Going on. Someone jump in after me.
CUT TO...Tia's shack
(Tia is in her back room where she previously found the jar of dirt. She is searching for something, humming/singing to herself. This time, a little boy walks in.)
Boy: You sent for me?
Tia: I did. There'll be a crew comin' soon, a pirate crew.
Boy: How soon? (excited)
Tia: Not far off. I can feel it. You will meet dem at da mouth of da river and bring em here.
Boy: But they know the way?
(Tia comes out into the main room. She has a rolled-up scroll or chart in her hand.)
Tia: Dey do, but dey'll be wantin' dis.
Boy: What is it?
Tia: It'd be a question dat if dey tink of da answer, all tings will change. Hold onto it. Don't let dem know you have it. Dey will come askin' me for it and I must say I don't have it.
Boy: (unsure, but takes the small scroll and puts it in his pocket) Yes'um.
Here is part one of my post. Then Willo will post, and I will post again. 😄
----
THE INTREPID – ON DECK
(Elizabeth is on deck. Before her stand ten pirates. Barbossa is standing behind her. In the background, the five ships belonging to Sao Feng’s fleet have docked.)
Elizabeth: I understand that you are the captains and first mates for Sao Feng. (she waits for the pirates to nod.) I am Elizabeth Turner. Sao Feng passed his legacy to me and a man named James Norrington. You will follow both our orders. Is that understood?
(The pirates nod again, though some look skeptical. Others seem to be searching for Norrington, but Elizabeth doesn’t make a move to suggest where he is.)
Elizabeth: You are dismissed. Gather supplies and be ready to set sail by morning.
Barbossa: (as the pirates disembark) You didn’t mention how the commodore is doing.
Elizabeth: I don’t know how he is. Where is Will?
Barbossa: In the captain’s cabin. They called him in a while ago. Don’t know why though.
Elizabeth: (grimly) To remove that collar they put on James.
Barbossa: Fool man, telling pirates who he is. He’s lucky they didn’t just tear him to pieces then and there.
(The conversation is interrupted by a flurry of activity behind them. Groves and Will rush out of the cabin and vanish down into the hold. Meanwhile, Murtogg and Mullroy go in, carrying what appear to be linens and water. Swann approaches Elizabeth and Barbossa.)
Swann: Elizabeth, I am going to go in and see if I can offer some assistance with James. I’m afraid that an old man like me has nothing else to offer.
Elizabeth: (starts with surprise) I’m sorry father. I forgot –
Swann: (takes her hand and pats it) It’s fine, Elizabeth. You’re doing a fine job. I’m proud of you.
(Swann smiles at her and goes to the cabin. A few minutes pass, and Will and Groves go back into the cabin. Elizabeth waits for another fifteen minutes, then decides she can’t wait any longer.)
Elizabeth: I need to see how he is.
Barbossa: Aye, and we need to chart a course.
(Barbossa and Elizabeth look at each other and nod.)
Elizabeth: Right. But…do not bring the monkey.
Barbossa: He’s not that bad--
Elizabeth: (slowly but firmly) No monkey.
Barbossa: Fine, fine. No monkey.
---
CUT TO...inside James' cabin
(Elizabeth can hardly get through the door. Anne and the surgeon are standing directly over James on either side of the bed. Will, Groves, Murtogg, and Mullroy bustle as best they can, often running into each other. Swann is just in the door, sandwiching Elizabeth between himself and Barbossa)
Elizabeth: All right. I think we need to give him some room to breathe.
Murtogg: That's a right good idea, miss. I mean, captain.
Mullroy: It's what I've been suggesting.
Elizabeth: You two, go check to see where Mr. Gibbs is. Groves?
Groves: Captain?
Elizabeth: (smiles at the title) Supervise the deck? (Groves leaves, Murtogg and Mullroy follow out) (to the surgeon) How is he?
Mullroy: Told you we shouldn't have stayed in here.
Murtogg: Sh!
