ERIC HEIM

The Pirate Queens

Serie : 8x45 minutes

SACD# 000660044

Treatment by Eric HEIM

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Introduction

They were young, wild and on the run. They had left a bloody trail throughout the Caribbean and beyond, wreaking havoc from the coast of Cuba all the way to the trading routes near the Carolinas. They were in love – a rare love of the deepest complicity. A love that they thought would last forever, but now as His Majesty’s Man O’ War, The Avenger is about to overcome their beleaguered ship they know they are doomed. Amidst the smell of cannon smoke and the sound of musket fire Anne Bonny and Mary Read make vows of eternal love before preparing their last desperate battle...

 

Anne

“I don’t care who sired the little brat Mary! She’ll be a fine baby and I’ll love it forever! As long as we’re together they won’t ever be able to take this ship! We’ll beat these men who strut like cocks and think they’re the gift of God on this earth. They don’t know just how fierce two mothers can be protecting their young. I say let them come, let the King’s whole bloody Royale Navy come! With you at my side we’ll win dear, my dearest, cherished friend, we’ll break through and make it to Madagascar I promise you, then we can finally be free, free forever...”

 

But who were Anne Bonny and Mary Read? What incredible circumstances brought these two strong willed young women together? After numerous reckless adventures and escapades was their fantastic saga really about to come to a bloody end?

 

The Pirate Queens retraces the tale of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two independent, free spirited women who somehow found each other while disguised as men aboard John “Calico Jack” Rackham’s infamous pirate ship the Vanity. Two Pirate women who took destiny by the balls, shirking convention by expressing their freedom and dominance in a time when women were considered at best to be treated as docile servants.

 

Based on true historical accounts, all the while reading between the lines of legend, our story of these two strong women unfolds in the early 1700’s, what has been called the Golden Age of Piracy.

 

 

Synopsis

Anne, after being caught by Her Majesty’s Man O’ War The Avenger, awaits a death sentence along with the rest of her crew. She recounts her wild tales through a series of flash backs to the Pirate Chronicler Captain Johnson.

 

Born of an illegitimate union between her father, William Cormac, and his maid, Mary Brennan, Anne’s little family fled from the scandal in their native home of Cork, Ireland to reestablish themselves in the States. Anne’s father reopened his lawyer trade in the new land and quickly gained his fortune back. He then established himself as a plantation owner in the Carolinas, where a busy port was haven to the commerce of Pirates. Anne, a fiery redhead, whose natural vigor and temperament allowed her to “out ride, out shoot and out fight any of the neighbouring boys” is obsessed by the idea of escaping across the sea and leaving the growing confines of a post Victorian puritan society where the most she might hope out of life is a servile place beside a domineering husband.

 

Anne’s savage temperament keeps her constantly in trouble. As her eighteenth year approaches her father desperately tries to find a match for her in the more genteel of Carolinas’ society, an Officer, a Young Politician, a Lawyer... but Anne snubs them all.

 

She takes to carousing the docks and tough taverns in Carolina’s Port. There she meets a young sailor, James Bonny, whose murky past as a member aboard Captain Vane’s Pirate ship The Fancy, excites Anne rather than disturbs her. James who has heard of Anne and her wealthy background, woos her, asking her to marry him. He tells Anne about his project to build a turtle farm in the Bahamas. Anne agrees. She happily takes Bonny home to meet her father.

 

Anne’s father however is furious with Anne’s choice, showing only disdain and mistrust towards James Bonny. A terrible fight ensues. Anne’s father threatens to disinherit her. In a fit of rage Anne attacks her father and burns down the plantation.

 

The two flee to the docks. Bonny soon finds Captain Vane’s ship The Fancy, which is about to set sail for New Providence in the Bahamas. Captain Vane, terribly short on manpower, agrees to take the couple, but only on the condition that Anne stay hidden at all times in the First Mate’s quarters. The First Mate, John Rackham, also known as “Calico Jack”, because of the gaudy colors he always wears, is irritated by this intrusion into his privacy. However, he finds himself intrigued by Anne’s strong charisma and good looks. A flare of electricity seems to pass between the two as Rackham leads the couple to his small cabin in the aft deck.

