(An Excerpt from Scene 36)
[Rick’s apartment. Rick’s
Night Club. It is dark. The door is opened by Rick, letting in some light from
the hall. A figure is revealed in the room. Rick lights a small lamp. There is
Ilsa facing him, her face white hut determined. Rick pauses for a moment in
astonishment.]
RI: How did
you get in?
IL: The
stairs from the street.
RI: I told
you this morning you’d come around. But this is a little ahead of schedule. (with
mock politeness) Well, won’t you sit down.
IL: (as she
takes the chair) Richard, I had to see you.
RI: So, I’m
Richard again! We’re back in
IL: Please.
RI: (lights
a cigarette) Your unexpected visit isn’t connected by any chance with
the Letters of Transit? (Ilsa remains silent.) It seems as long as I
have those Letters, I’ll never be lonely.
IL: (looks
at him steadily) Richard, you can ask any price you choose. But you must
give me those Letters.
RI: I went
all through that with your husband. It’s no deal.
II: I know
how you feel about me. And I don’t blame you. But I’m asking you to put your
feelings aside for something more important.
RI: Do I have to hear again what a great man your
husband is and what an important Cause he’s fighting for?
IL: It was
your Cause, too. In your own way, you were fighting for the same thing.
RI:: Well, I’m not fighting for anything any more,
except myself. I’m the only Cause I’m interested in now.
[A pause. Ilsa deliberately takes a new
approach.]
IL: Richard, we loved each other once. If those days meant anything at all to you ...
RI: (harshly) I wouldn’ t bring up
IL: Please listen to me. If you knew what really happened. If you knew the truth.
RI: (cuts in) I wouldn’t believe you no matter what you told me. You’ll say any thing now to get what you want.
IL: (her temper
flaring ― scornfully)
You want to feel sorry for yourself, don’t you? With so much at stake, all you
can think of is your own feeling. One woman has hurt you, and you take your
revenge on the rest of the world. You’re a coward and weakling. (breaks)
Oh Richard, I’m sorry. But you’re our last hope. If you don’t help us, Victor
Laszlo will die in
RI: What of it? I’m
going to die in
[Ilsa
is holding a small revolver in her hand.]
IL: All right, I tried
to reason with you. I tried everything. Now I want those Letters. Get them for
me.
[Rick.
For a moment, a look of admiration comes into his eyes.]
RI: I don’t have to. (reaching into his inner pocket.) I got
them right here.
[He
has the Letters in his hand.]
IL: Put them on the
table.
RI: (shaking his head) No.
IL: For the last time,
put them on the table.
RI: If Laszlo and the
Cause mean so much, you won’t stop at anything. All right, I’ll make it easier
for you. Go ahead and shoot. You’ll be doing me a favour.
[Close
shot. Ilsa. She rises, still pointing the gun at Rick. Her finger rests on the
trigger. It seems as if she is summoning nerve to press it. Then, suddenly, her
hand trembles and the pistol falls to the table. She breaks up, covering her
face with her hands. Rick walks into the shot, stands close to her. Suddenly,
she flings herself into his arms.]
IL: (almost
hysterical) Richard, I
tried to stay away. I thought I would never see you again … that you were out
of my life, the day you left
[Her
words are smothered as he presses her tight to him, kisses her passionately.
She is lost in his embrace.]