A Night in Casablanca

He's dead.

Capitaine Bruzard, Prefect of Police speaking.

What? Rolazoides?

- What is it, Capitaine? - What was it, Doctor?

I see. Thank you, Doctor.

The manager fell dead at the hotel. Dr. Fouchet thinks he was poisoned.

Poisoned? He was murdered.

This situation is becoming intolerable.

Three managers of the Hotel Casablanca in the last six months dead. Murdered.

Attention. Murder at the Hotel Casablanca.

The Manager, Rolazoides, found dead. Round up all likely suspects.

What do you think you're doing? Holding up the building?

Come on.

No further questions. You may go now.

In my experience, I've never come against a series of murders with so few clues.

- Wort you please listen to Lt. Delbar? - Delbar? Who is he?

I'm sure you'll be interested.

Lt. Delbar, the Governor General, Monsieur Gandalou.

I'm honored, sir. A pleasure to see you again.

- You're on active duty, Lieutenant? - I'm on reserve, sir.

I wear the uniform. I have no other clothes.

You have something to tell us about the Rolazoides affair?

Yes. Doesn't this confirm the theory I spoke to you about last time?

- What theory? - Not a theory, an Arabian Nights fable.

- But it's true. I'm the only one who knows. - And nobody listened.

I am listening. What is it?

Sir, it was in Paris, during the Occupation.

The Nazis ordered me to fly a plane to South America.

They forced me at the point of a gun. The cargo was worth millions.

It was Nazi loot: Jewels, gold, and priceless paintings.

I couldn't bear to fly it out of French territory...

so I cut off my fuel and crash-landed here in Casablanca.

I was interned, investigated...

and when I got back to the plane, the treasure was gone.

But what has that to do with these murders?

But don't you see? The Hotel Casablanca was controlled by Nazis.

Now it's operated by the French Government.

That's just the point. Some group is trying desperately to gain control of the hotel.

Not for profit, it's government property. It may be connected with the treasure.

What is your interest in all this?

Well, sir, if the treasure is found in Casablanca...

- it will prove that I acted as a patriot. - I see. So that's it.

Lieutenant, we're not concerned with clearing your name.

Our only interest is solving these murders...

and finding a new manager. Good day.

- Who is it? - Waiter.

Come in.

Good. Get Beatrice.

Valet.

Rusty, du Schweinund, where are you?

Come in here.

Where in blazes is he hiding out now?

Why don't you obey my orders?

I've had enough of you and your tomfoolery here.

Two hours ago I told you to get the tailor...

make everything ready for the fitting.

Where is he? Hello, Max.

See what you can make of this. My decoding isn't what it used to be.

I'm glad you're here. There's an important cable to be decoded.

I'd have come sooner but that Bruzard kept me.

He's questioning everyone who works in the hotel.

You have nothing to worry about. At dinner I will accept the managership.

- Finally. - I could have agreed this afternoon...

but I didn't wish to appear overanxious.

- Good. - This is from Schweigler in South America.

- Yes, I know. What does he say? - It's very difficult to decode.

Give me a little time.

- Here it is. - Yeah?

- "Why delay?" - You moron! What is this?

The vest is inside out.

"Why delay?

"Speed imperative.

"Every lost moment...

"increases danger.

"Treasury discovery...

"would be disastrous."

Yes, very well. I'll wire him right away.

- Look at you. - Look at what?

Your hat.

What is this? Du Schweinund!

You silent idiot! You blöder hammel!

I'll teach you how to play tricks on me.

Stay away from me from now on.

Get in there and clean up these rooms.

Ape!

And now I am ready to dine with the Governor General.

Max, your toupee.

You can't go without that. It's too dangerous.

You will be recognized. That scar on your head.

Rusty, where's my toupee?

- Count Pfferman is one hour late. - He has no intention of accepting.

You cannot blame him. Let us go.

Wait. I have an idea.

I will send a wire to the manager of the Desert View Hotel.

The Desert View Hotel.

Perfect. He's way out in the desert.

He could not have heard about these murders. Who is he?

His name escapes me.

Miss Bernard, you can put this with the lost-and-found articles.

Of all things, a toupee.

One of the maids emptied a vacuum cleaner and found it inside.

That's it.

Rusty, you come back to see your friend Corbaccio?

How do you was?

Capitaine, we have no time to waste.

The new manager's train arrives in five minutes.

You hear that? They got a new manager for the hotel.