 

Anne and Bonny are married at sea by Captain Vane. That night Bonny makes love to Anne but Anne is so loud the Captain fears his crew will grow curious. He sends Calico Jack to tell the couple to settle down. Rackham opens the door and watches in bemused silence as the two make love. Anne sees him, but instead of getting upset she gives him a wry seductive smile and winks at him. Rackham simply smiles back putting his finger to his mouth to let her know she should try to be a little quieter.

 

Once on the open sea Anne feels too claustrophobic to stay inside the tiny cabin. She disguises herself as a “cabin boy” and takes to going up on deck, all the while flirting outwardly with a receptive Rackham each chance she gets. The Fancy soon raids a ship. Instead of going below deck Anne takes part in the fight. Guns blaze, swords clang, an instant of blood and chaos. Anne is elated. This is her element.

 

After the victory as the crew burns the other ship sending its survivors away in a long boat, Bonny angrily confronts Anne in their tiny cabin. Bonny is afraid Captain Vane will discover that Anne has been disguising herself as a boy and even fighting alongside the rest of the crew. Bonny is frightened what the Captain might do to them. Anne says she could care less, she is a better fighter than most of the other men, himself included. This causes a terrible row. Rackham breaks in and manages to stop Anne before she kills Bonny. Bonny is left, nevertheless, with a horrible scar disfiguring his once handsome features.

 

But Bonny loves Anne and soon the two are reconciled. He talks about his turtle farm and how they are going to become rich. Anne acts enthused but later, finding herself alone for the first time with Rackham, says that she desperately wants to leave her husband. Rackham tells her she should be with him. They kiss passionately.

 

Rackham tells her he is plotting to take over Vane’s ship. Already most of the crew sees him as the true captain, Vane just isn’t aggressive enough to take the big hauls. He vows to come back for Anne when the boat is his.

 

Upon landing in New Providence, a Pirate Haven, Anne shoots the ear off a drunken pirate who won’t stop bothering her. She quickly establishes a reputation for herself. Bonny, who is trying to buy land and start his turtle farming business, decides to distance himself from Anne's wild antics, leaving her alone in a room they’ve rented above a rowdy tavern.

 

Anne is soon seduced by Captain Jennings and his Mistress Meg. When Bonny comes back cheerful with success Anne throws him out. Bonny fearing for his life under Anne’s fierce threats flees back to the turtle farm. He vows however to get her back, even if he has to kill her to do it.

 

Anne makes friends with Pierre Bouspet, otherwise known as “Pierre the Pansy Pirate”. Pierre owns a silk shop that fronts as a brothel. He tells her that James Bonny is becoming more influential on the island and things might turn against her. Pierre advises Anne to get some “real male protection”. Anne follows this advice seducing the islands’ wealthiest man, Chidley Bayard.

 

Once again Anne finds herself hobnobbing with the “haut société” she so despises, enchanting a plethora of aristocrats, rich plantation owners and merchant marines. Although she hates degrading herself before these powerful men, she does manage to get Bonny off her back.

 

Bayard’s jealous wife confronts Anne saying she’ll kill her if she doesn’t get out of their lives. Anne simply laughs seeing an easy way to end her relationship with Chidley Bayard; for good news has reached her. Rackham has taken over Vane’s ship, being voted captain “fair and square”, leaving Vane and three of his crew in a rowboat somewhere off the coast of Florida. Anne leaves a chagrinned Chidley.

 

Anne and Pierre prepare their own first “privateering” operation. Pierre, through his connections, has learned that a French merchant ship laden with tons of rich silk is heading for New Providence. Under Anne’s directions the two get together a small crew. They cover themselves with turtle blood, stolen from Bonny’s farm, and set forth at midnight for the merchant ship anchored in the harbor.

