Chapter Seven: The Hunt

Will and Li come to where they fell. Will struggles to his feet and not long afterwards, Li

They take in the devastation of Port Royal: the harbor is dotted with burning and sunken ships; buildings are razed and still smolder. They race toward Fort Charles.

Will bursts in, still armed with sword and boarding axe and Li close behind him with his sword still visible.

Will: They've taken them. They've taken Elizabeth and Torika.

A group stares at him: Swarm, Norrington, and Gillette, gathered around a huge map of the Caribbean; it drapes over the desk and chair. Behind them, Murtogg and Mullroy work clearing and carrying away rubble a gaping section of office wall is blown out.

Norrington: Mr. Murtogg, Mr. Mullroy, remove these men from my office.

Murtogg grabs Will by the arm, but Will shakes it off. Mullroy tried the same but after seeing Will shake Murtogg off he thought Li would be much tougher.

Li: We have to hunt them down! We have to save them!

Governor Swan: And where do you propose we start? If you have any information that concerns my daughter, then please - share it! If anyone does, tell me!

Mullroy has remembered something. He ventures it warily:

Mullroy: That Jack Sparrow... he talked about the Black Pearl.

Murtogg: Mentioned it, is more what he did.

Mullroy: Still--

Will: Ask him where it is! Make a deal with him! He can lead us to it!

Norrington: No. The pirates who invaded this fort left Sparrow locked in his cell. Ergo, he is not their ally. Do you really think we hadn't thought about that? (through with Will) We will determine their most likely course, and launch a search mission with the next tide.

Will slams the boarding axe into the desk, through the map.

Will: That's not good enough!

Norrington yanks the axe from the desk as he comes around. He does not quite threaten Will with it, but close enough.

Norrington: Mr. Turner, you are not a military man, you are not a sailor, you are a blacksmith. You have nothing of value to contribute here. And this is not the time for rash actions.

Norrington throws a strong arm across Will's shoulders, moves him to the door. He pauses, and leans close to Will.

Norrington: (low) Do not make the mistake of thinking you are the only man here who cares for Elizabeth.

Norrington emphasizes the point with a stare and then shoves the axe at Will, shoves both Li and Will out the door. Will hits the wall hard, and the door slams shut.

In his cell, Jack strains, trying to budge one of the bars. It won't move. He hears the sound of the door latch and immediately adopts a relaxed, lounging pose. Will enters.

Will: You. Sparrow. Are you familiar with that ship? The Black Pearl?

Jack: I've heard of it.

Will: Where does it make berth?

Jack: Where's it make berth? Surely you've heard the stories?

A look from Will tells Jack otherwise.

Jack: Captain Barbossa and his crew of miscreants sail from the dreaded Isle de Muerta ... an island that cannot be found, except by those who already know where it is.

Will examines the cell door. Looks around, searches the prison for something, we don't know what.

Will: The ship's real enough. So its anchorage must be a real place. Where is it?

Jack: Why ask me?

Will: Because you're a pirate.

Jack: And you want to turn pirate yourself. Is that it?

Will: Never.

Jack doesn't do anything.

Will: (beat) They took both Torika and Miss Swan.

Jack: So it is that you found a girl. Well, if you're intending to brave all, hasten to her rescue and so win fair lady's heart, you'll have to do it alone. I see no profit in it for me.

Will: I can get you out of here.

Jack: How that? The key's run off.

Will: I helped build these cells. Those are half-pin barrel hinges. (grabs a bench and puts it next to the cell) It's the weight of the door keeping you in, not the lock. It just calls for the proper application of strength, and the right leverage.

Jack looks closely suspiciously at Will.

Jack: What's your name?

Will: Will Turner.

Jack recognizes the name, but doesn't let on.

Jack: Short for William, I imagine. A good strong name. No doubt named for your father, eh?

Will: Yes.

Jack: Ah. Well, Mr. Turner, tell you what. I've changed my mind. You spring me from this cell, and I swear on pain of death, I'll take you to the Black Pearl and your body lace. (sticks out his hand) Do we have an accord?

Will gives him a suspicious look. Jack keeps his hand out, still smiling. Will shakes it.

Will: Agreed!

Jack: Agreed! Get me out!

Will puts the bench over (his fulcrum). Wedges the bench under the cell door, puts his weight on it, straining the cell door rises, falls forward, crashes down.

Will: Hurry. Someone will have heard that.

Will heads for the door. Jack searches the desk, cupboards.

Jack: Not without my effects.

Jack finds them. Straps on the belt, checks his pistol.

Will: Why bother with that? You could have escaped if you killed me before, but you weren't willing to use it.

Jack: Are you advising me that was a mistake?

He levels the pistol at Will. Will gazes at him, unafraid.

Jack: When you've only got one shot, it's best to wait for the opportune moment. (beat) That wasn't it.

A beat and then Jack grins, lowers his aim.

Jack: Nor is this.

Jack and Will peek out from beneath the dock, near where dozens of fishing boats rest upside down on the beach. Beyond the busy docks, in the harbor, the Dauntless looms. Li then comes up from behind.

Will: What took you so long?

Li: Sakura told me that Maddy, Tai, and Hana had disappeared.

Jack: Who's this?

Will: This is Torika's father, Li.

Li: So you're that pirate that came and threatened Miss Swan.

Jack: Never mind about that. We have to get to the ship.

