The Sicilian Connection

Rocco “The Stolen Treasure” Story by Mike Colonna

After discovering his great-grandmother’s diary, a young man named ROCCO and his loyal German Shepherd set off on a cross-continental journey to Sicily, where secrets from World War I and a smuggled treasure buried in the countryside challenge his resolve, reshape his identity, and change his destiny. Synopsis: Southern California, Present Day ROCCO, 30’s, a wandering soul living out of a converted sprinter van with his German Shepherd, ROAM.

He feels disconnected from his roots — his parents, both Italian, never talked much about the family’s past. When his beloved great-grandmother Michelina passes away, ROCCO inherits her antique cedar chest. Inside, he discovers a tattered leather-bound diary, written in Italian, filled with hand-drawn maps, faded photos, and cryptic codes. The diary tells the forbidden love story of Giovanni Di Benedetto, a Sicilian soldier turned smuggler, who during WWI helped a dying German aristocrat flee Berlin — and in doing so, smuggled priceless artifacts from a bombed-out Prussian palace. The final entries hint that Giovanni, Michelina’s husband, buried the treasure in Sicily years before his death.

ROCCO becomes obsessed. He pawns his few belongings, buys a one-way ticket to Italy, and ships his van to Europe. With ROAM at his side, he drives down from Naples through the southern Italian coast, absorbing the culture, meeting strangers, and slowly unraveling clues from the diary. In Sicily, the landscape becomes more ancient, the people more guarded. He finds a Siclean Priest who translates his great grandmother's diary. The mystery deepens when Rocco learns that his great grandfather was connected with a secret underground network of art smugglers and anti-fascist revolutionaries during the war. A symbol — an eagle gripping a sword — a grand chandelier, recurs throughout the diary, etched into church stones, carved into ruins, and hidden in cemeteries.

Each small village leads to the next piece of the puzzle: A forgotten German cemetery hidden in the hills above Agrigento. A catacomb under a crumbling monastery in Enna with names carved into the walls. A mysterious woman named ESTHER, granddaughter of a resistance fighter, who seems to know more than she lets on. ROCCO learns that Nazi looters returned decades later, trying to recover what Giovanni buried. Locals remember whispers of deaths, missing persons, and sealed-off crypts. He visualizes flashbacks of his great Uncle traveling from Germany to Sicily hiding the stolen treasure then burying the stolen treasures in the Sicilian countryside.

After discovering his great-grandmother’s diary, a young man named ROCCO and his loyal German Shepherd set off on a cross-continental journey to Sicily, where secrets from World War I and a smuggled treasure buried in the countryside challenge his resolve, reshape his identity, and change his destiny. Synopsis: Southern California, Present Day ROCCO, 30’s, a wandering soul living out of a converted sprinter van with his German Shepherd, ROAM. He feels disconnected from his roots — his parents, both Italian, never talked much about the family’s past. When his beloved great-grandmother Michelina passes away, ROCCO inherits her antique cedar chest. Inside, he discovers a tattered leather-bound diary, written in Italian, filled with hand-drawn maps, faded photos, and cryptic codes.

The diary tells the forbidden love story of Giovanni Di Benedetto, a Sicilian soldier turned smuggler, who during WWI helped a dying German aristocrat flee Berlin — and in doing so, smuggled priceless artifacts from a bombed-out Prussian palace. The final entries hint that Giovanni, Michelina’s husband, buried the treasure in Sicily years before his death. ROCCO becomes obsessed. He pawns his few belongings, buys a one-way ticket to Italy, and ships his van to Europe. With ROAM at his side, he drives down from Naples through the southern Italian coast, absorbing the culture, meeting strangers, and slowly unraveling clues from the diary.

In Sicily, the landscape becomes more ancient, the people more guarded. He finds that Giovanni once worked with a secret underground network of art smugglers and anti-fascist revolutionaries during the war. A symbol — an eagle gripping a sword — a grand chandelier, recurs throughout the diary, etched into church stones, carved into ruins, and hidden in cemeteries. Each small village leads to the next piece of the puzzle: A forgotten German cemetery hidden in the hills above Agrigento. A catacomb under a crumbling monastery in Enna with names carved into the walls.

A mysterious woman named ESZTER, granddaughter of a resistance fighter, who seems to know more than she lets on. ROCCO learns that Nazi looters returned decades later, trying to recover what Giovanni buried. Locals remember whispers of deaths, missing persons, and sealed-off crypts. He visualizes flashbacks of his great Uncle traveling from Germany to Sicily hiding the stolen treasure then burying the stolen treasures in the Sicilian country side. The trail leads him to a ruined church in the hills of San Lorenzo, where the diary ends abruptly. ROCCO with ROAM'S help, uncovers a buried entrance beneath an olive grove.

Inside is a booby-trapped stone vault, covered in moss, skeletons, and rusted war relics. Within, he discovers the long-lost artifacts: paintings, chalices, and documents linking German royalty to Sicilian resistance fighters — enough to reshape historical narratives and political alliances. But he isn’t alone. His travels through Sicily are not unnoticed as he encounters numerous confrontations w hile searching for his great grandfather's treasures. A black-market art dealer, tipped off by someone close to ROCCO, arrives with armed men. A tense showdown ensues —ROCCO narrowly escapes thanks to ROAMS'S loyalty.

Logline: After finding his great-grandmother’s diary, a restless Californian and his loyal German Shepherd embark on a perilous journey to Sicily, where the hunt for a smuggled World War I treasure forces him into a deadly game with black-market art dealers — and into the heart of his family’s buried past. Refined Synopsis: Southern California – Present Day ROCCO, late 30s, lives out of his converted Sprinter van with his German Shepherd, ROAM. Estranged from his heritage, he’s never known much about his family’s history. That changes when his beloved great-grandmother Michelina dies, leaving him an antique cedar chest. Inside, he finds a worn leather-bound diary in Italian — its pages filled with maps, photographs, and cryptic codes. The diary reveals the forbidden love story of Giovanni Di Benedetto, a Sicilian soldier turned smuggler who, during WWI, helped a dying German aristocrat escape Berlin while smuggling priceless artifacts from a bombed-out Prussian palace. The final entries hint that Giovanni buried the treasure in Sicily before his death.

