"Casablanca – Producer's Draft"

Author’s note: When my great uncles Julius and Philip Epstein (who co-wrote the screenplay for the movie “Casablanca”) passed away many years ago, I inherited their files which took many years to sort through. One of gems I uncovered was this partial early draft screenplay for “Casablanca” which I thought you would enjoy (it was labeled “Producer’s Draft”). Most of the manuscript was missing, but I included the story from Ilsa’s nighttime visit to Rick in his apartment through the ending. It materially differs from the final version as you will see.

Rick and Ilsa heard noises from the level below his upstairs apartment.  He moved to the door and opened it just enough to confirm the sounds were coming from the bar.  He flipped the light switch in the room off.  Ilsa walked up from behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, looking over his left shoulder out the door.  Rick turned to face her and unclasped her hands, then raised a single finger to his lips.  He stepped out of the room and quietly closed the door.

Rick saw Carl behind the bar.  “Carl, what happened?”

“Herr Rick, the police, they arrest Herr Laszlo.  They find our meeting.”

Rick descends the stairs.  He found Carl wrapping his wrist with gauze.

“I escape through window. “

Ilsa walked out of Rick’s apartment and stood on the overlook.  “Carl, what is it?  Where’s Viktor?”

Carl looked first at Ilsa and then at Rick, his words caught in his throat.

“Come down here,” Rick said.

She rushed down the spiral staircase and as she approached them, she asked again, “Carl, where is Viktor?”

Rick said, “Renault’s men must have followed him to the underground meeting.”

Tears formed instantly in Ilsa’s eyes and raced down her face.  She buried her head into Rick’s shoulder and he wrapped his right arm around her tightly.

Rick said, “ Carl, I want you to take Miss Lund home.”

“But Rick, Herr Laszlo…the Nazis- “

“Carl, take her home and don’t talk to anyone.”

“Yes, I will do it.”

Ilsa lifted her head from Rick’s shoulder. “Richard, they’ve been waiting for this.  They will send him to the concentration camp again, or- “

“Go back to your place and pack your things.  Stay there; I’ll come for you as soon as I can.”

“Richard, no- “

“I’ve got to think for all of us now.”

Carl and Ilsa left and Rick picked up the phone and dialed.

————————-

Ilsa walked briskly down the street and turned into the massive stone building.  She was led back to a small office and once they were alone, she turned to the man seated behind the desk and said, “Major Strasser, I know Captain Renault has arrested Viktor Laszlo.  Tell me what you intend to do with him.”

Strasser was leaning forward, but as she spoke he reclined and intertwined his fingers in front of him.  “Mademoiselle, you must know that Viktor Laszlo was attempting to stir uprising here in Casablanca against the Third Reich.  He was warned and he chose to ignore that warning.  He cannot leave and now he cannot stay- “

“Then- “

“He will be tried for treason and if he is found guilty, he will go to the concentration camp.”

Ilsa was silent, fighting back tears and trying to be strong as she knew Viktor would be.  “But this is unoccupied France.  How can you take away his freedom to- “

“Freedom comes at a cost, Mademoiselle.  You know the price I seek.  Viktor Laszlo must tell me the names of the leaders of underground movement.”

“He will never betray them.”

“That is his choice,” 

Ilsa knew Viktor would die before exposing the brave men and women of the Underground.  She knew Strasser would be equally steadfast as all Nazi’s were.  But perhaps there was something else of value to be traded for Viktor’s life. 

“The letters of transit.  A man came to Viktor with them today.  He wanted money.  If I could get them to you, would you- “

“You want to trade what was stolen from us for a man’s life?  Why would I agree to this?”

“Because if you have the letters, there would be no way for Viktor to leave Casablanca.”

Strasser unlocked eyes with Ilsa, looked to the floor and back before he said, “Mademoiselle, if you bring me the letters if transit I will leave the imposition of punishment to Captain Renault.”

With that, Ilsa hurriedly exited his office and the building.  The tears she had been fighting back flooded her eyes until she could no longer see or continue walking.  Once she had cried for her beloved husband, Ilsa went back to their apartment.

She packed her belongings and looked out the front window.  She couldn’t wait for Rick to come.  She needed the letters of transit before it was too late.  She stepped out of the building and opened the back door of a taxi, looking left and right before entering and closing the door.

————————

Rick had phoned Captain Renault and told him to meet him at his cafe.

Renault entered the empty bar and found Rick standing aside Sam’s piano, his fingers lightly depressing keys to no discernible tune.  Upon hearing Renault’s footsteps, he stopped.

“Louis, why did you arrest Laszlo?  The most you can do is fine him a few thousand francs and lock him up for thirty days.”

“I’m afraid that’s out of my hands, Ricky.  Major Strasser will undoubtedly want to send Viktor Laszlo back to Germany to stand trial.”

“I’m surprised you would let the Germans do that.  But you do have ten thousand francs at risk, so maybe not so surprising.”

