T R E A S U R E  I S L A N D - T-ISLAND SCREENPLAY

 

 

 

Maties, please use our A-Z to navigate this site or return HOME me hearties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skeleton Island, curse of the Golden Skull

 

 

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 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.

 

 


 

John Storm and Elizabeth Swann get to Treasure (Skeleton) Island

 

 
 

 

  MOST OF THE CLUES ON HUNTINGTON'S MAP ARE ERASED BY HURRICANE IOTA - TREASURE ISLAND - BLACKBEARD'S CURSE & PIRATES GOLD

 

Intersting Treasure Island logo

 

SHIPMATES DIG OUR A-Z FOR PIRATES GOLD OR PLOT A COURSE HOME YO HO HO ME HEARTIES

 

This website is Copyright © 2023 Cleaner Ocean Foundation & Jameson Hunter - All rights reserved, Protected internationally as per the Berne Convention.