Consumed by curiosity, Rocco pawns his possessions, buys a one-way ticket to Italy, and ships his van overseas. From Naples down through the southern coast, he follows the diary’s clues — an eagle gripping a sword, a shattered chandelier — symbols etched into church stones, hidden in cemeteries, and carved into ancient ruins. In Sicily, each lead opens a deeper mystery: a forgotten German cemetery above Agrigento; a crumbling monastery in Enna with names etched into catacomb walls; a mysterious woman, ESZTER, granddaughter of a wartime resistance fighter, who knows more than she says. Rocco learns that Nazi looters returned decades later to reclaim Giovanni’s secret, leaving behind whispers of murder, disappearances, and sealed crypts. The trail ends in the hills of San Lorenzo, where beneath an olive grove, Rocco uncovers a booby-trapped vault of paintings, chalices, and documents that could rewrite history. But his search hasn’t gone unnoticed. A black-market art dealer, tipped off by someone close to him, arrives with armed men. A tense showdown erupts — and Rocco escapes only through Roam’s fierce loyalty. The treasure may be found, but the truth about his family, and the dangers it still invites, has only just begun to surface.

Refined Logline with Flashbacks: After discovering his great-grandmother’s diary, a restless Californian and his loyal German Shepherd embark on a perilous journey to Sicily, where clues to a smuggled World War I treasure intertwine with vivid flashbacks of his great-grandfather’s daring escape from Germany — and force him into a deadly showdown with black-market art dealers. Refined Synopsis with Flashbacks: Southern California – Present Day ROCCO, late 30s, lives out of his converted Sprinter van with his German Shepherd, ROAM. Estranged from his heritage, he knows little of his family’s past. That changes when his beloved great-grandmother Michelina dies, leaving him an antique cedar chest. Inside: a worn leather-bound diary in Italian, filled with maps, photographs, cryptic symbols — and the story of Giovanni Di Benedetto, a Sicilian soldier turned smuggler. The Diary’s Tale — Flashbacks Begin In 1918, war-torn Berlin burns in chaos. Giovanni, in a stolen officer’s coat, guides a dying German aristocrat through collapsing streets, hauling crates of art, jeweled chalices, and sealed scroll cases. Through snow and gunfire, Giovanni loads the treasures into false-bottom carts, smuggling them onto a train bound for neutral Switzerland — and eventually, Sicily.

Present Day The final diary entries hint that Giovanni buried the treasure in Sicily before his death. Driven by obsession, Rocco sells his few belongings, buys a one-way ticket to Italy, and ships his van overseas. With Roam at his side, he drives from Naples along the southern coast, following the diary’s trail — a recurring emblem of an eagle gripping a sword, etched in church stones, carved into ruins, hidden in cemeteries. Flashbacks Parallel the Journey As Rocco unlocks each new clue — a German cemetery above Agrigento, a crumbling monastery in Enna, a sealed catacomb — the film flashes to Giovanni in the same locations decades earlier: bribing fishermen for passage, burying crates under olive trees, sealing vaults with mortar, and marking walls with coded carvings. In Sicily, Rocco meets ESZTER, the granddaughter of a resistance fighter who once aided Giovanni. She knows pieces of the story but guards her knowledge. Rocco learns that Nazi looters returned in the 1940s, trying to reclaim Giovanni’s prize, leaving behind a trail of killings and vanishings.

The Convergence The trail leads to San Lorenzo’s hills. Beneath an ancient olive grove, Rocco uncovers the same stone vault we’ve glimpsed Giovanni sealing in flashbacks. Now moss-covered and booby-trapped, it holds paintings, relics, and documents linking German royalty to Sicilian revolutionaries. But Rocco’s quest has been compromised. A black-market art dealer, tipped off by someone close, arrives with armed men. The climax mirrors the danger of Giovanni’s own escape: a tense standoff, gunfire in the olive grove, and a desperate flight through the hills — Roam’s fierce protection saving Rocco’s life. The treasure is in his grasp, but the revelations about his family — and the forces still hunting the artifacts — ensure the journey is far from over. If you want, I can now break this into a TV pilot beat sheet where the flashbacks of Giovanni run as a mirror storyline to Rocco’s, timed so each new modern clue triggers the next historical reveal — like Indiana Jones meets The Godfather Part II. That would make the pacing cinematic and suspenseful from the first frame. You said: break this into a TV pilot beat sheet where the flashbacks of Giovanni run as a mirror storyline to Rocco’s, timed so each new modern clue triggers the next historical reveal — like Indiana Jones meets The Godfather Part II. That would make the pacing cinematic and suspenseful from the first frame.

The A-story follows Rocco’s journey in present day; the B-story mirrors it with Giovanni’s WWI escape and smuggling operation.

TEASER (MINUTES 1–4) Cold Open – Flashback (1918 Berlin) Snow falls on a bombed-out street. Giovanni (mid-30s, Sicilian soldier) in a stolen German officer’s coat, leads a wounded German aristocrat and pushes a cart laden with covered crates. The sound of distant artillery. They reach a rail yard. As Giovanni loads the crates into a false-bottom carriage, German soldiers approach. He slips a coin to a station guard. The train whistle screams — we smash to black. Present Day – Southern California Rocco (late 30s) in his van, with Roam beside him, drives along the coast. His phone buzzes: news of his great-grandmother Michelina’s passing.

