Pirates of the Caribbean: Community Prequel Script

Pieter Boelen · Oct 6, 2007

Also something worth pondering about are the false legends and myths. After all: Not every story has to be true. I think it'd be fun to put in at least some notion of false stories into the script of either the prequel or the AWE sequel or both. I think that'd make it much more interesting when certain legends do turn out to be true. Personally I would suggest making the Vanderdecken story just plain false. Yes, there is a Flying Dutchman with a curse to sail forever, but the ship is not captained by Vanderdecken because he cursed God, but by Davy Jones because of his deal with Calypso. If this is done well, we could make the audience think the original Dutchman story is true until it is shown that it is differently. This would only apply to people seeing the films in order, of course, but I think we should make this film as if people will watch them in order one day.

Thomas the Terror · Oct 6, 2007

I don't think that the dutch should be the losers in the prequel but the winners. Because at the period the POTC movies play, the Dutch VOC gets weaker and weaker, so it would be best to show the VOC in the prequel as THE main power in the world then.

Pieter Boelen · Oct 6, 2007

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Commodore John Paul Jones @ Oct 6 2007, 04:32 PM) [snapback]216806[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>How about a lead VOC officer?</div>That would be interesting. We could have the Batavia governor and the VOC army commander. Also I think we should split the film up into three parts:
1) Jack becoming a pirate (the whole Africa slave thing)
2) Jack being a pirate (random pirating, plundering and fun in the Caribbean. Nassau raid included here)
3) Jack's mark on Beckett (voyage to East India, VOC vs EITC, burning of the Wench, deal with Davy Jones and final ship-to-ship battle)

We have got a pretty good idea how part 1 will play out and a general idea of what we want for part 3, but we have virtually no ideas for part 2 yet. I would like to see here some "unimportant" pirate myths of buried treasure and the like. It would also be nice to add some dealing with the Spanish and/or the French. Perhap Jack would make a deal with a French pirate captain who has heard of a Mayan treasure in Mexico, so they go to Mexico and have to find out about the treasure in a Spanish town there. Then they have to collect the treasure at a Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan jungle. During this escapade Jack will learn to enjoy being a pirate and will learn what being a pirate is about. Also he will hear hints of many myths that will become important later in the film(s). Also he will get the idea of paying Beckett back for what he did to him and that's when he decides to go to East India and cause major trouble.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Commodore John Paul Jones @ Oct 6 2007, 04:32 PM) [snapback]216806[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>Admaaral Pieter Boelen! (Seriously, put an easter egg in this... insert yourself!)</div>I am not so vain as to put myself into an intended serious PotC 4 script. The only reason why I am in the PotC PC game is because Bartolomeu added me. I would never even think of adding myself. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/no.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=" :no

" border="0" alt="no.gif" />

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Thomas the Terror @ Oct 6 2007, 04:40 PM) [snapback]216809[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think that the dutch should be the losers in the prequel but the winners. Because at the period the POTC movies play, the Dutch VOC gets weaker and weaker, so it would be best to show the VOC in the prequel as THE main power in the world then.</div>Good idea, Thomas! The prequel can take place during the golden age of the Dutch where they win from the EITC. After this though, the VOC gets weaker while the EITC gains strength until the Dutch become just about completely unimportant. We can show this in the AWE sequel. It would be nice to add a bigger sense of scale to the films and exploring the rise and fall of nations for a bit. In the prequel the Dutch ar the main power, then during CotBP through AWE, the British are the main power and in the AWE sequel the US come into play. That way we show a bit of the progress of the world outside the personal stories of the main characters and the pirates.

Commodore John Paul Jones · Oct 6, 2007

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>In the prequel the Dutch ar the main power, then during CotBP through AWE, the British are the main power and in the AWE sequel the US come into play.</div>

Big problem... if we show the USA in the sequel, we'd have to do it with one ship! Our navy was <i>extremely</i> small, only six super frigates by 1794 and a collection of small privately owned vessels.

Pieter Boelen · Oct 6, 2007

That shouldn't be too much of a problem. We can show a bit of the rise of the USA in the AWE sequel. The story would be more about the Britsh losing power and the USA gaining power, rather than starting out with the USA as a world power already.

