EXT. PORT ROYAL – TOWN – NIGHT
Streets, buildings, docks and ships shatter and explode
beneath the onslaught. Villagers panic, run for cover,
dodge flying debris as best they can. If this is not hell
on earth, then it’s about to be–long boats emerge out of the fog, carrying ARMED
PIRATES. They swarm from the boats, striking down
,villagers indiscriminately and setting fires.
INT. BLACKSMITH’S FORGE – NIGHT
Will slips the boarding axe into his belt at the small of
his back. He puts a dirk in his belt, then a second and a
third. He picks up a second axe and a sword.
Will slides back the doors of the forge-A woman runs past, chased by a ONE-ARMED PIRATE wearing a
yellow bandeau. Will backhands the axe square into his
chest, a deadly blow. Will heads out, up the street-EXT. FORT CHARLES – PARAPETS – NIGHT
The moon is obscured by smoke rising from the burning
gallows and wooden roofs. Cannon fire continues to rain
down, but the fort’s own cannons now return fire.
NORRINGTON
Governor! Barricade yourself in my
office!
(Swann hesitates)
That’s an order!
Swann turns to go-but finds himself face-to-face with a
pirate-KOEHLER, a handsome blond man with gold earrings.
Beyond Koehler, more pirates come up over the far wall.
Koehler grins and raises a cutlass –Norrington’s sword blocks Koehler’s slash.
NORRINGTON (CONT’D)
They’ve flanked us! Men! Swords
and pistols!
The battle is joined-INT. GOVERNOR’S MANSION – ELIZABETH f S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Elizabeth looks out a window at the scene below: even
through the fog, multiple fires are visible, and ships burn
in the harbor. Shouts and cries of pain. Cannon fire
ECHOES.
She notices movement directly below her window: two SHADOWY
FIGURES, approaching the house-pirates. Elizabeth bolts
from her room-INT. SECOND FLOOR HALLWAY – NIGHT
She reaches the railing overlooking the foyer, and cries
out, just as the butler opens the door-too late; there
is the BOOM of a gun, and the butler crumples.
Elizabeth ducks down in horror, peering through the
balusters. The pirates scan the foyer, searching. The
leader is PINTEL, a sallow-looking pirate with a bald head.
Suddenly Pintel looks up, and locks eyes with Elizabeth.
How could he know she was there?
PINTEL
Up there!
The pirates rush for the stairs. Elizabeth scrambles back
into the nearest room-INT. SITTING ROOM – NIGHT
Elizabeth shuts the door, locks it, listens as the pirates
pound up the stairs-ESTRELLA
Miss Elizabeth?
Elizabeth jumps. Estrella is right behind her, terrified.
They whisper:
ESTRELLA (CONT’D)
Are they come to kidnap you, miss?
The daughter of the governor would
be very valuable.
Elizabeth realizes she’s right. There is the SLAM of a body
against the door.
ELIZABETH
Listen, Estrella-they haven’t
seen you. Hide, and first chance,
run for the fort .
Estrella nods. Another SLAM at the door-it gives a bit – –
Elizabeth shoves Estrella into the corner, between a tall
wardrobe and the wall. Dashes for the side door.
When the door smashes inward, it slams into the wardrobe,
and the maid cannot be seen. The pirates run in-spot the
open side door, and run for it-INT. ELIZABETH’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Pintel is the first through, and gets the pan of the bed
warmer in the face for his trouble-he staggers back,
holding his nose-INT. SITIING ROOM – NIGHT
Estrella breaks cover, runs for the hall, unnoticed.
INT. ELIZABETH’S BEDROOM – NIGHT-Elizabeth swings the bed warmer at the second pirate,
but he catches it by the handle-Elizabeth can’t jerk it
free, so she wrenches it over-the pan lid swings down,
BANGING the second pirate-hot coals spill on his head,
sizzling.
Elizabeth dashes for the hallway stairs – INT. SECOND FLOOR HALLWAY/FOYER – CONTINUOUS – NIGHT
The pirates burst from the bedroom-Pintel goes for the
stairs, but the second pirate vaults the handrail-Estrella registers the butler’s body, but continues out the
still-open front door at a dead run. Elizabeth follows-The second pirate lands between Elizabeth and the front
door. His face is BURNED, his hair SMOLDERS-he reaches – –
Elizabeth pulls up short, runs the other way-Pintel, on the stairs, grabs her by the hair-Elizabeth
doesn’t slow-she spins, grabs Pintel’s arm with both
hands and pulls him hard, belly-first, into the cap of the
newel post-he lets go of her hair-Elizabeth keeps
going
INT. DINING ROOM – NIGHT
Elizabeth slams the double doors shut, throws the bolts.
The interior shutters are closed over the windows. Above
the fireplace are two crossed swords.
Elizabeth climbs on the firebox; she grabs one of the
swords by the hilt and pulls-but it won’t come free.
Both swords are securely attached to the wall. Damn!
A SMASH from the doors-the pirates are relentless – On the table is a platter with fruit, cheese and bread.
Elizabeth grabs the knife from the platter – Like any bread knife, it has a round point. Elizabeth jabs
it into her palm-it’s useless as a weapon. Double damn!