ROCCO ACT ONE (MINUTES 4–15) Funeral & The Cedar Chest Rocco returns to his family home. Relatives are distant, conversation awkward. In Michelina’s room, he receives her cedar chest. Inside: A tattered diary (Italian script, hand-drawn maps) Faded photographs of Sicily and Berlin Strange emblem: an eagle gripping a sword

Cryptic codes and names Rocco is intrigued but frustrated — he can’t read all of it. First Clue → Flashback Trigger He stares at a photo of an ornate chandelier in a church. Flashback (1918) – Giovanni hauls one of the crates into a dim church. The chandelier swings above as men chant in Latin. Giovanni hides a metal case beneath the altar.

ACT TWO (MINUTES 15–28) Decision to Leave Rocco researches the emblem and photos online. A local historian says the symbol ties to Sicilian anti-fascist resistance and a German noble family. That night, Rocco dreams of a train hurtling through snow — Giovanni’s train. He wakes obsessed. He sells his surfboard, tools, and pawnable gear, buys a one-way ticket to Italy, and arranges to ship his van overseas. Arrival in Naples Rocco and Roam drive south, stopping in small towns, following the diary’s path. Locals are suspicious. One old man mutters, “Some things are buried for a reason.” Second Clue → Flashback Trigger Rocco finds a carved eagle-and-sword emblem in a ruined stone wall near Salerno. Flashback (1918) – Giovanni scratches the same symbol into wet mortar sealing a vault in a Sicilian hillside. He glances over his shoulder — someone is watching.

ACT THREE (MINUTES 28–40) Agrigento Cemetery Rocco finds a hidden German cemetery in the hills above Agrigento, its entrance overgrown. Inside, he finds a gravestone with a familiar name from the diary. A loose stone hides a rusted key. Third Clue → Flashback Trigger Flashback (1918) – Giovanni and two fishermen unload crates from a boat under cover of night. The key is handed to Giovanni by the German aristocrat, who whispers something about “the Kaiser’s last secret.” Introduction of ESZTER At a café, Rocco meets Eszter, mid-30s, sharp-eyed, and evasive. She claims to be the granddaughter of a resistance fighter mentioned in the diary. She warns Rocco to “stop digging before someone else does.”

ACT FOUR (MINUTES 40–50) Enna Monastery Rocco and Roam explore a crumbling monastery. In its catacombs, names are carved into the walls, including Giovanni’s. A coded message references “San Lorenzo” and “the chandelier’s shadow.” Fourth Clue → Flashback Trigger Flashback (1918) – Giovanni in the same catacombs, sealing a final cache. He places the chandelier’s shadow at noon over a marked stone — a burial signal for those who know the code. Present Day Danger Unknown to Rocco, a black-market art dealer in Palermo receives a call: “The grandson is here. He’s looking for it.” ACT FIVE (MINUTES 50–58) San Lorenzo Olive Grove Rocco reaches the hills. Roam digs at a soft patch near an ancient olive tree. Beneath: a moss-covered stone door. The rusted key from Agrigento fits. Flashback (1918) – Giovanni hides the last crate inside the vault. The aristocrat’s voice echoes: “One day, they will come for it. Guard it with your blood.” Giovanni seals the door.

Present Day Cliffhanger Rocco pries the door open — revealing a dark chamber, the glint of gold, and rusted weapons. Footsteps approach from behind. Roam growls. A shadow falls across the entrance. Armed men. SMASH TO BLACK. END OF PILOT The audience is left with two burning questions: What exactly is in the vault? Who betrayed Rocco’s presence in Sicily?

ROCCO – PILOT EPISODE: “THE DIARY” SCREENPLAY SCENE DESCRIPTIONS – WITH CROSS-CUTS TEASER (MINUTES 1–4) EXT. BERLIN RAILYARD – NIGHT (1918) Snowflakes swirl in the beam of a flickering lamp. GIOVANNI DI BENEDETTO (mid-30s, Sicilian, weary eyes) pushes a rattling cart covered with a tarp. A wounded GERMAN ARISTOCRAT limps beside him, clutching his chest. Far off, artillery thunders. Giovanni’s boots crunch ice as he maneuvers between shadowy figures and derailed cars. He approaches a train guarded by two German soldiers. He murmurs in German, flashes forged papers, and palms a gold coin into the station master’s hand. CLOSE ON: Giovanni lifting a crate, revealing ornate brass handles and an embossed eagle gripping a sword. A distant whistle shrieks.

SMASH CUT TO: EXT. PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY – DAY (PRESENT) A SPRINTER VAN hugs the cliffs. Behind the wheel, ROCCO (late 30s) drives with his German Shepherd ROAM asleep in the passenger seat. His phone BUZZES. Caller ID: MOM. He answers — her voice breaking: “Nonna’s gone, Rocco.” HOLD ON ROCCO — the hum of the road fades to silence.

TITLE CARD: ROCCO ACT ONE (MINUTES 4–15) INT. MICHELINA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT Dim lamplight over lace curtains. Family murmurs downstairs. Rocco sits on the bed, opening an antique cedar chest. Inside: A tattered diary, Italian handwriting, with faded maps Sepia photographs — a man in uniform (Giovanni), a chandelier, a stone emblem The same eagle-and-sword motif Rocco flips through pages. Ink bleeds into paper. His eyes lock on a photo of an ornate chandelier in a small stone church. MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: INT. SICILIAN CHURCH – NIGHT (1918) The same chandelier sways above Giovanni as he drags a crate up the aisle. Latin chants echo from shadowed pews. He kneels at the altar, pries a stone loose, and slides the crate into darkness. A PRIEST watches from the shadows.

