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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.
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SCENE 16
INT. BRIDGE OF THE ELIZABETH SWANN – NIGHT
The bridge is bathed in gentle blue light from holographic readouts, the soft hum of advanced engines mingling with the quiet pulse of data streams.
HAL - the omnipresent AI - displays a steady calm as it processes incoming alerts.
HAL (V.O.) Pirate vessel detected. Hostages confirmed aboard the Hispaniola. Initiating contingency protocol.
The navigation screen shows the approaching silhouette of a classic sailing
vessel - the Hispaniola - now repurposed for piracy. Two figures, BILLY BONES and BLACK JACK, are seen on its deck. Nearby, CLEOPATRA and DAN HAWK appear bound at knifepoint, their eyes wide with apprehension.
EXT. DECK OF THE ELIZABETH SWANN – NIGHT
Under the starry sky, a gangway hangs loosely from the hull of the Elizabeth Swann. The pirates, fueled by bravado and desperate ambition, cram from the Hispaniola. Billy Bones brandishes his
heirloom cutlass with a crooked grin, while Black Jack’s eyes gleam with greed.
BILLY BONES (rasping with swagger) Reclaimin’ our prize, Black
Jack! Let ‘em be thinkin’ that ol’ Storm’s marooned, so we be gettin’ what’s rightfully ours!
BLACK JACK (sneering) Aye, matey. Soon, the Elizabeth Swann be ours, and that skipper’s lost to the deep!
INT. BRIDGE OF THE ELIZABETH SWANN – CONTINUOUS
HAL’s interface flickers with real-time sensor data. The AI’s calm voice cuts through the tension.
HAL (V.O.) Initiating non-lethal neutralization. Standby for directed
tazer
deployment; set to stun.
Hidden compartments along the inner hull open with precise, mechanical grace. Small, robotic arms extend silently toward the incoming gangway.
EXT. DECK OF THE ELIZABETH SWANN – CONTINUOUS
As Billy Bones and Black Jack step aboard, two conditioned bursts of blue energy surge
forth the handrails. Electric arcs crackle along the deck.
Black Jack staggers, a look of incredulous shock on his face as the taser binds him in a quivering hold. Billy Bones drops his weapon with a startled snarl, his limbs jerking uncontrollably.
BLACK JACK (through clenched teeth) Arrr! Blast it - what sorcery is this?
BILLY BONES Yar, we’ve been bested by our own ship, it seems!
INT. BRIDGE OF THE ELIZABETH SWANN – MOMENTS LATER
HAL’s digital display confirms the neutralization of the boarders. The screen shifts to show the vessel’s course, steadily redirecting away from the Hispaniola.
HAL (V.O.) Pirates neutralized. Re-routing propulsion. Engaging return trajectory to skipper coordinates.
A secure, high-priority data channel opens - a link with John Storm’s BioCore and CyberCore Genetica super nano-computer system.
INT. JOHN STORM’S PRIVATE CHAMBER – NIGHT
In a quiet, secure compartment away from immediate chaos, JOHN STORM sits in a meditative state. His eyes close as he establishes a telepathic connection with HAL. His thoughts resonate calmly yet with fierce gratitude.
JOHN (telepathically) Hal... ye saved me. I was reckonin’ the depths’d claim me that night, but your cunning has proven mightier.
HAL (V.O., measured and warm) Acknowledged, Captain. Return navigation complete. Stand by for vessel extraction. Our legacy and your life remain intact.
EXT. DECK OF THE HSOPANIOLA – CONTINUOUS
Aboard the Hispaniola, crew members hastily secure Cleopatra and Dan Hawk in a makeshift hold. Their eyes follow the departing silhouette of their captors’ ship—relief mingled with uncertainty on their faces.
INT. BRIDGE OF THE ELIZABETH SWANN – NIGHT
The Elizabeth Swann glides through the dark expanse of the ocean, powered silently by
fuels
cells and hydrogen energy. HAL’s interface displays a smooth trajectory toward John Storm’s location. The tension dissipates into a determined calm.
JOHN (telepathically, softly but resolute) I owe ye more than words, Hal. With your guidance, we’ve thwarted treachery and reclaimed our course. Thank ye, my steadfast friend.
HAL (V.O.) It is my honor to serve, Captain. Now, let us sail securely back to safe harbor—for history, for our crew, and for the treasures of our shared legacy.
The bridge’s lights pulse in time with the steady hum of computer
operations. The Elizabeth Swann closes the distance to its skipper - a vessel once again under rightful command.
RETRIBUTION
AND ESCAPE
INT. BRIDGE - ELIZABETH SWANN - NIGHT
John
Storm, back on the bridge, his hand resting on the console, gives a curt nod to the holographic orb of
HAL. The bridge lights flicker back to their normal intensity.
JOHN: Good work, Hal. They never saw it coming.
HAL (V.O.): Their understanding of the Elizabeth
Swann’s capabilities was… limited, Captain. Black Jack and
Billy Bones are secured and immobilized in the forward holding cell. Vital systems are back under our control.
JOHN: Now, the Hispaniola. Status?
HAL (V.O.): Located approximately three nautical miles northeast, as predicted. I am preparing an optimal intercept course.
The Elizabeth Swann silently accelerates through the dark water. On the main viewscreen, the silhouette of the Hispaniola comes into view.
INT. HOLD - HISPANIOLA - NIGHT
Dan
Hawk, Cleopatra, and
Scott Tremaine are still bound. They hear muffled sounds approaching. The door to the hold bursts open, revealing John Storm, flanked by the ship’s security drones.
