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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 13
EXT. PROVIDENCIA ISLAND - CHANNEL - DAY
The Hispaniola motors gracefully through a narrow channel, the lush green of PROVIDENCIA ISLAND rising on either side. Above, a natural arch of rock – PUENTE DE LOS ENAMORADOS, the Lover's Bridge – spans the waterway.
EXT. PROVIDENCIA ISLAND - MUELLE DE BARCOS - DAY
The Elizabeth Swann, sleek and modern, is moored end-on to a wooden pier – MUELLE DE BARCOS. The Hispaniola expertly maneuvers alongside the pier’s south side.
BILLY BONES (30s, agile) leaps ashore, securing ropes thrown by
BLACK JACK (20s, efficient). A sunny afternoon, a brisk breeze rustling the palm trees.
INT. HISPANIOLA - LORD HUNTINGTON'S CABIN - DAY
LORD HUNTINGTON (60s, now in a lightweight yachting windbreaker and walking boots) checks his reflection, a spring in his step.
EXT. HISPANIOLA - DECK - DAY
Lord Huntington emerges from his cabin, passing CAPTAIN TREMAINE (50s) on deck.
LORD HUNTINGTON
Skipper.
CAPTAIN TREMAINE
Your Lordship.
LORD HUNTINGTON
Off on a… reconnaissance. Get my bearings. Please remain onboard, or close to shore. I’ll be as swift as possible. Report anything of interest. Need for assistance.
CAPTAIN TREMAINE
Right you are, squire. Your party.
Huntington heads towards the Elizabeth
Swann, a renewed sense of purpose in his stride.
EXT. ELIZABETH SWANN - PORT SPONSON - DAY
Lord Huntington approaches the Swann, calling out.
LORD HUNTINGTON
Ahoy there!
JOHN STORM (40s fit sporty) appears on the walkway connecting the forward helm and rear cabins.
JOHN STORM
This way, Lord Huntington.
Huntington climbs down a ladder to the port outrigger, then onto the walkway. They shake hands.
LORD HUNTINGTON
Let’s hope for better fortune this time.
JOHN STORM
Quite so.
Huntington follows John into the enclosed helm.
INT. ELIZABETH SWANN - HELM - DAY
Lord Huntington’s eyes widen, taking in the advanced technology. DAN HAWK (20s) and CLEOPATRA (ageless) smile warmly. A vast, uncluttered chart table dominates the space.
LORD HUNTINGTON
My word… that’s some chart table. Hello Dan. Miss
Trisha.
HAL (V.O. - calm, synthesized)
Good afternoon, Lord Huntington.
Huntington looks around, spotting a screen displaying HAL’s
interface on the command consoles.
LORD HUNTINGTON
Gracious me… three seats! Very… Star
trek. Ah, there you are. Wondered when we’d meet.
He turns to the panoramic forward view.
LORD HUNTINGTON (CONT'D)
Wow. And look at that view! Stunning. Feels like we’re swimming with the fishes. Must get one of those.
Cleopatra offers him a cup of tea.
LORD HUNTINGTON
Oh, lovely. Very thoughtful of you, my dear.
He tries to discreetly admire Cleopatra, then quickly focuses on her face.
LORD HUNTINGTON (CONT'D)
Well, to business then. John, I have a map of this Archipelago. Hoping you can help identify some landmarks.
JOHN STORM
Uh-huh. Origin of this map?
LORD HUNTINGTON
John, if I told you… you wouldn’t believe me.
JOHN STORM
Try me.
LORD HUNTINGTON
It’s… a matter of secrecy. Strictly confidential. Your word. Many men have died over this schematic.
John glances at Dan and Cleopatra, then towards the unseen HAL.
JOHN STORM
You have our assurance, Lord Huntington. As Blue Shield agents, correct?
DAN HAWK
It’s true, Lord Huntington. Blue Shield operatives. But more than that… John’s word is his bond. Same for Trisha and myself. Loyal to John.
LORD HUNTINGTON
Splendid. And Hal?
HAL (V.O.)
My parameters are vessel management, Lord Huntington. Information retrieval and dissemination require Captain Storm’s explicit authorization.
JOHN STORM
Now, Lord Huntington. Why should Blue Shield prioritize this?
LORD HUNTINGTON
The… handsome contribution to the UN heritage arm. If you help me find… objects of value… once belonging to a certain historic figure. And you recently found another… historic
character?
JOHN STORM
Indeed. But you speak of another. Time, perhaps, for more information. Your last steer was… less than precise.
LORD HUNTINGTON
Quite so. Ahem. Getting to the bottom of that… misinformation. Right then… here we go.
A long pause as Huntington gathers himself.
LORD HUNTINGTON (CONT'D)
A… long-departed relative… bequeathed a map of this island. The map’s origin… crucial.
JOHN STORM
Yes?
LORD HUNTINGTON
This map… (He hesitates again) …was taken from a ship called the Adventure… the twenty-second of November, seventeen eighteen.
JOHN STORM
(Eyes widening)
You’re kidding me. The battle of Ocracoke?
LORD HUNTINGTON
You know of this battle?
JOHN STORM
Since I was a lad. Blackbeard. Captured, tortured… beheaded.
LORD HUNTINGTON
Right you are, John. Lieutenant Robert Maynard… his crew… searched the Adventure.