Dr. O'Doyle: (Maneuvers to Elizabeth, whispers to her) We'll be giving him some laudanum here soon, small dose, mind you. It should do wonders for him. (sees her worried face) He'll live. Don't worry.
Elizabeth: Why don't you take some well-deserved minutes rest?
Dr. O'Doyle: Don't be sayin' anything to upset him or get him worked up now. (leave)
Elizabeth: Of course not. (she edges closer to James. She, Swann, Barbossa, Anne, and Will are in there with him) You got the collar off already?
Will: It didn't take too long. You look upset.
Elizabeth: Just concerned how my co-captain is doing.
James: (eyes are half-closed, feverish. He has a little bit of trouble focusing on her) Much better now that I have some privacy (looks around and sees everyone) Oh. (turns to Will) Thank you.
Will: We should probably chart a course, shouldn't we, Elizabeth?
Barbossa: All the time without the missus cleared your head, didn't it, boy? (Will gives him a dirty look)
(Jack enters. Everyone looks at him)
Jack: Oh. Well, this little shindig will just have to be postponed. (looks right at James) We have a situation as it were (eyes everyone suspiciously)
James: (sits up a little. It's a strain) If you know about it, it must be a crisis. (falls back. Anne rubs a wet towel over his forehead)
Will: Maybe this isn't the time.
Jack: I would think he would want to know about a change of course. (really hated saying that in front of everyone)
Barbossa: What did you do?
Jack: That's a fine first thought.
Barbossa: I know from experience.
Jack: Might I have a word with the captain, sorry, captains, alone?
James: (smirks) You forget, Jack Sparrow, that until I or Captain Turner (looks proudly at Elizabeth) say otherwise, you are a humble member of our crew, subject to do whatever we tell you (coughs, exhales deeply.)
Elizabeth: Everyone in this room needs to know, Jack.
Jack: Fine. (mumbles) We need to see Tia Dalma.
Will: The witch? Why?
Jack: Beckett, uh, is going to kidnap her and use her to lure Davy Jones to him whereby he will use the heart of said evil doer to control the ocean.
Swann: Witch?
Elizabeth: But how could...(she looks at Will and James. All their eyes suddenly go wide) What did you do?
Will: You said something!
(James tries to laugh but can only smile.)
James: If it's not one thing it's another...how in the world did you manage to get Beckett bait?
Jack: It was a ruse! (tries to wave it off)
Will: Probably using me.
Barbossa: Probably.
Jack: Now I didn't know you had your own plan up your sleeves, did I? It was to get you off the ship.
Elizabeth: Let that be a lesson to you. You can't make up these elaborate plans and then not tell anyone about them!
Jack (glares at her): I think you should take your own advice.
Swann: I'll have you not speak to my daughter and your captain in such a manner.
James: Anne, Will, bring the imbecle over here. I'm going to (gestures his hands strangely) use my last breath to strangle the life out of him.
Anne: As your physician for the moment, I can give you orders, don't forget. Lay back down! (to Elizabeth) You want to take your problems somewhere else?
Elizabeth: (picking up the collar) (to everyone) Stay with him. He might go out of his head soon. (to Jack) Outside. Now.
Swann: We'll take care of him.
James: (laughing weakly) If the two of you wanted to be alone, she has her own cabin now. (passes out)
Jack: Sick captains don't get to talk.
Elizabeth: Now!
CUT TO...(outside on deck)
Elizabeth: (walks close to the railing, stares at the sea for a moment) Do you know what this is? (holds up the collar)
Jack: I have a guess.
Elizabeth: You always have a guess.
Jack: Comes with being captain. You'll pick that up on of these days.
Elizabeth: I don't think you appreciate everything James has done for us. You have no idea, do you? This is what they put on James, when he gave himself up to get the information to bring YOU back. (pause) I think Sao Feng was more interested in James' torture than in getting his brother back.
Jack: (long pause) You'd probably be right about that, love.
Elizabeth: (looks at the collar) And after that, he drew them off.
