April 1861 The Tara Plantation, twenty-five miles from Atlanta, Georgia.

Twins Tarlton, Stuart and Brent, in love with the charming daughter of the owner of Tara, sixteen year old Scarlett, tell her two news. Firstly, the war between North and South is about to begin. Secondly, Ashley Wilkes will marry Melanie Hamilton, which will be announced tomorrow, when a big reception will be held at the Wilks house.

The news of the impending war for Scarlett is nothing compared to the announcement of Ashley's marriage. Scarlett herself loves only Ashley, who, as she thinks, is not indifferent to her, the subject of the sigh of almost all the young people in the area. She cannot understand what he found in Melanie, this real blue stocking.

Scarlett shares his experiences with his father, but Gerald O’Hara is convinced that his daughter and Ashley are by no means an ideal couple. He admits that, although he treats young Wilkes well, he cannot fully understand him. Yes, Ashley knows how to drink and play poker no worse than other young people, but he does it without a soul, as if obeying existing conventions. Ashley is much more attracted to books, music, paintings, and this puzzles the simple and direct Irish. He honestly informs his daughter that he would be glad to leave Tara to her if she married someone else - around decent enough young people. Scarlett throws in her hearts that she does not care about Tara and that this whole earth absolutely does not mean anything. Father abruptly cuts off ee and suggests that there is nothing more important than land, for it remains forever.

Scarlett appears at the Wilkes Reception. She hopes to speak with Ashley and make him change his mind. Among the guests is a certain Rhett Butler, about whom the most terrible things are told. He was expelled from the West Point Military Academy, and then kicked out of his father by his father after refusing to marry a damsel who was widely considered to have been compromised. But Scarlett doesn't care about Butler right now. She needs to talk to Ashley. Seizing the moment, she speaks to him in the library. Alas, her plans go to dust. Ashley is firm in her intention to marry Melanie. He loves Scarlett, but the mind takes precedence over feelings and suggests that Melanie is just like him. They think and look at the world the same way, and therefore, there is hope that their marriage will be happy.

Ashley leaves the library, Scarlett is left alone and furiously launches a vase into the wall above the sofa. To her confusion, it turns out that Rhett Butler was dozing on the couch, who was awakened by their explanation with Ashley. He expresses admiration for the strength of mind and determination of Scarlett and wonders why Ashley Wilkes was indifferent to her merits. Scarlett frantically slams the door and leaves.

Rumors of war are confirmed. Young people gather in arms to defend the rights of their native South. The first of May should be the wedding of Ashley and Melanie. To annoy them, Scarlett accepts the courtship of the shy and dim brother Melanie Charles and agrees to become his wife. Their wedding takes place a day before the marriage of Ashley and Melanie.

Two months later, Scarlett becomes a widow. Charles dies of pneumonia without ever having been in battle. Scarlett has a son, Wade. In May 1862, she moved to Atlanta. She is forced to mourn and lead the dull existence of a grieving widow, although her whole nature resists this.

But one day she appears at a charity bazaar in favor of a hospital, where she meets Rhett Butler again. A cynic and a scoffer, he sees her through and through, understands perfectly well what inspired her to marry, and this infuriates her. When the collection of jewelry for the purchase of medicines is in progress, she tears off her wedding ring from her finger. Melanie admires her act and gives her own ring. Then Captain Butler buys the right to dance with Scarlett. This throws local guardians of public morality into confusion, but what to do - Butler insists on his own, and the hospital needs money. Butler is tolerated solely because he delivers numerous goods to the South, despite the fact that the northerners imposed a sea blockade of the southern ports. However, adding fuel to the fire of idle talk, Butler claims that he does this not out of a sense of patriotism, but for personal gain. He doubts that the Southerners will be able to win, and death for the cause of the South is no greater for him than death on rails under the wheels of a steam locomotive.