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Arriving near the ship under the light of the moon Anne is seen carrying an ax and howling satanically while standing over one of Pierre’s mutilated mannequins. They have little trouble taking over the ship and all its goods. Their exploits, although secret, quickly race all over the island.

 

Rackham returns. Now Anne is free to be with him. Rackham tells Anne that he never stopped thinking of her all those long months, that her fire and strength gave him courage to stand up to Vane when he took over his ship. Anne tells Rackham that she only wants to be free and by his side if it’s possible. He answers with a kiss.

They make love savagely.

 

Rackham christens the boat The Vanity. He, Anne and Pierre soon make several successful “privateering” exploits. They become so successful that the British Governor of Jamaica requisitions the help of Captain Woodes Rogers, a reformed pirate to bring them to justice.

 

In the meantime, Anne has become pregnant. Her fears of being a mother and losing her freedom at sea leads her to give her newborn to Mistress Meg who has finally settled down Captain Jennings. She tells Rackham that the baby died at birth. They fight and she throws him out. Rackham goes to live on his ship, but lacking manpower and badly needed funds to repair the boat, he can’t cast off.

 

Anne depressed, finds herself wandering the docks. It is here that she spies Mark Read an English sailor, “and one of the most beautiful graceful men I’ve ever seen!”, as she later tells Pierre. Anne returns again and again to Mark’s ship, and even tries to engage him in conversation. Mark is obviously embarrassed but acts with utmost decorum and politeness towards Anne amidst the catcalls of the other sailors.

 

The day Mark’s ship leaves, Anne is there to see him off. He awkwardly tells her goodbye and kisses her on the cheek. She grabs him and kisses him fully on the mouth. Mark, a little dazed, breaks loose and seems lost in Anne’s piercing gaze. He gently brushes her hair out of her eyes then hurries to his ship. The boat leaves.

 

Anne goes back to Chidley who has sent away his wife. He is only too happy to see her return. Chidley invites the Governor to dinner. Anne learns that the Governor has sent for Captain Woodes Rogers to capture Rackham. The Governor then alludes to rumors he’s heard linking Anne to the pirate band. Chidley and Anne plead her innocence. Things become very embarrassing for Chidley. The Governor leaves in disgust. Chidley throws Anne out telling her to never come back. Watching her ride off on one of his horses he weeps bitterly.

 

Anne flees towards the docks finding Rackham drunk on his boat. Captain Rodgers has set up a blockade in the harbor, he has no chance of escaping. He resigns himself to being captured. He thinks he can bargain for a pardon, “perhaps take to the straight and narrow, start over.” But Anne persuades Rackham to leave never the less, she’s not only wanted for acts of piracy but also for burning down her father’s plantation and attempted patricide. Pierre arrives in a very flamboyant mood; he’s made a silk scarf and matching silk trousers for Anne and their daring escape!

 

Anne persuades Rackham and his small crew to abandon their ship The Vanity in the dead of night, taking over a smaller quicker sloop anchored next to the blockade. Early the next morning as Captain Rodgers receives the Governor and they prepare to board Rackham’s ship, they see Anne and the small band sailing swiftly by in the smaller sloop. Anne, stripped to the waist, waves her scarf and blows the Captain and Governor kisses. By the time the commander gets his ship turned around in the harbor the swift little boat is far out to sea with a friendly wind pushing it over the horizon. There is a celebration on board but Rackham stays brooding wondering if he missed a chance of “going honest”, instead of following his “pirate queen”.

 

Rackham becomes even more concerned, after capturing a larger boat and eluding Captain Roger’s pursuit, Anne’s position on board changes. While Rackham is officially captain, no order is carried out without Anne’s consent. The crew’s alliance becomes divided, but while there is action and raids this division remains dormant.

