Chapter Six: Welcome Aboard

The wall of the cells explodes inward. Jack pulls himself out from under rubble. Moonlight spills in through the gaping hole created by the cannon ball. Beyond it: freedom. But it is centered on the other cell. The part of Jack's cell that is gone is too small for a man to slip through.

Prisoner: Praise be!

He and the other two scramble through.

Prisoner: My sympathies, friend you've no manner of luck at all!

The three descend the rocks beyond, disappearing from view.

Jack is alone. Cannon fire continues, occasional hits shaking the fort. The dog cowers under a long bench, key ring still in his mouth. Jack sighs resigned, he picks up the bone from the other cell, and tries coaxing the dog forward.

Jack: It's all right, doggie ... come on ... Come 'ere, you mangy cur'. Here! Spot. Rover. Fido?

To his surprise, the dog crawls out from under the bench. The key ring is nearly within Jack's reach.

Jack: Com'on, com'on, get closer, get closer. That's it. That's it, doggie. Come on you filthy slimy mangy cat. --

- Suddenly, the dog's attention turns to the cell block door. He bolts, through the bars, into the cell, then out through the breached wall taking the keys with him.

Jack: No, no, no, no. I didn't mean it. I didn't mea--

Jack slumps. The door to the cellblock bursts open. A pair of pirates step in: Koehler and Twigg.

Twigg: This ain't the armory.

He turns to go, but Koehler has spotted Jack.

Koehler: Well, well ... Look what we have here, Twigg. Captain Jack Sparrow.

Tigg: Huh. Last time I saw you, you were all alone on a God forsaken island, shrinking into the distance. How the devil did you get off?

Koehler: Did you sprout little wings and fly away?

Twigg: His fortunes aren't improved much.

The two laugh. Jack doesn't. He steps close to the bars. This puts him in a spill of moonlight. He is tight with fury.

Jack: Worry about your own fortunes. The deepest circle of hell is reserved for betrayers ... and mutineers.

The pirates don't like that. Koehler lashes out, grabs Jack by the throat through the bars. Jack clutches the pirate's wrist, looks down. Under the moonlight, Koehler's arm and hand are skeletal. Jack's eyes go wide he is holding a skeleton arm.

Jack: So, there is a curse.

Koehler sneers, shoves Jack backwards, hard. Now out of the moonlight, his hand is normal. Jack stares, realizing --

Jack: That's interesting.

Koehler: You know nothing of hell.

Koehler ushers Twigg toward the door. Looks back. And then they're gone. Jack looks at a bone he picked up.

Jack: That's very interesting.

Amid the thunder of cannon fire, a longboat, piled high with loot, slips through the fog. Elizabeth sits in the prow. Columns of water from cannon balls geyser up all around. The fog parts. Elizabeth and Torika look up to see the Black Pearl, a tall galleon, its black sails looming high above her. At the bow is an ornately carved figurehead of a woman, a small bird taking wing from her outstretched hand.

Smoke hangs heavy on the lantern lit deck; no moon is visible beneath the fog. The longboat is winced up to the rail. Pirates stare at Elizabeth and Torika as Ragetti and Pintel help her disembark. Elizabeth shivers, self conscious in her dressing robe. Torika on the other hand, confident that both of them would make them go away.

Bo'sun: I didn't know we was taking captives.

Pintel: These two invoked the right of parlay ... with Captain Barbossa.

On the poop deck an imposing figure in silhouette stands by the wheel, too far away to have heard Pintel's words. But his head turns at the mention of his name. The figure moves toward the stairs. A cloud of smoke obscures him and then, as if he skipped the stairs, he strides out of the smoke on the main deck. This is Barbossa. Despite the bright colors of his clothing, not a man you'd want to meet in a dark alley or anywhere, for that matter. A monkey swings off the rigging to Barbossa's shoulder. Elizabeth is terrified. But she musters her courage.

Elizabeth: We are here to

The Bo'sun slaps her.

Bo'sun: You'll speak when spoken to!

His wrist is grabbed painfully by Barbossa.

Barbossa: And you'll not lay a hand on those under the protection of parlay.

Bo'sun: Aye sir.

Barbossa releases him. Turns to Elizabeth and Torika, smiles it shows both silver and gold teeth. The monkey bares his teeth as well and shows a bit of silver and gold himself, sending chills down Torika's spine.

Barbossa: My apologies, Miss. As you were saying, before you were so rudely interrupted?

Elizabeth: Captain Barbossa ... We have come to negotiate the cessation of hostilities against Port Royal.

Barbossa: There was a lot of long words in there, miss, and we're not but humble pirates. What is it you want?

Torika: We want you to leave. And never come back.

Barbossa: I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request.

(Helpfully)

Barbossa: Means 'No.'

Elizabeth: Very well.

She darts to the rail, pulls out and dangles the medallion over the side. The monkey screams. The pirates go quiet.

Elizabeth: I'll drop it!

Barbossa: My holds are bursting with swag. That bit of shine matters to us ... Why?

Elizabeth: Because it's what you're searching for. You've been searching for it for years. I recognize this ship. I saw it eight years ago, when we made the crossing from England.

Barbossa: (interested) Did you, now?

Torika glares at him. Elizabeth is going nowhere at this rate and she realized it.

Elizabeth: Fine. I suppose if this is worthless, there's no reason to keep it

She flips the medallion up, off her finger

Barbossa: NO!

She catches it by the chain, smiles at him triumphantly.

Barbossa: You have a name, missy?

Elizabeth: Elizabeth stops herself from saying "Swann" Turner. I'm a maid in the governor's household.

Barbossa reacts to the name Turner. The pirates exchange surreptitious glances.

Barbossa: You've got sand, for a maid.

Elizabeth: Thank you, sir.

Barbossa turns toward Torika.

Barbossa: And what's your name?

Torika: I'm her 'daughter', Torika.

Barbossa: A face that resembles Miss Turner's husband.

He then turns back toward Elizabeth.

Barbossa: And how does a maid come to own a trinket such as that? A family heirloom, perhaps?

Elizabeth: Of course. I didn't steal it, if that's what you mean.

Barbossa: No, no, nothing like that. (makes a decision) Very well. You hand that over, we'll put your town to our rudder and ne'er return.

Torika: Can we trust you?

It's your mother who invoked the parlay! Believe me, Miss, you'd best hand it over, now ... or these be the last friendly words you'll hear!

Elizabeth has no choice. She holds out the medallion. The Bo'sun reaches for it but the Monkey is there first. He snatches it from Elizabeth's hand, gives a warning screech at the Bo'sun, then retreats back to Barbossa.

Elizabeth: Our bargain?

Barbossa grins devilishly but then nods to the Bo'sun.

Bo'sun: Still the guns, and stow 'em! Signal the men, set the flags, and make good to clear port!

The booming of the guns ceases. Elizabeth is surprised - and relieved. Barbossa turns away.

Elizabeth: Wait! You must return us to shore! According to the code of the Order of the Brethren --

He wheels on them.

Barbossa: First. Your return to shore was not part of our negotiations nor our agreement, and so I 'must' do nothing. Secondly: you must be a pirate for the pirate's code to apply. And you're not. And thirdly the code is more what you'd call guidelines than actual rules. (grins gold and silver) Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner.

Elizabeth and Torika stare in speechless terror, then Pintel and Ragetti take them away.

To be continued...