Jack: I knew there was a reason I rooted for him. How long was I there?
Elizabeth: What?
Jack: Gone. (not looking at her)
Elizabeth: (disappointed laugh. She toys with the collar and sets it down on the railing in front of him) Hopeless. (walks off)
(Jack glances down at it. He watches her leave, then turns back to it. A scolding, yet thoughtful expression appears on his face. He holds the collar for a brief second and then pockets it)
THE INTREPID – EVENING – CAPTAIN’S CABIN
(Barbossa is bent over the maps spread out on Norrington’s table. Will is standing next to Barbossa, watching and listening as the older man explains how to chart a course. The door opens and a Chinese man enteres.)
Zian: (nervous as four unfriendly gazes fix on him) Ming asked me to come and assist you in the treatment of our new captain.
Barbossa: And why should we be puttin’ out trust in ye?
Zian: (licks his lips) I was Sao Feng’s personal healer.
Anne: I saw you. You entered the room right after they dragged James in. What role did you play in his torture?
Zian: I was there to make certain that the pris – that the captain, I mean – did not die.
Swann: (disgusted) Don’t you mean that you were there to help extend his suffering by preventing them from killing him too soon?
Zian: (quite nervous) I was simply following orders! Now…now I am here to help.
(Anne considers this offer of help. She glances at Barbossa.)
Barbossa: It be your choice, missy. The commodore is under your care.
(It does not go unnoticed by either Anne or Zian that Barbossa and Will have both casually laid their hands on their weapons. Anne reaches a decision, and levels James’ pistol at Zian.)
Anne: No tricks, no games. He dies, you die. Understood?
Zian: Yes, yes. I understand. May I? (he indicates that he’d like to examine James.)
Anne: (reluctantly moves away.) The brand is the worst. Unfortunately, we have almost nothing to put on it to prevent infection.
Zian: (politely) The western world does not have the herbs that we do. I have something that should help.
(Zian and Anne bend to the task of caring for their patient. Swann stands nearby and fetches them whatever they need. In the middle of cleaning the burn, James stirs and awakens. When he sees who is bending over him, he struggles weakly to get away.)
James: Keep – away.
Anne: (smoothes his hair back to comfort him) He’s here to help, James.
James: No…he was there…here…where…
(James turns his head away and his eyes start to slide closed again. Distantly, he thinks he can hear Anne calling his name, but he’s caught in a dark mist.)
(When it clears, he is standing on the deck of the Dauntless. He sees Elizabeth standing before him, dressed in nothing more than a white shift. She smiles at him and begins dancing in the sunlight, and for a moment James is lost in the vision. Then the world begins to grow dark, and a cold wind begins to blow.)
James: Elizabeth?
(She is nowhere in sight. He can’t find her. The sky becomes almost black as he races across the deck. Somehow, it feels as if arms are trying to hold him back from the edge of the rail. He struggles, and suddenly he’s falling into the sea. A wave crashes over him and when he breaks the surface, he sees Elizabeth. She opens her mouth as if to scream his name, but she is sucked under a red wave.
James looks around. The whole sea is crimson and close by the Dauntless is breaking apart. His men are falling into the red sea that is tainted with the blood of the many lives he is responsible for. Lifeless bodies float by him, but their eyes are all open in accusation. There is a final scream as the ship splits in half suddenly, and James is sucked under, and the screams follow him into darkness.
Floating, disorinented, his body aches and sweats. Whispering all around him, James tries to listen but the words are distorted by the pounding in his ears. He tries to move only to discover that he is bound, bound by ropes of human hands in this hellish place. The heat grows more intense, the screams grow louder, drowning out the whispering. Burning – he is burning, and suddenly realizes it is his own voice screaming, his heartbeat throbbing with each wave of pain. Faces float before him, fade from sight until only one remains. A woman with red-hair and green eyes.)
James: (weak, raspy voice) Anne?
Anne: Oh, thank God.
