Gone with the Wind Page #11

RHETT:

You've been to the lumber office this afternoon,

haven't you?

SCARLETT:

What does that got to do with it?

RHETT:

Quite the little gentlemen, Ashley Pray, go on, Mrs.

Butler.

SCARLETT:

It's no use. You wouldn't understand.

RHETT:

You know, I'm sorry for you, Scarlett.

SCARLETT:

Sorry for me?

RHETT:

Yes, sorry for you because you're throwing away

happiness with both hands. And reaching out for

something that will never make you happy.

SCARLETT:

I don't know what you're talking about.

RHETT:

If you were free and Miss Mellie were dead, and you

had your precious, honorable Ashley, do you think

you'd be happy with him? You'd never know him. Never

even understand his mind. Any more than you

understand anything. Except money.

SCARLETT:

Never mind about that. What I want to know is...

RHETT:

You may keep your sanctity Scarlett. It'll work no

hardship on me.

SCARLETT:

Do you mean to say you don't care?

RHETT:

The world is full of many things and many people. And

I'm not a shant bit lonely... I'll find comfort

elsewhere.

SCARLETT:

Well, that's fine. But I warn you just in case you

change your mind... I intend to lock my door.

RHETT:

Why bother. If I wanted to come in no lock could keep

me out.

(In the lumber mill, Scarlett comes to see Ashley.)

ASHLEY:

Why Scarlett. What are you doing downtown this time

of day?

SCARLETT:

Why Ashely, I just...

ASHLEY:

Why aren't you helping Mellie get ready for my

surprise birthday party?

SCARLETT:

Why Ashley Wilkes. You aren't supposed to know

anything about that. Melanie'd be so disappointed you

weren't surprised.

ASHLEY:

I won't let her down. I'll be the most suprised man

in Atlanta. Well as long as you're here, let me show

you the books. So you can see just how bad a

businessman I really am.

SCARLETT:

Oh, don't let's fool with any books today. When I'm

wearing a new bonnet, all the figures I ever knew go

right slab out of my head.

ASHLEY:

The figures are well lost when the bonnet's as pretty

as that one. Scarlett, you know you get prettier all

the time. You haven't changed a bit since the day of

our last barbecue at Twelve Oaks. When you sat under

a tree surrounded by dozens of beaus.

SCARLETT:

That girl doesn't exist any more. Nothing's turned

out as I expected. Ashley, nothing. ASHLEY

Yes, we've traveled a long road since the old days,

haven't we, Scarlett? All the lazy days...and the

warm, still, country twilight...the high soft Negro

laughter from the quarters...the golden warmth, and

security of those days.

SCARLETT:

Don't look back, Ashley Don't look back. It drags at

your heart till...till you can't do anything but look

back.

ASHLEY:

I didn't mean to make you sad my dear. I never want

you to be anything but completely happy.

(Ashley hugs sad Scarlett. Mrs. Meade and India

happen to enter the room. Seeing this, they leave,

wordless and disgusted. Scarlett is now back at home,

lying in the bed.)

SCARLETT:

Oh, Who is it?

RHETT:

Only your husband.

SCARLETT:

Come in.

RHETT:

Am I actually being invited into the sanctuary?

You're not ready for Melanie's party?

SCARLETT:

I've got a headache, Rhett. You go without me and

make my excuses to Melanie.

RHETT:

What a wheg-livered little coward you are. Get up.

You're going to that party and you'll have to hurry.

SCARLETT:

Has India...

RHETT:

Yes, my dear, India has, every woman in town knows

the story and every man, too.

SCARLETT:

You should have killed them for spreading lies.

RHETT:

I have a strange way of not killing people who tell

the truth. No time to argue, now get up.

SCARLETT:

I won't go! I can't go until this misunderstanding is

cleared up.

RHETT:

You're not going to cheat Miss Melanie out of the

satisfaction of publicly ordering you out of her

house.

SCARLETT:

There was nothing wrong. India hates me, so I can't

go, Rhett. I couldn't face her.

RHETT:

If you don't show your face tonight, you'll never be

able to show it in this town as long as you live. And

while that wouldn't bother me, you're not going to

ruin Bonnie's chances. You're going to that party if

only for her sake. Now get dressed. Now wear that.

Nothing modest or matronly will do for this occasion.

And put on plenty of rouge. I want you to look your

part tonight.

(At the door of the Wilkes'.)

RHETT:

Good night, Scarlett.

SCARLETT:

But Rhett, you can't...

RHETT:

You go into the area alone. The lions are hungry for

you.

SCARLETT:

Oh, Rhett, don't leave me, don't! RHETT

You're not afraid?

(Ashley's birthday party is going on. As Scarlett

shows at the door, people in the room stop singing.

Melanie pretends to notice nothing and goes to greet

Scarlett calmly.)

MELANIE:

What a lovely dress, Scarlett darling! India wasn't

able to come tonight. Will you be an angel? I do need

you to help me receive my guests. Mrs. Meade, here's

our darling Scarlett.

Mrs. MEADE

Good evening.

SCARLETT. Good evening.

WOMAN:

Why, Scarlett, good evening.

ASHLEY:

Good evening, Miss Scarlett.

MELANIE:

Ashley, aren't you going to get our Scarlett a glass

of punch?

(Tara, Scarlett in her room.)

MAMMIE:

Did you have a good time tonight at Miss Mellie's

party child?

SCARLETT:

Yes, yes. Now Mammie be sure and leave word. If

Captian Butler asks for me when he comes back, I'm

asleep.

MELANIE:

Yes'm.

(Scarlett can not fall asleep, so many things

happen, she sneaks downstairs and wants to have a

drink. And she finds Rhett is already there, half-

drunk.)

RHETT:

Come here. Sit down. There's no reason why you

shouldn't have your nightcap even if I am here.

SCARLETT:

I didn't want to drink. I heard a noise and...

RHETT:

You heard nothing of the kind. You wouldn't have come

down if you thought I was here. You must need a drink

badly.

SCARLETT:

I do not.

RHETT:

Take it. Don't get yourself airs. I know you drink on

the quiet and I know how much you drink. You think I

care if you like your brandy?

SCARLETT:

You're drunk and I'm going to bed.

RHETT:

I'm very drunk and I intend getting still drunker

before the evening's over. But you're not going to

bed. Not yet. Sit down. So she stood by you, did she?

How does it feel to have the woman you've wronged

cloak your sins for you? You're wondering if she

knows all about you and Ashley. You're wondering if

she did it just to save her face. You're thinking

that she's a fool for doing it even if it did save

your hide but...

SCARLETT:

I will not listen.

RHETT:

Yes, you'll listen. Miss Melanie's a fool, but not

the kind you think. It's just that's there's too much

honor at her to ever conceive of dishonor in anyone

she loves. And she loves you. Though just why she

does, I'm sure I don't know.

SCARLETT:

If you weren't so drunk and insulting, I could

explain everything. As it is though...

RHETT:

If you get out of that chair once more... of course,

the comic figure in all of this is the long suffering

Mr. Wilkes. Mr. Wilkes, who can't be mentally

faithful to his wife and won't be unfaithful to her

technically. Why doesn't he make up his mind?

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