The blade of a boarding axe breaches the door-the
pirates will be through soon-Elizabeth looks around – INT. FIRST FLOOR HALLWAY – NIGHT
The doors give way; the pirates charge through – INT. DINING ROOM – CONTINUOUS – NIGHT
Empty. Elizabeth nowhere to be seen. Pintel and Smoldering
Pirate search, under the table, behind draperies.
PINTEL
We know you’re here, poppet. Come
out and we promise we won’t hurt
you.
Smoldering pirate gives him look-he wants to hurt her
plenty. Pintel shakes his head: ‘Don’t worry, I’m lying.’
PINTEL (CONT’D)
We will find you, poppet …
You’ve got something of ours, and
it calls to us!
INT. DUMBWAITER – NIGHT
Elizabeth hides in the dumbwaiter box, wrapped around the
double pulley ropes that go through the center.
PINTEL (O.S.)
The gold calls to us!
Elizabeth registers that-she pulls out the medallion,
rubs
the gold with her thumb. This is their objective. Light
spills into the- box through gaps in the top as the door
above is slid open-Elizabeth looks up through the gaps – Pintel leers down at her.
PINTEL (CONT’D)
Hello, poppet.
Elizabeth works the ropes to lower the box. Pintel pulls
the other way; he’s stronger, and the box rises. Elizabeth
tries to stop it-wraps her left forearm through the rope
and lets it jam against the top of the box.
Elizabeth gasps at the pain, but the box stops. She saws at
the rope with the bread knife.
Smoldering pirate helps pull the rope, crushing Elizabeth’s
forearm. Tears of pain on her face, she keeps sawing – The rope parts, and the dumbwaiter box PLUMMETS – INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
From behind the door of the dumbwaiter comes a CRASH, and a
cloud of dust. The door slides open, and Elizabeth clambers
out. Her head is cut, she is streaked with dirt, and can
barely stand. She leans over the table, trying to recover.
The sound of running FOOTSTEPS gets louder …
ELIZABETH
Please, no …
Elizabeth touches the chain of the medallion … and a
desperate idea occurs to her.
The pirates burst through the door. Elizabeth backs away,
holds the bread knife out to ward them off. They come
around either side of the table, stalking her – ELIZABETH (CONT’D)
(gasps it out)
Par. .. Parlay!
Pintel can’t believe his ears.
PINTEL
What?
ELIZABETH
Parlay! I invoke the right of
parlay! According to” the Code of
the Brethren, set down by the
pirates Morgan and Bartholomew,
you must take me to your Captain!
PINTEL
I know the code.
ELIZABETH
If an adversary demands parley,
you can do them no harm until the
parlay is complete.
PINTEL
It would appear, so do you.
SMOLDERING PIRATE
To blazes with the code!
He steps forward, dirk drawn-Pintel stops him.
PINTEL
She wants to be taken to the
Captain, and she’ll go without a
fuss.
He looks to Elizabeth: ‘right?’ Elizabeth nods.
PINTEL (CONT’D)
We must honor the code.
Smoldering Pirate concedes the point, sheaths his dirk. He
grabs Elizabeth roughly by the arm – EXT. PORT ROYAL – STREET – NIGHT
Will races along, momentarily free of the pirates. He spots
the Governor’s Mansion in the distance. There are FIGURES
moving away from it-Elizabeth, forced by the two
pirates.
Will hurries forward – Suddenly a PIRATE jumps out from the shadows, slashes; Will
defends himself. The pirate has one arm and wears a yellow
bandana. Will hesitates-didn’t he already kill this guy?
The hesitation is just enough for another PIRATE, swinging
a flaming torch, to SLAM Will in the head from behind. Will
crumples.
The pirate lights a second torch, hands it to One-arm; they
hoot with delight and head off, setting fires as they go.
On the ground, Will doesn’t move.
INT. FORT CHARLES – CELL BLOCK – NIGHT
The wall of the cells EXPLODES inward. Jack pulls himself
out from under rubble. Moonlight spills in through the
gaping hole created by the cannon ball. Beyond it: freedom.
But it is centered on the other cell. The part of Jack’s
cell that is gone is too small for a man to slip through.
PRISIONER
Praise be!
He and the other two scramble through.
PRISONER (CONT’D)
(back to Jack)
My sympathies, friend – – you’ve
no manner of luck at all!
The three descend the rocks beyond, disappearing from view.
Jack is alone. Cannon fire continues, occasional hits
shaking the fort. The dog cowers under a long bench, key
ring still in his mouth. Jack sighs-resigned, he picks
up the bone from the other cell, and tries coax the dog
forward.
JACK
It’s all right, doggie … come
here,
boy. Come here, Spot. Rover. Fido?
To his surprise, the dog crawls out from under the bench.
Jack continues to coax him closer.
The key ring is nearly within Jack’s reach-suddenly, the
dog’s attention goes to the door into the cell block. He
BRISTLES, GROWLS. He backs away from the door, whining.
JACK (CONT’D)
What’s the matter, boy?
The dog bolts, through the bars, into the cell, then out
through the breached wall-taking the keys with him.
The door to the cell block bursts open. A pair of pirates
step in: KOEHLER and TWIGG.
