Get to “I Love You” – Part 4

The “Get to ‘I love you'” principle works for tragic endings too. Even if the lovers are torn apart by fate or necessity, if we as storytellers can leave them with a moment where they declare their love, even if it’s silent or doomed … we’ve got something good.

The classic in this category is the ending of Casablanca, when Bogey puts Ingrid on the plane to Lisbon, giving up his shot at this love-of-his-life for the higher calling of freeing her (and her Resistance leader husband, played by Paul Henreid) to carry on their heroic work.

INGRID
But what about us?

BOGEY
We’ll always have Paris.

In other words, “I love you.”

Another great moment of this type is the final scene of the first Godfather. This one is all visual. No dialogue.

The moment takes place in the Don’s house in New Jersey. In the background, we see the new don, Michael Corleone (played by Al Pacino), receiving the obeisance of his capos, who kiss his ring and address him as “Godfather” for the first time. In the foreground is Michael’s wife Kay, played by Diane Keaton, folding household laundry, willfully oblivious of the moment that is playing out behind her. One of the capos slowly closes the door to Michael’s office, shutting out Kay forever.

This is “I love you” in its most heartbreaking and emotionally powerful forms.

No wonder AFI has Casablanca at #2 on its all-time list and The Godfather at #3. (Citizen Kane edged them both out.)

The post Get to “I Love You” – Part 4 first appeared on Steven Pressfield.