They come back to Jack, who is staring off into space doing absolutely nothing.
JACK
Finally. Can we go now?
ANTINA
One moment please. I just need to talk to someone.
JACK
Again?
This time, Antina sashays right on up to Fuego, still sitting at the same table at which Jack left him, although with a considerably larger pile of mismatched chips in front of him. His card mates have the sullen looks of oft-losers, but when Antina glances over their way, they manage a faint smile and a nod.
Fuego sets down his hand and stands to embrace Antina, with a protective feel, like a brother. With his impressive girth, he nearly envelops her entire body.
FUEGO
Why, Senorita, there aren't any…
(He looks at Jack, who shrinks slightly under his gaze) problemos, are there?
ANTINA
(Amused)
No quite the opposite, actually. I've been offered a proposition of sorts.
FUEGO
(Eyes still on Jack)
What sort would that be?
ANTINA
(With emphasis)
Travel.
With that, Fuego stops staring at Jack intently and instead, his head snaps down to Antina in surprise.
ANTINA
(con't)
I'll be leaving. I'm bringing Zelda, and Kit of course, so I need to ask for your favor. Will you take over the place for me?
FUEGO
Of course. When shall you return?
There is a long pause, in with all wait with bated breath.
ANTINA
(Carefully)
Honestly, Fuego? Never.
FUEGO
Expected it, I suppose.
ANTINA
Will you do it for me?
FUEGO
Of course I shall-Assuming I get to keep all profit.
ANTINA
Naturally. I think I shall find my fortune in- (glancing at Jack) other manners. Anyway, I need to get some drink for the trip, so, accompany me?
FUEGO
With pleasure, Senorita.
He takes her arm, which is positively dwarfed by his gargantuan limb-(and let it be noted, Antina is not a noticeably slight woman)- and they gracefully sweep out the door, leaving Jack with Kit and Zelda.
KIT
(as he puts out his arm for Zelda to take)
Mademoiselle?
ZELDA
(giggling)
But of course, Senor.
And with that, they leave Jack all alone, who looks about confusedly for a split second before following.
CUT TO:INT: CREEPY SHOP
With Fuego and Antina still in the lead, the 5 enter another shop, built more like a shack. Whilst Antina's place had a warm but dirty glow emitting from it, this place is just plain dead. The air positively swirls with dust, which is on every surface to be seen. And there are quite a few—
Everything in this place, every table, chair, and even some of the floor-is covered in bottles, every shape and size imaginable.
And the walls are the most impressive spectacle of all. From floor to ceiling, there is nothing but shelves filled with more and more and more bottles. So many, it seems as if someone even breathed in the wrong manner that each and every one would come toppling down in a MONSTROUS cascade.
FUEGO
(moving to behind a counter covered in debris a, a few candles, and more bottles)
And what can I get you for your journey?
ANTINA
(thinking out loud)
Well, a few generic bottles of rum, this is a pirate's journey; and some of me favorite brew. That should be good.
FUEGO
Si, si senorita.
Fuego begins to bend down, looking for what Antina requested, Jack takes advantage of both of their distractedness and comes up behind Zelda.
JACK
(in his idea of suave)
So. How'd you come by this here—
(he gestures)
--here.
ZELDA
(smitten, clearly)
Well, I was sailing along, somewhere near Florence, when al of a sudden, my mast were stricken down with a bolt of lighting. In one moment. Like that!
JACK
Just like that? Oh, what a shame.
Depositing the sack into Zelda Marie's arms with a satisfying clatter, Antina briskly begins to march right out the door.
CUT TO
Outside, the sun is strong. With Antina in the lead, the odd little party makes their way down the deserted street right down to the dock where Jack's boat is rocking gently in the calm waters.
Antina slows, and Jack passes her, leaping into the boat and plunking himself down. When Zelda and Kit make moves to join him, Antina raises her arms to hold them back, a shadow of a half smile echoing across her face.
ANTINA
(quiet)
Not yet.
JACK
(rolling his eyes)
What now?
ANTINA
We're not done making our deal.
She goes down on her knees, so that she is level with Jack, leans out toward him; however, she does not touch the boat.
Antina reaches down the front of her dress and pulls out a long, slender chain with a still ornate key at the end. Like Antina herself, it is untouched by the passing of time.
The key sharply reflects the bright sunlight, causing Jack to squint.
