A/N: Hello again, I'll keep quiet now...
CUT TO
The six sit around a rectangular table, only a single candle lighting the deep room in what must be the belly of the vessel. A few portholes let in shafts of moonlight, altogether giving one and all an ominous glow.
WILL
(trying to sound as a captain should)
I believe the source of much confusion is what you want me to do for you.
JACK
(not impressed)
Give an old friend a lift there, mate, that's all.
WILL
But to where?
BILL
To the island, I presume.
ANTINA
And if you presume right, where do that leave us?
WILL
There's still the matter of where we'd be headed!
From this point on, all are tripping over each other, with the main exchange being between Antina and Bill, with Will playing the spoiled ignored child and Jack chiming in when he deems appropriate.
BILL
I'm assuming we'd be in for the haul--whatever that turned out to be?
JACK
What are you talking about…this here trip's to find ourselves some treasures—
WILL
We're not going anywhere without my deeming it worthwhile.
ANTINA
Treasure comes in many forms, Jack.
JACK
(offended)
I seen it comes in many a form.
ZELDA
I am a Sicilian treasure.
ANTINA
A modest Sicilian treasure to boot.
BILL
What properties does the fountain have?
ANTINA
Many—will you all shut your traps for one moment—but I assure you, you and your son will thank me once you've tried it.
WILL
Why?
ANTINA
(ignoring him)
I've never gone about with an undead cap'n before.
JACK
Aren't you undead?
ANTINA
(stiffly)
Not in the slightest.
BILL
Would it hold what usual benefits one would expect?
WILL
Repeat that?
ANTINA
You don't know? Why, I thought everyone knew that.
ZELDA
(assuredly, but to Kit)
I am sure that I know this.
JACK
Don't be hiding things, now. Share!
With that, he gestures to Antina. All quiet, except for Zelda, who continues muttering to Kit for a few more seconds, but as stares press into her, she looks up and scoots back to her original position.
All is now silent. Antina savors the attention, and then begins.
ANTINA
Well.
I believe, from previous information that someone has found out about the place of my birth.
WILL
Which is?
ANTINA
It's hard to find.
(her voice softens, and her accent becomes less pronounced, less like Jack's, more neutral)
It's a secret.
BILL
It's actually damn near impossible to find.
JACK
'Less yous gots the right equipment.
WILL
Are we talking about a map?
ANTINA
--No--
BILL
--Yes--
JACK
Circumstances change.
Antina
(loudly, to regain control)
Only a select few have ever possessed a map that could lead you there.
(pauses)
Not you lot.
JACK
(Sitting with his feet propped up on the table, naught a care in the world)
Don't go leaping to conclusions, now.
ANTINA
(leaning across the table, incredulous look in her eye)
I doubt that.
JACK
Jus' to save some time, then.
ANTINA
(sighing)
Go ahead.
JACK
(looking to Will)
Map you stole happens to be the same.
ANTINA
The point is!
(confident all are back with her for sure now)
The point is, this is not an ordinary isle. It has qualities that most consider odd…or supernatural. To come right out and say it…
(pausing, hoping for dramatic effect)
It's harbor holds the Fountain of Youth.
(all are appropriately silent)
Well, not exactly a fountain, but you all understand.
WILL
Fountain of Youth?
ANTINA
(snappish)
I spoke clearly enough.
But, to clarify, I feel obliged to add a few details.
WILL
Details?
ANTINA
(flying off the handle)
Yes! Yes! I feel the need to expound upon my previous statements!
(taking a deep breath)
It's not water that makes you young. It's water that makes you alive.
ZELDA
How?
ANTINA
(sarcastic)
Ooh, well, by killing you, of course.
COLLECTIVELY
What?!
ANTINA
(shrugging)
A joke on my part.
COLLECTIVELY
Oh.
ANTINA
(still chuckling)
Well, no, it, well, it—
BILL
It acts opposite of the Isle de Muerta, if I'm not mistaken.
ANTINA
(recovering her words and her enthusiasm)
Yes! It has no treasure on first look, but it has something of much higher value.
WILL
The water.
ANTINA
Exactly!
WILL
Why do you come to me?
ANTINA
(immediately pointing dead at Jack)
His idea.
JACK
I know it may seems as though we's attempting pull the proverbial wool over said captainly eyes, but we has your best interests at heart here.
WILL
I don't exactly have one.
ANTINA
Oh, that can be fixed.
Another quiet moment with everyone staring at Antina ensues. She smiles, puzzled.
ANTINA
Any one who drinks from the water will not become younger…but to make up for that…you're healed.
WILL
What extent of healing are we talking about?