Will: Were going to steal a ship? That ship?

Jack: Commandeer. We're going to commandeer that ship. Nautical term...

Will looks at the condition of one of the boats: old, weather-beaten, faded paint, hole in the hull...

Will: When I was twelve, the ship I was on was sunk by pirates. I haven't set foot off dry land since. (more certain than ever) It's been a sound policy.

Jack gives Li a critical look.

Jack: I know that you will do anything to save your daughter. (turns toward Will with the same look) One question about your business, boy, or there's no use going. This girl what does she mean to you? How far are you willing to go to save her?

Will: (no hesitation) I'd die for her.

Jack: Oh good. No worries, then.

Men working the docks. No sign of Will, Li, and Jack. Just crates, boardwalks, boats upside down on shore, fishing nets, etc. The area clears. Still no sign of them. Then, unexpectedly, one of the upside-down boats rises up and grows six legs. The boat walks down to the water's edge.

A trap filled with crabs rests on the sandy bottom, its buoy line trailing up.

A booted foot steps down on it the crabs scurry for freedom, but the crab trap is caught on the Will's leg which protrudes, along with its mate and Jack's legs, from beneath an upside down rowboat as they walk along the ocean floor. Sandbags are suspended from it for ballast. Jack and Will, water up to their waists, safe in the bubble of air beneath the boat hull. Will trying to shake the crab trap free from his leg.

Will: This is either madness, or brilliant.

Jack: Remarkable how often those two traits coincide.

Will gives his leg another viscous shake, still failing to dislodge the trap, but jerking the buoy line

The dock is thronged marines, sailors, stevedores - and the Young Boy, the Harbormaster's assistant, who sits fishing. His eyes wide as the Lobster buoy moves past. He tries to catch someone's attention, pointing to the buoy but fails.

Gillette supervises as sailors swab decks, mend sails, etc. Jack, Li, and Will jump over the rail brandishing pistols.

Jack: Everyone stay calm. We're taking over the ship!

Will: (a beat) Aye! Avast!

Jack and Li give him a look. Jack shakes his head: 'don't do that'. The sailors look at them then burst out laughing. Jack grins with them. Gillette steps forward.

Gillette: This ship cannot be crewed by two men. You'll never make it out of the bay.

Jack: Son. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Savvy?

He gestures with his pistol "over the side," to where the little rowboat floats beside the ship.

Crewmen swarm the Interceptor, preparing it for launch. Norrington strides along, intent on the manifest, an officer trying to keep up. The Officer notices: a longboat full of sailors coming from the Dauntless. The ship's forward sail tuffs and billows.

Officer: Commodore!

Norrington looks. Sure enough, the Dauntless is moving away, albeit slowly. He takes a brass telescope from his belt, opens it, trains it on: the main deck. He picks out Will.

Norrington: Rash, Turner. Too rash.

He moves the scope over to find Jack, at the wheel.

Norrington: That is, without doubt, the worst pirate I have ever seen.

Jack leans on the wheel, relaxed. Will looks back, worried.

Will: Here they come.

The sails of the Interceptor fill out; it gains quickly. Jack smiles at the sight. His plans are in motion.

The ship passes Gillette and his men in the longboat.

Gillette: Bring her around! Bring her 'round!

Norrington's ship is quickly upon the Dauntless. Its decks appear empty. Grappling hooks are thrown. Sailors draw the two ships together. Sailors climb and swing across.

Norrington: Search every cabin, every hold, down to the bilges!

Norrington himself crosses via a gangplank.

The Interceptor is empty, save for a single sentry. Jack, Li, and Will, soaked, climb over the rail unseen. Jack grabs the Sentry from behind, covers his mouth.

Jack: Can you swim?

The sentry struggles.

Jack: Can. You. Swim?

He removes his hand.

Sentry: Like a fish, sir. Grew up summers in Dover, living with me uncle

Jack: Good.

Jack tosses the man overboard. Quickly throws off the ropes to the grappling hooks. Will cranks up the foresail

Norrington appears and sees his other ship moving away.

Norrington: Sailors! Back to the Interceptor! Now!

Too late. One brave sailor tries to swing across on a rope, but misses badly. Jack waves at Norrington:

Jack: Thank you Commodore, for getting us ready to make way! We'd've had a hard time by ourselves.

Norrington seethes, but his order is measured:

Norrington: Set tops and clear out this mess.

Officer: With the wind a quarter astern we won't catch them.

Norrington: We need only to come about, to put them in range of the long nines.

Officer is surprised at the order, but relays it.

Officer: Hands! Come about! Jackets off the cannons! (turns toward Norrington) We're to fire on our own ship?

Norrington: I'd rather see her at the bottom of the sea than in the hands of a pirate.

The steersman turns the wheel. No change in course.

Steersman: Commodore. He's disabled the rudder chain, sir.

Gillette stands in the prow of the rowboat, the only one on board to see the hull of the Dauntless looming toward them.

Gillette: (a croak) Abandon... (louder) Abandon ship!

A shadow falls across the boat: the men look around, drop their oars and dive for the water. a loud crunch is heard.

The Interceptor dwindles with distance. The ship's Officer watches it go, with some degree of admiration.

Officer: That has got to be the best pirate I've ever seen.

Norrington: So it would seem.

The Interceptor makes for the horizon.

To be continued...