EXT. TORTUGA – DAY
A dank and dirty port, where the tides seem to have swept
together the scum of the Caribbean-pirates, privateers,
prostitutes, thieves, and drunkards.
With its cantered, rotting docks, weatherbeaten buildings,
and odd assortment of livestock running free-a donkey,
chickens, etc.-it is far less civilized than Port Royal.
Jack and Will move through the crowd. A REDHEADED woman
turns her head-she has noticed Jack.
JACK
We need a crew. We can manage the
ship between islands, but the open
sea, that’s another matter – Suddenly the Redhead SLAPS Jack, hard. Satisfied, she turns
and strides off. Will ignores her.
WILL
Just do it quickly.
JACK
(rubbing his jaw)
Don’t worry. I’ve already got my
Quartermaster-there!
Jack leads Will toward a pub: the Faithful Bride, the
emblem over the door a politically incorrect painting of a
smiling woman holding a bouquet in her chained-and-manacled
hands.
Jack pulls open the door; Will goes inside passing a pretty
ASIAN women coming out-she sees Jack and immediately
SLAPS him, cursing something in Chinese. Jack backs away – INT. THE FAITHFUL BRIDE – DAY
Jack closes the door on the woman, joins Will. They take in
the place-it is populated with a slightly higher class
of scum. Jack spots a BARTENDER, smiles, moves forward –and is suddenly DECKED by a waitress. This is ANAMARIA,
tall, strong, tough; she didn’t spill a drink off her tray.
ANAMARIA
You stole my boat.
JACK
AnaMaria! Have you seen Gibbs? I
need to put together – She SLAPS him again. Will shakes his head, heads for the
bar. Jack gets up.
JACK (CONT’D)
Borrowed. Borrowed your boat.
(off her look)
Without permission.
AnaMaria charges; Jack backs away, puts a table between
them. She chases him around the table, still carrying the
tray.
ANAMARIA
My dory. The Jolly Mon. Where is
it?
JACK
Safe! At Port Royal. With the
Royal Navy.
ANAMARIA
That boat is my livelihood!
JACK
You’ll get it back. Or one better.
ANAMARIA
(a threat)
I will.
Away from them, a PATRON calls for his food. AnaMaria
scowls at Jack, moves away-comes back for. one more
SLAP!
WILL
Jack! Over here!
AT THE BAR, Will has spoken to the Bartender. Jack arrives,
rubbing his chin.
WILL (CONT’D)
He knows Gibbs.
The Bartender nods ‘yes.’ Then nods ‘out back.’ Then
produces a water bucket from behind the bar.
Jack and Will exchange a look,-and Jack takes the bucket.
EXT. THE FAITHFUL BRIDE – REAR – DAY
A drunken man lays in the mud, having a friendly
conversation with two pigs. He wears an old tattered Navy
jacket.
A sudden SPRAY OF WATER splashes across his face,
revealing: this is old JOSHAMEE GIBBS (the man who told
pirate stories to Elizabeth when she was a child). He
sputters and roars:
GIBBS
Curse you for breathing, you
slack-jawed idiot
(recognizes Jack)
Mother’s love, Jack, you know
better than to wake a man when
he’s sleeping. It’s bad luck!
JACK
Well, fortunately, I know how to
counter it. The man who did the waking
buys the man who was sleeping a drink,
and the man who was sleeping it drinks
it while listening to a proposition.
GIBBS
Aye, that’ll about do it.
Jack helps Gibbs to his feet-and then Gibbs is hit with
a second wave of water. Will stands there with the bucket.
GIBBS (CONT’D)
Blast it, I’m already awake!
WILL
I know. That was for the smell.
INT. THE FAITHFUL BRIDE – DAY
Jack and Gibbs sit at a table in the shadows, a single
candle illumining them, speaking in hushed voices. Will is
away from them, at the door, hand on sword, keeping a lookout.
A tankard is set down. Gibbs lifts it to take a swig – JACK
Just the one.
Gibbs pauses. He takes a dainty sip.
