ScreenPlays
The Accidental Traveler
EXT. BAY OF NAPLES HARBOR - DAY
Francesco, a scrappy 12-year-old street kid, waits nervously as a man knocks on the top of a sewer lid. When the lid slides open, Francesco sees a canvas bag tossed out from a battleship and caught by the man next to him. Without warning, the man shoves the bag into Francesco's hands and yells, "Run!"
Francesco doesn't need to be told twice. He tucks the bag under his shirt and takes off running, following the shoreline and turning to cross the street when he hears a high-pitched whistle. He knows the cops are after him, but he's used to it. This is his city, and he knows every nook and cranny, every shortcut and dead end.
As he runs, Francesco feels a mix of fear and exhilaration. He's used to living on the edge, always one step ahead of the law. But there's something different about today's chase. He can feel it in his bones: this bag is important, and he needs to get it to its destination no matter what.
Francesco ducks and weaves through the rubble of bombed-out buildings, cutting through alleys and seemingly dead-end streets. The people who live in these collapsed buildings come out to cheer him on, but Francesco barely registers their support. He's focused on one thing: getting to the drop-off point.
When Francesco reaches an open area, he sees other street kids dressed in ill-fitting clothes and sporting some sort of Allied military clothing. They greet him by name, and Francesco nods back, but he doesn't slow down. He knows the cops are still on his tail.
Just when Francesco thinks he's lost them, he hears the whistle again, closer this time. He sprints toward the bomb shelters, heart racing. But when he checks the bag, he realizes it's empty. He feels a pang of disappointment and frustration. How could he have lost the package?
That's when a beggar grabs his leg and won't let go. Francesco tries to shake him off, but the beggar's grip is surprisingly strong. Francesco is about to kick him when the beggar speaks in a rough, hoarse voice.
THE BEGGAR
Your destiny is near, the island is waiting for you. The people that were once lost will be returned and the Olympian God's reign will end.
Francesco has no idea what the beggar is talking about, but he listens anyway. The beggar holds out a fisted hand, opens it, and a monarch butterfly flies out. The beggar tells him to follow the butterflies, and Francesco takes off running again, still unsure what to make of the beggar's prophecy.
As he runs, Francesco thinks about what the beggar said. Was it just the ramblings of a crazy person, or was there something more to it? He feels a stirring in his gut, a sense that he's destined for something greater than just running errands for shady men in alleyways.
Francesco doesn't know where the butterflies are leading him, but he's determined to find out. For the first time in a long time, he feels a glimmer of hope. Maybe his life isn't just about surviving day to day. Maybe there's a purpose to it all.
RE=Generation
FADE TO BLACK.