TWIGG
This isn’t the armory.
He turns to go, but Koehler has spotted Jack.
KOEHLER
(Dutch accent)
Well, well… Look what we have
here, Twigg. It’s. Captain
Sparrow.
TWIGG
Huh. Last time I saw you, you were
all alone on a God-forsaken
island, shrinking into the
distance. I’d heard you’d gotten
off, but I didn’t believe it.
KOEHLER
Did you sprout little wings and
flyaway?
TWIGG
His fortunes aren’t improved much.
The two laugh. Jack doesn’t. He steps forward, close to the
bars. This puts him in a spill of moonlight. He is tight
with fury.
JACK
Worry about your own fortunes. The
lowest circle of hell is reserved
for betrayers … and mutineers.
Koehler and Twigg don’t like hearing that. Koehler lashes
out, grabs Jack by the throat through the bars. Jack
clutches the pirate’s wrist, looks down – Where they enter the moonlight, Koehler’s wrists and hands
are skeletal.
Jack’s eyes go wide-he is holding a skeleton arm.
JACK (CONT’ D)
You are cursed.
Koehler sneers, shoves Jack backwards, hard. Now out of the
moonlight, his hand is normal. Jack stares, realizing – JACK (CONT’D)
The stories are true.
Koehler ushers Twigg toward the door. Looks back.
KOEHLER
You know nothing of hell.
And then they’re gone.
EXT. PORT ROYAL – NIGHT
Amid the thunder of cannon fire, a longboat slips through
the fog. Elizabeth sits in the prow. Columns of water from
cannon balls geyser up around the boat.
The fog parts. Elizabeth looks up to see-The Black Pearl, a tall galleon, its black sails looming
high above her. At the bow is an ornately carved figurehead
of a beautiful woman, arm held high, a small bird taking
wing from her outstretched hand.
The longboat makes for a pair of lines dangling from a
winch.
EXT. BLACK PEARL – MAIN DECK – NIGHT
Lit by lanterns; no moon is visible beneath the fog. Smoke
hangs heavy above the deck.
Elizabeth’s longboat is raised above the deck rail-pirates spot her, and stare. One polite fellow steps
forward to offer his hand. She takes it and steps down. She
huddles, self-conscious in her nightgown and dressing robe.
BOSUN
I didn’t know we was taking
captives.
PINTEL
She’s invoked the right of
parlay… with Captain Barbossa.
ON THE POOP DECK-an imposing FIGURE in silhouette stands
by the wheel, too far away to have heard Pintel’s words.
But his head turns at the mention of his name.
The silhouetted figure moves toward the stairs. A cloud of
SMOKE obscures him-and then, as if he skipped the
stairs, he strides out of the SMOKE on the main deck-
This is BARBOSSA. Despite the bright colors of clothing,
definitely not a man you’d want to meet in a dark alley-or anywhere, for that matter.
Elizabeth, more terrified than ever, cannot look away from
his eyes. But she musters her courage – ELIZABETH
I am here to-The Bosun SLAPS her.
BOSUN
You’ll speak when spoken to!
His wrist is grabbed-painfully-by Barbossa.
BARBOSSA
And you’ll not lay a hand on those
under the protection of parlay!
BOSUN
Aye, sir.
Barbossa releases him. Turns to Elizabeth, smiles-it
shows both silver and gold teeth.
BARBOSSA
My apologies, miss. As you were
saying, before you were so rudely
interrupted?
ELIZABETH
Captain Barbossa … I have come
to negotiate the cessation of
hostilities against Port Royal.
Barbossa is both impressed and amused.
BARBOSSA
There was a lot of long words in
there, miss, and we’re not but
humble pirates. What is it you
want?
ELIZABETH
I want you to leave. And never
come back.
Barbossa and the pirates laugh.
BARBOSSA
I am disinclined to acquiesce to
your request.
(helpfully)
Means’ No. ‘
ELIZABETH
Very well.
She quickly slips the medallion off, darts to the side
rail, dangles it over the side of the ship. The pirates go
quiet.
ELIZABETH (CONT’D)
I’ll drop it!
BARBOSSA
My holds are bursting with swag.
That bit of shine matters to me
… Why?
ELIZABETH
Because it’s what you’re searching
for. You’ve been searching for it
for years. I recognize this ship.
I saw it eight years ago, when we
made the crossing from England.
BARBOSSA
(interested)
Did you, now?
Elizabeth glares at him. She’s getting nowhere.
ELIZABETH
Fine. I suppose if this is
worthless, there’s no reason to
keep it.
She flips the medallion up, off her finger – BARBOSSA
NO!
She catches it by the chain, smiles at him triumphantly.
BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
You have a name, missy?
ELIZABETH
Elizabeth – (stops herself from
saying “Swann”; then:)
Turner.
(embroidering)
I’m a maid in the governor’s
household.
(curtsies)
Barbossa reacts to the name
Turner: it confirms what he has
suspected. The other pirates
surreptitiously exchange glances
and nods.
BARBOSSA
You’ve got sand, for a maid.
ELIZABETH
(curtsies again)
Thank you, sir.
BARBOSSA
And how does a maid come to own a
trinket such as that? A family
heirloom, perhaps?
