When a writing professor and aspiring freediver saves the son of a ruthless Ukrainian mob boss, he’s pulled into a web of loyalty, betrayal, and intrigue—forced to make some drastic choices to protect the boy who now sees him as family, their relationships profoundly changing each of them after a shocking revelation.
Character DrivenCrimeGang ThemeHistoricalLove StoryViolenceTime Period: 20th Century | PresentStory Location: Europe | USASpecial Effects: Minimal SFXTarget Audience: Adult
Jon Wright, a quiet college literature professor decides to step out of his comfort zone by taking a freediving class. Unaware of where the new skill will lead him, he saves a teenage boy from a drowning car during a botched kidnapping attempt.
The boy's father, Volodymyr – a Ukrainian mob boss – is adamant about paying back the favor. But Jon is resistant, wanting nothing and reluctant to get involved.
Nevertheless, the two develop a relationship of mutual respect as Volodymyr shares his tragic family past, from Russian Revolution to current day, based on real world events, demonstrating the basis for his hard choices.
Jon and the boy form a mutual bond as mentor and student based on the boy's admiration of his savior and their mutual love of books and diving. Seeing the positive effect this has on his son and his recovery from the kidnapping trauma, Volodymyr actively encourages the relationship.
Meanwhile, against his better judgment, Jon also entangles in a deep romantic relationship with a mysterious woman named Athena – an acquaintance of the Volodymyr of unclear relation.
Until Volodymyr and his gang are arrested up in a major FBI operation.
Athena is revealed to be an undercover agent responsible for the bust.
In a full disclosure, Athena, actually named Rebecca, shares with Jon her own past which led her to this point.
Hurt by the deceit, Jon rejects her. But after emotional processing realizes his mistake.
But he may be too late. The furious mob boss with nothing left to lose has put out a contract on Athena/Rebecca, forcing her into Witness Protection and yet another new identity.
The boy is caught in the middle of this struggle of prides and the uncaring social services system.
To save them all, Jon proposes a drastic solution – uniting with Rebecca to take care of the boy, in exchange for her life and as payment of the debt owed him.
The story blends visual underwater action, crime thriller, and character drama, addressing the profound and timeless dilemmas of personal choice, love, betrayal, and redemption.
