hope you're doing okay, Surreal. You can adjust this as needed for your post! 🙂
In the Cabin:
Jack walks in. The cabin is a wreck, to say the least. Empty rum bottles litter the floor. Elizabeth kicks a few out of her way, then pauses, troubled.
Elizabeth: The rum is gone. Rum first, then we talk.
James nods and ducks out, to get more rum. Elizabeth turns to Jack, her eyes suddenly glittering.
Elizabeth: How do you feel about embarking on a dangerous mission?
Jack: If it’s into your corset, I’d rather not this time.
Elizabeth: (doesn’t even bother to acknowledge the joke) I’m going after Beckett.
Jack: Really? The brave commodore and I were just discussing a way to avoid him for good.
Elizabeth: Why avoid what you can kill… slowly?
Jack: (sighs) Because, darling, I’m not about to let you risk your life for something as empty as revenge.
Elizabeth: (a slow smile) Empty? Jack Sparrow, you of all people should know that revenge is sometimes all you have to live for.
Jack: (winces) Is that all you have to live for? A bit harsh on your poor father, don’t you think?
Elizabeth: Stop trying to get me to be reasonable, Jack. It won’t work.
Jack: (hears James returning) They’d never allow it, Elizabeth. The crew…
Elizabeth: I don’t want any of them involved in this. It’s just you and me, this time, Jack. What do you say?
James walks in the room, holding three bottles of rum. He hands one to Jack, then holds one out to Elizabeth. She takes it, and then grabs the last bottle as well.
James: What does he say to what?
Jack: (with a significant glance at Elizabeth) I think it’s a mighty fine idea, lass… to get the crew and all the ships as far away from Beckett as possible. After all, you’ve never been to Havana.
Elizabeth: Excellent. We’ll set sail within the next few days, as soon as we can get our supplies in order. Now if you’ll excuse me, gentlemen… (begins to chug her rum)
James: (watching her with concern) Elizabeth, perhaps you’d like to…
Elizabeth: Perhaps I’d like to what?
James gets the picture and backs out of the room. Anne jumps back, clearly she’s been eavesdropping. Jack watches him go.
Jack: I always was rooting for him. Glad to see he’s finally found someone.
Elizabeth collapses into a chair, cradling her two bottles. Jack sits on the bed and holds out his own bottle to her.
Elizabeth: (weakly) Thank you, Jack.
Jack: People always tell me I have quite a good bedside manner.
Elizabeth: We should leave as soon as possible…
Jack: You’re in no condition to do anything but sleep. (leans in for a sniff) And maybe think about having a bath.
Elizabeth: Suddenly, personal hygiene doesn’t seem so important.
Jack: Ah. My little Lizzie. What a long way you’ve come.
Elizabeth: I need to kill someone, Jack.
Jack: Are you sure that’s what you really want? I can take you away. We’ll go to Tortuga and drink until we can’t walk. We’ll find some island and hide out. I’ll take you back to England. Anything you want… just let me take you away from this. You don’t have to risk your life this way.
Elizabeth shakes her head.
Cut to… LATER.
It’s night. Elizabeth walks out to the deck of the ship, where the stars cast a silver glow around. She smiles faintly, enjoying the breeze. Suddenly, a noise startles her. She whirls around to see Tia, leaning casually against the wheel.
Tia: A beautiful night.
Elizabeth: What are you doing here?
Tia: I thought you might like some company in your grief. We’ve both lost our loves, haven’t we?
Elizabeth: Yes. And yet… it’s not over, is it?
Tia: Maybe not for you. But I see a darkness over your father’s life, on the life of your friends. If Beckett be not stopped…
Elizabeth: I intend to stop him, by any means.
Tia: Den you’ll be needing my help…
A little while later, Tia slips away and climbs off the ship, where a longboat awaits her below. A shrouded figure removes his hood: it’s Beckett.
Beckett: Well, that was easy.
Tia: The vulnerable are easily managed.
Beckett: She’s sure to come, then?
Tia: Yes, and the other. Now, to what you owe me…
Beckett: (smiling) I assure you, I will keep my end of the bargain. (the sound of someone struggling behind him is heard) Oh, and I nearly forgot. We picked up some cargo, just in case things don’t go according to plan. (the figure, though tied and gagged, struggles to sit up… it’s Anne.)
Originally posted by katelovespirate
i'm working on a post. it'll be up tonight. i think i've made surreal angry, but i was just trying to play along, so as long as no one else is here to get mad, i'll go for it. 🙂
I could never be mad at you Kate...we are on the same page...keep writing..it's lovely....
Cut to Jack and Elizabeth, climbing into a longboat. As Elizabeth unties the ropes, Jack checks his compass and then holds up a telescope to peer around in the dark. He spies something, and pauses to gaze at it for a moment.
Jack: Well that’s interesting…
Elizabeth grabs the telescope and looks herself.
Elizabeth: Interesting… and convenient.
Cut to Beckett’s longboat.
Beckett: Now there’s no need to be like that, my dear. It’s business and politics, nothing personal.
Anne: It would be hard for someone with no heart whatsoever to make things personal.
Beckett: A pretty metaphor, but if you’re referring to Jones, his day has passed.
Anne: I was referring to you.
Beckett: Tsk Tsk, my dear. Your late husband enjoyed sailing under my colors, as I recall.
Anne gives him a look.
Beckett: I needed some security. Our last attempt didn’t go quite according to plan. I’ve fought many noble adversaries, but these pirates are frustratingly creative. Or desperate. I can’t quite decide.
Anne laughs quietly to herself.
Beckett: You seem to have entangled yourself in their midst quite well. So tell me, what are their weaknesses? If you were planning on destroying them, how would you begin?
Anne: I wouldn’t.
Beckett: Use your imagination.
Anne: I’m sure you don’t need the help of a simple girl like me to plot the downfall of your enemies. Your evil genius has become quite a legend around these waters.
Beckett: Ah, but I had some help in my latest endeavor. Your friend, the former commodore, was all too happy to turn you over to me.
He’s struck a nerve. Anne stutters for a moment, shocked.
Anne: What do you mean?
Beckett: James Norrington made a deal with me. And that deal included you. Why do you think it was so easy for me to sneak aboard a guarded ship? Why do you think no one came to your aid when you screamed?
Anne: You’re lying!
Beckett: ‘She was your problem to begin with, Beckett’, that’s what he said to me. Though I’m sure you were a pleasing distraction to him, for a time.
Anne: It’s not true… it can’t be…
Cut to Norri’s ship. Norrington is walking, exhausted, towards his own cabin. He knocks softly.
Norrington: Anne...
No response. He knocks a bit louder.
Norrington: Anne, it's me.
Still no response. Norrington finally pushes open the door to a deserted room. He looks puzzled. He briefly scans the room, which is muddled and scuffed, as though a struggle happened. A bottle of ink has spilled across the floor. Norrington begins to look alarmed. He rushes back out, and sees Pintel and Ragetti both sleeping at the watch.
Norrington: Sailors! (they jerk awake) How long have you been asleep?!
Pintel: Just barely shut my eyes…
Ragetti: Dark already? Night comes fast these days!
Norringtons moans and runs off to search the ship.