01x09 - Quicksand

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Z: The Beginning of Everything". Aired November 2015 - January 2017.*
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"Z: The Beginning of Everything" is focussed on the life of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, the "brilliant, beautiful and talented Southern Belle who becomes the original flapper and icon of the wild, flamboyant Jazz Age in the 1920s".
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01x09 - Quicksand

Post by bunniefuu »

♪♪

Zelda!

Zelda!

[knocking]

Zelda.

Hello, baby.

Mama.

Ohh.

Daddy. What are you doin' here?

Oh, a surprise. [chuckles]

You're supposed to be at Tildy's.

Oh, she sends her love.

Her new baby's a crier.

Come on in. It's like Grand Central around here.

My, what a lovely house.

Where did you find this place?

It's in the middle of nowhere.

The roads in this state are abysmal.

Now, dear.

No, you're right, Daddy.

They are awfully bumpy.

[grunting]

Well, hate to drunk and run.

Love you, Zelda, honey.

And I actually have to work.

Oh, bye.

Roaring good party. See you next weekend.

Bye.

Friends, up from the city.

They, uh, have to get back for work.

Uh, so it's proof that all roads lead to Westport.

The Sayres from Montgomery are at our door.

They just surprised us.

Yes, that'd be Mrs. Sayre.

And the right honorable Judge Anthony Sayre.

This is the right honorable Tana.

Houseboy, chief cook, bartender and...

[laughter]

All out master of many trades.

I'm sincerely happy to make your acquaintance.

Thank you.

Uh, very nice to meet you, too.

Tana has been so helpful, Daddy.

Really a Godsend.

He's from the Japanese Reliable Employment Agency.

Japanese what?

Tildy said you needed a few things, some sheets, some towels.

Oh, yes, thank you, Mama.

Uh, Scott.

Yes?

Would you take Mama and the bags upstairs.

Oh, certainly. Tana, can you show Mrs. Sayre up to the guest room.

Sweetheart. I asked you.

Yes, but this is exactly the sort of thing that Tana excels at.

Yes, of course it is, but...

It's fine, Zelda.

Gives me a chance to get to know...

This way please, missus.

Daddy, let me take your jacket.

No, I'm fine.

Where's the lavatory?

It's right through there.

Why are you being like this?

I know you're upset about Max and the diary...

My parents are here.

What are they gonna think about all this?

This is the first time they've seen us married.

Firs time they seen us in a home.

Since when did you care what they think?

Your father hates me.

They didn't want to come to the wedding.

They didn't even see you off at the train.

You might not want to claim them like you claim everything else about me, but they are still my parents.

When my daddy gets out of the bathroom, the least you can do is offer him a drink.

♪♪[jazz]

[retching]

Mrs. Sayre, please, come this way.

Borrow this towel? It's okay, it's okay.

I will make you some tea.

You, pry this sorry ass up off of here and call a cab. Call lots of cabs.

I got another one for you over here.

Tallulah, Eugenia...

Hmm?

Can you please get rid of, uh...

Who is that?

Not Scott Joplin, I can tell you that.

[chuckling]

My parents, Mama and the judge have decided to surprise us.

They're here?

Oh, glory be, what fun.

No, no. We've gotta clear this place out.

They'll be horrified.

Oh, yes, perhaps this is a bit trop pour la famille.

We'll help you, Zelda. Anything for a Montgomery sister.

Gird your loins, Beadsie. We can handle the piano man.

[chuckles]

Thank you.

Scott: Tell him, Max. 20,000 copies sold in the first two weeks.

Yes, indeed.

Sounds quite good.

Yes. I do tell Max, however, that the next printing should be larger.

And I tell our authors they should stick to the writing.

Well, what other authors do you work with, Mr. Perkins?

Henry James. Edith Wharton.

Oh, my goodness, those are two of our finest writers.

I certainly enjoyed "The Portrait of a Lady" and Henry James, he is a genius.

Some of my favorites.

Ah, Vincent.

Here, let me introduce you to my father-in-law.

And I really must be going. Good to meet you, Judge Sayre.

Likewise, Mr. Perkins.

Pages, my boy, pages.

Yes.

Call me.

Judge Anthony Sayre, the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay.

Pleasure.

Entirely mine.

Zelda: Townsend, would you please help?

These guests are like cicadas, loud and shrill and constantly under foot.

We have to get rid of them.

Of course I will help, just as soon as I finish this batch.

Damnit, Townsend. No one cares about pancakes.

What?

[chuckles] You know what I mean.

I know you're wrong. I think people care a great deal about pancakes.

Oh, you do, do you?

Um, yes, I do. Yes.

[gasping]

Yes, yes, I do.

[laughing]

So, you come down to these kinds of parties often then, do you?

Yes. I thought so.

Excuse me?

Your poetic soul.

I saw it the moment we met.

Not something all men have.

When one does, one does.

Do you know what I mean?

I should join my wife.

Perhaps, yet, should she not be allowed a journey of her own?

Well, again, it, uh, was a pleasure to meet you.

Bid adieu to your darling daughter, won't you?

You're the one that was bored, remember, Zelda?

"Well, let's invite everyone out, let's have a party."

Yes, but I do think...

All I wanted to do was write.

This is what you wanted.

Scott, my parents are here.

What does it matter what I might have wanted a week ago?

What is wrong with you?

[sighs]

Where's Daddy?

Zelda: Daddy.

Daddy.

Daddy, wait.

Daddy. I'm so sorry.

I don't know how a person, much less my own daughter, can live like this.

We don't live like this.

It's just a few friends.

Oh, there's nothing few or friends about it.

