The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise

Louise and Tanner stay in a motel in St. Louis, and Louise sits awake at night due both to Tanner’s snoring and her concern about George. It will take two days to fix the fuel pump since the Jaguar is so old, so they are stuck. Now, instead of three more days, it’s a five-day trip to California, and they’ll arrive the same day that Salvatore D’Amato is released from jail. In the morning, Louise tries to work on her crossword, but her hand tremors are bothering her. Tanner flips through the channels on TV. Louise starts a conversation, asking Tanner about her family. Tanner mentions a younger sister, Marty. Louise asks why both girls have traditionally male names, and Tanner says that her mom read that girls with gender ambiguous names have an easier time getting jobs. Louise asks Tanner about her relationship with her sister, but all she says is that they aren’t close. 

The duo goes to dinner at the Cobra Lounge, and Louise orders herself a vodka and Tanner a whiskey sour. Louise flirts with the older bartender, Leonard, and Tanner sips her drink, surprised to find it sweet. Louise asks her about her knee, and Tanner tells her about the frat party, including the reason that she fell, which she has never told anyone before.