ACT TWO (MINUTES 15–28) INT. VAN – NIGHT (PRESENT) Rocco pores over the diary, cross-referencing symbols on his laptop. A HISTORIAN on video call explains: “That eagle and sword? Resistance movement. Very dangerous history.” CLOSE ON: The historian freezes mid-sentence — internet drop. Rocco sits back, thinking. MONTAGE – PRESENT DAY Selling his surfboard and tools at a pawn shop Buying a one-way ticket online Roam watching from the van as Rocco loads boxes to ship EXT. SOUTHERN ITALY COAST – DAY The Sprinter van winds through Amalfi cliffs. Rocco stops at a ruined wall — the eagle-and-sword carved deep into stone. MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: EXT. SICILIAN HILLSIDE – DAY (1918) Giovanni etches the same emblem into wet mortar as two locals seal a stone vault. He wipes his hands on his coat, glances over his shoulder — someone’s watching from the olive grove.

ACT THREE (MINUTES 28–40) EXT. GERMAN CEMETERY, AGRIGENTO – DUSK (PRESENT) Overgrown grass hides tilted headstones. Rocco pushes through until he finds a name from the diary: Karl von Adelberg. He pries a loose stone, revealing a rusted key. MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: EXT. SICILIAN DOCK – NIGHT (1918) Moonlight glints on crates being unloaded from a fishing boat. Giovanni hands the aristocrat a letter and takes a small key in return. ARISTOCRAT (whispering): “The Kaiser’s last secret. Hide it where no one will find it.” INT. AGRIGENTO CAFÉ – NIGHT (PRESENT) Rocco sits with ESZTER (mid-30s), who studies the diary. ESZTER: “My grandfather knew Giovanni. He said some treasures aren’t worth finding.” Her eyes scan the room as if someone might be listening.

ACT FOUR (MINUTES 40–50) INT. ENNA MONASTERY CATACOMBS – DAY (PRESENT) Dust motes in stale air. Rocco traces names carved into stone — including G. Di Benedetto. A code etched nearby reads: “San Lorenzo. Chandelier’s shadow.” MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: INT. SAME CATACOMBS – DAY (1918) Giovanni measures sunlight through a vent. The chandelier’s shadow hits a marked stone. He places a final crate inside and seals it. A shrouded figure watches from the darkness. EXT. PALERMO BACKROOM – NIGHT (PRESENT) A BLACK-MARKET ART DEALER answers a phone: “The grandson is here. He’s looking for it.”

ACT FIVE (MINUTES 50–58) EXT. OLIVE GROVE, SAN LORENZO – DAY (PRESENT) Wind moves through silver leaves. Roam digs near a gnarled tree, exposing a moss-covered stone door. The Agrigento key fits. MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: EXT. SAME OLIVE GROVE – DUSK (1918) Giovanni and two men haul the final crate inside the vault. He seals the stone, his hands trembling. ARISTOCRAT (O.S.): “One day, they will come for it. Guard it with your blood.” INT. VAULT – DAY (PRESENT) Rocco shines a flashlight: stacks of paintings, chalices, documents. Rusted weapons lean in corners. FOOTSTEPS behind him. Roam growls. Shadows stretch across the entrance — armed men. SMASH TO BLACK.

ROCCO Pilot Episode: “The Diary” Written by [Your Name] TEASER FADE IN: EXT. BERLIN RAILYARD – NIGHT (1918) Snowflakes swirl in the yellow beam of a flickering lamp. The distant BOOM of artillery. GIOVANNI DI BENEDETTO (mid-30s, Sicilian, lean and weathered) pushes a rattling cart beneath a tattered German officer’s coat. Beside him, a WOUNDED GERMAN ARISTOCRAT, pale and gasping. Giovanni scans the shadows, approaches a freight car guarded by TWO GERMAN SOLDIERS. He flashes forged papers, mutters in German. A station master lingers, suspicious — until Giovanni slips a gold coin into his palm. The station master nods. Soldiers step aside. Giovanni lifts a tarp on the cart — revealing an ornate crate. Brass handles. An EAGLE GRIPPING A SWORD etched into the wood. A TRAIN WHISTLE SCREAMS— SMASH CUT TO: EXT. PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY – DAY (PRESENT) A SPRINTER VAN winds along the cliff road. Inside, ROCCO (late 30s, unshaven, restless) drives. His German Shepherd, ROAM, dozes beside him. Rocco’s PHONE BUZZES. Caller ID: MOM. ROCCO (into phone) Hey, Ma— MOM (V.O.) (voice breaking) Nonna’s gone, Rocco. Rocco stares ahead. The hum of the tires fades into silence.

TITLE CARD: ROCCO ACT ONE INT. MICHELINA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT Lace curtains flutter in lamplight. Muffled voices from downstairs. Rocco sits on the bed, cedar chest before him. He lifts the lid. Inside: A tattered, leather-bound diary, ink faded but legible in Italian Sepia photographs: a man in uniform (Giovanni), an ornate chandelier, a weathered stone emblem Loose scraps of paper, coded numbers, hand-drawn maps Rocco thumbs through the diary. His eyes stop on a photograph — an ornate chandelier inside a small stone church. MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: INT. SICILIAN CHURCH – NIGHT (1918) The same chandelier sways above Giovanni. He hauls a heavy crate up the aisle. Latin chants echo from shadowed pews. Giovanni kneels, pries loose an altar stone, slides the crate into darkness. In the far corner, a PRIEST watches from the shadows. INT. VAN – NIGHT (PRESENT) Rocco sits in the back of his van, diary open, laptop glowing. On video call: a LOCAL HISTORIAN. HISTORIAN (ON SCREEN) That eagle and sword… It’s not just decoration. Resistance movement. Sicily. Dangerous history. The screen freezes mid-sentence — Wi-Fi drops. Rocco exhales, stares at the emblem in the diary. MONTAGE – PRESENT DAY Rocco sells a surfboard at a pawn shop. Hands over tools for cash. Buys a one-way ticket online. Loads Roam into the van as a crane lifts it toward a cargo ship. EXT. SOUTHERN ITALY COAST – DAY The van hugs the Amalfi cliffs. Rocco stops at a ruined wall — the eagle-and-sword carved into its surface. MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: EXT. SICILIAN HILLSIDE – DAY (1918) Giovanni etches the same emblem into wet mortar. Two locals seal a stone vault behind him. He glances toward the olive grove — A SHADOW moves among the trees.