Old Salt · Oct 6, 2007

Wow! After being quiet for a few days that was certainly a burst of creativity! Lots to digest there. Maybe we should post about the ideas that we are pretty much settled on, so that we get them down before getting lost in this thread, and then Pieter can make a link to them with the others on the first page Trying to peruse through all 18 pages of this thread to find an idea you remember being posted can be taxing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pieter Boelen @ Oct 6 2007, 10:42 AM) [snapback]216810[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>1) Jack becoming a pirate (the whole Africa slave thing)
2) Jack being a pirate (random pirating, plundering and fun in the Caribbean. Nassau raid included here)
3) Jack's mark on Beckett (voyage to East India, VOC vs EITC, burning of the Wench, deal with Davy Jones and final ship-to-ship battle)</div>
Okay, we have some thoughts on the first topic down, how Jack comes upon the slaves and meets Tia Dalma. On the second topic we have an idea how Jack wound up raiding Nassau without firing a shot. The audience won't be thinking that this is actually the event taking place until its over. Keep 'em guessing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pieter Boelen @ Oct 6 2007, 05:31 AM) [snapback]216743[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>I don't really like that idea. One of the main reasons is of course that the Dutch would be made to look like fools here, which of course clashes with my nationality. However, there is more reasons. If the Dutch are in any way serious about the defense of their city, they would have guards being awake a any given moment. That would only make sense. Having the guards take a nap would be just plain stupid of the Dutch.</div>
It is a dramatic scene and of course he doesn't have to be approaching a sleeping Dutch guard. It wasn't the intention to make the Dutch seem like bumbling fools because they certainly were not. Perhaps the shot could come from Mercer rather unexpectedly in the middle of conversation and that would establish that if he is not a sociopath he is close to it.

Old Salt · Oct 6, 2007

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pieter Boelen @ Oct 6 2007, 10:33 AM) [snapback]216807[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>Also something worth pondering about are the false legends and myths. After all: Not every story has to be true. I think it'd be fun to put in at least some notion of false stories into the script of either the prequel or the AWE sequel or both. I think that'd make it much more interesting when certain legends do turn out to be true. Personally I would suggest making the Vanderdecken story just plain false. Yes, there is a Flying Dutchmand with a curse to sail forever, but the ship is not captained by Vanderdecken because he cursed God, but by Davy Jones because of his deal with Calypso. If this is done well, we could make the audience think the original Dutchman story is true until it is shown that it is differently. This would only apply to people seeing the films in order, of course, but I think we should make this film as if people will watch them in order one day.</div>
So have the Vanderdecken myth be explained early on in casaul conversation, maybe with Jack present, and then have either Jack or someone else exclaim once Davy Jones makes an appearance or his story is known.... "My God, there is a Dutchman, but its not captained by whom legend led us to believe!"

Pieter Boelen · Oct 6, 2007

Something like that, yes. Or just make it clear through Jack's conversation with Davy that he is surprised to see Davy rather than Vanderdecken. In any case I think it could be made into something surprising and amusing. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=" :cheeky

" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />

DAS123 · Oct 7, 2007

I like this, all of these ideas flying around. Pieter did you read my post about how i wasnt trying to make the Dutch look like idiots? Old salt could you expand on the idea of Mercer shooting someone in the middle of a conversation. I dont get it.

Everyone lets not jump too far ahead. Okay, i am now ready to go on in the official script that i am using a professional program for. Please read what i have posted so far and see what more might need to be added. I need ideas. because right now what you see is what you get. Please read it before i go on, because we need to be a hundred percent sure that is what we are going with.

Old Salt · Oct 7, 2007

Well, I was thinking that we could have Mercer lead the men as you envisioned, and comes upon the guards. Maybe they are tipped off to Mercer coming or are alerted somehow, but they soon come face to face with Mercer and his men. During the usual formalities that would come about as a result of such an encounter, Mercer indiscriminately shoots the guard, and then also kills the other in a casual manner before advancing again with his men.
This would show that the guards were not asleep at their posts but doing their best to bide time and possibly send a warning that Mercer and his men were there, and also establishes that Mercer bends from the norm in situations like this.

Old Salt · Oct 7, 2007

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pieter Boelen @ Oct 6 2007, 10:42 AM) [snapback]216810[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>It would be nice to add a bigger sense of scale to the films and exploring the rise and fall of nations for a bit. In the prequel the Dutch ar the main power, then during CotBP through AWE, the British are the main power and in the AWE sequel the US come into play. That way we show a bit of the progress of the world outside the personal stories of the main characters and the pirates.</div>
I was wondering exactly what were the timelines associated with the films and found one in Wikipedia.

