MANS:

Yes, gentlemen always fight better than rattle.

Mr. O'HARA

And what does the captain of our troop say?

ASHLEY:

Well, gentlemen...if Georgia fights, I go with her.

But like my father I hope that the Yankees let us

leave the Union in peace.

MAN1

But Ashley...

MAN2

Ashley, they've insulted us.

MANS:

You can't mean that you don't want war.

ASHLEY:

Most of the miseries of the world were caused by

wars. And when the wars were over, no one ever knew

what they were about.

Mr. O'HARA

Now gentlemen, Mr. Butler has been up North I hear.

Don't you agree with us, Mr. Butler?

RHETT BUTLER:

I think it's hard winning a war with words,

gentlemen.

CHARLES:

What do you mean, sir?

RHETT:

I mean, Mr. Hamilton, there's not a cannon factory in

the whole South.

MAN:

What difference does that make, sir, to a gentleman?

RHETT:

I'm afraid it's going to make a great deal of

difference to a great many gentlemen, sir.

CHARLES:

Are you hinting, Mr. Butler, that the Yankees can

lick us?

RHETT:

No, I'm not hinting. I'm saying very plainly that the

Yankees are better equipped than we. They've got

factories, shipyards, coal-mines... and a fleet to

bottle up our harbors and starve us to death. All

we've got is cotton, and slaves and ...arrogance.

MAN:

That's treacherous!

CHARLES:

I refuse to listen to any renegade talk!

RHETT:

Well, I'm sorry if the truth offends you.

CHARLES:

Apologies aren't enough sir. I hear you were turned

out of West Point Mr. Rhett Butler. And that you

aren't received in an decent family in Charleston.

Not even

your own.

RHETT:

I apologize again for all my shortcomings. Mr.

Wilkes, Perhaps you won't mind if I walk about and

look ver your place. I seem to be spoiling

everybody's brandy and cigars and...dreams of

victory.

(Rhett Butler leaves the hall.)

MAN:

Well, that's just about what you could expect from

somebody like Rhett Butler.

Mr. O'HARA

You did everything but call him out.

CHARLES:

He refused to fight.

ASHLEY:

Not quite that Charles. He just refused to take

advantage of you.

CHARLES:

Take advantage of me?

ASHLEY:

Yes, he's one of the best shots the country, he's

proved a number of times, against steadier hands and

cooler heads than yours.

CHARLES:

Well, I'll show him.

ASHLEY:

No, no, no, please, don't go tweaking his nose

anymore. You may be needed for more important

fighting, Charles. Now if you'll excuse me, Mr.

Butler's our guest... I think I'll just show him

around.