GIBBS
Make it_ast, then. Now, what’s the
nature of this venture of yours?
JACK
First-have you found me a crew?
GIBBS
Oh, there’s a hard tale, Jack.
Most of the decent pirates in town
won’t sail with you-seem to
think you’re a jinx.
JACK
Now where, I wonder, would they
have gotten that idea?
Gibbs evades answering by taking a long sip. Jack leans
forward. Gibbs leans forward.
JACK (CONT’D)
I’m going after the Black Pearl.
Gibbs straightens up like he’s been hit. He stares. He
reaches for the drink as if to down it-but then sets it
back down. He leans forwards again. Jack has not moved.
GIBBS
Say again?
JACK
Ilm going after the Black Pearl. I
know where its going to be, and
I’m going to take it.
GIBBS
Jack, it’s a fool’s errand: You’ve
heard the tales they tell about
the Pearl.
JACK
Aye, and that’s why I know where it’s
going to be, and that’s why I know what
Barbossa is up to. All I need is a
crew.
GIBBS
(shakes his head)
A fool’s errand.
JACK
Not if the fool has something
Barbossa wants. Something he
needs.
GIBBS
And you’ve got that, have you?
ANGLE ON: Jack, as he smiles enigmatically, and shifts his
eyes’-behind him, Will, still on guard, glares a sailor
away from the table.
JACK
Back there, guarding the door is
the son of old Bootstrap Bill
Turner.
Gibbs’ eyes widen over the edge of the tankard. Peers at
Will. Then smiles, with more missing teeth than good ones.
GIBBS
Well, lookee there. I’ll allow you
may be onto something, Jack.
(considers, nods)
There’s bound to be sailors on
this rock crazy as you. I’ll find
some men.
Gibbs downs the drink, SLAMS the tankard on the table.
Will reacts to the sound, draws both sword and dagger,
kicks over a table for cover, and whirls on anyone who
moves.
GIBBS (CONT’D)
Kid’s a bit of a stick, isn’t he?
JACK
That he is.
EXT. TORTUGA – DOCK – LATER – DAY
On the docks, a disheveled, motley and weatherbeaten group
of about a dozen swabs stand in a ragged line-up.
GIBBS
Feast your eyes, Cap’n. All of ’em
good sea-faring men, faithful hands
before the mast, every one worth his
salt-(sotto, making his point)-and crazy, to boot.
Jack holds up a hand-enough. He moves down the line,
Gibbs at his side. Then he notices AnaMaria in line,
dressed like a man, He raises an eyebrow.
ANAMARIA
You owe me a boat.
Jack nods, continues. One sailor is quite fat, another
thin and sickly. Jack is not happy with his choices.
He stops in front of COTTON, a short sailor with a large,
colorful PARROT on his shoulder. Jack raises an eyebrow.
GIBBS
Cotton here is mute, sir. Poor
devil had his tongue cut out-Cotton opens his mouth to show this-Jack grimaces.
GIBBS (CONT’D)-so he went and trained the parrot to
do the talking for him, nobody knows
how. Nobody knows the parrot’s name,
neither, so we just call it ‘Cotton’s
parrot.’
Jack decides to test this.
JACK
Mr. Cotton. Do you have the courage
and fortitude to follow orders and stay
true, in the face danger, and almost
certain death?
Cotton lifts the parrot off his shoulder, raises it-COTTON’S PARROT
Wind in your SAILS! Wind in your SAILS!
GIBBS
Mostly, that seem to mean ‘yes.’
Cotton nods vigorously, lowers the parrot, and it goes
silent. Jack shakes his head. Steps back.
JACK
That goes for the rest of you!
Danger and near certain death.
(turns away)
For we are to sail for the Isla de
Muerta, to rescue the daughter of
Governor Swann. An equal share of the
reward shall be – Jack hears movement, looks back-several potential crew
members back away in fright; first one, then another, turn
and run, followed by more.
Soon just a half dozen are left, including Cotton (with
parrot)-and AnaMaria.
WILL
Shut up, before you lose them all!
