BBC WORLD NEWS SERVICE - T-ISLAND SCREENPLAY

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UNESCO and Blue Shield work together to protect heritage sites from looters, under the tenets of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in Armed Conflict 1954.

<<< SCENE 7

John is pleased he was persuaded by Charley and Roberta to undertake a survey of the sunken city of old Port Royal. It turned out to be another remarkable discovery for him, with a salvage operation to recover the remains of one of the most famous pirates in history. John recalls his childhood days reading Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, and the thrill that gave him.

EXT. JAMAICA - DOCK SIDE - DAY

A bustling but relaxed Jamaican dockside. Colorful fishing boats bob in the turquoise water. SAM HOLLIS (40s, enthusiastic BBC West Indies reporter in a slightly rumpled linen shirt) stands ready with a MICROPHONE, a CAMERAMAN beside him. In the background, the sleek, futuristic trimaran, the Elizabeth Swann, sits anchored offshore, surrounded by several smaller inflatable boats.

JOHN STORM (40s, capable, slightly weary but with a hint of amusement) and DAN HAWK (20s, energetic, a little overwhelmed by the attention) walk towards Sam, having just come ashore.

SOUND: Distant reggae music, seagulls, gentle lapping of waves.

SAM
Mr. Storm? Mr. Storm!

Sam waves them over, a wide, welcoming smile on his face.

John pauses, looking at Sam thoughtfully. Dan nudges him.

DAN
He’s the reporter, chum of Charley. Covered the Panamanian Running Man thing. Remember?

SAM
Mr. Storm. John Storm. Mr. Hawk. Could you spare us a moment? Sam Hollis, live with the BBC World Service, and Jill Bird in London.

John’s face lights up. Dan grins.

JOHN
Of course, Sam. And Jill! The lady who bet on the billion-dollar whale! Good to see you, virtually.

DAN
That was classic!

The camera focuses on John and Dan.

SAM
Our viewers are eager to hear about your find. About the legendary pirate, Henry Morgan.

JOHN
Well, yes. Sir Henry was a privateer, essentially state-sanctioned piracy, working for King Charles the Second. Later became Governor of Jamaica, made a fine rum, I hear. Buried in Palisadoes cemetery, which, along with old Port Royal, was swallowed by a tsunami in 1692. Vanished beneath the waves.

SAM
Until earlier this week?

JOHN
Precisely. A recent tremor caused some concern for Blue Shield, especially as the underwater city is a potential UNESCO World Heritage site.

SAM
Really? Even though it’s underwater?

Dan can’t resist jumping in, gesturing towards the seemingly empty sea.

DAN
That’s the whole point, isn’t it? Look out there – you see nothing. But beneath the surface is a time capsule, waiting to be explored and mapped.

INT. BBC STUDIO - LONDON - DAY (SIMULTANEOUS)

JILL BIRD (40s, composed, professional news anchor) sits at a news desk, a backdrop of the London cityscape behind her. She looks into the camera.

JILL (on earpiece)
Sam, are they with you? Good.

JILL (to camera)
Speaking of which, Mr. Storm, can you hear me?

EXT. JAMAICA - DOCK SIDE - DAY

John nods towards the camera.

JOHN
Loud and clear, Jill. Fire away.

JILL (V.O. over live feed)
Did you find any treasure? A map, perhaps?

JOHN
We used modern sonar and ROV technology to survey the site before diving. And yes, naturally, my hopes were high. Captain Morgan’s casket was remarkably intact, likely due to the Lignum Vitae – ironwood – it’s made from, and the lead lining. His skeleton is also intact, which is significant. Great news for historical preservation. No parchment or gold, though. A bit of a letdown on the treasure front. But there are some markings from the casket that we need to examine further. They might be of interest.

SAM
That’s a bit Dan Brown, isn’t it?

JOHN
I suppose you could say that. But finding Sir Henry in such good condition after all this time is staggering, don’t you think? The future of his remains is up to Blue Shield and the Jamaican authorities. Our priority was ensuring the site is protected from looting.

SAM
Is looting a big problem in the Caribbean?

John gives a wry smile.

JOHN
Just a little, Sam. Unfortunately, some recreational divers don’t always report their souvenir finds. So, valuable historical data is lost.

John shifts slightly, a brief flicker of something unsaid crossing his face.

JOHN (V.O. - internal)
Revealing the intrically carved artifact now would be madness. Treasure hunters, corrupt officials… the whole damn circus.

His awkwardness vanishes, replaced by a determined look.

JOHN
I’m afraid I have some rather important matters to attend to. It was good speaking with you, Jill, and you too, Sam. You have our contact details. Sam, if you’d like to come onboard later, you’re most welcome. You too, Jill, if you ever find yourself this side of the pond.

Sam looks out at the sleek Elizabeth Swann anchored offshore, a look of intense longing on his face.

SAM (to himself, barely audible)
Try and stop me.

INT. BBC STUDIO - LONDON - DAY

Jill Bird smiles wistfully into the camera.

JILL (to camera)
Well, there you have it. Intrepid explorer John Storm with the latest incredible discovery from the depths of old Port Royal. One can only imagine the secrets that sunken city still holds.