Rumors about Scarlett’s “scandalous” behavior reach Tara, and her father comes to Atlanta to take her daughter home. But a meeting with Captain Butler leads to unexpected consequences. Gerald gets drunk and squanders in poker all the money that was intended to purchase the most necessary. This embarrassment forces him to moderate his moral indignation, and Scarlett remains in Atlanta.

She occasionally meets with Rhett Butler, whose ironic attitude to the fact that society respects as shrines, and outrages and attracts Scarlett, although she still loves Ashley Wilks.

Gradually, the situation in the theater of operations is becoming more complicated, and the former self-confidence of the southerners gives way to the understanding that the war is going to be long and difficult. The first lists of the dead appear. Among them are many friends of Scarlett. The Tarleton brothers died, but Ashley was safe and sound. He comes for a short visit.

Scarlett hopes to talk to him in private, but next to her husband is constantly Melanie. Before leaving Atlanta, Ashley asks Scarlett to look after his wife, because she, in his opinion, does not have the resilience of Scarlett. Ashley is ready to honestly fulfill his duty, but he, like Rhett Butler, does not believe that the South is capable of defeating a very powerful opponent.

1864 After the defeats at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, the position of the southerners becomes critical. A message comes that Ashley is missing. Melanie is in grief, and just the thought that she is carrying Ashley’s baby helps her live. Butler continues to meet with Scarlett, but everything is limited to easy flirting, walking and talking. He says he wants to wait until Scarlett forgets the taste of the kiss that ee awarded when she parted, the incomparable Ashley Wilkes. This leads Scarlett to a rage, and in this state she seems to Rhett and completely irresistible.

Butler makes inquiries through his acquaintances in the North. Turns out Ashley is alive. He is in a prisoner of war camp in Illinois. He is expected to join the military formations that guard the American territories from the Indians, but Ashley refuses. Military service on the side of the northerners is impossible for him, and he prefers captivity to such freedom.

Atlanta under siege. Almost the entire male population is in the militia. Scarlett intends to return to Tara, but Melanie begs not to leave her. Rhett Butler reappears. He tells Scarlett that he longs for her from that first Wilkes meeting. When asked by Scarlett if he was proposing to her, Butler replied that he was not one of those who would marry, and openly invited her to become his mistress. As has often happened, the conversation ends in a quarrel, and at the request of Scarlett Butler leaves her house.

At the height of the battle for Atlanta, Melanie begins labor pains. All Scarlett’s attempts to bring doctors to her end in failure - all doctors remain with the wounded, the number of which is increasing every hour.

With the help of a black woman, Prissy Scarlett takes birth - a son was born to Ashley and Melanie. Scarlett then decides to leave Atlanta at all costs. She wants to return to Tara. Rhett Butler helps her and Melanie leave Atlanta, which the northerners are about to enter, but refuses to deliver them to Tara. He reports that he decided to leave along with the remnants of the Atlanta defenders and continue to resist along with them.

This news surprises Scarlett. She cannot understand why the cynical Rhett, who was always so skeptical about the holy work of the South, suddenly decided to take up arms. She is also surprised that he leaves her when she is so helpless. To this, Rhett replies that she is not at all helpless, and as regards the reasons that prompted him to join the army, he himself finds it difficult to name them - either out of sentimentality, or out of shame for having been away from the fight before, preferring to make money on the delivery of goods. Scarlett does not believe in the sincerity of these words. It seems to her that he, as always, slightly mocks. But there is nothing to do, she has to make her way to Tara with her son, servant and helpless Melanie with a baby. The road is difficult and dangerous, but they get to Tara safe and sound.

The return, however, does not bode well. Around reign chaos and ruin. Wilkes estate burned, Tara was more fortunate. The house is intact - it was the headquarters of the northerners, but the estate was looted. Moreover, Scarlett's mother did not wait for her daughter. She died of typhoid. The death of his wife becomes a terrible blow for Gerald, and he is damaged by his mind.

