Casablance

In a disturbance downstairs in the darkened, closed cafe, Carl arrives with Victor, who has been wounded in the

police raid on the Resistance meeting. After going to investigate from the upstairs balcony, Rick privately instructs

Carl to take "Miss Lund" to her hotel room through a side door so that Laszlo won't know of their meeting. As

Carl sneaks Ilsa away, Rick engages Laszlo in a conversation and a drink to stall for time - and hears again of the

Czech's firm belief in the "good" of the Cause.

Rick: Don't you sometimes wonder if it's worth all this? I mean, what you're fighting for.

Laszlo: You might as well question why we breathe. If you stop breathing, we'll die. If we stop

fighting our enemies, the world will die.

Rick: And what of it? It'll be out of its misery.

Laszlo: Do you know how you sound, Mr. Blaine? Like a man who's trying to convince himself of

something he doesn't believe in his heart. Each of us has a destiny - for good or for evil.

Rick: I get the point.

Laszlo: I wonder if you do. I wonder if you know that you're trying to escape from yourself, and that

you'll never succeed.

Rick: You seem to know all about my destiny.

Laszlo does know of their mutual love for "the same woman" - a love for which no one is to blame. Without a

need to seek vindictive revenge or find an explanation, he suggests, in his own self-sacrificial offer, that Rick use

the letters of transit to take Ilsa away from Casablanca to a safe location - as a favor to him. He would remain in

Casablanca and take his chances. Incredulous, Rick is impressed by Laszlo's self-less caring, virtuous trust and

devoted love for her:

Laszlo: I know a good deal more about you than you suspect. I know, for instance, that you are in

love with a woman. It is perhaps a strange circumstance that we both should be in love with the

same woman. The first evening I came into this cafe, I knew there was something between you and

Ilsa. Since no one is to blame, I, I demand no explanation. I ask only one thing. You won't give me

the letters of transit. All right. But I want my wife to be safe. I ask you as a favor to use the letters to

take her away from Casablanca.