Black Sam Spec Script Treatment version 2

BLACK SAMA Pirate’s Tale

A Spec Script Treatment

by Ran Cartwright

BLACK SAM treatment/1

BLACK SAMA Pirate’s Tale

Wellfleet, MA, 1714, Sam Bellamy arrives from England

to live with his uncle’s family. He intends to acquire

enough money to buy a ship, form a crew, and sail to the

Caribbean to salvage sunken ships for gold and silver. Sam

meets many people who will shape his immediate future.

Included are Palsgrave Williams, a jeweler, and 15 year old

Maria Hallet whom he meets in a cemetery. Maria and Sam fall

in love and develop a whirlwind relationship. Sam settles

into a life of smuggling that’s fronted by a local tavern.

Included among the smugglers are Sam’s Uncle Israel,

Palsgrave Williams, and a crusty old ex-pirate named Joseph

Rivers.

During this time Maria becomes pregnant and springs the

news on Sam. With the pregnancy, Sam deems it even more

imperative to get a ship and find his fortune. He goes to

Palsgrave, asking the jeweler to finance Sam’s enterprise.

Pals agrees on the condition that he comes along as Sam’s

quartermaster. “...you’ll need someone who’s honest to keep

tabs on all that gold...,” so says Palsgrave. It’s agreed.


Pals acquires a ship; they recruit a rather mangy crew and

set sail for the Caribbean. Prior to leaving, Sam promises

Maria that he’ll be back for her, and make her and the child

so rich that all of Cape Cod will be envious.

By the time Sam and Pals arrive at a treasure wreck

site, a sunken 1715 plate fleet off the Florida coast, they

find the gold and silver already picked over. They search

for weeks, but don’t find any gold. The crew is despondent,

ready to desert. They don’t want to go back to the toils of

the Royal Navy or join the Merchant Marines or return to

Cape Cod to worthless jobs. Sam gives them a pep talk,

offering his crew a deal...

“We can return to Cape Cod; spend the rest of our lives

paying off our debts. We’ll be poor, working for rich

masters! It will be the only life we’ll ever know. Or...we

can be our own rich masters! We can go on the account;

become looters of nations!”

A crewmen holds up a recently made flag - black with

white skull and cross bones.

“All we have to do is raise this flag! This flag

represents not death, but resurrection. Never again will we

be slaves of the wealthy. From this day forward we are new

men. Free men! What say ye? Do we work for our masters or do


we become the masters?”

It doesn’t take long for the crew to decide. They

choose piracy.

* * *

Back in the Caribbean, Sam and Pals team up with pirate

Henry Jennings. Jennings is useless, lazy, tries to get

others to do his dirty work. Sam and Pals go along with

Jennings, but soon tire of him. The pirates plot to attack

Bayo Hondo on Cuba’s north shore, Sam to lead the assault.

As they sail into the harbor, Jennings fires his canon

nearly causing disaster for them all. Hearing that another

ship loaded gold had recently left the harbor, Jennings

hazardously goes after the ship while Sam and Pals stay

behind. While Jennings is gone, Sam steels Jennings’ gold

and leaves. Jennings returns, throwing a fit when he finds

Sam and his treasure gone.

* * *

Sam, Pals, and their crew meet up with the infamous

pirate captain, Ben Hornigold, and members of Hornigold’s

crew, including Edward Teech (Blackbeard) and Richard

Noland. Sam tells Hornigold about their adventures with

Henry Jennings, and how they tricked Jennings and made off

with his treasure. Hornigold finds Sam’s tale hilarious, is


impressed with the young Sam, and offers to teach Sam and

his crew the “fine art and science of my ancient and bloody

profession.”

Sam, Pals, and their crew agree. They “go on account,”

joining Hornigold’s crew. Hornigold notes that Sam’s a fast

learner, perhaps a little “too” fast. And Sam learns

something about Hornigold - the pirate captain is still

loyal to the English Crown and does not like to take English

ships or ships with English captains. And after several

months of pirating, things are coming to a head.

