Il Fiore Rosso (Screenplay)

Genre: Historical Drama / Political Thriller

Setting: Italy, 1942. The small village of Montebello, nestled in the Tuscan countryside. The nation is under the tight grip of Mussolini's (Il Duce, "the leader") fascist regime.

Scene: Opening Scene

Song Reference: Bella Ciao

INT. SMALL VILLAGE HOUSE - MORNING - 1942

Wide shot. A peaceful rural morning. The sun breaks over distant hills, illuminating fields of wheat and olive trees. Birds fly past, a dog barks somewhere in the distance. 

Inside a modest stone house, sunlight filters through the wooden shutters. On a rustic table sits a loaf of bread, a jug of milk, a small crucifix, and a copy of Il Popolo d'Italia (Italian newspaper- "The People of Italy") with Mussolini on the front page, arm raised in salute. A faint breeze carries the sound of bells chiming from the village church.

Camera Movement: Slow pan to the left revealing a small bedroom door. Light seeps from under it.

Music: Gentle instrumental strings with faint hints of melancholy. Accordion is barely audible.

Sound: Birds chirping. A distant rooster. The quiet crackle of the morning fire.

INT. YOUNG MAN'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Close-up. A pair of eyes open.

NARRATOR (V.O.) 

Montebello, 1942. A quiet village where time dares not move too fast. But even here, terror wears boots.

The young man sits up in bed. 

He is LUCA ROSSI, 22, bright-eyed, clean-shaven, with a boyishly handsome smile. A presence that lifts the air in any room. His hair is tousled, his room cluttered with sketches, old books, and a harmonica.

He washes his face from a ceramic bowl. Brushes back his hair. Pulls on a crisp white shirt and suspenders. Checks himself in a cracked mirror. He hums something- a cheerful tone.

LUCA (to mirror) 

Handsome enough for Il Duce, eh?

He grins. Walks out into the kitchen.

INT. KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER

His mother, MARIA (late 40s), is kneading dough. Father ENZO (50s), a weathered man, sits reading the newspaper, a frown etched deep. His sister CHIARA (15) is braiding her hair. Her eyes light up on seeing Luca.

MARIA 

You overslept. Again.

LUCA 

Time moves differently in dreams.

CHIARA 

I thought you'd miss the big day!

LUCA mock gasp 

Mussolini would weep if I did.

MARIA (sharply) 

Luca!

LUCA 

Sorry, sorry, Mama. Long live Il Duce and all that.

He winks at Chiara. Maria shoots him a worried look.

ENZO 

Keep your voice down.

LUCA shrugs 

I'm just saying what the whole village will chant later today. Besides, I'm excited. It's not every day Il Duce graces Montebello.

MARIA 

There's something wrong in the air. You should mind your tongue. People vanish for less.

LUCA 

Then let's fill the air with love. And bread.

CHIARA 

Papa thinks there'll be more soldiers today.

LUCA 

More the merrier.

He starts whistling cheerfully, swirling his spoon in his coffee. A bird perches on the windowsill. He tosses it a crumb. It flutters off.

MARIA 

That smile of yours... one day it will cost you.

LUCA (smiling) 

Then I'll spend it wisely.

He eats quickly, then rises.

LUCA 

Wish me luck in the crowd of sheep.

ENZO 

Just... don't be clever today.

LUCA 

Me? I'm a lamb.

He kisses his mother's forehead, tousles Chiara's hair, and heads out the door.

EXT. VILLAGE STREET - CONTINUOUS

Establishing shot. Narrow cobbled paths weave between stone buildings with tiled roofs. Children run past goats. Women hang laundry. Wooden carts pass by. 

Camera Movement: Tracking shot from behind Luca as he walks down the street with his usual bounce.

Music: Lively folk tune, light accordion with upbeat rhythm. People talk in hushed tones.

Children chase each other, a woman sells figs from a stall. A butcher sharpens his knife in a rhythmic motion.

VILLAGER 1 (OLD MAN)

Luca! You haven't aged a day.

LUCA

You either, Signor Pietro. Only your moustache looks more serious.

They laugh. Luca moves on.

VILLAGER 2 (WOMAN) 

You're dressed too well today!

LUCA 

All for the king's arrival, Signora Elena.

VILLAGER 3 (YOUNG MAN) 

He'll speak at noon. They say he's bringing more troops with him.

LUCA 

All the better. Montebello will finally have streetlights.

VILLAGER 4 (FARMER) 

They say he's setting up a local office here.

LUCA 

Wonderful. Another place to pay taxes.

EXT. SHADED CORNER OF VILLAGE - CONTINUOUS

LUCA passes a group of elders sitting beneath an old olive tree. They begin to sing BELLA CIAO, an old Italian partisan protest song, voices worn but firm.

LUCA (to singers, gently) 

Careful, Nonni. Songs like those are heavier than stones.

ELDERLY MAN 

Then let them sink us.

LUCA (smiling) 

Not today. Today we float.

SONG (BELLA CIAO) - in Italian:

Una mattina mi son alzato,

O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao

Una mattina mi son alzato,

E ho trovato l'invasor.

SUBTITLES:

One morning I awakened,

Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao

One morning I awakened,

And I found the invader.

