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SKELETON
ISLAND - Was a pirate secret location, known only to a small number of
captains by that name. But as piracy became unfashionable with mass hangings, the numbers
of those in the know, dwindled. Until, all that remained was a location
carved in wood. Generally hidden somewhere safe by the pirate concerned.
This location was useless without a chart giving the exact position that
each pirate buried their stash. The maps made on parchment, were handed down
to the next generations, by way of inheritance free of taxes.
<<<
SCENE 18
INT. BRIDGE - ELIZABETH SWANN - DAY
The bridge hums with quiet efficiency. Holographic displays shimmer with sensor readings and navigational charts.
JOHN STORM (40s, thoughtful, determined) sits at the central console, a look of anticipation mixed with apprehension on his face.
DAN HAWK (20s, energetic, practical) leans against a secondary station, fiddling with a holographic interface.
CLEOPATRA
(20s, intelligent, multilingual) stands nearby, observing the displays with a keen interest. HAL (V.O., calm, synthesized), the ship's AI, is ever-present.
JOHN
(Sighing softly)
The scavengers will gather, Dan. Like wolves to a fresh kill.
DAN
You expecting trouble, Skip?
JOHN
(Nodding grimly)
Certain of it. Remember the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes? Odyssey Marine Exploration pulling up
Spanish
silver… Spain kicked up a fuss, and rightly so. US courts eventually ordered its return. This… this is bigger.
A holographic map flickers to life, highlighting the Caribbean.
JOHN (CONT'D)
The wreck’s closer to Panama than Colombia, but that gold… it’s mostly
Incan,
Aztec. Peru, Ecuador… they have a strong historical claim. And don’t forget the inevitable bogus claims from Britain and Spain. It’ll be a feeding frenzy.
DAN
So, what’s the play?
JOHN
(Leaning forward)
We deal with the strongest claimants first. Keep an open mind. Most of that gold needs to go back where it belongs. The shipwreck… it could qualify as a
UNESCO site. But we need permissions, cooperation. Colombia, because the archipelago is technically theirs, even if the culture’s more Jamaican from colonial times.
Panama… well, we’ll see.
JOHN (CONT'D)
Hal, you got any bright ideas?
HAL (V.O.)
Perhaps. Thank you, Dan.
The holographic displays shift, replaying John’s underwater footage of the shipwreck.
HAL (V.O. CONT'D)
Commander Storm’s assessment aligns with historical data. The provenance of the artifacts strongly suggests
Incan and Aztec origins.
JOHN
(Smiling wryly)
Not bad for a human, eh?
DAN
(Chuckling)
You’re not human, Skip.
CLEOPATRA
Neither am I, entirely.
JOHN
(Teasingly)
No, you’re too perfect. But we love you anyway.
Cleopatra smiles, hugging John and then Dan.
CLEOPATRA
I’d hug you too, Hal, if I could. But seriously, we need to be strategic.
Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia… and maybe Panama. Right order is key.
JOHN
Hal, do the honors.
HAL (V.O.)
Initiating communications. Mexico… line is busy. Connecting with the Peruvian Minister of Antiquities.
Dan and Cleopatra exchange astonished glances.
DAN & CLEOPATRA (O.S.)
Wow!
DAN
Hal doesn’t mess about.
A holographic image of a distinguished PERUVIAN MINISTER (60s, intelligent, thoughtful) appears on the main screen.
JOHN
Minister, my name is John Storm.
MINISTER (V.O.)
Mr. Storm, how can I help you… or is that each other?
JOHN
(Concentrating on his Spanish)
More accurately… cada uno… is what I’m aiming for. Each other.
Cleopatra nods approvingly.
MINISTER (V.O.)
We heard about your find in Jamaica. Has this anything to do with Captain Morgan?
Dan and Cleopatra look impressed. Even a digital thumbs-up icon appears on Hal’s interface.
JOHN
It does. It does. Where to begin… Well, we’ve found a shipwreck… loaded with
gold. Ahem… re-acquired from the Spanish conquistadors by
Henry
Morgan. We presume much of it is Inca and Aztec. Hence this call. If possible… and a lot depends on several nations working together… and assuming for now you might look favorably on this proposition…
John takes a breath.
JOHN (CONT'D)
We’d like to ensure a suitable proportion of the find is properly deposited as a heritage display, perhaps in your Museo Larco, in Lima. Or another location… your choice, of course… to do the asset justice. Assuming, of course, that we might reach an agreement.
