Luca
- Year:
- 2021
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EXT. LIGURIAN SEA - NIGHT - PROLOGUE
A small FISHING BOAT exits the harbor of PORTOROSSO, a
Ligurian seaside town.
Onboard, a gramophone plays a 1950s pop song. An Italian flag
flutters in the breeze. The boat’s wake cuts the deep inky
blue of the ocean, as lights glimmer on the waves.
On the boat, TWO FISHERMEN. One old, one young. The old one
(TOMMASO) steers while the young one (GIACOMO) frets--
GIACOMO:
Listen, Tommaso--do we really need
to fish near the island?
TOMMASO:
You worry too much.
Giacomo points downward--
At a fascinating old illustrated MAP of the Ligurian Sea,
featuring all manner of sea monsters. He points his finger
near ISOLA DEL MARE, the island they’re heading towards.
GIACOMO:
I dunno. ...What if the old stories
are true?
TOMMASO:
Oh, c’mon, Giacomo. You really
believe in sea monsters?
GIACOMO:
Too many strange things have been
seen in these waters...
TOMMASO:
They’re all just stories. Tall
tales to keep us away from a great
fishing spot.
GIACOMO:
But, Tommaso!--
TOMMASO:
We're fine. Non preoccupare ti,
Giacomo.
Tommaso cuts the engine, and changes the record on the
gramophone. Puccini. O mio babbino caro.
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TOMMASO:
That’s more like it.
As the aria fills the night air, they pull in their nets--
While some scaly shadowy something approaches. (This is
ALBERTO. We won’t really meet him until later.)
Its FIN knifes through the water as it closes in on the boat--
Oh. It’s not here to murder them. It’s here to steal stuff.
As the fishermen go about their business, oblivious, the
thing swipes a WRENCH, a DRINKING GLASS, PLAYING CARDS--
But as it reaches a skinny purple arm for the gramophone--
GIACOMO:
AAAH! What is that!?
Our scampish little sea monster has been spotted.
TOMMASO:
Per mille sardine--
The figure dives into the water--and right into the
fishermen’s net. It STRUGGLES, getting more tangled--
A lantern smashes on the deck--the light goes out--the
panicked fishermen try to reel him in--
GIACOMO:
(straining efforts)
Tira, tira!
The boat lists to one side as the tug-of-war intensifies--
Desperate to escape, the sea monster reverses direction and
BREACHES THE SURFACE--
It arcs over the fishermen--astonished, they stumble
backwards, knocking the gramophone into the water--
The sea monster dives into the water on the opposite side--
Giacomo, shaking, throws a harpoon after him, but misses--
And the sea monster is gone.
TOMMASO:
(panting)
You missed! Let’s go--before it
comes back for us--
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GIACOMO:
I told you they were real!
TOMMASO:
Oh, what a monster. Horrifying...
The gramophone and other objects from the boat SINK into the
murky depths of the ocean as ominous music BUILDS--
SMASH TO:
LUCA, 12 an adorable and not remotely frightening SEA MONSTER
BOY, freaking out:
LUCA:
AaaaaaaahhhH!!!
WIDE--he is in front of some kind of UNDERSEA BARN. Its doors
are open and no one is inside.
He whirls to see his family’s herd/school of GOATFISH
dispersed all over the pastoral undersea landscape, snacking
on inappropriate things.
LUCA:
Fish out of the barn.
Mom’s gonna kill me--
One of the goatfish bleats, like a goat, then zips away--
LUCA:
Caterina! --Wait!!
EXT. OUTSIDE THE BRANZINOS’ HOME - BRISK CUTS OF LUCA CHASING
DOWN GOATFISH:
Luca tears past a SEA MONSTER FARMER, startling him in the
middle of feeding his crabs--
LUCA:
Good morning, Mr. Branzino!
And also, I’m sorry.
And, uh. How’s Mrs. Branzino?
MR. BRANZINO
(unamused)
Hi, Luca.
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EXT. OUTSIDE THE GAMBERETTOS’ HOME
Luca timidly approaches another stolid sea monster farmer--
LUCA:
Excuse me, ma'am? Have you, by any
chance--
MRS. GAMBERETTO
(severely)
Yes.
She rotates. A goatfish is nibbling the back of her head.
EXT. HILLSIDE
Luca races up a hill after--
LUCA:
Giuseppe! Get back here!!
--one last goatfish (GIUSEPPE) nosing his way up the hill, in
the direction of the surface. Luca jumps on him; Giuseppe
squirms free. Some greased-pig shenanigans. Finally Luca gets
him under an arm, and scolds him as he heads back down--
LUCA:
You wanna run off like your buddy
Enrico? Because I’ve got news for
you:
he’s either dead, or he’s...(thinking about it)
...out there somewhere.
(a little dreamily)
Seeing the world.
Beat.
LUCA:
(snapping out of it)
But he’s probably dead!
They return to the now-assembled flock--
LUCA:
Okay. That’s everyone.
(knowingly)
Monalisa...? Why are you smiling?
MONALISA has kind of a creepy smile. She opens her mouth and
a smaller fish wrestles its way out of there.
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LUCA:
Anyone else in there?
A few more fish emerge from Monalisa’s mouth.
LUCA:
Giuseppe, what did we JUST talk
about.
Giuseppe, who has begun straying from the herd a little,
FREEZES.
Then he continues straying from the herd a little more.
LUCA:
(to the school)
All right--Let’s head out--
TITLES, AS--
SEA MONSTER FARMERS attend to their labors, surrounded by the
fields, farms, homes, and silos of a PEACEFUL AGRARIAN
UNDERSEA COMMUNITY--
Luca exchanges warm polite greetings with many of them--
LUCA:
Hello!
MR. GAMBERETTO
Good morning!
LUCA:
Hi, Mrs. Aragosta.
MRS. ARAGOSTA
Hey, Luca!
LUCA:
Good morning!
MR. MERLUZZO
Morning!
Sea monsters:
not quite how we imagine them.PAN TO:
EXT. UNDERWATER FIELD
Luca corrals the goatfish flock toward a PASTURE--
LUCA:
Ok. All clear.
The fish start grazing, and Luca settles in for another notsuper-
stimulating day.
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LUCA:
(to the fish)
Let me know if you need anything.
Anyone?
No?
...Okay.
Luca sits on a ROCK and blows bubbles from his mouth, bored.
Hmm. Giuseppe is sniffing at something--
LUCA:
Giuseppe?
--an ALARM CLOCK. Luca, intrigued, picks it up. What is this?
It goes off, terrifying him, then mercifully stops.
There’s more--he spots a PLAYING CARD floating nearby--
He examines it, then looks up to contemplate the alien world
that these things must have fallen from--
LUCA:
LAND MONSTERS!
Luca herds the scattered goatfish into a small CAVE--this is
a familiar drill.
They remain as the boat passes, not seeing them--
And as Luca watches it get farther away--
As he approaches the surface, the fascinating world up there
comes into view--he tries to poke his head through, but the
water BULGES unnaturally with his head, keeping him in the
water--he strains to see what there is to see--
DANIELA (O.S.)
LUCA!
LUNCH IS READY!
Luca’s mom’s voice shatters his DAYDREAM, which was all it
was--he’s actually just a few feet off the sea floor.
LUCA:
(stressed)
BE RIGHT THERE!!
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Luca scrambles to hide his clock and cards, and collect the
herd--
LUCA:
Come on! We gotta get back--
Luca swims home. His mom, DANIELA--loving, warm, overbearing--
is on him.
DANIELA:
You’re two minutes late. Was there
a boat?! Huh?! Did you hide?!
LUCA:
(dutiful but weary)
Yes, Mom.
DANIELA:
Because if they catch even a
glimpse of you--you think
they come around to meet new
friends? Huh? Make small talk
about the current? No.
They’re here to do MURDERS.
Just making sure you know.
LUCA:
Uh-huh.
No.
I don’t.
Uh-huh.
Thanks Mom.
They head into their cozy little undersea farmhouse, as
Daniela reminisces about how things have changed--
DANIELA:
When I was a kid, we’d go weeks
without seeing a boat. And let me
tell you, they did not have motors.
Just a sweaty land monster with a
paddle.
GRANDMA, prickly, irascible, sits at the table. Even if Luca
wasn’t her only grandchild, he’d be her favorite.
LUCA:
(giving her a kiss)
Hi, Grandma.
GRANDMA:
Hey, Bubble.
Luca’s dad, LORENZO, is a little too into his show crabs, our
sea monster equivalent of prize-winning chickens. He is
attending to one now named PINCHY-PESSA.
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LUCA:
Hi, Dad.
LORENZO:
(whispering, awestruck)
Luca. Look at Pinchy-pessa.
She’s molting. Oh, it’s
magnificent. Now here’s a champion
show crab if I ever saw one.
LUCA:
(trying to be interested)
Oh. Nice.
LORENZO:
Whoa whoa whoa!
Don’t look her in the eye!
LUCA:
Sorry!
LORENZO:
But don’t apologize! She can sense
weakness!!
Sure enough, Pinchy-pessa PINCHES Luca’s ear.
Daniela uses her tail to scoop up the crab and orders Luca to
the table.
DANIELA:
Come eat, Luca. C'mon.
(to Lorenzo)
We better beat those Branzinos at
the crab show this year. Everyone
thinks Bianca Branzino’s so great.
With her prize-winning crabs and
amaaaazing dolphin impression.
Please! Everyone has a dolphin
impression!
I mean, right?
LORENZO:
Why do dolphins even sound like
that? Why don’t they just talk?
Luca’s thoughts are back on the pasture--Grandma notices--
GRANDMA:
Luca, what’s on your mind?
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LUCA:
I... Well, I was just wondering...
where do boats come from?
Lorenzo SPIT-TAKES.
GRANDMA:
The land monster town. Just above
the surface. I beat a guy at cards
there once.
DANIELA:
Mom! What are you doing?!
GRANDMA:
(shrugs)
He’s old enough to hear about it.
LUCA:
(floored)
You’ve been to the surface?! And--
and done the change?!--
DANIELA:
Nope! Nope! The end! Shut it down!
LUCA:
I was just curious--
DANIELA:
And the curious fish gets caught!
We do not talk, think, discuss,
contemplate, or go ANYWHERE near
the surface. Got it?
LUCA:
(cowed)
Yes, Mom.
Daniela hands Luca the rest of his lunch--
DANIELA:
Here. Now let’s get back to work.
She watches him get his crook, a little wistfully.
DANIELA:
Hey. Look me in the eye.
You know I love you, right?
LUCA:
(softening)
I know, Mom.
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She watches him head out with the flock.
DANIELA:
(to Lorenzo)
We’re a little worried about him,
right?
LORENZO:
(completely disengaged)
No thanks! I’m full!
EXT. FIELDS
Luca is hunting more and more fascinating human objects. They
carry him farther and father out of the pasture.
A shiny WRENCH--
A DRINKING GLASS--
And there, in the distance--
The GRAMOPHONE from our prologue.
Fascinated, cautious, he approaches it.
Too distracted to notice the ominous FIGURE IN A DIVING SUIT,
STEALTHILY CLOSING IN BEHIND HIM--
Luca turns--
LUCA:
AAAAAAH!!!
The diver hefts his harpoon--Luca, scrambling to get away,
blunders into a rock--
HE’S CORNERED--
ALBERTO:
Boo.
LUCA:
HUH?
The diver takes off its helmet to reveal that IT’S ANOTHER
SEA MONSTER BOY (ALBERTO, 14).
Alberto is a rule-breaker, insouciant, carefree and careless.
Your parents might think he’s a bad kid, but you know he
doesn’t mean anyone any harm.
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ALBERTO:
It’s fine! I’m not human.
LUCA:
Oh!
(still kind of terrified)
...Thank goodness!
Before Luca can stop this from happening, Alberto hands him
his harpoon.
ALBERTO:
Here, hold this.
Luca very gingerly takes hold of it and watches Alberto begin
to collect all of the human items that have fallen here--
LUCA:
Uhhh. Do you... live around here?
ALBERTO:
Down here? No no no. I just came
for my stuff.
Alberto picks up Luca’s CROOK, too--
ALBERTO:
Ooooh!
And bolts for the surface before Luca can stop him--
LUCA:
Hey. Wait! That's mine!
Luca HURRIES AFTER HIM, only managing to catch up once
Alberto is near the surface.
LUCA:
Sir? You forgot your harpoon. And
if I could just--
ALBERTO:
Oh yeah. Thanks.
Alberto grabs the harpoon and just WALKS OUT OF THE WATER.
LUCA:
Wha?? What are you doing?!
Luca, in shock, stares through the water--he can’t totally
make out what’s happening--
Then the CROOK sticks back through the surface.
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And hooks Luca and pulls him out of the water, too.
LUCA:
GAAAAH!!!
EXT. BEACH - DAY
Alberto, now in human form, hauls Luca up onto the sand--
Luca’s hand quickly begins to TRANSFORM--then his arms, his
body, his face--he has HAIR--
Luca COMPLETELY FREAKS OUT. He thinks he might be dying.
LUCA:
AAAAAAHHH! No no! OH NO!! AAAH!!
HELP ME!!!
SMASH TO WIDE:
He is not dying. He is a small human boyrolling around yelling on the sand for seemingly no reason.
ALBERTO:
First time?
LUCA:
Of course it is!! I’m a good kid!
Alberto realizes he needs to walk him through this a little.
ALBERTO:
Hey. Relax. Breathe.
Luca takes a couple breaths. Sure enough, he begins to relax.
He looks around.
He takes in the sights and sounds of the surface. The shore.
The trees. The grass. The sky.
Things he has spent his entire young life wondering about.
Alberto watches, amused.
ALBERTO:
Well? Isn’t it great?
This snaps Luca out of it--
LUCA:
Uh! No! It’s bad! I’m not supposed
to be up here!
--Good day!
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Luca scrambles into the water.
Alberto picks up Luca’s crook and holds it out right as Luca
comes back for it, flustered--
LUCA:
(angry polite)
Thank you.
Good day.
...Again.
INT. PAGURO HOME - LUCA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Luca can’t sleep. He glances across the room at Grandma. She
gazes back at him.
He needs to ask SOMEONE about what he saw.
LUCA:
Grandma?
...Did you really go up to the--
GRANDMA:
SNORE.
Ah. Grandma was asleep with her eyes open. She does that.
Luca assembles a crude rock sculpture that is supposed to
look like him.
LUCA:
(to the fish)
Okay everyone. This is, uh...
Smuca. Yeah. He’s in charge now.
Got it? Great.
EXT. NEAR THE SURFACE
And, his responsibility discharged for the moment, Luca
returns to the surface, fascinated but apprehensive--
He stops a few feet away. Fear overtakes him. He backs away,
shaking his head.
He approaches again, gets pretty close to the surface, and
once more backs away at the last minute--
And again--
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ALBERTO:
Wow.
Luca whirls. Alberto has been watching this whole
embarrassing thing.
ALBERTO:
That was hard to watch.
He is holding another armful of stuff. He hands some to Luca--
ALBERTO:
Here. C’mon.
Alberto exits. Luca holds his breath, and hurries after him--
EXT. BEACH
--in time to see Alberto finish transforming, flipping the
water out of his hair. Luca STUMBLES after him, dropping
everything he was holding.
For the second time in his life, Luca TRANSFORMS. This time
he really takes it all in. So this is The Change.
LUCA:
WHOA.
He absently reaches for his tail--
LUCA:
Wait. It feels like it’s still
there--
ALBERTO:
Yeah, that’s called “phantom tail.”
You’ll get used to it.
Luca tries to stand and immediately falls over.
ALBERTO:
Right. Walking.
Don’t worry! You're in luck. I
basically invented walking. To
start, stack everything one on top
of the other. Like a pile of rocks.
Luca manages to stand in a WOBBLY way.
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ALBERTO:
Great! I mean, not great. But,
fine. Now, walking is just like
swimming. But without fins. Or a
tail. Also there’s no water.
Otherwise it’s the exact same
thing!
Luca tries to follow this advice and completely eats it.
ALBERTO:
Uh. That’s not it. Try it again.
(Luca fails again)
Hmm. Try to lead with your head?
