EXT. INDIAN OCEAN – DUSK

The Black Pearl, flying the WHITE FLAG OF TRUCE as promised, comes up alongside the Venture.

EXT. VENTURE - DECK – DUSK

The Venture crew all stare at the arriving figure of the Pearl. It is, after all, supposed to be the stuff of legend. Englehorn looks, at least for a moment, like he might be regretting his decision.

On the other hand, Helstrom, standing beside Jack, is clearly impressed. So is Jim Driscoll. Jack, for his part, is simply enjoying all the attention his ship is getting.

JIM
(simultaneously awed & terrified)
The Black Pearl…I've heard the stories of her. Crewed by the damned, she is, and captained by a man so evil that Hell itself spat him back out.

JACK
(nostalgic)
Aye, right up 'til I stuffed the mutinous git back down Old Nick's throat.
(stops as he acknowledges Jim for the first time)
Who're you, then?

Jim, who looks somewhat relieved now that the stories of the Pearl no longer apply, turns to Jack, his face aglow with enthusiasm.

JIM
(total geek-out)
James Driscoll, Captain Sparrow. I've heard of you, too. Sacked Nassau port without firing a single shot, didn't you? Plus slipped through the fingers of eight ships under the East India Company. Wanted for piracy, smuggling, falsification of letters of Marque and Reprisal, impersonating an officer of the British Royal Navy, impersonating an officer of the Spanish Royal Navy, impersonating a cleric of the Church of England, sailing under false colors, arson, kidnapping, brigandage, pilferage, depravity --

By now, Jack just plain pities the kid: does he have any life?

JACK
(interrupts)
Well, ye definitely know yer pirates, I'll give ye that.

JIM
(beaming)
Thank you, captain! It's such an honor to actually be in your presence --

He is interrupted as Ben Hayes, the first mate, joins the men.

HAYES
(sharply, to Jim)
Jim! You bring up those ropes from below deck like I told you?

JIM
(very awkward)
Er, doin' it right now, Mr. Hayes.

HAYES
(knowingly)
I thought so.

Jim runs off. Hayes gives Jack and Helstrom a somewhat dark look, then heads off as well.

Jack exhales in relief: thank God he's gone.

JACK
Now that is one lad what needs t'find 'imself a girl.

HELSTROM
Driscoll? You got that right. Never saw anyone who admires piracy the way he does.

ELSEWHERE ON DECK, Hayes catches up with Jim.

HAYES
Jim! You also have something for me, I believe?

Jim stops, hesitates, then fishes a crumpled piece of parchment from his vest pocket.

He gives it to Hayes, who examines it.

The paper is covered with a single sentence, written over and over again – a writing exercise.

Hayes looks back at Jim sternly.

Jim stares downward, not wanting to meet the first mate's gaze.

HAYES
What do I always tell you?

JIM
(mumbles)
Do your best.

HAYES
And is this your best?

Jim looks back up and sticks out his chin defiantly.

JIM
(stubbornly)
It is.

HAYES
(isn't fooled)
So you've been practicing?

Jim does not answer, and averts his eyes again, confirming Hayes' suspicions.

There is a brief but awkward silence, as Hayes continues to give Jim his disapproving look.

HAYES
(insistently; he knows what's best for the boy)
Jim, you don't want to be on this ship for the rest of your life.

Jim looks back at him stubbornly.

JIM
(defensively)
Yes I do.

HAYES
No you don't, Jim.

JIM
Well so what if I want to stay at sea? I could get by, just like Mr. Sparrow did.

Hayes closes his eyes in frustration. This is exactly what he's been afraid of.

HAYES
So that's what you want to make of your life? Become a pirate, spend the rest of your days running from the law?

Jim doesn't answer; just stares stubbornly. Eventually:

HAYES (CONT'D)
Well come on, go get those ropes up on deck.

Jim, scowling, heads off to do so.

BACK WITH JACK AND HELSTROM:

HELSTROM
(chuckles)
Of course, judging by his success with Ms. Darrow, he'll be lucky to find any girl.

JACK
(looks up)
Ms. Darrow? Ye mean the golden-headed lass?

HELSTROM
The same: Ms. Anne Darrow. Poor Driscoll's been pining for her since we first brought her on board.
(notes Jack's puzzled look)
We found her about three days ago floating on a piece of hull and brought her in. Hasn't said much about how she got out there; seems to be doing better now. On the other hand, of course, she's had to endure Driscoll's pirate stories.
(looks over to one side)
Ah, there she be now.

Jack looks in Helstrom's direction:

Near the ship's forecastle, a group of crewmembers have gathered together, with assorted instruments. Anne is with them, and the sailors, as they set up their instruments, seem to be asking her to dance.

As Jack and Helstrom watch, the sailors begin performing the Scottish folk song "Mhairi's Wedding," while Anne starts dancing.

