Pirates of the Caribbean: Community Prequel Script

[Commodore John Paul Jones]

Scripts so Far

Pirates of the Caribbean: Hoist the Colours (Prequel - Unfinished)

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Thread Index

Mercer first draft
Mercer second draft
Random Pieter Ideas 1
Commodore John Paul Jones Opening V1
Commodore John Paul Jones Battle Excerpt
Mercer Question List
Random Pieter Ideas 2
Mercer Story Phase BETA v.1.93
Photo's Indonesia
Random Pieter Ideas 3
Mercer Character List Script
Mercer Battle Plan
Pieter's Temporary Draft
Commodore John Paul Jones Opening V2
Mercer Script Outline (Including Opening Song)
Commodore John Paul Jones Title Proposition
Pieter Thoughts on Nationalities
Pieter Three-part Film
Pieter Alternate Opening Scene Thought
Jacarutu Ideas
Jacarutu Jack Meets French Pirate
Pieter Film Story and Length Outline
Pieter Mexico/Yucatan Treasure Hunt Idea
Jacarutu Thoughts on Tia Dalma
Pieter Requirements of a Pirate Film
Mercer Script: Departure from London
Gunsmith Fun Africa Arrival Scene
Old Salt Fun Jack as Cleric of the Church of England Scene
Pieter Thought on Beckett wanting Tia Dalma
Mercer and Old Salt Dinner Scene
Gunsmith, Thomas the Terror and Pieter Addition to Dinner Scene
Some Random Pieter Thoughts
Thoughts on Flying Dutchman Sighting
Mercer Night Conversation Scene
Commodore John Paul Jones Flying Dutchman Sighting Idea
Random Pieter Ideas 4
Pieter Rewritten Night Conversation Scene
Gunsmith and Pieter Land Ho Scene
Pieter Voyage Map
Gunsmith After Dinner Scene
Mercer Sunk Pirate Ship Scene
Pieter Film Outline
Posts from Temporary Forum

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Useful Sites

OFFICIAL Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Shooting Script (including deleted scenes)
OFFICIAL Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Shooting Script (including deleted scenes)
UNOFFICIAL Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Transscript V1
UNOFFICIAL Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Transscript V2
Character Analysis
PotC Timeline
Explanation on Davy Jones/Flying Dutchman Curse
Fan Story of Events Between DMC and AWE

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ORIGINAL POST:

Ok, here's what I've got:

Pirates of the Caribbean: Under the Black Flag

The film starts with Captain Jack Sparrow, clean shaven save for a thin moustashe and goatee (Sort of Will Turner look), at the wheel of the Wicked Wench under Sir Cutler Beckett of the EIC. We have the whole slave episode, he finds Tia Dalma in the hold with them. He sails from fleet in the night to free them, she thanks him with the compass. Beckett persues him, brands him a pirate. He hoists the black flag and decides that to stay alive, he must commit piracy both to get supplies and a reputation to make his enemies think twice before attacking him. So its a conquest to somehow ransack a port with one lightly armed merchant. He succeeds, but Beckett finally catches him and sinks the Wench. We'll have the deal with Jones scene and the transformation to the Pearl. By the end of the film, Jack's got the start of his beard, the piratey look, the hair let down, and the Black Pearl sailing off into the Caribbean.

Opening Credits

Jack with the EIC convoy, establishment of characters.

Jack is asked to go on a small detour and carry a "cargo" by Beckett.

Jack moors off the Ivory Coast and to his horror is loaded with slaves.

He rejoins the EIC convoy, establishes a friendship with Tia Dalma.

Plot to set them free.

Jack makes a run for it in the night, EIC armed escorts catch on and give chase.

Jack's faster ship escapes and sails for Spanish Flordia, is awarded the compass for his actions by Dalma.

Unloads them up river, sails off to return to the convoy.

Beckett has him arrested, accuses him of piracy, brands him.

Jack makes a jailbreak from the brig, rallies his men, retakes the Wench.

Wench tries to fight her way out of the convoy, but the Endeavor sinks her.

Jack is found in the water nearly dead as the Dutchman surfaces next to him, Jones strikes the deal, Wench is raised and made the Pearl.

Jack sails off, trying to come up with a plan, goes to Tortuga.

Recruits Barbossa, Bootstrap, Pintel, Ragetti, Cotton, etc. They make plans to raid a port.

They choose Nassau and arrive, using a trick to make the port think more than one ship is comming.