There is something to lose heart, but Scarlett does not give up. She decides to do everything to save Tara from complete decline. Suddenly an uninvited guest appears in the house. The northerner decided to take over everything that is bad. But he underestimated Scarlett - she shoots a looter and kills him.

Life on the plantation is getting better. The northerners reappear and take away the little that remains. Moreover, they set the house on fire, and only with the desperate efforts of the household can the fire be extinguished.

The Army of the South is capitulating. The news comes from Ashley: he is returning. Melanie and Scarlett can’t wait until he appears in Tara, but he is not there. On foot are walking soldiers returning home from prisoner of war camps. One of them, Will Bentin, remains in Tara and takes on the main cares of managing the estate. Ashley finally appears, but Melanie is the first to meet him.

1866 The war is over, but life has not become easier. Persons conducting the so-called Reconstruction of the Slave-Owning South do everything so that former planters can no longer use their land. The container is liable to high taxes, and if the money is not paid, the estate will go under the hammer and, most likely, will go to the former overseer Wilkerson. Scarlett hopes that Ashley will come up with a way out of this situation, but he honestly admits that he does not know what to do. Scarlett offers him to drop everything and go somewhere to Mexico, but Ashley can not leave his wife and son to their fate.

Scarlett realizes that only Rhett Butler can help her. However, now he is in a difficult position. The new authorities threw him into jail, and he faces a gallows if he does not share his capital acquired during the years of the blockade.

Scarlett comes to him in prison. She pretends that everything is going well with her, but Rhett can not be fooled. He understands that she came to him for money. Scarlett is forced to admit that she really needs three hundred dollars and for the sake of saving Tara, she is ready to become Butler's mistress. But now he is not able to manage his finances. Parting is marred by scandal. Butler, wounded by the fact that Scarlett is only interested in his money, ironically advises her to show more warmth the next time she turns to a man for a loan.

However, this is exactly what she does. Upon learning that Frank Kennedy, who is in love with her younger sister, has the cash to buy a sawmill, Scarlett takes advantage of all her feminine charm and soon becomes Mrs. Kennedy. Tara was saved, but the fact that for the sake of this she had to cross the road to her sister does not bother Scarlett.

Scarlett in full swing into business. She runs Frank's store, and then, borrowing money from Butler, who is released, buys the same sawmill that Frank has chosen for himself. Soon she gets a second sawmill, and her affairs are going smoothly. There is money, but public opinion in Atlanta is opposed to her - a real lady does not suit business. However, Rhett Butler assures her that this is an inevitable consequence of the choice she made - money and success lead to loneliness.

Gerald is dying. Arriving in Tara for his funeral, Scarlett learns about Ashley's intention to leave for New York - he was promised a place in the bank. Scarlett persuades him to stay, offers a job at a sawmill and half of the proceeds from it. He refuses, but then Melanie comes to her aid. Under her push, Ashley accepts Scarlett's offer.

The liberated blacks, however, are working worse and worse, and so that the sawmill generates income, Scarlett begins to use the cheap labor of prisoners, overseen by the cruel and dishonest Johnny Gallagher. Honest Frank is terrified, but Scarlett stands his ground: this is the only way to make a profit. The sawmill, where Ashley runs the business, does not bring profit: he categorically refuses to use the labor of convicts.

In the meantime, in response to the constant harassment of the “bagmen” and the licentiousness of some former slaves, the Ku Klux Klan is being created, with Frank Kennedy and Ashley becoming active members. The authorities spare no effort to put an end to the activities of this secret organization, and they manage to lure activists into a trap. Butler’s timely intervention only helps Ashley save life and freedom, Frank Kennedy is less fortunate, and Scarlett again becomes a widow.