(Luca looks insane)
Nope. More belly.
(Luca falls down)
That’s, ah... that's just lying on
the ground.
How about this:
Take a step withoutLuca hesitates. He’s clearly thinking about it.
ALBERTO:
No no no no. DON’T think about it!
LUCA:
I don’t know how to NOT think about
something!
This is going nowhere. But Alberto gets an idea--
ALBERTO:
Okay, okay. Watch.
(positioning Luca)
Point your feet to where you want
to go. Okay? And then just catch
yourself before you fall.
Luca follows his example. He points his feet and gets up.
ALBERTO:
That’s right...
Alberto gives him a NUDGE--and Luca starts WALKING!--
ALBERTO:
Good... good... yes. YES!
LUCA:
I’m getting it!
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Luca’s first success on land. It feels pretty good.
ALBERTO:
Not bad, kid.
(introducing himself)
Alberto Scorfano.
LUCA:
Luca Paguro.
Alberto leads Luca through a confusing HANDSHAKE--
ALBERTO:
Piacere, Girolamo Trombetta.
(off Luca’s bafflement)
It’s a human thing. I’m kind of an
expert.
LUCA:
What does it mean?
Alberto does not reply right away.
LUCA:
The, uh... thing you just said?
With the handshake?--
ALBERTO:
(interrupting)
C’mon, I’ll show you some more
stuff.
Alberto leads Luca through the trees, up the hill--
To the base of an ABANDONED SARACEN TOWER. A rickety ladder
leans against the side.
LUCA:
Mother of pearl. You live up here?
ALBERTO:
Yeah. Me and my dad. He’s not even
here a whole lot, so I pretty much
just do whatever I want.
LUCA:
Isn’t it dangerous?
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ALBERTO:
Yeah! It’s the best. EVERYTHING
good is above the surface.
LUCA:
Like... what else?
MONTAGE OF GREAT ABOVE-THE-SURFACE THINGS:
1. AIR.
ALBERTO:
Air!
Alberto does a BIG INHALE. So does Luca. He accidentally
inhales a bug.
2. GRAVITY. Alberto, on the top of the tower, yells down to
Luca, on the ground:
ALBERTO:
Gravity! Also known as: FALLIIIING
Luca watches Alberto jump down into a tree, fall through some
branches, and then land on the ground, bruised and giddy.
3. THE SKY.
ALBERTO:
(pointing)
The sky, clouds, the sun--
(covering Luca’s eyes)
Whoa, don’t look at it!
(uncovering Luca’s eyes)
Just kidding. Definitely look at
it.
Luca squints at the sun and is immediately blinded.
4. HUMAN STUFF.
ALBERTO:
And then there’s human stuff.
Alberto leads Luca into his hideout--
INT. ALBERTO’S HIDEOUT
Luca takes in the incredible, wildly disorderly spectacle of
Alberto’s room. It contains AN UNGODLY AMOUNT OF HUMAN STUFF.
Rusty, broken, salvaged from shipwrecks.
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LUCA:
WHOA.
ALBERTO:
I’ve been collecting for a long
time. Ask me anything.
Luca spots the gramophone and gazes into it--
ALBERTO:
Ah yes, the Magic Singing Lady
Machine. It’s broken,
unfortunately...
As Alberto is saying this, Luca discovers the CRANK, fiddles
with it, and--
MUSIC comes out. The Puccini aria. O mio babbino caro.
Alberto is momentarily at a loss for words. This kid did
something cool.
ALBERTO:
Whoa! You unbroke it!
Luca’s attention settles on a VESPA POSTER--
LUCA:
What’s that?
ALBERTO:
(recovering bravado)
That? Just the greatest thing that
humans ever made. The Vespa.
You sit on it, and it takes you
anywhere you want to go.
In the whole stinkin’ world.
Luca, rapt, reads the Italian on the poster:
LUCA:
“Vespa is freedom.”
DISSOLVE TO HIS IMAGINATION: Luca flies over the sea,
gloriously, on a fantastic magical VESPA--
LUCA:
Whoo!! Yeah!!
ALBERTO (O.S.)
Pretty cool, right?
Alberto’s voice brings Luca back to REALITY.
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LUCA:
Yeah.
And gazing around the hideout, Luca gets an idea--
LUCA:
Are you gonna make one?
I think you have all the parts...
Alberto follows his gaze around the room and realizes--that
thing is a wheel, that thing is another wheel, that rocking
chair could be a seat...
ALBERTO:
I do have the parts.
You wanna help?
LUCA:
(delighted)
Me?! Yeah!
(remembering)
Wait. No. I can’t. I gotta go home!
ALBERTO:
Right this second?
LUCA:
Yeah. If my parents found out I was
up here...
(cringing)
It would be bad. So thank you, but.
(staring longingly at the
Vespa poster)
Goodbye. Forever.
CARD:
One hour later.Luca has not left. Instead he has begun making the Vespa with
Alberto.
LUCA:
Okay but now I really do have to
go.
ALBERTO:
Okay. Bye.
Card:
Forty-five minutes later. Now it has wheels.LUCA:
Seriously, I have to go, like now.
Like right now.
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ALBERTO:
Okay! See you!
Card:
Two hours later. Their improvised Vespa, made from 100%NON-VESPA parts, is done. They admire it, dreamily.
LUCA:
It’s even better than the picture.
ALBERTO:
Yeah it is.
LUCA:
Gotta run!
ALBERTO:
See you tomorrow!
EXT. PAGURO HOME - DUSK - CONTINUOUS
Luca races home--
But his suspicious mom is waiting for him in the kitchen.
DANIELA:
Luca?! Where have you been?!--
LUCA:
(rushed)
Uhh...
LUCA’S THOUGHTS
Don’t say surface.
Don’t say surface.
LUCA:
Surface.
He claps his hand over his mouth--
DANIELA:
(narrowing eyes)
WHAT did you just say?!
LORENZO:
(pointing)
Luca looks down--
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ONE OF HIS FEET IS STILL A HUMAN FOOT SOMEHOW--
LUCA:
AAAAAHHH!!!
SMASH BACK TO:
The last ten seconds was just his IMAGINATION. Thank God.
But his mom is still waiting for an answer--
DANIELA:
Luca? Gonna tell us where you were?
LUCA:
I...Uhh...
Grandma comes to the rescue.
GRANDMA:
It’s my fault. I sent him to look
for sea cucumbers.
LUCA:
(catching on quick)
RIGHT. Sorry, Grandma. Couldn’t
find em!
DANIELA:
Mom. His life is maybe a little
more important than your snacks?
Grandma shrugs. The heat is off Luca. For now. He mouths a
“Thank you” to her.
INT. LUCA’S BEDROOM
Luca can’t sleep. He just had the greatest day of his life.
And tomorrow might be even better.
Luca is amazed to find the Vespa now outside the tower, at
the top of the hill--
LUCA:
Whoa! How’d you get it down?
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ALBERTO:
(bragging)
I RODE it down.
Beat. Alberto, how would that even work.
ALBERTO:
(admitting the truth)
I didn’t. I pushed it out the back
window. Took a while to put back
together. But it’s fine now!
You ready to ride it?
Alberto gestures DOWN A DIZZYINGLY STEEP HILL. A little
WOODEN RAMP sits at the bottom.
LUCA:
Ah. Well, thank you, but, no thank
you.
(beat)
I mean I just think maybe I would
die.
ALBERTO:
(shrugging)
Okay, I’ll ride it. You hold the
ramp.
Now under the ramp at the bottom of the hill, Luca tries not
to freak out--
LUCA:
--Sir? Maybe we should sleep on it?
--as Alberto mounts the Vespa, high above him--
ALBERTO:
Whatever you do, do not move!
LUCA:
(panicking)
I’m not the guy you want for this!
I’m more of an idea man--
ALBERTO:
(triumphantly)
TAKE ME, GRAVITYYYYYYYY!!!
And with that glorious cry, Alberto kicks off--
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And races down the hill toward Luca.
Almost immediately, the Vespa hits a rock and breaks in half.
Alberto, now riding the front half like a unicycle, continues
hurtling toward Luca--
ALBERTO:
Pieces of the Vespa come tumbling past Luca--he ducks behind
the ramp--
And peeks out to see Alberto tumble off the last remaining
Vespa wheel and begin VIOLENTLY SOMERSAULTING TOWARD HIM--
LUCA:
AAAAAAAHHH:
ALBERTO:
DON’T MOVE DON’T MOVE DON’T MOVE--
Luca ducks back under the ramp just as Alberto ROLLS over it--
Is suspended in the air for a glorious moment--
CRASHES into the water--
And just kinda floats there.
LUCA:
He’s dead. I killed him.
Alberto lifts his skinny sea monster fists to the heavens.
ALBERTO:
LUCA:
That was... good?!
ALBERTO:
Did you see the height I got?!
Hey. Nice ramping.
Come on, let's build another one--
Alberto pats Luca on the back--
A BIG DUMB SMILE floods Luca’s face--
--BEGIN MONTAGE--
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EXT. HILLTOP - DAY
Luca and Alberto begin assembling another Vespa, with more
fun human items--Alberto swings a buoy around joyously and
accidentally bonks himself in the head--
INT. HIDEOUT - LATER
Alberto gives Luca some AWESOME HUMAN CLOTHES--
EXT. HIDEOUT
Luca and Alberto GROOVE to some TUNES--
EXT. HILLTOP
Alberto rides another janky Vespa down the hill as Luca,
under the ramp again, is attacked by a seagull--
EXT. FIELDS - UNDERWATER - QUICK CUT
Daniela glances from distance at Luca’s pasture to check on
him--she is fooled by the silhouette of SMUCA--
Alberto does a fearless graceful CLIFF DIVE--
ALBERTO:
(from the water)
C’mon, Luca!
Luca tries to do the same, but fear takes over--
LUCA:
AAAAAAAHHH--
--and he ends up doing more of a brutal CLIFF BELLY FLOP.
EXT. FIELDS - UNDERWATER - QUICK CUT
Uh oh. Daniela discovers Smuca--
And Lorenzo finds Luca’s cache of human trinkets--
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INT. HIDEOUT
Luca and Alberto diagram a Vespa with charcoal--
EXT. HIDEOUT
Luca repurposes the wire hanger Alberto has been using as a
back scratcher, turning it into handlebars--
EXT. FIELDS - UNDERWATER - MORNING
DANIELA and LORENZO, hiding behind rocks, watch Luca position
Smuca and then swim away. So THAT’S what he’s been doing.
The parents are horrified. But Daniela has a plan--
Luca and Alberto watch an ANGRY FISHERMAN shout at a passing
speedboat--
ANGRY FISHERMAN:
WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU, STUPIDO?!
Alberto YELLS into a cave, imitating him--
ALBERTO:
WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU, STUPIDO?!
EXT. COVE - SUNSET
Luca grabs two SEA SNAILS and uses their slime to style his
hair like Alberto’s, and the two gaze happily at a sunset.
--END MONTAGE--
Another day, another Vespa. But this time:
ALBERTO:
We gotta ride together. If you
don't sit on the back and hold on
to the front, the whole thing falls
apart.
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LUCA:
And who’s holding the ramp?
ALBERTO:
The turtle.
Yes. The ramp is balanced on a TURTLE.
ALBERTO:
And he’s faster than he looks.
Let’s go.
LUCA:
(resolutely)
Okay. Let’s go.
Beat. Luca doesn't move.
ALBERTO:
You, uh... you coming?
LUCA:
Nope. Can't do it. Never in a
million years--
ALBERTO:
Hey hey hey. I know your problem.
You got a Bruno in your head.
LUCA:
A Bruno?
ALBERTO:
Yeah. I get one too sometimes.
“Alberto, you can’t. Alberto,
you’re gonna die. Alberto, don’t
put that in your mouth.”
Luca, it's simple: Don’t listen to
stupid Bruno.
Beat, as Luca puzzles over this--
LUCA:
Why is his name Bruno?
ALBERTO:
I don’t care. It doesn’t matter.
Call him whatever you want. Just
SILENZIO BRUNO.
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LUCA:
(hesitantly)
Silenzio Bruno.
ALBERTO:
Louder!
SILENZIO BRUNO!
SILENZIO BRUNO!
LUCA:
Silenzio Bruno!
Silenzio Bruno!!
ALBERTO:
LUCA:
NOPE! JUST YOU!
Alberto physically puts Luca on the back of the Vespa--
ALBERTO:
GOOD. Hang on.
Alberto checks his image in the rearview mirror (not a
mirror:
instead a taped photo of MARCELLO MASTROIANNI)--And he kicks off.
ALBERTO:
ANDIAMOOOOOOO--
Luca clings to Alberto, terrified, as they go HURTLING DOWN
THE HILL, bouncing off loose rocks and stuff. Alberto’s
erratic steering mostly does not have them aimed at the ramp.
ALBERTO:
(psyched)
WOOHOOOOOOOO!!! YEAH!!!
Luca’s eyes are shut tight--he opens them for a peek--the
Vespa begins to FALL APART--oh God no--he shuts his eyes,
grips Alberto tightly, and pulls the Vespa back together--
LUCA:
(terrified muttering)
silenzio bruno silenzio
brunooOOOOOOOOO--
Alberto steers them onto the ramp just in time--
ALBERTO:
YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
And Luca opens his eyes as they SOAR gloriously into the sky--
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And takes in the SPARKLING SEA, THE CLOUDS, the SHORELINE.
It’s an indescribably wonderful moment.
Then they begin plummeting seaward.
ALBERTO:
Uh-oh.
Specifically right toward an extremely sharp-looking rock.
LUCA:
AAAAAAAAAAHHH:
At the last moment, Luca, thinking quickly, SHOVES Alberto’s
half of the Vespa away from his half--
They become TWO PROJECTILES instead of one, and Alberto
SPLASHES down safely on one side of the rock, Luca on the
other.
They SURFACE--Alberto shoots his fists in the air--
Luca's disbelief quickly turns to ELATION:
ALBERTO:
WHOOHOOO! YEA! Take that,
Bruno!
LUCA:
YES. WE’RE ALIVE. I CAN’T
BELIEVE IT.
EXT. ROOFTOP - EVENING
Luca and Alberto lay around a CAMPFIRE, gazing at the STARS.
LUCA:
What are all those tiny lights?
ALBERTO:
Anchovies. They go there to sleep.
Luca is DUMBFOUNDED.
LUCA:
Really?
ALBERTO:
Yeah. The big fish protects them.
(pointing at the moon)
I touched it once.
(nonchalant)
I dunno. Felt like a fish.
Luca is ASTOUNDED. And a little wistful--
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LUCA:
Wow. Your life is so much cooler
than mine. I never go anywhere. I
ALBERTO:
You came up here!
LUCA:
Thanks to you.
(gazing at stars)
Otherwise I never would have seen
any of this.
His gaze travels to the HUMAN TOWN across the water.
LUCA:
Have you ever gone to the human
town?
ALBERTO:
Yeah! All the time.
(beat. This is a lie)
No. Not even once.
But my dad told me all about it,
so, I’m pretty much an expert.
LUCA:
Your dad sounds so cool. You’re
lucky he lets you do what you want.
ALBERTO:
Yeah, for sure.
A silence. Each boy is in his head.
Alberto gets them out of it.
ALBERTO:
Hey, remember that time we almost
hit that rock? And we flew through
the air? And I was like “YEAHHH!”
And you were like “NOOO!!”
It cracks Luca up.
LUCA:
Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a
real Vespa?
ALBERTO:
That’s the dream.
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Luca closes his eyes.
DISSOLVE TO HIS IMAGINATION: EXT. FIELDS - DAY
Luca and Alberto ride through the open fields on a Vespa.
Little trails of smoke rising from the field alert them to--
ALBERTO:
Oh, Luca, look!
A herd of UNTAMED, RIDERLESS VESPAS, like wild horses.
LUCA:
Wild Vespas!
The wild Vespas ride with them toward a GIANT RAMP that goes
straight into the sky.
ALBERTO:
Luca, take over!
Luca climbs up front and takes control--
ALBERTO:
Yeah man! Faster!!