JILL (V.O.)
For Jill Bird and the BBC World News Service, this is London.

EXT. JAMAICA - DOCK SIDE - DAY

Sam Hollis stares out at the Elizabeth Swann, a determined glint in his eye.

SAM (to his cameraman)
Right. Let’s see if Captain Storm meant that invitation.

CUT TO BLACK

>>> SCENE 9

Damn you for Villains, who are you? And, from whence came you? The Lieutenant made him Answer, You may see by our Colours we are no Pyrates. Black-beard bid him send his Boat on Board, that he might see who he was; but Mr. Maynard reply'd thus; I cannot spare my Boat, but I will come aboard of you as soon as I can, with my Sloop. Upon this, Black-beard took a Glass of Liquor and drank to him with these Words: Damnation seize my Soul if I give you Quarters, or take any from you. In Answer to which, Mr. Maynard told him, that he expected no Quarters from him, nor should he give him any.

PROLOGUE: ROYAL AFRICAN COMPANY - King Charles II, Royal Charter James Stuart II, transport goods from Africa: Bloody Triangle.

SCENE 1. THE BATTLE OF OCRACOKE - Lt Robert Maynard, Blackbeard's curse, beheading & torturous interrogation on the Adventure 

SCENE 2. EARTHQUAKE JAMAICA - Present Day - An earthquake hits Port Royal, disturbing the sunken city & Palisadoes cemetery.

SCENE 3. BLUE SHIELD ENGLAND - Blue Shield, Newcastle UK, UNESCO requests Storm catalogue underwater city UNEP World Heritage Site.

SCENE 3.1. SWASHBUCKLING - John tries out Dan's VR sword fencing program, then duel with real pirate cutlasses, Hal keeping score.

SCENE 4. HENRY MORGAN'S DEATH - Henry Morgan has a heart attack; funeral ceremony at Palisadoes cemetery, old Port Royal.

SCENE 5. SUNKEN CITY SURVEY - Present Day, Swann's sensors scan the ocean bed, revealing mausoleum former Governor of Jamaica.

SCENE 6. JUNE 1692 TSUNAMI - Jamaica, June 7th, an earthquake hits Port Royal, then a tsunami washes the pirate haven under the sea.

SCENE 6.1. GHOSTS BLACKBEARD & MORGAN  - Spectral figures cheer on John Storm as he searches Henry's Palisadoes crypt for clues.

SCENE 7. HENRY MORGAN'S COFFIN - John Storm & ROV, comes face to face with Henry's skeletal remains. Finds interesting wooden engraving.

SCENE 8. BBC JILL BIRD - London. John Storm's finds lost Henry Morgan's pirate remains. "And for those of you wondering, there was no treasure."
SCENE 9. OPERATION HISPANIOLA - British Geographical Society, & Royal Navy fund Lord Huntington's expedition to recover relics in the Caribbean.

SCENE 10. SHIP'S COOK - William Gray helps John Long's cut-throats to crew for Huntington's Hispaniola, Long a dab hand on the galley.

SCENE 11. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOS - Huntington (BGS bigwig) asks John Storm for help with shipwreck survey - meet in the Caribbean, Haiti.

SCENE 12. SKELETON ISLAND - Intrigued by map proffered by Lord Huntington, John agrees to switch attention to location, to coast of Panama. .

SCENE 13. SANTA CATALINA - Colombian, Mexican, Panamanian, Nicaraguan patrols re: 'Satisfaction' & hunt for Aztec gold, Spanish Conquistadors.

SCENE 14. TREASURE ISLAND - Hurricane Iota erased map clues, Isla Providencia. Longstride believes location of Blackbeard's/Morgan's treasure.

SCENE 15. KIDNAP - Black Jack & Billy Bones kidnap Dan, Cleopatra - lock in Hispaniola with Tremaine. Hal alerts John to events via BioCore.

SCENE 16. DOUBLE CROSS - Maynard pact with Spanish Navy to blockade Caribbean to capture John & Swann. Longstride deal Aztec Golden Skull.

SCENE 17. BLACKBEARD'S CURSE - John retakes Swann, Hal immobilizes Black Jack and Billy Bones and rescues prisoners on Hispaniola.

SCENE 18. MORGAN'S TREASURE SHIP - John deciphers carving code helped Dan and Cybercore Genetica. Dives to find privateer's shipwreck.

SCENE 19. BILLION DOLLAR DEAL - John negotiates with Panama, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador & Blue Shield for % salvage based on wreck video.

SCENE 20. BLOCKADE RUNNER - Swann navigates through Spanish Armada & Royal Navy blockade in stealth mode, invisible to radar.

SCENE 21. BERMUDA TRIANGLE - Pirates head into Bermuda Triangle, Colombian Navy in pursuit: BBC Sky News. Never to be seen again.

  BBC WORLD NEWS SERVICE, JILL BIRD & SAM HOLLIS, REPORTING FROM JAMAICA, PORT ROYAL. ON FIND OF HENRY MORGAN'S COFFIN - TREASURE ISLAND - BLACKBEARD'S CURSE & PIRATES GOLD

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