The Thread of the Story

Brethren, sisters, find a synopsis of The Sparrow as it stands. We will keep you posted as we develop the storyline through further rewrites, so that you may be fully part of our creative journey!

ACT I

The story begins in a secluded convent in Catania, Sicily, in 1859. Maria, a young novice, prepares to temporarily leave her sanctuary due to a cholera outbreak sweeping through the region. Father Anselmo, a strict priest, warns Maria and the other novices about the temptations of the outside world. He points to Sister Agata, a fellow nun who fell from grace after venturing beyond the convent walls. Agata’s troubled presence and whispered warnings to Maria cast a haunting tone over Maria’s departure.

Returning home, Maria is warmly welcomed by her father Giovanni and her lively stepsister Giuditta, both delighted to have her back. Her stepmother, Rosalia, however, is less welcoming, viewing Maria as both a disruption and a reminder of Giovanni’s late wife. Soon after her arrival, Maria hears of Sister Agata’s passing, learning that her life was claimed by both cholera and sorrow.

As Maria settles into her family’s daily life, she meets Nino, the charming son of the neighbouring family, whose passion for the land and nature immediately captivates her.

On All Souls’ Day, Maria visits her mother’s grave, where she finds a hidden box of letters that reveal an unexpected connection between her and Sister Agata. Her chance encounter with Nino that same evening deepens her doubts about following the expectations others have for her.

The following day, Nino goes missing, and Maria’s family goes out searching for him. Left alone, she prays intensely, believing that reciting a hundred Hail Mary’s might bring him safely home. When Nino returns unharmed, Maria’s overwhelming relief troubles her, intensifying her inner conflict.

At a village celebration held in Maria’s honour, Nino’s affection for her becomes apparent. Meanwhile, Giuditta harbors her own hope for a future with Nino, an idea encouraged by Rosalia, who is determined to see Giuditta married to him.

Later that night, Nino sneaks into Maria’s room, and the two share a private, intimate dance. Feverish and confused, Maria prays desperately for guidance, pleading to remain steadfast in God’s light, with Agata’s warnings echoing in her mind and foreshadowing the difficult choices ahead.

ACT II

Maria, still feverish, relives memories of her past. Through flashbacks, we see Rosalia persuading Giovanni to send Maria to the convent to protect her virtue, believing it the safest choice. We also witness Maria’s initial resistance and gradual acceptance of her religious path, culminating in her receiving a silver rosary upon completing her postulancy.

In the present, Maria’s health deteriorates, seeming to worsen whenever Nino is near. Troubled by this, Rosalia forbids Nino from seeing Maria and instead encourages him toward Giuditta. Over time, Nino and Giuditta grow closer. During a walk in the hills, Nino picks an Etna rose, remarking on how it blooms in the harshest conditions. Unable to visit Maria, he leaves the rose on her window ledge with a note wishing her a swift recovery.

Maria begins to recover, but, seeing that Nino has moved on, she decides to return to the convent after Christmas, as the cholera epidemic subsides. At the convent threshold, Nino, with Giovanni’s support, tries to dissuade her, but she insists—the outside world has only brought her suffering, and she believes her place is with the nuns.

She takes her final vows. During the ceremony, she preserves a lock of her hair as a keepsake of the life she’s leaving behind. Soon after, she gradually stops nourishing herself as her spirit slowly fades away.

Months pass, and Giovanni shares the news that Nino and Giuditta are engaged. Though Maria expected this, the news pushes her toward madness. During the wedding, Maria envisions herself telling everyone what she truly thinks but only manages this confrontation in her mind. Her physical weakness from starvation leads her to faint.

As newlyweds, Nino and Giuditta struggle, with Giuditta sensing Nino’s lingering thoughts of Maria, especially after learning she is in the convent infirmary.

At the infirmary, Maria refuses food and drink, slipping deeper into despair. She is visited by the spirit of Sister Agata, who reveals that her warning was misunderstood: she hadn’t advised Maria to reject love but to embrace it, leaving behind a misguided sense of duty. Agata reassures her that God wishes love and happiness for all His creatures, not suffering. But Maria realizes that it is now too late. There is only one way left for her to escape that cage and fly free.

Back in the countryside, Nino and Giuditta are visiting their families. As they prepare for a walk in the hills, Nino receives a small package from the convent containing a silver rosary, some withered rose petals, and a lock of hair…