Luca can’t resist Alberto’s encouragement. He guns it and
shoots up the ramp, launching them into the sky--
ALBERTO:
WHOOOHOOOO!
They fly among the stars, which are, indeed, LUMINOUS GOLDEN
FISH.
Luca reaches out to touch one--its skin RIPPLES brilliantly--
LUCA:
I’m doing it, Alberto!--
But when he looks back--Alberto has DISAPPEARED.
LUCA:
Alberto?--
And everything begins turning to water--
Luca transforms back and begins falling earthward, abyssward--
LUCA:
AAAAAAAHHH--
(MORE)
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EXT. ROOFTOP - MORNING
Luca JOLTS AWAKE, on the ROOFTOP. IT WAS A DREAM--
LUCA:
Oh no! I fell asleep!
ALBERTO:
(groggy)
Hmm--whaa?
Luca hurries to the steps and runs off--
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Luca sneaks into his room--
His GRANDMA is snoring. WHEW.
But--WHIP PAN to DANIELA, arms folded, in the doorway--
Luca sits guiltily at the table, holding his tail nervously.
His alarm clock and playing cards are on the table.
Both parents hover over him. Daniela maintains a stony
silence. Lorenzo, ever conflict-averse, hems and haws--
LORENZO:
Daniela, do we really need to go
through with this?
LUCA:
(very worried)
With... what?
LORENZO:
(struggling to take the
lead)
Son, you’re in big trouble. You
need to promise us that you’ll
never sneak off to the surface
again.
LUCA:
I’m really sorry.
(trying for good news)
LUCA (CONT'D)
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But you know--it’s not that
dangerous up there. Maybe I could
show you!--
DANIELA:
(erupting)
I told you. Our son has a death
wish!
LUCA:
But Mom, we’re always careful--
Luca covers his mouth, realizing his mistake--
DANIELA:
“We”?
LORENZO:
“We?”
LUCA:
Me and my friend. Alberto.
But it’s okay! He’s one of us--
An angler light behind Luca switches on to reveal--
UNCLE UGO, Lorenzo’s twin brother. He’s been lurking here
this whole time.
UNCLE UGO:
Yes, there’s usually a bad
influence.
He is like Lorenzo but transparent-skinned, milky-eyed, and
generally horrifying to behold.
UNCLE UGO:
Good thing you sent for me when you
did.
LORENZO:
Luca, this is my brother. Your
Uncle Ugo.
DANIELA:
Thanks again for coming all this
way on such short notice.
UNCLE UGO:
Of course.
Hello, Luca. It is nice to--
Ugo FREEZES. His heart has visibly stopped.
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LORENZO:
Luca, punch his heart.
(off Luca’s hesitation)
The red thing. Punch it.
Luca gives Uncle Ugo’s chest a little NUDGE.
LORENZO:
Oh, way harder than that.
Luca socks Uncle Ugo in the heart. He jolts back to life.
UNCLE UGO:
(coughing)
Thanks for that. Too much oxygen up
here. Not like the deep. As you’ll
learn!
LUCA:
(horrified)
...what?
UNCLE UGO:
(rambling)
Sure, there’s no sunlight. But
there’s nothing to see anyway! Or
do. It’s just you and your
thoughts. And all the whale carcass
you can eat. Little bits of it just
float into your mouth. No way to
stop it. Your mouth is open, the
whale carcass goes in.
(beat)
Well! Come on! No time to waste!
LUCA:
(panicked)
Mom? What does he mean?
DANIELA:
You’re going to stay with Uncle Ugo
for the rest of the season.
BOMBSHELL.
LUCA:
No! I can’t--
DANIELA:
TWO seasons, then! Wanna go for
three?!
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LUCA:
Why are you doing this?!
DANIELA:
(terrible, vulnerable)
The world is a very dangerous
place, Luca! And if I have to send
you to the bottom of the ocean to
keep you safe--so be it!
LUCA:
You don’t know what it’s like up
there!
DANIELA:
I know YOU. And I know what’s best
for you. It’s done.
Luca fumes bitterly. Daniela’s heart breaks a little as she
watches him--she needs for him to understand--
DANIELA:
Hey. Look me in the eye.
You know I love you, right?
Luca refuses to reply--instead he whirls and heads off to his
bedroom, furious.
INT. LUCA’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Luca paces his bedroom.
He glances at the window, then back at his bedroom door--
He makes a decision--and escapes out the window.
PAN TO GRANDMA:
Who saw the whole thing.
She chuckles. Go get em, kid.
EXT. ALBERTO’S HIDEOUT - MORNING
LUCA (O.S.)
They’re sending me to the deep!
INT. ALBERTO’S HIDEOUT
Luca paces, furious, as Alberto listens in disbelief--
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LUCA:
To live with my weird see-through
uncle!! What do I do?!
ALBERTO:
(hoping it’s this easy)
...Stay?
LUCA:
Up here? They’ll come looking for
me!
ALBERTO:
(panicky, stalling for
time)
Okay. Yes. That may be true. But---
(getting the best idea he
has ever had)
--will they come looking for you
over there?
Alberto is pointing to the HUMAN TOWN, across the water.
LUCA:
No way. That’s crazy.
ALBERTO:
I mean, that place must be full of
Vespas. There’s gotta be one for
us.
LUCA:
(excited)
A real Vespa.
(second-guessing himself)
But could we even survive over
there?
ALBERTO:
You and me? We can do anything.
We’d swim right over to Vespatown,
track down Signor Vespa--
LUCA:
Wait. Do you really think there’s a
Signor Vespa?
ALBERTO:
Makes sense, right?
LUCA:
Yes. Continue.
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ALBERTO:
And we say:
“Signor Vespa! Build usone... of THESE.”
Alberto pulls out a boyish SCHEMATIC of their custom Vespa
drawn on a torn-out page from a book. The drawing has
outlandish embellishments and an extra long seat.
LUCA:
This is the greatest drawing I’ve
ever seen.
ALBERTO:
Yes. I know. Luca, think about it:
Every day we’ll ride someplace new.
And every night we’ll sleep under
the fish.
No one to tell us what to do.
Just you and me out there. Free.
EXT. ALBERTO’S HIDEOUT - DAY
The boys run toward a cliff--
ALBERTO:
TAKE ME GRAVITYYYY--
Alberto CLIFF DIVES--
Luca gets to the cliff, and as always--HESITATES. He looks
LUCA:
(to himself)
Silenzio Bruno.
He JUMPS--
Luca and Alberto swim at TOP SPEED WITH MAXIMUM EXCITEMENT--
They are heading for a rock--Luca is about to avoid it but
Alberto grabs him, and pulls him OUT OF THE WATER--
They ARC GRACEFULLY OVER THE ROCK, TRANSFORMING for a moment
before plunging back into the water--
CUE A GLORIOUS KINETIC SEQUENCE OF LUCA AND ALBERTO swimming
to town, leaping out of the water, skimming and skating
across the waves--
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Alberto leading the way, Luca following, coming into his own.
EXT. PORTOROSSO HARBOR - LATER
Luca and Alberto surface near a buoy.
In front of them--the human town is beautiful.
But they don’t get long to admire it--a fishing boat motors
by and they DIVE, but not before a girl on the boat sees
something--
CHIARA:
Papá? What’s that?!
UNDERWATER:
LUCA:
How do we get in?
They both glance down at the SUNKEN BOAT beneath them.
EXT. COVE
An overturned boat walks out of the water, with sea monster
feet underneath that quickly turn to human feet.
They’ve made it onto land. Alberto, all confidence, leads
Luca towards town--
ALBERTO:
This will be a breeze. Just don’t
get wet.
But Luca’s panic overtakes him at the first sight of humans--
two FISHERMEN strolling toward them.
LUCA:
Actually, this town seems a little
crowded.
Luca tries to turn around and leave. Alberto grabs him--
ALBERTO:
Hey. Silenzio Bruno.
And drags Luca past the fishermen--
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ALBERTO:
(inflected like “Good day
to you!,” flourishing
with one hand)
What’s wrong with you, stupido?
The fishermen stop but are too puzzled to confront them.
ALBERTO:
See? You just gotta follow my lead.
The kids round the corner into the piazza--
And we stay with LUCA as his WONDER takes over.
He is awestruck by the sights and sounds of Portorosso:
Barflies sharing gossip and enjoying caffè;
A group of kids playing soccer in the PIAZZA;
Young girls eating watermelon from a balcony;
Two old guys playing cards;
CARD PLAYER:
SCOPA!
It’s all very ITALIAN, and very everyday. But the mundane is,
to Luca, enthralling.
ALBERTO:
Classic human town. Pretty cool,
right?
Luca spots a couple of OLD LADIES (the ARAGOSTA SISTERS,
Pinuccia and Concetta) eating two beautiful GELATO CONES.
ALBERTO:
(to Luca, encouragingly)
You do it now. Just say the thing.
LUCA:
(trying his best)
What’s wrong with you, stupido?
Beat.
The Aragosta Sisters pummel the boys with umbrella and purse.
HARD CUT TO:
Luca and Alberto keep walking, stiffly, with gelato cones on
their heads.
LUCA:
Maybe I... said it wrong?
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But now Luca begins taking in the ominous FRESCOES and
STATUES around them, all featuring the same mustachioed man
(SIGNOR GIORGIO GIORGIONI) SLAYING VARIOUS SEA MONSTERS--
Oh no. This town hates sea monsters.
LUCA:
Alberto, this is too dangerous!
Let’s get out of here!
Luca grabs Alberto’s arm and starts dragging him away.
ALBERTO:
(protesting)
And go where!?
BUT BEFORE LUCA CAN GET THEM OUT OF THERE:
They hear the unmistakable sound of an ONCOMING VESPA.
(Driven by ERCOLE, 16, lots of product in his hair.)
ALBERTO:
Signor Vespa.
ERCOLE:
Buongiorno a tutti!!
Ercole is a massive narcissist. He believes everyone in town
is overjoyed to see him, which, the adults at least are not.
(He is attended by CICCIO and GUIDO, his faithful goon-like
friends, who jog behind him with a large sub sandwich.)
MAGGIORE:
(rolling eyes)
Mannaggia. Here we go.
PRIEST:
(begging Ercole to stop)
Mamma mia. Please, no more revving.
(furious)
CHE PUZZA, ERCOLE!
ERCOLE:
CIAO, CIAO!! Beep beep!! Pride of
Portorosso, coming through!!
(flirty, to the Aragosta
Sisters)
Ciao, belle! You’re making me
blush!
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PINUCCIA ARAGOSTA
Blech.
CONCETTA ARAGOSTA
Disgraziato!
The kids are afraid of him but in most cases trying not to
show it, lest he start bullying them.
Ercole comes to an acrobatic stop, revs a few more deafening
times, dismounts and saunters to a caffe table, where Ciccio
and Guido are hastily setting up his lunch.
ERCOLE:
Now! Who wants to watch me eat a
big sandwich?
Luca and Alberto gaze at the Vespa, RAPT.
ALBERTO:
There it is! That’s how we’re gonna
see the world.
Luca walks toward it, in a trance--
A soccer ball rolls in front of him.
SOCCER KID:
Hey! Little help?
Luca winds up and KICKS it. Unfortunately, it is pretty off
target. It bounces off a few things and hits the Vespa--
WOMAN ON BALCONY
E bàsta!!
ERCOLE:
(panicking)
At the last moment, Ciccio DIVES underneath it, cushioning
the fall with his body.
Ercole runs over, full of concern--
ERCOLE:
Oh, mamma mia--
Talk to Ercole, are you hurt?!
CICCIO:
Well, my head kinda hurts--
ERCOLE:
Not you, Ciccio! Out of the way!
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Oh. The “Are you hurt?” was meant for the Vespa, not for his
friend Ciccio, who has definitely sustained some minor
injuries protecting it.
ERCOLE:
(looks over Vespa)
Oh piccolina, if there is so much
as a scratch...
Fortunately, the Vespa is completely unharmed.
ERCOLE:
Someone got lucky today. Hmm?
WHO GOT LUCKY?!
The soccer kids point to Alberto and Luca. Ercole sizes them
up.
ERCOLE:
Out-of-towners, eh? Let me welcome
you. Benvenuti a Portorosso.
...Ciccio.
He removes his SWEATER, places it without looking into the
waiting arms of Ciccio, and saunters up to his latest
victims.
ERCOLE:
I am delighted to meet you, number
one and number two, I love your
stylish clothes. Where did you get
them? A dead body?
--HA! I’m kidding!
CICCIO:
Ha. “Dead body.”
Alberto is not sure what to make of this guy.
ALBERTO:
Uh, ha ha. Yeah. Well, look, Signor
Vespa, I--
ERCOLE:
Signor Vespa? Hoho. These guys are
funny.
I am Ercole Visconti, five-time
winner of the Portorosso Cup.
ALBERTO:
The Portorosso what?
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ERCOLE:
The Portorosso Cup! Per mille
sardine--how do you think I paid
for my beautiful Vespa?
The gears start going in Luca’s head, as he looks at the
Vespa--but his train of thought is interrupted by Ercole--
ERCOLE:
Hey. Stop looking. She’s too
beautiful for you.
Poor Luca can only stammer and shrink away from him.
LUCA:
Ah...I, I, uhhh...
ERCOLE:
(mocking)
I, I, uhhh--oh, I love it. The
little guy can’t even get a word
out.
(waving a hand in front
of his nose)
Ugh, And he smells like behind the
pescheria.
This is too much for Alberto.
ALBERTO:
HEY, MY FRIEND SMELLS AMAZING.
ERCOLE:
Sorry, sorry, I’ll make it up to
him.
Ciccio? Guido?
Guido and Ciccio grab Alberto and hold him back while Ercole
grabs Luca and marches him to the FOUNTAIN--
LUCA:
What are you doing?!
ERCOLE:
I’m giving you a little bath! It’s
funny. Eh?
Ercole SHOVES LUCA’S FACE TOWARD THE WATER--
DROPLETS begin to hit Luca’s face--tiny little green flecks
begin to appear on his skin--
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LUCA:
(struggling)
NO NO NO--
Ercole clocks that something a little strange is going on--
But before he sees it definitively--
GIULIA (O.S.)
HEY!
A girl on a BIKE attached to a CART FULL OF FISH rides to the
rescue.
This is GIULIA, 13, brainy, competitive, intense, and a bit
awkward. She is 100% incapable of being anyone other than
herself.
GIULIA:
Ercole, bàsta!
She comes BARRELING through, Ercole jumps out of her way.
ERCOLE:
(unexcited, cutting)
Oh, look who’s here. Spewlia.
Wow. That’s how you’re training for
the race?
GIULIA:
Si certo! Your reign of terror is
coming to an end--
ERCOLE:
(overlapping, has heard
this before)
“...coming to an end.” You mean,
like a year ago? When you quit in
the middle of the race? Because you
couldn’t stop throwing up?
GIULIA:
I didn’t quit. They MADE me stop.
ERCOLE:
I think that is worse. Now go away.
I’m having fun with my new friends.
GIULIA:
They’re coming with me.
(to the boys)
Hop on. I could use the extra
weight.
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The boys, relieved, hop on the back of her cart.
ERCOLE:
Fine! Go start a club! For losers!
As he is giggling at his own brilliant joke, a fisherman runs
up to the MAGGIORE (a policewoman)--
GIACOMO:
Maggiore! Another sighting--in the
harbor this time--
MAGGIORE:
(holding a poster)
I know. We’re setting up a reward.
Someone’s gonna win a nice prize...
ERCOLE:
Me! Me! I win the prizes!!
Ciccio, get your daddy’s harpoon.
We’re gonna catch a sea monster!!
Across the piazza, the boys, hearing this, give each other
looks of alarm.
Meanwhile Giulia, stung by Ercole’s parting shot, pedals them
around the corner--
GIULIA:
(ranting)
Sto IMBECILLE! Thinks he can be a
jerk cuz he keeps winning the race
which he shouldn’t even get to do
anymore cuz he’s too old and too
much of a JERK!
(to the boys)
Hey. We underdogs have to look out
for each other, right?
The boys are completely baffled by her.
ALBERTO:
What’s under the... dogs?
