It's been a while. I had family visit, went on vacation, plus received an awesome new assignment. This Week In Stories should come back soon, and will include VR experiences and an escape room besides the usual books, movies, tv shows. But for now, check out this writing exercise.
This is one I do with a fellow writer based out of NYC. We're both interested in big movies, so we give each other an IP to "pitch our take" on. We can pitch a sequel, prequel, spinoff, tv show, whatever. Just has to be based on that IP. As always, it's intended to not be reflective. Part of these assignments is letting go of our inner judgement and just think/feel/write. A few weeks ago, he gave me Pirates of the Caribbean. Here's my response:
Alright dude, here's my take on Pirates:
Pirates are not as plentiful as they use to be. The ones there are simply don't hold up when compared to the dread lords of old. Davy Jones, Blackbeard, Barbossa. Jack Sparrow. But none of these are to be found.
A young lad, Thomas, obsessed with the legend of pirates, lives with his uncle on a merchant ship. His mother died giving birth to him, and his father died when he was young, so his uncle tells him because he's too young to remember. When their ship is destroyed in a squall, Thomas is the only survivor, stranded on a deserted island. He finds in the wreckage, in his uncle's belongings, a pirate treasure map, with his family name on it. But, lo and behold, the island isn't deserted. By the fortune that continually follows him, Thomas finds himself on the very same island as Jack Sparrow.
Only Jack is going by a different name. He's in hiding. But Thomas, familiar with the legends, recognizes him. Jack, who no longer calls himself Captain (and corrects Thomas when he addresses him as such) tells Thomas he's given up such trifles as pirating. But when he sees the map, he can't help but hear the call of the sea in a quest for treasure. Or at least, that's what he tells Thomas. He agrees to help Thomas undertake the journey to the treasure, so long as he can have half of it. Thomas is in it to discover the history of his family name. Was his father a pirate? Jack mentions he might have heard the name. Who knows? He hears a lot of names.
Jack, telling Thomas he's helping him follow the map, immediately takes Thomas to the pirate lord Anne Bonny. Jack uses Thomas to barter for his debt because...Thomas is Anne's son.
The map belonged to Anne's father (Thomas' grandfather) and she reveals she's been searching for it her whole life. She tells Thomas she never wanted to bring him into this life, and told herself she'd leave it to be with him, but she never did. Together, they agree to follow the map. But what about Jack?
He'll simply take a percentage of the treasure. But none of the quest. That's behind him. Or is it because he's scared to be on the open waters again?
You see, as Anne knows, Jack has drawn the ire of the sea itself, by forsaking the pirates code for his own. He had been judged and ultimately been found wanting. And the sea does not allow such a man to so easily set sail. In fact, the squall that brought down Thomas' ship was because Jack set out upon the sea. And yet, how did Jack outrun it?
Thomas, believes Jack was judged unfairly (remembering the stories of Jack with Will and Elizabeth Turner) and believes him to be a good man. The night before they set out on their quest, Thomas makes a bargain with the sea: his life for Jack's, should Jack prove false on their journey. The sea grants his bargain, and allows Jack safe passage for at least three days, then another judgement shall pass.
They begin the search in earnest. Only to discover there's another interested party. How many pirate lords is Jack in debt to? But this one is not a debt of coin. Jack "commandeered" a ship from Aeolus Thatch, an English privateer, who sold his soul for the ability to control the wind. And the ships that he makes can sail in any winds, or none.
As they go for the treasure, Anne reveals to Thomas, and Jack, that the treasure isn't just gold. There's a special jewel that grants its holder with the ability to gain whatever they desire. Like an super extra dose of luck for that thing you want. If you want love, it will bring you lovers. If you want riches it will bring you riches. If you want power, you will find yourself in greater and greater power.
The chase is on for the treasure, with a mother/son pirate duo, a windcontrolling privateer, and Jack Sparrow.
Jack's arc in this film is centered around his self-reflection. All the characters are designed to evoke various aspects of his personality. Also within this story, though he puts on a carefree front, Jack is unhappy. He doesn't generally like who he is, or who he has become as he's aged. His journey will be one of reflection, ultimately redeeming himself through his death, or at least the "death" of Pirate Captain Jack Sparrow. Perhaps he sails away into the sunset, just as Jack. Or perhaps we learn his actual name. Either way, this story is designed to be Jack's last movie as the central character of the franchise. The franchise needs to be able to stand on it's own without Depp. Not that he couldn't come back on occasion, but it needs to evolve to not necessarily need him.
- DW