SAILOR
(singing)
Step we gaily, on we go/ Heel for heel and toe for toe/ Arm in arm and row on row/ All for Mhairi's wedding/ Over hillways up and down/ Myrtle green and bracken brown/ Past the sheiling through the town/ All for the sake of Mhairi. / Step we gaily, on we go/ Heel for heel and toe for toe/ Arm in arm and row on row/ All for Mhairi's wedding/ Red her cheeks as rowans are/ Brighter eyes than any star/ Fairest of them all by far / Is our darling Mhairi. / Step we gaily, on we go/ Heel for heel and toe for toe/ Arm in arm and row on row/ All for Mhairi's wedding/ Plenty herring, plenty meal/ Plenty peat to fill her creel/ Plenty bonny bairns as well/ That's the toast for Mhairi!

As this goes on:

HELSTROM
(looks up at poop deck; remembers)
Excuse me.

He heads over to the poop deck. Jack stays where he is, then, as the song finishes, heads over to the merry band.

JACK
A fine performance that was, gentlemen. An' now, might I be allowed t'introduce ye lot to a bit o' music from me Caribbean waters?

The sailors are all into it; they cheer approvingly

JACK (CONT'D)
Thought so. Now then, here's a little ditty I learned not too long ago.

CRASH CUT TO:

JACK & SAILORS
(singing)
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me/ We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot/ Drink up me hearties, yo ho/ We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot/ Drink up me hearties, yo ho/ Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me/ We extort, we pilfer, we filch and sack/ Drink up me hearties, yo ho/ Maraud and embezzle and even hijack/ Drink up me hearties, yo ho/ Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me/ We kindle and char, inflame and ignite/ Drink up me hearties, yo ho/ We burn up the city, we're really a fright/ Drink up me hearties, yo ho/ We're rascals, scoundrels, villains, and knaves/ Drink up me hearties, yo ho/ We're devils and black sheep; really bad eggs/ Drink up me hearties, yo ho/ Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me/ We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads/ Drink up me hearties, yo ho/ Aye, but we're loved by our mums and our dads/ Drink up me hearties, yo ho!

ON THE BLACK PEARL, the crew can hear the men on the Venture singing the familiar tune.

GIBBS
(shakes his head)
Sounds like the captain's settled in over there.

ON THE VENTURE: As the singing continues, Jim, who has completed his duties, ends up merrily dancing with Anne, who seems to take it in stride. Jack sees this and raises an eyebrow. He looks up at the poop deck:

Up there are Helstrom and Englehorn, looking out along the rail at the horizon ahead of the ship. Helstrom checks their position with what look like a stack of small charts/maps, in an almost obsessive manner. Englehorn looks utterly worn out.

Jack is intrigued: looks like Helstrom is the one leading them to…wherever they're going.

EXT. VENTURE - POOP DECK - DUSK

ENGLEHORN
Damnit, man, this morning we reached the coordinates you'd marked, and turned northeast like you directed. Now I believe you owe me at least some information about our "destination."

HELSTROM
What's the matter, captain, you think I'm just wandering blindly here?

Englehorn glares at him: stop playing dumb.

ENGLEHORN
There's no land northeast of here for miles, not until we reach Sumatra. And until then, we'll be sailing far outside the trade routes.

HELSTROM
(undaunted)
You can rest assured, captain, I would not have hired your ship if I didn't think you could do it, and I'm sure this, er, "venture" --
(smiles at his own pun)
-- will be well worth your while.

Englehorn is tempted by the possibility of payment, but his instincts urge him to refuse. He looks Helstrom straight in the eye.

ENGLEHORN
There's nothing out there.

HELSTROM
(all light-heartedness gone)
Well then you've nothing to lose.

Englehorn looks conflicted.

Helstrom seems assured that he's won this argument, and looks back at the papers in his hand. At the top of the stack is a battered piece of parchment: a map of some kind.

WIDE ON: The Venture and the Black Pearl sail forward into the night.

Author's Notes

Unitarian Jihadist: Thank you for your review. I'll admit writing this in screenplay form wasn't my first choice. I soon found, though, that it was a writing style much closer to how I usually imagine stories. Also, I suppose some of the confusions in reading characters' lines might be because I've tried to effect their individual speech patterns, especially in the case of Jack (who is, not surprisingly, one of the hardest characters to write for).

The scene between Jim and Hayes is based on a scene from Christopher Golden's novelization of the 2005 Kong. The dance sequence, featuring the tune "Mhairi's Wedding," is one of the deleted scenes featured on the 2005 Kong Extended Edition, among the special features. And of course, with Jack Sparrow aboard, I simply had to include George Bruns' lyrics to the classic song from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride :-P.

And not to worry, I haven't forgotten the fact that Anne has gone through a pretty traumatic experience, what with being shipwrecked and losing her father and all. The next chapter will be focused more on her; right now I've just been bringing Jack in and giving him some idea of where he's ended up.

Plus, within the next few chapters, we'll be arriving upon the shores of Skull Island; stay tuned.