This website was created by Cathy Lawrence and Brooke Allen on their second date because they felt there was more to life than consuming food, booze, and entertainment. They asked themselves what they might create that would inspire others to create things of value on their dates.

Theirs is the first story: C001

Here is our mythical origin story in Italian Opera Form (with some poetic license taken).

Co-Crea-Incontro: Un’Opera Italiana

(Co-Create-Date: An Italian Opera)

Characters:

KITTY: Idealistic, creative young woman.
LENNY: Pragmatic, slightly older man.
CORO: Chorus of townspeople, onlookers, and later, global participants.

Scene 1: Caffè (Coffee Shop)

(Kitty and Lenny sit at a table, the remnants of their cappuccinos between them. Music starts with a nervous, staccato rhythm.)

Kitty (Smiling nervously) Ingegnere informatico, lei? Che lavoro interessante! (A software engineer, you are? What interesting work!)

Lenny (Shrugs, music becomes slightly more legato) Sì, mi paga le bollette, sai com’è. (Yes, it pays the bills, you know how it is.) E tu, che fai? Gestisci i social media? (And you, what do you do? Manage social media?)

Kitty (Grimaces, music becomes more dramatic) Creatrice di contenuti, si dice. Ma vorrei fare qualcosa di più… significativo. (Content creator, they say. But I would like to do something more… meaningful.)

Lenny (Raises an eyebrow, music becomes skeptical) Significativo? Cosa vuol dire? (Meaningful? What does that mean?)

Kitty (Music gains intensity and passion) Che fa la differenza! Non solo vendere cose inutili alla gente! (That makes a difference! Not just selling useless things to people!)

Lenny (Sips his cappuccino, music becomes dry and detached) Non credo di salvare il mondo con il mio codice. (I don’t believe I’m saving the world with my code.) Ma qualcuno deve pur creare le app che usi per i tuoi… contenuti significativi. (But someone has to create the apps you use for your… meaningful content.)

Kitty (Laughs, music lightens) Hai ragione, però… non pensi mai che ci sia di più nella vita? (You are right, however… don’t you ever think there is more to life?) Che consumare ed essere intrattenuti? (Than consuming and being entertained?)

Lenny (Looks around the crowded coffee shop, music becomes cynical) A giudicare da questa gente, direi di no. (Judging by these people, I would say no.)

Kitty (Sighs, music becomes frustrated) Forse. O forse non hanno pensato a un modo migliore. (Perhaps. Or perhaps they haven’t thought of a better way.)

(Music ends the scene with a questioning, unresolved chord.)

Scene 2: Parco (Park)

(Kitty and Lenny stroll through a park. The music begins with a more relaxed tempo, with a hint of romanticism.)

Kitty Ho avuto un’idea… invece di cena e cinema, perché non creare qualcosa insieme? (I had an idea… instead of dinner and a movie, why not create something together?) Qualcosa di utile per gli altri? (Something useful for others?)

Lenny (Scoffs, music becomes dismissive) Tipo? Fare volontariato in una mensa? (Like what? Volunteer at a soup kitchen?)

Kitty (Smiling, music becomes more playful and hopeful) Magari! O dipingere un murale, creare un sito web, anche solo raccogliere la spazzatura! (Maybe! Or paint a mural, create a website, even just pick up trash!)

Lenny (Music becomes thoughtful) Non so… mi sembra un po’ sdolcinato. (I don’t know… it seems a bit cheesy to me.)

Kitty (Music gains in passionate intensity) Ma non sarebbe fantastico? Trasformare gli incontri in qualcosa che crea valore! (But wouldn’t it be fantastic? To transform dates into something that creates value!)

Lenny (Intrigued, music becomes curious and open) Potremmo provarci. Cosa abbiamo da perdere? (We could try it. What do we have to lose?)

(Music ends the scene with a hopeful, ascending melody.)

Scene 3: Centro Comunitario (Community Center)

(Kitty and Lenny are painting a mural. The music is upbeat and joyful, reflecting their collaborative energy.)

Kitty (Admires their work, music swells with pride) Sta venendo proprio bene! (It’s coming along really well!)

Lenny (Grinning, music echoes the grin) Già, non male per due dilettanti! (Yeah, not bad for two amateurs!)

Kitty Dobbiamo dare un nome a questa cosa del “co-crea-incontri”! (We have to give a name to this “co-create-date” thing!)

Lenny (Thinking, music becomes contemplative) Che ne dici di… “Crea-un-Incontro”? (What do you think of… “Create-a-Date”?)

Kitty (Shakes her head, music becomes playful and dismissive) Troppo banale! E se lo chiamassimo… “Co-Crea-Incontro”? (Too cheesy! What if we called it… “Co-Create-Date”?)

Lenny (Snaps his fingers, music punctuates the decision with a decisive chord) Perfetto! (Perfect!)

(Music transitions to a triumphant fanfare.)

Scene 4: Appartamento di Kitty (Kitty’s Apartment)

(Kitty and Lenny work on their website. The music has a driving, determined rhythm.)

Kitty (Typing, music reflects the quick pace) Ci serve uno slogan… “Incontri con uno scopo”? “Amore in azione”? (We need a slogan… “Dates with a purpose”? “Love in action”?)

Lenny (Looking at the website, music becomes thoughtful) Che ne dici di… “Costruisci un incontro migliore, costruisci un mondo migliore”? (What about… “Build a better date; create a better world”?)

Kitty (Beaming, music soars with joy) Mi piace! (I love it!)

(Music ends the scene with a sense of accomplishment.)

Scene 5: Montaggio (Montage)

(A montage of scenes showing couples participating in Co-Crea-Incontri around the world. The music is a vibrant, global tapestry of sounds, reflecting the different cultures participating.)

CORO: (Singing in Italian, with increasing excitement)
- Coppie che piantano alberi! (Couples planting trees!)
- Coppie che costruiscono rampe! (Couples building ramps!)
- Coppie che donano libri! (Couples donating books!)
- Co-Crea-Incontro, un mondo migliore! (Co-Create-Date, a better world!)

(The music builds to a crescendo.)

Scene 6: Studio Televisivo (TV Studio)

(Kitty and Lenny are being interviewed. The music is bright and celebratory.)

PRESENTATORE (Speaking over the music) Allora, raccontateci di questo movimento “Co-Crea-Incontro”. (So, tell us about this “Co-Create-Date” movement.)

Kitty (Music softens for her to speak) Trasformiamo gli incontri in un’occasione per dare alla comunità e creare qualcosa di significativo. (We transform dates into an opportunity to give back to the community and create something meaningful.)

Lenny (Music softens further) Crediamo che collaborando per creare valore, le coppie si connettano più profondamente e facciano la differenza. (We believe that by collaborating to create value, couples connect more deeply and make a difference.)

PRESENTATORE (Music rises again) Che idea meravigliosa! E sembra che stia prendendo piede! (What a wonderful idea! And it seems to be catching on!)

(Kitty and Lenny smile at each other. The music swells to a grand finale, with the CORO joining in for a final reprise of “Co-Crea-Incontro, un mondo migliore!”)

(CURTAIN)