"When This Cruel War Is Over..."

   "-and  there's a place back home where a wild plum tree comes to flower in the springtime...Down by the creek, you know."

 "Yes, I know-I know-," said Melanie trying to comfort the wounded soldier which lay in the bed at the Atlanta hospital.

 "When we were little, my brother Jeff, and I used to...I told you about my brother Jeff, didn't I ma'am?...I know I did. He...we don't know where Jeff is, now, ma'am. Since Bull Run, we haven't heard anything and..." he finished with his voice breaking.

 "Please...we must have your temperature now. Please do just take this in your mouth and not talk anymore. Not just now," said Melanie as she put a thermometer into the mouth of the wounded man.

 As Scarlett finished ravelling the bandages she said, "Melanie-I'm so tired. I've got to go home. Aren't you tired Melanie?"

 With an anguished smile Melanie answered, "No...I'm not tired. This could be...Ashley. And only strangers here to comfort him. I'm not tired, Scarlett."

 As tears came to Scarlett's eyes, Melanie turned away and said quitely, "They could all-be Ashley, Scarlett...And..."

 As Scarlett and Melanie left the hospital that night a women approached them from a fine carriage. Scarlett looked at her in horror, for she knew that this was no other than Belle Watling, the owner of the brothel in Atlanta, a women who pranced around with dyed hair and very flamboyant clothing.

 "I've been sitting here by this curb on solid hour waiting to speak to you, Miz Wilkes," she said.

 "Go on, you trash, don' t you be pesterin' these ladies," scolded Uncle Peter running up to them.

 "Don't talk to her Melly," said Scarlett sharply.

 "Who are you?" asked Melanie, a bit frightened.

 "My names Belle Watling, but that doesn't matter. " She turned to Scarlett and said, "I expect you think I've got no business here. First time I came here, I said, 'Belle, you're a nurse.' But the ladies didn't want my kind of nursing. Well, they was more than likely right. Then I tried giving them money. My money wasn't good enough for them either, old peahens! But I know a gentleman who says you're a human being. If you are, which they ain't, you'll take my money for the hospital.

 Suddenly Mrs. Meade emerged from the hospital. When she saw Belle she said, "What are you doing here? Haven't you been told twice already?"

 "This time I'm conversing with Miz Wilkes," replied Belle. "You might as well take my money. It's good money, even if it is mine."

 "I'm sure you're very generous," said Melanie, to the shock of Uncle Peter and Scarlett.

 "No, I'm not. I'm a Confederate like everyone else, that's all," she said.

 "Of course, you are," replied Melanie.

 "There's some folks wouldn't feel that way. Maybe they're not as good Christians as you," she said, her gaze falling on Scarlett and Mrs. Meade.

 She walked down the stairs to her carriage quickly as Melanie counted the money. "Look, Mrs. Meade! It's a great deal of money! Ten. Twenty. Thirty. Fifty... And it isn't our paper money! It's gold!"

 "Let me see that hankerchief!" said Scarlett, aghast with fury. "R.B. And she's driving off in Rhett Butler's carriage!...Oh, if I just wasn't a lady, what wouldn't I tell that varmint!"

Panic hit the City with
the first of Sherman's shells...
Helpless and unarmed,
the populace fled from the oncoming juggernaut...
And desperately the gallant remnants
of an army marched
out to face the foe...

   As people grabbed their belongings and fled through the streets, Scarlett helped Dr. Wilson in the hospital, sweating and groaning over the dying men. She was sick of death, of constant blood, and most of all war. And as the minister prayed for the souls of the Confederates, Scarlett watched in shock as an amputation was performed without the necessary things.

 "No!...No...Lemme alone! No! No...I can't stand it! No, no!" cried the helpless soldier as the doctor began with the scalpel in his hand.

 Scarlett stood frozen in horor for several seconds listening to the man's agonized screams. "Don't cut. Don't cut. Don't!....Don't... Please..."

  "Where's the nurse?" demanded Dr. Wilson.

  Scarlett ran from the site of the operation. She wanted no part of it. The claustophobia of the place made her want to vomit, and the putrid smell of death was overwhellming.

 "Mrs. Hamilton! Dr. Wilson's waiting!" cried the Sergeant.

  "Let him wait," she screamed with terror and disgust. "I'm going home. I've done enough. I don't want any more men dying and screaming. I don't want anymore!"

