Casablanca

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 torturous, 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.

To all officers:

Two German couriers carrying official documents murdered on train from Oran.

Murderer and possible accomplices headed for Casablanca.

Round up all suspicious characters and search them for stolen document.

Important.

May we see your papers?

I don't think I have them on me.

- In that case, you'll have to come along. - Wait. It's possible that I...

Yes. Here they are.

These papers expired three weeks ago. You'll have to come along.

Halt!

Halt!

- What on earth is going on there? - I don't know, my dear.

Pardon, monsieur. Pardon, madame. Have you not heard?

We hear very little, and we understand even less.

Two German couriers were found murdered in the desert.

The unoccupied desert.

This is the customary roundup of refugees, liberals...

...and, of course, a beautiful young girl for Renault, the prefect of police.

Along with these unhappy refugees...

...the scum of Europe has gravitated to Casablanca.

Some of them have been waiting years for a visa.

I beg of you, monsieur, watch yourself. Be on guard.

This place is full of vultures.

Vultures everywhere. Everywhere!

- Thank you. Thank you very much. - Not at all. Au revoir, monsieur.

- Au revoir, madame. - Au revoir.

What an amusing little fellow.

Waiter.

- Oh, how silly of me. - What, dear?

I've left my wallet in the hotel.

Perhaps tomorrow we'll be on the plane.

- Heil Hitler. - Heil Hitler.

It is good to see you again, Major Strasser.

Thank you, thank you.

May I present Captain Renault, police prefect of Casablanca. Major Strasser.

Unoccupied France welcomes you to Casablanca.

Thank you, captain. It's good to be here.

Major Strasser, my aide, Lieutenant Casselle.

Captain Tonnelli. The Italian service at your command.

That is kind of you.

You may find the climate of Casablanca a trifle warm.

We Germans must get used to all climates, from Russia to the Sahara.

Perhaps you weren't referring to weather.

What else?

The murder of the couriers. What has been done?

My men are rounding up twice the usual number of suspects.

But we know already who the murderer is.

Good. Is he in custody?

No hurry. Tonight he'll be at Rick's. Everybody comes to Rick's.

I've already heard about this café. And also about Mr. Rick himself.

It had to be you It had to be you

I wandered around and finally found The somebody who

Could make me be true Could make me be blue

And even be glad just to be sad Thinking of you

Some others I've seen Might never be mean

Might never be cross, or try to be boss But they wouldn't do

For nobody else gave me a thrill

Honey, with all your faults I love you still

Had to be you, wonderful you Had to be you

'Cause my hair is curly

'Cause my teeth are pearly

Waiting, waiting, waiting.

I'll never get out of here.

I'll die in Casablanca.

But can't you make it just a little more?

Please?

Sorry, but diamonds are a drug on the market. Everybody sells diamonds.

There are diamonds everywhere. 2400.

All right.

The trucks are waiting. The men are waiting. Everything--

It's the fishing smack Santiago.

It leaves at 1 tomorrow night, here from the end of La Medina. Third boat.

- Thank you. Thank you. - And bring 15,000 francs in cash.

Remember, in cash.

Cheerio.

- Open up, Abdul. - Yes, professor.

- Waiter? - Yes, madame?

Will you ask Rick if he'll have a drink with us?

He never drinks with customers. Never. I have never seen it.

What makes saloonkeepers so snobbish?

Perhaps if you told him...

...I ran the second-largest banking house in Amsterdam.

Second largest? That wouldn't impress Rick.

The leading banker in Amsterdam is now the pastry chef in our kitchen.

We have something to look forward to.

And his father is the bellboy.

Monsieur.

Excuse me.

I'm sorry, sir. This is a private room.

Of all the nerve. Who do you think--? I know there is gambling in there.

- You dare not keep me out. - Yes? What's the trouble?

I have been in every gambling room between Honolulu and Berlin.

And if you think I'm going to be kept out of a saloon like this...

...you're much mistaken.

Excuse me, please. Hello, Rick.

Your cash is good at the bar.

What? Do you know who I am?

I do. You're lucky the bar is open to you.

This is outrageous! I shall report it to The Angriff.

Watching you just now, one would think you've been doing this all your life.

- What makes you think I haven't? - Nothing.

- But when you first came, I thought-- - You thought what?

What right do I have to think?

May I?

Too bad about those two German couriers, wasn't it?

They got a lucky break. Yesterday they were just clerks...

...today they are the honored dead.

You are a very cynical person, Rick, if you'll forgive me for saying so.

I forgive you.

- Will you have a drink with me? - No.

I forgot, you never drink with-- I'll have another, please.

You despise me, don't you?

If I gave you any thought, I probably would.

But why?

Do you object to the kind of business I do?

But think of all those poor refugees who must rot here if I didn't help them.

That's not so bad. Through ways of my own, I provide them with exit visas.

For a price, Ugarte. For a price.

But think of all the poor devils who can't meet Renault's price.

I get it for them for half. Is that so parasitic?

I don't mind a parasite. I object to a cut-rate one.

Well, after tonight I will be through with the whole business.

And I'm leaving, finally, this Casablanca.

Who did you bribe for your visa? Renault or yourself?

Myself. I found myself much more reasonable.

Look, Rick.

Know what this is?

Something that even you have never seen.

Letters of transit signed by General de Gaulle.

Cannot be rescinded. Not even questioned.

One moment.

Tonight I'll be selling those for more money than I ever dreamed of.

And then, addio, Casablanca.

I have many a friend in Casablanca, but somehow...

...just because you despise me, you are the only one I trust.

Will you keep these for me, please?

- For how long? - Perhaps an hour. Perhaps a little longer.

- I don't want them here overnight. - Don't be afraid of that.

Please keep them for me.

Thank you. I knew I could trust you.

Waiter. I'll be expecting some people.

If anybody asks for me, I'll be right here.

Rick...

...I hope you're more impressed with me now.

If you'll forgive me, I'll share my good luck with your roulette wheel.

Just a moment.

I heard a rumor those two German couriers were carrying letters of transit.

Huh?

Oh. I've heard that rumor too. Poor devils.

You're right, Ugarte. I am a little more impressed with you.

- Say, who's got trouble? - We got trouble

- How much trouble? - Too much trouble

Well, now, don't you frown Just knuckle down and knock on wood

- Who's unhappy? - We're unhappy

- How unhappy? - Too unhappy

Uh-oh, that won't do When you are blue just knock on wood

- Who's unlucky? - We're unlucky

- How unlucky? - Too unlucky

But your luck will change If you'll arrange to knock on wood

- Who's got nothing? - We got nothing

- How much nothing? - Too much nothing

Say, nothing's not an awful lot But knock on wood

- Now who's happy? - We're happy

- Just how happy? - Very happy

That's the way we're gonna say So knock on wood

- Now who's lucky? - We're all lucky

- Just how lucky? - Very lucky

Well, smile again and once again Let's knock on wood

- Hello, Rick. - Hello, Ferrari.

How's business at the Blue Parrot?

- Fine, but I'd like to buy your café. - It's not for sale.

- You haven't heard my offer. - It's not for sale at any price.

- What do you want for Sam? - I don't buy or sell human beings.

Too bad. That's Casablanca's leading commodity.

In refugees alone we could make a fortune...

...if you'd work with me in the black market.

Suppose you run your business and let me run mine.

Suppose we ask Sam. Maybe he'd like to make a change.

Suppose we do.

When will you realize that in this world today...

...isolationism is no longer a practical policy?

Sam, Ferrari wants you to work for him at the Blue Parrot.

Oh, I like it fine here.