* * *

“...she’s an English ship with an English captain, Mr

Noland!” Captain Hornigold angrily proclaims. “I will not

take that ship!”

The crew are outraged, and lead by Sam, they claim that

ALL merchant ships are fair game. A vote is taken. Hornigold

and crew agree to relieve the ship only of its supply of

liquor. Later, on Samana Beach, another vote is taken, one

to replace Hornigold as fleet captain. That night, on the

beach, a moon reflecting on the water while a breeze rustles

the leaves of palm trees, Hornigold learns of the vote. He’s

displaced, the crew electing Sam as their new captain.

Though understanding Sam’s position and agreeing with the


taking of English ships, Blackbeard proclaims his loyalty to

his old captain.

Thus, Hornigold is allowed to freely leave. He and 26

others, including Blackbeard, set sail in a ship Sam

provides to them.

* * *

Sam, developing a flair for piracy, roams the

Caribbean, taking ship after ship. He’s well known as a

‘gentleman pirate,’ taking on crew who wish to join and

setting others free after looting their ships. In time his

small fleet increases in size as does his crew.

* * *

February 1717, a lookout shouts: “Approaching galley

aport, 3 leagues away!” Off the port bow in the distance is

the 300 ton, 28 gun galley, Whydah. A “slaver” just having

dropped off her cargo in Jamaica, she’s making her return

voyage through the Windward Passage on her way back to

England.

Sam gives chase. It takes the pirates three days and

nights to catch the galley. Finally, the Whydah gives in

without fight. Sam and his men board the ship and are

surprised to find the hold full of gold, silver, and ivory.

Sam has made his fortune and claims the Whydah for his


flagship.

By early April 1717, Sam and Pals have met with much

success. They decide that the next winter they’ll terrorize

merchantmen in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. First,

though, Sam surprises everyone by wanting to sail north

again - back to New England. Maria awaits. And so, the two

pirate ships turn north...

* * *

The two pirate ships sail north. It’s a calm day; some

pirates are playing cards on a hatch cover, others lounge on

deck, one plays a pipe while another dances an Irish jig.

Sam stands at the starboard rail, looking out to sea.

There’s a storm brewing. He can feel it.

Soon after the sky has grown dark, heavy overcast, a

storm tossing the Marianne and Whydah on the waves.

Lightning and thunder flash and rumble. Wind whistles

through the rigging; the small sails still set flap on the

wind. Rain pours down on the decks, the waves pounding the

ships. A work crew on the Whydah’s main deck tugs on a line

to further shorten sail.

On the Marianne, Palsgrave stands on the rain washed

main deck, watching a work crew pull a line to tighten the

already double reefed mainsail. A wind gust catches the


sail. It begins to unfurl, tearing the line free from the

work crew. The sail swells full, and with a snap like cannon

fire, it tears away from the yard, catches in the rigging,

then shrouds, then the wind carries it away into the

darkened storm, the broken lines from the missing sail

whipping around in the wind.

Later, the storm ended, the sky partly cloudy, the two

ships rest gently on the water, their sails furled or

dangling, the main sail of the Marianne still gone. There’s

general chatter as work crews scurry about repairing storm

damage.

* * *

Storm damage repaired on the Whydah, Sam recommends a

celebration. The crew decide to put on a play - “The Royal

Pirate.” The play commences as a small group of pirates

remain asleep below decks, sleeping off a drunk. In the

middle of the play, the sleeping pirates awaken. Hearing

shouts above, they scramble up a ladder in time to see a

fellow pirate on the verge of being hung.

Not knowing it’s a play being staged by their

shipmates, the newly awakened pirates break open a gun

cabinet below deck, and rush those above, creating a mêlée

in which others are wounded and a fellow pirate killed. The


fight is finally stopped. Sam orders the attacking pirates

to be placed in chains below deck. The murdered pirate is

buried at sea. Sam swears it’s the last time a play will

ever be performed on his ship.