JACK
These are the only ones worth
having.
(glances at the sky)
And we’re going to need them-
EXT. H. M. S. INTERCEPTOR – DAY
A FLASH of lightening and the CRACK of thunder. The canvas
of every sail is stretched taut. The ship rocks as it drops
into the valley of huge swell, climbs up the other side.
On board, the new crew members scurry about their tasks,
pulling lines and trimming sails. Excellent sailors, it
takes everything they have to keep the ship afloat.
AnaMaria is at the helm. Gibbs staggers along the deck.
GIBBS
That fool will have us lose the
canvas, and the masts besides!
On Jack, a ROARING wind blowing back his hair, eyes intent
on their course. Gibbs climbs the tilted deck toward him.
GIBBS (CONT’D)
Werd best drop canvas, sirl
JACK
She can hold a bit longer.
The wind picks up, howling. Jack smiles.
GIBBS
(shouts)
What’s in your head to put you in such
a fine mood?
JACK
(shouts)
We’re catching up!
Jack turns back to the sea, enjoying himself. Gibbs stares
at him like he’s a crazy man.’
INT. BLACK PEARL – CAPTAIN’S CABIN – DAY
The sound of RAIN pounds down on the deck above – – then
suddenly stops. Elizabeth moves to the stern windows, looks
out at the rolling sea below-no escape there.
She hears the sound of a VQICE calling, gazes up, wondering – EXT. BLACK PEARL – CROW’ S NEST – DAY
High on the main mast, Twigg cups his hands to his face, calls
down:
TWIGG
Isla de Muerta! Isla de Muerta,
off the port bow!
ON DECK, Barbossa moves to the rail. The storm clouds are
breaking up. On the horizon is a dark, ominous shape: ISLA DE
MUERTA. Mostly sheer unfriendly cliffs that shoot straight into
the water. It is surrounded by a slate grey sea.
Barbossa grasps the rail with both hands, his expression a
mixture of loathing and fear. Jacoby approaches, hesitant.
JACOBY
Orders, Captain?
BARBOSSA
Bring her in, not too close. I won’t
brave the reef, not until high tide. We
lay anchor before dark.
Jacoby nods, backs away. Barbossa continues to stare – BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
… that is, if it first doesn’t
sink back down to hell from where
it came.
EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA – DAY
The Interceptor, on open waters, glorious, her white sails
set wing-to-wing.
EXT. H.M.S. INTERCEPTOR – DAY
CLOSE ON: Jack’s compass, cradled in both hands. Jack leans
over and studies it-almost like he’s praying.
ON THE COMPASS-the face shows old-fashioned rose petal
style direction markers below a quivering indicator that
settles on-southeast.
JACK
Bear three points starboard.
AnaMaria turns the wheel, adjusting course. The ship leans
into the new direction. Jack looks down – ON THE COMPASS-where the indicator spins, reverses,
settles on-northeast.
JACK (CONT’D)
Six points port!
AnaMaria frowns, but follows the order, turns the wheel
back, and the ship responds.
Will works on deck, coiling a rope-but he watches Jack
and AnaMaria, clearly not happy. Gibbs hobbles up.
GIBBS
Left handed-ropes are coiled against
the sun, or it’s bad luck!
(twirls a finger)
Anty-clockwise.
Gibbs takes over the task. The ship shifts course again.
Will has had enough.
WILL
How do we expect to find an island no
one can find-with a compass that
doesn’t work?
GIBBS
Now, lad, just because it don’t point
north don’t mean it don’t work.
(voice low)
That compass gives bearings to the Isla
de Muerta, wherever it may lie.
WILL
Really?
(moves closer)
So … what’s the story on the
pistol?
Gibbs settles in, happy to have a willing listener.
GIBBS
I’ll tell lee. Now, Jack Sparrow
has an honest streak in him, and
that’s where the whole problem
starts. This was when he was
Captain of the Black Pearl – WILL
What? He never told me that.
GIBBS
Ah-he’s learned, then. Plays things
more close to the vest. See, Jack was a
cartographer, back in Old England.
