2 EXT. DAUNTLESS _FORECASTLE_DAY
Elizabeth Swann stands at the bow rail, gazing at the sea.
ELIZABETH
... drink up me hearties, yo, ho ...
She is startled when a hand clutches her shoulder. The hand belongs to Joshamee Gibbs, born old, skin a dark leather.
GIBBS
(sotto)
Quiet, missy! Cursed pirates sail these waters. You want to call 'em down on us?
Elizabeth stares wide?eyed at him.
NORRINGTON
Mr. Gibbs.
Norrington, a dashing young man, Royal Navy to the core, glares at Gibbs. Beside him is Governor Wheat herby Swann, a man of obvious high station _and Elizabeth's father.
NORRINGTON (CONT'D)
That will do.
GIBBS
She was singing about pirates. Bad luck to sing about pirates, with us mired in this unnatural fog ?? mark my words.
NORRINGTON
Consider them marked. On your way.
GIBBS
'Aye, Lieutenant.
(as he moves off)
Bad luck to have a woman on board, too. Even a mini'ture one.
He returns to his deck?swabbing duties, surreptitiously takes a quick swig from a flask.
ELIZABETH
I think it would be rather exciting to meet a pirate.
NORRINGTON
Think again, Miss Swann. Vile and dissolute creatures, the lot of them. I intend to see to it that any man who sails under a pirate flag, or wears a pirate brand, gets what he deserves: a short drop and a sudden stop.
Elizabeth frowns; Gibbs helpfully mimes: a man being hung.
SWANN
Lieutenant Norrington. I appreciate your fervor, but I am concerned about the effect this subject will have on my daughter.
NORRINGTON
My apologies, Governor.
ELIZABETH
Actually, I find it all fascinating.
SWANN
And that's what concerns me. Elizabeth, we will be landing in Port Royal soon, and beginning our new lives. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we comport ourselves as befits our class and station?
ELIZABETH
Yes, father.
Chastised, she turns away, to look out over the bow rail.
ELIZABETH (CONT'D)
(to herself)
I still think it would be exciting to meet a pirate ...
From out of the fog floats a parasol. Surprised, delighted at this oddity, Elizabeth watches as it bounces off the hull _
_ and then she sees the body of a young boy emerge from the fog. It is Will Turner, floating on his back, unconscious.
ELIZABETH (CONT'D)
Look! A boy! There's a boy in the water!
Norrington and Swann spot him _
NORRINGTON
Man overboard!
ELIZABETH
Boy overboard!
NORRINGTON
Fetch a hook ?? haul him out of there!
Sailors scramble to haul the boy aboard, lay him on the deck.
NORRINGTON (CONT'D)
He's still breathing.
SWANN
Where did he come from?
GIBBS
Mary mother of God ...
His gasp turns everyone's attention from the boy to _
The sea ... no longer empty. Wreckage from a ship litters the water ... along with the bodies of its crew. What remains of the hull Burns; a ragged British flag hangs from the stern.
The Dauntless slips past. The scene calls for hushed voices.
SWANN
What happened here?
NORRINGTON
An explosion amidships _ most likely the powder magazine. Merchant vessels run heavily armed.
GIBBS
Lot of good it did them ...
(off Swann's look)
Everyone's thinking it! I'm just saying it! Pirates!
SWANN
There is no proof of that. It could have been an accident. Lieutenant, these men were British, and therefore under my protection. If there is even the slightest chance one of those poor devils is still alive, we cannot abandon them!
NORRINGTON
Of course not.
(to a sailor)
Rouse the Captain, immediately.
(to the crew)
Come about and strike the sails! Unlash the boats! Gunnery crew ... jackets off the cannons!
(to Swann)
Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.
(to two sailors)
Move the boy aft. We need the deck clear.
They lift the boy. Swann pulls Elizabeth away from the scene.
SWANN
Elizabeth, I want you to accompany the boy. He's in your charge now. You'll watch over him?
Elizabeth nods gravely. Swann hurries away. The sailors lay the boy gently behind the wheel. Elizabeth kneels beside him.
His good looks are not lost on her. She gently brushes the blond hair from his eyes _ suddenly, he grabs her wrist, awake now. Their eyes lock. She takes his hand in hers.
ELIZABETH
My name is Elizabeth Swann.
YOUNG WILL
Will Turner.
ELIZABETH
I'm watching over you, Will.
He clutches her hands, then slips back into unconsciousness.
His movement has opened the collar of his shirt; he wears a chain around his neck. Elizabeth tugs it free, revealing __
A gold medallion. One side is blank. She turns it _ an Aztec skull gazes at her. To her eyes, it can mean one thing only _
ELIZABETH (CONT'D)
You're a pirate.
She glances at the crew. Sees Norrington, giving orders, moving toward her. She comes to a decision. Takes the medallion from around his neck. Hides it under her coat.
NORRINGTON
Did he speak?
ELIZABETH
His name is Will Turner _ that's all I found out.
Norrington nods, and moves past. Elizabeth steals away to the stern of the ship. Examines her prize _ the gold medallion.
A wisp of wind, and she looks up _ moving through the fog, silent as a ghost, is a large sailing ship, a galleon _
It has black sails
Elizabeth stares, too frightened to move, or cry out. A flag flies from mizzen_top: a jolly roger. Elizabeth looks from it to the medallion _ the skull on the flag is the same as the one on the medallion.
Fog closes in on the black ship _ except for the flag. As Elizabeth watches, the skull seems to turn and grin at her _
Elizabeth shuts her eyes tight _
