Tortuga: A POTC Story
Show Writing
Disney Writing Prompt: Captain Jack Sparrow in a tavern where a disagreement with his pirate friends ends in a swordfight.
CONCEPT OVERVIEW
Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew have weighed anchor after a triumphant night of looting. They quickly make their way to the best tavern in town, ready for a long night of drinking and boasting.
TORTUGA
EXT. TORTUGA - NIGHT
ON THE DOCKS: Ships are silent in the harbor while a peaceful breeze knocks ropes against the side. Men can be spotted keeping watch, but none appear ill at ease.
ON THE BEACH: Distant singing and laughing can be heard as dancing figures take heavy steps in the thick sand. The glass bottles in their hands catch the glint of torches lighting the way into town.
IN THE TOWN: Pirates of all kinds fill the streets with roars of drunken laughter. Most are walking in slow groups as if they have nowhere to be. A few, however, push through
the loud crowds to enter a tavern.
the loud crowds to enter a tavern.
INT. TAVERN - NIGHT
A barmaid serves drinks to leering customers. A redheaded woman pirate sitting alone gets her attention, and shares a flirtatious smile. JACK manages to grab two tankards from the barmaid before she moves toward her.
Jack takes a seat across a table from GIBBS and passes him a tankard.
JACK
Finally.
Both tip them back, drinking quickly. Almost immediately, they drop their cups to the tabletop and spit out their drink.
JACK
(disgusted)
That’s--
That’s--
GIBBS
Grog.
Gibbs dumps what is left of his drink onto the floor, staring at it with an odd look of horror and familiarity.
GIBBS (CONT’D)
It’s the same pitiful swill the Navy
rations to her sailors.
Jack is already up and moving to find the real rum.
He approaches the bar and manages to lock eyes with the tavern’s alewife, Mary. She tries to turn away, but Jack cuts off her exit with an arm.
JACK
Mary, radiant as ever.
MARY
Captain Sparrow. Bringing trouble
under my roof?
under my roof?
JACK
That depends. Are you peddling
watered-down grog under your roof
and calling it rum?
watered-down grog under your roof
and calling it rum?
MARY
Are you implying--
Before she can finish, a PIRATE from Jack’s crew stands and throws his cup through the air, just barely missing Mary’s head.
PIRATE
What is this rubbish?
Mary has no response. Another pirate yells his distaste, then another. Soon, the whole room is full of angry men who have been sober entirely too long.
Mary clears her throat, and addresses the room.
MARY
Apologies, gentlemen. I’m sure when
my supplier raided an English
ship--
my supplier raided an English
ship--
The room shows it’s approval with shouts and applause.
MARY(CONT’D)
--he had no idea the rum was
ruined. No worries. Captain Sparrow
here has just agreed to replenish
our stores.
here has just agreed to replenish
our stores.
PIRATE
What?
GIBBS
What?
JACK
What.
Chaos erupts. Tables flip while more tankards fly through the air, and Jack doesn’t miss how Mary slips away into the safety of a back room.
A group of his men approach him, swords drawn. Jack rests his hand on the sword at his own hip.
JACK
Boys.
A sword swings, and Jack dodges.
Jack puts himself behind the bar, using it to keep the three men at bay while he draws his sword and narrowly blocks their attacks.
GIBBS
Jack!
Jack dives to the floor as Gibbs aims a pistol at the group. The shot goes off, and Jack feels more than sees the bullet rip through a barrel as grog spills onto the ground beside him.
Jack reluctantly grabs an abandoned cup near his foot and lets it fill with the rotten drink.
JACK
(to himself)
Drink up, me hearties, yo ho.
Drink up, me hearties, yo ho.