Somehow I he came by the money to
commission the Pearl. Hired himself a
crew, promised each man an equal share.
(lowers his voice)
So, they’re forty days out, and the
First Mate says, everything’s an equal
share, that should mean the location of
the island, too. So Jack gave up the
bearings.
(shakes his head)
That night, there was mutiny.
Gibbs voice is a whisper, now, so Will has to lean closer.
GIBBS (CONT’D)
Jack gave hisself up for the sake of
his loyal crewmen. He was marooned on
an island, left there to die.
WILL
How did he get off the island?
JACK
(loud)
I didn’t!
Will and Gibbs jump. Jack is right there beside them.
JACK (CONT’D)
My body’s still there, rotting
away, and I am but a ghost!
Will and Gibbs aren’t sure what to make of that. Jack
laughs.
GIBBS
How did you get off the island?
JACK
Ah, that’s a dark and unpleasant
tale, best left untold.
He starts off.
WILL
Wait-what about the pistol?
JACK
The pistol. When a pirate is marooned,
Will, he’s given a pistol with a single
shot. No good for hunting, or
surviving, really. But after three
weeks of starvation and thirst-the
option of that pistol begins to look
good.
Jack lets this sink in. He pulls out the pistol, raises it.
JACK (CONT’D)
But I survived. And I still have
that single shot. It’s meant for
one man. My mutinous first mate – WILL
Barbossa.
Jack shoots a glance at Will-nods, and moves away.
EXT. ISLA DE MUERTA – CAVE ENTRANCE – EVENING
On Barbossa, face upturned. No expression in his eyes.
Around him a group of pirates, Elizabeth among them, stand
as still as stones, in front of a dark cave opening. Their
faces look upward, their total lack of movement
disconcerting.
Above the cave, on a hillock, the pirate Koehler gazes out
toward the horizon. Slowly he TRANSFORMS, head-to-toe, from
pirate to SKELETON-
The MOON has climbed free of the storm clouds, rising
large. and full on the horizon. The skeleton turns – KOEHLER
Moonrise, Captain! First night of full.
BARBOSSA
Hah!
(to the pirates)
Be mindful of pits and crevasses.
Stay together.
He takes a torch. Moves into the cave. The pirates follow.
INT. ISLA DE MUERTE – CAVES – NIGHT
The group keeps together under the firelight. The path
leads between boulders on a slope downhill. From the echoes
and shadows, it’s clear the cave system must be huge.
Elizabeth glances over-the torches illumine caverns off
to the side-and just the edge of a mound of coins.
Clearly there is more, but the rest is lost in darkness.
Twigg, gazing upward in wonder, moves a few feet away from
the group. Barbossa grabs him as he nears a chasm.
BARBOSSA
Careful, mate. Fall down there, you’d
die and miss Judgement Day-for not
even the Lord himself’ll come look for
you here.
Barbossa lets go, and moves on, descending down, twisting
and turning, but always down – EXT. H.M.S. INTERCEPTOR – NIGHT
Cotton pulls a sail line, looks out-sees something. He
lifts the parrot off his shoulder, strokes it along the
back.
COTTON’S PARROT
Land HO! Land HO! LAND ho! LAND
ho!
Indeed, the faint outline of Isla de Muerta is in the
distance on the port side. Will stands, excited, jumps onto
the rigging for a better look.
But AnaMaria, at the helm, stares at Cotton, and the
parrot.
ANAMARIA
How does he do that?
JACK
They’ll be anchored on the lee side.
Haul your wind, and keep to the weather
of the island – INT. ISLA DE MUERTE – CAVES – NIGHT
Flickering torchlight. Pirates stoop low to enter a cavern
–and revealed is the spectacular treasure of Isla de
Muerta: overflowing ,chests of coins, gold and silver
ingots, jewelry, objects d’ art, jade and ivory, brightly
colored silks, furniture, jewels and pearls; mirrors and
swords -anything and everything of value that might be
carried by ship, is here.
The pirates move through, Elizabeth can’t help but gaze in
wonder.