They go ashore and enjoy pillaging. They hear about the Isla de Muerta. Jack decides to find it to store their excess loot there.

Jack can't find it, so he sails for Singapore to find an old friend.



I might change the last one, it would be the end of the film, but the list doesn't seem too long to be a two hour movie.

 

[Old Salt]

Very good. I like what you have so far. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="me.gif" /> And I like the idea of Jack being slowly transformed into the character we come to know in the first film. It could be a subtle change that takes place over the course of the film (and of course it doesn't have to end with him being the Jack Sparrow we know, since there may be other prequels) and is dictated by certain events, but the thrust of it would be that Jack, while being an eccentric type of character in the beginning of this film by nature, does not amplify the eccentricity the way he does later on.
A better way to describe it is that the older Jack is an exaggerated echo of the younger one. Perhaps it was being marooned the first time by Barbossa that completed that transformation, as Mr. Gibbs seems to suggest in the first movie.

 

[Thomas the Terror]

Yes, so we can have other prequels as wel, 1 about the sacking of nassau for example, and 1 of the whole barbossa thing.

 

[Commodore John Paul Jones]

I think the first should be the transformation to pirate, sacking Nassau, the deal with Jones. The second would be the search for the treasure of Cortez, the first trip to Singapore, and the brush with the EIC. The third would be unrest with the crew and buildup to mutiny, the mutiny, then Jack getting off the island and finding his way to Port Royale (with Anamaria's boat of course!).

FIRST POST EDITED!

 

[Old Salt]

<!--quoteo(post=213314:date=Aug 30 2007, 06:20 AM:name=Commodore John Paul Jones)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Commodore John Paul Jones @ Aug 30 2007, 06:20 AM) [snapback]213314[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I might change the last one, it would be the end of the film, but the list doesn't seem too long to be a two hour movie.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe not, but its a damn good start. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="me.gif" />

 

[Pieter Boelen]

One thing that might be worth mentioning here: We have a rewrite of the PC game main quest underway that is done by Short Jack Gold. This is done to change the PotC main quest to a Jack Sparrow prequel story. Wouldn't it be great if we could take that story and make it into a script and also incorporate good ideas for the script back into that story? Wouldn't it be a dream come true if eventually the fourth PotC films would have the same story as the first PotC PC game? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />

That being said, I think what I posted <a href="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/index.php?s=&showtopic=10874&view=findpost&p=213355" target="_blank">here</a> is something we do need to very much consider.

 

[Old Salt]

That would be a dream come true. At least getting back to the tone of the first movie anyway. And that's what we should be doing, taking the best ideas from all the sources we have available to us. And we have to do this and not be under the illusion that what we send will immediately be embraced, but even if a small portion of it is the catalyst to having another movie done (hopefully a prequel) the right way, it will be a victory.

 

[Cpt Fabris]

I suspect the EIC and slavery idea would be too controversial to do really, especially in what is meant to be an entertainment film. Perhaps as a quick flashback, but too dangerous too tackle otherwise.

Perhaps we need give thought as to when Jack got the Pearl raised in his career. We know it was 13 years before the Dead Mans Chest, and that for 10 years the ship was under Barbossa, but Jack is in his 40s so unless all his pirating was done in the 3 years he had the ship before meeting Barbossa, then we have more time to play with. Besides, he clearly wasn't idle in the 10 years after being stranded. Perhaps that is the best idea, show him losing the pearl and how he filled his time up until CBP.

My worry about the storyline of Jack turning pirate is that we know from World's End that his old man is a pirate. So if we go down the route of Jack being once respectable and then going on the account, we are following almost the same career path as Will Turner and so retreading already worn ground.

 

[Old Salt]

It is interesting to note that most of the more famous pirates in history only had careers that lasted three years or less after they struck out on their own. Jack's career could easily have ended after Barbossa's mutiny and being marooned on that island but he did escape and I don't think it has been covered anywhere what he had been doing for ten years till POTC picked up his story again. Was he chasing after the Black Pearle? Did he find himself a new crew? Ten years is a long time to not have done anything noteworthy. Certainly this period of his life should be explained more thoroughly as you point out.

I don't think it would do any harm to touch on the slavery issue (not make it the focus) if it is part of the storyline in the beginning, simply because it is part of the story, but that can be debated.

