The Errant Child: A Trilogy
GENRE
ACTION MYSTERY RELIGIOUS THRILLER
Core Theme
QUEST VOYAGE, TRAGEDY
TIME PERIOD
Contemporary
COMPARABLE TITLES
THE GODFATHER, GOODFELLAS, CARLITO'S WAY, CASINO
CHARACTER LIST
• RENZO: 45. LEAD. LOYAL AND CONSERVATIVE.
• EMILY: 35. RENZO'S WIFE.
• MAMMA TERESA: 70S. RENZO'S BIOLOGICAL MOTHER.
• PAOLO: 70S. RENZO'S BIOLOGICAL FATHER.
• SEBASTIANO: 30S-40S. RENZO'S BEST FRIEND.
• EMILIO: 40S-50S. PAOLO'S RIGHT HAND MAN.
Logline
Conspiracy, crime, and corruption that penetrate the highest levels of the Mafia, the military police, Roman Catholicism and Stregheria, a secret society, intrude to thrust the couple’s previous mundane life into a vortex of self-interested forces seeking control of the Papacy and the Vatican Bank.
Target Audiences
Age: 18-34,35-54,55+
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
Toronto, parts of Italy (Rome, Tarquinia, Spormaggiore, Naples) and New York City
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: self-published
Publisher: MediaLinx Printing & Graphic Solutions
Year Published: 2019
Starting Description
A husband obsessed with his wife’s psychological unfaithfulness craves honesty and disclosure. Their confrontations broil without resolution as external stately events intervene to worsen their long-lasting, irrepressible wrangles.
Ending Description
The mercurial marriage lathered with suspicion, disloyalty, and infidelity comes to a tragic conclusion for the 'errant child' and those nearest to him. In the anti-climax, he kills his ex-wife. In the final scene, his father and new partner are killed.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
No
ISBN
978-1-7753059-4-1
Mature Audience Themes
Extreme Violence, Language/Profanity,Nudity
Plot - Other Elements
Philosophical Questions,Meaningful Message,Other
Plot - Premise
Quest,Voyage and Return,Internal Journey/Rebirth,Tragedy
Main Character Details
Name: Renzo Salvo
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Complex,Decisive,Faithful,Educated,Honorable,Leader,Skillful,Secretive,Strong Moral Code,Lone Wolf
Additional Character Details
Name: Emily Salvo
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Role: Antagonist
Key Traits: Adventurous,Aspiring,Badass,Charming,Engaging,Educated,Naive,Seductive,Outspoken,Sexy,Narcisstic
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Brief
A couple's marriage is torn apart by jealousy and deceit, but it's the self-interested forces of the Mafia, the military police, Roman Catholicism and Stregheria, a secret society, who all want to control the Papacy and the Vatican, that ultimately rocks the couple's foundation forever.
What We Liked
- The lead character goes on a journey of self-discovery back to his hometown in Italy, discovering his ties to a secret society at odds with the mafia. There is intrigue and drama, and a lot of action, as he searches to find out where he belongs and what to do with the new-found responsibilities thrust upon him;
- This would work well as a trilogy, in the vein of The Godfather, as it deals with not just the mafia, but a secret society, called Stregheria, and the military police, as well, all vying for control of the Papacy and the Vatican;
- This is a complex story with many layers and that makes it well-suited to a TV series format where the audience can get to know the characters and their allegiances over a number of episodes. There is enough murder, sex, lies and family betrayals to last for a successive number of episodes, ensuring that each of the supporting characters alongside the lead is well-developed;
- It's set in a number of parts of Italy;
- There are characters with many vested interests;
- It involves subjects that have always intrigued people;
- There are plots within the main plot.
Synopsis
Renzo and Emily's marriage is on the rocks, but a trip to Italy only makes things worse, as Renzo discovers his dark childhood -- one that sees him take over the reigns of his family's secret society, the Stregheria, which is at odds with the mafia.
Both mafia members and Stregheria members are killed as the sides try to control the Vatican, which is up to its own bad tricks. Emily finds out she is actually related to Renzo, but where he is on the side of the Stregheria, she takes the side of the mafia.
There is much betrayal and many deaths and either side finds peace. Instead, when Emily and Renzo realize they can never reconcile, she arranges for him to be killed. Two years later, Emily is working in an African monastery, when Renzo comes to see her. She tells him she thought she killed him. He throws her off the cliff, finally free of his two-winged horse, as she was opposite to all he believed about in Stregheria.
He returns to Italy, but his relief is short-lived when his deranged father kills the new family Renzo has made, ensuring the cycle of madness continues.