 

They are quite successful. They continue attacking ships of all nationalities, going all the way up the coast to New York, but through death, abandonment, and injury their small crew is severely diminished. Anne concocts several plans to recruit more sailors: a cascade of images shows dock hands being kidnapped, drunks being beat over the head, or still others are coerced at gun point to board the ship. During this “recruitment” they come across a drunken Poet who practically begs to join the crew, although very handsome and somewhat elegant Anne doubts he’ll be of much use. She’s right.

 

While boarding a ship in the midst of blazing cannon fire Anne’s heart beats even faster than usual. She recognizes the English Frigate they are attacking. She even hesitates in combat when she sees the “beautiful” sailor Mark Read fiercely engaged with her own men. Events seem to take on a slow ethereal quality as Mark makes his way past his two opponents and heads straight for Anne, knocking her on her back. She hears Mark say “I would run you through but you’re too damned pretty, sailor boy...”.  Anne comes out of her revelry to find that Mark and the rest of his crew have been captured. Their eyes lock for a brief intense moment.

 

The frigate’s crew is given a choice, join with Rackham or walk the plank. The crew joins, although they still make the Captain, and his first mate walk the plank.

 

Anne becomes more infatuated with the mysterious Mark Read. Rackham becomes jealous of his new crew member, but in coming attacks, Mark Read proves himself again and again, as a capable ship hand and ferocious fighter.

 

Anne tries to engage Mark in conversation, but he avoids her. Mark eventually confides to Anne that he has fallen in love with the Poet that Anne’s crew had previously kidnapped. The Poet is a young effeminate man with dreamy blue eyes. He has found Mark’s interest in him very disconcerting, so Mark has decided to admire him from afar. Anne is chagrinned. Rackham hearing that Mark actually has a taste for men calms himself down. With this incident he suddenly finds new strength against Anne and begins convincing the crew that they ought to turn themselves in and plea for the Governor’s Amnesty.

 

Meanwhile Anne stirs up trouble by insinuating to a huge ruffian that the Poet has been insulting him behind his back. The thug picks a fight with the Poet who in his rightful turn insults him right back. Rackham separates the two and a duel is arranged for the following day. Anne is certain that her diabolical plan will work. With the Poet out of the way she will be able to seduce Mark, even if he does prefer boys! Mark who is afraid for the Poet’s life picks a fight with the colossus. Everyone is surprised, but another duel is arranged, only Mark insists it be done an hour before the duel between the huge pirate and the Poet takes place.

 

A small boat full of men, including Anne and Pierre are rowed to shore for the duel. A terrible fight ensues leading the two out of the ring of onlookers and into the jungle. At a crucial moment Mark / Mary cunningly reveals her breast. The thug is so surprised he drops his guard. Mary runs him through. Only Pierre has seen the truth that “Mark” is actually a woman. He decides to keep this secret to himself.

 

Back at the clearing, “Mark” looks towards the Poet expecting some form of gratitude only to find the Poet angry that “his own vaulted glory has been shunted on this black day!” Mary wanders off into the jungle. Anne follows her discreetly, while the rest of the pirates bury the dead brute.

 

Anne finds Mary kneeling by a tree weeping in silence. Anne takes Mary into her arms. She holds her tightly to her breast. Before long the two are kissing passionately. Anne tells Mary that she loves her. A love she’s “never felt before. A true love if that’s possible”. Mary tells her that she’s deeply touched but then states blandly that she can’t satisfy her needs. Almost mechanically she opens her shirt revealing her breast. She tells Anne her real name is Mary. Anne is surprised for an instant then laughs until she too starts to weep. Mary hugs her, tries to console her. Anne tells her: “For once in this dreary life I find someone who I could really love, it’s like the first time I understand what it means... I don’t care if you are a man or a woman, I want you, I want you...” The two kiss each other passionately.

 

Mary tells her story: her father, a sailor, was lost at sea while Mary was still a baby. Mary's mother depended on her mother in law's dowry for the survival of the family. When Mary’s older brother, still only a child himself, suddenly took ill and died, her mother fearing they would lose her mother in law’s badly needed income, began disguising Mary as a boy. For years the subterfuge worked, and Mary took a liking to being a boy. “Mark” clearly had more freedom and advantages than Mary would ever have.