But here Rhett proposes to her, and she answers with consent. They leave for New Orleans, and then return to Atlanta, where they soon enter a new home. Among their acquaintances there are too many business people, “traveling bags” -severyans and businessmen from those southerners who were not allowed to enter the decent houses before and on the doorstep. Scarlett gives birth to a girl, and Rhett has no soul in her. But then Scarlett resolutely declares her unwillingness to give birth more, and this becomes the beginning of a crisis in her relationship with her husband. Rhett increasingly spends time outside the house and returns drunk.

Ashley's birthday is approaching. Melanie is going to have a party. On the eve of Scarlett meets with Ashley in his office, and the conversation goes about the old days. This is a very sad conversation, Scarlett learns a lot about the man whom she loved so much, and what is now revealed to her inner gaze plunges her into sorrow. Ashley has remained in the past, he cannot force himself to look to the future, he cannot adapt to the present. Memories of pre-war days and hopes make her cry. Ashley tries to console her, hugs, and then, in her misfortune, strangers appear. Soon the news reaches Melanie and Rhett. Scarlett refuses to go to the reception, but Rhett makes her almost by force. However, Melanie, the only one from all of Atlanta, does not believe evil slander and accepts Scarlett with the same warmth. Upon returning home, Rhett gives vent to jealousy, and then for the first time after a long break they end up in bed. Scarlett wakes up with a joyful feeling that Rhett loves her, but discovers that he is neither in bed nor in the house at all. He returns only the next day, making it clear to his wife that he walked well on the side.

Rhett then leaves for three months, and when he returns, Scarlett tells him that she is pregnant. Rhett's taunts insult her, a quarrel breaks out, which ends in disaster: Scarlett falls from the stairs, and she has a miscarriage. Life is once again entering the usual rut. Rhett is heading into politics, and it is not without his participation that the Southerner Democrats manage to win the election over the Republicans supported by the North. But here a new misfortune falls on the family: little Rett's favorite little Bonnie falls from the horse and crashes to death.Relations between spouses become even more formal. Scarlett has money, there is property, but there is no trace of happiness.

Scarlett is leaving Atlanta, but a telegram from Rhett urges her to return urgently. Melanie is dying. Doctors forbade her to give birth, but she neglected their prohibitions - she too wanted to give Ashley another child. On her deathbed, she asks Scarlett to take care of her son and Ashley, because "he is so impractical." And she also asks Scarlett to be kind to Rhett, because he loves her very much.

Now that Melanie was gone, Scarlett suddenly realizes how lonely she is and how much this woman meant to her, which she considered an obstacle to her happiness. Scarlett makes another discovery: she always seemed to love not Ashley Wilkes, but her dream of a strong, unbending man. Now, looking at Ashley - tired, unsure of herself, spending all her mental energy to endure her defeat with dignity in this life - Scarlett whispers to herself that she lost her beloved, and instead got another child.

Scarlett understands how much Rhett means to her. She is eager to tell him as soon as possible, but she will have to get one more disappointment.

Rhett indifferently listens to her confession and reports that now he does not care. His love for her died away just as Scarlett's love for Ashley died away. Rhett Butler admits that he fell in love with her at first sight, and no matter how much he tried to throw dreams of her out of his head, he did not succeed. He did not lose hope that sooner or later she would appreciate his feelings, understand how well they fit together, but all his efforts to convey her love to Scarlett were in vain. He says that after that night he left home early, for he was afraid that she would make him laugh and that if, upon his return, she made it clear that he was not indifferent to her at all, everything would be different. But this did not happen, and now he only feels compassion for her.

Rhett announces his intention to leave for a long time, perhaps to England, and promises to return from time to time in order not to give a special occasion for comment and gossip. To the desperate question of Scarlett: "But what about me?" Rhett, with a sigh, replies that he no longer cares.

Alone with himself, Scarlett reflects on what he just heard. It is very difficult for her, but her proud, vigorous nature refuses to admit defeat. Scarlett is convinced that not everything is lost, and if now nothing comes to mind that would help correct the situation, tomorrow she will certainly find a way out.