GIULIA:
UNDER-dogs. You know. Kids who are
different... dressed weird...
(defiantly exposing
sweaty armpits)
Or a little sweatier than average.
Beat. Giulia knows she can be a little much for people
sometimes.
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GIULIA:
Too much? Too much.
So are you in town for the race?
(beat)
The Portorosso Cup?
The boys remain absolutely silent and perplexed.
GIULIA:
Well, uh... good talk. But I gotta
deliver these. Always be training,
you know?
And she pedals away, hitting a STOPWATCH.
But Luca has realized something.
LUCA:
Portorosso Cup race. That’s how the
loud scary human said he got his
Vespa.
They look back at...
Giulia, now rapidly performing her first delivery--
GIULIA:
(racing through
transaction)
Buongiorno, Signora
Marsigliese.
Due sogliole, perfetto,
okaygreatciao!
SIGNORA MARSIGLIESE
Giulia! Buongior--
Oh.
Uh...
Grazie.
As she sets off to the next door, Luca and Alberto run
alongside her--
ALBERTO:
Hey, uh, Spewlia--
GIULIA:
GIULIA. My name is Giulia.
ALBERTO:
Sure. So when you uh... race... in
a cup... what do you get?
GIULIA:
Soldi. Prize money.
ALBERTO:
Oh.
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GIULIA:
Oh..kay.
Giulia pedals away, but Luca knows there’s more to learn--
LUCA:
(whispering)
No no! Keep going! Ask her
about the prize money! Maybe
that becomes a Vespa! Just
ask her!
ALBERTO:
(whispering)
What? Why? But that stuff is
useless! How would that
become a Vespa!? Fine fine
fine.
ALBERTO:
Hello, again.
GIULIA:
(wary)
Ciao.
ALBERTO:
So, can we turn the money into
something else? Something like--
As the three of them turn the corner, they see a MECHANIC’S
GARAGE with a beautiful Vespa in front--
LUCA:
(pointing to the Vespa)
--THAT!
GIULIA:
Pfft. No.
(afterthought)
But it could get you that.
She redirects the boys’ gaze to an EXTREMELY RUSTY AND
DECREPIT USED VESPA next to the new one.
It is the WORST VESPA YOU HAVE EVER SEEN IN YOUR LIFE.
But...
DISSOLVE TO LUCA’S IMAGINATION: He and Alberto are
triumphantly riding it through a sea of golden coins.
BACK TO REALITY:
The boys have a muttery sidebar, gazing at the Vespa.
LUCA:
It’s so beautiful.
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ALBERTO:
Yes. We need it.
(to Giulia)
Great! So we’ll just win the race.
His cockiness rubs Giulia the wrong way.
GIULIA:
You’ll have to beat Ercole.
ALBERTO:
Okay, so we’ll beat Ercole.
GIULIA:
Ha. Thinks he’ll beat Ercole, this
guy. First of all, GET IN LINE.
Every summer that jerk makes my
life miserable. So no one’s taking
him down unless it’s ME.
Even Alberto is cowed by this.
GIULIA:
Second, this isn’t any old race.
It’s an epic, grueling traditional
Italian triathlon: swimming,
cycling, and eating pasta.
So, you’d need a teammate.
ALBERTO:
Well, we’ll figure it out. Thanks,
human girl.
Giulia heads off once again, and Alberto heads in the other
direction. But Luca senses an opportunity.
LUCA:
Alberto--what if we join her team?
Alberto frowns. But then something occurs to him.
ALBERTO:
Better idea:
What if SHE joins OURteam?
He yells to Giulia, who’s pedaling away--
ALBERTO:
Hey! Spew--
(remembers that’s not her
name, but can’t remember
her name)
Uh! Girl!
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GIULIA:
(exasperated)
Santa Mozzarella.
ALBERTO:
Congratulations! You’re joining our
team!
GIULIA:
You wish. I race alone.
As she says this, her cart gets stuck--the boys help get the
wheel free--
LUCA:
But we could be under the dogs too!
ALBERTO:
It’s okay, Luca. She’d rather do
the whole race alone again. Maybe
this time she won’t throw up as
much!
Giulia frowns. She studies them.
GIULIA:
You wanna be on my team, eh?
...Let’s see what you got.
EXT. IN FRONT OF THE PESCHERIA - DAY
Luca sits on GIULIA’S BIKE, now disconnected from the cart.
Giulia looks on expectantly.
Luca tries to pedal it. Unfortunately, he has never ridden a
bike in his life before this moment.
HE CRASHES.
Alberto tries to give some pointers about a thing he also has
never ever done even once.
ALBERTO:
Try jumping onto it!
Luca tries this, and crashes again.
ALBERTO:
No no no. You gotta show it you’re
the boss.
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Another crash.
GIULIA:
Santa Mozzarella.
(to Luca)
Eyes up! Looking down is what’s
making you fall.
Luca tries this advice--almost crashes again--
But this time, manages to stay upright.
He rolls around the piazza, wobbly but exhilarated--
LUCA:
WHOA. I’m doing it!
ALBERTO:
So can we be on the team?
Not so fast. Giulia needs to see more.
GIULIA:
Aspetta! Can you dodge obstacles?
What if an old lady crosses your
path? Hmmm?
She pretends to be an old lady, tottering in his way--Luca
GIULIA:
Can you withstand PASSIVEAGGRESSIVE
VERBAL ASSAULTS?!
(imitating Ercole)
Nice bike, number one and number
two, I was kidding, your bike is a
She swiftly leans some planks on some barrels to create a
difficult TIGHT ROPEY SITUATION for Luca to negotiate--
GIULIA:
Can you handle the course’s
fiendishly difficult terrain?!
Luca grimaces, but rallies himself--
LUCA:
(to himself)
Silenzio Bruno.
He WOBBLES his way up and starts across the plank--
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But then he sneaks a look down. It’s his undoing. He CRASHES.
GIULIA:
Hmm.
Luca struggles valiantly to his feet. He’s gonna try it
again. She stops him.
GIULIA:
(to Alberto)
What about you? Can you swim, at
least?
ALBERTO:
Yeah. I’m amazing.
(Luca elbows him)
-LY baaad at swimming.
GIULIA:
You can’t swim, you can barely ride
a bike... siete un disastro!
I mean, where are you even from?
ALBERTO:
We’re not telling you our secrets!
(immediately)
We’re runaways.
GIULIA:
Runaways? I dunno, ragazzi...
LUCA:
Please!
Luca, still tongue-tied from nervousness, powers through it:
LUCA:
somewhere horrible. Away from
everything I love. But if we win
this race, well... we can be free.
Beat. Giulia is moved. She turns to Alberto.
ALBERTO:
My life’s great. I’m just helping
him out.
This is less moving to Giulia. She narrows her eyes and
purses her lips, thinking.
LUCA:
Just give me one more chance.
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GIULIA:
No.
You guys want it just as bad as I
do. You have the hunger. That’s the
most important thing.
ALBERTO:
I’m definitely hungry.
GIULIA:
Perfetto. You eat, you bike, and I
swim. ...Underdogs?
ALBERTO:
(overjoyed)
Underdogs!
LUCA:
(overjoyed)
Underdogs!
A TRIUMPHANT GATHERING OF HANDS MOMENT--
GIULIA:
Now we just need money for the
entry fee.
(beat)
From my dad.
Uh oh.
INT. MASSIMO’S KITCHEN/DINING ROOM - DINNER
MASSIMO, Giulia’s enormous, terrifying, tattooed, one-armed
dad SINGS OPERA as he preps dinner.
MASSIMO:
Per un barbiere di qualità, di
qualità! BRAVO FIGARO, BRAVO,
BRAVISSIMO, BRAVO!
Giulia leads the boys into her dad’s cramped little workingclass
home.
GIULIA:
(whispering)
All right. Just let me do the
talking. And act casual. He doesn’t
do well with fear.
(calls out)
Hey, Papa!
I brought some friends for dinner.
Massimo turns and clocks the boys, MASSIVE CLEAVER in hand.
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He looks them up and down, silently.
ALBERTO:
What's wrong with you, stup--
Luca jams his hand in Alberto’s mouth before he can finish.
Massimo narrows his eyes. But he turns and continues to prep
dinner. Giulia gives a reassuring signal to the boys.
HARD CUT to the boys sitting at the table.
Luca is terrified. Alberto clocks the HARPOONS on the wall.
ALBERTO:
(whispering to Luca)
What do you think he kills with
those?
MASSIMO:
(overhearing)
Anything that swims.
Luca feels DREAD. Alberto feels DREAD, but also PROFOUND AWE.
MASSIMO:
Did you see the paper today?
GIULIA:
That photo’s a fake, Papa.
(to the boys, a little
embarrassed)
Everyone in Portorosso pretends to
believe in sea monsters.
Giulia hands a newspaper to Alberto, who studies it. It has a
BLURRY PHOTO of a sea monster, tail visible above the water--
MASSIMO (O.S.)
I’M not pretending.
Massimo takes the clipping from Alberto’s hands and VIOLENTLY
PINS it to the wall with a knife--
Adding it to a VAST “BEAUTIFUL MIND”-TYPE BOARD OF SEA
Luca, drinking a glass of water, SPIT-TAKES onto Alberto.
Half of Alberto’s monster turns sea monster.
Oh sweet Jesus no. Luca TACKLES Alberto to the floor, before
Massimo and Giulia can see him.
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Alberto hastily dries off under the table, where no one can
see them. No one, that is, except:
MACHIAVELLI, the Marcovaldo family’s imposing cat. He growls.
The boys scramble back into their seats.
LUCA:
Slipped!
An uneasy beat.
MASSIMO:
Dinner’s ready. Trenette al pesto.
(beat)
Mangiamo.
Clearly the boys are supposed to start eating. But they have
no idea how the utensils work.
So Alberto just grabs a handful of pasta and sticks it in his
mouth. Then another.
Luca, hesitantly, follows suit.
The food is delicious. Pretty soon both boys are cramming it
into their mouths with the worst manners that you have ever
seen.
GIULIA:
Uhh. Okay.
MASSIMO:
Where did you boys say you were
from?
GIULIA:
(needing to rescue them)
They’re classmates! From Genova.
Luca and uhhh---
LUCA:
(muttering)
Alberto.
GIULIA:
--hhhhlberto.
MASSIMO:
And what brings you to Portorosso?
GIULIA:
Funny you should ask! They came for
the race.
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MASSIMO:
(darkening)
The race, huh.
Giulia can feel this is going badly--
GIULIA:
Yeah. You know what? Don’t worry
about it.
MASSIMO:
GIULIA:
Massimo sets down his glass.
MASSIMO:
Giulietta? A word?
Massimo and Giulia confer privately:
MASSIMO:
I don’t want you doing the race
again. You get so upset.
GIULIA:
Papà, per favore! I have a team
now!
MASSIMO:
There’s also the entry fee. Money’s
tight.
GIULIA:
I’ll work double shifts at the
pescheria--whatever you need--
MASSIMO:
(with a painful smile)
I can’t sell what I don’t have.
What I need is more fish in my net.
Mi dispiace, Giulietta.
LUCA (O.S.)
...Umm, excuse me?
PULL OUT to show that Massimo and Giulia are just a few feet
away from Luca and Alberto. Because this house is very small.
Anyway, the boys heard the whole thing, and:
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LUCA:
We could help!
MASSIMO:
(doubtfully)
You know fish?
ALBERTO:
We know lots of fish.
Giulia puts on her most winning smile--
GIULIA:
Can this face lose?
Beat. Then Massimo sighs heavily and shrugs in resignation--
MASSIMO:
You want to work, I’ll put you to
work.
The boys celebrate--Giulia is giddy with excitement--
GIULIA:
Grazie, Papà!!
Luca turns to see the cat inches from his face.
LUCA:
OH NO.
GIULIA:
(stern)
Machiavelli! No! NO--
The cat LEAPS--
HARD CUT TO:
EXT. GIULIA’S BACKYARD - NIGHT
The boys hurry into the yard, scratched up from the cat.
GIULIA:
I’m so sorry about the cat. I don’t
know what got into him!
LUCA:
(woozy)
It’s fine. We’re gonna head back
to, uhh...
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He’s not sure how to finish the sentence and Giulia realizes--
GIULIA:
Do you guys need a place to stay?
CUT TO:
INT. GIULIA’S TREEHOUSE
Luca and Alberto sit on a platform in a tree--Giulia’s
treehouse. Lights are strung in the branches. Books are
scattered here and there--Giulia picks them up--
GIULIA:
Oops. Sorry. This is my--
ALBERTO:
Your hideout.
GIULIA:
Heh. Yeah. My hideout.
She walks along a branch and jumps, not super gracefully,
through a window into her bedroom.
GIULIA:
...Buonanotte, boys.
See you in the morning!
As soon as she is gone, Luca EXHALES in RELIEF--
LUCA:
That was close.
ALBERTO:
How big was that dad human?!
That guy kills things, for sure.
LUCA:
I thought we were gonna die like a
hundred times.
ALBERTO:
Hey. Relax. We’re incredible at
this humaning stuff.
Luca smiles, starting to come around.
LUCA:
Did you see me on the bike? Giulia
said “look up” and then all of a
sudden, I was riding it!!--
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Alberto doesn’t love hearing about how Luca learned something
from a person who wasn’t him.
ALBERTO:
(interrupting)
Yeah yeah yeah. Our Vespa’s gonna
be even better than a bike, though.
Because the moment we get it, we’re
OUTTA here.
EXT. BEACH - DAWN
Like middle-aged commandos--
DANIELA and LORENZO sneak out of the ocean and onto shore,
uncer cover of early-morning darkness. They are here to get
their son back.
DANIELA:
How could my mother tell him about
this town of bloodthirsty lunatics?
LORENZO:
I still can’t believe he would do
this. It’s not like him.
Daniela TRANSFORMS while speaking:
DANIELA:
Just keep your guard up. There’s
gonna be land monsters everywhere--
AAIIGH!
Daniela turns to see a land monster (Lorenzo) and attacks
him, knocking him to the ground and slapping his face.
DANIELA:
NOT [SLAP] TODAY [SLAP], LAND
MONSTER. [SLAP]
LORENZO:
DANIELA! WAIT! IT’S ME!
DANIELA:
OH.
You scared the scales off of me.
Lorenzo rubs his cheek.
LORENZO:
Jeez, you’re strong.
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DANIELA:
Sorry. I’m just a little on edge.
LORENZO:
No. I needed that. It really woke
me up. Wow! We look horrifying.
Daniela inspects her BEAUTIFUL HAIR.
DANIELA:
Ugh. Gross.
(resolute)
Come on. Let’s find our son.
EXT. GIULIA’S TREEHOUSE - MORNING
Luca wakes up in the treehouse. Its branches drip gently--it
rained in the night.
He smiles, for the moment oblivious to the fact that the RAIN
HAS TRANSFORMED HIM INTO A SEA MONSTER.
He turns to look at Alberto, who has also transformed.
Oh snap.
LUCA:
Oh no. Alberto! Wake up!!
ALBERTO:
What? --AAAAH!! The sky’s been
leaking!
Giulia slams open her shutters, cups her hands to her mouth
like a trumpet, and plays a REVEILLE--
GIULIA:
Papapparapaa pappaparapaaa!
The boys SCRAMBLE OUT OF THE TREE before she can see them--
Then they scramble AROUND THE TREE as the BACKYARD DOOR opens
and Massimo leans out, harpoons in hand.
Hastily, they manage to dry off before anyone sees them,
except for an agitated Machiavelli.
MASSIMO:
All right, ragazzi. You want that
entry fee, you gotta earn it.
Giulietta, you make the deliveries--
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GIULIA:
(snatching the list,
heading out)
Already makin’ em.
MASSIMO:
And you two are coming with me.
Luca is anxious; Alberto, intrigued, clocking Massimo’s MANY
KNIVES--
ALBERTO:
Which knife do I get?
MASSIMO:
You don’t.
Out on the water, Massimo exchanges greetings with Tommaso,
TOMMASO:
Buongiorno Massimo! You’ll keep an
eye out for those sea monsters,
right? We’re all counting on you!