ELIZABETH
Of course.
(offended)
I didn’t steal it, if that’s what
you mean.
BARBOSSA
No, no, nothing like that.
(comes to a decision)
Very well. You hand that over,
we’ll put your town to our rudder
and ne’er return.
ELIZABETH
Can I trust you?
BARBOSSA
It’s you who invoked the parlay!
Believe me, Miss, you’d best hand
it over, now… or these be the
last friendly words you’ll hear!
Elizabeth hesitates, but she has no choice. She holds out
the medallion. He grabs it, clutches it in his fist like
hope.
ELIZABETH
Our bargain. . ?
Barbossa grins devilishly-but then nods to the Bosun.
BOSUN
Still the guns, and stow ’em!
Signal the men, set the flags, and
make good to clear port!
For the first time since the attack began, the BOOMING of
the guns ceases. Elizabeth is surprised-and relieved.
The pirates hustle to follow orders. Barbossa turns away.
ELIZABETH
Wait! You must return me to shore!
According to the rules of the
Order of the Brethren – Barbossa wheels on her.
BARBOSSA
First. Your return to shore was
not part of our negotiations nor
our agreement, and so I ‘must’ do
nothing. Secondly: you must be a
pirate for the pirate’s code to
apply. And you’re not. And
thirdly…
the code is more what you’d call guidelines than actual
rules.
(grins gold and silver)
Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner.
Elizabeth stares in speechless terror – EXT. PORT ROYAL – HARBOR – PRE-DAWN
As the Black Pearl turns out to sea, Elizabeth is led back
along the deck to the captain’s cabin.
The fog starts to dissipate, turning to a light mist;
through it, the Black Pearl makes for the scarlet glow of
dawn.
EXT. PORT ROYAL – STREET – PRE-DAWN
Will comes to, still where he fell, gets to his feet.
He takes in the devastation of Port Royal: the harbor is
dotted with burning and sunken ships; buildings are razed
and still smolder. The aftermath of hell on earth.
Will turns, and runs for the Governor’s Mansion.
INT. GOVERNOR’S MANSION – MORNING
Will races past the smashed doors, into the foyer. Calls
out:
WILL
Miss Swann! Elizabeth!
A terrible silence answers him. He spots an overturned
chair, fallen bookshelf – INT. FORT CHARLES – NORRINGTON’S OFFICE – MORNING
Will bursts in, still armed with sword and boarding axe.
WILL
They’ve taken her! They’ve taken
Elizabeth!
A group stares at him: Swann, Norrington, and Gillette
among others, gathered around a map. The map is so large it
drapes over the Governor’s desk, the far end supported by a
chair.
NORRINGTON
We’re aware of the situation.
WILL
We have to hunt them down-and
save her!
Swann’s worry has made him short-tempered.
SWANN
Where do you propose we start? If
you have any information that
concerns my daughter, then share
it! If anyone does, tell me!
(Will is silent)
Leave, Mr. Turner.
Murtogg has remembered something. He ventures it warily:
MURTOGG
That Jack Sparrow… he talked
about the Black Pearl.
MULLROY
Mentioned it, is more what he did.
MURTOGG
Still-WILL
We can ask him where it is-maybe he can lead us to it!
SWANN
That pirate tried to kill my
daughter. We could never trust a
word he said!
WILL
We could strike a bargain – NORRINGTON
No. The pirates who invaded this
fort left Sparrow locked in his
cell. Ergo, he is not their ally,
and therefore of no value.
(through with Will)
We will determine their most
likely course, and launch a search
mission that sails with the tide.
Will slams the boarding axe into the desk, through the map.
WILL
That’s not good enough. This is
Elizabeth’s life!
Norrington is quick to react; he throws a strong arm across
Will’s back, and guides him roughly to the door.
NORRINGTON
Mr. Turner, this is not the time
for rash actions.
(low)
Do not make the mistake of
thinking you are the only man here
who loves Elizabeth.
(firm)
Now, go home.
He opens the door, and then turns away. Will watches him
walk back to the desk. Will’s face sets in resolve, and he
leaves.
INT. FORT CHARLES – JAIL CELLS – MORNING
Jack strains, trying to budge one of the bars. Even with
the damage from the cannon ball, it won’t move. He hears
the sound of the door latch – The door opens, and Will slips in. Looks around. Jack
lounges on the floor of his cell, apparently relaxed and
unconcerned. Will marches straight up to the bars.
WILL
Are you familiar with that ship?
The Black Pearl?
JACK
Somewhat.
WILL
Where does it make berth?
JACK
Surely you’ve heard the stories? The
Black Pearl sails from the dreaded Isla
de Mureta… an island that cannot be
found-except by those who already
know where it is.
WILL
The ship’s real enough. So its
anchorage must be a real place. Where
is it?
JACK
Why ask me?
WILL
Because you’re a pirate.
JACK
And you want to turn pirate
yourself?
WILL
Never.
(beat)
They took Miss Swann.
JACK
(he was right)
So it is that you found a girl. Well,
if you’re intending to brave all and
hasten to her rescue and so win fair
lady’s heart, you’ll have to do it
alone. I see no profit in it for me.