ELIZABETH
The curse drove you to gather
this?
BARBOSSA (O.S.)
Aye. And not a bit of it any use
to us, only hoarded. But it will
drive us no longer.
Elizabeth pauses, staring at herself in a jewel-encrusted
mirror-and then is pushed along by the pirates.
EXT. ISLA DE MUERTE – LAGOON – NIGHT
The Interceptor lies at anchor in the distance. Closer,
Jack and will row away from the larger vessel in a small
longboat, toward the rocky shore.
The RUSH of a waterfall grows louder. Will looks: ahead of
them is a black CAVE MOUTH, right at water level.
WILL
What’s that?
JACK
Depends.
WILL
On what?
JACK
On whether the stories are all
true. If they are, that’s a
waterfall that spills over at high
tide, with a short drop to an
underground lagoon. If not – By now, the moving water tugs on the longboat, and they are
sucked in-JACK (CONT’D)-well, too late.
The boat rushes forward, plunges into the darkness – INT. CAVES – UNDERWATER LAGOON – NIGHT-the longboat takes a harrowing drop over a short
waterfall … but then lands safely in a gorgeous
underwater lagoon, floats lazily toward a sandy shore.
JACK
Chalk one up for the stories.
Will leaps out into the water, pulls the boat ashore – INT. CAVES – BED CAVERN – NIGHT
The pirate group reaches the end of a small chamber of
mostly jewels and pearl piled around a large bed – INT. CAVES – MAIN CAVERN – NIGHT-and then emerge into the largest cavern of all, also
crammed with treasure, including several mountains of gold
coins that reach the ceiling. Treasure everywhere – Except for one spot in the center. A hole in the ceiling
lets in a column of moonlight, which illumines:
A stone chest, lid pushed back, decorated with carved Aztec
glyphs, filled with gold coins identical to Will’s
medallion. A sharp stone knife lies on top.
In front of it, buried in the sand is a skeleton-and
this one doesn’t look like it’s going to move ever again,
judging by the sword in its back. A crab scurries away from
it as the group approaches.
BARBOSSA
Here we stand before the cursed
treasure of Cortez himself. Won by
blood, it demands blood in return.
All eyes turn-onto Elizabeth. Pintle takes the stone
knife from the chest, approaches her. Elizabeth shrinks
back, but is held by two other pirates.
Pintel grins. Grabs her by the wrist. She turns her head
away, shuts her eyes.
Pintle raises the knife …
… and then very carefully, daintily, uses just the sharp
tip of the knife to just prick! Elizabeth’s finger.
One tiny red drop of blood appears, and drips down onto the
medallion.
Elizabeth opens her eyes, surprised.
PINTEL
What did you expect? We’re all
gentlemen here, right and proper.
The pirates laugh. Barbossa takes the medallion, grins at
Elizabeth.
BARBOSSA
You know the first thing I’m going
to do after the curse is lifted?
(grins)
Eat a whole bushel of apples.
Barbossa approaches the chest, shining in the beam of
moonlight.
BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
What was begun by blood, let blood
now end!
He tosses the gold medallion onto the others.
The pirates tense, waiting, expectant. A long beat. They
all look at each other, look at themselves. Nothing
happens.
KOEHLER
Did it work?
DEADEYE
I don’t feel no different.
JACOBY
How do we tell?
Barbossa frowns, draws his pistol, and SHOOTS the pirate
next to him-Jacoby-square in the chest. Jacoby reacts
in shock, grabs his chest … but doesn’t die.
KOEHLER
You’re not dead.
JACOBY
No.
(realizes)
He shot me!
TWIGG
It didn’t work! The curse is still
upon us!
Barbossa searches his mind for an answer … turns to
Elizabeth.
BARBOSSA
You. Maid. Your father. What was
his name?!
(grabs her roughly)
Was your father William Turner?!
Elizabeth takes time to smile before answering:
ELIZABETH
No.
The pirates cry out in alarm. Barbossa gathers himself,
getting his rage under steely control.
