EXT. THE HIGH SEAS - DAY

ESTABLISHING: the sea. It's a beautiful day. The schooner MERMAID--and near her the square-rigged NARWHAL, which flies the Jolly Roger--are visible in the distance. They lie dead in the water.

A SUBTITLE reads, "The Caribbean, off the West Indies, 1765".

EXT. MAIN DECK OF THE MERMAID

The MERMAID'S CREW is gathered at one end of the deck, guarded by several PIRATES. HAWKE, the thoroughly scruffy pirate first mate, about mid-thirties, stands in the middle of the deck. Standing next to him is JEREMY, the pirate cabin boy and son of the pirate captain. He is about 14, trim and good-looking. Jeremy holds the leash--actually a thick rope--of DIABLO, an enormous, ferocious-looking mastiff. BLIGHT, the pirate captain, in his mid-forties, scarred and immense, stands on the quarterdeck, watching the action. Those pirates not actively engaged in guarding the crew are arrayed around the deck and in the ratlines, watching what is happening below.

TWO PIRATES step forward and slam a plank down over the wooden railing of the ship. They strap it down with loops of rope, making sure that it is solidly in place.

The CAPTAIN OF THE MERMAID is hoisted up onto the plank and stumbles a few steps before catching himself. The watching pirates give a CHEER. The captain stands with his hands tied behind his back, about halfway out the plank, teetering over the water.

Now, cap'n, I reckon it ain't your fault that you don't have nothing good aboard, but it's the sad truth. Unless you can give us something worth some money, we'll have to run you off the end of that plank just to make an example of you.

I'm telling you the truth. I don't have anything valuable on this run. A--a few crates of rum, but...

Aye, we found the rum, mate, and you can be sure we'll make good use of it...

but we was looking for something else. Something worth some money, like. Runnin' a pirate ship's an expensive proposition.

Maybe Diablo here'll jog yer memory a little.

Boy...

Jeremy gives the dog a little slack, and the animal hops up onto the end of the plank. The dog advances, snarling menacingly. Terrified, the Captain takes a step backward, nearly falls off the side of the plank, and catches himself just in time. Seeing their captain in danger, some of the sailors surge forward to help, but are held back by pirates.

No, I swear! I don't have anything you'd like. Ship's stores--rope, pitch, lumber, canvas for sails--that's all.

More's the pity for you, then, mate...

Let him go, boy.

Jeremy drops Diablo's rope. Freed, the dog advances as the Captain retreats the last few steps down the length of the plank, which bends terrifyingly under his weight.

Please. No. Please...

His heels dangle off the edge of the plank.

Wait!

All activity stops. A SAILOR of the Mermaid's crew pushes forward and addresses Hawke.

I know just the ship you're looking for.

Boy!

Jeremy takes Diablo's leash. He kneels down, scratches behind the dog's ears and so on. He is obviously attached to the dog.

Well, mate, speak up.

Well, I was at a tavern back when we was docked in Kingston, and I was mindin' my own business, like...

Get on with it, you swab.

Well, like I said, I was minding my own business, like, when I hears a couple of swabs talking about a boatload of gold they was going to be taking back to London for one of the big sugar plantations...

Gold?

Aye, to the bank. A load of gold fit to sink a ship, they says.

How much?

They didn't know for sure. Two or three million, at least.

A slow, evil smile spreads over Hawke's face.

Aye. Three million. That's a haul, that is.

Now we're getting somewhere, mate. You might be able to save your worthless hide, at that.

Hawke comes over to the Sailor.

Next question: did you hear what ship this was?

Aye, sir, I think it was the...uh, the Stag. Out of Boston.

The Stag?

Aye. I think I saw her tied up, same as us, back in Kingston.

She set sail same day you did?

Within a day or two, I think. That's what I heard.

So she's not far off.

Hawke turns to look at Blight on the quarterdeck.

Cap'n Blight!

Yes, Mr. Hawke?

What do you think, sir? Three million in gold out there. What do we do?

We go after it, of course.

And what do we do about this lot?

There is a moment's pause, as everyone waits to hear what Blight will say.

Kill them. Kill them all.

With a roar, the pirates move to obey, with the notable exception of Jeremy, who holds Diablo tightly and watches dispassionately.

Navigating This Site

| Launching Pad |  Termite Terrace |  Gallery |
| Scrap Heap |  Me |  Halloweenland |  Family Album |

webtroll@hotmail.com

copyright 1996-2000
by Michael Klingensmith (all rights reserved)
this page last updated on 9 April 2000

design by Sky Pirates