“And I’m surprised at you, Ricky.  I know that look in your eyes when you’re around Miss Lund.  I would think you’d be happy that Laszlo is out of your little love triangle.”

Rick moved over to a table and sat in a chair, lit a cigarette and drew deeply from it before he replied.  “Yes, I suppose you think I’d be worried about that.”

“But you’re not?” Renault said, joining him at the table.

“I’ll let you in on a little secret, Louie.  I have the letters of transit, and I intend to use them.  For Miss Lund and me to leave Casablanca tonight.”

“You didn’t ask me to come here to tell me that.  You have the letters; you have the legal right to leave whenever you like.”

“Yes, but legal right or not, Nazis have a certain sway in Casablanca that might interfere,”

“What makes you think Germany cares about you and Miss Lund?”

“Ilsa is Laszlo’s wife.  She probably knows things about his work that Strasser would like to know.  Louis, what if I could help you get something big on Laszlo, something that would lock him up for years?  It’d be a real feather in your cap.”

“I’m listening.”

“Let Laszlo go.  I’ll get him a message that he can have the letters of transit.” 

Renault suddenly stood.  “I’m afraid Major Strasser would object, Ricky.”

“Not if it means you arresting Laszlo for possession of the letters of transit.  You could charge him with murder of the couriers, too, if you like.  If you release him, he’ll come here for them and after I give them to him, you do the rest.”

“And then you and Miss Lund leave using the letters and Laszlo is safely locked away in a concentration camp where he won’t interfere with your future.  I’m going to miss you, Ricky.  Apparently you’re the only one in Casablanca who has even less scruples than me.”

At that moment, Ilsa entered through the front door of the bar and rushed towards the two men.

“Captain Renault,” she said curtly before turning to Rick.  “Richard, I need to speak to you.”

Captain Renault bowed to Ilsa.  “Mademoiselle.  Ricky, I agree to your terms.  I will take care of my end now.”  Renault starts to walk towards the door when Major Strasser threw the door open and stood in Renault’s path.

“Where are you going?  This man has the letters of transit.  He must have killed the couriers, too.  I demand that you arrest him now,” Strasser said to Renault.

Renault looked from Strasser to Rick and hesitated.  “Major Strasser, I assure you, we thoroughly searched these premises and the letters of transit are not- “

“They are here.  Miss Lund, or should I say Mrs. Laszlo, offered to trade them for her husband’s freedom, and she came here right after she made the offer.”

Strasser saw the look of surprise and fear mixed on Ilsa’s face and said, “Yes, we Germans are quite skilled at uncovering secrets, Mrs. Laszlo.  Once I have the letters of transit, you and I will have a conversation.”

Strasser took several steps toward Rick and said, “Where are the letters, Mr. Blaine?  Tell me now…” as he reached for his pistol.

Rick grabbed Strasser’s arm before he could raise the pistol and the two men struggled for control of the weapon.  Strasser managed to jerk his hand holding the gun over his head but Rick maintained his grip on Strasser’s arm.  The struggle continued until Strasser struck a blow to Rick’s face with his elbow, causing Rick to lose his grip on Strasser’s arm.

With Strasser’s gun pointed at his chest, Rick took two steps back.  “Your last chance, Mr. Blaine.”

Two ringing gunshots pierced the air.  Strasser, wide-eyed and mouth agape, looked down to his chest and then back up into the eyes of Ilsa Lund, who stood ten feet away holding a gun in both hands, still pointed at the German.  Strasser looked back to his chest and then slumped to his knees.  A deep inhale.  Strasser fell to his right side, motionless.  Renault and Rick went to the man now sprawled out on the floor

“Major!  Major Strasser!”

The words came not from Rick or Ilsa or even Renault.  A German officer, a man Renault later told them was Strasser’s driver, stood in the entrance to the bar, looking not at the fallen major but instead fixated on Ilsa.

For several seconds everyone stood frozen in place.  Rick was the first to break the spell, moving across the room towards Ilsa.  Ilsa was still holding the gun with both hands out in front of her, with the barrel pointed directly over Strasser’s dead body.

Rick took the gun from her hands and turned the barrel and his eyes to the front door, but before he could shoot, the German ran.  Rick sped to the door and saw the man running to a car parked fifty feet away.  He fired four shots and watched the man stumble and fall hard to the pavement.

By then, Ilsa had joined Rick outside the café.  “Richard, I, I, I couldn’t let him…he was going to kill you- “

“It’s alright kid, it’s alright,” Rick said as he turned and put both arms around her, looking over her shoulder at Renault walking towards them.

“I am afraid this isn’t going to go very well for any of us,” Renault said.

Rick pulled away from Ilsa and looked hard into her eyes.  “We have to get away from here.”

“What about Viktor?  We can’t leave him!” said Ilsa.

