Casablanca Page #5

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RICK:

Maybe he's not quite as romantic as

you are .

RENAULT:

It doesn't matter. There is no exit

visa for him.

RICK:

Louis, whatever gave you the impression

that I might be interested in helping

Laszlo escape?

RENAULT:

Because, my dear Ricky, I suspect

that under that cynical shell you're

at heart a sentimentalist.

Rick makes a face.

RENAULT:

Oh, laugh if you will, but I happen

to be familiar with your record.

Let me point out just two items. In

1935 you ran guns to Ethiopia. In

1936, you fought in Spain on the

Loyalist side.

RICK:

And got well paid for it on both

occasions .

RENAULT:

The winning side would have paid you

much better.

RICK:

Maybe. Well, it seems you are

determined to keep Laszlo here.

RENAULT:

I have my orders .

RICK:

27

Oh, I see. Gestapo spank.

Renault stands up.

RENAULT:

My dear Ricky, you overestimate the

influence of the Gestapo. I don't

interfere with them and they don't

interfere with me. In Casablanca I

am master of my fate. I am captain

of my --

He stops short as his AIDE enters.

AIDE:

-- Major Strasser is here, sir.

Renault starts to leave.

RICK:

Yeah, you were saying?

RENAULT:

(hurriedly)

Excuse me.

He hurries away. Rick smiles cynically.

CUT TO:

INT. RICK'S CAFE - MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

Renault walks up to Carl.

RENAULT:

Carl, see that Major Strasser gets a

good table, one close to the ladies.

CARL:

I have already given him the best,

knowing he is German and would take

it anyway.

Renault walks over to one of his officers.

RENAULT:

Take him quietly. Two guards at every

door .

OFFICER:

Yes, sir. Everything is ready, sir.

The officer salutes and goes off to speak to the guards.

28

Renault walks over to Strasser's table as Rick comes down

the stairs.

RENAULT:

Good evening, gentlemen.

STRASSER:

Good evening, Captain.

HEINZE:

Won't you join us?

Renault sits down.

RENAULT:

Thank you. It is a pleasure to have

you here, Major.

STRASSER:

(to the waiter)

Champagne and a tin of caviar.

RENAULT:

May I recommend Veuve Cliquot

'26, a good French wine.

STRASSER:

Thank you.

WAITER:

Very well, sir.

STRASSER:

A very interesting club.

RENAULT:

Especially so tonight, Major. In a

few minutes you will see the arrest

of the man who murdered your couriers.

STRASSER:

I expected no less, Captain.

CUT TO:

INT. RICK'S CAFE - GAMBLING ROOM - NIGHT

Ugarte stands at the roulette table. Two gendarmes approach

him from behind.

GENDARME:

Monsieur Ugarte?

Ugarte looks around.

29.

UGARTE:

Oh. Yes?

GENDARME:

Will you please come with us.

UGARTE:

Certainly. May I first please cash

my chips?

The officer nods. They follow Ugarte to the cashier's

window. Ugarte puts his chips through the window to the

CASHIER.

UGARTE:

Pretty lucky, huh? Two thousand,

please .

Two more guards station themselves at the door in case there

is trouble.

CASHIER:

Two thousand.

UGARTE:

Thank you.

Ugarte starts to walk out, followed by the gendarmes. When

he reaches the doorway he suddenly rushes through and slams

the door behind himself.

INT. RICK'S CAFE - MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

By the time the gendarmes manage to get the door open again,

Ugarte has pulled a gun.

He FIRES at the doorway. The SHOTS bring on pandemonium in

the cafe.

As Ugarte runs through the hallway he sees Rick, appearing

from the opposite direction, and grabs him.

UGARTE:

Rick! Rick, help me!

RICK:

Don't be a fool. You can't get away.

UGARTE:

Rick, hide me. Do something! You

must help me, Rick. Do something!

30

Guards and gendarmes rush in and grab Ugarte. Rick stands

impassively as they drag Ugarte off.

UGARTE:

Rick! Rick!

We move to Strasser's table, who has witnessed the event.

STRASSER:

Excellent, Captain.

Back to Rick, still standing where he was, as a CUSTOMER

walks by.

CUSTOMER:

When they come to get me, Rick, I

hope you'll be more of a help.

RICK:

I stick my neck out for nobody.

Rick comes out to the middle of the floor. An air of tense

expectancy pervades the room. A few customers are on the

point of leaving. Rick speaks in a very calm voice.

RICK:

I'm sorry there was a disturbance,

folks, but it's all over now.

Everything's all right. Just sit

down and have a good time. Enjoy

yourself .

Rick glances toward Sam.

RICK:

All right, Sam.

Sam nods and begins to play.

Renault, Strasser, and Heinze sit calmly at their table

after witnessing the arrest.

Rick walks by.

RENAULT:

(calling to Rick)

Oh, Rick?

Rick stops and comes over to their table.

RENAULT:

Rick, this is Major Heinrich Strasser

of the Third Reich.

31

STRASSER:

How do you do, Mr. Rick?

RICK:

Oh, how do you do?

RENAULT:

And you already know Herr Heinze of

the Third Reich.

Rick nods to Strasser and Heinze.

STRASSER:

Please join us, Mr. Rick.

Rick sits down with them.

RENAULT:

We are very honored tonight, Rick.

Major Strasser is one of the

reasons the Third Reich enjoys the

reputation it has today.

STRASSER:

You repeat "Third Reich" as though

you expected there to be others.

RENAULT:

Well, personally, Major, I will take

what comes.

STRASSER:

(to Rick)

Do you mind if I ask you a few

questions? Unofficially, of course.

RICK:

Make it official, if you like.

STRASSER:

What is your nationality?

RICK:

(pokerf aced)

I'm a drunkard.

RENAULT:

That makes Rick a citizen of the

world.

RICK:

I was born in New York City if

that'll help you any.

32

STRASSER:

I understand you came here from

Paris at the time of the occupation.

RICK:

There seems to be no secret about that.

STRASSER:

Are you one of those people who

cannot imagine the Germans in their

beloved Paris?

RICK:

It's not particularly my beloved

Paris .

HEINZE:

Can you imagine us in London?

RICK:

When you get there, ask me.

RENAULT:

Ho, diplomatist!

STRASSER:

How about New York?

RICK:

Well, there are certain sections of

New York, Major, that I wouldn't

advise you to try to invade.

STRASSER:

Aha. Who do you think will win

the war?

RICK:

I haven't the slightest idea.

RENAULT:

Rick is completely neutral about

everything. And that takes in the

field of women, too.

STRASSER:

You weren't always so carefully

neutral. We have a complete dossier

on you.

Strasser takes a little black book from his pocket and turns

to a certain page.

STRASSER:

33

"Richard Blaine, American. Age,

thirty-seven. Cannot return to his

country . "

Strasser looks up from the book

STRASSER:

The reason is a little vague. We

also know what you did in Paris, Mr.

Blaine, and also we know why you

left Paris.

Rick reaches over and takes the book from Strasser 's hand.

STRASSER:

Don't worry. We are not going to

broadcast it .

Rick looks up from the book.

RICK:

Are my eyes really brown?

STRASSER:

You will forgive my curiosity, Mr.

Blaine. The point is, an enemy of

the Reich has come to Casablanca and

we are checking up on anybody who

can be of any help to us.

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