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Casablanca
Act 2 - Part 1
ANNOUNCER: And now the curtain rises on the second act of "Casablanca" starring Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine, Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund, and Paul Henreid as Victor Laszlo.
ANNOUNCER: Angered by the manner in which the patrons at Rick's cafe joined Victor Laszlo in singing the Marseillaise, Major Strasser forced Captain Renault to close Rick's place and ordered Victor Laszlo and Ilsa Lund to remain in their hotel.
ILSA: Victor, I'm frightened. Please don't go to the underground meeting tonight.
LASZLO: To tell you the truth, my dear, I'm frightened, too. So shall I hide here in our hotel room or shall I carry on the best I can?
ILSA: Whatever I would say, you'd carry on.
LASZLO: Since our friend Rick has refused to part with those letters of transit, what else am I to do?
ILSA: Did - did Rick give you any reason?
LASZLO: He suggested I ask you.
ILSA: Ask me ?
LASZLO: Yes. Ilsa, when I was in the concentration camp, were you lonely in Paris ?
ILSA: Yes, Victor, I was.
LASZLO: I know how it is to be lonely. I love you very much, my dear.
ILSA: Yes. Yes, I know. Victor, whatever I do, will you believe that I ...?
LASZLO: You don't even have to say it. I'll believe. I must get to the underground meeting now. Good night, my dear.
ILSA: Good night.
[THE STORY CONTINUES LATER AT RICK'S PLACE – THE AMERICAN CAFÉ]
[THE DOOR OPENS. THERE ARE FOOTSTEPS]
ILSA: Hello, Rick.
[DOOR CLOSES]
RICK: Well, I told you you'd come to see me, but this is a little ahead of schedule.
ILSA: Richard, I had to see you.
RICK: Oh, I'm "Richard" again? (with anger) We're back in Paris.
ILSA: Please!
RICK: Your unexpected visit isn't connected by any chance with the letters of transit, is it?
ILSA: Richard, you can ask any price but you must give me those letters!
RICK: I went all through that with your husband. There's no deal.
ILSA: Richard, we loved each other once. If those days meant anything at all to --
RICK: I wouldn't bring up Paris if I were you. It's poor salesmanship.
ILSA: Please! Please, listen to me! If you knew what really happened--
RICK: I wouldn't believe you no matter what you told me. You'll say anything now to get what you want.
ILSA: Oh, Richard, don't you understand? You're our last hope! If you don't help us, Victor Laszlo will die in Casablanca !
RICK: What of it? I'm going to die in Casablanca. It's just the spot for it. Now, if you-- Well, well, I - I see you've come prepared for anything. Give me that gun.
ILSA: No. I tried to reason with you. I tried everything. Now, if you don't give me those letters, I'll shoot.
RICK: Go ahead.
ILSA: Get me those letters.
RICK: Oh, they're - they're right here in my pocket, I don't have to. If you want them, you'll have to kill me to get them. If Laszlo, if the underground means so much, you won't stop at anything. And if you don't shoot soon, I'm gonna take that gun away from you. Now, give it to me.
ILSA: Oh...oh, Richard... I tried to stay away...
[ILSA AND RICK EMBRACE]
ILSA: I thought I - I would never see you again, that you were out of my life. If you knew what I went through the day you left Paris, how much I loved you, how much I still love you.
[ILSA AND RICK KISS]
[STORY CONTINUES LATER THAT NIGHT]
ILSA: We had been married only three weeks when Victor got word that they needed him in Prague. He was captured almost immediately and sent to a concentration camp. Then came word that he was dead. I was lonely before, but then I had nothing left, not even hope, until I met you.
RICK: But why didn't you tell me all this in Paris ?
ILSA: Victor made me promise to keep our marriage a secret. He was afraid that if the Gestapo found out I was his wife, it would be dangerous for me and those working with us. I kept my promise.
RICK: And then you got word he'd escaped?
ILSA: Yes. A friend called, telling me that he was ill and hiding in a freight car near Paris. I didn't tell you because you wouldn't have left Paris and they would have caught you. Well, you know the rest.
RICK: It's still a story without an ending. What about now?
ILSA: I'll never have the strength to go away from you again.
RICK: And Laszlo?
ILSA: Oh, you'll help him now, won't you, Richard?
RICK: Yes.
ILSA: He'll have his work, all the things he's been living for.
RICK: All except you.
ILSA: I can't fight it anymore. I don't know what's right any longer. You'll have to think for both of us, Richard. For all of us.
RICK: I've already made up our minds and I think I can arrange everything with Renault.
[STORY CONTINUES THE NEXT DAY. RICK IS TALKING TO CAPTAIN RENAULT]
RICK: Here's the arrangement, Louis. I'm selling my place and leaving Casablanca on tonight's plane.
RENAULT: What?
RICK: And I'm taking Ilsa Lund with me. Ilsa is Victor Laszlo's wife. Louis, I'll make a deal with you.
RENAULT: What is it?
RICK: I want to be sure Laszlo doesn't escape this time. Now, if you could get him on a real criminal charge, would - would that be a feather in your cap?
RENAULT: It most certainly would. Germany-- uh, I Vichy would be grateful.
RICK: Then be at my place a half hour before the plane leaves. I'll arrange for Laszlo to be there, thinking I'll sell him the letters of transit. When I hand them to him, that'll give you the criminal grounds for making the arrest.
RENAULT: Ricky, I'll miss you -- apparently, you are the only one in Casablanca that has even fewer scruples than I.
RICK: Thanks. Oh, and, uh, by the way, Louis, come for Laszlo alone. See, I'm- I'm taking no chances on a double-cross -- even from you.
RENAULT: Double cross? Why, Ricky--!
RICK: Well, you might get ideas about slapping me in the jug for selling those letters, you know. Well, don't forget -- a half an hour before plane time, alone.
RENAULT: Don't worry, Ricky. This is an honor I'll share with no one.