 

[Cpt Fabris]

<!--quoteo(post=213404:date=Sep 1 2007, 03:49 AM:name=Old Salt)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Old Salt @ Sep 1 2007, 03:49 AM) [snapback]213404[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It is interesting to note that most of the more famous pirates in history only had careers that lasted three years or less after they struck out on their own. Jack's career could easily have ended after Barbossa's mutiny and being marooned on that island but he did escape and I don't think it has been covered anywhere what he had been doing for ten years till POTC picked up his story again. Was he chasing after the Black Pearle? Did he find himself a new crew? Ten years is a long time to not have done anything noteworthy. Certainly this period of his life should be explained more thoroughly as you point out.

I don't think it would do any harm to touch on the slavery issue (not make it the focus) if it is part of the storyline in the beginning, simply because it is part of the story, but that can be debated.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Aye, by all accounts none but a few gentlemen of fortune lasted more than a couple o' years after going on the account. Even the greats like Teach didn't last more than 3 years or so. Achieved a lot in them years though, so they did. Makes ye wonder all the more, what Sparrow done to fill 'is time after 'aving the Pearl nicked and being made a maroon. Other ships, crews and ventures? Being a rum-soaked barfly? Runnin' a tavern even?

Fair 'nuff, by all accounts the slavery element is part of the Sparrow story in his dealings with the EIC, but it's a hard thing to tackle without upsetting people. Just having Jack refuse to deliver his slave cargo is controversial as most pirates were above attacking slave ships of the Royal Africa Company and then selling the slaves themselves. Sparrow's humanity seems historically a little anachronistic. Reading one of Sabatini's 'Captain Blood' stories the other day, I was hit by that authors refusal to let his usually moral hero seem even remotely bothered by the notion of black slavery, even though he was of course himself once in bondage on account of his alledged involvement in the Monmouth Rebellion. Would be hard to be accurate in the portrayal of the slaves' lot and the attitudes of the Europeans to the whole business. 'sides, I remember the debate about the slavery mod for POTC that was made some years ago and how the leaders of the modding community were highly critical of the idea.

Lastly, how are we to do this 'ere script? Do we pool ideas for plotlines before working on a script proper and the dialogue? Or is there a better way?

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Perhaps a good idea to first come up with some scenes/events/characters you want to be in there.

Personally I want the following in a prequel:
- Captain Jack Sparrow
- Cutler Beckett
- Annamaria
- Barbossa

Nice events would be a ship-to-ship battle with multiple ships (fits more in with a post AWE film though) and the sacking of Nassau.

In any case: There should be swordfights and ship-to-ship battles in the script. It should also contain something to be a truly special film; something worthwhile to see. A film that contains something the audiences have never seen before. The sacking of a town without firing a single shot would apply here.

But the very first thing to decide on would be: What do you want the film to be about? Then make a very general plot outline. What should happen in the beginning of the film (setting up characters and the events to follow), the middle of the film (character development) and the end of the film (finale with the big setpiece).

 

[Old Salt]

<!--quoteo(post=213425:date=Sep 1 2007, 12:57 PM:name=Cpt Fabris)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cpt Fabris @ Sep 1 2007, 12:57 PM) [snapback]213425[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Lastly, how are we to do this 'ere script? Do we pool ideas for plotlines before working on a script proper and the dialogue? Or is there a better way?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think the way we are doing it now, throw in our ideas first and see what we agree and disagree on. In regards to slavery, I can certainly see your point and I do believe that most probably had little regard for slaves or slavery in that time period. But there most likely were some exceptions, and Jack could very well be one of them. And the reason for his humanity regarding this issue could be any number of things, even an experience from his distant past that helped shape his current attitude toward slaves and slave trafficking and made him sympathetic to Tia Dalma's plight. We could throw a flashback in the script when he first meets her that will help the audience understand how he came upon his lofty ideals.

<!--quoteo(post=213432:date=Sep 1 2007, 02:13 PM:name=Pieter Boelen)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pieter Boelen @ Sep 1 2007, 02:13 PM) [snapback]213432[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Perhaps a good idea to first come up with some scenes/events/characters you want to be in there.

Personally I want the following in a prequel:
- Captain Jack Sparrow
- Cutler Beckett
- Annamaria
- Barbossa

Nice events would be a ship-to-ship battle with multiple ships (fits more in with a post AWE film though) and the sacking of Nassau.

In any case: There should be swordfights and ship-to-ship battles in the script. It should also contain something to be a truly special film; something worthwhile to see. A film that contains something the audiences have never seen before. The sacking of a town without firing a single shot would apply here.