BARBOSSA
Where’s his child? The child that
sailed from England eight years
ago, the child who is the real
owner of that medallion, the child
in whose veins flows the blood of
William Turner?! Where?
Barbossa SLAPS her hard across the face, sending her
sprawling.
JACOBY
(to Pintel)
You brought us the wrong person!
PINTEL
She had the medallion! She’s the
right age. She said her name was
Turner!
TWIGG
(to Barbossa)
You brought us here for nothing?
Barbossa whirls on him-BARBOSSA
If you had sailed with Morgan for
ten years like I have, you’d know
not to question me!
Elizabeth sits up, watching the pirates argue, for a moment
unnoticed. Suddenly, a scabbard comes down, right above
her.
Startled, Elizabeth looks up–Will is at the top of a mound of coins, reaching down
with his scabbard for her to grab onto.
Elizabeth quickly leans forward, takes the bloodied
medallion from the pile. Reaches back, grabs the scabbard.
Will pulls her up – BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
If any coward here dare challenge
me, let him speak! Any more talk,
I’ll chain ye to a cannon and send
ye to the watery depths!
A sound catches his attention-coins falling. He looks
up, sees Will and Elizabeth at the top of the treasure
stack.
ATOP THE STACK, Will grabs a large shield, flings them
forward-the two ride down the mountain of coins on the
far side, slide through a small opening – INT. ISLA DE MUERTE – SMALL CAVERN – NIGHT
Behind them, loose coins from their slide come down in an
avalanche, sealing the entrance.
Elizabeth jumps up, silver platter in hand, ready to swing
-Jack catches her before she can do any damage. They
recognize each other.
ELIZABETH
You?!
JACK
Me!
ELIZABETH
You’re in league with Barbossa!
JACK
No, I’m-rescuing you.
Elizabeth can’t comprehend that one.
ELIZABETH
You?!
Will gains his footing in the rubble.
WILL
Miss Swann! We’re here to rescue
you!
(sounds of pursuit,
approaching)
It’s going badly!
JACK
This way!
They race off, toward a bit of moonlight – EXT. ISLA DE MUERTE – NIGHT
The three climb up a dark crevasse that leads out onto the
island. Will takes Elizabeth’s hand, helps her.
WILL
I’m glad we got here in time.
ELIZABETH
Truthfully-you were a bit late.
JACK
The trick isn’t getting here, it’s
getting away.
As if on cue, they hear the yells of pirates, coming
closer. They take off – EXT. ISLA DE MUERTE – CLEARING – NIGHT
The three race through the rocks, the sounds of pursuit
close behind. Suddenly Jack stops.
ELIZABETH
Come on!
JACK
No. This won’t work.
(a quick decision)
I’ll stay behind, and fight them.
You go on.
Will and Elizabeth stare at him.
WILL
No.
JACK
I’ll lead them away.
The sounds are closer.
JACK (CONT’D)
Go to the opposite end of the
island, and signal the ship. I’ll
keep ’em busy.
WILL
Are you sure? Jack-this is not
something you have to do.
JACK
I’m sure. When you’ve led the kind
of life I have, there are debts
that must be paid. Maybe I can
balance the scales a little.
Will nods, hesitates… gives Jack his sword – – now Jack
has two, ..one for each hand. Elizabeth gives him a quick
kiss.
Will and Elizabeth race away, and are gone.
Jack watches them for a moment, turns to face the pirates.
He sticks the two swords in the ground, crossed. Leans
casually against a rock.
A group of pirates round a corner, cutlasses drawn, ready
to fight-but Jack raises his hand.
JACK (CONT’D)
I invoke the right of parlay,
according to the Code of the
Brethren, set down by the pirates
Morgan and Bartholomew…
EXT. ISLA DE MUERTE – NIGHT
Jack stands before Barbossa, surrounded by pirates. Jack
has a wide smile on his face-and Barbossa doesn’t like
it.
BARBOSSA
I’m inclined to kill you now, Jack
Sparrow, without so much as a
word, if you don’t lose that grin
from your face.