Will slams his fist against the bars in frustration. Jack
is surprised at the outburst. Will thinks … makes a
decision.
WILL
I can get you out of here.
JACK
How? The key’s run off.
WILL
(examines the cell)
I helped build these cells. Those are
hook-and-ring hinges. The proper
application of strength, the door’ll
lift free. Just calls for the right
lever and fulcrum. . .
Jack watches Will as he speaks, and it dawns on him-Will
is the spitting image of someone he’s known in the past.
JACK
Your name is Turner.
Will gives him a puzzled look.
WILL
Yes. Will Turner.
Jack grins.
JACK
Will Turner…
(he stands)
I’ll tell you what, Mr. Turner. I’ve
changed my mind. You spring me from
this cell, and on pain of death, I’ll
you to the Black Pearl.
(sticks out his hand)
Do we have an accord?
Will gives him a suspicious look. The deal seems too good.
Jack keeps his hand out, still smiling. Will shakes it.
WILL
Agreed.
JACK
Agreed!
Will looks around, figures out what he needs. He makes a
chair his fulcrum, and levers the long bench under the
door. Pushes down-it’s hard work-but the cell door
rises, and then falls forward, CRASHING down on the bench
and chair.
Jack is impressed. He steps out of the cell.
WILL
Someone will have heard that.
Hurry.
Will heads for the door. Jack searches the desk, cupboards.
JACK
Not without my effects.
WILL
We need to go!
Jack finds his pistol, sword belt, and compass. Straps on
the belt, checks the shot in his pistol.
WILL (CONT’D)
Why are you bothering with that?
JACK
My business, Will. As for your business
-one question, or there’s no use going.
(joins Will at the door)
This girl-what does she mean to you?
How far are you willing to go to save
her?
WILL
(no hesitation)
I’d die for her.
JACK
Good.
EXT. PORT ROYAL – DOCKS – MORNING
The Jolly Mon, four inches of water in the bottom, squats
low in the water, heeled to one side, creaking on its
lines.
JACK (O.S.)
Ah, now there’s a lovely sight!
Jack hops down into the boat. Prepares to make way.
JACK (CONT’D)
I knew the Harbormaster wouldn’t report
her. Honest men are slaves to their
conscience, and there’s no predicting
’em. But you can always trust a
dishonest man to stay that way…
Jack notices that Will is standing, frozen on the dock,
staring at the boat in dismay.
JACK (CONT’D)
Come aboard.
WILL
I haven’t set foot off dry land I was
twelve, when the ship I was on
exploded.
(regards the boat)
It’s been a sound policy.
JACK
No worries there. She’s far more
likely to rot out from under us.
Will steels himself, steps into the boat as if its going to
capsize with the slightest movement. Jack hoists the sail.
JACK (CONT’D)
Besides, we are about to better
our prospects considerably.
He nods toward the H.M.S. Dauntless, looming in the harbor.
Will whiteknuckles the gunwales.
WILL
We’re going to steal a ship? That
ship?
JACK
Commandeer. We’re going to
commandeer a ship. Nautical term.
WILL
It’s still against the law.
JACK
So’s breaking a man out of jail. Face
it, Will: you may say you’ll never be a
pirate, but you’re off to a rip-roaring
start.
(smiling)
My advice-smile and enjoy it.
EXT. PORT ROYAL – MORNING
The Jolly Mon bobs its way across the bay, dwarfed against
the H.M.S. Dauntless. Will holds a stay line with iron
fists.
WILL
This is either crazy, or
brilliant.
JACK
Remarkable how often those two
traits coincide.
The Jolly Man nears the rudder of the much larger ship – EXT. H. M. S. DAUNTLESS – MAIN DECK – MORNING
There’s been a breakdown in discipline; about a dozen Navy
sailors are gathered together on the main deck, playing
dice. Murtogg and Mullroy among them.
Suddenly, Jack and Will jump out, into the open – brandishing pistols.
JACK
Everybody stay calm. We’re taking
over the ship!
WILL
(a beat)
Aye! Avast!
Jack gives him a look, shakes his head: don’t do that.
The sailors all look at them-and then burst out
LAUGHING. They grin, shake their heads. Jack stands there,
grinning with them-but his gun is still level. The
Lieutenant, GILLETTE, steps forward.
GILLETTE
You’re serious about this.
Jack moves his pistol across, points it at Gillette.
JACK
Dead serious.
GILLETTE
You understand this ship cannot be
crewed by only two men. You’ll never
make it out of the bay.
JACK
We’ll see about that.
More guffaws from the crew. A couple sailors move forward,
hands on swords-Gillette holds up a hand.
GILLETTE
Sir, I’ll not see any of my men killed
or wounded in this foolish enterprise.
JACK
Fine by me. We brought you a nice
little boat, so you can all get back to
shore, safe and sound.
GILLETTE
(a curt nod)
Agreed. You have the momentary
advantage, sir. But I will see you
smile from the yard arm sir.
JACK
As likely as not.
(calling)
Will, short up the anchor, we’ve
got ourselves a ship!
EXT. DAUNTLESS – STERN – MORNING
Sailors make their way down a rope ladder, crowd onto the
Jolly Mon. Will pushes hard against the windlass, to no
avail … the anchor is too heavy for one man. Jack
notices.