DAN: John! You’re back!
CLEOPATRA: We knew you wouldn’t leave us!
JOHN: Hal had things under control. Let’s get you untied.
The drones efficiently cut through their bonds. Lord Huntington and several other members of John’s crew, armed, enter the hold.
LORD HUNTINGTON: Longstride and his cronies are secured on the upper deck. They won’t be causing any more trouble.
SCOTT TREMAINE: Good riddance. They deserve to rot in a jail cell.
JOHN: That’s exactly where they’re headed. Lord Huntington, secure them properly. We’re taking the Hispaniola to Muelle de Barcos. Captain Tremaine, you have the con.
LORD HUNTINGTON: Aye, Captain.
EXT. MUELLE DE BARCOS - NIGHT
The Hispaniola docks at a bustling, but mostly deserted at this late hour, pier in Muelle de Barcos. Lord Huntington and Scott Tremaine escort a bound and surly John Longstride, Black Jack, and Billy Bones down the gangplank. Local port authorities are waiting.
CAPTAIN TREMAINE: Here they are. They caused quite a bit of trouble.
As the authorities move to take custody, a sudden commotion erupts. Longstride, with surprising strength, headbutts a guard, creating a brief distraction. In the ensuing chaos, Black Jack and Billy Bones manage to break free of their weakened restraints. They shove past the startled authorities and sprint towards the nearest docks.
LORD HUNTINGTON: They’re getting away!
CAPTAIN TREMAINE: After them!
But the pirates are quick. They leap into a small, unsecured fishing boat and cast off, the small outboard motor sputtering to life.
INT. BRIDGE - ELIZABETH SWANN - NIGHT
John, monitoring the situation remotely via drone feed, watches the pirates’ escape with a grimace.
JOHN: They’re gone. Longstride… he’s slippery.
HAL (V.O.): Their trajectory indicates they are heading west, Captain. Towards Skeleton Island.
JOHN: Skeleton Island… the cave. The Golden Skull. Blackbeard’s Curse. They’re desperate.
EXT. SKELETON ISLAND - CAVE ENTRANCE - NIGHT
Longstride, Black Jack, and Billy Bones stumble through the dense jungle towards the ominous mouth of the skull-shaped cave.
BLACK JACK: This place gives me the shivers, Captain. That curse…
LONGSTRIDE: Nonsense, superstition for fools. The skull is our ticket out of this mess. Maynard wants it. We’ll deliver it.
They enter the dark, echoing cave.
INT. SKELETON ISLAND - CAVE - NIGHT
They navigate the treacherous interior, their flashlights cutting through the gloom. They reach the chamber where the Golden Skull had been. It’s gone.
BILLY BONES: Blast it! Storm must have taken it!
LONGSTRIDE: No… wait.
Longstride spots something glinting in a crevice. He reaches in and pulls out the Golden Skull.
LONGSTRIDE (CONT'D): Maynard’s fool. He must have come back for it after he went rogue.
Blackbeard’s Curse didn’t scare him off.
BLACK JACK: But it might scare us off gettin’ near Maynard now. He’s a mad dog without a leash.
LONGSTRIDE: He’s our only chance through that blockade. He wants this skull. We deliver it, we get safe passage. Then we disappear.
EXT. OPEN OCEAN - NIGHT
A sleek, menacing warship, clearly Royal
Navy, cuts through the waves. COMMANDER MAYNARD stands on the bridge, his face illuminated by the ship’s instruments, the Golden Skull resting on a nearby console.
A small fishing boat approaches cautiously. Longstride hails Maynard’s ship.
LONGSTRIDE (O.S.): Maynard! We have what you want! The Golden Skull!
Maynard’s eyes narrow.
MAYNARD: Black Jack? Longstride? What game are you playing?
LONGSTRIDE (O.S.): A deal, Maynard. Safe passage through your blockade. All we ask. Then we’re gone.
MAYNARD: And why should I trust you?
LONGSTRIDE (O.S.): Because you need this skull, and we need to disappear. A temporary alliance of convenience.
Maynard considers this, his gaze fixed on the Golden Skull beside him.
MAYNARD: Head east. Follow my lead. And don’t try any tricks.
The small fishing boat follows Maynard’s warship, heading directly towards the invisible line of the remaining blockade, and beyond, into the treacherous, unpredictable waters of the
Bermuda
Triangle.
INT. BRIDGE - ELIZABETH SWANN - NIGHT
John watches their movements on the holographic display, a look of grim determination on his face.
JOHN: They’re heading straight for Maynard. And then… the
Bermuda
Triangle.
HAL (V.O.): Their chances of navigating that region, particularly Maynard’s vessel, are statistically low without precise navigational data.
JOHN: Low, but not zero. We have to follow them, Hal. Dan and Cleopatra are still out there. And now, so is the Golden Skull. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
CUT TO BLACK
>>>
SCENE 18
Threatened once again, John retakes Swann, actually Hal immobilizes Black Jack and Billy Bones. They (JS & Swann) then rescue prisoners on Hispaniola. Hal locating new anchorage. Huntington and Tremaine clap Longstride, Boon and Bones in irons on Hispaniola. The Hispaniola heads to Muelle de Barcos, to hand pirates over to authorities. But, the pirates escape, purloin a boat from
the dock, then go to island cave and take the Golden Skull, despite Blackbeard's Curse - pushing on to Maynard's ship to deliver Golden Skull, thence through
the blockade, into Caribbean.
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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