Luca 2: The Complete Script

Scene 4 - The Traveling Market

General Theme:

Portorosso

(In the Portorosso piazza. A woman is buying a piece from a pottery stand. The local grocer stacks apples in a food cart, only to have a group of kids accidentally kick their soccer ball into the apples, which knocks them over; he yells something in Italian at them as they sheepishly make a run for it. An older man admires a set of tools at a tool stand. A man is looking over a selection of books at a bookstand nearby. A woman is knitting at a crochet stand. Lastly, the kids come in from near where the Marcovaldo house is.)

Luca: (In complete awe) You were right... It's HUGE... How are we supposed to know what to do first?

Giulia: (Enthusiastic but not in as much awe; she's been here in years before, directing his gaze) There's a pottery stand, and a place with all kinds of baked stuff-

Luca: (Grabbing her wrist with one hand and pointing with the other out of pure excitement) What's that one?

Giulia: That's a tool stand-

Luca: (Accidentally interrupting her) And what about that- Oh, sorry...

Giulia: (Little laugh) That's a food cart, Luca.

Alberto: (Interest piqued) Food? (Suddenly dramatically holding his stomach) I'm so hungry... We haven't eaten in forever. Can we stop there?

Giulia: (Soft little teasing punch into his arm) Alright, you dramatic fish, first, we just ate. And second, we can't use all the money my dad gave us for the market on food.

Luca: I agree...! (Genuinely sheepish) ...Sorry, Alberto.

Alberto: (Fake eye roll) So both of you are gonna vote me out? Fine, we can look around first before we decide what we're gonna buy.

Giulia: Don't worry. We've got plenty of time before my dad gets back. Besides, he practically left me in charge of the house.

Alberto: Pff, since when?

Giulia: And who's holding onto the money? (Waving it in his face but teasingly)

Alberto: (Teasingly trying to snatch them from her) Come on, cut it out! You're trying to steal my job.

Luca: Not again... We just talked about-

Alberto: How many times do we have to tell you that we're not arguing?

Luca: Oh... right... I keep forget- (Breaking off as he catches sight of the book shop, eyes shining) Woah...

(The book shop in question is stacked full of books—old books, new books, big books, small books, etc.)

Alberto: (Looking to where he's looking, growing interested) That's... a lot of books... and a lot of human stuff...

(Luca and Alberto start to drift off from their intended path out of pure curiosity and amazement.)

Giulia: Wh- Guys, where are you going? Hey, wait up!- (Noticing a shop right next to where they were walking)

(Unlike the other shops with simple canopies covering only the top of the structure, this shop has a full tent hanging over it that covers the entirety besides curtains that mark the entrance.)

Giulia: Actually... nevermind... I'll catch up in a minute.

(She gets a bit closer to the shop, and we get a brief glimpse of the shop's sign, which reads "Emporium" in Italian. Once inside the shop, a chair swivels around, revealing an old figure wearing an all-black cloak and hood. When they speak, their voice reveals that they are a woman.)

??: (Voice is pleasant enough) Hello. What brings you inside...? Perhaps you are seeking an ailment, a fortune telling, a potion...? (Looking up at her) Love potions are especially popular this time of year.

Giulia: No, no, no, and definitely no. I just came in here because my friends went ahead of me, and this place looked kinda cool and... (Shrug)

??: Ah, yes... that is... what draws most people here. You should take a look around—the inside is just as interesting as the outside.

(At this notion, Giulia starts looking around the shop. There are other small tables lining the curtained walls and mysterious objects hanging down from the ceiling.)

Giulia: This is... a lot of stuff... (Holding up a bottle that almost looks like it's full of stardust) What's... this?

??: A bottle of dreams. Not complicated.

Giulia: That... might be something worth using my dad's money for... (Shaking her head a bit) I'll take Luca and Alberto back here later.

??: Your... dad...

(The music drops.)

Giulia: (Looking over, confused) Is... something wrong?

??: (Listing this all off) Giulia Marcovaldo. Birthday, March 18. Father lives here in Portorosso, mother lives in Genova. Fascinated by space; I see you using Bernardi's telescope sometimes. You hang out with those two sea monsters.

Giulia: (Even more confused but genuinely creeped out, getting defensive) Sorry, do I... know you?

??: You wouldn't. But your father... he would. (Posture changing)

(A creepy silence comes over the shop, spare for the voice of the stranger.)

??: I used to own a pescheria, too. It did well for a small town like this. But one day... your father opened one. And because he was so young, so full of... hopes and wishes for the future... he drove me out of business. Never acknowledged me, never said a single "Sorry," just ran me out.

Giulia: I-I-... didn't know... I'm sorry, I just... he never told me, and...

??: He wouldn't... would he? Wouldn't want to upset his reputation. But... what would ruin it could be if something happened to someone close to him...

(At this point, Giulia has already started backing up to the entrance to the shop, sensing something off.)

??: Someone like his daughter. (Flicking a hand)

(The curtains snap shut right in front of her and a weird bright blue energy forms around her, causing her to double over and almost look nauseous. It goes on for a beat before it subsides and she stands up shakily.)

Giulia: Wh-... What... What was that...? (Looking at ??)

??: If you're not careful, you'll find out.

Giulia: (Recovering quickly and almost mad, glaring) Look, I don't know what I did to you, but whatever that was, it... I don't know, okay? But I can't just stick around here waiting for something else to happen. (Pushing open the curtain)

??: You don't realize what really happened, do you?

Giulia: A bunch of flashy lights and the curtains "magically" closed. You're trying to scare me just because I'm a kid.

??: And because you're a kid, you're naive. Don't keep doubting that the "impossible" exists. (Leaning forward) Your father isn't the only one keeping secrets from you. You don't understand the half of what's really in your family, do you?

Giulia: (Straight-up offended but out of words, going right out of the shop)