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"A Wondrous World"

Original Motion Picture Screenplay

Written by David Sanz & JoAnn Evans

STANDARD SCRIPT FORMAT

INT. - Interior Shot

EXT - Exterior Shot

V.O. - Voice Over

SUPER - Superimposed

TRANS - Translation

SAME - Same Time

PRESENT - Present Time

A WONDROUS WORLD

The First 10 pages of the 107-page Original Motion Picture Screenplay

INT. THE EL JARDÍN HOTEL - NIGHTTIME 2024

The sound of falling rain is heard in the distance. There is a darkly lit room with a twin bed and a small nightstand next to it. A picture frame sits on the nightstand. An OLD MAN softly moans as he gently tosses and turns in the bed. Suddenly, he sits up and lets out an agonizing cry.

OLD MAN

Esperanza!!!

A young man, age twenty-four, wearing a JANITOR’s uniform, hears the cry and hurries to the old man’s room. He knocks anxiously on the door.

JANITOR

Senor! Senor!

There is no answer. once again, the old man is heard crying out in agony.

OLD MAN (V.O.)

No! Oh God, please no!

The janitor pulls out his universal card key and unlocks the door. He enters the room and sees the old man weeping. He rushes to the old man's side and immediately tries to comfort him.

JANITOR

It was just a dream, Señor. That's all it was. Just a dream.

OLD MAN

No, it was real; It was real! I was there. It was me in another time, in another place. It was not a dream; it was real. I was there; I was there.

The sound of rain continues to be heard as it falls from the dark somber sky.

FADE OUT

INT. THS CAPITAL THEATRE – SAME

Across the street from the El Jardin Hotel is the newly renovated Capital Theatre, a beautiful bi-level auditorium located in the heart of downtown Brownsville, Texas. An OLD WOMAN sits in the crowded theatre. Next to her, there is an empty seat.

INT. THEATRE LOBBY

In the lobby, a young DOORMAN, age eighteen, welcomes a late arrivel.

DOORMAN

Good evening mayor.

MAYOR

It looks like it’s gonna be an extraordinary night, Manny. I just hope I’m not too late.

DOORMAN

Late? No sir, they’re just about to start the first act, sir.

The mayor takes off his raincoat and hands it to the doorman.

MAYOR

Maybe after tonight, she'll finally agree that “Romeo and Juliet” is the greatest love story of all time.

DOORMAN

Yes, sir. She said she’d be waiting for you in the skybox, sir.

The mayor smiles and makes his way up the stairs to the skybox. The old woman smiles and waves when she sees him. The mayor waves nack and begins making his way to the empty seat.

On stage, a well-seasoned ACTOR recites the prologue from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” as the sound of falling rain echoes in the distance.

ACTOR

Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene.

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life, whose misadventured, piteous overthrows do with their death bury their parents’ strife.

The which of you with patient ears attend, what here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

EXT. SOUTHERN COAST OF SPAIN – CENTURIES EARLIER

From the darkness, a magnificent sunrise begins to appear over the southern coast of Andalucía, Spain. The small town of Palos can be seen in the distance. An aerial view of the rugged terrain displays several small farms.

SUPER: “Palos de la Frontera, Spain - Spring 1492"

As the morning light brightens, one large, well-kept farm comes into view. Various farm animals are seen beginning their morning rituals. In the distance, a proud rooster struts past a busy henhouse. Images of the bare feet of SANTIAGO, age sixteen, and his younger brother MANUELITO, age twelve, running along a dirt path are seen. The two boys stop at an old, wooden fence. Just a few feet away, the same proud rooster flies onto the fence and flaps its wings as it lets out a crow. In an attempt to scare the rooster away, Santiago shouts out in a strong, but quiet whisper.

SANTIAGO

¡Vamos! [trans: Go!]

Spooked, the rooster flaps its wings and scurries away. The two boys jump over the fence and creep toward the nearby henhouse. A small wooden cross neckless hangs loosely from around the younger boy's neck. The boys lie on the ground and drag themselves underneath the coop. Santiago looks through a small crack in the floor and positions himself directly under the hens' nesting area.

From underneath the henhouse, he begins to loosen the wooden floorboard that is located next to the nests. He quietly lifts the floorboard from its place and slides it to one side. Inside the henhouse, the hens are only slightly stirred.

Santiago slowly sticks his hand through the opening and begins to feel around for eggs. He finds one and carefully lifts it from its nest. He slips it out through the opening and hands it to Manuelito. The two boys listen quietly for a few seconds and then Santiago carefully reaches in for more eggs. Suddenly, we see two pairs of shoes walking hastily as COOK ANTONIO, an extremely overweight kitchen worker, and his slim first assistant make their way to the henhouse.

COOK ANTONIO

I know I heard someone.

Santiago quickly grabs another egg and calmly returns the floorboard to its place. Quietly, the boys drag themselves away from the two men, but as they near the opposite end of the coop, another pair of shoes appears directly in front of them. The boys stop immediately and stare at the feet of JUAN, the cook’s second assistant.

JUAN

I do not see no one!