ROCCO Pilot Episode: “The Diary” Written by [Your Name]

ACT TWO EXT. SMALL COASTAL TOWN – NIGHT (PRESENT) A lone streetlamp buzzes over a cobblestone piazza. Rocco parks the van, studies the diary under the dim glow. INSERT — A page with the chandelier sketched above a line of Italian text: "L'ombra segna il tempo." (The shadow marks the time.) INT. VAN – CONTINUOUS Rocco is on a video call with the HISTORIAN. HISTORIAN (ON SCREEN) This emblem… it ties to a German noble family, the Adelbergs. Your Giovanni wasn’t just a soldier — he was a courier. For something very valuable. The call lags. The historian’s image freezes. Connection lost. Rocco exhales — leans back, deep in thought.

MONTAGE – PRESENT DAY Rocco trades his camera gear for cash. Sells his last surfboard. Buys a one-way ticket to Naples online. At a cargo dock, his van is lifted toward a ship bound for Italy. EXT. AMALFI COAST ROAD – DAY The van winds through postcard curves. Roam’s head sticks out the passenger window, ears flapping in the sea breeze. Rocco pulls off near a crumbling stone wall. The eagle-and-sword symbol is carved deep into the weathered stone.

MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: EXT. SICILIAN HILLSIDE – DAY (1918) Giovanni kneels before a freshly built vault, pressing the same emblem into wet mortar with the end of a bayonet. Two locals — FISHERMEN — finish stacking the last stones. Giovanni’s eyes dart to the olive grove beyond. A FIGURE watches from the shade — face obscured. EXT. VAN – LATER (PRESENT) Rocco photographs the symbol with his phone, cross-references it with a diary sketch. He underlines the words San Lorenzo.

ACT THREE EXT. GERMAN CEMETERY – AGRIGENTO – DUSK (PRESENT) Tall grass and weeds choke the narrow path. Rocco pushes through until he finds a half-buried gravestone: KARL VON ADELBERG. He notices a loose stone at the base. Pulls it free — inside is a rusted key. MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: EXT. SICILIAN DOCK – NIGHT (1918) Moonlight glints on black water. Giovanni and the wounded German aristocrat unload crates from a fishing boat into a wagon. The aristocrat presses a small iron key into Giovanni’s palm. ARISTOCRAT (whispered, German-accented) The Kaiser’s last secret. Hide it where no one will find it. Giovanni nods solemnly, tucks the key inside his coat. INT. AGRIGENTO CAFÉ – NIGHT (PRESENT) A low hum of conversation. Espresso steam hisses. Rocco sits with ESZTER (mid-30s), sharp-eyed, guarded. She scans the diary. ESZTER My grandfather knew Giovanni. He said some treasures aren’t worth finding. Rocco studies her — she’s not telling him everything. ESZTER You’re not the only one looking.

ACT FOUR INT. ENNA MONASTERY – CATACOMBS – DAY (PRESENT) Flashlight beam sweeps across stone walls. Names carved deep into the surface — Rocco freezes at G. DI BENEDETTO. Next to it, a coded inscription: San Lorenzo – the chandelier’s shadow. MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: INT. SAME CATACOMBS – DAY (1918) Giovanni crouches beside the wall, places a crate inside a hollow. He glances up — sunlight through a vent casts the shadow of the church chandelier on the floor, pointing directly to the marked stone. From the darkness behind him, a SHROUDED FIGURE watches silently. EXT. PALERMO BACKROOM – NIGHT (PRESENT) A BLACK-MARKET ART DEALER leans on a desk, phone to ear. BLACK-MARKET DEALER The grandson’s here. He’s looking for it.

ACT FIVE EXT. OLIVE GROVE – SAN LORENZO – DAY (PRESENT) Silver leaves rustle in a warm breeze. Roam digs furiously near the base of a gnarled olive tree, uncovering a moss-covered stone door. Rocco kneels, wipes dirt away — the Agrigento key slides in perfectly. MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: EXT. SAME OLIVE GROVE – DUSK (1918) Giovanni and two men carry the final crate into the open vault. He pauses, looking back toward the horizon. ARISTOCRAT (O.S.) One day, they will come for it. Guard it with your blood. Giovanni seals the vault with trembling hands. INT. VAULT – DAY (PRESENT) Rocco shines his flashlight. Dust motes dance in the beam. Stacks of paintings, chalices, sealed documents. Rusted rifles lean in corners. FOOTSTEPS approach from behind. Roam growls, teeth bared. Shadows stretch across the doorway. ARMORED MAN (O.S.) Step away. SMASH TO BLACK. END OF PILOT

