Romeo and Iulia

Story Synopsis

Bucharest. Present Day:

Steaua and Dinamo fans pour out of the National Stadium singing and chanting. The
riot police are primed for trouble – and they soon get it. The rival hooligan gangs spot
each other and engage in a vicious rolling brawl. In the melee Romeo (19) is knocked
to the ground by Fane (23), Steaua’s feared gang leader, and some of his cohorts.
Romeo is rescued from a severe beating by the arrival of his Dinamo gang led by his
closest friend, Hagi (20). The bitter enemies square up to each other issuing threats
and insults, but any further confrontation is stopped as the police charge firing tear
gas into the crowd. Romeo, Hagi and the Dinamo gang flee the scene.

Trying to avoid the riot police snatch squads Romeo and Hagi run through a maze of
blocks. In the distance Romeo spots a group of police. He stares at their faces
intently noting their agitation and fury. Romeo quickly tells Hagi they need to double
back to be safe. Hagi smiles knowingly.

Police Captain Bortun monitors the violence and vandalism through the city on a bank
of CCTV monitors. He is not a happy man.

High on adrenalin Romeo and Hagi make their way back to the city centre. Hagi
wants to get drunk and begin planning their next encounter with the Steaua mob.
However, Romeo is only interested in tracking a girl, Rox, on Facebook who he has
been unsuccessfully trying to meet for weeks. Ever the realist and cynic, Hagi advises
Romeo to forget about her as there are plenty more beautiful women available.
Dragging a reluctant Romeo into the Dinamo supporters’ bar everyone is relieved that
their talisman, and talented flag/tattoo designer, has suffered only a few bruises. The
honour of the gang remains intact and they live to fight another day. The drinking
and singing starts in earnest.

Across town Fane strides into the Steaua bar. Vain, proud and quick of temper Fane
is bitterly frustrated they never had the chance to inflict some real damage on the
Dinamo ‘scum’. The owner of the bar and Steaua gang patriarch, XX, calms him
down. Indicating his daughter, Iulia (17) who works in the bar, XX advises Fane to
bide his time and spend more time with Iulia if he’s truly serious about her. Fane
declares he is.

Late night in the Old Town. Romeo and Hagi stroll past the busy bars and terraces.
Noticing Romeo is preoccupied Hagi guesses it’s to do with his obsession with this
Rox girl. Hagi starts teasing Romeo – he’s too young and too stupid to start falling in
love, he’s got to live a little first. Turning a corner the guys come face to face with
Captain Bortun and several riot police.

As Iulia prepares herself for a date with Fane, her closest friend YY, questions Iulia
about her feelings towards Fane. Does she love him? Iulia is coy and ambivalent
about her relationship. One of the barmen interrupts them announcing that Fane and
Iulia’s father have been pulled in by the police.

Police station: Captain Bortun warns Hagi, Romeo, Fane and XX he will no longer
tolerate the mayhem caused by the two gangs. The situation is getting out of control.
Knowing that Dinamo and Steaua will play each other again in a few days, Captain
Bortun makes it clear that if there is any trouble he’ll hit them hard; close down their
bars, raid their homes and find every excuse to imprison them.

As a thoughtful Romeo makes his way home after the Captain’s ultimatum, leaving a
late night Chinese take-away with some supper, an expensive sports car races towards
him veering aside at the last moment. It’s driven by Fane who shouts at Romeo that
he’s got him marked – he’s going to have him at the next game, Romeo is a dead man
walking…

Romeo finds his grandfather waiting up for him in the apartment. Worried, his
grandfather wants to know what’s been going on, is Romeo in trouble? The two men
are close as the grandfather has brought the boy up from an early age, both supporting
each other. Romeo’s grandfather is profoundly deaf and they converse through sign
language/lip reading. Romeo ‘signs’ his grandfather there is nothing to worry about
and to go to sleep. His grandfather remains unconvinced.

An equally concerned Iulia is waiting up for her father and Fane. When they return
they also assure Iulia it’s nothing to worry about, merely the police flexing their
muscles. Further deflecting Fane wonders if Iulia wants to come for a drive with him,
it’s a beautiful night. Iulia isn’t interested as it’s too late and she’s tired. Once gone
XX reveals to a disappointed Fane that he has planned a big party for Iulia’s 18 th
birthday. It’ll be their special night – the hint being from XX that Fane might propose
to his daughter.

New Day: Romeo is working in the tattoo parlour and is just finishing an intricate
tattoo on a young guy’s arm, a curling Chinese dragon with Chinese script. Hagi
arrives and gets a significant look from Romeo. The guy, who’s more thug than
intelligent, is thrilled with it. Romeo explains to Hagi that the customer is a Steaua
fan who wanted a special tattoo to sport at the big Steaua party to be held soon…
Hagi plays along. The guy pays and leaves and a very curious Hagi turns to Romeo
for a few more answers. Romeo has learned that Rox will be going to the party. Hagi
then wonders about the tattoo he’s just done – a Steaua fan! Romeo smiles, the
Chinese script isn’t about ‘death and honour’ and grabs a plastic bag from the Chinese
take away restaurant to show to Hagi – the script in Chinese and English-Romanian
says ‘Yin Wah’s Cash and Carry. Noodles and more’. The Steaua fan is now an
advert for them…

Romeo and Hagi are determined to crash the party so that Romeo can meet Rox.
Hagi also sees it as an opportunity to get in the first strike before the next game,
humiliating their rivals by planting a proud Dinamo flag right in the middle of their
territory.

Elaborate plans are laid for Iulia’s birthday party which will be held at her parents’
lavish villa on the outskirts on town.
Iulia maintains an air of low excitement about the whole event. She can read the
signals and body language from her father and Fane, knowing there is another agenda
about the party – and which is confirmed by her friend, YY. The rumours are that
Fane has bought an engagement ring. YY is thrilled and can’t understand Iulia’s
indifference. In her eyes Fane is a cool, good looking guy, got money, got a great car,
dresses well so what’s Iulia’s problem? YY can’t understand that Iulia is yearning for
something else she can’t yet define or properly understand.

*MORE. Notes. The party. Rox, Romeo’s seemingly romantic obsession, is all over
some thug who is showing her his new tattoo. Romeo wants to leave but then sees
Iulia. Romeo and Iulia lock eyes, love at first sight. He steals a kiss. They don’t
even know each others’ names yet. As Romeo makes his escape after being
recognized and chased by Fane and the Steaua thugs, he ‘signs’ to Iulia. She is left
completely entranced and beguiled by the meeting. Their lives have now forever
changed and their fate has been pricked.

Despite Hagi’s warnings Romeo has to go back to the party, he has to see Iulia again.
Love is reckless and dangerous but it will never be denied.

Iulia learns Romeo’s name. Romeo spots her at her bedroom

window/balcony/somewhere else… he hears/lip reads from a distance Iulia’s calling
for him. They meet again (refer to WS scene). Love is declared. Romeo shows Iulia
how to say I love you via signing (this moment to be repeated at end when Romeo is
killed).

*Maybe a small comic pay off during the party re the Chinese tattoo. They have hired
Chinese caterers for the party and when the Chinese ‘chefs’ spot it they piss
themselves laughing at the guy’s tattoo. A moment of ironic comedy before the
upcoming romantic tragedy. Now Romeo will pay dearly for the insult.

MORE.