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.
Scarlett travels to Charleston to visit Rhett's family and tries to corner him by winning his mother's affection. She convinces Rhett to take her for a sail on the harbor, where their boat capsizes during a terrible storm. Scarlett and Rhett swim to an island, where they make love in a cave. Rhett initially denies, then admits, that he loves Scarlett, but he does not want to lose himself over her again.
Scarlett connects with the O'Hara clan in Savannah, where she learns that her grandfather has offered Scarlett his inheritance only if she remains with him until his death and cuts ties with her father's family. Scarlett refuses and agrees to join cousin Colum to Ireland. By this time, Scarlett realizes that she is pregnant with Rhett's child but keeps this hidden.
Scarlett keeps her daughter's birth a secret from Rhett to spite him, thinking that if Cat grows up not knowing her father she will, unlike Bonnie, not love him. The day that Rhett finally does meet his daughter, he will realize that she does not love him or even know him, thus giving Scarlett her revenge. Anne Hampton-Butler also travels to Ireland with Rhett and has a lengthy conversation with Scarlett, but soon dies from yellow fever.