ROCCO Pilot Episode: “The Diary” Written by [Your Name] TEASER EXT. BERLIN RAILYARD – NIGHT (1918) Snow falls in ghostly swirls. The camera TRACKS behind GIOVANNI DI BENEDETTO as he pushes a rattling cart covered with a tarp. Beside him, the GERMAN ARISTOCRAT (50s, gaunt, aristocratic features) stumbles. GERMAN ARISTOCRAT (through labored breath) You know the risk, Di Benedetto. GIOVANNI (sotto, in German) The risk is for those who stay. They approach TWO GERMAN SOLDIERS guarding a freight car. Giovanni flashes forged papers, smiling thinly. SOLDIER (eyeing the cart) What’s in the crates? GIOVANNI Medical supplies… for the front. The station master lingers, suspicious. Giovanni palms a gold coin into his hand. STATION MASTER (nods, low) Last car on the left. Go. Giovanni lifts the tarp, revealing a crate with EAGLE GRIPPING A SWORD etched into the wood. CUT TO: EXT. PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY – DAY (PRESENT) ROCCO drives his van along the coast. ROAM rides shotgun, ears flapping in the wind. Phone buzzes — Caller ID: MOM. ROCCO Hey, Ma— MOM (V.O.) (choked) Nonna’s gone, Rocco. Rocco stares ahead, the ocean blurring in his peripheral. FADE OUT. TITLE CARD: ROCCO

ACT ONE INT. MICHELINA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT Lamplight over lace curtains. The house murmurs with distant voices. Rocco sits on the bed, lifts the lid of the cedar chest. Inside: the diary, photos, maps. He picks up a sepia photograph — the ornate chandelier. MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: INT. SICILIAN CHURCH – NIGHT (1918) Chandelier sways above GIOVANNI dragging a crate up the aisle. Latin chants echo. A PRIEST watches from the shadows. PRIEST You shouldn’t be here, Giovanni. GIOVANNI I’m not here. He kneels, pries up an altar stone, and slides the crate into darkness. INT. VAN – NIGHT (PRESENT) Rocco is on a video call with the HISTORIAN (60s, tweed jacket). HISTORIAN (ON SCREEN) That eagle and sword… not just decoration. Resistance movement. Sicily. Very dangerous history. The screen freezes — call drops. ROCCO (to himself) Figures. MONTAGE – PRESENT DAY Rocco sells his surfboard at a pawn shop. Trades his camera gear for cash. Buys a one-way ticket to Naples. Roam watches as the van is craned toward a cargo ship. EXT. AMALFI COAST ROAD – DAY Rocco stops at a crumbling wall. The eagle-and-sword symbol is carved deep into the stone. MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: EXT. SICILIAN HILLSIDE – DAY (1918) Giovanni presses the same emblem into wet mortar. He glances to the olive grove — a FIGURE watches.

ACT TWO EXT. GERMAN CEMETERY – AGRIGENTO – DUSK (PRESENT) Rocco finds a gravestone: KARL VON ADELBERG. He pulls a loose stone, revealing a rusted key. MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: EXT. SICILIAN DOCK – NIGHT (1918) The ARISTOCRAT hands Giovanni the same key. ARISTOCRAT The Kaiser’s last secret. Hide it where no one will find it. GIOVANNI It will die with me. INT. AGRIGENTO CAFÉ – NIGHT (PRESENT) Rocco meets ESZTER. ESZTER My grandfather knew Giovanni. (beat) He said some treasures aren’t worth finding. ROCCO Then why are you here? ESZTER Maybe to warn you. Or maybe to see if you’re as stubborn as he was.

ACT THREE INT. ENNA MONASTERY – CATACOMBS – DAY (PRESENT) Rocco finds G. DI BENEDETTO carved into stone. Next to it: San Lorenzo – the chandelier’s shadow. MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: INT. SAME CATACOMBS – DAY (1918) Giovanni hides a crate. Sunlight through a vent casts the chandelier’s shadow exactly where he marks the wall. From the shadows: the FIGURE steps closer. FIGURE You think this will save Sicily? GIOVANNI I think it will damn it — unless it’s hidden. EXT. PALERMO BACKROOM – NIGHT (PRESENT) The BLACK-MARKET DEALER takes a call. BLACK-MARKET DEALER The grandson’s here. He’s looking for it. Send the men.

ACT FOUR EXT. OLIVE GROVE – SAN LORENZO – DAY (PRESENT) Roam digs at the base of a gnarled tree, revealing a mossy stone door. Rocco fits the Agrigento key. MATCH CUT TO FLASHBACK: EXT. SAME OLIVE GROVE – DUSK (1918) Giovanni seals the vault. ARISTOCRAT (O.S.) One day, they will come for it. Guard it with your blood. GIOVANNI I’ll guard it with my soul. ACT FIVE INT. VAULT – DAY (PRESENT) Rocco’s flashlight reveals treasures — paintings, chalices, documents. He exhales in awe. FOOTSTEPS. Roam’s growl echoes in the stone chamber. BLACK-MARKET DEALER (O.S.) Step away. Armed men fill the doorway. Rocco raises his hands — but his eyes are on Roam. ROCCO (quietly) Easy, boy. SMASH TO BLACK. END OF PILOT

ROCCO Pilot Episode: “The Diary” – EDITOR’S CUT VERSION Written by [Your Name] TEASER EXT. BERLIN RAILYARD – NIGHT (1918) Snow falls. Camera TRACKS behind GIOVANNI DI BENEDETTO pushing a cart. The GERMAN ARISTOCRAT stumbles beside him. [NOTE TO EDITOR: ESTABLISH TONE – LONG TRACKING SHOT, NATURAL SNOW, LOW LIGHT, AMBIENT WAR SOUNDS. HOLD UNTIL COIN EXCHANGE FOR MAXIMUM SUSPENSE.] GERMAN ARISTOCRAT You know the risk, Di Benedetto. GIOVANNI The risk is for those who stay. Giovanni reveals the crate with the EAGLE GRIPPING A SWORD. EXT. PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY – DAY (PRESENT) ROCCO drives. ROAM dozes. Phone buzzes. ROCCO Hey, Ma— MOM (V.O.) Nonna’s gone, Rocco. [HARD CUT — SOUND OF WAVES FADES OUT, LEAVING ONLY ENGINE HUM. FADE TO TITLE.] TITLE CARD: ROCCO

