In this reading, there are three primary objectives:
1—You will develop your awareness of the use of articles.
2—You will increase your reading comprehension.
3—You will expand your working vocabulary.

These objectives are facilitated by the following activities:
1—Reading the following part of the radio broadcast script.
2—Seeing photographs from the movie that illustrate the story.
3—Noticing required articles by interactively revealing articles after the "mouseover" of highlighted spaces.
4—Accessing short vocabulary definitions of selected words and phrases (those underlined in blue).
5—Getting vocabulary definitions from the internet for words you choose.
6—Checking your reading comprehension by doing the interactive quiz at the end (self-testing).

And, I hope you have some fun too! —Skip Reske

Move mouse cursor

over blank highlights

to show correct article (a/an or the) and over words in blue to show definition

Casablanca

Act 1 - Part 1

ANNOUNCER : TonightScreen Guild Players present Warner Brothers' exciting story of love and mystery in Africa during World War II, "Casablanca" -- withoriginal actors frommotion picture:

Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine,
Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund , and
Paul Henreid as Victor Laszlow.

Movie poster for Casablanca

ANNOUNCER: (June 14, 1940,German army enters intocity of Paris.) Barely getting out of Paris before Germans' came, Rick Blaine fled tocity of Casablanca, in Morocco, in North Africa. There, many months beforeAmerican troops arrived, he was operating Rick's American Cafe.

Outside view of Rick's cafe

Casablanca was full of refugees and some of Casablanca's residents didbig business in selling exit visas and letters of transit. Exit Visa was needed to leavecountry. WithLetter of Transit, you could fly out of Casablanca and go to Lisbon in Portugal. Rick was not part of that dangerous business, untilnight our story began. He was in his office above his café where he could watch and hearcrowd below when his headwaiter, Carl, called to him...

CARL: Oh, Rick!

RICK: Yes, Carl?

CARL:Chief of Police, Captain Renault, would like to speak to you.

RICK: Well, send him in .

CARL: Yes, sir. Oh, Rick will see you, Captain Renault.

RENAULT: Thank you, Carl. Hello, Rick.

RICK: Hello, Louis.

RENAULT: I have some unpleasant news for you, Ricky.

RICK: You mean you're looking for more bribes?

RENAULT: Oh, no, no, no, no. At least, not right now. Uh, my men arrested that man Ugarte on his way to roulette wheel, Ricky.

RICK: Well, except to Ugarte, what's so unpleasant about that?

RENAULT: Oh, in itself nothing. But we arrested Ugarte for killing two German couriers and stealing their letters of transit. Ugarte did not have those letters of transit when he was arrested and he's seen no one but you, Ricky, sincemurder.

RICK: What are you building up to, Louis? Arresting me?

RENAULT: No, not immediately, at any rate. I just want to give youword of advice. Ugarte was going to sell those letters tonight to Victor Laszlo.

RICK: Laszlo? Here? In Casablanca ?

Renault and Rick

RENAULT: Yes. Why, you know, Ricky, this isfirst time I've ever seen you so impressed.

RICK: As head of underground resistance toGerman Nazis, Laszlo's impressed half ofworld.

RENAULT: Yes, it's my duty to see that he does not impressother half. Rick, Laszlo must never reach America. He stays in Casablanca.

RICK: Twenty thousand francs says he doesn't.

RENAULT: Oh, make it ten thousand. After all, I'm onlypoor corrupt official.

RICK (chuckles): All right, it'sbet.

RENAULT: Well, no one else would dare supply Laszlo with exit visas, Ricky, and since he can't leave Casablanca without them, make certain that you don't give him those letters of transit.

RICK: But I--

RENAULT: Oh, you don't need to deny it, Rick. I'm certain you haveletters.

RICK: Even if I had those letters, Louis, you know I don't do anything dangerous for somebody else.

RENAULT: Yes, to date. But I suspect, Ricky, under your cynical appearance, you're sentimental . Now, if you'll come with me, I'll introduce you to Major Strasser and Victor Laszlo and his charming companion,most beautiful woman who has ever come to Casablanca.

SAM (sings and playspiano):

You must remember this

kiss is stillkiss

sigh is justsigh

fundamental things apply

As time goes by

Rick and Sam

RICK: Sam! Sam!

[MUSIC STOPS]

SAM: Yes, boss?

RICK: I thought I told you never to play that song again.

SAM: Well, boss, you see, I didn't really--

ILSA: Sam is not to blame, Rick. I asked him to play it.

RICK: You--? Ilsa ?

Ilsa

ILSA: Yes, Rick. Ilsa.

RICK: What are you doing in Casablanca ?

ILSA: Traveling through. With Victor Laszlo.

RICK: Where is he?

ILSA: He'll be right back. He's looking for someone.

RENAULT: Well, I found your escort, Mademoiselle Lund. Ricky, I havehonor of introducing--

ILSA: We're old acquaintances, Captain Renault.

Rick, Renault, Laszlo, and Ilsa

RENAULT: Oh, you know each other? Well, then, Ricky, do you also know--?

ILSA: This is Mister-- Mister Victor Laszlo.

LASZLO: One hearsgreat deal about Rick in Casablanca.

RICK: And about Victor Laszlo everywhere. I congratulate you.

LASZLO: What for?

RICK: Oh, your work.

LASZLO: Thank you. I try.

RICK: We all try. You succeed.

RENAULT: I can't get over you and Mademoiselle Lund knowing each other, Ricky. Undercircumstances, it worries me.

RICK: Well, it shouldn't.

ILSA: Let's see,last time we met--

RICK: Was at "La Belle Aurore ".

ILSA: How nice. You remembered. But, of course, that wasdayGermans marched into Paris.

RICK: Not an easy day to forget. I remember every detail.Germans wore gray, you wore blue.

ILSA: Yes. I put that dress away. WhenGermans march out, I'll wear it again.

Watch a video clip from the movie. Speakers/headphones required.
Slow internet connection (dial-up)
Fast interner connection (DSL or cable)

LASZLO: I don't wish to be

one to say it, Ilsa , but it's late. We'll come again , Monsieur Blaine.

RICK: Any time.

ILSA: Will you say good night to Sam for me, Rick?

RICK: I will.

ILSA: There's still nobody inworld who can play "As Time Goes By" like Sam.

RICK: I'll tell him.

[LATER THAT EVENING]

RICK (drunk ): Of all gin joints in alltowns in allworld, she walks into mine.

Watch a video clip from the movie. Speakers/headphones required.
Slow internet connection (dial-up)
Fast interner connection (DSL or cable)

RICK: Know what she said Sam? She said nobody can play "As Time Goes By" like you.

SAM: Aren't you going stop drinking and go to bed, boss?

RICK: No! Play it Sam. Play "As Time Goes By."

SAM: Oh, I don't think I can remember it, boss.

RICK: If she can stand it, I can. Play it! I-I gotdate withmemory...

[PIANO PLAYS]

RICK:... in Paris.

SAM (sings and playspiano):

You must remember this

kiss is stillkiss

sigh is justsigh

fundamental things apply

As time goes by

Multimedia presentation of "As Time Goes By"
(You must have headphones or speakers attached)

Lyrics to "As Time Goes By"