Casablanca

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FADE IN:

INSERT - A revolving globe. When it stops revolving it turns

briefly into a contour map of Europe, then into a flat map.

Superimposed over this map are scenes of refugees fleeing from

all sections of Europe by foot, wagon, auto, and boat, and all

converging upon one point on the tip of Africa -- Casablanca.

Arrows on the map illustrate the routes taken as the voice of a

NARRATOR describes the migration.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

With the coming of the Second World

War, many eyes in imprisoned Europe

turned hopefully, or desperately,

toward the freedom of the Americas.

Lisbon became the great embarkation

point. But not everybody could get

to Lisbon directly, and so, a tortuous,

roundabout refugee trail sprang up.

Paris to Marseilles, across the

Mediterranean to Oran, then by train,

or auto, or foot, across the rim of

Africa to Casablanca in French Morocco.

Here, the fortunate ones, through money,

or influence, or luck, might obtain

exit visas and scurry to Lisbon, and

from Lisbon to the New World. But

the others wait in Casablanca -- and

wait — and wait — and wait .

The narrator's voice fade away...

EXT. OLD MOORISH SECTION OF THE CITY - DAY

CUT TO:

At first only the turrets and rooftops are visible against

a torrid sky.

The facades of the Moorish buildings give way to a narrow,

twisting street crowded with the polyglot life of a native

quarter. The intense desert sun holds the scene in a torpid

tranquility. Activity is unhurried and sounds are muted.

CUT TO:

INT. POLICE STATION - DAY

A POLICE OFFICER takes a piece of paper from the typewriter,

turns to a microphone, and reads.

POLICE OFFICER:

To all officers! Two German

couriers carrying important official

documents murdered on train from

Oran. Murderer and possible

accomplices headed for Casablanca.

Round up all suspicious characters

and search them for stolen

documents. Important!

CUT TO:

EXT. A STREET IN THE OLD MOORISH SECTION - DAY

An officer BLOWS his whistle several times.

There is pandemonium as native guards begin to round up

people .

A police car, full of officers, with SIREN BLARING, screams

through the street and stops in the market.

Some try to escape but are caught by the police and loaded

into a police wagon.

At a street corner TWO POLICEMEN stop a white CIVILIAN and

question him.

FIRST POLICEMAN:

May we see your papers?

CIVILIAN:

(nervously)

I don't think I have them on me.

FIRST POLICEMAN:

In that case, we'll have to ask you

to come along.

The civilian pats his pockets.

CIVILIAN:

Wait. It's just possible that I...

Yes, here they are.

He brings out his papers. The second policeman examines

them.

SECOND POLICEMAN

These papers expired three weeks ago.

You'll have to come along.

Suddenly the civilian breaks away and starts to run wildly

down the street.

The policeman SHOUTS "Halt", but the civilian keeps going.

JAN and ANNINA BRANDEL, a very young and attractive refugee

couple from Bulgaria, watch as the civilian passes. They've

been thrust by circumstances from a simple country life into

an unfamiliar and hectic world.

A shot RINGS out, and the man falls to the ground. Above

him, painted on the wall, is a large poster of Marshal

Petain, which reads: "Je tiens mes promesses, meme celles

des autres . "

The policeman frantically searches the body, but only

finds Free French literature.

CUT TO:

EXT. PALAIS DE JUSTICE - DAY

We see an inscription carved in a marble block along the

roofline of the building: "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite"

We see the the facade, French in architecture, then the high-

vaulted entrance which is inscribed "Palais de Justice".

At the entrance the arrested suspects are led in by the

police .

CUT TO:

EXT. SIDEWALK CAFE - DAY

A middle-aged ENGLISH COUPLE sit at a table just off the

square, and observe the commotion across the way in front of

the Palais de Justice.

The police van pulls up. The rear doors are opened and

people stream out.

A EUROPEAN man, sitting at a table nearby, watches the

English couple more closely than the scene on the street.

ENGLISHWOMAN:

What on earth's going on there?

ENGLISHMAN:

I don't know, my dear.

The European walks over to the couple.

EUROPEAN:

Pardon, pardon, Monsieur, pardon

Madame, have you not heard?

ENGLISHMAN:

We hear very little, and we understand

even less.

EUROPEAN:

Two German couriers were found

murdered in the desert... the

unoccupied desert. This is the

customary roundup of refugees,

liberals, and uh, of course, a

beautiful young girl for Monsieur

Renault, the Prefect of Police.

EXT. PALAIS DE JUSTICE - DAY

CUT TO:

Suspects are herded out of the van, and into the Palais

de Justice.

CUT TO:

EXT. SIDEWALK CAFE - DAY

EUROPEAN:

Unfortunately, along with these

unhappy refugees the scum of Europe

has gravitated to Casablanca. Some

of them have been waiting years for

a visa.

He puts his left arm compassionately around the Englishman,

and reaches behind the man with his right hand.

EUROPEAN:

I beg of you, Monsieur, watch yourself.

Be on guard. This place is full of

vultures, vultures everywhere,

everywhere .

The Englishman seems to be taken aback by this sudden display

of concern.

ENGLISHMAN:

Ha, ha, thank you, thank you very

much .

EUROPEAN:

Not at all. Au revoir, Monsieur.

Au revoir, Madame.

He leaves. The Englishman, still a trifle disconcerted by

the European's action, watches him as he leaves.

ENGLISHMAN:

Au revoir. Amusing little fellow.

Waiter !

As he pats both his breast and pants pockets he realizes

there is something missing.

ENGLISHMAN:

Oh. How silly of me.

ENGLISHWOMAN:

What, dear?

ENGLISHMAN:

I've left my wallet in the hotel.

ENGLISHWOMAN:

Oh.

Suddenly the Englishman looks off in the direction of the

departed European, the clouds of suspicion gathering.

Interrupting overhead is the DRONE of a low flying airplane.

They look up.

CUT TO:

EXT. OVERHEAD SHOT - DAY

An airplane cuts its motor for landing.

CUT TO:

EXT. PALAIS DE JUSTICE - DAY

Refugees wait in line outside the Palais de Justice. Their

upturned gaze follows the flight of the plane. In their

faces is revealed one hope they all have in common, and the

plane is the symbol of that hope.

Jan and Annina look up at the plane.

ANNINA:

(wistfully)

Perhaps tomorrow we'll be on

that plane.

CUT TO:

EXT. OVERHEAD SHOT - DAY

The plane SWOOPS down past a sign atop a building at the

edge of the airport.

The sign reads "Rick's Cafe Americain."

CUT TO:

EXT. AIRFIELD - DAY

As the plane lands a swastika on its tail is clearly

visible. It taxis to a stop as a group of officers march

into formation in front of it. Behind them stand a detail

of native soldiers keeping guard.

In the group is CAPTAIN LOUIS RENAULT, a French officer

appointed by Vichy as Prefect of Police in Casablanca. He

is a handsome, middle-aged Frenchman, debonair and gay, but

withal a shrewd and alert official.

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