A Night at Rick's:
Introductions, interruptions, and narrating past events
(...or playing them again)

• Introduction
• Part 1: A resistance fighter meets the chief of police.
• Part 2: A reunion of sorts

Introduction

Part 1: A resistance fighter meets the chief of police:

Warm-up questions:

1. What is the difference between a cafe, a nightclub, and a casino?
2. When you were on vacation in a foreign country did you ever have a a stranger walk up to you on the street and try to sell you something?
3. Does your country have any famous heroes? Perhaps a hero who fought for your country's independence or in a war to protect your country's independence?
4. What would you do if a stranger walked up to you and introduced themselves and struck up a conversation?
5. How would you feel if a policeman in uniform walked up to your table in a restaurant and introduced himself?
6. What if the stranger (or the policeman) was extremely friendly and asked you to join them for a meal or a drink?
7. How would you respond if someone told you were the most beautiful woman (or handsome man) in the whole city? or the whole world? Would you believe them or would you find this merely annoying?

Script:

1. Stranger: Excuse me, but you look like a couple who are on their way to America.
2. Laszlo: Well?
3. (The stranger takes a ring from his finger to show them.)
4. Stranger: You will find a market there for this ring. I am forced to sell it at a great sacrifice.
5. Laszlo: Thank you, but I hardly think...
6. Stranger: ...then perhaps for the lady. The ring is quite unique.
7. (He holds the ring so they can have a look at it. Laszlo recognizes that this ring is a secret sign indicating that the stranger will help him.)
8. Laszlo: Oh, yes, I'm very interested.
9. (The stranger sits down with them.)
10. Stranger: Good.
11. Laszlo: (in a low voice) What is your name?
12. Stranger: Berger, Norwegian, and at your service sir.
13. (Renault, the police captain, approaches the table from behind Laszlo. Ilsa tries to warn him.)
14. Ilsa: Victor...
15. (Laszlo understands.)
16. Laszlo: (in a low voice) I'll meet you in a few minutes at the bar. (in a louder voice) I do not think we want to buy the ring. But thank you for showing it to us.
17. (The stranger, taking the cue, sighs and puts the ring away.)
18. Stranger: Such a bargain. But that is your decision?
19. Laszlo: I'm sorry. It is.
20. (The stranger gets up and leaves as Renault moves to the table.)
21. Renault: Monsieur Laszlo, is it not?
22. Laszlo: Yes.
23. Renault: I am captain Renault, Prefect of the Police.
24. Laszlo: Yes, what is it you want?
25. Renault: (in a friendly manner) Merely to welcome you to Casablanca. and wish you a pleasant stay. It is not often we have so distinguished a visitor.
26. Laszlo: Thank you. I hope you'll forgive me, Captain, but the present French administration has not always been so cordial. May I present Miss Ilsa Lund?
27. Renault: I was informed you were the most beautiful woman to ever visit Casablanca. That was a gross understatement.
28. (Ilsa's manner is friendly and reserved, her voice low and soft.)
29. Ilsa: You are very kind.
30. Laszlo: Won't you join us?
31. (He sits down.)
32. Renault: If you will permit me. (Calls to the waiter.) Oh, Emil. Please, a bottle of your best champagne, and put it on my bill.
33. Emil: Very well, sir.
34. Laszlo: No, Captain, please.
35. Renault: No. Please, Monsieur, it is a little game we play. They put it on the bill, I tear the bill up. It is very convenient.
36. (Ilsa glances off in Sam's direction.)
37. Ilsa: Captain, the boy who is playing the piano, somewhere I have seen him. (Note: The word "boy" used to refer to an "African-American" is extremely insulting and should never be used.)
38. Renault: Sam?
39. Ilsa: Yes.
40. Renault: He came from Paris with Rick.
41. Ilsa: Rick? Who's he?
42. Renault: (smiling) Mademoiselle, you are in Rick's and Rick is....
43. Ilsa: ...is what?
44. Renault: Well, Mademoiselle, he's the kind of a man that, well, if I were a woman and I... (taps his chest) were not around, I should be in love with Rick. But what a fool I am talking to a beautiful woman about another man.
45. (A German officer enters and Renault jumps to his feet.)

Discussion Questions:

1. What does the stranger try to sell them?
2. Why does Laszlo suddenly become interested in the ring the stranger has for sale?
3. Who approaches their table and introduces himself?
4. Is the person who introduces himself threatening?
5. Are the man and woman sitting at the table married?
6. Who is going to pay for the champagne the police chief orders?
7. What does the police chief think about Rick?
8. How does Sam come to be playing the piano in a nightclub in Casablanca?

