The Great Sicilian Norseman

By Joseph F. Panicello

The Great Sicilian Norseman is a true story about a six-foot-seven-inch Viking, Roger, who came down from Normandy to Sicily to gain riches and property, but instead, he indirectly frees the Sicilian people of Arab rule in the year 1050. He became Count of Sicily after he freed his beloved, Judith, who was held for ransom by a German ruler. His son, Roger II, later became king of Southern Italy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546272625

Joseph F. Panicello

Joseph Francis Panicello was born in Queens, New York, in 1927 of Sicilian parents. Joe was in the US Navy for three years and he and his two deceased brothers are World War II veterans. Joe became an Electronic Engineer using the GI Bill and worked for Bell Laboratories and Lockheed Aircraft for 40 years. He is a widower of Rose after 30 years of marriage. He has 3 daughters with her and now lives in California with his present wife Barbara. Joe became a writer of seven books and twelve screenplays after he retired from Lockheed in December of 1989.

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Copyright © 2019 Joseph F. Panicello. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/14/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-7263-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-7262-5 (e)

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

ACT I

ACT II

ACT III

THE GREAT SICILIAN NORSEMAN

By

Joseph Francis Panicello

THE GREAT SICILIAN NORSEMAN

Screenplay by

Joseph Francis Panicello

Based on the novel

The Great Sicilian Norseman

By

Joseph Francis Panicello

10/12/18

ACT I

FADE IN:

EXT. HAUTEVILLE MANOR, NORMANDY - DAY (YEAR 1041)

The people of Normandy are two generation descendants from Norway Vikings. They originally were banished from Norway as criminals so they conquered and settled in Normandy. Many Vikings and Norwegian women later migrated to their settlement.

A young Norman, ROGER at 10, and his cousin, Richard, are PLAYING with wooden swords as though they were really fighting. Richard, bigger and older than Roger, OVERPOWERS him.

ROGER

(bowing)

I concede… You’re the winner.

RICHARD

I now proclaim myself, King of England.

Roger’s sister, FRESSENDEA, comes out of the Manor.

FRESSENDA

(yelling)

Roger, get back to the barn and finish cleaning out the stables!

Roger LEAVES mad at his sister. He’s already taller than her, but he would never harm her.

FRESSENDA (CONT’D)

(acting demure)

Hello, Richard. Come to see me?

Her long blond hair lays on her shoulders just like her four other tall sisters.

RICHARD

I did sweet Fressenda, but I was challenged by your kid brother.

…He thinks he’s a knight. Ha?

They LAUGH together. She puts her hand UNDER his arm and they stroll to a brook.

INSIDE HAUTEVILLE MANOR - NEXT DAY

Old TANCRED CALLS his tall twelve boys to the kitchen.

TANCRED

Boys, a messenger came from young Duke William. He wants us to meet him at the border.

Guy of Burgundy, who thinks he should be the Duke, is on his way to mount a major attack against him!

ROGER

(pleading)

Can I go too, father?

His older brother, ROBERT, at six foot-nine SPEAKS up.

ROBERT

Sure you can, Roger. You will be my squire for this battle.

Prepare my horse with armor and fill my sacks with enough provisions to last two weeks.

ROGER

Thank you, brother.

All of Tancred’s sons are now busy preparing for battle.

EXT. HAUTEVILLE MANOR - DAY

Tancred’s sons are mounted on horseback, but the squires go on foot including Roger. One hundred Norman knights join them on horseback.

TANCRED

(loud)

Let’s go men!

It’s a fifty mile ride to the battlefront and in the snow!

EXT. BATTLEFRONT - DAYS LATER

Young DUKE WILLIAM (later to be known as William the Conqueror of England) is talking to his Baron.

DUKE WILLIAM

(angry)

Why do we need old man Tancred? We could win this battle over Guy ourselves. I don’t like him!

BARON

Sire, we do not have a great leader such as him!

I don’t know what he’s done to you and your father to put him out of your favor, but we need him, his sons and his knights and we must pay them well.

DUKE WILLIAM

(mad)

Pay them! Why should I pay him?

…He was banned from my army!

BARON

That’s not the point. As long as we pay him, he and his twelve sons will always be devoted to you.

If we don’t, they may be hired by Guy!

DUKE WILLIAM

(conceding)

Very well!

(beat)

When I’m older, I will assume full command and to hell with him!

At the battle field Tancred is at the head of the Norman Knights. He’s watching the young Duke for the signal to charge.

The Duke lowers his sword.

TANCRED

Charge! Charge!

They GALLOP their large horses in a V formation and charge to the center of Guy’s army. Tancred and his sons are first to make contact with the enemy with Tancred in the lead.

Robert is posted on the Tancred’s right side while his brother, Humphrey, is on the left. Serlo is right behind Tancred to protect his rear.

The other sons follow. The first attempt is successful as they slash through the center unharmed. They reverse themselves several times. The Duke is watching on a hilltop.

DUKE WILLIAM

(worried)

Tancred will get all the credit. Let’s attack! Attack!

After four hours of fighting, Guy yells out.

GUY

(loud)

Retreat! Retreat!

After Guy’s army leaves, Robert sees his father lying on the ground. He dismounts his horse and kneels by him.

ROBERT

(pity)

Are you alright, father?

TANCRED

It’s my leg. I hope I won’t lose it?

The doctor arrives and looks at the leg.

DOCTOR

You won’t lose the leg, Tancred, but your fighting days are over!

INT. INSIDE HAUTEVILLE MANOR - DAY

SUPER (1048)

Roger is now seventeen years of age, very tall at 6 foot-seven and strong as a bull from working hard on the farm.

Tancred is in a rocking chair TALKING to young Roger.

TANCRED

Son, you are now at the age when you may become a Knight.

But you must prove yourself in battle as our ancestors did. All eligible warriors must be knighted by the Duke.

ROGER

But father, all of my brothers except me and Humbert are Knights!