JACK
A little help?
Gillette shrugs, gestures to Murtogg and Mullroy. The three
men throw their weight into the windlass, and it turns.
Jack’s pistol is on them the whole time.
MURTOGG
I can’t believe he’s doing this.
The windless turns, bringing Mullroy into view.
MULLROY
You didn’t believe he was telling the
truth, either.
The windless turns some more, and there’s Gillette.
GILLETTE
(over his shoulder, to Will)
Do you have any idea, boy, what you’re
doing?
Another quarter turn – WILL
No.
EXT. DAUNTLESS – FORECASTLE – DAY
Jack and Will crank a capstan, raising the forward jib
sail. It luffs and billows out. The huge ship inches
forward slowly, pulled by just the one sail. Jack grins.
JACK
Lookee there, mate! We’re
underway!
EXT. PORT ROYAL – DOCK – DAY
Norrington moves along, concentrating on a manifest.
Alongside him is governor Swann, who glances over – Sees the tiny Jolly Mon headed toward them, riding low in
the water, overloaded with sailors. Beyond that, the
Dauntless sails-albeit slowly-for open waters.
SWANN
Commodore-NORRINGTON
A moment.
SWANN
But-NORRINGTON
Please.
SWANN
Dammit, man, it appears someone is
stealing your ship!
Norrington glances out at the bay. Sure enough, the
Dauntless is on the move. Norrington takes a brass
telescope from his belt, opens it, trains it on-The main deck. He picks out Will – NORRINGTON
Rash, Turner, too rash.-then spots Jack, at the wheel. Lowers the telescope.
NORRINGTON (CONT’D)
That is, without doubt, the worst
pirate I have ever seen.
EXT. H . M. S. DAUNTLESS – DAY
Out in the open sea, Jack leans on the wheel, relaxed; not
much sailing to do with a following wind. Will looks back – WILL
They’re coming!
He points: the sails of the Interceptor fill out, and the
ship cuts through the water toward them-
EXT. H.M.S. INTERCEPTOR – DAY
Norrington’s smaller ship quickly comes alongside the
slowmoving Dauntless. Its decks appear empty. Grappling
hooks are thrown, and sailors draw the two ships together.
Norrington’s men swarm across.
NORRINGTON
Search every cabin, every hold,
down to the bilges!
PULL BACK, away from the Dauntless, and past the railing of
the Interceptor, where a single SENTRY stands watch-and
we find a soaked Jack and Will as they climb up over the
side of the smaller ship, unseen.
Jack tackles the Sentry from behind, covers hi1rmouth.
JACK
Can you swim?
(the man struggles)
Can. You. Swim?
Jack removes his hand.
SENTRY
Of course, sir. Like a fish. I
grew up summers living in Dover,
with my uncle – JACK
Good.
Jack lifts the man up, throws him overboard. Quickly unties
the ropes to the grappling hooks. Will cranks the capstan
bars, raising the foresail – EXT. H . M. S. DAUNTLESS – DAY
Norrington emerges from a gangway-and sees his other
ship moving away.
NORRINGTON
Sailors! Back to the Interceptor!
But the distance is already too great. One brave sailor
tries to swing across on a rope, Errol-Flynn style, but
falls short with a splash.
Jack waves, and shouts across the distance – JACK
Thank you, Commodore, for getting our
ship ready to make way! We’d’ve had a
hard time of it by ourselves!
Norrington seethes, but his order to Gillette is measured:
NORRINGTON
Raise the sails.
GILLETTE
The wind is quarter from astern
… by the time we’re underway,
we’ll never catch them.
NORRINGTON
We need only to come about, to put
them in range of the long nines.
Gillette looks surprised at the order-but relays it.
GILLETTE
Hands! Come about! Jackets off the
cannons!
(to Norrington)
We are to fire on our own ship?
NORRINGTON
Better to see it at the bottom of the
sea than in the hands of a pirate.
The STEERSMAN turns the wheel. The Dauntless’ course does
not change one whit.
STEERSMAN
Captain, there’s a problem.
The Steersman spins the wheel. It goes round and round,
with no signs of slowing.
STEERSMAN (CONT’D)
He’s disabled the rudder chain, sir.
NORRINGTON
So it would seem.
The Interceptor dwindles with distance. Gillette watches it
go, with some degree of admiration.
GILLETTE
He’s got to be the best pirate
I’ve ever seen.
Norrington reaches out, stops the spinning ship’s wheel.
NORRINGTON
So it would seem.
The Interceptor makes for the horizon line. A SLOW DISSOLVE
and with the time passage, the ship is gone; the sky turns
a deep twilight blue – EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA – EVENING-with the fat white moon riding just above the horizon.
Suddenly, the edge of a black sail cuts into the
foreground, accompanied by the ROAR of the wind and the
SNAP of canvas – INT. BLACK PEARL – CAPTAIN’S CABIN – EVENING
Elizabeth stalks the cabin. Pintel enters, carrying a black
silk dress.
PINTEL
You’ll be dining with the Captain,
and he requests you wear this.
ELIZABETH
Tell the captain that I am disinclined
to acquiesce to his request.