Any man who'd take this job must be a big sucker.

Anybody here for the Hotel Casablanca?

- I'm going to the Hotel Casablanca. - Are you the new manager?

- New manager? - Anybody here for the Hotel Casablanca?

- Here, boy. I'm going to the hotel. - They'll never let you in.

- Wait a minute. Do they let you in? - Sure.

I'll put a stop to that. I'm the new manager.

You're the new manager? That's fine.

- Come here with that bag. - The hotel sent me down to welcome you.

- Just give me my valuables. - You can trust me.

I don't even trust me.

- You're gonna like this job. - You buy? Nice, cheap.

Scram. Get out of here.

Be careful. Those guys will take you to the cleaners.

- What about you? - I take you to the hotel.

- Just what is your racket? - I got no racket.

- I make my living with camels. - What do you do with them?

They're taxicabs.

I'm President of the Yellow Camel Company.

Arert all camels in Casablanca yellow?

You crazy. We got a Checker Camel Company, too. Look.

Must be expensive to operate.

- Here you are. - This is your wife, eh?

- No, it's my camel. - You haven't got another stick of gum?

Come on. I'll get you to the hotel.

Do you understand everything that is expected of you?

- Very good... - Break it up. This is a hotel lobby.

Isn't there a poolroom where you can hang out?

Monsieur, I am Gandalou, Governor General of this province.

- I am Bruzard, Chief of Police. - I'm Ronald Kornblow, the new manager.

The new manager.

Monsieur Kornblow, it is a pleasure.

I know you've traveled quite a distance...

and I'm sure your journey was quite tedious...

I've seen five o'clock shadow, but this is ridiculous.

We have assembled the staff so you can tell them what you expect of them.

Not the staff, get the guests. I'll tell them what I expect of them.

- What do you expect of them? - Courtesy towards the employees.

A kind word will get them further with the staff than a couple of drinks.

A kind word and some drinks will get them still further.

Any further than that, it'll get them kicked out of the hotel.

What I'm concerned about is the future of this place.

- What have you to suggest? - We've got to speed things up.

Chef, if a guest orders a three-minute egg, give it to him in two minutes.

A two-minute egg in one minute.

If he orders a one-minute egg, give him a chicken and let him work it out himself.

There must be some mistake. This man is impossible.

I know, but beggars cannot be choosers.

I hope he doesn't have any more ideas.

And now, gentlemen, I've got another idea.

Yes, monsieur, another idea?

The next thing we're gonna do is change the numbers on all the rooms.

But the guests, they would go into the wrong rooms. Think of the confusion.

Yes, but think of the fun.

Please, Capitaine, we must not annoy Monsieur Kornblow with more questions.

I presume you are tired after your long journey.

Perhaps you would like to lie down.

Your office. Your desk.

Please be seated.

I'm a different man behind a desk, as any stenographer can tell you.

But what I want to know is, why are they burying the last manager?

And don't tell me it's because he's dead.

But you are alarming yourself over nothing.

Monsieur Rolazoides died a natural death.

And what happened to the manager that preceded him?

We caught him stealing money. We were forced to discharge him.

I see. You want a manager that doesn't steal money.

- Good day, gentlemen. - Please do not take offense.

You're making a mountain out of a molehill.

That's quite a trick. You try that sometime.

You notice we did not mention your salary?

You're darn right I have. What about it?

- You get 500 francs a week. - Fair enough.

- What about my laundry? - Laundry?

- Yes. The stuff that doesn't come back. - We pick up your laundry once a month.

If you wait that long, you won't be able to pick it up.

- Pierre. - Annette, what are you doing here?

Darling, I had to come. I found this in the hotel.

It may mean something.

"Kruss and Company, Berlin."

This was made for Heinrich Stubel.

- Do you have a hotel guest named Stubel? - Not that I know of.

'Course if you have, he's probably changed his name.

Stubel was a big-shot Nazi stationed in Paris.

Maybe this is the lead you've been waiting for.

Maybe. Run back to the hotel as fast as you can and put this in the lost-and-found.

I doubt he'll be so stupid as to ask for it, but just in case.

All right. Bye.

Imprisoned. Helpless. Unable to show my face.

Trapped in this room all the time. This is an animal existence.

- Please control yourself. - Control yourself, she says.

Me, Heinrich Stubel, defeated by a stupid toupee.

A wig, a few strands of hair.