Part 2/4, by Vanesa Calvino

In the café, when the disturbance with Ugarte dies down, Rick is introduced by Renault to Major Strasser and stern-faced Herr Heinze of the Third Reich. Major Strasser probes into Rick's background and his allegiances, believing that Rick's neutrality is a cover for his anti-Nazi activities. Strasser informally interrogates him about his opinion of the German military machine's potential, but Rick maintains his neutral stance. At this time, a memorable quote said by Captain Renault is: Rick is completely neutral about everything. And that takes in the field of women, too.

Strasser summarizes the contents of Rick's Gestapo file — his reasons for being a permanently-exiled expatriate are not explained. Strasser repeats that his main goal in Casablanca is to find any resistance followers who could be of help to "enemies of the Reich" — including escaped Underground leaders such as Victor Laszlo. During the informal questioning by the Major, Rick expresses no interest in personally aiding refugees — particularly Victor Laszlo. Strasser describes how Laszlo became an enemy of the Reich by defiant Resistance activities in Paris and because of three clever escapes. On the other hand, Rick assures Strasser of his strict and absolute political neutrality regarding the war. Renault shows his friendly affection for Rick, assuring Major Strasser that they don't have anything to worry about Rick.

Just then, the pursued, lean French-Resistance leader, Czechoslovakian Victor Laszlo and his beautiful wife, the radiant but furtive Ilsa Lund, enter Rick's cafe. The couple is led to a seat at their reserved table where Sam and Ilsa appear to recognize each other — with trepidation — as she passes by, keeping in step with Laszlo. When seated, Laszlo mentions in a hushed voice that he is looking for Ugarte. Ilsa is visibly nervous, and her first words convey fear of both her past and their present danger. Later Renault meets them and sits at their table. But when Major Strasser approaches, Laszlo refuses to stand but finally allows Strasser to sit at his table because he thinks in that moment that an act of defiance could cost him his freedom. After exchanging a few bitter, offensive and hostile words to each other, Strasser demands a discussion of "the matters arising from your presence on French soil," and orders Laszlo to be questioned at the Prefet's office the next morning. Victor is worried. Likewise, Ilsa is dreadfully fearful of their precarious situation. At the bar while drinking champagne cocktails, Laszlo is dismayed when told by Berger that the source of their exit visas, Ugarte, has already been taken into police custody, after his arrest for murder earlier that evening in the cafe. Berger invites Laszlo to the next evening's Underground resistance meeting and then they go together.

While Laszlo is gone, Ilsa meets Sam, the pianist. She tells him that she never expected to see him again and she innocently attracts him to play some of the old songs. Ilsa asks about Rick while Sam nervously plays Avalon — one of the old songs that she wants to hear. Loyal and dedicated to Rick, the piano player knows that she can bring hurt and heartache again — he politely admonishes her to leave Rick alone. Then she persuades him to play a favorite old love song — As Time Goes By. While he plays, Ilsa listens and remembers — with tears welling up in her eyes — a past love affair. A petulant-looking, disturbed Rick hears Sam playing and singing the forbidden song and angrily strides over to the piano to chastise him for playing a tune that recalls Paris. And then the music pauses — and Rick is startled and dumbfounded by the sight of Ilsa — they exchange a long, shocked look, the first time they have seen each other after many years. Sam quickly stacks his piano bench on top of the piano and leaves. At this time, a memorable quote said by Ilsa is: Play it once, Sam, for old times' sake. Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By'.

Shortly after, they are interrupted by the presence of Captain Renault and Laszlo coming from the bar. Rick suppresses his feelings in his formal introduction treating her like a stranger. Ilsa interrupts Renault's formal courtesies and personally introduces "Mr. Laszlo" to Rick. Then Rick joins them for a drink and generously compliments Laszlo on his freedom-fighting efforts. Watchful and curious, Renault probes into Rick's and Ilsa's past awareness of each other — during their last meeting. Rick staring intently at her and Ilsa sporting an irrepressible smile discuss the last time they saw each other during the final days of Paris. He recollects back — with faint anguish. A memorable quote at this time said by Rick is: I remember every detail. The Germans wore grey. You wore blue.

Victor and Ilsa leave. Victor asks her what she knows about Rick. She tells him that she saw him quite often in Paris. Renault reminds them of their appointment with him the next day in the Prefet's office.

Later that night after the Café has closed and the streets are deserted, Rick despairs in his darkened establishment about Ilsa, chain-smoking cigarettes and drinking bourbon heavily. Sam suggests him to go home but he refuses to leave and agonizes over her appearance. Distraught over past painful memories being re-activated, he pounds his fist down on the table. At this moment a memorable quote said by Rick is: Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine, and after Rick angrily orders a repeat performance from Sam at the piano of As Time Goes By he says another memorable quote: You played it for her, you can play it for me.  If she can stand it, I can. Play it!