PINTEL
(happy)
He said you say that! He also said if
that be the case, you’ll be dining with
the crew, and you’ll be naked.
Angry, Elizabeth holds out her hand. Pintel’s grin fades.
PINTEL (CONT’D)
(hands it over)
Fine.
He exits, pouting. Elizabeth examines the dress – INT. BLACK PEARL – CAPTAIN’S CABIN – NIGHT
Barbossa enters, followed by PIRATES carrying trays of
food, wine, table setting, etc. Elizabeth stands at the
small table in the dress-lovely.
BARBOSSA
Maid or not, it fits you.
ELIZABETH
Dare I ask the fate of its previous
owner?
BARBOSSA
Now, none of that. Please dig in.
The table is set. Elizabeth sits, cuts a tiny piece of
meat, eats it daintily.
BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
No need to stand on ceremony, and no
call to impress anyone. You must be
hungry.
Elizabeth drops the pretense: she’s starving, and begins to
eat like it. Barbossa watches her intently.
BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
Try the wine.
Elizabeth does, a huge swig; she tears off a hunk of bread,
devours it.
BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
And the apples-one of those next.
She starts to bite into the apple-stops. She is suddenly
aware of Barbossa’s gaze-and that he is not eating.
ELIZABETH
It’s poisoned!
She shoves her plate away-and takes the opportunity to
palm her knife. Barbossa LAUGHS.
BARBOSSA
Oh, there would be no sense in killing
you, Miss Turner.
ELIZABETH
Then why aren’t you eating?
BARBOSSA
Would that I could.
He produces the medallion, lets it dangle from his fingers.
BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
Do you not know what this is,
then?
ELIZABETH
It’s a pirate medallion.
BARBOSSA
It’s a piece of the treasure of Isla de
Muerta .
Elizabeth gives an infinitesimal shrug, intrigued despite
herself.
BARBOSSA (CONT ‘D)
Ah, so you don’t know as much as you
pretend. Back when Cortes was cutting a
great bloody swath through the New
World, a high priest gave. him all the
gold they had, with one condition: that
he spare the people’s lives. Of course,
Cortes being Cortes, he didn’t.
(nods)
He’d’ve made a great pirate, that one.
Barbossa stands, moves to a shelf. Puts a key to a mediumsized
polished wooden box-the Captain’s chest. Opens it.
BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
So the priest, with his dying breath,
called on the power of the blood of his
people, and put on the gold a curse. If
anyone took so much as a single piece,
as he was compelled by greed, by greed
he would be consumed.
Inside the chest are charts, some gold, a sextant-and a
few pages of a Mayan CODEX, pieces of tree bark inscribed
with Mayan glyphs. Barbossa removes them carefully, sets
them on the table. Pours over them.
BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
Within a day of leaving port for Spain,
the treasure ship carrying the gold …
something went wrong. The ship run
aground, every man aboard dead, save
one. He survived long enough to hide
the gold ashore.
(beat)
Over time, the dark magic of the curse
seeped into the place, making it a
cursed island. An island of death. Isla
de Muerta.
He looks up. Elizabeth has been rapt, involved in the story
-but feigns a dismissive attitude.
ELIZABETH
That’s all very interesting, but I
hardly believe in ghost stories
any more.
Barbossa is angry. He stands, sweeps the food off the
table.
BARBOSSA
You idiot girl! It’s no makebelieve!
My crew and I, we found
the gold, and we did more than
take one piece, we took it all.
Rich men we were and we spent it
and traded it and gave it away in
exchange
for drink and food and pleasant company. But we found out:
the drink could not sate us, and the food turned to ashes
in our mouths, and no amount of pleasant company could ease
our torment.
(regains his composure)
We are cursed men, Miss Turner,
condemned, to be forever consumed by our own greed. Gold
calls to UB, always, and we are driven, always, to find
more, and add it to the treasure.
Barbossa picks up the priceless Codex. Crushes them in his
fist.
BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
There is but one way to remove the
curse. All of the scattered pieces
of the treasure must be restored
in full, and the blood repaid.
(he throws the pages
aside)
We’ve recovered every piece-save for this.
(holds up the medallion)
And as for the blood … that’s
what we have you for.
(pleasant, finally
getting to his point)
And that’s why there’s no sense in
killing you. Yet.
Elizabeth stares at him, horrified. Using the toe of his
boot, Barbossa flips an apple up off the floor, catches it,
extends it to Elizabeth.
BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
Apple?
Elizabeth slowly reaches for the apple-and then comes up
out of her chair, trying to run around Barbossa_ They
struggle briefly, and then suddenly he shoves her away-
Elizabeth’s stolen KNIFE is buried in Barbossa’s chest, to
the hilt-Barbossa is completely unaffected. He opens his shirt to
get a better look at the knife, pulls it out with little
effort. There is BLOOD on the blade, but none anywhere
else.
BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
I’m curious-after killing me,
what is it you were planning to do
next?
Elizabeth backs away, whirls and barrels out the door – EXT. BLACK PEARL – MAIN DECK – NIGHT-Elizabeth comes to dead stop. She stares, her jaw
working, trying to scream but unable to – The pirate crew works at their stations, coiling lines,
navigating the ship, swabbing decks-but where the
moonlight falls across their bodies, they are nauqht but
SKELETONS. .