MASSIMO:
Don’t worry, Tommaso, I’ve got my
eyes peeled. They won't get away.
Massimo taps his TRUSTY HARPOON by his side.
Meanwhile the waves are jostling the boys to and fro--they
keep almost flying out of the boat and into the water--
MASSIMO:
This isn’t a joyride.
Make yourselves useful.
The boys hastily get to work pulling up NETS.
Machiavelli stalks Luca. Some Hitchcock fun and games that
results in Machiavelli POUNCING ONTO LUCA’S FACE.
He is really clamped on there. Luca staggers around, trying
to get him off, rocking the boat a little--
MASSIMO:
Hey! No goofing around back there!
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Luca finally succeeds in FLINGING Machiavelli off his face--
and into the water.
TIME CUT:
Luca apologetically feeds an anchovy to a soakingwet, shell-shocked, furious Machiavelli.
Up front, Alberto is sneaking a glance at Massimo’s one-armed
style. Massimo catches him--
MASSIMO:
(nodding at his arm)
A sea monster ate it.
Beat. Then Massimo chuckles--
MASSIMO:
Just kidding. This is how I came
into the world.
And one-armed, he opens a net with a dexterous flourish--
MASSIMO:
Mannaggia. Not a great catch today.
LUCA:
It might be because we’re over a
haunted fish graveyard?
Beat. Massimo is confused. Alberto comes to the rescue.
ALBERTO:
(explaining, confidently)
--WE know it’s not haunted. The
FISH think it’s haunted.
Massimo knits his brow. These boys are strange.
ALBERTO:
This time of day, most fish will be
riiight about there.
Alberto points off into the distance. Massimo is skeptical--
EXT. MARINA - DAY
Giulia races through town on her bike--SKIDS to a halt at the
dock--
Checks her POCKET WATCH, then shoots two fists in the air--
GIULIA:
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Then clocks Massimo and the boys returning with a truly EPIC
AMOUNT OF FISH.
GIULIA:
(in quiet awe)
Santa Pecorino.
MASSIMO:
(to Giulia)
Your friends do know fish.
Massimo pats Alberto on the back. Giulia is relieved--
GIULIA:
Let’s go sign up!!
EXT. PORTOROSSO - DAY
LAUNDRY hangs on a clothes line.
Two pairs of hands whisk it off.
EXT. SEAWALL NEXT TO GIULIA’S BACKYARD - DAY
DANIELA and LORENZO, wearing the pilfered clothing, sneak
into town--
DANIELA:
Okay, okay. Now what’s our plan.
Think, Daniela!--
LORENZO:
Hey. Everything's always on you. I
want to step up.
DANIELA:
Uh... you sure?
LORENZO:
(confidently)
Oh yeah. I got this.
And he saunters over to a kid (not Luca) sitting by himself
on the seawall enjoying a gelato cone.
LORENZO:
You’re not fooling anyone.
The kid licks his gelato, blank-faced and confused.
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DANIELA:
(under breath/through
teeth)
Lorenzo. Uh-uh.
Nope. Lorenzo. Nuh-uh.
LORENZO:
could get away with this?
You thought we wouldn’t find
you? Well, guess what.
LORENZO:
It’s time for us to go home.
Lorenzo PUSHES the kid into the water.
He is about to follow, when Daniela grabs him.
The kid has not turned into Luca.
Awkward beat.
The kid begins to cry.
LORENZO:
(trying to recover)
And... let that be a lesson to you!
DANIELA:
RUN. Before its mother gets here.
The adults FLEE--
LORENZO:
It turns out I don’t got this.
DANIELA:
No. But I do. I’ll know my son when
I--
--into the PIAZZA, which contains MANY KIDS.
DANIELA:
--see him.
Daniela gazes around. This is going to be pretty difficult.
DANIELA:
Aw, sharks.
EXT. PIAZZA - DAY
Giulia, Luca, and Alberto walk up to a LINE OF KIDS waiting
to submit their entries to the PORTOROSSO CUP.
A WOMAN in an ELABORATE COSTUME and MUSTACHE addresses them
from a little makeshift stage:
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SIGNORA MARSIGLIESE
Fellow Portorossans! It is I!
GIORGIO GIORGIONI!!
(hamming it up)
Slayer of sea monsters. And beloved
purveyor of pasta!
In the crowd, Luca is alarmed:
LUCA:
Slayer of sea monsters?!
GIULIA:
That's just Signora Marsigliese.
She works for the sponsor for the
race.
(exasperated sigh)
This is gonna take forever.
SIGNORA MARSIGLIESE
The finest pasta in Liguria. At a
price every family can afford!--
GIULIA:
SIGNORA MARSIGLIESE
(dry)
Enthusiasm. Love to see it.
(regaining momentum)
To win my famous race, your team
must be the first to:
Brave the treacherous waters of the
bay!!
Devour a mystery bowl of my
delicious pasta!!
And ride to the top of Mount
Portorosso--and back!!!
LUCA:
That all sounds pretty hard.
ALBERTO:
Yeah. Hard to LOSE.
We’re going to win!
GIULIA:
I love your confidence. But don’t
forget. We have to go through--
ERCOLE:
Champion coming through!
Ciao, ciao!
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--Ercole arrives, Ciccio and Guido trailing behind as usual.
GIULIA:
--Ercole.
Ercole plonks down his entry fee.
SIGNORA MARSIGLIESE
Aren’t you a little old, Ercole?
ERCOLE:
(pretend outrage)
Signora! I’m sixteen!
SIGNORA MARSIGLIESE
You said that last year.
ERCOLE:
But this year it’s true!
(walking away, addressing
the kids)
You might want to save your money,
ragazzi, this year Ercole is gonna
break the record and make it six in
a row--
He notices, with delight, that Giulia has teamed up with Luca
and Alberto.
ERCOLE:
Oh no. I don’t believe it. Spewlia,
you teamed up with these vagrants?!
GIULIA:
(irritated)
Ignore him.
ERCOLE:
(mock-apologetic)
I wish for you that you could.
I’m afraid your friends still need
to pay the Out-of-Town Weirdo Tax.
Ercole snaps his fingers--Ciccio snatches the money out of
Giulia’s hand and gives it to Ercole--
GIULIA:
HEY!
Ercole--you HAVE to give it back!
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ERCOLE:
Ercole doesn’t have to do anything.
He’s the Portorosso Cup champion,
number one, and number two, his
life is amazing and everyone loves
him.
GIULIA:
They don’t love you! They’re afraid
of you!
ERCOLE:
(intimidating, to the
crowd)
Raise your hand if you love me.
EVERYONE in the crowd, terrified, raises their hand.
ERCOLE:
See? Everyone.
(to Alberto)
Even you.
(booping Alberto’s nose)
Boop.
This is too much for Alberto. He raises his fists.
ALBERTO:
That’s it. Come on, Luca.
ERCOLE:
Ooh! The vagrants want to fight!
LUCA:
(unsure)
Alberto...?
ALBERTO:
(hushed, to Luca)
Silenzio Bruno. Remember this is
for our Vespa!
ERCOLE:
A Vespa? Pfft. Trash like you can’t
ride Vespas.
Giulia gets in the way before the fight can begin.
GIULIA:
Stop.
Every eye watches the STANDOFF:
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GIULIA:
Ercole, you’re just afraid we’re
gonna put an end to your
evil empire of injustice--
ERCOLE:
(bored, overlap)
“evil empire of injustice.”
Got anything new?
GIULIA:
Yeah! HERE’S a new one.
You... look like a...
Beat. She’s got nothing. Ercole smirks.
LUCA:
(whispering)
A catfish.
GIULIA:
(loudly, triumphantly)
A CATFISH!
This only confuses the crowd. And Ercole. They are not
impressed--until--
LUCA:
(timidly)
Uh, they’re bottom feeders and they
also have two sad little whiskers.
Now the crowd starts snickering. Even Guido lets out a little
involuntary giggle.
Ercole fumes. He smacks Guido with a sandwich.
Then he turns to Luca, towering over him.
ERCOLE:
(advancing)
Listen, Piccoletto. I eat kids like
you for breakfast. I dunk them in
my cioccolata and GNAM! Finiti!
Ercole leans in and creepily puts an arm around Luca, who
cowers.
ERCOLE:
So, here. Sign up. I’ll make it my
mission to destroy you.
He lets this sink in. Then, suddenly, BRIGHTENS--
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ERCOLE:
Ha ha ha!
(leaving, joking with the
crowd)
It’s gonna be some race, huh?
Sorry, no autographs today!
(to a little boy who is
still raising his hand)
You. You can put your hand down.
Luca is absolutely terrified. But then Giulia puts an arm
around him--
GIULIA:
HA HA! Luca!
Bravo, we did it!
Luca remembers to breathe. Giulia drags him away--
Alberto lags behind, strangely let down.
AT THE TABLE:
Giulia slaps the cash down on the table.
GIULIA:
Giulia Marcovaldo!
SIGNORA MARSIGLIESE
Ciao, Giulia. Team of one?
GIULIA:
Not today!
She parts to reveal Luca and Alberto.
LUCA:
Luca Paguro.
ALBERTO:
(slightly reluctant)
Alberto Scorfano.
EXT. MASSIMO’S HOME - CONTINUOUS
GIULIA (O.S.)
Ok, ragazzi! We have one week to
train!
BUT TRAINING GETS OFF TO A ROCKY START:
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INT. MASSIMO’S HOME
Giulia puts a BOWL OF LINGUINE in front of Alberto.
GIULIA:
(ready, set, go!)
Pronti, ai posti, via!
Alberto is about to start when Luca comes in with an ARMFUL
ALBERTO:
Wait, what!?
GIULIA:
Every year they change the pasta.
You have to be ready for anything!
Could be cannelloni, penne,
fusilli, trofie, EVEN LASAGNE!
Alberto shrugs and is about to grab a handful when Giulia
raps his knuckles with a fork--
GIULIA:
And you have to use a forchetta.
It’s the rule.
ALBERTO:
Rules are for...
(frustrated)
...rule people!
EXT. PORTOROSSO STREETS - UPHILL
NEXT:
Luca struggles uphill on the bike as Alberto and Giuliaslowly walk behind him.
They are passed by a VERY OLD MAN.
Alberto slaps his hand to his forehead in frustration.
CUT TO:
Luca nervously looks down the STEEP INCLINE.
LUCA:
Holy carp. No. I can’t.
Of course Ercole, breezily riding by, hears this--
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ERCOLE:
I know, I know. Ha ha ha ha!
And remember, Piccoletto:
He draws a finger across his neck menacingly as he rides off.
GIULIA:
Forza! Luca, don’t let him get in
your head. You can do this!
LUCA:
Okay. Silenzio Bruno! Here we go!
(he pushes off)
NOPE. I CAN’T.
He hits the brakes, the front wheel locks up, and he CRASHES.
EXT. SEA
AND FINALLY:
Giulia swims in the sea as Alberto and Lucapaddle behind.
They watch her, unimpressed.
LUCA:
I guess that’s how humans swim?
ALBERTO:
Man, that’s embarrassing.
IN A MOTORBOAT IN THE DISTANCE: Ercole looks through
binoculars as his henchbuddies WIELD HARPOONS hopefully--
CICCIO:
Any sea monsters?
ERCOLE:
(lowering binoculars)
No... but I see some bait.
Giulia spots the boat speeding toward them--
GIULIA:
Oh no. It's Ercole--
Alberto and Luca start rowing FURIOUSLY. But they are rowing
in opposite directions and the boat just goes in circles--
ALBERTO:
LUCA! FASTER! FASTER!
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LUCA:
WHY AREN’T WE MOVING?!
Ercole’s boat is bearing down on them--Ercole grins
maniacally--
GUIDO:
(worried)
Ercole--?
At the last minute, Guido grabs the steering and averts
collision, instead sending a WAVE over Luca and Alberto--
--splashing Alberto, who turns SEA MONSTER and DUCKS into the
boat with Luca--
Fortunately, Ercole missed it. He’s too busy berating Guido.
ERCOLE:
Guido?!
GUIDO:
I--I slipped!
ERCOLE:
Ciccio! Slap Guido!
Again! Like you mean it!
Giulia furiously doggy-paddles to confront Ercole. Meanwhile,
Luca tries to throw a tarp over Alberto but instead hits
Alberto in the face, KNOCKING HIM OVERBOARD--
Tbe commotion draws Ercole’s attention--he turns to see Luca
by himself.
ERCOLE:
Where did the other one go?
He spots something purple in the water--he squints--
But then TOPPLES OVER--a FURIOUS GIULIA has rocked the boat
by hanging onto the sides to yell at him.
GIULIA:
Ercole! Cosa stai pensando, eh?!
Ercole’s sweater has fallen into the water. This now occupies
100% of his attention.
ERCOLE:
Insane girl! It is wool! It cannot
be moistened!
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While Ercole is distracted, Luca pulls Alberto on board. Then
hastily throws a tarp over him before Giulia, also clambering
on board, can see anything--
GIULIA:
Well, I think that’s enough
training for today--
LUCA:
Yeah! Agreed!
ALBERTO:
Yup!
As the kids begin to row home, Ercole notices them--
ERCOLE:
BAHH! Ciccio! The motor!
Ciccio fumbles with the motor.
ERCOLE:
Guido! Slap Ciccio! With contempt!
EXT. PORTOROSSO - PIAZZA - DAY
Lorenzo and Daniela’s search for Luca is not going so well,
either. Daniela pulls the hat off a kid. Nope. Not her son.
A SOCCER BALL rolls to Daniela, from the kids playing nearby--
SOCCER KID #1
Hey! La palla!
SOCCER KID #2
Kick it!
Daniela KICKS it. She is pretty strong. It knocks a kid into
the fountain. She stares at the kid, thinking.
DANIELA:
I have an idea.
LORENZO:
Uh. Honey?!
DANIELA:
Hey guys! Can I play too?!
A kid with the ball tries to JUKE her out. She instead deftly
steals the ball and HIP-CHECKS him into the fountain.
DANIELA:
Oops! Sorry. I’m not used to legs.
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LORENZO:
(catching on)
Ohhhhhhhh.
SOCCER KID #3
PRENDILA! THE BALL!
DANIELA:
Come and get it.
Another kid approaches Daniela, who now has the ball. She
deftly sidesteps and the second kid, too, TUMBLES into the
fountain.
She is basically LIONEL MESSI. She DRIBBLES through a few
more kids, TRIPPING, CHECKING, JUKING them all into the
fountain--
Where Lorenzo checks to see if they’re Luca--
LORENZO:
(muttering)
Not our kid.
Not our kid.
Daniela approaches the goal, takes a shot, but skies the ball
instead--knocking a watering can out of a neighbor’s hand--
and drenching the kid below.
Daniela CELEBRATES by hurling another kid into the fountain.
DANIELA:
(out of breath)
Let’s see Bianca Branzino do THAT!
(dolphin impression)
NEAR THE PESCHERIA:
Luca HEARS his mother’s distinct DOLPHIN CALL. He looks over
and sees two adults who look like the human versions of his
parents over by the fountain. Uh oh.
He ducks into the yard after Giulia and Alberto--
GIULIA:
Good effort, team. You’ve earned
your pasta tonight.
ALBERTO:
(desperate)
Can I please eat with my hands.
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--as the parents regroup, still having not found their son.
LORENZO:
Well at least you won! ...I think!
EXT. GIULIA’S TREEHOUSE - EVENING
Luca and Alberto confer in the treehouse--
LUCA:
Uh, Alberto? I think I might've
seen my parents...
ALBERTO:
No way. I told you, they’re not
coming here.
Luca doesn’t know how to push past Alberto’s dismissiveness--
LUCA:
But what if they did? They’re gonna
send me to the deep!--
ALBERTO:
Relax! It’s never gonna happen.
Giulia arrives.
GIULIA:
(determinedly positive)
All right, boys. Pretty good today,
but let’s talk technique--
Massimo arrives, too.
MASSIMO:
Hey, ragazzi! I need some help with
the nets.
(looking to Alberto)
You! The big strong one. Andiamo.
Alberto is reluctant to leave. But he does like being the big
strong one.
