In an alternative history, a Mongolian widow, loyal subject of the modern day Venetian Empire, arrives in Venice to build a new life with her young son.

SYNOPSIS:

Act One

An Animated Map quickly shows the alternative history of the last 800 years: The Venetian Empire conquers almost the entire Globe.

The SS Marco Polo, laden with Asian Immigrants sails into Venice, LOLA (20s), widowed by the last war fought for the Empire, on one knee before the city. Her son GIUSEPPE (5) is with her – both excited. Lola discovers they won’t live in Venice, but in Dragon Town – a mainland ghetto for immigrants. She carries her backpack and Giuseppe to her top floor apartment.

Next morning, Lola’s approach to Giuseppe’s education reveals the Theme. She meets Venetians ANGELO and VINCENZO (both 20s) from downstairs – ex Army motorcycle racers, fixing a ‘bike in the communal yard; LENA (20s), too, who hangs around the two men. Angelo takes a shine to Lola. Vincenzo’s disdain is clear. He can’t see why Angelo doesn’t prefer Lena. He also has his old Army pistol in the kitchen drawer.

Lola visits Carlotta’s Café for breakfast with Giuseppe. They meet SIGNORA CARLOTTA (50s) and MARCELLO (60s), her delivery driver; a courteous love affair happening. On the wall, a poster for a Motorcycle Race in a few days. Lola’s hopes for Venetian inclusion sensitively discouraged, she begins to see where life is going.

Angelo fishes in the lagoon, using Vincenzo’s ID. Angelo produces a broken-down pickup truck for them to fix, makes fish pasta in their messy kitchen. Vincenzo’s PTSD and drinking is revealed.

Next day, Angelo finds Lola and Giuseppe in Carlotta’s. Lola makes fun of him, ends up berating his lack of knowledge of what the Imperial War did to its subjects. Giuseppe’s resilience shows through. That evening, Lola makes Giuseppe pray – just to Pappa.

Next day, Vincenzo injures his hand fixing his ‘bike. Lola makes him come to her apartment for treatment. He’s confronted in the kitchen by Lola’s UNCLE DINO (40s) – instant mutual dislike. Lola fixes up Vincenzo’s hand, sends him away. Dino warns her about ‘these guys’.

Angelo brings free fish to Carlotta’s, takes the rest to Lola. She accepts. They make fun of Vincenzo out of the window. Lola guts the fish as Angelo asks her out for a ‘bike ride. She declines – they to and fro.

Later in Carlotta’s, Lola opens up. Tells Signora Carlotta and Marcello her plan – to open her Dream Café (her first daydream breaks in, to explain the plan) in Venice. They laugh at her – you need either ‘blood or money’ to get to Venice. She has neither but will not back down. They promise to be partners one day. Lola spring cleans her apartment, hides something in a coffee tin but puts out a photo of herself in uniform, medals on show. Then tells Giuseppe to keep it secret.

Act Two

Lola goes on the ride with Angelo. Another daydream: herself and Angelo dance, fight enemies together. Daydream over, they stop off, meet the teenage DRAGON TOWN SCOOTER KIDS. A confrontation – Angelo outnumbered, Lola forces him to leave.

Lola reports to Venice to get her Visa stamped. Somehow, she’s missed a week. COLONELLO ROSSO steps in, insists she works at the Imperial Palace - in Venice. He’s on vacation the next day and they must hurry. Lola, overjoyed, asks Signora Carlotta to babysit. First night at the Palace, The Victory Festival Ball, Lola, hands and knees, cleans floors. Rosso assaults her. Later that night, she confides to Signora Carlotta as Giuseppe sleeps. Vincenzo, drunk in the alley, overhears – or thinks he does.

Next day, Lola, still distraught, discovers Giuseppe smuggled his pet gerbil JIRDIE. She’s annoyed, but it’s here now, and Giuseppe loves him. Angelo telephones. He, Lola and Giuseppe sit in the yard. Angelo gets Giuseppe a game of football with the bigger kids. That evening, Lola leaves Giuseppe to go to work. She’s handed a leaflet by GUAIO, the Dragon Town revolutionary. She's not interested, but takes it.

Next day, Signora Carlotta sends Marcello to Lola's with a box of Carlotta's groceries as a gift. That night, Giuseppe is disturbed by a Mongolian teenager, who hides down in the yard. An armed Venetian Cop finds him, beats him. Giuseppe tells Lola, she yells down. The Cop takes the kid away. Vincenzo observes the same thing; doesn't intervene.