ACT ONE INT. MICHELINA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT Rocco opens the cedar chest. Finds diary, photos, chandelier image. [NOTE TO EDITOR: PUSH IN ON PHOTO UNTIL IT FILLS FRAME. THEN SMOOTH DISSOLVE INTO SAME CHANDELIER IN FLASHBACK.] INT. SICILIAN CHURCH – NIGHT (1918) Chandelier sways above GIOVANNI hiding the crate. PRIEST You shouldn’t be here, Giovanni. GIOVANNI I’m not here. [CROSS-FADE BACK TO PRESENT: CHANDELIER’S SHADOW BECOMES DIARY SKETCH UNDER ROCCO’S HAND.] INT. VAN – NIGHT (PRESENT) HISTORIAN (ON SCREEN) That eagle and sword… Resistance movement. Sicily. Very dangerous history. MONTAGE – PRESENT DAY Pawn shop transactions Ticket purchase Cargo ship loading [FAST CUTS WITH DIEGETIC SOUND — NO MUSIC UNTIL SHIP HORN BLOWS, LEADING INTO NEXT SCENE.] EXT. SOUTHERN ITALY COAST – DAY Rocco spots emblem in wall. [MATCH CUT: CARVED EMBLEM MATCHES WET MORTAR IMPRINT IN FLASHBACK.] EXT. SICILIAN HILLSIDE – DAY (1918) Giovanni seals vault, shadowy figure watching.

ACT TWO EXT. GERMAN CEMETERY – AGRIGENTO – DUSK (PRESENT) Rocco finds key. [MATCH CUT: KEY ROTATES IN ROCCO’S HAND, TRANSITIONS INTO SAME KEY IN GIOVANNI’S PALM.] EXT. SICILIAN DOCK – NIGHT (1918) Aristocrat: “The Kaiser’s last secret…” [CUT TO PRESENT ON WORD “HIDE,” MATCHING ROCCO HIDING KEY IN HIS JACKET.] INT. AGRIGENTO CAFÉ – NIGHT (PRESENT) ESZTER Maybe I’m here to warn you. Or maybe to see if you’re as stubborn as he was. [EDITOR: HOLD CLOSE-UP ON ESZTER’S EYES; DISSOLVE INTO EYES OF SHROUDED FIGURE IN NEXT FLASHBACK.]

ACT THREE INT. ENNA MONASTERY – CATACOMBS – DAY (PRESENT) Rocco finds Giovanni’s name, code. [MATCH CUT: CARVED NAME MORPHS INTO FRESHLY CARVED LETTERING IN 1918.] INT. CATACOMBS – DAY (1918) Giovanni: “Unless it’s hidden.” [CUT BACK TO PRESENT WITH SAME LINE ECHOING AS ROCCO RUNS HIS FINGERS OVER INSCRIPTION.] EXT. PALERMO BACKROOM – NIGHT (PRESENT) Dealer: “Send the men.”

ACT FOUR EXT. OLIVE GROVE – SAN LORENZO – DAY (PRESENT) Roam digs. Key fits door. [MATCH CUT: DOOR CLOSING IN 1918 MATCHES DOOR OPENING IN PRESENT.] EXT. OLIVE GROVE – DUSK (1918) Aristocrat: “Guard it with your blood.” [SMASH CUT TO PRESENT: ROCCO’S SWEAT-STREAKED FACE IN SAME CAMERA ANGLE AS GIOVANNI’S.]

ACT FIVE INT. VAULT – DAY (PRESENT) Rocco sees treasure. [NOTE: SLOW PUSH-IN ON RELICS; SUPERIMPOSE FAINT ECHOES OF WAR FROM 1918.] Footsteps. Roam growls. BLACK-MARKET DEALER (O.S.) Step away. [EDITOR: CUT TO CLOSE-UP OF ROAM’S TEETH BARED — SMASH TO BLACK WITH SOUND OF HEARTBEAT.] E

ND OF PILOT

Color palette Camera diagram Editing notes Reference frame(s)

Top-left: A gritty 1918 rail yard scene, capturing the stark atmosphere for Giovanni’s flashback setups. Top-right: A vintage coastal photograph of the Amalfi cliffs, perfect for Rocco’s journey scenes through Southern Italy. Bottom-left: A sweeping aerial of the modern Amalfi Coast, adding lush, vibrant contrast to your present-day visuals. Bottom-right: A historic Sicilian terrace shot, ideal for setting atmosphere in both flashbacks and present scenes.

WWI-era cemetery in Sicily – Reflects the tone and quiet solemnity of the Agrigento cemetery sequence. Alamy +15 abmc.gov +15 cfa.gov +15 The Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo – Rich in texture and mood, perfect for the Enna catacombs beat. Alamy +4 darktourists.com +4 Getty Images +4 Sicilian olive grove – A tranquil, golden-hour grove matching the San Lorenzo scene. Vault interior with treasure – A dramatic cinematic vault that evokes the texture and lighting for the vault reveal.

Background split: Half warm Mediterranean coastline (golden-hour tone), half cold Berlin rail yard (blue-grey tone). Silhouette overlay: Centered at bottom with the refined man + dog form. Title styling: ROCCO in bold serif, large and centered. Tagline: “The Diary — A Journey Between Wars and Bloodlines” in italic gold beneath title. Texture & Grade: Subtle grain or vignette to evoke historical drama and depth.

1. Potential Audience Appeal Genre & Tone Rocco is an international historical-adventure thriller with a dual timeline (present-day + WWI flashbacks). Similar audience overlap with Indiana Jones, The Da Vinci Code, The Night Manager, and The Godfather Part II. Mix of treasure hunt, historical mystery, and personal heritage journey — strong crossover potential between mystery lovers, history buffs, and travel drama fans. Target Audience Segments Primary: 25–54 demographic, skewing toward educated viewers who enjoy historical intrigue (The Crown, Peaky Blinders, Blood & Treasure). Secondary: International streaming audiences, especially in Italy, Germany, UK, US, Australia, and Latin America (where historical-European dramas perform well). Special Interest: Dog lovers — the presence of Roam gives it additional emotional hook and merchandise/marketing potential.