 As she ran out into the street the scene of violence struck her. Horses were running amuck in the streets, people were screaming and running frantically with their belongings, and the noise of the cannons embraced the sound of panic.

  Suddenly the voice of darkies singing "Go Down Moses," surged in the air. Scarlett glanced over and recognized Big Sam.

 "Big Sam! Big Sam!" she called.

 "Amighty Moses! It's Miss Scarlett!" he said with a grin to his companions.

 "Oh, I'm so glad to see you. Tell me-about Tara-about my mother. She didn't write me."

 "She's gone and got sick, Miss Scarlett. Just a lil' bit sick, dat's all, Miss Scarlett. Your Pa-he jus' wild when dey wouldn't let him fight on account o' his broken knee-and he had fits when dey took us feel' han's to dig ditches fo' de white sojers to hid in. But yo' ma says de Confedrutzy needs us. So we's goin' to dig-fo' the South," he explained.

 "Sam, was there a doctor," asked Scarlett in agony.

 "Sorry, ma'am," said a commanding officer. "We've go to march."

 The sound of the shells drowned out the good-byes of the darkies. As Scarlett looked for someway to get to Aunt Pittypat's house, Rhett drove up in his carriage. "Scarlett! Scarlett!" he called. "This is no day for walking. You'll get run over!"

  "Oh, Rhett, Rhett. I've got to get out of here. Drive me to Aunt Pitty's, please!" she cried.

  "Panic's a pretty sigh, isn't it," he said with a shake of his head.

  As the horse reared, Rhett made a proposal to Scarlett. "Let's get out of here together. No use staying here and letting the South come down around your ears. There are too many nice places to go and visit...Mexico...London...Paris..."

  "With you?"

  "Yes, ma'am. With a man who understands you and admires you-for just what you are," he said without looking at her. "I figure we belong together-being the same sort. And I've been waiting for you to grow up, and get the sad-eyed Ashley Wilkes out of your heart. Well, I hear Mrs. Wilkes is going to have a baby in another month or so. It's going to be hard-loving a man with a wife and baby clinging to him," he said with mock sympathy.

Rhett offering to take Scarlett away

  As he stopped in front of Aunt Pitty's house Rhett said, "Whoa! Well, here we are. Are you going with me-or are you getitng out?"

  "I hate and despise you, Rhett Butler! And I'll hate and despise you until I die!" she said viciously.

  As she lept form the carriage her skirt caught on the wheel. Rhett leaned over to release it and said, "Oh, no you won't, Scarlett. Not that long."

Scarlett turning him down

As she entered the house, Prissy ran up to her in panic. "Miss Scarlett...Miss Scarlett! Folkses all goin' to Macon! And folkses runnin' away and runnin' away!"

 "Oh, I'm going, too. Prissy, go pack my things!" said Scarlett when she saw Aunt Pittypat gathering her belongings with Uncle Peter.

  "Scarlett! What is this? You ain't planning on running away?" asked Dr. Meade emerging from his house.

  "And don't you dare try to stop me. I'm never going back to that hospital! I've had enough of smelling death-and rot-and death! I'm going home-I want my mother! My mother needs me!" she screamed at him.

 "You've got to listen to me. You must stay here. Melanie needs you. She's ill already. She shouldn't even be having a baby-she may have a diffucult time," he explained.

  "It isn't my baby...You take care of it," she said wildly. "I don't know anything about babies being born."

  Prissy ran into the conversation idiotically. "Ah knows. Ah knows. Ah knows how to do it. Ah's done it lots and lots. Let me, Doctor. Let me-Ah can do everythin'."

 After aproving of Prissy Doctor Meade said, "Ashley's fighting in the field-fighting for the Cause. He may never come back; he may die, Scarlett...We owe him a well-born child."

 "Ashley..." she said. "I promised Ashley...something."

  "Then you'll stay?" he asked. "Good. Go along, Miss Pittypat. Scarlett's staying."

 As soon as they had all left Scarlett said to herself, "Melanie!...Melanie! It's all your fault," she said with a raised fist. "I hate you!...I hate you and I hate your baby! If only I hadn't promised Ashley...If only I hadn't promised him...

 The look of hatred on her face faded moments after the sound of a cannon sent her scurrying into the house in terror.