H.M.S. DAUNTLESS
A gray, impenetrable wall of fog. The faint sound of a little girl's voice drifts through the silence, slow and almost whispered.
YOUNG ELIZABETH
(singing softly)
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. Yo ho, yo ho...
Suddenly, a massive ship looms out of the fog. The H.M.S. Dauntless, a British dreadnought, cuts an imposing figure. Its Winged Victory maidenhead juts forward, and its sides bristle with twenty-five gun ports and rail cannons.
At the bow railing, ELIZABETH SWANN, a girl with strawberry-blond hair, gazes out at the sea, still singing.
ELIZABETH
...drink up, me hearties, yo ho...
A hand clamps on her shoulder, making her jump. It's JOSHAMEE GIBBS, his weathered skin like aged leather.
GIBBS (sotto)
Quiet, missy! Cursed pirates sail these waters. You want to call 'em down on us?
Elizabeth stares wide-eyed.
NORRINGTON (sternly)
Mr. Gibbs.
NORRINGTON, a dashing young man in crisp Royal Navy uniform, approaches. Beside him stands GOVERNOR WEATHERBY SWANN, Elizabeth's father, his high station marked by brass buttons and a fine blue coat.
NORRINGTON
That will do.
GIBBS
She was singing about pirates. Bad luck, singing about pirates in this cursed fog-mark my words.
NORRINGTON
Consider them marked. On your way.
GIBBS
Aye, Captain. (mutters as he moves off)
Bad luck to have a woman on board, too. Even a miniature one.
Gibbs shuffles away, taking a surreptitious swig from a flask.
ELIZABETH (brightly)
I think it would be rather exciting to meet a pirate.
NORRINGTON (darkly)
Think again, Miss Swann. Vile and dissolute creatures, the lot of them. Any man who sails under a pirate flag or wears a pirate's brand deserves what he gets: a short drop and a sudden stop.
Elizabeth blinks, confused by the phrase. Gibbs helpfully mimes hanging himself.
SWANN (concerned)
Captain Norrington, I admire your dedication, but I'd rather not have my daughter exposed to such... vivid imagery.
NORRINGTON (apologetically)
My apologies, Governor.
ELIZABETH (defiant)
Actually, I find it fascinating.
SWANN (gently)
And that's what concerns me. Elizabeth, dear, we'll soon arrive in Port Royal and begin our new lives. Wouldn't it be wonderful to behave as befits our class and station?
ELIZABETH (sighs)
Yes, Father.
Chastised, she turns back to the sea.
ELIZABETH (quietly to herself)
I still think it would be exciting to meet a pirate...
The fog tightens around the ship, obscuring the sea-until suddenly, a FIGURE appears in the water. A young boy, WILL TURNER, floats on his back, motionless. Nearby, a GIRL drifts in the waves, her figure shadowy and unrecognizable.
ELIZABETH (shouting)
Look! A boy! And a girl! In the water!
NORRINGTON
People overboard!
NORRINGTON
Fetch a hook! Haul them aboard!
The crew leaps into action, hooking the boy and girl and pulling them onto the deck. Elizabeth rushes forward as the two are laid on the planks. Her gaze lingers on the boy, his soft brown hair framing his face.
NORRINGTON
They're alive.
SWANN
Where did they come from?
GIBBS (crossing himself)
Mary, Mother of God...
The sea is no longer empty. WRECKAGE and BODIES float among the waves. What remains of a merchant ship burns, its British flag hanging limp. The H.M.S. Dauntless glides silently through the carnage.
SWANN (hushed)
What happened here?
NORRINGTON
An explosion in the powder magazine. Merchant ships are heavily armed.
GIBBS
Lot of good it did them. Pirates.
SWANN (firmly)
There's no proof of that. Captain, we must ensure no survivors are left behind.
NORRINGTON
Of course, Governor. (to the crew) Strike the sails! Gunnery crew, jackets off the cannons!
The sailors move the boy and girl aft, laying them on the poop deck. Elizabeth kneels beside the boy, captivated by his striking features. Gently, she brushes his hair back-his eyes flutter open, and his hand darts out to grab her wrist.
ELIZABETH
My name is Elizabeth Swann.
WILL
Will Turner.
ELIZABETH (softly)
I'm watching over you, Will.
His grip loosens as he falls back into unconsciousness. His movement shifts his shirt, revealing a GOLD MEDALLION on a chain. Elizabeth lifts it, turning it over to reveal a SKULL etched into the surface. Her eyes widen.
ELIZABETH
You're a pirate.
GIRL (hoarse whisper)
We both are.
Startled, Elizabeth turns to the girl, who weakly raises a necklace of her own-a similar medallion, glinting faintly in the dim light.
NORRINGTON (approaching)
Did they speak?
ELIZABETH (hiding the medallion)
The boy said his name is Will Turner. The girl... doesn't remember.
The girl nods faintly in agreement, eyes hollow.
NORRINGTON (grimly)
Very well.
He hurries off. Elizabeth slips away to the stern, pulling out the medallion to examine it more closely. Out at sea, a BLACK SHIP glides through the fog, its sails ghostly against the gray. Elizabeth stares in fear. The JOLLY ROGER flaps in the misty breeze, the skull matching the one on the medallion.
As the ship disappears, Elizabeth squeezes her eyes shut, clutching the medallion tightly.
YOU ARE READING
Oceans Treasure
FantasyOceane Willow Jones, the daughter of Calypso-the ancient goddess of the sea and daughter of Atlas-and Davy Jones, the infamous ruler of the Seven Seas, is a supernatural force bound for eternity to captain the Flying Dutchman. As a demigod, she wie...