While Sam plays the song Rick reminds the happier times of his whirlwind romance with Ilsa in pre-Occupation Paris where they were in love before the German invasion. He is still in love with her and feeling rejection after she abandoned him, her beloved, in Paris without explanation. At the end of his reminiscing, the door to the closed cafe opens. As he expected, Ilsa has come to him, but she heightens his resentful feelings by telling him that she wouldn't have come if she had known he was in Casablanca. She approaches and attempts to speak to him, but he is sarcastic and refuses to listen to her explanations or her sympathy. Rick wallows unresponsively and says Has it got a wow finish? With tears in her eyes, Ilsa attempts to explain her past history — something she had kept from him earlier. She was just a young girl new to Paris from her Norwegian home in Oslo when at the house of some friends; she met a "very great and courageous man. He opened up for her a whole beautiful world full of knowledge and thoughts and ideals." He was an idealistic man whom she worshipped as a heroic father figure — with infatuation that she interpreted as love ("...she looked up to him, worshipped him, with a feeling she supposed was love"). But Rick's anger and rude sarcasm halts her, and blocks her from continuing. He denigrates her once to the level of a promiscuous and loose slut.

Part 3/4, by Antonio Apreas

Laszlo and Ilsa are required to visit Renault's office. Strasser is there and he wants to get the names of the leaders of the underground movement in Europe. He'll give them a visa in exchange for the list. Although Laszlo is pressed, he refuses the offer.

Laszlo is asked about his interest in signor Ugarte and he is informed of Ugarte's death.

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The Blue Parrot is another Café belonging to Ferrari. He handles the black market and he wants to know if the letters of transit are in Rick's hands.

Laszlo comes to the Blue Parrot looking for a visa in the black market. Ilsa is in the linen bazaar and Rick goes to talk to her. Ilsa's manner is extremely formal. Rick attempts to apologize for what happened the night before and asks her why she had come back and most importantly, why had she run out on him at the rail station?

She's very upset and she doesn't think she will try to explain but he insists on having an explanation. Ilsa turns her head, he tries to provoke her saying "You'll do the same with Laszlo." She replies that Laszlo is her husband and he already was when they met in Paris. She walks away into the Cafe as Rick stares at her in stunned disbelief.

Ilsa and laszlo talk to Ferrari trying to get an exit visa for them but they just can get one, so they refuse that offer. Ferrari says he thinks Ugarte's letters are in Rick's hands.

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The next scenes are set in Ricks Café and try to show us what Rick is like.

There is a confrontation, almost a fight, between some German and French officers in Rick's Café and Rick cuts the fight out.

Later he helps a young couple to win some money at his roulette table. That money is to buy a double visa. Obviously, Rick cheated, and his workers and Captain Renault are aware of that.

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Laszlo arrives at Rick's Café with the aim to get the famous letters. Rick doesn't accept any offer of money. "Why not?", Laszo asks, and the reply is "Why don't you ask your wife?" Certainly Laszlo is taken aback.

The conversation is over because a group of German officers are standing around the piano singing a song of the German Reich, so Laszlo walks to the orchestra and asks them to play the Marseillaise. The members of the orchestra glance towards Rick and he nods.

After a singing competition, Strasser and his officers give up and sit down. The Marseillaise continues, however. Finally, the whole café stands, singing, clapping, cheering and shouting "Vive la France!" and "Vive la democracie!"

Strasser is very angry. He strides toward Renault protesting about Laszlo's demonstration. Strasser advises Renault to close the café. Renault does so and when he is asked by Rick, the Captain complains of finding that gambling is going on there!

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In the hotel room, Laszlo is getting ready to attend an underground meeting. Ilsa asks him about what he found out after taking to Rick. He replies that Rick has the letters but no intention of selling them and that Rick suggested he should ask her why. Ilsa doesn't wish to explain. And when he leaves to attend the meeting, she just gets her coat and leaves the hotel room, too.

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Comment:

I liked the film very much. Actually, I should say that the more I watched it the more I liked it.

It's about past events, but the background is eternal: the fight between looking for your own happiness or following your own ideals, and all in the framework of an interesting and entertaining story. The pace seemed to me uniform throughout the whole film.

The characters are full of charisma, but if I have to choose one of them, I would say Captain Renault is perfect. His work is great and his irony is very charming. You don't know if he is a good or a bad guy.

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In terms of gathering useful language, I selected a few sentences whose meaning might be obvious but which I find really interesting.

For the time being (for the moment)
Take me into your confidence (Trust me)
But in one respect you are mistaken (aspect, subject, matter…)
Rick stares off into space….
Everybody is to leave here immediately (…has to leave this…)