* * *

Three ships at anchor, their sails struck, the Marianne

tethered to a small sloop captained by Simon Beere who’s

been brought aboard the Whydah. Sam likes Beere, asks Beere

to join him. Beere defiantly and haughtily declines,

denouncing Sam and his profession at the same time.

An enraged Sam then chastises Beere: “Damn my blood!

I’m sorry they won’t let you have your ship...we’ll sink

her! And damn you, Captain Beere, you’re a sneaking puppy

and so are all who’ll submit to be governed by laws that

rich men have made for their own security! The cowards

haven’t the courage otherwise to defend what they get by

their knavery! Damn all of ye! Damn the crafty rascals and

you who serve them - all of you a pack of hen-hearted

numbskulls! They call us cutthroats and villains! The only

difference is they rob the poor under the cover of law! We

plunder the rich under the protection of our own courage!”

Still angered, Sam has his gun crew sink Beere’s ship,

then orders Beere and his crew to Pals ship. Sam doesn’t


want Beere aboard the Whydah.

* * *

Dark clouds gather on the northern horizon. The Whydah

and Marianne are at anchor, their sails trimmed. Another

gathering storm. The crew are becoming alarmed, thinking

they may be cursed.

Later that evening, the storm rages, lightning and

thunder roaring around them, waves crashing against the

ships. Sails are furled, lines secured. Then…

The lines and shrouds of the Whydah’s mizzen mast whip

in the wind. There’s a sudden loud crack and the upper part

of the mizzen mast crashes to the deck.

Below deck hanging lanterns swing, water leaks through

cracks, pours through the grating of some hatch covers.

There’s another load crack. The main mast, at a slight

angle, the deck above buckled, has been broken loose from

its wooden braces.

Later, the storm is over, the clouds clearing. The

Whydah’s anchored, the crew busy themselves with repairs.

The storm separated the two ships. There’s no sign of the

Marianne. Soon, the Whydah, alone, continues north, the

mizzen mast gone. The Lookout spots a sail and the Whydah

overtakes a small two masted ship, the Ann. The Ann lays-to,


her mainsail lines loosened, wind dropping from the sail.

With the Ann taken captive, the two ships continue north.

* * *

Meanwhile, on the Marianne, Palsgrave spots two ships

on the horizon. His crew begin to ready for an attack, and

then realize they are pursuing the Whydah and another ship.

The Marianne rejoins the Whydah, making their small fleet

three ships.

Pals decides he wants to stop at Block Island off the

New England coast to visit his sister and mother. Sam

concurs, deciding to continue north with the intention that

he and Pals will meet up again in two weeks at Green Island

in Canada. So, approaching Block Island, Pals takes the

Marianne and departs the fleet while the Whydah and Ann

continue on.

* * *

The Ann and Whydah, cannons run out, flank the small

three masted Mary Anne, an Irish ‘pink’ (not to be confused

with Pals ship the Marianne) loaded with wine. Sam assigns

seven of his pirates to run the Mary Anne with three of her

original crew. They continue north, the Mary Anne lagging

behind, the pirates taunting and teasing the three crewmen.

And all the while the Mary Anne drifts farther and farther


apart from the Whydah and Ann.

Then, on the northern horizon, they see fog drifting

across the water. Unknown to the pirates, the largest

nor’easter in decades is building and the three ships are

sailing straight toward it. And as night begins to fall, the

winds pick up as the storm clouds rapidly gather.

As the Whydah and Ann lose sight of the Mary Anne,

another ship is spotted - the Fisher. Sam ‘persuades’ the

Fisher’s captain to guide Sam’s ships safely through the

storm and to port on Cape Cod. But the Fisher’s captain has

other ideas - run the Whydah and her crew toward the rocks

along the shoreline.

* * *

On the Mary Anne, the storm approaches; lightning and

thunder roll across the sea. A light rain falls. The seven

pirates, drunk, and three crew are on deck, watching.

Now night, the rain a major squall, the seas rough,

tossing the Mary Anne between growing waves. The wind

whistles through the lines and shrouds, straining the sails.