Santiago and Manuelito wait until Juan makes his way to his associates. Then, they quietly scramble out from underneath the henhouse and secretly make their way to the wooden fence. The boys jump over the fence and race off down the dirt path. MIGUEL, the cook’s first assistant, sees the boys running off into the field and shouts to his fellow workers.

MIGUEL

There! There they go!

JUAN

Get them!

COOK ANTONIO

No! Those rabbits are far too fast for us. Besides, one must not push what must clearly be pulled, with the appropriate lure, of course, the appropriate lure.

Cook Antonio nods his head and smiles as he watches the boys run off into a large field and disappear into a wooded area. Slowly, his smile turns into a wicked grimace.

COOK ANTONIO (CONT’D)

Bring me some rope.

EXT. ESPERANZA’S FARMHOUSE – SEVERAL MINUTES LATER

The boys continue to run until finally stopping to rest behind a tree. Off in the distance, they can see a girl, ESPERANZA, age fifteen, retrieving water from a well.

MANUELITO

Look Santiago, there she is, your undiscovered dream. She is always there, waiting as if some strange, unforeseeable force draws her to you, time and time again.

MANUELITO

Always there? Manuelito. there is where she lives. Where else do you expect her to be? Besides, she would never be drawn to me. In her eyes, I would be nothing more than a poor, simple peasant.

MANUELITO

Perhaps, my brother, but you are a very handsome, poor, simple peasant.

SANTIAGO

Handsome? One who steals eggs?

MANUELITO

Like you always say, my brother, “We all must do what we must do.” But things will get better. I know they will; trust me.

Santiago reaches for some soft dirt and lets it slip slowly through his fingers.

SANTIAGO

If I only had a handful of your faith, little brother.

MANUELITO

Santiago, Mama always said it is our faith that makes our dreams come true, but it is our task to believe.

SANTIAGO

Perhaps, but it is not easy to believe when there is so little to believe in and the hunger grows deeper with each passing day.

MANUELITO

Well then, you poor, hungry peasant, what are you waiting for? We have the eggs. The last one home does the cooking!

Manuelito hurries home. Santiago takes another secret peak at Esperanza. Then, he, too, hurries home.

INT. ESPERANZA’S FARMHOUSE – SAME

ESPERANZA is seen entering the farmhouse carrying a bucket of water. Her father, SEÑOR GONZÁLEZ, is sitting behind a small desk holding a piece of paper.

ESPERANZA

I am back, Papa.

She places the bucket on the kitchen table and walks over to her father. She wraps her arms around his neck and gently leans her head against his.

ESPERANZA (CONT’D)

What is the matter, Papa?

SEÑOR GONZÁLEZ

Our wonderful neighbor has filed another complaint against me.

ESPERANZA

But he knows it was an accident.

SEÑOR GONZÁLEZ

Yes, and he also knows that I will never allow our land to be used as any kind of settlement in this or any other concocted scheme.

ESPERANZA

But I fear for your safety, Papa.

SEÑOR GONZÁLEZ

Esperanza, I have done everything I can to help, but I will not be intimidated by any man’s threats.

ESPERANZA

Please, Father, do not place the land before your well-being.

SEÑOR GONZÁLEZ

I am sorry my dear, do not worry on my account. Everything will be fine. Remember, God is with us; He is always with us.

ESPERANZA

Yes, Father.

A knock at the front door of the farmhouse is heard.

Esperanza makes her way to the door. She opens the door and is surprised to see two familiar faces, FEDERICO and BENJAMÍN. The young men are dressed in guards’ uniforms.

ESPERANZA

Federico. Benjamín. What are you doing here?

FEDERICO

I am very sorry Esperanza, but the judge has ordered that your father be arrested immediately. He is to be taken to the prison until his case can be heard.

ESPERANZA

But Federico, my father is innocent.

FEDERICO

I am very sorry, cousin, but the judge is the only one who can determine that, now.

From the rear of the room, Señor Gonzàlez’s voice is heard.

SEÑOR GONZÁLEZ (V.O.)

Esperanza, where are your manners? Please ask our visitors to come in. I have been expecting them.

Esperanza opens the door, and the guards enter.

SEÑOR GONZÁLEZ (CONT’D)

Would you gentlemen like something to eat or drink before we depart?

Benjamín looks at Federico hoping to hear a “yes”.

FEDERICO

No uncle, muchas gracias, we have strict orders to escort you to the prison as soon as possible.

SEÑOR GONZÁLEZ

Very well then, let us not delay.

Señor González turns to Esperanza.

SEÑOR GONZÁLEZ

Please do not worry, my dear. We will have this matter cleared up in no time. Remember, even when we think we are alone, He is with us. He is always with us.

ESPERANZA

Yes, Father. Of course, you are right; there is no need for worry. Everything will be cleared up in no time. Be safe, Papa. Please, be safe.

Esperanza gives her father a strong embrace and the guards gently escort him out the door. She stands in the doorway and stares momentarily as the men walk along an old dirt path, then closes the door behind her and begins to weep.

END OF THE FIRST 10 of 107 PAGES