ANTINA
(very intensely)
I'd like to make an inquiry after a certain piece of property.
JACK
(after an excruciatingly long pause)
I cannot help you.
Jack looks away from the glare, which prompts Antina to put the key back. She sits back and continues to look steadily at Jack.
ANTINA
Perhaps then I cannot help you.
Jack meets Antina's gaze, panicked.
ANTINA
(con't)
I do believe you are trying to cheat me.
At this, Jack's eyes widen as Antina stands and draws one of her pistols. He unsteadily stands in the boat as she takes careful aim.
JACK
(frantic)
No! I'll get you your box back an' all, it's just it's, uh, it's not here.
ANTINA
Really.
(pause)
Where is it then?
JACK
It's um, on the Pearl.
ANTINA
(sardonically)
Which we've already established is lost.
She lowers her pistol and moves closer to stepping in the boat. But just before she does, she pauses.
ANTINA
(con't)
When I get in, it's a deal. My part of it may come first, but when it comes time for you to deliver, you'd better…For there are other ways to discipline cheaters
(holding up the pistol again)
than with this.
And with that, she steps in and beckons Zelda and Kit to join her. With a glance to each other first, they both start to move forward.
CUT TO
The little boat at dusk. The four are particularly arranged; Antina sits in front, eyes heavily upon the water, Jack is stretched out across so that his boots hang over the side, Kit is sitting, crushed beside the mountainous sack of bottles, and poor Zelda Marie is sweating at the oars, huffing and puffing and red in the face.
ZELDA
Erm…may we perhaps stop? For a bit, at least? It feels as if we have been traveling for hours.
She stops rowing and begins to fan herself.
JACK
(pulling himself up to sitting position)
That's probably because we HAVE been traveling for hours. Under the lovely direction, (pointedly looking at Antina) of "go that way".
ANTINA
(turning her head to the side but not looking at him)
Excuse me, but do you know which way to go? If you do, this seems like a hell of a lot of trouble to go to to get some company. And how do you expect us all to sleep in here?
JACK
Uncomfortably. Anyway, Zelda's been rowing for-
ZELDA
(irritated)
Hours and hours.
JACK
Yeah, so anyone got a knife of sorts?
ANTINA
(suspicious)
Why?
JACK
(lying)
Well, if I can cut these here ropes and reconfigure them, uh, we can catch a breeze; blow ourselves along.
Wordlessly, Kit pulls a decent sized knife out of his baggy clothes and wordlessly hands it to Jack.
JACK
Ah. Thank you Kit.
Antina whips all the way around to glare at Kit.
ANTINA
(accusatory)
So that's how you've been cutting your own hair. You will be punished for that, mark me-
Before she can finish, Jack grabs her by the hair and sort of pulls her into his lap. He thrusts Kit's small knife into her throat, as to slit it, causing Antina to emit a sort of strangled choking sound, eyes bulging.
ANTINA
What—the hell—
Zelda, shrieking and holding her own throat, grabs Kit and pulls him closer to her.
JACK
(calm amongst the storm)
Relax…Just waiting for an old friend to arrive…
(he looks about for a few seconds, scanning the water around them and even the sky)
ANTINA
(with shallower breaths, but still breathing)
You idiot…the ship's not sinking.
With a shaking hand, she reaches into her pocket, pulls out a pistol, and shoots a hole in the bottom, where water starts to spurt through. As they begin to get wet, she slackens, her grip weakening. As her eyes drift closed-
ZELDA
(hysterical)
Madness, madness, madness, madness, madness…
Jack, paying her no mind, begins to smile as a rumbling stirs deep below them all. And as Zelda screams, Kit gasps, and Antina wheezes, The Flying Dutchman surfaces, and its captain, Will Turner, stands at the helm, shaking his head.
WILL
Jack Sparrow. You're neither dead nor dying. Why am I not surprised?
JACK
(propping up Antina)
I ain't, but she is.
ANTINA
(standing on her own)
Make that was.
The small knife is still sticking out of her neck rather grotesquely, and aside from a slightly strangled texture in her voice, she is absolutely fine.
ANTINA
(to Zelda)
Grab that sack, will ya?
(gesturing toward the sack of bottles)
Much obliged, thanks.
Zelda, still muttering incoherently to herself, grabs the sack with one arm and Kit's shoulder with the other.
ZELDA
(whimpering)
Why this job, why this job, why why why?