Language Functions

• striking up a conversation with a stranger
• offering something for sale
• suggesting that someone buy something
• declining an offer to buy something
• persisting in trying to sell something to someone, perhaps by showing how it would fulfill some other need
• Offering your services to someone, telling them that you are available to take care of their needs
• putting off or rescheduling a meeting when something else comes up
• introducing yourself to someone that you know of but have never met personally
• asking someone who has interrupted you what they need.
• welcoming someone to your city, your place of work, or your home
• excusing yourself after being rude and then regretting that you've been rude
• introducing a friend
• offering a compliment to a woman
• asking someone to sit down and join you in a restaurant
• calling the waiter and ordering something
• explaining something to someone who is worried about it
• asking about someone you think you recognize
• laughing at yourself, finding humor in your own actions

Vocabulary

• Excuse me, but X.
• Thank you, but I think X. (a polite refusal)
• The perhaps X. (another alternative)
• X, is it not?
• It is not often that X.
• I'll hope you forgive me, but X.
• I was informed that X.
• a gross understatement
• You are very kind.
• Won't you join us?
• If you will permit me, X.
• Put it on my bill.
• I've seen him somewhere before.
• If I were an X, I would Y.
• What a fool I am, X. (something you did that is foolish)

Part 2: A reunion of sorts:

Warm-up Questions

1. Are there any old songs that have a special sentimental meaning for you?
2. Have you ever bumped into an old girlfriend, boyfriend, or someone you were attracted to after a long period of time?
3. What would you do if you were with your husband or wife or new boyfriend or girlfriend when you bumped into this "old flame" ? Would it change what you talked about or the way you talked about it?
4. Has anyone ever asked you to do something that you knew would make someone else angry? How did you try to avoid doing what they requested?
5. Have there been any days in your life that were hard to forget?
6. Dream up an awkward situation in which you have to introduce and be introduced to three people who hardly know each other. Who are the three people people in your situation and why is it awkward?

Script

1. Ilsa: Hello, Sam.
2. Sam: Hello, Miss Ilsa. I never expected to see you again.
3. (He sits down and is ready to play)
4. Ilsa: It's been a long time.
5. Sam: Yes maam, a lot of water under the bridge.
6. Ilsa: Some of the old songs, Sam.
7. Sam: Yes, ma'am.
8. (Sam begins to play, but he is nervous.)
9. Ilsa: Where is Rick?
10. Sam: (evading) I don't know. I ain't seen him all night.
11. (Sam looks very uncomfortable.)
12. Ilsa: When will he be back?
13. Sam: Not tonight no more. He ain't coming. Uh, he went home.
14. Ilsa: Does he always leave so early?
15. Sam: Oh, he never... well... (desperately) he's got a girl up at the Blue Parrot. He goes up there all the time.
16. Ilsa: You used to be a much better lier, Sam.
17. Sam: Leave him alone, Miss Ilsa. You're bad luck to him.
18. Ilsa: Play it once, Sam, for old time's sake.
19. Sam: I don't know what you mean Miss Ilsa.
20. Ilsa: Play it, Sam. Play "As Time Goes By."
21. Sam: Oh, I can't remember it, Miss Ilsa. I'm a little rusty on it.
22. (Of course he can play it, but he doesn't want to play it. He seems even more nervous now.)
23. Ilsa: I'll hum it for you.
24. (Ilsa starts to hum. Sam begins to play the song very softly.)
25. Ilsa: Sing it, Sam.
26. (Sam starts singing the song.)
27. Sam: You must remember this,
    A kiss is just a kiss,
    A sigh is just a sigh,
    The fundamental things apply,
    As time goes by.
28. (The door to the gambling room opens. Rick comes swinging out. He's heard the music and he's livid.)
29. Sam: And when two lovers woo, They both say I love you, On that you can rely, No matter what the future brings, As time goes by.
30. (Rick walks briskly up to the piano.)
31. Rick: Sam, I thought I told you never to play...
32. (As he sees Ilsa he stops short. Sam stops playing. Ilsa and Rick look at each other. Sam picks up the piano stool and prepares to move the piano away. Renault and Laszlo approach the table from the bar.)
33. Renault: (to Ilsa) Well, you were asking about Rick and here he is. Mademoiselle, may I present...
34. Rick: ...Hello, Ilsa.
35. Ilsa: Hello, Rick.
36. Renault: Oh, you've already met Rick, Mademoiselle?
37. (There's no answer from either.)
38. Renault: Well then, perhaps you also...
39. Ilsa: ...This is Mr. Laszlo.
40. Laszlo: How do you do?
41. Rick: How do you do?
42. Laszlo: One hears a great deal about Rick in Casablanca.
43. Rick: And about Victor Laszlo everywhere.
44. Laszlo: Won't you join us for a drink?
45. Renault: (laughing) Oh, no, Rick never...
46. Rick: ...Thanks. I will.
47. (Rick sits down.)
48. Renault: Well! A precedent is being broken. Er, Emil!
49. Laszlo: This is a very interesting cafe. I congratulate you.
50. Rick: And I congratulate you.
51. Laszlo: What for?
52. Rick: Your work.
53. Laszlo: Thank you. I try.
54. Rick: We all try. You succeed.
55. Renault: I can't get over you two. She was asking about you earlier, Rick, In a way that made me extremely jealous.
56. Ilsa: (to Rick) I wasn't sure you were the same. Let's see, the last time we met...
57. Rick: ... It was "La Belle Aurore."
58. Ilsa: How nice. You remembered. But of course, that was the day the Germans marched into Paris.
59. Rick: Not an easy day to forget.
60. Ilsa: No.
61. Rick: I remember every detail. The Germans wore gray, you wore blue.
62. Ilsa: Yes. I put that dress away. When the Germans march out, I'll wear it again.
63. Renault: Ricky, you're becoming quite human. I suppose we have you to thank for that, Mademoiselle.
64. Laszlo: Ilsa, I don't wish to be the one to say it, but it's late.
65. Renault: (glancing at his wristwatch) So it is. And we have a curfew here in Casablanca. It would never do for the Chief of Police to be found drinking after hours and have to fine himself.
66. (Rick and Ilsa look at each other. Laszlo signals the waiter.)
67. Laszlo: I hope we didn't overstay our welcome.
68. Rick: Not at all.
69. Waiter: (to Laszlo) Your check, sir.
70. (Rick takes the check.)
71. Rick: (to waiter) Oh, it's my party.
72. Renault: Another precedent gone. This has been a very interesting evening. I'll call you a cab. Gasoline rationing, time of night.
73. (Renault leaves.)
74. Waiter: (to Laszlo) Your check, sir.
75. (Rick takes the check.)
76. Rick: (to the waiter) Oh, it's my party.
77. Renault: Another precedent gone. This has been a very interesting evening. I'll call you a cab. Gasoline rationing, time of night.
78. (We'll come again.)
79. Rick: Any time.
80. Ilsa: Say goodnight to Sam for me.
81. Rick: I will.
82. Ilsa: There's still nobody in the world who can play "As Time Goes By" like Sam.
83. Rick: He hasn't played it in a long time.
84. (Ilsa smiles.)
85. Ilsa: Goodnight.
86. Laszlo: Goodnight.
87. Rick: Goodnight.
88. (Rick and Laszlo nod goodnight to each other. Laszlo and Ilsa start to the door as Rick sits down again and stares off in their direction.)