(Will and Barbossa cautiously step away from Norrington. They had been holding him down, trying to keep him from injuring himself further as he thrashed from the fever. Swann hands Anne a mug and he removes the warm rag from James’ forehead to soak in cool water.)
Zian: The tea is beginning to work, but he is not out of danger yet. The toxins in his body must be fully driven out before he will be well again. (He goes to the table and puts a small muslin bag of herbs in some hot water. Then he measures out a careful dose of laudanum.)
James: (obviously not fully conscious) What…happenin’?
Anne: You’ve been ill, James. We’re going to give you something to bring the fever down, and to ease the pain.
James: (squeezes eyes closed) No. Please…not…not…him.
Zian: (hesitantly) When he was –with us – we gave him a few draughts to –
Anne: (coldly) I don’t want to know. Just give me the mug. I will see to it that he takes it.
(As Anne turns her attention to James, Will glances over at the others. They look as pale and worn as he feels.)
Will: I’m going to get some air. Anne, I’ll stay close. Just send for someone if you need me.
(Anne looks over and nods as she coaxes James to take a few sips of the tea. Will exits, much relieved.)
Anne: I think the worst is over now. You all can leave, if you like.
Swann: (touches Anne gently on the shoulder) Thank you for helping him. I too am leaving, but only briefly. I’d like to speak with my daughter, but I shall be back soon.
Anne: Thank you. (she nods at Barbossa, who says nothing, but simply grabs Zian by the arm and jerks him out of the room. James barely seems to notice. Finally, the room is empty save for James and Anne, and the commodore begins to fall into a more natural sleep.)
--
CUT TO…(Elizabeth’s cabin. Will has shut himself away inside it)
Will: (to himself) I dance and breathe and can even deceive
I am not alive, but watch how I thrive
Do not come too near
Or I will consume you, my dear
(fingers his necklace as he thinks)
(Elizabeth enters)
Elizabeth: Will? Are you all right?
Will: Fine.
Elizabeth: (notices he looks troubled) What are you thinking about?
Will: Nothing. How is Norrington?
Elizabeth: Dr. O’Doyle said he would live, but it’s hard to tell when you’re actually close to him to see him. (wraps her arms around him. He seems distant) Nothing’s troubling you?
Will: (pats her hand) No. Do you need help on deck?
Elizabeth: No. I've actually come in to retire. We'll be leaving early in the morning. (sees familiar object on her desk next to Will) Where did you get that?
Will: (glances at the compass) Jack wants me to use it, says it points to what you want.
(Before Elizabeht can respond, Swann enters the cabin)
Swann: It looks like James is doing much better. Eastern medicine, I'll never understand it, but it's done wonders for him. I expect him to be at least walking around in the morning.
Elizabeth: That's good to hear. I don't know how much more I can handle by myself. Not that you two haven't been any help (goes over to her father to kiss him)
Swann: You know, I'm actually having a bit of fun.
Will: The pirates would be proud of you (smiles at him, still seems far away)
Swann: My only regret is not being able to see your wedding. (Elizabeth opens her mouth but he raises his hand slightly) I'm sure it was lovely. Goodnight, children. (exits)
(Elizabeth stands over Will and puts her arms around him, she presses her forehead into his back, as if ridding herself of a headache. He reaches back to caress her.)
Will: You look ready for bed.
Elizabeth: Oh yes, more ready than you'd believe.
CUT TO...(upper deck. A few pirates are keeping a night watch. Gibbs walks up and down the deck, obviously on the first watch)
Pirate: All well, Mr. Gibbs?
Gibbs: All well.
(He takes a quick drink from his flask. He glances up at the sky. He sees Jack up in the crow's nest, seated comfortably, but not asleep.)
Barbossa: (coming from behind him) I'm takin' the next watch.
Gibbs: No surprises there. You're not to be left alone.
Barbossa: Oh no. I'm separatin' the captain and her "cabin boy" and having her do the second watch with me. (laughs. Gibbs joins in. Maybe it won't be such a long time until dawn.)