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Pirates_of_the_Caribbean_films" target="_blank">POTC Timeline</a>

Also, I don't know if it was mentioned here but it seems that in one of the prequel books that Jack brags about having helped Benjamin Franklin with his electricity experiments. I know I've mentioned this before, but Mercer's basic idea of having Jack meet and maybe help George Washington sounds to me like an idea that can have lots of possibilities and bring some comic relief to the sequel as only Jack can and also help give a concrete sense of what was happening at that time in the world outside the Caribbean. Perhaps with his antics he can help win the Battle of Trenton when Washington attacked the Hessians on Christmas Night, 1776. Or maybe he can unexpectantly show up with a boat while the Americans are retreating across the East River to Manhattan during the Battle of Long Island, often called the Dunkirk of the Revolutionary War.

Commodore John Paul Jones · Oct 7, 2007

I personally think that since its <i>Pirates</i> and not <i>Highwaymen</i> of the Caribbean, we should focus a little less on the land battles of the American Revolution. Perhaps Commodore Barry's attack on Nassau could be tied in with Jack's bloodless seige? I also think that it would be nice if he had run-ins with American Privateers, perhaps even John Paul Jones or Joshua Barney! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile2.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

)" border="0" alt="smile2.gif" />

Old Salt · Oct 7, 2007

It wouldn't be a focus on the battles of the American Revolution per se, but perhaps your right. I do think it's a good idea if Jack's sacking of Nassau was a singular event and not tied into an attack by someone else. A run in with John Paul Jones might be interesting. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=" :onya

" border="0" alt="me.gif" />

Pieter Boelen · Oct 7, 2007

Has anyone ever seen the Young Indiana Jones chronicles? In these films Indiana Jones meets just about all important people from the era. This seems to be somewhat weird and unrealistic and I think we don't want to go too far with this for our films. At the moment there are no historical characters in the films at all (not counting the pirate lords; these <i>are</i> historical characters, albeit not widely known ones), except for mythical ones and even those usually differ from the real myth. Adding some historical characters into the films might be fun, but I think we don't want to go too far with this.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mercer @ Oct 7 2007, 01:38 AM) [snapback]216877[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>Pieter did you read my post about how i wasnt trying to make the Dutch look like idiots?</div>Yes, I did. Not to worry: I am not offended or anything. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/no.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=" :no

" border="0" alt="no.gif" />
Something to think about: The whole East India part of the film comes into play in the final third, so Mercer's attack on the Dutch would also come in the final third of the film. It might be a bit late to only show Mercer as super-nasty character only then; that is something that can become clear much earlier on. And once it is clear, we don't need to show it all the time. That is something we should also not forget: We don't need to show/explain the same thing too many times. Once we made it clear to the audience, we can trust the audience to remember it without reminding them.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Old Salt @ Oct 7 2007, 03:38 AM) [snapback]216893[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>Also, I don't know if it was mentioned here but it seems that in one of the prequel books that Jack brags about having helped Benjamin Franklin with his electricity experiments.</div>There are several really stupid ideas in those comic books, I think. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of them. Personally I would vote for just completely ignoring the stories from the comic books and only sticking to what we know from the films and any official background information from the screenwriters themselves. That being said, some run-ins with famous characters might be fun.

DAS123 · Oct 7, 2007

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pieter Boelen @ Oct 7 2007, 02:01 AM) [snapback]216909[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>Yes, I did. Not to worry: I am not offended or anything. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/no.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=" :no

