Together, Barney, Tex, and Edith are a jazz band, and if they don't make their rehearsal in Atlanta by noon tomorrow, their manager will make sure there's hell to pay. Barney is a terrible driver but a proud one nonetheless, meaning that the trio endures many near-accidents as they cross Virginia. Edith, who is Black, is a source of resentment for Barney and Tex, both of whom are white, because she never talks to them. According to Tex, all she wants to do is sing and be left alone. After they drive off of a ferry, Barney's antics grow worse. At one point, he lights up a cigar in the front seat, into which all three of them are crammed to balance the station wagon. They have to stop the car for Edith to vomit. Later, they finally find a gas station. The man who answers the door says he has a date and wants to close, but they insist. When he opens the door, they discover a huge piece of barbecuing beef on a spit. The owner, Little Hoskins, as he names himself, refuses to share, and the three men engage in a half-humorous argument over whether it's ready for them to eat. Barney can't stop himself from making fun of the racist, simplistic Hoskins and his wife, Thelma, who lost her sense when she was struck by lightning. Suddenly, Thelma points a gun at them, calls Edith the N-word multiple times, and orders them to play music. To her delight, they do, until Hoskins propositions Edith and she punches him. Thelma then empties her gun into the barbecue on the spit, and the band runs away as fast as they can. Eventually, they find an all-night cafe, but because they refuse to serve Edith, they eat in the car. For the first time, Barney lets Edith drive, and a new day dawns.