Jack’s smile remains. Barbossa puts a hand to his cutlass – JACK
The woman’s blood didn’t work, did
it?
Barbossa hesitates.
JACK (CONT’D)
I know who’s blood you need, to
end the curse.
BARBOSSA
Say the name, or I slit your
throat.
JACK
No you won’t.
Barbossa nods. Pintel steps forward, puts a blade to Jack’s
throat. Jack’s smile widens.
PINTEL
Now?
BARBOSSA (NODS)
Now.
(Pintel grins)
No, don’t kill him.
Surprised, Pintel lowers his cutlass. Jack’s expression
hasn’t changed.
BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
Allow me the humor of listening to
your terms.
JACK
Simple. I have something you want more
than anything. The way to free you from
the curse of the treasure. You have
something I want-more than anything.
BARBOSSA
The Pearl?
(laughs)
Oh, that’s fine. And just how do
you expect this to work?
JACK
You give me the Pearl. Then I tell
you who you need.
Barbossa stares at him, incredulous.
BARBOSSA
That’s your offer? You, sailing
away nice and pretty with the
Black Pearl, and all I have is a
name?
JACK
That’s right.
BARBOSSA
I’m supposed to … trust you?
The pirates laugh.
JACK
I’m a man of my word.
The pirates laugh louder.
JACK (CONT’ D)
You see, I’ve got this honest streak in me-in its own way, a sort of curse. Oh, and
there’s the fact that you have no choice.
BARBOSSA
I’ll torture it out of you.
JACK
You left me on a desert island-what worse can you do?
Jack is still smiling, intentionally smug now. Barbossa
sees his options dwindling, begins to pace.
BARBOSSA
Blast you! I’ll throw you in
prison.
JACK
Wait as long as you like.
BARBOSSA
You’re setting me up for a double
cross, you with the ship, and me with
nothing more than your word!
JACK
Let’s say I tell you the wrong
person. What would you do?
BARBOSSA
Track you down and – He sees where Jack is headed.
JACK
And if I tell you the truth, you become
mortal, and you won’t come near me
because you know I’d kill you.
Barbossa hesitates. The pirates are amazed at how the tide
has turned; Barbossa has gone past considering the idea,
and might even do it.
BARBOSSA
Jack, I don’t trust you, and
that’s a fact. Never trust a
smiling man, you can lay to that.
JACK
See, that’s where we’re different.
I trust you … to do what it
takes to get what you want.
BARBOSSA
You’re playing this as close to
the edge as any man, I’ll give you
that.
(decides, smiles)
We might just have to sign
articles, you and I. Jack, you’re
a pirate at heart, that’s certain.
Jack nods.
BARBOSSA (CONT’D)
Pintel … set sail. If this fool plan
is to work, we’ll need the medallion,
and that means catching the ship which
brought ’em here.
Jack is caught completely off guard. For the first time,
his smile fades.
JACK
What-you don’t have the medallion?
BARBOSSA
That fool woman took it. You be
careful around her, Jack-she’s
pretty enough, she’ll steal your
heart-but pure evil inside.
JACK
I’ll watch my back.
BARBOSSA
Bosun! Set up Mr. Sparrow’s quarters,
nice and fine … in the brig.
(to Jack, a smile)
Meaning no disrespect, of course.
Jack nods, and is taken away. Barbossa stares after him,
not hiding his mistrust.
EXT. INTERCEPTOR – DAY
At full sail, headed out to sea. Gibbs glances at Elizabeth
and Will, talking alone on the forecastle-shakes his
head.
GIBBS
Two women on board? A man don’t have to
be superstitious to know that’s
trouble.
Elizabeth holds the medallion, and finishes her tale:
ELIZABETH
… you were in danger … so I took
the medallion. And I’ve kept it ever
since. They thought I was you, that
they needed my blood. And it didn’t
work.
She hands him the medallion.
WILL
Why would my father send this to me?
ELIZABETH
To keep it away from them? No pirate
would sail to London, for fear of
Execution Dock.