Next day, Lola overhears Signora Carlotta scold Angelo for listening to Vincenzo's opinion over his interest in her, to sort himself out, and fix her van. Seeing Lola leave, he realises she heard. Angelo sees Giuseppe left behind by the bigger kids, as he has no bicycle to join them on. Angelo turns up at Lola's front door with a skateboard. Lola, doubly annoyed with Angelo, gives in to Giuseppe. Dino, at Lola's for coffee, finds Guaio's leaflet, warns her off, which is fine by her.

At Carlotta's, Marcello is too unwell to work. Lola offers her services.

Vincenzo still derides Angelo. Angelo still can't make the right decision: stand up to him and commit to Lola. Vincenzo is more interested in winning The Race.

Next day Lola starts her deliveries at Carlotta's. Vincenzo arrives, argues with Signora Carlotta over employing outsiders. He insults her. She calls Angelo. Angelo and Vincenzo have a fistfight, but even here, their bond shows. Signora Carlotta stops the fight. Lola sees the damage, runs. Vincenzo tells Angelo to go after her. Lena the hanger on shows up - Signora Carlotta dismisses her. Angelo chases Lola into Venice, finds her. She explains what the War meant to her - she's tired of fighting, wants peace for Giuseppe. They kiss. Later, Lola follows Angelo to Carlotta's waterside yard. He finds Lola has already repaired the delivery van. She surprises him. They make love.

In the morning, in Lola's apartment, Angelo is up first, sees her medals. He's amazed - she's a real war hero. Later, Angelo and Vincenzo practice racing manoeuvres on mountain roads. Angelo, distracted, crashes. At the same time, a colleague of Rosso's receives a call - he didn't show up for vacation. His reputation gives little urgency to the report.

Dino tells Giuseppe an old Venetian Fairy Tale. Neither yet understand its meaning.

Guaio tries to interest Lola again. She still declines.

Lola hears that Angelo crashed. At the hospital, she sees Lena got there first. It looks like she and Angelo are kissing on the hospital bed. Lola, humiliated, flees. Lena leaves. Vincenzo arrives, cares for Angelo. They bemoan his injury, the crashed 'bike and wonder how to win The Race. Vincenzo collects the smashed 'bike with the repaired pickup truck. The Scooter Kids concealed adoration comes out.

Lola sees Angelo and Vincenzo play fight, when Angelo's wrist is supposed to be broken. It doesn't add up. In private, Angelo injects his hand and wrist with Cortisone.

Lola, Giuseppe, Signora Carlotta and Marcello visit a Café in Venice which they hope to own. An incident in the crowd sees a Mongolian Man shot dead by Police (the same Officer who beat the kid at night in Lola's yard). Giuseppe realises what the Fairy Tale means. The death results in a street protest from Guaio's group. A riot ensues. Guaio is beaten, arrested. Lola goes to intervene - Vincenzo, his own injury healed, warns her to think of Giuseppe.

Giuseppe's gerbil, Jirdie, dies. He and Lola take the bus out of town to bury him. Rosso's body is found in a canal. Again, his reputation affords little concern, but the Police do look for Lola. Drunken Vincenzo taunts her over what he thinks he heard from the alley that night - Lola recollects Rosso's attempted assault actually resulted in her shooting him with his own pistol. She decides to confront the Police but Giuseppe takes ill. She leaves him at Carlotta's, goes to Venice to state her case. Post riot, the Police, immigrant sensitive, buy it - she's off the hook.

In the morning, Giuseppe is well again. Even better, prayers to Pappa answered, Jirdie reappears - lots of them. A Palace letter arrives, forcing Lola to attend Rosso's funeral. Dino takes Giuseppe for the day. Lola discovers the bribe for the Dream Café increased 200%. At the funeral, she's inspired to move her life forward for real.

Act Three

She pawns the solid gold figurine which accompanies her highest military award - the Leone D'Oro. Tells Signora Carlotta to use the money, bet on The Race. Arguing, Signora Carlotta corrects Lola’s opinion of Angelo and Lena. The Scooter Kids are put to work placing bets across Dragon Town.

At the Race Track, Lena makes mischief between Angelo and Vincenzo. Angelo is more concerned with his 'bike. To everyone’s surprise, his wrist has ‘healed’. Race starts. Vincenzo, against the plan, rides to win. Angelo and he battle. Lola arrives to see Angelo the victor. Vincenzo is furious. The Crowd cheer Angelo. Vincenzo pulls his pistol. They fight - Lola, too. She gets the pistol, ready to shoot Vincenzo. Angelo stops her. They leave Lena, Vincenzo and the rinsed out Bookies, go to Carlotta's with Marcello and the Scooter Kids, join Giuseppe and Signora Carlotta.

In their own Victory Party, Lola stops to see Angelo, on one knee before her. Lola has conquered Venice.

The End