Discussion Questions

1. Have Ilsa and Sam ever met before?
2. If so, did they meet recently?
3. Why doesn't Sam want to give Ilsa a straight answer about where Rick is?
4. What is the name of the song that Ilsa wants Sam to play?
5. Why do you think Ilsa wants Sam to play this song?
6. Why does Rick come over to their table?
7. Who introduces whom to whom ?
8. What happened on the last day Rick and Ilsa met?
9. What color clothes was Ilsa wearing? What color clothes were the Germans wearing?
10. Why does the police chief keep on saying "a precedent is being broken" ?
11. Do Laszlo and Rick pay compliments to each other? What do they say?
12. Who pays the bill in the end?
13. Why does the police chief think it's so urgent that they finish their little party now ?

Language Functions

• saying hello to someone you haven't seen for a long time
• trying to avoid giving an answer to someone's awkward question
• telling someone that they should avoid a particular topic or person
• insisting that someone do someone
• trying to evade someone's persistent request
• greeting someone you've been introduced to [41,42]
• telling someone that you've just met that you've heard of them before [43,44]
• asking someone to join you for a drink [45]
• accepting an invitation to join someone [47]
• declining an invitation to join someone
• recollecting the last time you met when you meet someone again
• reminiscing about an event that you both experienced
• telling someone that it is late and that you must be leaving
• excusing yourself for perhaps staying a little longer than you should have.
• offering to call someone a cab
• insisting that you are going to pay the whole bill [72-74]
• asking someone to say goodbye to someone else for you
• saying goodnight after going out to dinner

Vocabulary

• I never expected to X.
• It's been a long time.
• ...a lot of water under the bridge.
• I haven't seen him all night.
• When will he be back?
• Does he always X ?
• for old time's sake.
• I'm a little rusty.
• I thought I told you never to X.
• You were asking about X. Here it is.
• May I present X.
• Well then, perhaps X.
• One hears a great deal about X.
• A: Won't you join us for a drink? B: Thanks, I will.
• I can't get over X. (something surprising, hard to believe)
• She was asking about you.
• Let's see, X.
• How nice, you remember.
• A: I don't wish to be the one who says it, but it's late. B: So it is.
• It would never do for X to Y.
• A: I hope we didn't overstay our welcome. B: Not at all.
• Your check sir.
• I'll call you a cab.
• A: We'll come again. B: Any time.