His eyes darted to Renault.  “Louis, we have to get Laszlo now.”  He checked his watch.  “We don’t have much time before the plane leaves for Lisbon.”

“Ricky, have you taken leave of your senses?  Strasser is dead.  If I let Laszlo go now…no…I won’t take the risk they make me the scapegoat.”

“Louis, I wouldn’t like to shoot you, but I will if you don’t help us.”

“Two dead Germans and a dead captain in your café?  I’m afraid that would be hard even for you to explain.  And probably bad for business, too.”

Rick stepped away from Ilsa and moved closer to Renault.  “I always was a terrible businessman,” pointing the gun at Renault’s heart.

“That is my least vulnerable spot.”

Rick studied Renault for a moment.  Clearly he was not going to put himself at risk by freeing Laszlo, but he was willing to take the risk that Rick would shoot him “Alright Louis, then help Ilsa and I get on that plane.”

Ilsa ran to Rick, screaming, “No, no we can’t leave Viktor.  I won’t leave him!  They’ll kill him, you know they will!”  

Rick grabbed her arms.  “We’ve got to get you out of Casablanca.  The Germans know you’re Viktor’s wife.  What if they also figure out you killed Strasser?”

Ilsa stopped struggling and looked to the ground in front of her.  Tears formed in her eyes.  “But Richard…”

“They can’t pin anything serious on Laszlo, so Captain Renault will have to let him go.  He’ll find a way out of Casablanca.  Right now, we have to leave.”

Rick looked to Renault and said, “Do I have to shoot you, or will you help us?”

“Under these circumstances, I will do as you say, Ricky.”

__________________________

The three of them ran to Renault’s police vehicle and he drove them to the airport.  When they arrived, Rick told Ilsa to stay in the car while he arranged things.  Rick and Renault walked to a small hangar where Rick pulled out the letters of transit.

“Alright Louis, here’s one of the letters of transit.  Fill in the name Ilsa Lund and sign it, and then take her bag and put it on the plane.”

Renault took the paper without looking at it.  “What about you?  You’re going with her, aren’t you?”

“Just do it.”

Renault flipped the pages of the letter, signed it and handed it back to Rick.  “I always knew you were a sentimentalist at heart.”

Rick walked back to the police vehicle and opened the door for Ilsa.  They walked hand in hand towards the plane, stopping when they reached the short flight of stairs leading to the passenger compartment.

“Why are we stopping?” Ilsa asked.

“Because I’m staying here.”

Ilsa looked at him with a mix of astonishment and terror and said, “Richard, no, no..”

“You can’t stay here, it’s too dangerous.  Nine chances out of ten you end up in a concentration camp, and I can’t let that happen.”

“Then come with me.  Last night you said- “

“Ilsa, when I left Paris, I lost more than just you.  Last night we said things I hadn’t believed since I left Paris.  Now I know what we had that summer was real.  And for the first time since then I know what I have to do,”

Ilsa looked lovingly into his eyes, but then saddened.  “But I don’t understand.  Why aren’t you leaving Casablanca now?”

“Because I left the fight before it was really over.  And now a few miles from here there’s a man in a jail who needs my help, a man who’s given his life to others.  I’ve got a job to do, for him and for you and for the rest of the world.”

“What about us?”

“We’ll always have Paris.”

Someone on the airplane stepped out of the plane door and said, “You need to board now, Mademoiselle.”

Ilsa looked to the ground, but Rick slipped his hand under her chin and gently lifted her face until he saw the tears in her eyes and the small smile on her lips.  “Here’s looking at you, kid.”

They stood looking at each other, knowing it was the last time.  “When you land in New York, I’ll have a friend meet you.  You can trust him.”

“God bless you, Richard” she said and climbed the stairs into the plane.

Rick walked slowly away as the plane door closed and it taxied towards the runway.  By the time he joined Renault, the plane had started its takeoff towards Lisbon.  Rick wordlessly watched her leave his life again.

Renault and Rick walked through the misty air back towards his car.

Looking at Renault, Rick asked, “What are you going to do about Major Strasser?”

“Strasser?  I’ll call my office and told them to round up the usual suspects.”

“And Laszlo?”

“Oh, I’ll charge him with illegal assembly and once the Germans finish investigating Strasser’s murder, I’ll release him.  But don’t count too much on my friendship to help you get him to America, Ricky.”

“I still have a letter of transit so he won’t need any help.”

“It might be a good idea for you to disappear from Casablanca for a while after Laszlo is gone.  There’s a Free French garrison over at Brazzaville.  I could be induced to arrange a passage.”

“I could use a trip.  But it doesn’t make any difference about our bet.  You will still owe me ten thousand francs.”

“And that should be enough to pay our expenses.”

“Our expenses?”

“Uh huh.”

“Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

Author’s note – OK, the Epsteins are no relation of mine and this isn’t really a screenplay draft they created. I am a huge fan of the movie though, so I wrote this just for fun. Hope you enjoyed it!