Casablanca Page #6

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RICK:

(glances toward Renault)

My interest in whether Victor

Laszlo stays or goes is purely a

sporting one.

STRASSER:

In this case, you have no sympathy

for the fox, huh?

RICK:

Not particularly. I understand the

point of view of the hound, too.

STRASSER:

Victor Laszlo published the foulest

lies in the Prague newspapers until

the very day we marched in, and even

after that he continued to print

scandal sheets in a cellar.

RENAULT:

Of course, one must admit he has

great courage.

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STRASSER:

I admit he is very clever. Three

times he slipped through our fingers.

In Paris he continued his activities.

We intend not to let it happen again.

Rick gets up.

RICK:

You'll excuse me, gentlemen. Your

business is politics. Mine is

running a saloon.

STRASSER:

Good evening, Mr. Blaine.

Rick walks away toward the gambling room.

RENAULT:

You see, Major, you have nothing to

worry about Rick.

STRASSER:

Perhaps .

A couple comes in the front door. They are VICTOR LASZLO,

the Czech resistance leader, and a very pretty young woman

wearing a simple white gown, MISS ILSA LUND. She is so

beautiful, in fact, that people turn to stare.

The HEADWAITER comes up to them.

HEADWAITER:

Yes, Monsieur?

LASZLO:

I reserved a table. Victor Laszlo.

HEADWAITER:

Yes, Monsieur Laszlo. Right this way.

As the headwaiter takes them to a table they pass by the

piano, and the woman looks at Sam.

Sam, with a conscious effort, keeps his eyes on the keyboard

as they go past. He appears to know this woman. After she

has gone by Sam steals a look in her direction.

BERGER, a slight, middle-aged man, observes the couple from

a distance.

The headwaiter seats Ilsa. Laszlo takes the chair opposite

and surveys the room.

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Strasser and Renault look up at them from their table.

LASZLO:

Two Cointreaux, please.

WAITER:

Yes, Monsieur.

LASZLO:

(to Ilsa)

I saw no one of Ugarte ' s description.

ILSA:

Victor, I, I feel somehow we shouldn't

stay here.

LASZLO:

If we would walk out so soon, it

would only call attention to us.

Perhaps Ugarte ' s in some other part

of the cafe.

Berger walks up to their table.

BERGER:

Excuse me, but you look like a

couple who are on their way to

America .

LASZLO:

Well?

Berger takes a ring from his finger.

BERGER:

You will find a market there for

this ring. I am forced to sell it

at a great sacrifice.

LASZLO:

Thank you, but I hardly think --

BERGER:

-- Then perhaps for the lady. The

ring is quite unique.

He holds it down for their view. Carefully lifting up the

stone, he reveals...

INSERT - a gold plate in the setting underneath, an

impression of the Lorraine Cross of General de Gaulle.

LASZLO:

36

Oh, yes, I'm very interested.

Berger sits down with them.

BERGER:

Good.

LASZLO:

(lower voice)

What is your name?

BERGER:

Berger, Norwegian, and at your

service, sir.

Renault approaches the table from behind Laszlo. Ilsa tries

to warn him.

ILSA:

Victor . . .

Laszlo understands.

LASZLO:

(in a low voice)

I'll meet you in a few minutes at

the bar.

(in a louder voice)

I do not think we want to buy the

ring. But thank you for showing

it to us.

Berger, taking the cue, sighs and puts the ring away.

BERGER:

Such a bargain. But that is your

decision?

LASZLO:

I 'm sorry . It is .

Berger gets up and leaves as Renault moves to the table.

RENAULT:

Monsieur Laszlo, is it not?

LASZLO:

Yes.

RENAULT:

I am Captain Renault, Prefect of

Police .

LASZLO:

37

Yes. What is it you want?

RENAULT:

(amiably)

Merely to welcome you to Casablanca

and wish you a pleasant stay. It is

not often we have so distinguished a

visitor .

LASZLO:

Thank you. I hope you'll forgive

me, Captain, but the present French

administration has not always been

so cordial. May I present Miss Ilsa

Lund?

RENAULT:

I was informed you were the most

beautiful woman ever to visit

Casablanca. That was a gross

understatement .

Ilsa's manner is friendly and reserved, her voice low

and soft.

ILSA:

You are very kind.

LASZLO:

Won't you join us?

He sits down.

RENAULT:

If you will permit me.

(calls to the waiter)

Oh, Emil. Please, a bottle of

your best champagne, and put it

on my bill.

EMIL:

Very well, sir.

LASZLO:

No, Captain, please.

RENAULT:

No. Please, Monsieur, it is a

little game we play. They put

it on the bill, I tear the bill

up. It is very convenient.

Ilsa glances off in Sam's direction.

38

ILSA:

Captain, the boy who is playing the

piano, somewhere I have seen him.

RENAULT:

Sam?

ILSA:

Yes.

RENAULT:

He came from Paris with Rick.

ILSA:

Rick? Who's he?

RENAULT:

(smiling)

Mademoiselle, you are in Rick's and

Rick is --

ILSA:

— Is what?

RENAULT:

Well, Mademoiselle, he's the kind of

a man that, well, if I were a woman

and I . . .

(taps his chest)

were not around, I should be in love

with Rick. But what a fool I am

talking to a beautiful woman about

another man.

Renault jumps to his feet as Strasser enters.

RENAULT:

Excuse me. Ah, Major. Mademoiselle

Lund, Monsieur Laszlo, may I present

Major Heinrich Strasser.

Strasser bows and smiles pleasantly.

STRASSER:

How do you do. This is a pleasure I

have long looked forward to.

There is not the slightest recognition from either Ilsa

or Laszlo.

Strasser waits to be asked to seat himself.

LASZLO:

I'm sure you'll excuse me if I am

39.

not gracious, but you see, Major

Strasser, I'm a Czechoslovakia!! .

STRASSER:

You were a Czechoslovakia:! . Now you

are a subject of the German Reich!

Laszlo stands.

LASZLO:

I've never accepted that privilege,

and I'm now on French soil.

STRASSER:

I should like to discuss some matters

arising from your presence on French

soil .

LASZLO:

This is hardly the time or the place.

STRASSER:

(hardening)

Then we shall state another time and

another place. Tomorrow at ten in

the Prefect's office, with

Mademoiselle .

LASZLO:

Captain Renault, I am under your

authority. Is it your order that we

come to your office?

RENAULT:

(amiably)

Let us say that it is my request.

That is a much more pleasant word.

LASZLO:

Very well .

Renault and Strasser bow shortly.

RENAULT:

Mademoiselle .

STRASSER:

Mademoiselle .

Renault and Strasser walk away.

RENAULT:

A very clever tactical retreat,

40

Major .

Strasser looks at Renault sharply, but sees only a

noncommittal smile on Renault's face.

Laszlo remains standing at the table as Strasser and

Renault leave.

LASZLO:

This time they really mean to

stop me.

ILSA:

Victor, I'm afraid for you.

LASZLO:

We have been in difficult places

before, haven't we?

Ilsa smiles back at him, but her eyes are still troubled.

On the floor, CORINA strums a guitar and begins her number.

Meanwhile, Laszlo looks about with apparent casualness. He

sees Strasser and Renault whispering together, then notices

Berger at the bar.

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