"Frankly, my dear...."

by Joss Ware

Ahh. Scarlett and Rhett! What a pair.

This weekend would have been Margaret Mitchell's 100th birthday, so I thought we'd better give the woman a bit of credit for writing a book that has produced one of the most-loved movies, most sexy, rascally heroes, and most selfish but empathetic heroines ever.

Not to mention one of the best, hottest movie kisses ever. Whew.

Although, I confess, the scene that always sets me to quivering is when Rhett sweeps up Scarlett in that bloodred dress and carries her upstairs. We could spend all day imaging how he put that cat-like smile on her face we see the next morning.

If Ms. Mitchell were writing Gone With the Wind today, she'd have written a sequel by now. We'd have demanded it! We'd have to know: did Scarlett get him back?

Heck. For all we know, if Margaret Mitchell were alive today, she might be writing a Scarlett-Rhett-Ashley (or even some better hero than that milquetoast) ongoing triangle, a la Stephanie Plum-Ranger-Morelli, or Sookie-Bill-Eric. Not only would she leave us hanging at the end of GWTW, but she'd probably tug us along for a few books! And we'd love every minute of it.

I've never read the sequel to Gone With the Wind, nor Rhett Butler's People. In my mind, neither of them really count because MM didn't write it.

I guess we'll never know what Ms. Mitchell intended. Dang it.

So, did Katie Scarlett get Rhett back?

I've always felt that, yes, she did. She grew up and realized that, despite his faults and arrogance, Rhett was the only man good enough for her, strong enough to handle her, and willing to handle her. Scarlett needs a man to take her in hand, and Rhett's the only one to do it.

End of story.

So, what about you? Do you think Scarlett got him back?