Silence hangs in the air, stretching for a beat.
JOHN
Hello, Minister? Are you there?
MINISTER (V.O.)
(A voice filled with surprise)
By the saints… Yes, Mr. Storm, I’m still here. A bit… in shock, mind you. Who else knows about this?
JOHN
You are the first Minister. We… the crew of the Elizabeth
Swann… agreed you had a strong claim. So we called you first.
MINISTER (V.O.)
We are honored, Mr. Storm. Thank your crew for me. I can see them, of course.
The Minister smiles warmly at the camera. Dan and Cleopatra wave excitedly in the background.
MINISTER (V.O. CONT'D)
Thinking out loud… and confidentially for now… I imagine our President will be overjoyed. Though I have been wrong before, but on this topic, I believe we’ll see eye to eye… as you say in North America. What then do we do about it? And where is the… treasure ship? If that is what you are calling it?
JOHN
Treasure ship is okay with us. We hope you understand, Minister, but we are keeping the location to ourselves until all parties are notified… and are in agreement. To protect the site, you understand.
MINISTER (V.O.)
Very sensible. Might I suggest you keep it that way. Some factions might see this as an opportunity for riches, sending history to the floor. And you are an outsider, so to speak. To be taken advantage of… of little regard. No offense intended.
John breathes a sigh of relief.
JOHN
None taken, Minister.
MINISTER (V.O.)
Please don’t take this the wrong way, Mr. Storm, but what proof do you have of this find?
JOHN
Of course. And no offense taken. I have dived the site and made a video record of the cargo. I think you might enjoy the footage. We are thinking of arranging a Zoom conference call. Is that agreeable to you?
MINISTER (V.O.)
In principle, Mr. Storm. In principle.
JOHN
Great. Then, assuming we can get the other parties to join, we’ll try and set that up.
MINISTER (V.O.)
The other parties being?
JOHN
Oh, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia… and probably Panama. Does that sound about right? At this stage, we think to limit it to parties with a legitimate historical claim. Panama is more of a courtesy inclusion, though they have a Morgan ship just offshore. Later, we can expand to include other interested parties.
MINISTER (V.O.)
That is perfect, Mr. Storm.
JOHN
Okay then, Minister. We’ll leave it there for now. You have our call-sign if you think of anything. But we’ll be in touch shortly.
MINISTER (V.O.)
Thank you, Mr. Storm. I’ll advise our President and others at this end. Confidentially, of course.
The holographic image of the Minister fades. John lets out a long breath.
JOHN
Phew! That went better than I could have hoped for.
He looks at Dan and Cleopatra, a determined glint in his eyes.
JOHN (CONT'D)
One down… four to go.
FADE OUT
>>>
SCENE 20
ABSTRACT:
John opens negotiations with
Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Panama, keeping Blue Shield in the loop. He plays them video of wreck, all astonished. Panama (owners of wreck) offer 10% to John for location. John accepts 5%, on proviso wreck is preserved as heritage site, and treasure Aztec treasure is recognised, in museum displays, to be divided appropriately, himself as final arbiter with guidance from Blue Shield.
Gold,
silver
and jewels.
HURRICANE IOTA NOVEMBER 2020
- Providencia (boat dock) and Santa Catalina were ravaged by extreme weather
when heading into 2021.
The small Colombian island of Providencia was hit hard by the powerful Category-5 hurricane Iota,
which caused severe damage to the majority of local’s homes and the already scant public infrastructure.
At that time, Colombia’s President, Ivan Duque, said it is the first Category 5 – the most serious of hurricanes – to hit the Andean nation in its history.
Providencia island had a population of 5,000 people and is part of the Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina located in the Caribbean Sea about 775km (481 miles) northwest of mainland Colombia. Geographically, it is closer to the central American country of Nicaragua.
The hurricane was first considered a Category 2 but just before passing Providencia it developed into a Category-5 tropical cyclone which NASA said can have wind speeds of up to 253km/h (157mph) and has the ability to cause catastrophic damage.
Neighbouring larger island San Andres also faced damage to its infrastructure, albeit less intense. Northern Colombian coastal cities, like Cartagena, have flooded and are battling high winds.
According to the United States Office of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2020 has had the highest hurricane activity in the Atlantic since official records began in 1851.
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.
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