratitude, per your request.

Now, when you copy that out, do not change a word.

It took me four drafts to get it right.

Forgive the spelling. It's not my strong suit.

"At night I recall your glorious smile.

"Those twinned... twined..."

"At night I recall your glorious smile.

"That twinned, upturned of mirth and abandon,

"and silvery dream, and I feel anything is possible."

It's good, isn't it?

I think I may have fallen a little bit in love with her myself

while I was writing them.

Evelyn's smile isn't glorious.

It's kind of crooked.

Well, no matter.

She'll believe that you think it's glorious.

Which will make her feel glorious,

which will make her smile be, in fact, more glorious.

A real romantic, aren't you?

Why would any man choose to be otherwise?

Now, excuse me.

I will probably be dead three months from now.

No time to waste.

I have a legacy to create.

You'll be dead long before

anyone reads that novel of yours.

Yeah.

I can live with that.

Thanks for the letter, Fitzgerald.

Tomorrow, teach your boys to load a goddamn mortar safely.

If we're gonna die for our country,

we ought to do it in France, not Alabama.

Yes, that is my top most priority, Hammond.

Baby, you're not going out.

I'm not staying in.

There's a dance at city hall.

The Judge is already fit to be tied.

What do you think, Mama?

Should I wear this one or the pink?

I don't know, at least wear stockings.

Please tell me you're wearing a corset.

If you don't wear a corset,

people are gonna think you're...

A speed?

Things are different now, Mama.

Besides, the war industries board

told us not to wear corsets.

Not to buy corsets. There's a difference.

Oh, good Lord.

Smell that sweet alyssum.

It always reminds me of Mama in the garden at Mineral Mount.

What's the matter?

What do you think?

I think you should put on some stockings.

Mama.

I ran into Professor Wisner at McCormick's this morning.

He said you haven't been to ballet class in a couple of weeks.

I'll go back eventually, Mama, I promise.

What is it, exactly, you're doing

that's keeping you from your obligations, my girl?

I'm doing my patriotic duty.

By going to dances every night and staying out to all hours?

Mama, these boys are facing death

in the trenches of France.

It is the least I can do.

Bye, Mama.

Oh, baby, wait.

What is it?

Livy's waiting for me.

Let's not rile the judge any more tonight. Come here.

Now you just try to be quiet.

Mind those rosebushes, baby.

The night smelled of khaki and cigarettes.

The war was finally here,

in all of its disordered grandeur.

I felt its urgency.

If I waited, it might be gone forever.

Come on!

Hey, miss, you want to dance?

Come on, you little bearcat.