The Bastard

By Juan Rodriguez-Briso

A Movie Length Tale™ from Aisle Seat Books™.

The illegitimate brother of the Spanish king spends his life in an epic quest for acceptance, fighting great battles abroad and struggling against his resentful half brother at home, until, with his goal almost in reach, he is at last forced to choose between love and glory.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aisle Seat Books
• Release date: Oct 17, 2011
• ISBN: 9781935655473

Book preview

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A Movie Length

Historical Adventure Tale

For Readers

17 and up.

Written by

Juan Rodriguez-Briso.

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Lyme, New Hampshire

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Copyright © 2011 Juan Rodriguez-Briso

All rights reserved.

ISBN-13: 978-1-935655-47-3

ISBN-10: 1-935655-47-7

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011937249

Published by Aisle Seat Books, an imprint of

GrayBooks LLC

1 Main Street

Lyme, New Hampshire 03768

www.Tales2Film.com

www.AisleSeatBooks.com

Electronic Edition

About Tales2Film™ and Aisle Seat Books™

Read a good movie lately?

Every good movie starts with a script, and every good script tells a riveting story. Long before the actors are chosen and the filming starts, a writer sits down, crafts that story, and submits it for consideration by the producers, directors, and other creative talents in the film industry. It can take a long time. A script may spend years making the rounds before getting the elusive Hollywood green light. If it ever does. Some of the greatest movies ever written are ones that none of us will ever see on the screen.

Tales2Film finds the best of those not-yet-produced tales and brings them to you as Movie Length Tales™ just as the writer envisaged them. Each of the tales in this series has been converted by the script’s writer from the technical shorthand of screenplay format into the familiar prose format you see here, a process called novelization.

These little books are not novels, or even novellas. Think of them as written movies. Like the screenplays they come from, each is presented in real time, written in the present tense to allow you to see the movie’s scenes in your mind’s eye as if they were unfolding on a theater’s screen before you.

So. Here’s a movie. Take your favorite aisle seat and enjoy it.

And when it’s over, take a look at out Featured Previews in the back of this book. Your next Movie Length Tale™ is already here...

Now Showing:

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Historical Adventure

Ages 17 and up

Theater lights dim.

Fade in:

A hand uses a feather quill to write:

Liberty, my friend, is one of the most precious gifts Heaven has bestowed upon man. No treasures the earth contains or the sea conceals can be compared to it.

>>

A screen title rolls:

It is the mid-16th century and the religious battle between Christianity and Islam reaches its climax. The Mediterranean Sea is besieged by the Turks and Europe cries out for a victory.

>>

A screen title reads: Castile, Spain

Far away from the sea stands a castle where a voice echoes in the library.

Could the will of man be against God’s? asks an old and bald monk. The best answer to this query can be found in the Theological Sum of Saint Thomas Aquinas and his formulation on free will.

A 12-year-old boy, blond, fire in his eyes, listens to the explanations with a bored expression. The monk walks around and glances at the books.

A scamp look from the boy who stands up quietly.

It must be here, demands the monk. Hieronymus, would you help me find it?

Silence is his answer. The Monk turns around.

The desk is empty and the door half-open.

Through the window he can see the boy galloping away into the golden fields of Castile.

>>

Wind ruffles the boy’s hair and caresses a face overcome with joy.

LATER:

Still galloping, the boy approaches a castle.

A screen title reads: Vilagarcia Castle.

The boy sees a figure at the entrance. His expression turns to one of guilt when he recognizes the white-haired nobleman who observes him in the distance with a troubled expression.

>>

A screen title reads: Yuste Monastery.

The white haired nobleman, with a serious expression, walks hastily together with the boy, both dressed in court fashion through the cloister.

It is not always possible to do as you feel! says the nobleman. There are duties and protocols that must be fulfilled.

And you promised me that I could go hunting today, godfather, replies the boy.

How dare you compare hunting to the chance to meet the greatest emperor that Europe has ever seen?

The boy’s expression turns to annoyance.

And you better change that face, continues the nobleman. I don’t want him to get the wrong impression of your education.

They both enter the reception room of the monastery where an aged, bearded man with a Golden Fleece pendant hanging from his neck sits in a huge armchair. A blanket covers his legs. He fixedly observes the boy who stands beside the nobleman.

Your Majesty, salutes the nobleman. May I introduce you to my godson, Hieronymus.

The boy kneels down. God save Your Majesty.

Come closer, boy, answers Emperor Charles.

A chubby secretary in his forties with a black beard observes the boy approaching Emperor Charles.

Your godfather Quijada has told me a lot about you, continues Emperor Charles. From him I know that you are reluctant to lead an ecclesiastical life.

Your Majesty has served God better than any other man and you were neither a priest nor a friar, replies the boy.

Silence, Hieronymus! interrupts Quijada.

Come with me, smiles Emperor Charles.

He then stands with difficulty, walks hobbling, followed by the boy, Quijada and the secretary.

>>

They all enter the Emperor’s office. It’s dominated by a large globe.

On impulse the boy runs toward the globe and spins it. Emperor Charles looks at him paternally, walks slowly over and caresses his head while watching the globe.

Is it true that you ruled the largest Empire ever? asks the boy.

Emperor Charles affirms with a small nod.

Then why did you split it? demands the boy. I thought Empires must expand but my godfather explained me that you divided it between your son and your brother.

Sometimes it is necessary to divide for the greater good, states Emperor Charles.

The boy continues spinning the globe while his eyes are drawn to an enormous sword hanging on the wall.

Emperor Charles sees the longing in his eyes.Go ahead. Granvelle will help you.

The secretary, Granvelle, helps the boy take down the sword and warns him with his smooth French accent: Be careful. It carries the weight of history.

The boy takes the sword and demonstrates some skillful fencing movements. Quijada’s face fills with pride.

Granvelle approaches Emperor Charles.

Your Majesty, it is time for your spiritual exercises. Today you must also have confession.

Emperor Charles nods his head and walks toward the boy who practices with the sword. He stops the boy’s arm.

There is always time for war, boy. But now it’s time for God.

THAT EVENING:

A tearful Emperor Charles sits on the confession booth’s seat. Granvelle waits inside.

Ave Maria purisima, says Emperor Charles.

Sine labe concepta, replies Granvelle.

Father, I accuse myself of betraying God.

You may explain yourself, answers a surprised Granvelle.

That boy…

The young Hieronymus?

Emperor Charles nods.

That boy is my son.

Granvelle opens his eyes, astonished.

>>

In Vilagarcia Castle’s courtyard there appears a sword and behind it the eyes of the quick-witted boy, now dressed as a squire, as he practices fencing movements against a scarecrow.

>>

In the confessional, the Emperor continues: A bastard, born when I was already a widower. He was God’s answer to my doubts.

>>

In the castle courtyard, Quijada observes the boy from a distance.

>>

Doubts? inquires Granvelle.

>>

Quijada takes the sword from the boy and demonstrates a half-loop between himself and the scarecrow: The sword is in the scarecrow’s back.

>>

Doubts about dividing the Empire or naming a single heir, answers Emperor Charles.

>>

The boy takes back the sword. He repeats the movement, fast as a lighting, accurate as clockwork: The scarecrow is beheaded.

>>

God requested I unite Europe, not divide it. That is why he sent him, to be the only heir, the only King, continues Emperor Charles.

>>

Quijada gives the boy a paternal look.

>>

At the end, my hand trembled and I decided to divide the Empire between my son and my brother, explains Emperor Charles.