Gone with the Wind Page #4

RHETT:

I'll say one thing. The war makes the most peculiar

widows.

SCARLETT:

I wish you'd go away. If you'd had any raising, you'd

know I never want to see you again.

RHETT:

Now, why be silly? You've no reason for hating me.

I'll carry your guilty secret to my grave.

SCARLETT:

Oh, I guess I'd be very unpatriotic to hate one of

the great heroes of the war. I do declare, I was

surprised that you'd turned out to be such a noble

character.

RHETT:

I can't bear to take advantage of your little girl's

ideas, Miss O'Hara. I am neither noble nor heroic.

SCARLETT:

But you are a blockade runner.

RHETT:

For profit. And profit only.

SCARLETT:

Are you trying to tell me you don't believe in the

cause?

RHETT:

I believe in Rhett Butler. He's the only cause I

know. The rest doesn't mean much to me.

DR. MEADE

And now, ladies and gentlemen. I have a startling

surprise for the benefit of the hospital. Gentlemen,

if you wish to lead the opening real with the lady of

your choice, you must bid for her.

WOMAN:

Caroline Meade, how could you permit your husband to

conduct this, this, slave auction?

CAROLINE MEADE:

Darling Merry Weather, how dare you criticize me?

Melanie Wilkes told the doctor that if it's for the

benefit of the cause, it's quite all right. WOMAN

She did?

AUNT PITTY:

Oh dear, oh dear, where are my smelling salts? I

think I shall faint.

CAROLINE MEADE:

Don't you dare faint, Lilly Beth. Hamilton. If

Melanie says it's all right, it is all right.

DR. MEADE

Come gentlemen, do I hear your bids? Make your

offers! Don't be bashful, gentlemen!

MAN1

Twenty dollars! Twenty dollars for Miss Maybelle

Merryweather.

MAN2

Twenty five dollars for Miss Fanny Ossing!

DR. MEADE

Only twenty five dollars to give.

RHETT:

One hundred and fifty dollars in gold.

DR. MEADE

For what lady, sir?

RHETT:

For Mrs. Charles Hamilton.

DR. MEADE

For whom, sir?

RHETT:

Mrs. Charles Hamilton.

DR. MEADE

Mrs. Hamilton is in mourning, Captain Butler. But I'm

sure any of our Atlanta belles would be proud to¡­

RHETT:

But talk to me. I said Mrs. Charles Hamilton.

DR. MEADE

She will not consider it, sir.

(Flame in Scarlett's eyes.)

SCARLETT:

Oh, yes, I will.

(Scarlett squeezes through the crowd to Butler. They

go dancing.)

RHETT:

We've sort of shocked the Confederacy, Scarlett.

SCARLETT:

It's a little like blockade running, isn't it?

RHETT:

It's worse. But I expect a very fancy profit out of

it.

SCARLETT:

I don't care what you expect or what they think, I'm

gonna dance and dance. Tonight I wouldn't mind

dancing with Abe Lincoln himself.

(In the Hamiltons. Rhett pays a visit to Scarlett

and brings her a bonnet from Paris.)

SCARLETT:

Oh, oh, oh the darling thing. Oh, Rhett, it's lovely,

lovely! You didn't really bring it all the way from

Paris just for me!

RHETT:

Yes. I thought it was about time I got you out of

that fake mourning. Next trip I'll bring you some

green silk for a frock to match it.

SCARLETT:

Oh, Rhett!

RHETT:

It's my duty to blade boys at the front, to keep our

girls at home looking pretty.

SCARLETT:

It's been so long since I had anything new.

(Scarlett tries the bonnet on. Then she diverts it,

considering this is the right way.)

SCARLETT:

How do I look?

RHETT:

Awful, just awful.

SCARLETT:

Why, what's the matter?

RHETT:

This war stopped being a joke when a girl like you

doesn't know how to wear the latest fashion.

SCARLETT:

Oh, Rhett, let me do it. But Rhett, I don't know how

I'd dare wear it.

RHETT:

You will, though. And another thing. Those pantalets.

I don't know a woman in Paris wears pantalets

anymore.

SCARLETT:

What do they... you shouldn't talk about such things.

RHETT:

You little hypocrite, you don't mind my knowing about

them, just my talking about them.

SCARLETT:

Rhett, I really can't go on accepting these gifts.

Though you are awfully kind.

RHETT:

I'm not kind, I'm just tempting you. I never give

anything without expecting something in return. I

always get paid.

SCARLETT:

If you think I'll marry you just to pay for the

bonnet, I won't.

RHETT:

Don't flatter yourself, I'm not a marrying man.

SCARLETT:

Well, I won't kiss you for it, either.

RHETT:

Open your eyes and look at me. No, I don't think I

will kiss you. Although you need kissing badly.

That's what's wrong with you. You should be kissed,

and often, and by someone who knows how.

SCARLETT:

And I suppose that you think that you are the proper

person.

RHETT:

I might be, if the right moment ever came.

SCARLETT:

You're a conceited, black- hearted varmint, Rhett

Butler, and I don't know why I let you come and see

me.

RHETT:

I'll tell you why, Scarlett. Because I'm the only man

over sixteen and under sixty who's around to show you

a good time. But cheer up, the war can't last much

longer.

SCARLETT:

Really, Rhett? Why?

RHETT:

There's a little battle going on right now, that

hypocrite ought to pretty well fix things. One way or

the other.

SCARLETT:

Oh, Rhett, is Ashley in it?

RHETT:

So you still haven't gotten the wooden headed Mr.

Wilkes out of your mind? Yes, I suppose he's in it.

SCARLETT:

Oh, tell me, Rhett, where is it?

RHETT:

Some little town in Pennsylvania called Gettysburg.

Chapter 5 Scarlett Taking Care of Melanie

(Atlanta prayed while onward surged the triumphant

Yankees...Heads were high, but hearts were heavy, as

the wounded and the refugees poured into unhappy

Georgia......In the hospital, Scarlett helps out as a

nurse there, but her patience was easily suffocated

by the dying and screaming there.)

Priest

With the Lord as my shepherd I shall not want. He

maketh me to lie down in green pastures. With the

sword at my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of

righteousness for his namesake. Yea, though I walked

through the valley at the shadow of death, I will

fear no evil. For thou art with me. Thy rod and thy

staff, they comfort me.

VOICE:

Mrs. Hamilton, Dr. Wilson is waiting.

SCARLETT:

Let him wait, I'm going home, I've done enough. I

don't want any more men dying and screaming, I don't

want anymore.

(Scarlett runs out of the hospital onto the street,

where she finds the whole city is shaking in the

flame of war. Everyone is fleeing. She is totally at

a loss what to do, then Butler comes with a

carriage.)

RHETT:

Scarlett! Whoah. Climb into this buggy, this is no

day for walking, you'll get run over.

SCARLETT:

Rhett, ride me to where Aunt Pitty is, please.

RHETT:

Panic's a pretty sight, isn't it. Whoah, whoah.

That's just another one of General Shermans calling

cards. He'll be paying us a visit soon.

SCARLETT:

I've gotta get out of here, I gotta get out of here

before the Yankees come.

RHETT:

And leave your work at the hospital? Or have you had

enough of death and lice and men chopped up? Well I

suppose you weren't meant for sick men, Scarlett.

SCARLETT:

Don't talk to me like that, Rhett, I'm so scared, I

wish I'd get out of here!

RHETT:

Let's get out of here together. No use staying here,

letting the South come down around your ears. There

are too many nice places to go and visit. Mexico,

London, Paris...

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