|
...
<<<
SCENE 9
INT. LORD HUNTINGTON'S OFFICE - DAY
WILLIAM GRAY (50s, efficient, calculating) sits at a desk, reviewing personnel files. Two letters of endorsement from
British Geographical Society members lie beside a formal acceptance from
COMMANDER MAYNARD (O.S.).
WILLIAM GRAY (V.O.)
All pieces movin’ as planned. The Society birds sang my praises without a peep of doubt. Maynard… he’s a slippery
fish. His inquiries… I felt their subtle currents. He knows about the discharge. So, a hidden agenda then? Or perhaps… shared desires, kept veiled. The glint of
gold… it casts a long shadow.
William’s fingers tap restlessly on the desk.
WILLIAM GRAY (V.O.)
Huntington… a well-meaning fool. Efficiency is my weapon. Soon, he’ll rely on me for every blasted detail. And a crew… a crew loyal to a different flag, should the need arise.
INT. VARIOUS LOCATIONS - MONTAGE - DAYS LATER
- A CREWING PORTAL website on a computer screen, an advertisement for experienced seamen visible.
- A notice board in a dimly lit MARITIME PUB, a handwritten version of the same advert pinned amongst others.
- WILLIAM GRAY interviewing
ROBIN LONGSTRIDE (40s, tall, broad, with a remarkably long stride) in a small office. A grey parrot,
CAPTAIN
FLINT, sits perched on Longstride’s shoulder, observing with intelligent eyes.
WILLIAM GRAY
Mr. Longstride, is it not?
ROBIN LONGSTRIDE
Aye, that it be, matey.
WILLIAM GRAY
And you’ve brought… a companion? Does he speak?
ROBIN LONGSTRIDE
Why don’t you ask him yourself. Flint’s the name. Captain Flint.
Gray raises an eyebrow, humoring him.
WILLIAM GRAY
Captain Flint, how are you today?
CAPTAIN FLINT (high-pitched)
Chipper me hearty, what is your poison?
WILLIAM GRAY
(Grinning)
Brilliant. Your resume… cartography on exploration vessels?
ROBIN LONGSTRIDE
That’s the lay of the land. Charts where the edges are blurry. Navy, private… archaeology, mine clearin’.
WILLIAM GRAY
And… cooking?
ROBIN LONGSTRIDE
Aye, honest grub. Spicy for them as likes a bit o’ fire. And… I recall a jaunt with Uncle Sam… some… under-the-counter tradin’, if you catch my drift. Between you, me, and Captain Flint here.
Longstride winks knowingly. Gray returns the wink.
WILLIAM GRAY
Admirable. Shipmate preferences? Those of a similar… understanding?
ROBIN LONGSTRIDE
Two lads. Tough as nails, discreet as the grave. For a share.
WILLIAM GRAY
Precisely. Contact details?
ROBIN LONGSTRIDE
Best I have a word first. Smooth any ruffled feathers. You trustin’ an old salt?
WILLIAM GRAY
Soon, I’ll be callin’ you Honest John. Names… Billy One Eye, Black Jack. One a crack shot. The other… handy with the newfangled contraptions. Computers, you understand.
WILLIAM GRAY
Both… discreet?
ROBIN LONGSTRIDE
Their finest qualities. One Eye… Marine, then SBS. A bit of trouble with the Crown. But loyalty… it’ll cost. Though… I smell treasure on the wind.
WILLIAM GRAY
You’re not far off. Timing’s… fluid. Intel’s still tricklin’ in. Test the waters, John. This stays between us. Not the Captain. Not the crew. Agreed?
Longstride spits on his hand. They shake firmly.
ROBIN LONGSTRIDE
Agreed.
Longstride nods and heads for the door, gesturing for the next applicant.
INT. LORD HUNTINGTON'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
SCOTT TREMAINE (40s, stout, well-presented) enters.
WILLIAM GRAY
Good day. Please, make yourself comfortable. Mr. Tremaine, is it?
SCOTT TREMAINE
That it is. Professional salvage skipper. The advertised post?
WILLIAM GRAY
Salvage? An interesting assumption. Though… not entirely inaccurate.
SCOTT TREMAINE
British Geographical Society member. Lord Huntington’s lecture… the anomaly in Canale de la Gonave. Joining the dots. Sir Rodney mentioned your interest in funding.
WILLIAM GRAY
Ah, yes. How are you fixed for… three to five months? Caribbean.
SCOTT TREMAINE
Suits me. Charting the area? A word of caution… Haiti’s volatile. Moïse’s assassination…
SCOTT TREMAINE (CONT'D)
UN mission ended. Henry’s government… precarious. Gang violence exploded.
Canada deployed warships. Dangerous waters. Military, gangs… they don’t like strangers. Especially with the scent of silver.
Mexico, Panama too.
WILLIAM GRAY
So?
SCOTT TREMAINE
Proceed with extreme caution. Maybe postpone.
WILLIAM GRAY
But intel leaks… those pirates will disturb the site. Steal what they can.
SCOTT TREMAINE
The risk. Have you encountered Blue
Shield?
WILLIAM GRAY
Heard of them. Our funding…
SCOTT TREMAINE
Familiar with John
Storm?
WILLIAM GRAY
Not until today.
SCOTT TREMAINE
Operating off Jamaica. Old
Port
Royal. Blue Shield’s behest. His ship… the Elizabeth
Swann.
WILLIAM GRAY
(A chill runs down his spine)
The Elizabeth Swann…
SCOTT TREMAINE
Finest underwater sensors in the world.
WILLIAM GRAY
(Realization dawns)
He’s closer.
SCOTT TREMAINE
A few hundred miles. Occasional work for Blue
Shield. Seems so.
WILLIAM GRAY
Henry Morgan… the pirate.
SCOTT TREMAINE
BBC News. Storm found the remains. No treasure. Tremor worried Blue Shield. Mentioning it.
WILLIAM GRAY
(Calculating)
You’re available?
SCOTT TREMAINE
Most assuredly. Sign me up.
William Gray leans back, a predatory gleam in his eyes.
WILLIAM GRAY (V.O.)
Crew secured. But Storm… a complication. Time for some… inquiries. CIA.
MI6. Perhaps two birds with one stone. A little…
swashbuckling intrigue for our cinematic friends.
FADE OUT
>>>
SCENE 11
ABSTRACT:
William Gray helps John Long and his band of cut-throats to crew for Huntington's
Hispaniola, on the basis of purloined data from a
UNESCO report on a description of Henry Morgan's wooden engraving. John Long poses as a cartographer, but proves to be a dab hand on the galley. He is elected ship's cook.
...
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.
|