WILL
If I had known-
ELIZABETH
(anticipating him)-then we never would have met.
Will nods. They hold each other’s gaze a moment. Will turns
away first, leans on the rail. Looks out to sea, back the
direction they came.
WILL
I can’t believe he would make such
a sacrifice for us.
ELIZABETH
I guess you can never truly know
someone else’s heart.
Will glances at her, and nods.
AT THE HELM, Gibbs peers forward, scanning the horizon.
There
is a tiny island in front of them.
GIBBS
Shift your heading, steer clear of that
island. Fifteen degrees starboard.
On the aft deck, Cotton concentrates on his work, securing
a halyard. Suddenly Cotton’s parrot flaps its wings, takes
off, lands on the starboard bulwark, squawking – COTTON’S PARROT
Dead men tell NO tales! Dead men tell
NO tales! Dead men tell NO tales!
Cotton looks up – on the horizon, following: black sails.
Gibbs and AnaMaria appear, and see the ship.
ANAMARIA
Can we outrun them?
GIBBS
Not a chance. Make for the reef.
EXT. CARIBBEAN OCEAN – DAY
Miles of blue water. The Interceptor tacks, leaving a long
white wake. The Black Pearl matches it-gaining.
EXT. BLACK PEARL – DAY
Barbossa and Pintel eye the Interceptor, two hounds chasing
the fox.
PINTEL
What’s he doing? Is he going to
run her aground?
EXT. INTERCEPTOR – DAY
The Black Pearl is now close behind the Interceptor-and
the Interceptor is headed for the island.
GIBBS
Drop the forward anchor!
A SAILOR at the stern of the ship pulls a release, and the
ship’s anchor races down into the water, the metal chain
jumping and twisting on deck.
The chain stops, and the Sailor locks it – EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA – DAY
With its forward momentum and the anchor down, the
Interceptor to turn quickly, pivoting around the anchor.
EXT. BLACK PEARL – DAY
Barbossa and Pintel watch as the huge ship brings its
cannons to bear right in front of them.
BARBOSSA
All hands! Prepare to come about!
But for now, the Interceptor has the advantage, and takes
it:
its cannons boom, and cannonballs rain down.
INT. BLACK PEARL – BRIG – DAY
Jack sees what he can out the porthole. In the cell with
him is Twigg, acting as a guard.
JACK
Don’t hit my ship! I mean, kill
the lying scoundrel – (to Twigg)
I’m a little conflicted, here.
Twigg just stares.
EXT. INTERCEPTOR – DAY
Elizabeth watches as the Black Pearl comes about-and
then there is the low, loud RUMBLE of two dozen cannons
firing as one. The Interceptor is hit. A barrage of shots
follow; most find their mark.
Sailors dive for cover, leaving their cannons; clearly they
are overmatched.
EXT. BLACK PEARL – PORT SIDE – DAY
Barbossa laughs.
BARBOSSA
Strike your colors, you bloody
cockroaches!
EXT. INTERCEPTOR – DAY
Another round of fire; Barbossa shows no mercy.
ANAMARIA
Looks like they mean to send us under.
GIBBS
There-she’s raised the Jolly Roger,
upside down.
AnaMaria, Gibbs, Cotton, even Elizabeth-all know what
this means. Will doesn’t. He looks to Gibbs for an
explanation:
GIBBS (CONT ‘D)
It’s a signal. If we resist, it won’t
just be death. There’ll be torture as
well.
WILL
We’re not going to just surrender!
GIBBS That we are.
The Black Pearl fires again, a double-ball shot with a
chain connecting the two. It hits the main mast dead ani a
CRACKING, SPLINTING sound as it breaks, falls to the deck.
Barbossa moves his ship alongside, preparing to board.
WILL
We can at least fight-we might
be able to kill a few-
GIBBS
Will-it’ll go worse for us-for
Elizabeth, especially-if we fight.
Will stares-and nods. But his expression is still
defiant.
The deck slants; the ship is sinking. pirates swarm across
on ropes, and take control of the Interceptor.