ANTINA
Anything. No matter the malady, you take it to the island and, uh, it shall be fixed. Even death can be stopped as it tries to take over a body.
JACK
(quietly)
Tell them about if you're not dead.
ANTINA
The water holds many secrets of how it does so, but, as far as I know, if it courses through your blood, you cannot die.
(looking up)
Under any circumstances.
(pointedly at Will)
Any at all.
JACK
So who's in?
ANTINA
(raising her hand)
Obviously.
ZELDA
(following Antina's example)
Me too.
Kit raises his hand wordlessly. The others nod in agreement.
JACK
I'd say I'm in favor of me own plan.
ANTINA
(eyebrows rising)
Your plan?
BILL
I think it be best to try all we can to release you, my son.
(he raises his hand)
WILL
(incredulous)
Surely you don't believe in this!
(to Antina)
How can we trust you?
ANTINA
Why, you've no hope at all of being free if the issue is whether or not to trust me and Jack there. But even that's immaterial.
(her eyes narrow)
I take it you want some honesty.
(Will says nothing, does nothing other than narrowing his eyes a bit as well)
I was born on this island. Raised on it, had no idea of its significance until 1523.
(she stops to examine her fingernail)
JACK
(sarcastic)
And what happened then?
ANTINA
(with a slow smile breaking onto her face)
Juan Ponce de Leon.
(she lifts her hands to display all of her wedding rings, a diamond glinting out from each finger)
And all that follow him.
CUT TO
Ten or so crew members crouching against the negotiation room, trying to hear details of the conversation. At the head of the crowd is the Irish crewman from before, who is crouched down in front of the keyhole, trying to peek inside.
OTHER
See anything, mate?
IRISHMAN
(with as much showmanship as possible)
Shhh…They is discussing a plan, I think.
OTHER
What's it sound like?
IRISHMAN
The girl. She's bringing the cap back to life.
They all look at each other, disbelieving, for a moment, but then, in an instant, crowd even closer to the door.
CUT TO
WILL
Never have I heard of such a deadly wife.
ANTINA
Well, with ni-eight surnames and all.
BILL chuckles to himself but says nothing about it.
BILL
So Jack, we set on a deal?
JACK
Got to set rules first, don't we.
He rises and begins to walk around the table jauntily, Jack style. Clearly, with all this tiresome exposition out of the way, handled nicely by Antina, Jack is back in his element—manipulation.
JACK
(con't)
The thing of it is, no one really knows what everybody else's got up their sleeve.
(Reaching into his coat and bringing the mauled Navigational charts out with a flourish)
Including mine own, of course.
All gasp collectively, in an appropriate fashion, with the exclusion of Antina, who rolls her eyes.
ANTINA
You think this map can get you to the Isle de Vida?
JACK
Actually--
(as he lays it out on the table)
--it's been known to work just fine.
Although the charts are a little soggy and certainly rougher around the edges, they still look to work in the same fashion as before.
BILL
There's no use in using those when we're not yet on our way.
JACK
(sheepishly)
Planning ahead, is all.
I meant it—about rules an' whatnot. This is going to be an organized journey.
Antina gets up out of her seat, beginning to leave.
ANTINA
Well, I'm done.
All the rest also rise to leave as well, Jack and Zelda being closest to the door. As Jack pulls it open—
CUT TO
The door creaking open in front of the eavesdropping crew. All stay frozen, the Irishman squinting upward.
Zelda peeks out from underneath Jack's arm, shaking her head at what she sees.
JACK
(calling back to Will)
Where'd you find your crew, mate?
CUT TO
Will, taking a last look at the Charts lying across the table.
WILL
What?
Jack takes a last look at all the sheepish fellows in front of him, than shrugs it off.
JACK
Nothing.
He walks off through the crowd, and Zelda follows.
ZELDA
(addressing the crowd)
Really, you all be ashamed for there's a child in your midst.
Kit runs after her, just as comfortable as he is with his own mother.
ANTINA
(following out the door)
Well, I can see what Jack meant. You lot's a bunch a traitors.
The Irishman rises, inches away from her, in one, fluid motion.
IRISHMAN
Please. Forgive my crewmembers and meself, but…
ANTINA
Think nothing of it.
The two begin to walk among the crowd.
IRISHMAN
I hear your plan is to raise the cap from the dead.
ANTINA
Aye.
IRISHMAN
Well, don't lose sight of the magic behind it.
Antina says nothing, but listens.
CREWMAN
Look, someone's got to replace 'im, right?
ANTINA
Aye.
CREWMAN
An' I think your friend's got his eye on the position.
As Antina turns to look in Jack's direction—