ALBERTO:
I’ll be right back.
Alberto exits with Massimo, leaving Luca and Giulia. She sees
he’s rattled, and ventures to comfort him.
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GIULIA:
Hey. We’re gonna win.
And you’ll get your Vespa.
...Why do you want a Vespa again?
LUCA:
Oh--because it’ll be amazing. Every
day me and Alberto are gonna ride
someplace new. And every night
He indicates the STARS that are starting to come out. Giulia
is thrown for a loop. She decides to just go with it.
GIULIA:
The, uh... fish. Yes! Good.
LUCA:
What’ll you do when you win?
GIULIA:
Ohoho. I’ll get up in front of
everyone and say, “TOLD you I’d
win!!”
LUCA:
Yeah!
(beat)
And then what?
GIULIA:
I don’t know. That’s it!
Look. During school, I live with my
mamma in Genova. And every summer,
I come here, and everyone thinks
I’m just some weird kid who doesn’t
belong.
This really lands with Luca.
LUCA:
I think I know how you feel.
GIULIA:
Right?! That’s why we gotta win!!
The town will cheer our names--
(a little too excited)
ERCOLE’S LIFE WILL BE RUINED--
(stopping herself)
Sorry. Too much? My mom says
sometimes I’m too much.
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LUCA:
No way! Not for me.
Giulia smiles. She watches Luca look at the stars, that he
might think are fish.
GIULIA:
(unable to let it go)
You know those aren’t fish, right?
LUCA:
Of course they are! Alberto told me
all about it.
GIULIA:
Come with me.
Luca follows Giulia up onto the roof and across PORTOROSSO’S
BEAUTIFUL ROOFSCAPE. A night stroll above a lovely sleepy
little town.
They finally arrive at a little balcony.
Giulia uncovers a TELESCOPE and makes adjustments--
GIULIA:
This is a telescope. Old Man
Bernardi lets me use it. It makes
faraway things seem close. Look.
She hands it over to Luca--who looks through it--
AT A GALAXY.
LUCA:
WHOA.
GIULIA:
See any fish?
LUCA:
Then what are all those?!
GIULIA:
Stars. Like the sun. Giant, raging
balls of fire!
LUCA:
(to himself, realizing)
Alberto was wrong.
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GIULIA:
And stars are circled by planets.
Through the TELESCOPE, she shows him SATURN--
GIULIA:
That’s Saturno. It's my favorite.
(geeking out hard)
It’s the lightest of the planets.
They say if there was an ocean big
enough to hold it, it would float--
As she speaks, his imagination takes hold--
BEGIN IMAGINATION SEQUENCE--
Luca runs on the ring around SATURN--
Giulia FLIES by on a DA VINCI FLYING MACHINE--Luca joins her
on a second one--
PILOTS his way through the STARS and above ROMAN RUINS--
They fly over PINOCCHIO, on his way to school--
PULL OUT FROM IMAGINATION to:
INT. GIULIA’S ROOM - NIGHT
Luca is utterly absorbed in Giulia’s SCHOOLBOOKS--that’s
what’s been firing his imagination this whole time. He is
electrified, peppering her with questions--
LUCA:
So this is how machines fly?
And there are big towns
called cities?
Like even bigger than
Portorosso?
GIULIA:
Sì sì!
Sì! Like Genova!
Literally twenty times
bigger!
LUCA:
(back to the space book)
And we’re all on a big round rock,
floating around a star, in the...
“solar system”?
GIULIA:
So cool, right?!
Luca pages through excitedly--the UNIVERSE gets BIGGER and
BIGGER before his eyes as he asks her--
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LUCA:
And is there anything beyond the
solar system?
GIULIA:
systems!
LUCA:
Then what?!
GIULIA:
LUCA:
AND THEN WHAT?!
GIULIA:
And THEN...
(beat, realizing)
...I don’t know.
But next year in Advanced Astronomy
I’m gonna use my school’s
telescope. So maybe I’ll find out!
That thing’s HUGE. I wish I could
show it to you.
LUCA:
EVERYTHING YOU SEE!!
(catching himself)
Sorry. Too much?
GIULIA:
(overjoyed)
Never.
They’re interrupted--
ALBERTO:
(in the window)
Hey, Luca! I’ve been looking
everywhere for you.
LUCA:
Oh! Sorry--
ALBERTO:
Come on, let’s go.
Luca turns to Giulia, clutching the book.
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LUCA:
Could I maybe--borrow this?
Just for tonight--
Giulia opens the book, CROSSES OUT her name, and writes
“Luca” on the first page.
GIULIA:
You can have it.
The universe is literally yours!!
LUCA:
(blown away)
Wow. Thank you!!--
ALBERTO:
Luca!!
EXT. PORTOROSSO STREETS - NIGHT
Alberto leads Luca through the nighttime alleyways to a
destination of his own--
LUCA:
Where are we going?
ALBERTO:
I got something to show you.
Luca is still buzzing with excitement.
LUCA:
Alberto, you won’t believe this--
(pointing to the sky)
Those aren’t fish!
ALBERTO:
What?
LUCA:
Yeah! Giulia explained it to me.
They’re fires. But like a million
times bigger--
ALBERTO:
(dismissively)
No, they’re not.
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EXT. MECHANIC’S GARAGE
They arrive outside the MECHANIC’S GARAGE and look in the
window at the beat-up VESPA they want to buy, the FOR SALE
sign still on it. Alberto slaps a drawing on the window--
ALBERTO:
Take a look. I thought of every
single thing we’re gonna need.
Also I added flames.
LUCA:
That’s so cool.
(realizing)
And we can bring a telescope too!
Luca draws a TELESCOPE on Alberto’s drawing.
ALBERTO:
YEAH! That shoots lightning!
Alberto adds LIGHTNING coming out of the telescope.
Luca ERASES Alberto’s lightning, to Alberto’s irritation--
LUCA:
No, no, no. You look through it.
Giulia says there’s an even bigger
one at her school.
Luca stops. Getting a BIG IDEA:
LUCA:
Wait! What if we visit her there?
ALBERTO:
Why would you want to do that?!
LUCA:
It... kinda sounds interesting?
ALBERTO:
The whole reason we’re getting a
Vespa is to live on our own! We
don’t need school! We don’t need
anybody!
LUCA:
Couldn't we just try it?
Just for a few days...?
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ALBERTO:
Luca--sea monsters can’t go to
school! What do you think is gonna
happen when they see your fishface?
Luca is deflated. But before he can reply:
THUNK!
Ercole’s harpoon SLAMS into a nearby SEA MONSTER RELIEF.
Ercole, Ciccio, and Guido saunter towards our boys--
ERCOLE:
Hey. Look who it is. And with no
Giulia to hide behind.
Luca is nervous but Alberto insists on standing their ground.
LUCA:
C’mon, let’s go--
ALBERTO:
Nah.
ERCOLE:
Something’s fishy with you two. I
mean besides the smell. You’re
hiding something.
ALBERTO:
Is it... that we’re smarter than
you? I mean, we’re not really
HIDING that, it’s just kinda
obvious.
ERCOLE:
You know, people think I’m a nice
guy. Always joking around.
Ercole SHOVES Alberto against a wall.
ERCOLE:
But really, I’m not.
Ciccio and Guido keep Alberto PINNED to the wall.
LUCA:
STOP!
Ercole SHOVES Luca to the ground.
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ERCOLE:
Wait your turn, Piccoletto.
(to Alberto)
I want to make myself very clear.
This is my town, number one--
He SOCKS Alberto in the stomach--
ERCOLE:
--and number two, I DON’T WANT YOU
IN IT--
LUCA:
I said STOP!
They turn. Luca, TREMBLING, is AIMING THE HARPOON at Ercole.
Ercole smirks. He takes a step toward Luca.
ERCOLE:
(disdainful)
Put that down, Piccoletto. You’ll
hurt yourself.
LUCA:
(terrified)
Let him go.
Ercole nods to Ciccio and Guido, who release Alberto.
ERCOLE:
Go. NOW. Before I change my mind.
Luca and Alberto back away--then break into a RUN--
Luca throws the harpoon down as they round a corner--
ERCOLE:
(calling after them)
Nobody wants you here, idioti! Keep
running!
EXT. OUTSIDE MASSIMO’S HOME - NIGHT
At the door to Giulia’s backyard--
LUCA:
Why did you make him mad? We should
have left!--
But Alberto again is in absolute denial of reality.
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ALBERTO:
We're fine! I had it under control.
All you gotta do is follow my lead,
remember?
He heads into the backyard before Luca can respond--
EXT. GIULIA’S TREEHOUSE - NEXT MORNING
The boys are DEAD ASLEEP.
Giulia does her patented TRUMPET IMITATION--
GIULIA:
Papapparapaa pappaparapaaa!
The boys are JOLTED upright into wakefulness:
--BEGIN TRAINING MONTAGE, AS THE DAYS COUNT DOWN TO THE RACE--
INT. MASSIMO’S KITCHEN
Alberto struggles with the fork--
Luca pedals uphill, past kids eating watermelon--
Who are abruptly DRENCHED with water balloons--
Dropped by Daniela and Lorenzo, on the balcony above them--
INT. MASSIMO’S KITCHEN
Luca and Alberto placate Machiavelli--
EXT. GIULIA’S TREEHOUSE - EARLY MORNING
The boys are dead asleep again. This time it’s Massimo who
wakes them up--cart for Luca, BUTTER KNIFE for Alberto--
EXT. MASSIMO’S FISHING BOAT - MEANWHILE
Massimo pulls up FISHING NETS one-armed;
Alberto sees a SEA MONSTER-SHAPED SHADOW in the water;
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Before he can do anything, Massimo sees it too--he grabs his
harpoon and PLUNGES it into the shadow--Alberto is HORRIFIED;
Fortunately, when Massimo pulls the harpoon out of the water--
REVEAL--it was only a CLUMP OF SEAWEED. Massimo is
disappointed;
Alberto, FRAZZLED and TWITCHY-EYED because he thought for a
second he had just witnessed a murder, EXHALES--
EXT. HARBOR - EVENING
LORENZO and DANIELA sneak up behind two kids eating gelato--
But are distracted by a MONSTER MOVIE POSTER. Is that guy
Ugo? That guy really looks like Ugo.
EXT. MASSIMO’S BACKYARD - MORNING
The boys, dead asleep as usual, are awoken by Giulia--
GIULIA:
Rise and shine! Only two days till
the race!
They are so tired they can barely move. But Giulia gets an
idea--
INT. MASSIMO’S KITCHEN - MORNING
And gives the groggy boys two cups of...
GIULIA:
Espresso.
The boys sip it. And perk the heck up.
EXT. STEEP PORTOROSSO HILL - DAY
Luca BOOKS IT up the hill, as the watermelon-eating kids
cheer him on--
GELATO KIDS:
Go, Luca! / You got it!
Vai, Luca!
ERCOLE:
(walking past)
Hey! Don’t cheer for him!!
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EXT. HARBOR - STAIRS
Lorenzo shoots a SPRAY BOTTLE with abandon, failing to
impress Daniela and drenching an infuriated bystander.
MAN (O.S.)
MA CHE FAI?!!
INT. MASSIMO’S KITCHEN - DINNER
Alberto struggles to get TRENETTE AL PESTO onto his fork.
Massimo notices. He holds up his fork for Alberto to see. And
demonstrates twirling a forkful.
Alberto carefully imitates Massimo...
And manages to capture a forkful of his own. Finally!
He turns to Giulia and Alberto for approval. But they’re
preoccupied with another stupid book.
Alberto eats, irritably. Stupid Giulia.
--END MONTAGE--
DANIELA and LORENZO sit at the fountain, DEFEATED.
(A passing kid recognizes them as the adults that are
throwing kids into fountains, turns, and runs away.)
DANIELA:
I don’t know, Lorenzo. Was I too
hard on him?
LORENZO:
No. You were just trying to keep
him safe. It’s my fault. I wasn’t
paying enough attention to him.
DANIELA:
But I was the one who tried to send
him away.
...I just never in a million years
would have thought he’d do this.
It’s like I don’t even know...
As she is talking, a boy (Luca) passes, pedaling a bike
carrying his two other friends (Giulia, Alberto)--
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GIULIA:
Dai forza! You can do it, Luca!
DANIELA:
(eyes narrowing)
...who he... IS...
LUCA?!
Luca SPOTS HIS PARENTS and pedals faster--
LORENZO:
LUCA!!!
EXT. STREETS - DAY
Luca furiously pedals up a different street.
GIULIA:
Where are we going?
LUCA:
Uh... a shortcut!
GIULIA:
Steeper, rough terrain. I like it!
Alberto rolls his eyes. Giulia turns to him--
GIULIA:
Why aren’t YOU training?
Alberto pulls out a WAD OF PASTA from his pocket and eats it.
ALBERTO:
(irritably)
I’m always training.
They crest the top of the hill. Luca is absolutely exhausted.
Giulia checks her POCKET WATCH.
GIULIA:
Bravo, Luca. That was your best
yet!
Below them, a TRAIN heads out of the station, up the coast--
GIULIA:
Oh! Guys, look! That’s the train to
Genova.
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LUCA:
That goes to your school?
Giulia nods. Alberto rolls his eyes.
LUCA:
I was wondering actually... is your
school open to... everyone?
GIULIA:
Well, it costs a little money,
but... I guess!--
Alberto hates where this is going. He takes over impatiently--
ALBERTO:
Great. Thank you, Giulia, for
showing us the boring thing that
takes you to the terrible place.
Now can we focus on what matters?
If we lose this race, we’re not
going anywhere!
Luca holds his bike and gazes down the hill.
LUCA:
Santa Mozzarella. The downhill.
GIULIA:
I know it looks scary. But here’s
what you need to know--
ALBERTO:
(interrupting)
Would you stop bossing him around?
GIULIA:
WHAT is your problem?!
ALBERTO:
I'm his friend! I know what he
needs!
GIULIA:
Oh yeah? Then what does he need?
Alberto straddles the front of the bike, Luca on the back.
ALBERTO:
ME.
We’ll just ride it like we did on
the island:
together.ANDIAMO!
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GIULIA:
No!
But Alberto has already kicked them off.
They careen wildly down the hill, way too fast and out of
control, knocking things over, barely staying upright--
LUCA:
ALBERTO, STOP!
ALBERTO:
THAT’S BRUNO TALKING!
LUCA:
NO--I’M PRETTY SURE THAT’S JUST ME--
CHESS PLAYER:
Disgraziati!
Luca tries to gain control of the bike--
ALBERTO:
Let it go!
LUCA:
Look out!!
In their struggle, they go over a guard rail and SAIL OFF A
CLIFF, into the sea.
Around the PROMONTORY, Ercole hears SCREAMS and a big SPLASH.
He grabs his harpoon and jumps to his feet--
ERCOLE:
Porca paletta! What was that?!
Eyes on the water!
Move, move!
EXT. UNDERWATER - MEANWHILE
Down in the water, Luca and Alberto can distantly hear and
see Giulia high above them, calling out worriedly--
GIULIA:
Luca?! Alberto?!
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LUCA:
She’ll see us--come on!
Luca furiously swims off--Alberto follows him--
EXT. ABOVE WATER - SUBSEQUENTLY - SUNSET
They exit the water down the coast where no one can see them.
Alberto knows Luca’s furious at him. He tries to explain--
ALBERTO:
Look, I was just trying to show you
how to do it right--
LUCA:
You don’t KNOW how to do it right!
ALBERTO:
I got us down the hill, didn’t I?
LUCA:
You CRASHED! INTO THE SEA!
ALBERTO:
It’s fine--
LUCA:
NOTHING is fine! My parents just
saw me!
ALBERTO:
Luca--your parents aren’t here.
Alberto’s continued denial of the truth enrages Luca even
further--
LUCA:
You don’t! Know! What you’re
talking about!!
ALBERTO:
Look. This town is making you
crazy. We just need to win that
Vespa and get outta here.
LUCA:
It’s not gonna be any different! I
don’t want to--
(stopping and gathering
himself)
I want to go to school.
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It now is Alberto’s turn to get angry.
ALBERTO:
THAT again?!