 

At thirteen, taking on the moniker of Mark Reed, she left home for a job as a valet for a noble family. Sadly a misunderstanding between her and one of the lady's older daughters causes her at first embarrassment, then later trouble. Still in her teens, she flees to join the British Army in Flanders.

 

Under the dragoon uniform she fights against the French in the war of succession in Spain. She earns a reputation as a hardy fighter and dependable comrade. Between two battles she falls madly in love with a Fellow Soldier.

 

But how could she ever reveal her true nature to this man who had become so close to her? Luck would force her hand, as the soldier spies her washing herself at an isolated pond away from the regiment. Instead of being shocked he is delighted. Soon he marries this unique woman, "so like a brother in arms, but also a right sassy lass in bed!"

 

With the money received from their regiment as a wedding gift, Mary and her husband open a tavern. Mary, having left her masculine identity forever, finds happiness as a woman. But this new idyllic life doesn't last long. Her husband unexpectedly falls ill and dies leaving Mary to crumble under heavy debts.

 

Mary, always pragmatic, resumes her male identity as Mark. She signs on with the British Merchant Marines thinking that she would never fall in love again. "It's a true miracle that I found you".

 

“No” Anne responds, “it’s fate”.

 

Pierre arrives and discreetly tells the two women that they need to get back, the landing party are starting to talk.

 

Back on the Vanity Rackham is told what has happened and how Anne has obviously tried to “console Mark”. He once again becomes jealous of “Mark” and vows to “cut that uppity lad’s throat.” Soon he spies “Mark” entering Anne and his’ cabin. He waits a little, draws his dagger and quietly enters. “Mark”, stripped to the waist, his back to the door is eagerly undressing Anne. Rackham spies on the two much the same way he spied Anne and James Bonny so long ago. Anne sees Rackham and tries to shoo him away so she and Mary can be alone.

 

Rackham loses his temper and charges in ready to gorge Mary’s throat. Mary however is an excellent fighter and easily turns the tables on Rackham who is surprised to see that “Mark” is really a woman. She pins him to the floor, his own dagger at his throat. Anne ever pragmatic tries to calm her down: “Mary, come to your senses dear. You can’t kill Jack, he’s the Captain of the ship! Besides mor’n half the crew are still with him”. Anne, through her sheer charisma manages to keep things somewhat under control.

 

Nevertheless, Mary storms out of the cabin wearing a revealing vest. The crew gathered at the door are stupefied. Someone makes a saucy remark towards Mary’s femininity. She knocks the jester overboard before stomping off. Rackham comes on deck looking wild eyed. He commands all the hands to strip naked to verify “there be no more of the female gender aboard my ship!”. Rackham cast a vote to figure out what they should do about the “disguised one”. Whether she should be marooned on an island or left on board. The crew now naked, raise their hands to protect Mary who has proven herself such a vital crew member.

 

The Poet who has been watching the developments attempts to seduce Mary. But after a passionate kiss she turns him down. She too has found true love.

 

Coming into a small clandestine port to sell their goods they learn that Captain Woodes Rogers is now Governor of Jamaica. He has proclaimed amnesty to all pirates who will turn themselves in. They learn specifically that even Anne will be pardoned for the charges of arson and attempted patricide. A vote is cast and The Vanity sets sail once again for New Providence.

 

Governor Woodes Rogers solemnly decrees the pirate crew pardoned for all acts of piracy. The crew parts. Rackham sells his ship and tries to go into business with Pierre. Anne and Mary become inseparable. Anne once again kicks Rackham out of their room and Mary officially moves in. Rackham, distraught, takes to drinking heavily, playing at cards and losing. He stays with a prostitute. Yet, the three somehow remain friends, “like some bastard family”. Rackham even tries to protect the two women from jeers and rumors by saying that Mary is his cousin and staying with Anne “during their period of domestic troubles”. Anne takes all of Rackham’s efforts for granted, but Mary is genuinely touched.