Lightning and thunder are heavier, more frequent. The rain

pours heavily while waves wash over the deck. The crew and

pirates grasp anything for support as the storm rips sails,

lines, and masts free. Finally, terrified and soaked


through, they hurry below deck, thinking they are doomed.

Below deck the pirates and prisoners huddle together in

a corner of the hold under a rocking lantern. Cold, wet, and

scared, they shiver as the raging storm echoes through the

hold. Empty wine bottles and trash roll across the floor as

the wind and waves roll the ship back and forth. The timbers

of the ship groan under the battering gale. A pirate

instructs a Mary Anne crewman to read from his Book of

Common Prayer.

* * *

The Whydah and Ann sail on, lead by the Fisher. The

howling gale tosses the ships, dangling lines snap in the

wind, waves crash against the hulls.

* * *

A huge wave hits the Mary Anne, rattling the timbers.

The pirates, grasping their wine bottles, and crew, cry out.

The lantern flame flickers, then steadies. Death is coming.

* * *

Ten miles north, the storm rages around the three ships

as the Fisher turns inshore, luring the Whydah toward the

rocks. The Whydah is battered by the storm, huge waves

breaking across her bow. Howling wind blows the torrential

rain horizontal, cutting through the shrouds and lines.


Pirates race around the ship to make her steady, trim sails,

secure lines.

Sam realizes it’s a losing cause; he’s been tricked. He

can hear the nearby breakers. He orders the anchors dropped

to save the ship from crashing into the rocks. The Whydah

lurches as the anchors take hold and the ship begins to

swing around, stern shoreward, dragging the anchors with it.

It does no good. The anchor cables are cut to free the ship.

A huge wave crashes into the ship, pitching it on its

side. Cannons break loose, crashing across the deck. Below,

more cannons break loose, crashing through bulwarks and

bulkheads, and into the sea. Pirates are swept overboard,

sliding across the decks, washed from the lines and shrouds

- Sam among them.

Masts snap and are washed away, shredded sails flap in

the wind, dangling lines snap like gunfire. All across the

rolling ship desperate pirates attempt to jump and swim only

to be swept under. Finally, the ship completes its roll,

capsized, keel up, like a turtle shell being battered by the

waves.

And in the surf just offshore, there are only two

survivors of the 146 crew and prisoners who were aboard the

Whydah.


* * *

The morning sun rises on Nauset Beach. Ironically, the

Whydah has crashed ashore within sight of Maria’s tar paper

shack. Ship debris is everywhere, including many bodies of

pirates and prisoners. Off shore rests the over turned hull

of the Whydah. Scavenging villagers wander the beach,

whispering among themselves that the witch on the cliffs

above caused the wreck. And Maria stands above, staring

down, knowing the truth of what she sees.

* * *

Ten miles south, the storm is ended, the sky partly

cloudy, a brisk breeze blowing. The pirates and three crew

of the Mary Anne stagger on deck, realize they’ve survived

the nor-easter, their ship grounded on a sandbar. Delighted,

they sit in the sand in the shade of the hull, drinking

what’s left of the wine until two locals come by, offering

help. They accept, but are eventually caught by authorities

as the identity of the pirates are revealed.

* * *

Sam, dazed, pained, battered and broken like his ship,

staggers across the marshy landscape between brush and

bushes, making his way to Wellfleet. He makes it to the tree

cemetery where he had first met Maria. Then, with effort, he


lies down and curls up by the tree trunk. He falls asleep

and sometime during the night he dies. He’s later found by

locals.

* * *

Six days later - Block Island, Palsgrave and his crew

ready the Marianne to sail when a surviving crewmen from the

Whydah suddenly shows up. Battered and beaten, the crewman

relates the tale. Saddened at the loss of his friend and

fellow shipmates, Palsgrave releases Beere and his men, and

then Pals and his crew sail, turning their ship south toward

Nassau.

THE END

Black Sam Spec Script Treatment version 2

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