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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 12
EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA - CHAGRES RIVER MOUTH - DAY (FLASHBACK - 1502)
A CARAVEL, sails billowing, navigates a wide, muddy river.
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (50s, weathered, determined) points towards the lush jungle lining the banks.
COLUMBUS (in Spanish, subtitled)
This river… a vital artery.
EXT. PANAMA - ISTHMUS - DAY (FLASHBACK - 1534)
MULE TRAINS laden with chests of gold trudge along a muddy track – CAMINO REAL DE CRUCES. SPANISH SOLDIERS escort them.
VOICEOVER (authoritative, historical)
By fifteen thirty-four, Spanish gold flowed across the isthmus… a tempting prize.
EXT. CHAGRES RIVER MOUTH - FORT SAN LORENZO - DAY (FLASHBACK - 1671)
SPANISH GALLEONS lie at anchor near a formidable stone FORTRESS perched atop a high reef. HENRY MORGAN’S (40s, bold, ruthless) ships approach.
VOICEOVER (authoritative, historical)
To protect their treasure, Spain built Fort San Lorenzo… but even stone could not deter
Henry
Morgan.
Morgan’s ships, including the SATISFACTION, strike a submerged reef – LAJAS REEF – their hulls splintering. Despite the loss, the remaining ships press the attack.
INT. FORT SAN LORENZO - BATTLE - DAY (FLASHBACK - 1671)
Cannon fire and the clash of steel. Morgan’s buccaneers storm the fortress.
VOICEOVER (authoritative, historical)
The fort fell… a prelude to the sacking of Panama… Morgan’s greatest, and most perilous, triumph.
EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA - OFF PANAMA COAST - DAY (PRESENT DAY)
A research vessel equipped with MAGNETIC SENSORS scans the seabed. DATA POINTS flicker on a monitor.
VOICEOVER (scientific, factual)
Three centuries later… magnetic anomalies revealed… heavy metal objects… consistent with cannon…
EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA - UNDERWATER - DAY (PRESENT DAY)
DIVING TEAMS from TEXAS UNIVERSITY explore the seabed. They discover six CANNONS, encrusted with coral.
VOICEOVER (scientific, factual)
Confirmation of historical accounts… Morgan’s lost ships…
EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA - INTERNATIONAL WATERS - DAY
The sleek, zero-emission ELIZABETH SWANN cuts through the waves. Her RADAR dish spins. A NICARAGUAN COASTGUARD PATROL VESSEL is visible in the distance.
INT. ELIZABETH SWANN - HELM - DAY
JOHN STORM (40s, focused) stands at the helm. DAN HAWK (20s, tech-savvy) monitors the radar. CLEOPATRA (ageless, observant) watches the approaching patrol vessel through high-powered binoculars.
JOHN STORM (to himself, thoughts relayed via BioCore)
Hal… monitor their comms.
HAL (V.O. - synthesized, calm)
We have been detected, John. They are observing our trajectory. Our coordinates have been transmitted to Armada de Mexico and the Panamanian National Aeronaval Service.
JOHN STORM (aloud)
Hmmm. They didn’t waste any time. Not a Blue Shield op. The Swann sticks out like a sore thumb. And our recent itinerary…
Jamaica,
Haiti…
CLEOPATRA
A red flag to a bull, as they say.
Chuckles
to herself.
HAL (V.O.)
We are within international waters, John.
JOHN STORM
True, Hal. But down here… rules are… fluid. They have a serious drug problem. We’re not exactly inconspicuous. They might think we’re a floating pharmacy.
John chuckles dryly.
JOHN STORM (aloud)
Keep an eye on them, Hal.
EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA - HISPANIOLA - DAY (DISTANCE)
The HISPANIOLA, a more traditional survey vessel, plods along in the distance.
INT. ELIZABETH SWANN - HELM - DAY
John picks up the comms mic.
JOHN STORM
Swann to Hispaniola. Swann to Hispaniola, come in. Over.
INT. HISPANIOLA - HELM - DAY (LATER)
CAPTAIN TREMAINE (50s, professional) answers the radio.
LORD HUNTINGTON (60s, anxious) stands beside him.
CAPTAIN TREMAINE
Hispaniola to Elizabeth Swann, Captain Tremaine here. Hello, Captain Storm. Over.
JOHN STORM (V.O.)
Hello, Scott. We’ve had a… warm welcome. Three navies aware of our southbound track towards Santa Catalina. Be warned. Expect a boarding and search for contraband. Over.
CAPTAIN TREMAINE
You mean drugs, John? Over.