LUCA:
You’re just afraid you can’t do it!
ALBERTO:
I’M NOT AFRAID.
YOU’RE THE ONE WHO GETS AFRAID.
Alberto SHOVES him. Luca SHOVES Alberto back!
LUCA:
Shut up!
THEY FIGHT!
LUCA:
OW!!
ALBERTO:
GRRRR!!
ALBERTO:
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SHE SEES YOU?
LUCA:
Get off me!!
GIULIA (O.S.)
YOU’RE ALIVE!--
They turn to see GIULIA--she runs up and hugs them in relief.
GIULIA:
(playfully, to Alberto)
You’re never allowed on my bike
again. Stick to food, big guy.
Alberto whirls away from her in irritation and fury. Giulia
now begins to clock that something’s wrong.
GIULIA:
Uh, what’s going on?
ALBERTO:
Nothing. Let’s just get back to
training--
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But Luca senses an opportunity.
LUCA:
Actually, we have something to ask
you. We were wondering... if we
could come with you to your school?
Giulia is thrilled.
GIULIA:
Santo Pecorino!
That’s the best idea ever!!
Yes! Of course!!
Luca, overjoyed, takes Giulia's hand--and shows her the
handshake that Alberto taught him.
LUCA:
Piacere, Girolamo Trombetta.
Alberto, watching this betrayal, FUMES.
He has to stop this. However he can.
ALBERTO:
Hey, ah, Giulia?
Your school... does it take all
kinds of people?
I mean, what if some of them
were... not human?
LUCA:
Alberto--?
ALBERTO:
What if some were... Oh, I don’t
know... sea monsters?
GIULIA:
(confused)
Sea monsters?
ALBERTO:
I doubt your school would even
accept sea monsters, right?
LUCA:
(gritting teeth)
Ha ha! That’s a weird joke!
Luca urgently signals to Alberto to stop--but--
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ALBERTO:
Yeah, I know, it’s kinda hard to
imagine. So let me just show you.
And with that, Alberto DIVES into the water.
Luca gasps.
GIULIA:
Ugh. Alberto, we don’t have time to
goof around--
Alberto emerges a SEA MONSTER.
Giulia SCREAMS. Luca is FROZEN.
GIULIA:
HELP! --Don’t hurt us!
ALBERTO:
(forcefully)
SEE!? I knew this would hap--!
But Luca, in the moment, realizes there’s something he can
do, too--
And he points at Alberto and cries:
LUCA:
SEA MONSTER!
To seem like he didn’t know. Like he’s a human, too. Like
Alberto’s the only one.
Ercole and his goons overhear--
ERCOLE:
Did you hear that?
BACK TO SCENE:
Alberto is shocked, confused, betrayed:
ALBERTO:
Luca?
But Luca just shakes his head, teary-eyed.
Protectively, Giulia gets between Luca and Alberto.
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GIULIA:
(to Alberto)
STAY BACK.
And before Alberto can say anything else, OVER THE ROCKS come
Ercole and his awful friends, WIELDING HARPOONS--
ERCOLE:
ERCOLE comes CHARGING toward him--
Alberto realizes he has to get out of here. He gives Luca a
truly miserable look--
ERCOLE:
NOW!
Alberto turns, and dives into the water, as Ercole and his
goons take aim and THROW THEIR HARPOONS--
LUCA:
NO--!
--which miss, barely.
Luca, heartbroken, watches Alberto swim away.
ERCOLE:
(to Luca and Giulia)
Idioti! You let it get away!
(to Ciccio and Guido)
To the boat!
WE’RE GONNA KILL A SEA MONSTER!!
Ercole and his cronies race off--
Leaving Giulia and Luca, stunned.
INT. MASSIMO’S HOME
They return to Giulia’s home to find Massimo preparing pasta
for them--
MASSIMO:
There you are! I made your favorite
--trenette al pesto--
Massimo stops, seeing it’s just the two of them--
MASSIMO:
Where’s Alberto?
(MORE)
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Luca tries to cover--
LUCA:
Ah... he left, Signor Marcovaldo.
Beat.
Massimo puts down the bowl and puts on his coat.
MASSIMO:
Do you know where he went?
LUCA:
(nervous)
No--but I don’t think he wants
anyone looking for him--
MASSIMO:
Maybe not.
But just in case.
Massimo exits.
Giulia is silent.
Luca, needing to fill the silence, starts BABBLING--
LUCA:
Okay. Well. The two of us can
still do the race. You’ll
swim, you’ll eat, you’ve done
both before, and I’ll do the
ride, I mean that’s allowed,
right? It should be fine,
we’re still okay--
GIULIA:
(trying to stop him)
Luca...
Luca?
LUCA!
Finally, she grabs a glass of water and splashes it at him--
he holds out his hands, which transform--
Giulia exhales. She knew it. He’s a sea monster, too.
GIULIA:
“Sleeping under the fish”! Now I
get it.
LUCA:
I... I can explain--
GIULIA:
Of all the places for sea monsters
to visit--PORTOROSSO?! Have you
SEEN this town?!
GIULIA (CONT'D)
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Luca, you have to get out of here--
LUCA:
(pleading)
But I thought we were underdogs.
GIULIA:
(anguished)
Do you think I WANT you to leave?
This is the happiest I’ve--
She stops herself.
GIULIA:
Look. It’s just not worth it.
LUCA:
You don’t understand!
GIULIA:
No I don't. Risking your life? For
a Vespa?
LUCA:
My parents were gonna send me away.
I was never gonna see him again.
That’s why we... did all of this.
A beat, as Luca realizes what he’s done.
LUCA:
(miserably)
But it’s over now.
Goodbye, Giulia. I’m sorry.
Giulia SINKS.
EXT. SHORE - NIGHT
Luca sits by the shore staring out at ISOLA DEL MARE.
Dimly he can make out a fire, burning on the roof.
He knows what he has to do. He heads into the water.
EXT. ISLAND - NIGHT
Luca approaches Alberto’s hideout hesitantly--walking past
some of Alberto’s belongings, which now litter the ground,
broken and scattered, the aftermath of a miserable outburst.
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The rope ladder has been thrown down too.
So Luca scales the tower without it--
INT. ALBERTO’S HIDEOUT
And emerges into a hideout that is in ruins.
LUCA:
Alberto?
But Alberto is nowhere in sight. Everything has been ripped
off the shelves, thrown to the ground, broken.
Even the VESPA drawing is on the floor, ripped in half.
ALBERTO (O.S.)
What are you doing here?
Luca turns. Alberto is watching him from the steps to the
roof.
LUCA:
(needing the words, but
not having them)
I’m--sorry.
I never should have done that.
I wish I could take it back--
ALBERTO:
Great. You’re sorry. Now go away.
Alberto goes up to the ROOFTOP.
Luca gazes sadly around at the WRECKED HIDEOUT. His gaze
settles on where the VESPA POSTER hung. It’s been ripped off
the wall--
And where it had been are TALLY MARKS IN THE STONE that Luca
has never seen before.
EXT. ROOFTOP - SUBSEQUENTLY
Luca finds Alberto staring miserably into a CAMPFIRE.
LUCA:
Alberto? What are those marks on
the wall?
Alberto shrugs but says nothing.
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LUCA:
(insistent)
Tell me what they mean.
ALBERTO:
I started when my dad left.
Beat.
LUCA:
You were living here alone for...
that many days?
ALBERTO:
I just stopped counting after a
while. He said I was old enough to
be on my own. I just thought
that... maybe he’d change his mind.
(beat)
Honestly, though, I get it. He’s
better off without me. You are too.
LUCA:
That’s not true.
ALBERTO:
(gently)
Yes, it is. You’re not like me.
You’re the good kid. And I’m just
the kid that ruins everything.
LUCA:
SILENZIO BRUNO. That’s just a dumb
voice in your head. You taught me
that.
And getting a Vespa--seeing the
world--your ideas are the best!--
ALBERTO:
(exploding)
Just let it go! Okay?
You and I should have never have
been friends in the first place.
LUCA:
(pleading)
Don’t say that.
But Alberto turns away from him.
LUCA:
Alberto...
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ALBERTO:
GET OUTTA HERE!
Tears well in Luca’s eyes.
LUCA:
Okay, I’ll go.
--I’ll go win the race.
ALBERTO:
What?
LUCA:
(realizing)
And then the Vespa will be ours!
And we’ll ride away, together!
ALBERTO:
Luca, that’s crazy.
LUCA:
(shrugging)
Well... maybe I'm crazy.
And just like that--
LUCA:
TAKE ME, GRAVITY!!!!!!!
ALBERTO:
LUCA!!
He tumbles through the tree, lands on the ground in a HEAP--
ALBERTO:
What are you doing?!
LUCA:
I’ll be back tomorrow!
I’m gonna fix this!!
At the registration table, Signora Marsigliese is PERPLEXED--
SIGNORA MARSIGLIESE
You want to... split up your team?
(MORE)
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REVERSE to Luca, holding a RUSTY BIKE:
LUCA:
Yes--if it’s allowed--
Giulia, on her way to the starting line, spots Luca--
GIULIA:
Luca?!
What are you doing here?
LUCA:
Don’t worry! I’ll race on my own!
Giulia turns to Signora Marsigliese in shock--
SIGNORA MARSIGLIESE
You can if you want--I don’t
recommend it--
But Luca’s already headed OFF before anyone can stop him--
Giulia is horrified but also doesn’t want to blow his cover--
GIULIA:
(calling after him)
But--how are you gonna--I mean--
what happens when--YOU CAN'T SWIM!!
EXT. STREETS - DAY
Meanwhile, Daniela and Lorenzo are still looking for Luca
when a RACE JUDGE (the priest) confronts them--
PRIEST:
Volunteers! You’re late.
One cup for each kid.
They look down at a table full of CUPS OF WATER--clock that
they’re for the race--realize this is gonna work out pretty
well for them--
DANIELA & LORENZO
Yeah yeah yeah. One cup per kid.
Got it.
The priest then hands them a BUCKET and SCRUB BRUSH--
PRIEST:
And here.
(apologetically)
PRIEST (CONT'D)
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For when Giulia... you know.
(mimes throwing up)
EXT. STARTING LINE
IN THE SKY:
A storm is approaching.IN THE STANDS:
Massimo and Machiavelli hold an encouragingsign for GIULIA--
MASSIMO:
Forza, Giulietta!
Giulia smiles, apprehensive. Next to her, Ercole pours OLIVE
OIL on Ciccio, who is stretching.
ERCOLE:
Ciccio, hold still.
(explaining to Giulia)
Olio d’oliva. He will cut through
the water like a knife. An oily
knife.
Then they SEE--
LUCA, CLOMPING up to the starting line in Alberto’s FULL-BODY
DIVING SUIT.
ERCOLE:
Oh, this makes me laugh.
Even your terrible friends don’t
want to be your friends!
Luca glances nervously across at his COMPETITORS.
GIULIA:
(ignoring Ercole)
LUCA! THIS IS A VERY BAD IDEA!
ERCOLE:
HEY! VAGRANT!
CAN'T AFFORD A PROPER SWIMSUIT?!
SIGNORA MARSIGLIESE
(addressing crowd)
Signore e Signori! The Portorosso
Cup is about to begin!
We know there’s been a few
sightings lately, but fear not! If
any sea monsters show up today--
we’re ready for them.
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She indicates the FISHING BOATS all around the harbor,
brimming with FISHERMEN wielding HARPOONS AND NETS.
Luca is terrified. He glances over at Giulia.
She signals to him once more to GET OUT OF HERE--
SIGNORA MARSIGLIESE
Swimmers, take your mark!--
EXCEPT LUCA, PARALYZED BY FEAR--BY BRUNO--
Then he takes a deep breath.
And puts the DIVER HELMET on.
And sloshes into the water!
Giulia, swimming up ahead, PUSHES FORWARD--
But in front of her and everyone else, Ciccio is off to a
great start.
The only problem is that the oil covering Ciccio’s body is
beginning to attract some HUNGRY FISH.
CICCIO:
OW! YOW--
Giulia passes him, rounds a buoy, and heads back to shore,
over the head of--
LUCA, on the sea floor. He can see the swimmers outpacing him
above, despite his best efforts--
To make matters worse, the glass on the diver’s helmet
SHATTERS--he has turned SEA MONSTER!--
Giulia is the first out of the water, passing Ercole, who is
screaming at Ciccio, thrashing in agony--
ERCOLE:
Swim, Ciccio! Idiota! SWIM!!
Giulia finishes dressing into her street clothes and RUNS
toward the PASTA-EATING STAGE, where the pasta is...
GIULIA:
HA HA! Trenette!
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She twirls a forkful as Luca EMERGES from the water.
Ercole TRIPS him--the diver helmet goes FLYING--
Luca TURTLES inside it before anyone can see his scaly head.
And he scrambles headlessly to the pasta table, manages to
dry off without anyone seeing him, and plops down--
--next to Giulia, who’s thinking: Luca, you idiot, you’re
gonna get yourself killed.
He fumbles with the trenette.
LUCA:
Come on...
Giulia, MUNCHING FURIOUSLY, can’t not help him--
GIULIA:
UUUGGGH.
Impatiently, exaggeratedly, she demonstrates to him HOW TO
LUCA:
Thank you!--
GIULIA:
(angrily)
DON’T THANK ME.
Ciccio finally runs from the water, wailing, little fish
hanging from his oily skin.
ERCOLE:
Stop crying and tag Guido!!
He does. Ercole FROG-MARCHES Guido to the pasta-eating stage.
As Giulia FINISHES her pasta and SLAMS the fork down:
GIULIA:
FINITO!
She stands up, suddenly gripping her stomach, GROANING, and
hobbles over to the BIKES. She’s still in the lead!
Ercole angrily looks at Giulia pedaling off (though slowly).
ERCOLE:
Per mille cavoli, Guido!
FASTER!
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Luca hastily forks pasta into his mouth as other kids around
him finish and tag their partners, who run off--
He’s way behind. But so is Ercole, who is now physically
SMUSHING PASTA into Guido’s MOUTH--
ERCOLE:
Eat, idiota!
Più veloce!
The kid sitting next to Guido, groans her protest--
PASTA KID:
Hey! That’s not allowed!
ERCOLE:
HE’S DONE.
Ercole SLAMS the fork down for Guido, grabs his LIMP HAND,
uses it to slap his own hand, and sprints to his bike.
Guido sinks his head into his bowl.
Finally Luca slurps down the last noodle.
He is the last kid at the table.
But he’s still going. He high-fives himself.
LUCA:
(frazzled)
DONE!
He drops the fork, runs to his bike, lets out an insane BURP,
and speeds off after the pack.
DANIELA and LORENZO, at the water table, are frightening the
racers passing them, who recognize the adults who have been
terrorizing them for days.
LORENZO:
Thirsty?
Uh...
Water, anyone?
RACE KIDS:
AAAAAAAAHHH!
NOOOO!
PLEASE STOP!
NOT AGAIN!!
Then Daniela squints at the last kid, who is bringing up the
rear but closing in fast on the pack--
(MORE)
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DANIELA:
That’s him. That’s him!
LUCA! STOP!
They LUNGE FOR LUCA--he SWERVES, barely evading them--
LUCA:
Sorry Mom! Sorry Dad!
I have to do this!!
Lorenzo is FURIOUS. Daniela is a little (or completely)
distracted by how much human butt he is kicking.
LORENZO:
DANIELA:
WOW, he’s fast.
HE SURE IS--
Luca SURGES PAST one kid, then another, then another--
As the storm continues to gather overhead--
Up AHEAD, Giulia’s lead is swiftly dwindling as Ercole gains
on her--she covers her mouth, trying not to VOMIT--
Ercole passes her. Rudely SLAPPING HER HELMET to add injury
to insult.
ERCOLE:
Oops! Scusa!
GIULIA:
(pure rage)
Rrrrrrrgh!!
(wheeze, hiccup)
DOWNHILL!!!
ERCOLE:
Oh, Spewlia. You’ve never even MADE
it to the downhill.
Ercole takes a moment to slow down, luxuriate in triumph,
perhaps fix his hair--
And as he does, LUCA passes HIM!