 

Meanwhile, Chidley Bayard sends messengers telling Anne that it was through his persuasion with Governor Woodes Rogers that she would be cleared of all charges. He has sent his wife away and desperately wants Anne back. Anne refuses. For the first time in her life she feels liberated and happy. She has even calmed down, spending much less time in the taverns and on the docks.

 

Time passes, Anne and Mary pay a visit to see Meg and Anne’s own son. The boy is only two, but already has Anne’s red hair and fiery spirit. Meg and Captain Jennings love the boy dearly. Anne weeps and wonders what a “normal life” might have been like. Mary, ever present and strong consoles her. She tells her that they might yet have a normal life because she’s pregnant. Several emotions play across Anne’s fine features, confusion, then anger before she finally weeps for joy. She hugs her friend passionately then tells her: “we’ll make a fine set of mothers to the little brat”.

 

Flash forward to Mary’s dreary little cell. Anne has been allowed to visit Mary who is close to term but very sick. The unsanitary conditions, a bout of malaria and a high fever have left the once robust woman depleted. Anne begs Mary to tell her who the baby’s father is. Mary tells her it was a one-night stand, a dock hand that Anne wouldn’t know. A brief flashback shows that in fact it was Rackham. Anne grows suspicious.

 

Rackham is in his cell eating his last meal awaiting his execution along with the rest of his crew. Anne, who everyone also thinks is pregnant, has been given a momentary reprieve to her execution along with Mary. Anne is allowed to visit Rackham one last time. They talk about old times and what might have been.

 

Rackham tells Anne that he’s always loved her dearly but never did understand her. Anne tells him it was all about being free and living under no man’s rule. She tells him she thinks he was the one who sired Mary’s child. Rackham gently tells her it was the only way he could send Anne his kisses since she didn’t want him anymore. Anne weeps then says “I loved you Jack, truly, couldn’t you see? And now I hate to see you in this predicament, but if you’d only fought like a man you wouldn’t be dying now like a dog”. She leaves.

 

John “Calico Jack” Rackham and his crew are hung later that day.

 

The Pirate Chronicler Captain Johnson goes to see Anne after the executions. He carries a secret letter from Chidley Bayard. Anne brightens, Chidley is coming and has plans to free her and Mary.

 

Anne relates the rest of their story to Captain Johnson: James Bonny, learning that Anne was pardoned and thinking he might still be able to get at Anne’s father’s money, kidnaps Anne taking her before Governor Woodes Rogers’ court to claim back his wife as his lawful property. Anne is furious and refuses to be treated like “cattle or a hog”.

 

She becomes violent and threatens Governor Woodes Rogers and Bonny with a pistol. Mary persuades Anne not to shoot the Governor but she fires on Bonny anyway. He flees back to his turtle farm. Anne and Mary pursue Bonny in a sloop. After a long chase they burn Bonny’s turtle farm to the ground. Bonny barely escapes with his life. The Governor sends soldiers to capture the two “harpies” for arson and attempted murder.

 

Once again Anne and Mary are on the run. They manage to sneak back to the harbor only to find Rackham drunk and out on the street. Together with Pierre who is always enthusiastic, they decide to steal a boat for one last adventure.

 

With the crew back together, they go on a free for all, attacking ships all along the coast, wreaking bloodshed and chaos in their wake. Governor Woodes Rogers sends out several Men O’ Wars, among them Captain Barnett’s ship The Avenger. He vows “to stop these bloodthirsty pirates once and for all”. Chidley Bayard, still thinking he might somehow protect Anne from being caught, funds his own affair, investing the rest of his dwindling fortune into the galleon, The Royale Queen, and persuading his best friend Captain Hudson to try and capture the pirates before the Governor’s ships might arrive.

