Script To Screen: “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”
This is an unusual Script To Screen entry. The screenplay is an early draft of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl [screenplay by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio, screen story by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio and Stuart Beattie and Jay Wolpert] with an ending that is significantly different than the movie.
EXT. PORT ROYAL - FORT CHARLES - DAYClose on: Will's face, stoic, staring forward. He stands
straight and unmoving. Around him are members of the Royal
Navy, standing before a group of witnesses from town.It is the courtyard on top of Fort Charles. A trial is underway
-- with Will as the defendant.NORRINGTON
... and though I do say so with
regret, the law is clear. The
penalty for piracy is death by
hanging.In the crowd, Elizabeth squeezes the hand of her father, Swann.
She lets go as Swann stands.SWANN
By your leave, I wish to speak on
behalf of the boy.
(a glance at Elizabeth)
It is clear that these deeds were
performed out of a sincere desire
to do good, at great personal risk.
It seems to me, that in rare
occasion where the right course is
committing an act of piracy, then
an act of piracy is the right
course!
(cheers of approval)
So in my capacity as Governor, I
intend to grant a pardon to --GILLETTE
Sir!All eyes turn. Gillette stands at the top of a stairway.GILLETTE (CONT'D)
Jack and his crew have escaped!
(gasps from the crowd)
There was no damage to the cell ...
they must have been set free.Will and Elizabeth exchange looks. You? Not me, you? No, not me
either! Swann notices something on the parapet, points --SWANN
The Black Pearl!People rush to the parapet. Sure enough, below in the bay are
the distinctive black sails of the Pearl. The ship cuts through
the waters very close to the point ---- where the gallows of the pirates are. Suddenly Jack appears,
on the point; he swings off the one empty gallows, across and
down onto the ship's rigging as it passes.GILLETTE
Sir! Shall I break out the
cannons?NORRINGTON
I don't think that will be
necessary.Norrington raises his hand ... twirls a key on his finger.NORRINGTON (CONT'D)
A day's head start. That's all he
gets.Will, Elizabeth and Swann look out toward the ocean --EXT. BLACK PEARL - STERN DECK - DAYJack monkeys down the rigging. AnaMaria is at the wheel.ANAMARIA
Captain Sparrow -- the Black Pearl
is yours!Jack runs a hand lovingly along the rail, then takes the wheel.
It feels good -- right -- in his hands. He enjoys it, and then
shifts to 'Captain' mode.JACK
AnaMaria, trim the mainsail!ANAMARIA
Aye, aye, sir!JACK
Mr. Gibbs, organize a cleaning
detail -- you and Cotton. I want
every inch of the Pearl spic-and-
span and ship-shape!Gibbs actually stomps the deck, executes a salute.Jack stands at the wheel: he's got his ship back, and all is
right with the world. He begins to unconsciously hum: "Yo, ho,
yo, ho, a pirate's life for me ..."He realizes what he's doing and smiles, the orchestra takes
over as the Black Pearl sails for uncharted waters ... and we
FADE UP large words in script:THE ENDFADE OUT and CREDITS ROLL.
And here are the scenes in the movie:
A lot of changes, so let’s ask the basic question: Why? How are the scenes in the movie an improvement over the script?
One of the single best things you can do to learn the craft of screenwriting is to read the script while watching the movie. After all a screenplay is a blueprint to make a movie and it’s that magic of what happens between printed page and final print that can inform how you approach writing scenes. That is the purpose of Script to Screen, a series on GITS where we analyze a memorable movie scene and the script pages that inspired it.
[Originally posted March 28, 2012]