Luca 2: The Complete Script

Scene 20 - Underwater

General Theme:

Vespa e Libertà

(Back at the beach behind the Marcovaldo house. The clouds have cleared up to sunshine. Luca and Alberto both run and dive right into the water. Giulia comes up to it, but hesitates by the edge of the water. She looks down at her reflection, only for it to stay human this time, before looking out at the sea.)

Giulia: (Little breath) Silenzio Bruno.

(She slides beneath the surface and into the deeper water, allowing for the transformation to happen, which we see happen a bit more slowly. As it happens, she lets out a genuine small "Woah" of awe.)

(She briefly pops her head up above the surface to see Mr. Marcovaldo standing on the stone sidewalk near the beach. He gives her a nod of encouragement and a loving smile, which makes her smile in return and go back under.)

Alberto: (Swimming around her a couple times) So, how's it feel?

Giulia: (Looking at her hands and feet) Scaly... and still kinda weird... But I think... it's better...

Luca: You ready to swim out to the town? (Pointing to the distance)

Giulia: (Shrug) Sure.

(She gets into an underwater human swimming position, only for Luca to get in front of her and Alberto to pull her tail from behind so she can't move.)

Alberto: What do you think you're doing??

Giulia: (Slightly confused) Swimming...?

Alberto: ...You are going to embarrass every single sea monster that has ever lived if you swim like that.

Luca: (Trying to soften his words) N-no, it's not like that... But if you swim like that, your fins can't work and your tail gets in the way.

Alberto: (Folding his arms, mumbling) ...Is a way of putting it nicely.

Luca: Try... (Fixing her position for her) this. Don't bend your knees at all, and keep your arms by your side.

Giulia: Then how do I move-?

Luca: Your fins and tail will do most of the work for you.

Giulia: (Nervous) But I can't move my-

Luca: (Demonstrating the movements with a finger) Just start by moving yourself back and forth, and... once you do that, your tail will start moving too. Trust me. (Moving back for her to go)

(Giulia pauses for a second and looks at the boys a bit nervously. Luca gives her an encouraging smile, then nudges for Alberto to do the same, which he attempts to do.)

(She starts to swim forward a bit slowly and hesitantly at first, only to pick up speed once she realizes that she's moving.)

(Once she's moving, Alberto and Luca come to swim up beside her, both of them extremely excited.)

Luca: You're doing it!! You're swimming!!

Giulia: (Amazed) I'm... I'm swimming... I'm being a sea monster-!!

(Right after saying that, she nearly collides with the rock she ran into from a previous scene and darts to one side, missing it this time.)

Alberto: Not bad. (Impressed)

(After a beat, he looks down and to their right.)

Alberto: (Casually) Oh, hey, look, it's the haunted fish graveyard.

Giulia: What fish what??? (Darting closer to Luca)

Luca: (Slight glare at Alberto)

Alberto: What? It's not actually haunted. The fish just think it is.

Giulia: ...You sure-...?

Alberto: Sure I'm sure. I'm an expert. Ghosts aren't real.

(Right after he says that, we see that Luca has snuck up behind him and gives him a light push from behind, which very much startles him.)

Alberto: (Yelp) GHOST-

Giulia: (Smirk) "Ghosts aren't real."

(Luca lights up and swims down, disappearing from the frame, and after a second, Alberto follows. We see that what they were so excited about is the underwater town. Giulia stays swimming and hesitates, unsure about how to follow, and darts down, ineffectively tumbling onto the seabed.)

(Sitting up on the seabed, she looks up to see just how far away the surface is and gulps, and starts feeling for an oxygen tank or other way to breathe, trying to not panic again.)

Luca: (Noticing her worry and going over to her, gently coming to put a hand on her shoulder) Hey, it's okay. You're breathing.

Giulia: (Little breath of relief) Yeah... Sorry. (Giving him a little smile)

Luca: (Softly shouldering her) Don't apologize! You're still getting used to it. You're gonna be fine.

(He swims off and after a second, Giulia gets up to follow.)

(They catch up to Alberto, who has been waiting a little ways ahead for them.)

Alberto: Finally. (Nudging Giulia with his tail) Look.

(The invisible camera pans around to show part of the town. It's a very different feeling from Portorosso, as sea monster farmers calmly tend to their crops and go about their chores. Giulia looks absolutely awed.)

Giulia: (Slowly) Santa mozzarella... This... this is amazing...

Alberto: (Elbowing her softly) Last time you came here, you needed all that human stuff, but now... you're part of this!

Luca: You're probably one of the luckiest humans in the world-!!

Giulia: No kidding... (Still amazed)

Luca: (Perking up) C'mon, we've gotta go to my parents' house! (Darting off)

(Alberto and Giulia follow after him, passing by several other houses or fields. Many sea monsters at work or sitting around look at Giulia with various expressions of confusion, surprise, or awe, and she either shrugs or looks a bit sheepish.)

(At one point, she stops to greet someone friendly, and while doing so, her tail comes up almost parallel behind her and the sea monster she's talking to looks shocked.)

(Alberto and Luca notice she's not with them and look over, both seeming absolutely mortified. Alberto shoves her tail back down.)

Luca: S-sorry, Mrs. Gambero...!

(The boys hurry off with Giulia quickly picking up the pace.)

Giulia: (Both confused and annoyed) What was that about?

Alberto: (Soft inhale) You know how humans have their... rude gestures...? ......I'm not even going to tell you exactly what your tail just told her, but it was something like "Go die... stupid."

Giulia: (Eyes slowly widening) ...Oh. My bad.

Alberto: Just... maybe when we're with Luca's family, try to keep your tail from doing... that.

Luca: (Before Giulia can respond) Here it is!