John Elio and his sister, Idelle, are enjoying their time off in John's rural hometown of Poca Bellezza until they are suddenly confronted by the general who has been secretly commanding Idelle. The general reveals himself to be John's real father, and his assistant admits she is his real mother. Both of them want John to rejoin their family, but when he refuses, they put his town and its people at risk of destruction and will force him to be with them unless he passes their challenges for him and his sister.