" border="0" alt="no.gif" />
Something to think about: The whole East India part of the film comes into play in the final third, so Mercer's attack on the Dutch would also come in the final third of the film. It might be a bit late to only show Mercer as super-nasty character only then; that is something that can become clear much earlier on. And once it is clear, we don't need to show it all the time. That is something we should also not forget: We don't need to show/explain the same thing too many times. Once we made it clear to the audience, we can trust the audience to remember it without reminding them.</div>
As you can tell, i am trying to make Mercer the primary antogonist in this film. So when DMC rolls around and you dont see Mercer that much that could be because we already know of his evil from Hoist the Colours. Beckett will indeed be shown, but not as much, i want to keep him to DMC and AWE. We dont want people saying "oh, great, him again" I think Beckett has a cruel, calculating personality, but Disney said that He was one of the 2 primary antagoinists of DMC and AWE, Jones was the other we should leave it that way. It is hard to tamper with logistics of a film that has already been aired, so lets stay away from Beckett being the antagonist. We should let the audience know that he is the driving force behind the curtain, and Mercer is an extension of his power.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>There are several really stupid ideas in those comic books, I think. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of them. Personally I would vote for just completely ignoring the stories from the comic books and only sticking to what we know from the films and any official background information from the screenwriters themselves. That being said, some run-ins with famous characters might be fun.</div>
Agreed, very stupid from what i have read and heard. It should have no bearing on what we are trying to do here.

DAS123 · Oct 7, 2007

<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/william.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":will" border="0" alt="william.gif" /> Here's my work on the official script on the professioal program. PLEASE COMMENT IF IT NEEDS MORE, AND ON WHAT PIECE GOES NEXT. THIS SCRIPT IS WAAAAY TOO SHORT TO SATISFY ME, OT NEEDS A LOT OF WORK, I AM ONLY ONE PERSON SO I CANT WRITE IT ALL.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: HOIST THE COLOURS

FADE IN:

EXT. ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE - DAY

CAMERA PANS ALONG A BEAUTIFUL ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE FOLLOWING
THE ROAD TO LONDON.

EXT. LONDON WATER FRONT, EITC HQ - DAY

MERCER
(WALKS DOWN STEPS
TO ESCORT
NATHANIEL TO
OFFICE)
Post Captain Nathaniel Edwards?

NATHANIEL
(STEPPING OUT OF
CARRIAGE)
Yes, Mr. Mercer.

MERCER
Good, you made it. Lord Beckett
wishes to see you. This you must
have already anticipated.

NATHANIEL
(SLIGHTLY
INTIMIDATED BY
MERCER)
Yes, sir. I was sure I would not
just go to work.
(CHUCKLES, WHICH
DIES AWAY)

MERCER
(NOT THE SLIGHTEST
CHANGE IN
EXPRESSION)
Good. Follow me.

MERCER AND NATHANIEL WALK INTO BUILDING.

INT. BECKETTS OFFICE - DAY

GUARDS OPEN DOORS. MERCER AND NATHANIEL ENTER. NATHANIEL
POLITELY REMOVES HAT.

2.

BECKETT
(SMILES)
Ah, Post Captain Edwards, I am
glad you made it safely.

BECKETT OFFERS GLASS OF BRANDY TO NATHANIEL. MERCER LEAVES
ROOM.

NATHANIEL
(POLITELY)
Thank you Lord Beckett.

NATHANIEL ACCEPTS BRANDY.

BECKETT
I had you brought here to discuss
your first assignment. There is a
troublesome issue that must be
adressed. A captain of mine, Jack
Sparrow, is usually behind
schedual on his shipments. I have
one of great importance that need
be completed, and you are to
escort him on this. Mercer will
also be along.
(AS IF TALKING TO
NO ONE)
Am I right?

MERCER (OS)
Yes, Lord Beckett.

NATHANIEL IS STARTLED BY MERCERS APPEARANCE.

BECKETT
(Smiles)
Ah, very good. Thank you Post
Captain, that will be all.

EDWARDS BOWS HIS HEAD, TURNS AND WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM.

EXT. WICKED WENCH SAILING ALONG THE ENGLISH COAST - DAY

YOU BEGIN TO HEAR THE RAT-TAT-TAT DRUM BEAT OF JACK SPARROWS
SONG. PAN DOWN TO--

PANS TO SPARROWS FACE. THE BRASS ON HIS SONG PICKS UP. SHOWS
HIM SMILING LOOKING INTO THE DISTANCE. CAMERA PANS ALONG THE
SIDE OF SHIP. MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY WITH A DRUM ROLL WHEN
CAMERA SEES AN EITC FLAG FLOWING IN THE WIND.

3.

JACK
(TURNS HEAD BEHIND)
All hands! Prepare to make port.
Ms. Maria please furl the course
sails.

ANNA MARIA
Aye Captain, all hands on the
ratlines!