CUT TO:

VILLAGE STREET- CONTINUOUS

Black-and-white posters of Mussolini plastered on walls visible, faded yet menacing.

LUCA strolls through the marketplace, patting goats, tossing a coin to a street violinist. A little boy runs up to him.

BOY 

Are you going to see him?

LUCA 

Of course. I wouldn't miss the show.

BOY 

Mama says he eats people.

LUCA 

Only bad ones. Like your uncle. Kidding, go on now!

He laughs. The boy runs off.

CUT TO:

SHADED CORNER

The song continues.

SONG (BELLA CIAO) - in Italian:

O partigiano porta mi via

O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao

O partigiano porta mi via

Che mi sento di morir

SUBTITLES:

Oh partisan, carry me away,

O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao

Oh partisan, carry me away,

For I feel I'm dying

CUT TO:

VILLAGE STREET

As LUCA walks further, the mood begins to shift. The crowd grows denser. Faces look around before speaking.

OLDER WOMAN (murmurs) 

Another family taken last night. The Brunos.

YOUNG MAN 

Gone. Just gone. No word.

LUCA 

Then let's remember them today. In how we speak. In how we stand.

He walks on. A man mutters "Maledetto il Duce" ("Damn the Duce") under his breath. Another slaps his arm, terrified.

OLDER WOMAN (hushed) 

Shhh! You want your wife to be next?

Luca smiles sadly and keeps walking.

EXT. VILLAGE CENTER - SHORTLY AFTER

A massive crowd has gathered in front of a stage. Black-shirted soldiers patrol, rifles slung. A large banner of Mussolini looms.

Music: The Bella Ciao melody is still audible from a distance, now layered with rising string tension.

Sound: A loudspeaker crackles.

ANNOUNCER (O.S.) 

People of Montebello! Stand for our leader, the father of new Italy!

Sound: Applause. Half-hearted. Mixed with silence.

Camera: Quick cuts between faces—anticipation, dread, anxiety.

LUCA (V.O.) 

They teach you to clap before you know why. To cheer before you feel it.

MUSSOLINI (O.S.) 

Brothers! Today, we stand at the edge of greatness! It is the destiny of our great race to rise above all others! In every village, every town, every field, the spirit of the Roman Empire breathes again!

Luca walks through the crowd, greeting people, touching shoulders, sharing small smiles and nods. A woman grabs his arm.

WOMAN (urgent whisper) 

Don't do anything.

LUCA 

Just watching history.

He pulls away gently. Reaches into his coat. Fingers touch cold steel. Close-up of a pistol, wrapped in cloth. His smile is now faint.

Camera Movement: Push-in shot as Luca moves forward. The crowd parts, involuntarily.

LUCA (V.O.) 

Every empire is just one voice away from shaking.

His eyes fix on the podium. The music intensifies; Bella Ciao melody now louder.

He steps closer to the stage. The voice of Mussolini grows louder.

MUSSOLINI (O.S.) 

...our enemies shall fall to their knees! The future belongs to the strong!

Luca pauses. He looks back—faces, young and old. Fear. Hope. Silence.

LUCA (V.O.) 

They say one voice can't shake a mountain. But I believe... if it sings loud enough, it can start an avalanche.

Music: Bella Ciao grows louder now. The next verse sung more boldly:

SONG (BELLA CIAO):

E se io muoio da partigiano,

O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao

E se io muoio da partigiano,

Tu mi devi seppellir.

SUBTITLES:

And if I die as a partisan,

Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao

And if I die as a partisan,

Then you must bury me.

Close-up on Luca's hand tightening around the gun. He steps forward. He locks eyes with Il Duce.

He raises the pistol.

LUCA (shouts) 

Morte al dittatore! 

SUBTITLES: 

Death to the Dictator!

SFX: GUNSHOTS.

He is hit before he can fire. Bullets tear into him from all sides. His body jerks and falls. The crowd screams. People run in all directions. Soldiers form a human wall around the stage.

Bird's-eye view. Luca lies in a pool of blood. His pistol beside him. Red blooms on his white shirt.

Music: Intensity decreases. Song sung less boldly and more slowly now.

SONG (BELLA CIAO):

E seppellire lassù in montagna,

O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao

E seppellire lassù in montagna,

Sotto l'ombra di un bel fior.

SUBTITLES:

And bury me up in the mountains

Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao

And bury me up in the mountains

Under the shade of a beautiful flower.

CUT TO:

SHADED CORNER

Close-ups of the old singers, still seated under the olive tree, tears flowing. Their voices steady.

CUT TO:

VILLAGE CENTER

Aerial shot of Luca's body, villagers slowly gathering around. His blood forms a red flag against the dust.

Music: Final verse being sung. Real pain in their voice, with lyrics sung very slowly and deeply.

SONG (BELLA CIAO):

Ed era rossa, 

la sua bandiera, 

la bandiera del lavor.

SUBTITLES: 

And it was red, 

His flag, 

The flag of labor.

FADE OUT as TITLE CARD appears on screen:

TITLE CARD: "IL FIORE ROSSO"

SUBTITLES: "THE RED FLOWER"