Z: The Beginning of Everything

It's "under cover."

What?

"He was always under cover,"

not "under covers."

She had a lover, and he was always under covers.

That makes sense.

Right. Well, I guess you'd know more

about that sort of thing than I would.

It's just a song, Zelda.

Here, darling.

Why don't you see if you can find a road

that'll take us to Richmond?

Uh, it says "Jog left at Vagabond Lane."

What do you think they mean by jog?

Well, I think that means to step on the gas

- and then scoot around... - Slow down, Scott.

I want to get to Montgomery in one piece.

All right, then.

No jog.

How long are we going to be in Montgomery for?

I don't know.

Well, it's just that I promised Max Perkins...

You didn't have to come.

I've been thinking.

Oh?

Maybe I'll go on the wagon

- for a little while. -

Clear my head.

Really?

You don't think I can?

Hand me that gin bottle in the back there.

All right, then, uh, I guess I will, too.

It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world

for Mama and Daddy to see us off the bottle for once.

I didn't do it for your father.

The judge has rendered his verdict.

There will be no retrial.

Can you blame him?

Can't say that I do.

Thank you.

- Man: Congratulations! -

So now Sarah Bernhardt's writing novels.

The actress? She's still alive?

She's 75 years old.

Huh.

"The famous actress has already dabbled

"in painting and sculpture.

"This is her first excursion to literature.

"She has said and declared that if it is successful,

she'll attempt a play."

Well, good for her.

Huh.

What?

Uch. For God's sake, she's an actress.

At 75 years old,

maybe she doesn't care as much as you do.

Maybe not.

Maybe that's your problem.

What, that I care?

No. That I don't.

And I'm sick of talking about it.

Zelda: Right or left?

I must have taken a wrong turn.

I told you we should have turned back

at that service station.

That's not what Dr. Jones advised.

Well, there's a cabin up there.

Maybe they can tell us how to get to Fredericksburg.

Yeah, I'm not sure that's a good idea.

Sure it is.

Maybe we should wait until we get to a real town.

We haven't seen a real town in miles.

Now come on. There are dogs out front.

Oh!

- - Holy Jesus!

Stop! Stop, stop, stop!

Stop the car.

It's gone. The whole thing is absolutely gone.

I can see that.

I guess the expensive doesn't like Virginia.

Why are you laughing? This is a problem.

You'll have to fix that wheel.

We're gonna have to find it first.

Them potholes are real bad on tires.

That's for sure.

Mister,

is this what you're looking for?

Need a hand?

Uh, no. No, it's fine.

Where are you going?

Home.

Where is that?

Alabama.

Is it far?

90 miles from here.

Is it nice?

It's the most beautiful place on Earth.

The air smells like, uh, ripe pears.

The nights are warm and soft.

And it's old and comfortable now.

Everything's old here, too.

I don't like it much.

I'm going to get to Richmond some day.

Don't be in too big a hurry.

The world's a big place.

This will help you find it.

Thank you, lady.

How are we doing, fellas?

We're all done. Thanks for your help.

So which way to Fredericksburg?

About 15 miles on that road.

Can't miss it.

Great.

- Thank you. - Thank you, ma'am.

You're, uh,

you're gonna let her drive?

Of course. She's my queen.

Hmm.

Well, we're going to have to be careful now.

You just gave that man our last $5.00.

We only have about enough for one more night on the road.

What? You didn't tell me we were running out of money.

I wouldn't have bought such a big breakfast this morning.

I wanted you to have whatever breakfast you wanted, darling.

I don't want you to worry.

You still could have been honest with me

about the money.

That's all right. We'll be in Montgomery soon.

We can stay in Mama's house.

That house is so big.

Huh. You can even finish your novel there.

Right.

Whoa. What are you doing?

Wait! What are you doing?

- Saving money. - No, no, no, no!

Christ Almighty, Zelda.

You can't break the law!

Whoo hoo hoo!

We don't want the cops after us.

I didn't know I married a regular land stirrer.

There's a lot you don't know about me.

- - Oh!

What was that?

Uh...

Still alive.

I didn't see it.

What are we going to do?

We can't do anything.

There must be something.

There's nothing.

Get in the car.

Oh.

Zelda, we got to go.

It's just a matter of time

before the toll booth guy comes looking for us.

We can't just leave him here, Scott.

What do you want me to do?

I'm not God.

Zelda, let's go.

How could you leave that animal to suffer like that?

You're the one that hit it, Zelda.

He came out of nowhere.

No one could have stopped.

I never should have let you drive.

Let me drive?

You insisted. I indulged.

Indulged me.

What am I, a child?

Why do you get to decide what I do and don't do?

We're just talking about a dying animal

that we couldn't help, that is all.

Yes, it was distressing, but we have to move on.

I didn't want to move on. That deer was suffering.

Look, you didn't know what you wanted.

You were hysterical.

Now, I had to do what I thought was right.

I had to make a decision for both of us.

What you thought was right?

Like letting Eugenia Bankhead give you the works?

Was that right?

What?

Ah...

I was drunk.

You're always drunk.

Well, I saw you with Townsend.

We were just talking.

You were in each other's arms.

He's been after you ever since he met you.

You know that.

But we were just talking.

- It didn't mean anything. - Exactly.