INT. MELANIE'S BEDROOM
               
Melanie is lying very still on the bed. Her closed eyes are sunken in twin purple circles. Her face is a waxy yellow. Scarlett tiptoes across the room to the quiet figure and stands over her.

                          SCARLETT
               It's me, Melly.
               
The eyes open, then close again.

                          MELANIE
               Promise me?
                          
                          SCARLETT
               Anything!
                          
                          MELANIE
               Look after my little boy! I gave
               him to you once before, remember?
               The day he was born?
                          
                          SCARLETT
               Oh, Melly, don't talk this way! I
               know you'll get well!
                          
                          MELANIE
               Promise me... College? 
                          
                          SCARLETT
               Yes! Yes! And Europe, and a pony.
               Whatever he wants, but - Melly! do
               try...
                          
                          MELANIE
               Ashley...

Scarlett's eyes go wide but Melanie continues

                          MELANIE (CONT'D)
               Ashley and you...
                          
                          SCARLETT
                    (almost voiceless)
               What about - Ashley, Melly?
                          
                          MELANIE
               Look after him for me... just as
               you looked - looked after me for
               him.
                          
                          SCARLETT
               I will, Melly.
                          
                          MELANIE
               Look after him. But never let him
               know.
               
Scarlett is almost on the point of breaking. She rises, abruptly sinking her teeth into the thumb to regain control. The door opens slightly. Dr. Meade stands in the threshold beckoning imperiously. She bends over the bed, takes Melanie's hand and lays it against her cheek.
                          
                          SCARLETT
               Good night.
                          
                          MELANIE
                    (very faint)
               Promise?
                          
                          SCARLETT
               What else, Melly?
                          
                          MELANIE
               Captain Butler. Be kind to him...
                          
                          SCARLETT
               Rhett?
                          
                          MELANIE
               He loves you so.
                          
                          SCARLETT
               Yes, Melly.
                          
                          MELANIE
               Good-bye.
                          
                          SCARLETT
               Good-bye.
               
She bends over and kisses Melanie's forehead, then draws back. The eyes are closed again. A last look at Melanie then Scarlett goes. Dr. Meade follows her to the door.


INT. PARLOR

Scarlett and Dr. Meade enter. India and Aunt Pittypat are standing now. Ashley sits at the table. Rhett looks on from the hall.

                          DR. MEADE
                    (to the others)
               You ladies may come in now.

They go in. The women hold their skirts close to their sides to keep them from rustling.

                          SCARLETT
                    (calls to Ashley)
               Oh, Ashley! Ashley!

Ashley displays a worn glove.

                          ASHLEY
               I don't know where the mate
               to this is. She must have
               put it away.

                          SCARLETT
                    (crying)
               Oh, stop it.
                    (drops to her
                     knees beside him)
               Hold me - I'm so frightened! I'm so
               frightened!

Ashley clutches Scarlett, pressing his head against her heart.

CLOSE SHOT - RHETT

He looks at Scarlett's arms. Then, with an expression of mixed distaste and resignation, picks up his hat and coat and leaves. 

TWO SHOT - ASHLEY AND SCARLETT

                          ASHLEY
                    (breaking their
                     embrace)
               Oh, Scarlett! What can I do? I
               can't live without her! I can't!
               Everything I ever had is - is going
               with her.

She looks at him, then the truth of things as they are comes clear to her.

                          SCARLETT
               Oh, Ashley! You really love
               her, don't you?

                          ASHLEY
               She's the only dream I ever had
               that didn't die in the face of
               reality.

                          SCARLETT
                    (with a flash of
                     her usual spirit)
               Dreams! Always dreams with you!
               Never common sense.

                          ASHLEY
               Oh, Scarlett, if you knew what I've
               gone through -

                          SCARLETT
               Oh, Ashley, you should have told me
               years ago that you loved her, not
               me, and not left me dangling with
               your talk of honor. But you had to
               wait till now - now when Melly's
               dying to show me I could never mean
               anything more to you than... than
               this Watling woman does to Rhett!

"Ashley winces at her words, but his eyes still meet hers, imploring silence, comfort. Every line of his face admitted the truth of her words. The very droop of his shoulders showed that his own self-castigation was more cruel than any she could give. He stood silent before her, clutching the glove as though it were an understanding hand and, in the stillness that followed her words, her indignation fell away and pity, tinged with contempt, took its place."

                          SCARLETT (CONT'D)
               And I've loved something that -
               that doesn't really exist. Somehow
               I don't care. Somehow it doesn't
               matter. It doesn't matter one bit.

Ashley bends his head, sobbing. She takes him in her arms and smoothes the back of his hair.

                          SCARLETT
               Oh, Ashley, Ashley, forgive me!
               Don't cry. She mustn't see you've
               been crying!

Dr. Meade enters.

                          DR. MEADE
               Ashley!

Ashley starts up. Dr. Meade only snaps his fingers. Ashley goes in quickly. The door is left open. Scarlett stands listening. A cry of real anguish:

                          ASHLEY (O.S.)
               Melly! Melly!