Pirates of Tortuga Page #6

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to desert the ladies

and give business my full attention.

I'll assemble the Colonial Council here

tomorrow afternoon.

I hope they're as ready

for the fight as you are, sir.

Your map should put

some fire under them.

[Meg Whispers]

Bart.!

Bart, you're an angel.

And I like

the name of Darcy.

It was my mother's

maiden name.

Then you won't

give me away, will you?

I haven't yet decided,

Lady Margaret.

I didn't steal it.

I only took it

so you'd come after me.

Yet you used it to deceive

a gentleman.

You don't really intend

to marry Sir Thomas?

Why not?

No one else has asked me.

- He's a fine man, Meg, and...

- Meg is gone forever.

Don't you understand it?

I've changed!

Have you?

Lay off!

Lay off, you swab!

No, you shouldn't.

Now ask yourself

if it's Sir Thomas you love.

Hey!

You forgot your necklace.

It's my belief, gentlemen,

that this map...

will be the means

to destroy Morgan's stronghold.

But I'd be less than honest

if I didn't point out that

the cost may be high in men...

and in money.

One question, Sir Thomas,

before we risk either.

How was Captain Paxton here

able to map Tortuga...

when none of us had been able

to get within sight of it?

Can it be that he's secretly

on good terms with Morgan?

I remind you, sir, Captain Paxton

is a guest under my roof.

What better place for a Morgan spy

to hide than under your roof?

We know nothing of this man,

nor where he got his rich cargo.

It seems to me that it's quite possible

he leads us into a trap.

Your point would be well taken,

Mr. Randolph, with one exception:

I hear the captain has already

served the Crown as a privateer.

I say scratch a privateer

and you'll find a pirate.

Piracy's a serious charge, Mr. Randolph.

Are you prepared to back it up?

Piracy is no private matter,

Randolph.

If Captain Paxton is charged

with piracy, I will bring him to trial.

If he or any other man is found guilty,

I will hang him.

Are you prepared

to make a formal charge?

No. Not at this time.

[Major Fielding]

It would seem to me that...

if we are

to trust Captain Paxton...

we must also trust his plan.

And since there is no one here

with a better one to offer...

I suggest we back it with force.

What force? The militia can't be used

without breaking the treaty with Spain.

True enough,

but volunteers can go.

Give me 300 men

and the ships that carry them...

and I promise you

I'll smash Morgan's stronghold!

I'll get you volunteers

to fight Morgan.

And Mr. Randolph

will supply the ships...

by requisition

from the King's Crown...

ready to sail for Tortuga

tomorrow morning at sunrise.

I still don't like

the sound of it...

but I'll do my part,

gentlemen.

Lady Margaret...

you're keeping

Sir Thomas waiting.

Thank you, Phoebe.

- Montbars!

- Here!

Quickly, shove off!

[Percy]

Bart.!

- We're all ready here.

- Signal all the ships of the flotilla.

We sail at once.

- [People Whooping]

- [Clapping]

- [Drumming Continues]

- [Whooping, Clapping Continue]

[Chuckling]

[Chuckling Continues]

[Shouts]

[Meg Whooping]

- [Whooping Continues]

- [Whooping Intensifies]

Wait!

[Chuckling, Shouts]

I'll remain here.

[Grunting]

[Man]

Aw, come on.!

- Lady Margaret!

- [Man Shouts]

- [Drumming Stops]

- [Whooping Stops]

Lady Margaret...

what's the meaning

of this?

I knew your little game of playing lady

would start to wear thin.

Don't ladies dance

in Jamaica?

Not barefoot.

Your masquerade

fooled Sir Thomas, but not me.

I suppose you are going to tell him

the minute he docks.

That may not be necessary.

The flotilla won't return

for at least three weeks...

which should give you plenty of time

to pack your things and be gone.

Ha! You love him yourself.

That's how the wind blows,

don't it?

If I thought you were

really in love with Thomas...

I wouldn't raise a finger

to stop the marriage.

But I saw how you looked

at the long-legged sea captain.

Margaret, I know

where your heart lies.

You'll be happier

if you follow it.

Well, I was getting fedup

playing the lady anyway.

Don't worry.

I know when the keg's run dry.

He's all yours, milady.

Margaret...

if there's ever

anything you need...

Reggie, you'll take command

of the flotilla.

Stay just out of range

of the harbor cannon.

The rest of the force

will land here...

on the windward side

of the island.

Open fire at dawn

to cover the landing.

Right.

Broadsides at dawn.

- What about this wall?

Won't they sight us?

- I don't think so.

Anyway, the trees on that part

of the island are thick enough

to cover the landing party...

until you're practically

under the wall.

And might I ask what you will be doing

all this time, Captain?

Blowing up

the powder magazine.

The explosion will be

your signal to attack.

Won't you need

any men with you?

My chances will be

better alone.

We'll swing the cannons

tonight, Bonnet.

Aye, aye, sir.

Swing them tonight.

Tiny, make sure that all the crew

are in the first wave, will you?

- Gammel, see that the cutlass men

stay with me.

- Aye, aye, sir.

And my volunteers

will cover the landing party.

Just as I told you,

Sir Henry.

Your self-styled king of the ocean

has brought all his friends.

Let them land.

Come on! We're not here

by invitation, you know!

Come on!

Come on! Hurry up!

[Man]

Hurry up, before Bart signals.

Step lively, men. Got to

reach the wall before Bart signals.

Come on. Even it up.

- Bonnet!

- Aye, aye, sir.

Time to wake them up.

Give them a broadside.

- Starboard guns, fire!

- [Cannons Firing]

[Cannons Continue]

Well. So far

they've not seen us.

There's no sign

of a man on the wall.

I don't like waiting

like sitting ducks.

Sir Thomas, every moment we sit here

lessons our chance of a surprise attack.

I say move now!

A friend of yours just arrived,

Captain Morgan.

Only he used the back door.

All alone and heading for the arsenal.

- How do you want him, alive or dead?

- [Chuckling]

Mr. Randolph here

owes him several favors, I'm thinking.

Take him alive.

He deserves special attention.

Very good, Sir Henry.

You two, come on.

Very well.

Signal the attack.

[Cannons Firing]

Randolph.

So this is

Paxton's surprise.

The traitor has led us

square into Morgan's trap.

I wished to God I could

say you were wrong.

Randolph!

[Cannons Continue]

Aha!

The king of the ocean shouldn't leave

through a window like a common thief.

That fuse!

We've lost a lot of men, sir.

If that magazine

doesn't blow up, we're finished.

I shouldn't trust that captain of yours.

I need some volunteers!

- Command me, sir.

- Good. Get through if you can.

[Grunts]

[Men Shouting]

Fool! Could've had

a fortune in your grasp!

- They're still alive.

- Yes, side by side.

And that's the way

they will hang.

[Chuckling]

Two gallows.

Not very economical...

seeing they'll

only be using one.

I'll grant you

one virtue, Morgan.

You have no fear

of the rope.

I'll never end

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