But the very first thing to decide on would be: What do you want the film to be about? Then make a very general plot outline. What should happen in the beginning of the film (setting up characters and the events to follow), the middle of the film (character development) and the end of the film (finale with the big setpiece).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I would like to see those characters in the prequel also, as well as a few others. And I agree with your synopsis but I think first we should use this thread to hash out different ideas and debate some others that might be more controversial before moving on to making a more permanent plot outline.
Perhaps for now we can play off some of the ideas that Commodore John put up in his first post.

 

[DAS123]

Maybe we should also start a thread for another sequel inaddition to the prequel, and we will see how they both go, then we can turn them both into the writers and see which one they like more.

 

[DAS123]

Also everyone, i build shipmodels, and in doing so i have kind of roughly guaged what decade the story takes place. Now, as you know that Disney doesnt always follow the history book word for word ie, Singapore wasnt build until the 1830s, so if we DO follow it word for word here is a but if info. Commodore John Paul Jones, i love your idea for the Continental navy and the revolution as a sequel, but one problem, you know that the Dauntless and Endevour from CBP and AWE are both identical copies of the HMS Victory, this we all know. The Victory was laid down in 1765, but the war in the colonies postponed her construction for 5 years, then it took another 6 years to build her, and she wasnt comissioned until late 1778 too late to help in the War. So if my calculations are correct POTC took place roughly between 1780-98. The caribbean was a hellhole of pirates, british, french, and what little spanish remained grabbing what the could during the war, so it is practically imposible for the Pearl to go without being stopped by the ships of these nations. Again this is fantasy, so i just thought i would fill you in on that so you could know what to put into the script and what not. So Commodore John Paul Jones, your idea, again if you follow some type of historical guideline, has a flaw about the Endevour sinking the Wench, the story would have to take place 5-15 years before the CBP, most likely 10 since Jack has built up such a reputation, the endevour is non-existant at that time. I hope i didnt sink any ideas, i just gave you a...code about what to look for to put into the script.
Peace.

 

[DAS123]

Before we write anything lets put something to rest. There HAS TO BE some big ass sea battle that takes up a good 20 minutes. Also there should be a good amount of sword fighting, but not too much, (we saw how much they milked it in DMC). Now the POTC are in serious need of a milked sea battle. I have many ideas, but i am not ready to put them down yet. Also, as usual, it has to be HILARIOUS. Especialy Jack Sparrow. It needs to be fun, let everyone refresh from a dark movie of sea creatures, and octupuses eating our witty Jack, and squidfaced captains with funny accents ripping out their hearts...hey...there's a good idea for a second prequel, how did Davy Jones become what he was? We all know, but lets elaborate on it shall we? Somehow this will tie in with Jack selling his soul to raise the Wench. Thats perfect, i am sure everyone is tired of Jones, but lets have a good portion of the script about him before he turned all...tentically. I will think a bit more about this, and get back, but lets all remember that having a trilogy first, then going back and making the prequels is a kick-ass idea, look at Starwars.

 

[DAS123]

Heres the first part of my script:

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend Begins


Movie starts.

You see a ship sailing in choppy seas on a cloudy day.

It looks just like the Black Pearl except for the real colored wood and white sails.

Camera pans down around the mainmast, you clearly see the EITC flag flying in the wind. The camera continues to pan without stopping until it is face to face with Jack Sparrow at the helm.

He pulls out his spyglass.

Camera in spyglass mode sees a port with many ships.

He smiles and closes spyglass.


SPARROW: All hands prepare to make port.


The crew rushes about prepping to dock.

The camera pans to the back of Sparrow’s ship and you see the name “Wicked Wench”.

The ship continues on, but the camera turns right to see the stern of a large ship of the line with the name “Endeavor” on it.

As the Wench pulls alongside the dock Sparrow waltzes down with a bit less of a drunk mans sway.

He walks along the deck and steps on the gangplank just as it is set down.

As he steps off of the gangplank Mercer and a few guards bar his way.

MERCER: You’re late.

SPARROW: A man is never late, just not early.

Mercer scoffs.

MERCER: You know, Lord Beckett is growing impatient of your apparent inability to appear on time. He sent me to make sure you appear before him on time.

SPARROW: I’m here aren’t I?

Mercer draws pistol and cocks it, but doesn’t aim at Sparrow, he nods and the guards grab Sparrow they “help” him to Beckett’s office. Mercer follows behind with his pistol pointed in the air. They arrive at Beckets office. Beckett is seated behind his desk looking over a paper. He sets it down and motions Sparrow in. The guards release him and he rubs his wrist.