ERCOLE:
WHAT?!
(huffing and puffing)
ERCOLE (CONT'D)
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Impossible!
He’s cheating!
Arbitro!! Arbitro!!
Luca doesn’t reply--just keeps CHUGGING UPWARD--he puts some
distance between him and Ercole--
He’s in the lead. He could win this thing!
And then, the rain finally begins to fall.
Little spots of transformation appear on his arm--
LUCA:
Oh, no no no no...
Daniela and Lorenzo notice the RAIN--
And hastily duck under the TABLECLOTH--
Among the grownup onlookers, the UMBRELLAS come out.
Massimo watches, a little confused, as a CAFE UMBRELLA bobs
along through the crowd.
It makes its way out of the crowd and up the road.
Luca pedals around the tower, trying to race the rain--
But there’s too much. He’ll transform. He stops under an
awning, overlooking the downhill portion of the race--
Antsy, he waits out the downpour--
LUCA:
Come on, come on! I’m so close!
ALBERTO (O.S.)
LUCA!!
Luca LOOKS UP--
Alberto is RUNNING toward him, clutching the CAFE UMBRELLA
(that was him, down in the piazza)--
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ALBERTO:
Just stay right there! I’m coming
for you--
Luca smiles.
But here comes Ercole--he’s caught up with Luca and is now
passing him--
ERCOLE:
What’s wrong, Piccoletto? Afraid of
a little rain?
Ercole smacks Luca’s helmet and continues, heading right for
Alberto, who tries to scramble out of his way--
ERCOLE:
For the last time, you two don’t
belong here. Get out of my town--
Ercole KICKS Alberto--
The cafe umbrella goes flying--
Ercole chuckles, then GASPS--
Alberto has transformed.
A sea monster scrambles to his feet on the cobbles of
Portorosso, surrounded by dumbstruck, horrified onlookers--
ERCOLE:
SEA MONSTER!!
TOWNSFOLK:
MAMMA MIA!!! SEA MONSTER! STOP THAT
THING!
ERCOLE:
Ciccio! My harpoon! VELOCE!
Luca and Alberto are face to face--human Luca under the
awning, sea monster Alberto in the rain.
LUCA:
(aching)
Alberto--!
And he begins to take a small step toward him.
ALBERTO:
No! Stop!
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Alberto backs away.
ALBERTO:
Just stay there. You’re still okay.
The safety of his friend is all that’s left--it’s all he
cares about now--
Alberto turns and makes a RUN for it, back down the hill--
LUCA:
ALBERTO, WAIT!
For a moment or two, it seems like he’s going to make it.
Then a net snags him.
TOWNSFOLK:
Alberto struggles, but he can’t get free--
LUCA:
NO!!!
Luca knows what he must do.
He PEDALS OUT INTO THE RAIN to save his friend.
He turns SEA MONSTER--Giulia, watching, gasps--
GIULIA:
Santa Ricotta.
Luca plows straight through the crowd--
LUCA:
ALBERTO!
REACHES OUT A HAND to Alberto and HOISTS him onto the bike--
ERCOLE:
AAH! WHAT?!?
And they speed down the hill.
ALBERTO:
LUCA:
Learned it from you.
Let’s get to the water!
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Behind them, FURIOUS ERCOLE finally gets his harpoon from
Ciccio--he jumps on his bike to chase them down--
Giulia pedaling hard behind him--
CUT TO:
Luca and Alberto continue through the race--
ALBERTO:
(to racers, as they pass)
Hey there.
Excuse us.
ERCOLE:
VIA! VIA!
ALBERTO:
LUCA!!
Alberto gets Luca to swerve just in time.
Through a door, and into an apartment.
AHHHH!!!!
LUCA:
SORRY SORRY SORRY
--then back onto the course, right between Ercole and Giulia--
Ercole now in front of them--
ERCOLE:
HUH?
Daniela and Lorenzo, still under the tablecloth, spot Luca
(FULLY SEA MONSTER) speeding by.
DANIELA:
Oh no! LUCA!!
LORENZO:
SON!
Ercole turns, balances himself, rides backwards, a showboat
to the end. He hoists his harpoon and aims it at the boys.
ERCOLE:
You shoulda left when I told you.
Now I gotta kill some sea monsters.
The boys have nowhere to go--
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But Giulia does.
GIULIA:
So long, evil empire of injustice.
She SWERVES RIGHT INTO ERCOLE.
Giulia goes TUMBLING to the ground.
And the boys ride past to safety, into the PIAZZA.
But they see Giulia grit her teeth in pain--
And a few feet from the water, Luca hits the brakes.
The boys run back to make sure their friend is all right.
Meanwhile the piazza crowd is now reacting to the sight of
two SEA MONSTER BOYS who have skidded into the square and are
now running toward a fallen human girl--Massimo’s daughter--
MASSIMO:
MOSTRI MARINI...!
Give me that!
He SWIPES a HARPOON from a fisherman and runs to confront
them--
LUCA:
(concerned)
Giulia! Are you all right?!
GIULIA:
(dazed)
Yeah... I’m, uh... okay...
Thanks guys...
She smiles gratefully, as they pull her to her feet.
The three kids stand. They are surrounded by FISHERMEN and
Massimo, blocking any escape with nets and harpoons.
MASSIMO:
(disbelieving)
Giulietta?
GIULIA:
Papá... I--
Massimo can’t believe his eyes. Alberto’s smile fades.
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GIACOMO:
You’re not going anywhere.
And Ercole comes running in from the other side, re-armed
with his harpoon, pointing it at the kids--
ERCOLE:
I saw them first!
The reward is MINE!!
Luca stands up to him.
LUCA:
We're not afraid of you!
ERCOLE:
(contemptuously)
No. We’re afraid of YOU.
Sure enough, the crowd looks pretty FRIGHTENED of what is
happening.
ERCOLE:
Everyone is horrified and disgusted
by you. You’re monsters--
GIULIA:
STOP! They’re NOT monsters!
ERCOLE:
Oh yeah? Who are they, then?
Massimo SILENCES EVERYONE--
MASSIMO:
I know who they are.
Massimo stands FIRMLY in front of the kids. HARPOON IN HAND.
MASSIMO:
They are...
Luca and Alberto.
He DROPS his harpoon.
Then LIFTS ALBERTO’S SEA MONSTER HAND into the air--
MASSIMO:
And they won.
Everyone is STUNNED, even the kids.
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LUCA:
Wh... what?
ALBERTO:
Really?
ERCOLE:
They can’t be the winners!
They are not even... people!
Massimo looks to Signora Marsigliese for confirmation--
MASSIMO:
Signora Marsigliese?
And he nods significantly at the boys’ BICYCLE, LYING ACROSS
THE FINISH LINE.
Signora Marsigliese studies it, deliberates, and finally
shrugs--
SIGNORA MARSIGLIESE
(confirming)
Technically... legally...
Yes. They won.
LUCA:
HUH?
ALBERTO:
We won?
The fishermen aren’t quite buying it. But Massimo holds
strong. He will not let anything happen to these kids.
And now, a number of them LOWER THEIR HARPOONS. Some, shaking
their heads in DISGUST, head away to leave. Others remain,
muttering to each other, confused--
Ercole tries to RALLY them all back--
ERCOLE:
Who cares if they won? They’re SEA
MONSTERS!!
But as Ercole is preoccupied, Giulia SNATCHES HIS HARPOON--
and, with the boys’ help, snaps it in half.
ERCOLE:
HEY!
Ciccio! Guido! Another harpoon!
Even Ciccio and Guido don’t obey right away.
ERCOLE:
Idioti! Be useful for once in your
pathetic lives...!!
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And with that, Ercole loses his only two friends. They give
each other a look.
CICCIO:
Guido?
GUIDO:
Ciccio.
They grab Ercole, drag him to the fountain, and dump him in.
ERCOLE:
GAHHH!!!
Ercole THRASHES WILDLY in the fountain’s two feet of water.
Ciccio drops Ercole’s WOOL SWEATER in after him.
CICCIO:
Oops.
GUIDO:
Thhhhppppbbbbbbttt.
ERCOLE:
(weeping)
No, no--piccolino--
And Giulia watches from afar, realizing what this means.
GIULIA:
(in shock)
...It’s over.
The reign of terror...
IT’S FINALLY OVER!!
Before Luca can react, Daniela and Lorenzo finally make it
over to him, now SEA MONSTERS.
DANIELA:
Luca!
LORENZO:
Luca!
Daniela swoops him up in an embrace--
DANIELA:
(wildly conflicted)
You had us worried half to DEATH
and you must NEVER do that again
and you raced your little TAIL off
and kicked SO MUCH HUMAN BUTT and
I'm so PROUD of you and I AM SO MAD
AT YOU--
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LUCA:
(starting to come out of
his shock)
I love you, Mom--
She wraps him in a hug. Lorenzo, too.
The crowd watches in astonishment as SEA MONSTER PARENTS
embrace their SEA MONSTER KIDSignora
Marsigliese walks up to our kids with a TROPHY.
SIGNORA MARSIGLIESE
Signore e Signori, the winners of
this year’s Portorosso Cup...
The underdogs!
And it finally sets in with the kids that THEY’VE WON.
LUCA & ALBERTO & GIULIA
(jumping up and down)
WE WON! I can’t believe we won!!
Underdogs! Woohoo!
The other kids start celebrating, too.
TOWN KIDS:
Go underdogs!!
Ercole lost!!!
Wow!
I know sea monsters!
The ARAGOSTA SISTERS glance at each other, drop their
umbrellas--and TRANSFORM too!
A priest sees them and FAINTS.
Portorosso struggles to come to grips with the sea monsters
among them. Some people don’t love what’s happening, like the
MAGGIORE, who clutches a sea monster BOUNTY POSTER.
But others are more open-minded.
BENCH LADY:
(to the Maggiore)
Gimme that.
The BENCH LADIES take the poster and rip it up--
And HUMAN KIDS, so excited to know sea monsters, celebrate
the new CHAMPIONS OF PORTOROSSO--
CUT TO:
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A RICKETY WHEEL ROLLS ALONG THE COBBLES--
PULL OUT to show that it’s our THREE HEROES on their LONGDESIRED,
VERY JANKY VESPA.
EXT. GARDEN - EVENING
They zoom into Massimo’s garden, where a dinner party has
already begun with both human and sea monster guests.
The Vespa makes a horrendous noise. Parts fall off.
ALBERTO:
(happily, proudly)
It’s so perfect.
Massimo serves pasta to LORENZO and DANIELA...
MASSIMO:
Trenette al pesto. Mangiate.
...and GRANDMA?!
GRANDMA:
Grazie.
DANIELA:
Mom?! What are you doing here?
GRANDMA:
I come to town most weekends.
Across the yard, Daniela watches Luca and Alberto and Giulia
LAUGHING and GOOFING OFF on their VESPA.
DANIELA:
(quiet, reverent)
What he did today was amazing.
But...
We can’t let him stay in this
world.
(beat)
Can we?
GRANDMA:
(seeming to agree)
Some people will never accept him.
(here’s the turn)
But some will.
And he seems to know how to find
the good ones.
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GIULIA:
So where will you go first?
ALBERTO:
Oh, we’re gonna stick around here
for a bit.
(patting the Vespa)
We gotta fix this thing up before
we take it across the entire earth.
GIULIA:
the boys spending their
lives on this thing)
Okay. Just don’t forget to... pack.
(realizing)
SANTO GORGONZOLA--I need to pack!
For school!
LUCA:
(realizing)
--Oh yeah.
(wistfully)
School.
(trying to be upbeat)
You’re gonna learn so much...
Giulia sees in his face how much he wishes it was him,
learning all those things at school.
GIULIA:
I can leave you some books...?
LUCA:
(SUPER EXCITED)
YOU CAN?!
Come on, Alberto--
Giulia and Luca RUN into the house. Alberto smiles, watching
them.
He is deep in thought. He is realizing something pretty
important, about his friend. And about himself.
He looks down at the Vespa and knows what he has to do.
EXT. TRAIN STATION - EARLY MORNING
On the TRAIN STATION PLATFORM, Massimo says GOODBYE to
Giulia, all packed up.
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MASSIMO:
...And you have your lunch for the
train?
GIULIA:
Si.
MASSIMO:
Sweater if it gets cold?--
GIULIA:
For the MILLIONTH time, si.
I love you too, Papà.
She HUGS him--
And turns to the boys:
GIULIA:
Santa Mozzarella. We did it!
ALBERTO:
Well, Giulia--can’t wait to race
next summer.
GIULIA:
Or we could just have fun.
She swoops the boys up in a BIG HUG. They both SMILE.
LUCA:
Ciao, Giulia.
GIULIA:
Ciao, ragazzi! A presto--
Giulia and Alberto exchange a WINK. Luca doesn’t see it.
She heads into the train. Luca, tearful, trying to hide it,
watches her disappear into it.
LUCA:
Well--let’s go fix up our Vespa--
But Alberto is holding a little slip of paper.
ALBERTO:
Yeah, about that. Uhh, crazy thing.
I...might have sold it.
Alberto hands it to him--it’s a TICKET TO GENOVA.
Luca studies it.
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Then turns to see his PARENTS AND GRANDMA arriving on the
platform with a packed bag.
LUCA:
(confused)
Mom? What are you all doing here?--
DANIELA:
IF.
You promise to write to us EVERY
SINGLE DAY, and be as SAFE as
possible, and I mean SAFER than
safe...
(deep breath)
You can go to school.
He can barely wrap his mind around this.
LUCA:
I CAN?!
LORENZO:
It’s all arranged, actually. You’d
stay with Giulia and her mom.
GRANDMA:
Your friend talked them into it. It
wasn't easy.
Alberto smiles and shrugs, like, “Yeah, I guess I did.”
DANIELA:
Luca? Do you promise?
LUCA:
YES! YES I PROMISE!
THANK YOU--
Fighting emotion, Daniela reaches forward to fix Luca’s hair,
but stops herself.
DANIELA:
(tearful)
Just remember. We are ALWAYS here
for you. Okay?
LUCA:
Hey.
Look me in the eye.
You know I love you. Right?
DANIELA:
I know.
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She gives her son a kiss... and lets him go.
LUCA:
(excited)
--Come on Alberto! The train’s
gonna leave!
Luca, headed to the door of the train, realizes Alberto is
standing back a little. And there’s a funny look on his face.
Luca begins to put it together.
LUCA:
Where’s your stuff?
ALBERTO:
Yeah, well. You see...
LUCA:
You are coming, right?
Alberto considers it.
ALBERTO:
I would.
But.
Massimo asked if I wanted to stick
around, move in maybe... and I just
thought, ah...
You know?
Luca begins to falter.
LUCA:
I can’t do it without you.
ALBERTO:
Alberto hands him a scrap of paper that’s been taped back
together. His old DRAWING of the two of them on the Vespa.
The greatest drawing Luca has ever seen.
ALBERTO:
The next time that you jump off a
cliff, or tell Bruno to quit
bothering you... that’s me.
But it’s not quite enough for Luca.
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LUCA:
But how am I gonna know you’re
okay?
Alberto’s face crumples a little.
He wraps his friend in the hug to end all hugs.
ALBERTO:
You got me off the island, Luca.
I’m okay.
And as the train readies to leave,
Luca stands on the steps of the train, and does one last
handshake with Alberto.
ALBERTO:
Piacere, Girolamo--
Trombetta.
LUCA:
Seriously, what does that mean?
ALBERTO:
No idea.
Go find out for me, will ya?
The boys RELEASE THEIR GRIP, as the train begins to move--
Carrying Luca away from Alberto, who has to run now, to keep
pace.
He reaches the edge of the platform.
He jumps off into the rain.
He TRANSFORMS--
ALBERTO:
Go Luca!
GOOOO!
Luca watches Alberto CHEER HIM OFF TO GENOVA.
Then loses sight of him for good, as the train enters a
TUNNEL.
For a few beats, Luca is in the darkness, alone.
He comes out of the tunnel. He looks at the island.
He watches PORTOROSSO DISAPPEAR around the corner.
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Submitted on March 21, 2022
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"Luca" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/luca_26057>.
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