SPARROW TURNS BACK TO LOOKING AT THE LOOMING FIGURE OF
LONDON. HE IS SOMEWHAT UNSETTLED WHEN HE SEES EITC SOLDIERS
ON THE DOCKS.

JACK
(TALKING TO
HIMSELF)
There's no living with 'im after
this.

WENCH CONTINUES ON UP THE THAMES.

EXT. EITC WATERFRONT DOCKS - DAY

WENCH IS TIED UP AND GANGWAY IS LOWERED. SPARROW WALKS OFF.
YOU SEE HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH A TIDY EITC UNIFORM ON.
AS HE STEPS OFF THE GANGPLANK MERCER STANDS WITH 10 EITC
GUARDS, BARRING HIS PATH.

MERCER
Curious, I was sure Lord Beckett
ordered the shipment to arrive 2
weeks ago, but you have only just
arrived.

JACK
Oh, I thought my orders said to
have it here two weeks from two
weeks ago.

JACK
(Smiling)
Actually I was stopped by
a...convoy of yours to...inspect
my ship.

MERCER
Were you now.

4.

JACK
...Yep, thats how it happened. It
all a terrible misunderstanding
gents.

MERCER
I'm sure. Lord Beckett still
wishes to see you.

JACK
I'm here aren't I?

MERCERS TESTED PATIENCE AT AN END, HE BRINGS OUT HIS PISTOL
AND NODS TO THE GUARDS WHO SEIZE SPARROW AND CARRY HIM OFF
TO BECKETTS OFFICE.

FADE OUT.

Old Salt · Oct 7, 2007

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pieter Boelen @ Oct 7 2007, 04:01 AM) [snapback]216909[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>There are several really stupid ideas in those comic books, I think. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of them. Personally I would vote for just completely ignoring the stories from the comic books and only sticking to what we know from the films and any official background information from the screenwriters themselves. That being said, some run-ins with famous characters might be fun.</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mercer @ Oct 7 2007, 10:12 AM) [snapback]216949[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>Agreed, very stupid from what i have read and heard. It should have no bearing on what we are trying to do here.</div>
Agreed also about those books. I only bought up the Ben Franklin reference because I saw it mentioned there and so the precedent had been established about Jack meeting some famous historical figures. I bought up the George Washington angle because I did feel if done right it could be a fun aside to the film and also give the audience a direct sense of exactly what time in history Jack is sailing around in. It gives you a window into what else was going on around the world outside the Caribbean. I had no intention of wanting to relive battles from the American Revolution in a pirate story. If anything, it would just be a rather quick encounter fit in somewhere, maybe even as a tale that Jack is telling while trying to impress a lady.
But, if everyone seems to think it wouldn't fit in our script then so be it. Just a thought. One of many that we will offer up from time to time to be debated and either used or tossed out as we move forward.

Pieter Boelen · Oct 7, 2007

The George Washington idea might work. It's worth exploring when we get to the AWE sequel script. We'd find out soon enough if it'd work.

DAS123 · Oct 7, 2007

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pieter Boelen @ Oct 7 2007, 11:06 AM) [snapback]216975[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>The George Washington idea might work. It's worth exploring when we get to the AWE sequel script. We'd find out soon enough if it'd work.</div>
I agree Old Salt, and Pieter. I just said the Ben Franklin idea was the most childish, stupid idea any idiot from Disney could have come up with.

DAS123 · Oct 7, 2007

<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/william.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":will" border="0" alt="william.gif" /> I hate to have to say this in this way, but: <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE COMMENT ON THE SCRIPT ABOVE. I need to know what needs to be added, or cut because if we are all in agreement then i will move on. We need to discus THIS not the sequel.</span> Again sorry I had to write it this way, but i saw it the only way to get your attention. That above IS the official script so PLEEEEEEEEEZE!!!!! COMMENT!!!. I have asked...oh...i believe 6 or 7 times for someone to tell me what needs to be edited, or changed or something so we can move on.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Community Prequel Script

Navigation Officer

Mad Pirate

Navigation Officer

Commodore in the Continental Navy

Navigation Officer

Asylum escapee

Asylum escapee

Navigation Officer

Fleet Admiral

Asylum escapee

Asylum escapee

Commodore in the Continental Navy

Asylum escapee

Navigation Officer

Fleet Admiral

Fleet Admiral

Asylum escapee

Navigation Officer

Fleet Admiral

Fleet Admiral