LEROY
You've never been intimate with Lara, have you?
TOM
No, she's like my daughter. A daughter I never had.
Lara is silent, and a shadow of sadness falls upon her face. Tom senses her sorrow, leans over, and gently kisses her, his hand embracing her shoulder.
TOM
Your time will come, Lara. You will experience happiness. You'll see.
FLASH BACK
EXT. DAY. SURROUNDING THE SAFETY NET OF THE SETTLEMENT'S FENCES
A group of individuals dressed in blue jumpsuits gathers around a massive safety net. Some are seated on the iron sidewalk, while others lean against the guardrail. The day is clear, offering a view that extends beyond the snow-capped mountains at the desert's edge. A 30-year-old man, wearing only his underwear, stands on the roof of one of the trolleys. He waves his hands in the air and gracefully leaps down, executing multiple somersaults before landing safely in the net. Applause erupts from the onlookers. Climbing up the net, he reaches one of the surrounding sidewalks. A minute later, a young Tom, approximately 25 years old, strong, energetic, and full of vitality, stands on the rooftop of the same trolley. He stands tall at the edge of the roof, taking a deep breath and focusing. Looking down, he sees his neighbors watching him from about twenty meters below. His gaze locks onto Mary Ann, an attractive woman approaching 35 years of age, dressed in a black jumpsuit that sets her apart from the others. As a widow who lost her husband to a fatal jump, she carries a different air about her. With one final breath, Tom waves his hands and fearlessly leaps, performing a series of somersaults in mid-air before landing precisely on his back. His outstretched hands strike the net at the right moment, cushioning the impact on his back. He sinks into the elastic net, swaying for several meters before it propels him back up, a couple of meters high, and he lands once again in the pocket at the bottom of the net. Somewhere in the recesses of his mind, he hears enthusiastic applause from the few spectators on the sidewalk. His head spins, knowing that Mary Ann will be waiting for him that night. After completing his climb and joining the people on the sidewalk, he notices their appreciative looks, and one of the older men turns to him.
OLDER MAN
It seems to me that this year we'll send you to the regional free jumping competition. You won't have many competitors. Rest for now. Tomorrow, you'll board the flying trolley that will take you on its daily tour to the village hosting the competition.
TOM (enthusiastic)
I've always wanted to see the world. Leaving here will certainly lift my spirits. I can't even remember the last time I left the settlement since I came here as a toddler.