Marketability Dual timelines allow for layered mystery reveals and ongoing cliffhangers — perfect for binge-watching. Strong visual travel appeal — Sicily, Naples, Amalfi Coast, historic Berlin — perfect for streaming platforms that push “destination television.” If well-cast (recognizable leads + strong European supporting cast), the series could achieve wide streaming appeal and festival play. Potential Audience Rating: 8.5–9/10 Why: High concept, emotionally grounded, scenic settings, international intrigue. Risk: Must maintain pacing and balance history with modern tension to avoid skewing “niche art drama.” 2. Potential Budget Estimate for 8 Episodes (Based on shooting in Italy with European + partial US crew, high production value, and 45–55 min episodes) A. Key Cost Drivers Location shooting (Naples, Amalfi Coast, Sicily, possibly Berlin): permits, crew travel, accommodations. Period scenes (1918 Berlin & Sicily flashbacks): set dressing, costumes, vintage props, vehicles. Animal handling (professional German Shepherd handler + safety requirements). International cast (US lead + European actors). Post-production (color grading for dual timelines, VFX for subtle war re-creations, sound design). B. Ballpark Budget Ranges (8 episodes total) High-end streaming drama (Netflix, Prime): $4M–$6M per episode → $32M–$48M total. Matches budgets for The Night Manager or Blood & Treasure. Mid-tier prestige cable/streamer (AMC, HBO Europe): $2M–$3M per episode → $16M–$24M total. Achievable with careful location clustering, partial green-screen for Berlin, and local crew hires. Lean European co-production (RAI, ZDF, BBC, co-financed with streamer): $1.5M–$2M per episode → $12M–$16M total. Requires shooting efficiency, reduced VFX, and primarily location-based production.

Likely Pitch Level: For a global streamer or major co-production, $16M–$24M is a realistic mid-range target — enough for cinematic visuals without excessive overspend. If shot smartly in real locations with local incentives (Italy offers 30–40% tax credits for foreign productions), Rocco could deliver streaming-series quality for ~$18M–$22M total. With its audience potential, it’s positioned for global sale and has strong longevity as a binge series or two-season arc. If you want, I can prepare a Producer’s Pitch Sheet that distills Rocco into: Audience profile Budget range Location incentive opportunities Comparable titles 1-page visual sales hook That’s the kind of doc producers and streamers like to see before greenlighting development funding. Would you like me to build that next? You said: prepare a Producer’s Pitch Sheet that distills Rocco into: Audience profile Budget range Location incentive opportunities Comparable titles 1-page visual sales hook That’s the kind of doc producers and streamers like to see before greenlighting development funding. Would you like me to build that next? ChatGPT said: Here’s a Producer’s Pitch Sheet for Rocco in the format production executives expect — concise, visual, and business-focused. I’ll keep it streamlined so it can drop into a pitch deck or be sent as a standalone 1-pager. ROCCO Pilot: “The Diary” A Journey Between Wars and Bloodlines Audience Profile Core Demographic: Adults 25–54, balanced male/female skew. Streamer and prestige TV viewers who enjoy historical mysteries, international intrigue, and destination-driven dramas. Psychographics: Fans of history-based thrillers (The Crown, Blood & Treasure, The Da Vinci Code). Viewers drawn to dual-timeline storytelling (The Godfather Part II, Peaky Blinders). Pet/animal lovers — Roam, the German Shepherd, adds emotional connection and marketing potential.

Market Potential: Global appeal due to locations in Italy, Germany, and the U.S. Potential for strong European and North American co-viewership. High travel/visual appeal = social media buzz, tourism tie-ins. Budget Range (8 Episodes) High-End Streamer (Netflix, Prime): $4M–$6M per episode ($32M–$48M total) Mid-Tier Prestige TV (AMC, HBO Europe): $2M–$3M per episode ($16M–$24M total) Lean Co-Production (RAI, BBC, ZDF): $1.5M–$2M per episode ($12M–$16M total) Recommended Target: $18M–$22M total — cinematic quality, controlled spending via location clustering & local crew.

Location Incentive Opportunities Italy: National tax credit up to 40% for foreign productions (including feature series), plus regional incentives in Campania, Sicily, Lazio. Germany: Regional rebates for filming in Berlin/Brandenburg + art/culture heritage subsidies. EU Co-Production Grants: Potential funding via Eurimages if partnered with European broadcasters. Visual Sales Hook (1-Page)

Logline: After discovering his great-grandmother’s diary, a restless Californian and his loyal German Shepherd embark on a perilous journey to Sicily, where clues to a smuggled World War I treasure entangle him in a deadly game with black-market art dealers — and into the heart of his family’s buried past. Tone & Style: Cinematic, atmospheric, and suspense-driven. Warm, golden present-day Italy contrasts with cold, desaturated 1918 Berlin & Sicily flashbacks. Color Split: Present = rich Mediterranean tones. Past = steel blues with sepia undertone. Key Visual Elements: Split-frame poster: left = Amalfi coastline at sunset, right = WWI Berlin rail yard in snow. Centered silhouette of Rocco and Roam walking toward the horizon, with a German Shepherd head profile overlay as the emblem. Tagline: “The Diary – A Journey Between Wars and Bloodlines.”

Why It Sells: High-concept mystery with emotional hook. Strong travel and history visuals = streamer-friendly binge appeal. Flexible budget scaling without losing visual spectacle.

Download it here: 📄 Rocco_Producers_Pitch_Sheet.pdf