BECKETT: Ah, Captain Sparrow, so nice of you to show up.

Mercer walks in.

SPARROW: I had a little help.

He glances nervously at Mercer.

BECKETT: I will assume that all of the shipment arrived intact.

SPARROW: As crisp as it was when we left.

BECKETT: I’m sure. Well I shouldn’t dance around why I had you brought here, you wont be in Singapore long, I have another shipment being loaded in a small port in New Spain, which name I will not mention. You are to escort the said ship back to Singapore undamaged, do I make my self clear.

SPARROW: Crystal clear, mate. I am going to need ammunition for my ship, and some extra comforts to help the long voyage go easily, savvy?

He glances at a barrel of rum in the corner. Beckett notices this.

BECKETT: You will have the ammunition and what ever else it is that satisfies you.

SPARROW: Perfect we will set sail as soon as the rum is loaded…along with the ammunition.

Sparrow spins around and walks out of the room. The guards close the doors.

BECKETT TO MERCER: Mercer, I need you to take a frigate and follow Sparrow’s ship the whole round trip, without him noticing. If he deviates or does anything to endanger the shipment you know what to do.

Mercer gives a sinister smile.

MERCER: Sooner or later it will have to be done.

He walks out of the room. Beckett picks up a paper and continues reading.

 

[Old Salt]

Great posts, Mercer. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="me.gif" /> We do need to be reined in at times while pitching in ideas and make sure that the script is kept somewhat honest. I agree, we can't get caught up in the darkness (and that's easier said than done) because it does suck the life out of a movie, and Captain Jack Sparrow is all about, by his very nature, being loose and carefree and so the script should reflect that.

No harm in starting a second thread with more ideas for another prequel. I don't think anyone would expect that there can only be one prequel, there are far to many loose ends in the three movies and we need to know exactly how those loose ends were untied. What exactly happened to these people in the past that caused them to become what they are? What is the backstory? That's why the Star Wars prequels were so fascinating to those who are into that sort of fare. You wanted to see how that little kid became Darth Vader, and there is always an audience for that. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="me.gif" />


<i>Looks like I posted this right after you posted part of your screenplay. This was in response to your other posts.</i>

 

[DAS123]

<!--quoteo(post=213722:date=Sep 5 2007, 09:28 PM:name=Old Salt)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Old Salt @ Sep 5 2007, 09:28 PM) [snapback]213722[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Great posts, Mercer. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="me.gif" /> We do need to be reined in at times while pitching in ideas and make sure that the script is kept somewhat honest. I agree, we can't get caught up in the darkness (and that's easier said than done) because it does suck the life out of a movie, and Captain Jack Sparrow is all about, by his very nature, being loose and carefree and so the script should reflect that.

No harm in starting a second thread with more ideas for another prequel. I don't think anyone would expect that there can only be one prequel, there are far to many loose ends in the three movies and we need to know exactly how those loose ends were untied. What exactly happened to these people in the past that caused them to become what they are? What is the backstory? That's why the Star Wars prequels were so fascinating to those who are into that sort of fare. You wanted to see how that little kid became Darth Vader, and there is always an audience for that. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="me.gif" />


<i>Looks like I posted this right after you posted part of your screenplay. This was in response to your other posts.</i><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
But how did you like the screenplay?

 

[Old Salt]

Just reading it now. I like it. I like the imagery also. I think you captured Sparrow there, as I can hear Johnny Depp speaking those lines. Is this where he is going to pick up the cargo of slaves now?

 

[DAS123]

As you know that a movie with Beckett and Mercer in it is eneviably going to be somewhat dark, but if it ties in well with the CBP it will get lighter and lighter, then darker with DMC and AWE then lighter again. But so, we must do something to keep from making it too dark, my idea of exploring Davy Jones and Tia Dalmas relationship should be very close to that of will and elizabeth at the first parts to kind of foreshadow it. The legend of Davy Jones has been around for hundreds of years, so lets put a set date when he actually took on the job, say the mid 1500's we will have to do a bunch of cleverly knit and elaborate flashbacks of Davy Jones to when he and Dalma were in love, how they split, and what happened because he failed his duty to ferry the souls of those who died at sea to the afterlife. Also when he greets Sparrow upon saving him, he sould be a little bit... less hotheaded about things. Where my script ends i will start the flashback sequences for Jones, the switch back to the sparrow plotline. You will see what this "cargo" that Beckett wants, truely is.