 

In a port however, Anne, disguised in one of Pierre’s blond wigs approaches Captain Hudson. She easily convinces him to take her back to his ship The Royale Queen for a moonlight affair. Once onboard Anne puts strong opiates into Hudson’s drink, before long he is snoring soundly. Anne then dons a cabin boy’s disguise and goes about the ship dosing all the canon’s wicks with water. She jumps overboard and swims to her own ship’s secret enclave.

 

The next day the Pirates attack Captain Hudson’s ship. Although Hudson has three times as many men and four times the firepower he is forced to surrender due to his malfunctioning canons. Rackham takes the bigger ship and christens it The Vanity II. The celebration is short lived, however; Pierre has been shot and soon dies. Mary in a rare fit of rage, shoots Captain Hudson. Anne remorsefully sends the rest of Hudson’s crew away in a longboat.

 

Rackham depressed finds solace only by drinking rum and playing cards below deck. Anne and Mary set a course for Madagascar hoping to put some distance between themselves and their many pursuers but the crew is too drunk to be of any real use, having discovered Captain Hudson’s secret store of fine rum, they continue the celebration.

 

They somehow manage to leave the harbor, only to sight a huge Man O’ War on the horizon. Captain Barnett’s ship The Avenger is heading straight for them. It’s obvious to everyone that Barnett’s Man O’ War will quickly overtake them. Anne and Mary try to get the crew roused for the oncoming fight, but the crew think they’ll be able to negotiate a pardon if caught. Anne screams that most of them have been pardoned once and won’t get a second chance. Mary threatens to shoot anyone who goes below deck. Rackham, a tired look of apathy on his face moves to go below deck and finish his card game. He assigns a young sailor to pilot the ship. Mary shoots the bottle of rum Rackham holds. Everyone freezes. Rackham hesitates, tears in his eyes, then sighs, continuing his slow pace descending below deck. Several of the pirates follow him.

 

Now the Man O’ War is within canon range. Anne, Mary and three other pirates begin desperately making a barricade at one end of the ship. They muster all the weapons they can find and huddle together for their last stand. Captain Barnett’s ship The Avenger hails The Vanity: “Ship, will you surrender or fight?”. Anne responds by firing a canon. The two women have a brief respite before they are boarded. Anne touches Mary’s stomach, then tells her:

 

“I don’t care who sired the little brat Mary! She’ll be a fine baby and I’ll love it forever! As long as we’re together they won’t ever be able to take this ship! We’ll beat these men who strut like cocks and think they’re the gift of God on this earth. They don’t know how fierce two mothers can be protecting their young. I say let them come, let the King’s whole bloody Royale Navy come! With you at my side we’ll win, my dearest, cherished friend. We’ll break through and make it to Madagascar I promise you, then we can finally be free, free forever...”

 

Before they are boarded the two friends make a final vow of love in death. Their sweet words are drowned out by canon fire as a roar swells up from the men boarding the ship. Guns crack and all turns to smoke and chaos.

 

Back in Anne’s miserable cell Johnson is so astounded he has stopped writing, tears in his eyes. Anne snuffles but soon returns to her pragmatic self. The reverie is broken up with a visit from Chidley Bayard’s messenger.

 

Anne excitedly visits Mary, but Mary is in very bad shape. Her fever is high and it is clear she is about to die. Anne whispers to Mary that they’ll be saved, that Chidley has arranged for everything. They’ll be leaving on a ship in two days’ time, smuggled out of the prison in secret then on to New Providence. Anne tells her love excitedly that from there they could finally escape to Madagascar “and be together to raise their darling baby.” Mary tries to smile. She weakly squeezes Anne’s hand, “Of course we will my love, of course we will...” Anne is then told by the guard to leave.

 

Johnson sadly comes to see Anne the next day. Mary has died giving birth to a baby girl. Anne listens quietly and for the first time in her life looks beaten. She says nothing as Johnson clumsily says his good-byes. He will soon be leaving the island. Anne slowly pulls from her dress a small pillow she’s been using to fake her own pregnancy.