JOHN STORM (V.O.)
That I do. Offensive, but chin up. We’re heading to Muelle de Barcos, Providencia. Mooring at the dock, resupplying. Our story: soaking up Henry Morgan’s history. Seriously keen to see Morgan’s Point. Suggest a similar narrative. Your vessel… well, less ‘tourist-friendly’ than ours. Technically, we’re sightseeing. No shovels. Over.
Lord Huntington snatches the mic.
LORD HUNTINGTON
Hello, John. Huntington here. Roger that. Rendezvous at Providence boat dock. Muelle de Barcos. Not a shovel in sight. Sobre y fuera.
EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA - APPROACHING SANTA CATALINA - DAY
The Elizabeth Swann approaches the lush coastline of Santa Catalina. The Nicaraguan patrol vessel SOVEREIGNTY closes in.
INT. ELIZABETH SWANN - HELM - DAY
HAL (V.O.)
They are hailing us, John. Identifying us via AIS.
EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA - ALONGSIDE SOVEREIGNTY - DAY
The Nicaraguan COASTGUARD VESSEL SOVEREIGNTY, a Damen Stan patrol boat, maneuvers alongside the Elizabeth Swann. A voice booms over a loudspeaker.
NICARAGUAN COASTGUARD (O.S.) (in Spanish, subtitled)
Attention Elizabeth Swann, stop all engines. Allow us to board for routine customs inspection.
JOHN STORM (into radio)
Calling coastguard patrol Soberanía, this is the
Elizabeth
Swann. Powering down. Please board via the portside sponson. Welcome aboard. No cargo, only crew.
A small, rigid inflatable boat (RIB) armed with a machine gun and three COASTGUARD CREW is lowered from the Sovereignty. It bounces across the choppy
water towards the Swann. John throws them a line.
JOHN STORM (to the approaching RIB)
Welcome aboard our humble, zero-pollution vessel, Lieutenant.
A slightly overweight NICARAGUAN LIEUTENANT (30s) climbs onto the Swann’s sponson, looking around in surprise.
LIEUTENANT (in slightly accented English)
Señor Storm? Thank you for your cooperation. An… interesting vessel. Do you mind if my men… look around?
JOHN STORM
Not at all, Lieutenant. Be our guest.
John salutes. The Lieutenant returns the salute, his eyes still fixed on the Swann’s unusual design.
FADE OUT
>>>
SCENE 14
ABSTRACT:
The Columbian Archipelago
that includes San Andreas, Santa Catalina and Providence Islands, is swarming with naval ships. Columbian, Mexican, Panamanian and Nicaraguan navies routinely patrolling close by, triggered by the discovery of Henry Morgan's ship 'Satisfaction' at Lajas Reef between 2008-10, the military of these countries have been alive to the possibility of a claim on the Aztec gold, looted by the Spanish Conquistadors. Then re-acquired by the Welsh privateer momentarily in 1671, to be lost again.
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.
PANAMA
NORTH COAST - The remains of the mighty Fort San Lorenzo stand surrounded by the sparkling Caribbean Sea and over 30,000 acres of protected rainforest in the jungles of the Panama Canal watershed. Built to protect the entrance and exit of the main route to the Americas, the construction of the fort was ordered by Spanish King Felipe II in 1598, with limited effectiveness. In fact, between the years of 1596-1740, the fort was under almost constant attack by now-famous pirates such as
Sir Francis
Drake, Sir Henry Morgan and the English Admiral Edward Vernon.
Recognized today as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the massive fortress was made by the Italian engineer Juan Bautista Antonelli, and is considered an extraordinary example of 17th and 18th century military architecture. When you visit, take some time to wander around the majestic ruins, and imagine what life might have been like over 400 years ago when pirates and enemy ships had their eyes on San Lorenzo. You’ll get to walk through the same dark, musty hallways of the colonial era, and view the heavy cannons nestled behind the walls. Take in the stunning views of the Chagres River, and on out to the Caribbean Sea. The historical area is not only great for exploration and introspection, but it’s also an excellent place for birdwatching.
DAMEN
STAN PATROL SHIPS - Nicaraguan patrol vessels based on the Damen Stan 4207
design seen above. The vessels were commissioned as Soberanía I (409) and Soberanía II
(411), primarily for coastguard duties, including drug smuggling prevention. Unlike many other nations vessels, which are designed solely for coast guard or environmental monitoring, the Nicaraguan ships have added a military sensor suite and a deck gun. Militarizing the vessels boosted their cost from $20 million USD to $65 million
USD.
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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