I know you didn't want a life in Montgomery, but I could never have imagined you wanted this.

I don't want this.

We came here because Scott needed to write.

Yeah, you call that writing?

No, no, of course not.

But I was so...

It was just so quiet.

What are you talking about, quiet?

Scott's really tryin'.

He is really tryin'.

And I am, too. We have the water and...

I love it. I swim every day.

I thought, oh, that's where I belong.

But then I have to come out.

I have to come out, don't I?

Oh, yes, yes, of course, you do.

People come out of things.

People come out of things, don't they?

Well, you'll always have us.

And I'll always have Scott.

Maybe... Maybe you could, uh, talk to him later.
♪♪[jazz]

Oh, Tallulah, Eugenia.

It's sensational. [laughing]

What's it called again?

Between the Sheets.

Oh, well, this is just what I needed.

[chuckling]

Oh, it is so comforting to be among friends.

Montgomery certainly misses you two.

That'll have to be their cross to bear, because I do not miss Montgomery.

I do.

God, Beadsie.

I do.

I miss everything about the south.

The humidity is so much better for my skin.

The gentlemen are more... gentlemanly.

I prefer the north.

Women are far more beguiling.

Well, how curious.

I have no experience with them.

You're missing everything, darling.

Oh, then I suppose I shall have to get to know some.

Here, here.

[chuckling]

Here, here.

[glasses clinking]

[chuckling]

Mm.

[chuckling]

Mm.

Judge Sayre: I haven't thrown a dart since I was a young man.

It's like riding a bicycle.

[soft thud]

[soft thud]

[soft thud]

So, did Zelda mention the family supper?

Yes. Yes, she did.

Just the four of us, I'm told.

My wife will be pleased.

So, this is where you come to work, or write, I should say.

[soft thud]

Yes.

And, uh, how is that going?

[soft thud]

Well...

[soft thud]

We came every bit as much for Zelda.

She loves the water, you know.

I guess there's real value in that arrangement then, isn't there?

There's only real value, your honor, in doing things.

Mm-hm, doing things.

[soft thud]

Yes, for instance, writing a novel.

Well, I am the only judge in the history of the state of Alabama who has never been overruled, and frankly, it eludes me how indulging in scribbling something maybe a few thousand people will read measures up to those rulings.

Rulings which will stand the test of time.

[thud]

Well, you were right.

Just like riding a bicycle.

So, you don't think my novel will stand the test of time?

Well, I couldn't say. I haven't read it.

[birds squawking]

I just never knew how much fun Tallulah and Eugenia could be.

They asked me if I wanted to join them for an after dinner liqueur.

Why, I don't know.

Well, you're havin' fun, Mama, why not?

Yes, why not drink as much and as often as you can?

We should get started. It's getting late.

[laughter]

No, we should wait.

Man: Hey, Fitz.

Yes, give me a minute.

You don't have to wait on me.

It's a family dinner.

Well, in that case, cheers.

What, uh, glorious bounty are we to feast upon tonight, Tana?

Crown roast of lamb, roasted potatoes, and baby carrots.

Shall I serve?

Scott: Oh, goodness, yes.

I think we're all ready. Right?

I hope we don't run out.

Never, darling.

From this day forth, to have and to hold, I promise to always keep you in gin.

If ever there was a promise to keep.

Thank you, Mr. Tana.

It's Tana, not Mr. Tana.

Just being respectful.

Well, there's nothing respectful in being wrong.

I do not mind, Mr. Scott.

Daddy's just tryin' to be nice.

If Daddy wanted to be nice, he could have read my book.

Could you pass the carrots please, Scott?

Scott, the carrots.

What about them?

That's enough.

It is more than enough.

Oh, dear, please don't.

Well, it is.

He just keeps on drinking and flying off the handle.

I'm not gonna be flying anywhere with this.

Tana, can you get the gin in the cabinet, please?

Scott, please.

That'll be all, Tana.

Thank you.

Why are you sending Tana away?

You didn't want to do any of this.

Fine, I'll get it myself.

We have to stop this, both of us.

No, we don't. We're just getting started.

Damnit all, Scott.

Zelda, please, honey.

Just put it down.

What are you doing?

Scott, stop it.

Both of you sit down.

Zelda, honey.

Just give me the bottle!

Fine!

[gasping]

Zelda, are you all right?

Zelda.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Stop it.

You need me to write this one up in my diary for ya, or you think you got this covered on your own?

[sobbing]

Oh.

[sobbing]

[sniffling]

They're gonna use each other up.

[sobbing]

[spitting]

[sighs]

[knocking]

Mama.

Daddy.

They're gone, Scott.

My parents are gone.

What?

They didn't even stay the g*dd*mn night.

[sighs]

Zelda.

Zelda!

Zelda!

Zelda!

Zelda!

Zelda!

Zelda!

I'm sorry about your parents leaving.

I think I'm gonna write them a letter.

Let them know exactly how I feel about all this.

[chuckles]

[door slams]

♪♪[ukulele]

I'd play you a tune but... my ukulele's gone bust.

Hm. I don't think a tune would do it.

Thank you, Townsend.

[sighs]

Guess I should get back in there.

Yes.

[sighs]

[footsteps]

[door opens]

[door closes]

Zelda.

Zelda!

What are you doing?

Just what it looks like.

I'm leavin'.

Please, please stay. I need you to stay.

How can you even say that to me?

I'm done.

What are you even talking about?

I can't do this anymore.

Not Westport, not New York, none of it.

I feel like I'm losing everything.

I need to go home.

I know you do, Zelda.

I know you do.

♪♪
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