Elizabeth turns away from the sight – Barbossa stands just inside the doorway, out of the
moonlight. He grabs her roughly by the shoulders and jerks
her back around-Elizabeth shuts her eyes – BARBOSSA
Look!
(shakes her)
LOOK! The moonlight shows us for
what we really are! We are not
among the living and so we cannot
die – He spins her back around to face him-he leans forward,
putting his face in the moonlight, turning it into a
gleaming SKULL with gold and silver teeth – BARBOSSA (CONT’D)-but neither are we dead! We
have all the desires of the
living, but cannot satisfy them!
Ten years I have been parched of
thirst, and unable to quench it!
Ten years, I have been starving to
death-and haven’t died!
(raises his hand)
BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
And I have not felt anything for
ten years … Not the wind on my
face, nor the spray of the sea …
(reaches toward
Elizabeth)
… nor the flesh of a woman …
Elizabeth flinches away from the skeletal hand. It drops
away-he takes a bottle of wine from the opened case
beside the cabin door, uncorks it with his teeth, raises it – BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
You’d best start believing in
ghost stories, Miss Turner.
Because now you’re in one.
He tilts the bottle and drinks-it runs over his jaw,
through his rib cage, drenching his clothes.
Elizabeth darts around him, back into the cabin, and shuts
the door. Barbossa hurls the bottle away.
INT. BLACK PEARL – CAPTAIN’S CABIN – NIGHT
Elizabeth huddles in the far corner of the cabin,
terrified.
EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA – DAY
The Interceptor cuts across the waves. Jack at the wheel;
Will tightens a line, moves back astern.
EXT. INTERCEPTOR – MAIN DECK – DAY
Will sharpens his sword with a whetstone: shhhk-shhhk
…
JACK
For a man whose made an industry
of avoiding boats, you’re a quick
study.
WILL
I worked passage from England as a
cabin boy.
(an attempt at guile)
After my mother passed, I came out
here … looking for my father.
JACK
Is that so?
WILL
My father. William Turner?
Jack says nothing. Will has lost the patience for guile.
WILL ( CONT ‘ D)
I’m not a simpleton. At the jail – – it was only after you learned my
name that you agreed to help.
(a smile)
Since that’s what I wanted, I
didn’t press the matter. But now – {an accusation}
You knew my father.
Jack considers his reply-settles on ‘truth.’
JACK
I knew him. Probably one of the
few who knew him as William
Turner. Most everyone just called
him Bill, or ‘Bootstrap’ Bill.
WILL
‘Bootstrap?’
JACK
Good man. Good pirate. And clever
-“- I never met anyone with as
clever a mind and hands as him.
When you were puzzling out that
cell door, it was like seeing his
twin.
WILL
(angry)
That’s not true.
JACK
I swear, you look just like him.
WILL
It’s not true that my father was a
pirate.
JACK
Figured you wouldn’t want to hear
it.
WILL
He was a merchant marine! He was a
respectable man who obeyed the
law, and followed the rules-JACK
(laughs)
You think your father is the only
man who ever lived the Glasgow
life, telling folk one thing, and
then going off to do another?
There’s quite a few who come here,
hoping to amass enough swag to
ease the burdens of respectable
life. And they’re all ‘merchant
marines.’
WILL
My father did not think of my
mother his family – as a burden.
JACK
Sure-because he could always go
pirating.
WILL
My father-was not-a pirate!
Will’s sword is out, levelled at Jack. Jack gives him a
disbelieving look, sighs.
JACK
Put it away, Will. It’s not worth
getting beat again.
WILL
You didn’t beat me. You ignored
the rules of engagement. In a fair
fight, I’d kill you.
JACK
Then that’s not much incentive for
me to fight fair, is it?
He kicks a lever on a wench. The sail boom whips around and
slams Will in the chest-sweeping him off the ship. His
sword clatters onto the deck. Will dangles above the water.
Jack slips a loop of rope around the wheel to hold the
course. Picks up the sword-and pokes at Will with it.
Will hand-over-hands away from the blade, to the end of the
boom.
JACK ( CONT ‘ D)
As long as you’re just hanging
there, pay attention. Must,
Should, do, don’t, shall, shall
not-those are just suggestions.
There are only two absolute rules.
(ticks them off on his
fingers)
JACK (CONT’D)
What a man can do. And what a man
can I t do.
Will looks away, not interested.
JACK (CONT’D)
For instance: you can accept that
your father was a pirate and still
a good man… or you can’t. Now
me, I can sail this ship to
Tortuga, by myself. . .
(Will looks alarmed)
But I can’t just let you drown.
Jack swings the boom back in. Will drops to the deck. Jack
holds the hilt of the sword out. Will takes it. Glares at
Jack, considers what he’ll do next. Jack watches him
coolly.
Will turns and strides to his spot on the deck, sits down,
and resumes sharpening his sword: shhhk-shhhk-shhhk
…
Jack breathes silent sigh of relief. Notices his hand is
shaking-he takes the wheel.
WILL
Tortuga?
JACK
Oh-did I forget to mention
that?
