Part 1

Atlanta, Georgia, 1873: Scarlett O'Hara attends the funeral of Melanie Wilkes, her late sister-in-law and rival for Ashley Wilkes' affection, at which her estranged husband Rhett Butler is absent. Heartbroken that he left her, sets out for Tara and is saddened when she learns that Mammy, her mainstay nurse since birth, is dying. When she arrives, she sends a telegram to notify Rhett about Mammy under the guise of Will Benteen (her sister Suellen's husband), because she knows that he won't come if he knows she's there. Mammy makes Rhett swear to look after 'her lamb', Miss Scarlett. He agrees, despite having no intention of honoring the request. After Mammy dies, he and Scarlett have another hostile encounter, which culminates in his departure and her returning to the Atlanta house, determined to win him back.