 

Late the next night Anne hears her cell’s door unlock. Anne pushes the door open to an empty hallway. She wastes no time running to the appointed rendezvous. Anne finds a boat waiting for her with one of Bayard’s servants. They row out to Bayard’s ship in the harbor.

 

Once again Anne is reunited with her ex-lover. Chidley wonders why Mary hasn’t come. Anne tells him that she is dead. Chidley seems disappointed, then he wonders why Anne isn’t pregnant herself. Anne tells Chidley of her “arrangement” with The Avenger’s shipboard doctor which helped saved her skin. Chidley laughs bitterly “Ahh, ever pragmatic my dearest tempête, ever resourceful. It seems men just can’t resist your charms. Come then, let us eat”.

 

Anne wonders suspiciously at Bayard’s strange manners, but soon is eating ravenously at the elaborate table Bayard has set for them. While Anne eats Chidley talks of how he is practically ruined and dishonored. Anne nonplussed, tells him between mouthfuls not to worry, they could go anywhere in his boat, live freely, start over, but Chidley becomes even more nervous and bizarre. He begins telling Anne that it was all her fault, she is the blame of his undoing. Anne now stops eating and realizes that Chidley is pointing a gun at her.

 

“It cost me so much to have you here with me, but now I’m glad, I’m oh so glad to see you again. You see, I love you so very much. It burns me how I love you so, maybe it’s the fire in your heart, it draws men, draws them and burns them... I left my wife for you, I lied to the Governor and put myself at odds with all my merchant friends; I lost my estate funding a venture to see you to safety, and now I’ll be a wanted man... All for you... All for a whore! You never once thought of me! I was only complaisance and protection for you. I meant nothing more, it’s a bitter pill to swallow my love. Meanwhile that, that... creature murdered one of my close associates and molested you. Now I hope she burns in hell! I’m sure of it Anne Bonny, and soon you’ll join her!”

 

From a distance, Chidley Bayard’s boat is moored in the harbor under the moonlight. A crack of gunfire breaks the night’s tranquility.

 

Captain Johnson wakes in the middle of the night to the sound of thunder. He is out of breath and distressed from the terrible nightmare he has had. Rumbling thunder and a flash of lightening illuminate the room. The Captain jumps when he sees a figure standing in the corner.

 

“Where is it?” demands the voice of a demon. Suddenly he finds a knife point at his throat. He points a shaky hand towards a chest. The shadow swiftly moves towards the chest. Soon it’s holding the manuscript. “Money”, the shadow says, “gold if you have it.” Johnson nods towards a drawer where a purse lay. The shadow picks up the purse. Another crack of thunder rings as lightning flashes across the room. A baby begins to cry. Anne, soaking wet, wild eyed, coos gently to the baby wrapped in a blanket in her arms.

 

“Why Anne?”, Johnson manages to stammer, “Why are you like that? What governs your passions?”.

 

Anne laughs suddenly, “Liberty I would suppose... Think of me dear Captain as a man living in the body of a woman. You men look down on us, but me, I like being a woman... I like this body.” Anne saunters to the bed. At knife point Anne kisses the Captain passionately, “I’d normally have to kill you Captain, but you’ve been right square with me. See this baby on my hip, I wanted Mary’s baby more than anything in the world, much more than I ever wanted my own brat if you can believe it. I miss Mary now. I miss my friend so. She was worth a hundred of you sniveling cowards. And now she’s gone... I’m lost Captain. Lost.”

 

Anne turns to leave. “Anne wait, what will you do?”

“I dunno. With this purse and a bit of luck we might make it to Africa or Madagascar. Start over. I have something to live for now”. Anne looks enticingly at the Captain. “Would you like to come with us... Captain?”

 

A hesitation, a devilish laugh, lightning strikes, thunder rolls, then Anne and the baby are gone.