Found only this map… and letters. Nothing else. No hoard.
JOHN STORM
Wait a tick. Isn’t Commander
Maynard… also Royal
Navy?
LORD HUNTINGTON
Yes… yes, he is. Remarkable coincidence. Though… Governor Spotswood commissioned the attack. Not
King
George. Unofficial.
John lets it pass, a thoughtful expression on his face.
JOHN STORM (V.O.)
Coincidence? I think not.
The
pair study the map intently, planning their proposed route.
EXT. PROVIDENCIA ISLAND - MUELLE DE BARCOS -
DUSK
SOUND of gentle waves lapping against the pier.
The ELIZABETH SWANN, is moored serenely. LORD HUNTINGTON (clutching his ancient map) stands near the helm, bathed in moonlight. JOHN STORM prepares gear nearby.
In the shadows at the edge of the pier, partially obscured by rigging, JOHN LONGSTRIDE (40s, tall, broad, observant) watches them intently.
LORD HUNTINGTON
(Booming whisper)
Avast, John! This chart… Morgan… Blackbeard. But Hurricane Iota… landmarks vanished. We must scour this isle… reclaim what time and tempest have stolen!
JOHN STORM
(Hearty chuckle enjoining)
Aye, my lord! Moved boulders… humbled a hundred men. If Blackbeard’s treasure’s
at the end of yon map… we'll clear the path!
They exchange a determined look. The Swann's solar wings fold down for the
night. They step onto the shadowed island. Longstride melts further into the darkness, following at a distance.
EXT. ISLA PROVIDENCIA - FORGOTTEN TRAIL - DUSK
Huntington and Storm briskly trek along a rugged, overgrown path, illuminated by handheld lanterns. The map is barely legible.
Longstride trails them, his movements silent and practiced, keeping to the treeline
and hedges.
LORD HUNTINGTON
(Low voice)
Symbols… hidden marks… not on the copy. Further clues… for the keen of mind.
JOHN STORM
(Grinning, unfettered)
Then lead on, my lord! Blackbeard’s and Morgan’s pleasure awaits!
John
hears a twig snap in the distance.
Longstride’s eyes narrow, observing their interaction, not quite hearing
every word, thinking he's not detected.
EXT. ISLA PROVIDENCIA - CAVE OF LOST SOULS - DUSK
Towering rocks block a cave entrance, noted on the map, but invisible to the
casual observer. John Storm strains, pushing aside a massive stone, creating an opening. Huntington is astonished.
Longstride watches from behind a large boulder, amazed at John's feat,
thinking the rock lighter than it looked, his expression unreadable.
Inside the cave, torchlight reveals glistening bones. They venture deeper
along narrow passages. In a lonely alcove, they find a GOLDEN AZTEC SKULL on a pedestal.
No treasure
trove. Not a sign of Captain Morgan's Spanish hoard.
LORD HUNTINGTON
(Awed whisper, echoing)
By the stars… behold! A skull of gold… Aztec treasures… Spanish fury… Blackbeard’s and Morgan’s
trove?
Methinks not!
LORD HUNTINGTON (CONT'D)
(Admiring John’s feat, somewhat exasperated)
Only uncommon strength… unveiled such secrets. Destiny… a bounty fit for a king!
This skull though a thing of wonder - cannot be it!
John and Huntington exchange quizzical looks. Longstride follows into the
cave's passages, but remains hidden, his gaze finally fixed on the golden skull.
He freezes preparing to retreat.
INT. CAVE OF LOST SOULS - REFLECTIONS & RESOLUTIONS - PITCH DARK
The cave is silent. The skull gleams. No other treasure is visible after
considerable searching.
Longstride peers into the alcove from a shadowed passage, equally perplexed,
trips on a stone. John hears the blunder.
LORD HUNTINGTON
(Thoughtfully)
Fate… half the clues. King’s ransom… shrouded… further secrets… cursed isles. Our quest… just begun.
JOHN STORM
(Resolutely)
Pirate lore is
fickle! We press on, one more step closer to solving this riddle.
Distant thunder rumbles. John and Huntington prepare to leave. John takes
out his mobile and films the Aztec skull, as he circles the golden idol.
Huntington is unaware they are being shadowed.
Longstride
scampers out of the cave at speed, fearing discovery.
The golden skull
glints, knowingly peering back at its admirers. John replaces the heavy stone edifice to seal the cave, knowing it would take two or three
determined strongmen to move it. Huntington tries to move the rock doorway.
It does not budge.
Longstride watches them go, a flicker of something – ambition? greed? – in his eyes.
He returns to the rock entrance, to gain entry, but cannot budge the stone
door.
He glances back at
the cave entrance before silently retreating into the darkness.
FADE OUT
>>>
SCENE 15
ABSTRACT:
Rendezvous at Muelle de Barcos, crew asked to remain on docked Hispaniola. Dan and Cleopatra to remain on Swann. But Long shadows Huntington and Storm, as they seek to identify map landmarks. Mostly erased by Hurricane Iota. Huntington is forced to reveal other clues, not included on duplicate map. They find a cave full of pirate skeletons, and a golden skull. John Longstride thinks this is location of Blackbeard's/Morgan's treasure. He noted John's strength in moving some large rocks, impossible for an ordinary man to move. Huntington also surprised at the extraordinary feats.
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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