It was a busy, noisy, yet unbelievably, it was also a reasonably well behaved bar. Surprisingly, only a couple of drunken men absurdly aiming punches could be seen amongst the thick hazy smoke. As can be expected, a man fell off his grubby stool in one corner, and slipped heedlessly to the hard wooden floor. By another table a lone woman sat and slowly sipped her mug of ale. Her long, black hair, the ends occasionally dipping into her mug, dragged along the long, grimy tabletop. Instantly her shallow ashen face lit up with tipsy surprise as a drunken man suddenly slammed onto the bare tabletop in front of her. Dragging his half empty bottle of rum with him, he turned his body around to his side, and smashed the glass bottle onto the floor, spraying drink all over the unfazed people around him,. Bursting into joyful giggles, the lone woman threw her head back in hilarious laughter, spilling her ale all over the already filthy floor. Amongst all this noise and commotion which could be keenly observed despite the lousy dim lighting, the one spot which could be seen free of all excessive nonsense, happened to be the barmaids post behind the bar.

From the back no one knew what to think of her. Her brown hair cascaded down her back in a fall of soft, golden brown curls. The black trim on her green dress stood out like fire, amongst the smoky mist which filled the tavern. As she slowly turned around to place her freshly cleaned glass onto the counter, a small smile escaped her lips as she scanned tonight's rather disciplined events at the tavern. After a quick glance, she turned back to her next dirty glass waiting to be cleaned.

"Marlee? Marlee? Is that you?" ,exclaimed a loud familiar voice from the counter.

"Aye? And who woul-", replied the Barmaid, as she slowly spun around, and let out an unmistakable gasp. "SALLY?"

"Yes! Marlee it's me!" continued the woman with the loud voice, "and fancy that! Your still working here!"

"Aye, as fortune would have it, it would seem." ,sighed Marlee, shaking her head. "I should've got of here when you did."

As her curling hair settled around her face, the far away look in her eyes diminished, and with a regretful smile, she put down her glass. Sally being a woman of empathy, put her pale hand remorsefully on Marlee's and said –

"Ah, well, you'll get out someday…"

"I know…"

As if stepping out of a trance, Marlee grinned, and picked up her half clean glass. The cheekiness that she managed to achieve with such a small smile, never ceased to amaze Sally, and she couldn't help but smile back. Cleaning her glass as before, Marlee seemed her usual self again.

"So hows your new life been? Better I hope.", continued Marlee. Sally immediately smiled, and in reply shyly answered:

"Ah, well…"she began, as a rosy blush appeared on her pale cheeks. "I'm married now…."

"REALLY! Who's the lucky fellow?"

"Michael…his names Michael….But how about you?" said Sally, playfully scanning the bar, "Have you found someone yet?"

Marlee, finally finished wiping her last glass, picked up the tray, and with a laugh replied:

"NO, I'm still waiting for my Prince Charming to come and whisk me off this blasted island."

The moment Marlee's tray was back in its place behind the bar, the loud slam of wood on wood rang out into the room. Both Marlee's and Sally's tuned reflexes automatically turned them to the door. To their slight surprise, a group of young men dressed in Navy uniforms entered the crowded room. A deep silence fell across the tavern, as the undeniable presence of authority sunk in and moved ever deeper towards the far side of the room. The men moved slowly, as if on guard, towards the far side of the bar. A moment after their abrupt arrival, they were forgotten, and the drunkenness and wild behaviour and noise was back to its previous level. Marlee and Sally turned back to their conversation.

Before either of them could get a word in, the Barman, with the highest speed and efficiency which can be expected from an older man, found himself right next to Marlee and nudged her with his bony elbow.

"Marlee, those men…"he said, nodding in their direction, "They want to speak to you. It's Commodore Norrington"

Too intrigued in the matter to ask the poor Barman any further questions, Marlee simply asked-

"Where?"

"Just over on the other end of the bar" said the Barman lazily, as Marlee left him with a flick of her long hair landing in his face. The Barman sighed like one who has had enough and just wants to sleep. Leaning on the bar, he cast a wandering eye on Sally, before turning in the direction of Commodore Norrington.

Through the smoke in the bar, Commodore Norrington saw the figure of a tanned, young woman with a cheerful smile approaching him and his surrounding men.

"Ah, Gentlemen! How can I be of service?" the young woman asked.

Without further ado, the Commodore got straight to the point.

"I have heard you know the whereabouts of a certain Captain Jack Sparrow. Is this true?"

Slightly taken aback by this remark, Marlee didn't allow herself to be startled by the odd comment. Rather, it only flared up her natural curiosity as to why, anybody would be looking for Jack.

"Aye, I would know the whereabouts of a certain Jack Sparrow." She answered thoughtfully, " But what would such a fine group of gentlemen-such as yourselves….be wanting with a man like Jack?"

Without any emotion in his voice, only tired formality, the Commodore replied:

"He has something of ours…

Marlee looked at the Commodore inquisitively.

"I see…."

"What can you tell us about him?" continued Norrington.

With the unfazed quality one could only acquire being a barmaid, Marlee subtly answered the question.

"Well…I could tell you many things about Jack. He's a fool, a King of fools if there ever was such one that walked this earth …But he's also a very clever man, who knows what he wants, and how to get it- for that matter."

After a slight pause, she elaborated- "I'd not waste my time Commodore".

"As charming as your company is Miss Sparrow, I insist we cut to the chase. Where can we find him?" continued the unrelenting Commodore.

"As charming as your company is Commodore, I'm afraid our little discussion will soon come to an end", said Marlee, unfazed.

"And why is that?"

"Because as far as I can see, If I tell you, I won't get anything out of it, and you, being a man of means, I hardly think that's fair " ,answered Marlee in calm defiance, and looked hard at the adamant Commodore.

The look on his face gave way to the fact that he was a man of determination. In a tired yet stern voice, the Commodore replied:

"Miss Sparrow, I did not come here to bargain"

With a warm smile on her face, Marlee was far from crest fallen.

"Ah, well in that case, Goodnight to you all gentlemen!" she replied with a swift all-knowing smile.

With composed hesitation, the Commodore grimaced and looked down at the bench top as Marlee turned to return to her post behind the over packed bar.

"What is it that you want Miss Sparrow?"

Marlee spun around and placed her hands firmly on the rough table.

"Get me off this island. Take me with you", she quickly answered, as her soft curls settled back into position around her face.

"I hardly think a lady like yourself, would find much satisfaction in a long sea voyage"

"Being the man that you are, Commodore, I hardly think you can judge what a lady would find much satisfaction in. Besides, is it such a harsh request? After all, I haven't seen my brother in years! It would be nice to find him again…", Marlee trailed off. As she finished, she looked down to the seated Commodore, to find him looking down and tapping his fingers on the timber bench top. He sighed, and looked up to see a prim, smiling Marlee. With genuine cheer, she said to Norrington:

"And please Commodore, call me Marlee."