Gone with the Wind

Later that night, Frank brings Scarlett, the children, and Miss Pitty to Melanie’s and goes to a meeting with Ashley. Scarlett is angry and hurt that Frank is leaving her. Sam told Frank the men hadn’t done more than rip her bodice, and Frank had listened calmly and told Sam he’d take him part way to Tara that night. Frank’s calm angers Scarlett. How could he leave her for a silly meeting after what happened to her? If he really loved her, he’d stay and take care of her.

At Melanie’s, the women sit by the fire sewing. The children sleep in the nursery, and Archie sits by the fire chewing tobacco. Melanie chats on about the Lady Harpists’ group. Scarlett wants to talk about her assault and is angry that everyone is acting like nothing is wrong. She’d escaped a terrible fate and can’t stop thinking about the Black hand touching her breasts. She thinks it is odd that Archie is whittling onto the rug and no one tells him to spread out a sheet.

Archie spits tobacco juice into the fire and India scolds him. Miss Pitty says she’s glad her father didn’t chew, and Melanie snaps at her for being tactless. Scarlett wonders what’s wrong with the women. India gives Scarlett a hateful look, then looks at Archie anxiously. Scarlett notices how tense everyone is. She can tell they know something she doesn’t and are waiting for something.

Scarlett declares she’s too nervous to sew and says she can’t believe Frank left her after what happened. Then she asks India why she’s staring at her so angrily. India says Scarlett asked for the attack by flaunting herself around town for months, and that she deserved worse. India starts to say something about Frank, but Melanie stops her. India says she hates Scarlett because she has exposed every decent woman by tempting “white trash” and “darkies.” She starts to say that Scarlett has put their men in danger, but Melanie says India promised not to tell. Scarlett demands to know what’s going on.

Archie silences them and says he hears someone coming. Rhett Butler announces himself and Melanie flings open the door. Rhett demands to know where the men have gone. Scarlett doesn’t understand what’s happening as Rhett and Melanie argue, but Rhett says the Yankees know what’s going on. Melanie finally shares that the men are meeting in the basement of a plantation near Shantytown. Rhett thanks her and leaves swiftly.

Scarlett shakes Melanie, demanding to know what’s happening. India says it means Scarlett has probably killed Ashley and Frank. Archie tells them to keep sewing because the Yankees might be spying on them. They obey. Scarlett asks what’s happened to Ashley, and India observes that Scarlett isn’t thinking of Frank. Melanie says they should’ve told Scarlett, but Frank didn’t want to upset her. She says that Frank and Ashley are in the KKK, and that’s where they go every night.  Scarlett is horrified, but India says she should be proud of them.

Scarlett asks what Rhett was talking about. Archie says that because of Scarlett’s incident that afternoon, Ashley and Frank and the KKK set out to kill her attackers. If what Rhett said was true, the Yankees know and have set a trap to catch the KKK. If Frank and Ashley aren’t killed, they’ll have to flee. Archie says the blood is on Scarlett’s hands. Melanie defends Scarlett, saying people must do what they must do.

They hear horses, and Scarlett panics that she’s killed Ashley. The women all pretend to sew, keeping their faces blank. The visitor is Captain Tom Jaffery, one of Rhett’s friends and a customer of Scarlett’s. He asks Melanie where Mr. Wilkes and Mr. Kennedy are. She says they’re at a meeting at Frank’s store. The captain says they aren’t at the store, and that he and his men will wait outside till they return. The Yankees watch the women through the window. Melanie picks up Les Miserables and reads aloud blandly. Scarlett thinks of Ashley and Frank. If they’re not killed tonight, they’ll have to leave town like Tony Fontaine did. She doesn’t understand why Rhett wants to help when he hates Ashley, and she feels like this is all her fault.

Melanie’s voice trails off as she hears horses and singing voices. It’s Rhett, singing a song about Sherman’s march. He is joined by Ashley and Hugh Elsing, both laughing drunkenly. Scarlett knows that Ashley never gets drunk, and that Rhett is somber when he drinks. Melanie flings open the door and calls to Rhett to bring Ashley in. She acts confused when the Yankee says they’re under arrest. Scarlett realizes this is all rehearsed. Ashley and Rhett stumble inside, and Melanie shrieks that they’re too drunk to walk.

Ashley collapses into a chair, and Melanie scolds Rhett for bringing her husband home drunk. Melanie tells Archie to put Ashley to bed, pretending that this happens all the time. The Yankee sergeant says that Ashley and Hugh are under arrest for killing a Black man. Rhett says Hugh and Ashley have been with him all night. The Yankee asks where, and Rhett pretends to be sheepish. Melanie cries that she has the right to know. Rhett says Ashley, Hugh, Frank and Dr. Meade were at Belle Watling’s place. Melanie pretends to faint. Rhett says the Yankees can ask Belle themselves. The hubbub continues as everyone puts Ashley to bed. Tom says he has to arrest them. Rhett says drinking in a sporting house is no crime. Tom says uncertainly that he’ll be back tomorrow to question them. India slams the door behind him.

India lowers the shades. Scarlett notices a bloody spot on the chair Ashley sat on. He’s hurt! Scarlett and India cry that Ashley is dead, but Rhett says he just fainted from blood loss. Rhett explains that Ashley was too weak to flee. He asks India if she’ll fetch a real doctor. India says she’s not afraid, and she’ll go get old Dr. Dean. She says she’s grateful to Rhett but hates him just the same, then grabs her cape and goes.

Scarlett watches Melanie sop blood from Ashley’s shoulder with a towel. Scarlett wants to run to him. Noticing her distress, Rhett tells her to brace up; he won’t die. Rhett tells Archie where to find the bodies and instructs him to hide them behind Belle’s so it looks like they died in a gunfight. Archie nods, his eyes gleaming with respect.

Rhett accidentally calls Melanie by her familiar name “Melly,” but she says she’d love him to call her that. Rhett apologizes for saying they were at Belle’s, but it was the best possible story. Rhett explains that when he found Ashley wounded at the meeting place, he snuck him in the back door of Belle’s. Melanie asks how they got in, and Rhett says he has a key. Melanie looks embarrassed, but thanks Rhett for saving them all. Scarlett realizes that Rhett indeed lives with Belle Watling. Rhett says he gave Belle a list of the men who she was to say were at her house tonight. The Yankees will believe the sex workers because they won’t expect them to have any patriotism.

India returns with Dr. Dean, who gets to work on Ashley. Rhett takes Scarlett into the parlor. With unusual gentleness, he says she’s had a horrible day. Scarlett asks if Frank is at Belle’s. Rhett says Archie is carrying Frank to the vacant lot. He was shot through the head.