Treasure Island
adapted for the stage by
Todd Morse
1.
CHARACTERS
JANE HAWKINS
young ship hand, she received the treasure map
and brought it to Trewlaney
LIZA MARIGOLD
young ship hand, easily frightened, but brave when
she needs to be
LADY TREWLANEY
wealthy and rash, Trewlaney funds the expedition
and allows Silver to crew ship
LONG JOHN SILVER
Runs a local pub, retakes 'old post' as galley cook
(was actually quartermaster for notorious
Captain Flint)
CAPTAIN SMOLLETT
Heroic female captain who impresses with her
wit and agility
BEN GUNN
crazy castaway left on Treasure Island by Flint
BILLY BONES
a paranoid and cowardly pirate
PEW
a blind, yet over-confident pirate
MERRY
self-conscious, hot-tempered pirate
MORGAN
ruthless and dangerous pirate who often argues
with Silver
2.
SETTING
The entire play takes place on Treasure Island with preceding moments
remembered by characters on the island.
TIME
Mid-eighteenth century
ACT I
Scene 1 In the thick of the Jungle
(NARRATOR WALKS ONSTAGE)
NARRATOR
Welcome to Treasure Island! Before you step ashore, we'll be needin'
assistance with a few things. First, if anyone should say, Captain Flint,
you're to say, "DOOM! DOOM! DOOM!" Let's practice. Captain Flint!
AUDIENCE
DOOM! DOOM! DOOM!
NARRATOR
Well done. If anyone slaps their forehead, you say, "Silly Ben". Let's try it.
(slap forehead)
AUDIENCE
Silly Ben!
NARRATOR
Excellent. Welcome ashore. Oh! One more thing, if anyone asks you a
question, it's best to be honest. If anyone asks you for help, it's best to
lend a hand. Good luck!
(SMOLLETT AND TREWLANEY ENTER QUICKLY.)
TREWLANEY
I dare say, the rogues are close!
3.
SMOLLETT
(spotting the audience)
It seems they have found us.
SMOLLETT (CONT’D)
(pointing to an adult in the front rows)
I don't think they're with Silver. You! Friend or foe?
(IF 'FRIEND'...)
SMOLLETT (CONT’D)
At last! Some good fortune!
(IF 'FOE'...)
SMOLLETT (CONT’D)
Our bad luck continues.
(IF NOTHING...)
SMOLLETT (CONT’D)
(sarcastically)
Good guy or bad guy?
(IF THE ADULT STILL SAYS NOTHING, PROCEED. IF
THE ADULT SAYS 'GOOD GUY' OR 'BAD GUY' USE
'FRIEND/FOE' REACTIONS.)
TREWLANEY
Help us in this instance, we beg you.
SMOLLETT
We have been betrayed by pirates. They were part of the crew of Captain
Flint.
AUDIENCE
DOOM, DOOM, DOOM!
(Actors look around in fear.)
SMOLLETT
They are not far behind.
TREWLANEY
(to all audience)
Will you help send them down the wrong path?
(IF 'YES'...)
4.
SMOLLETT & TREWLANEY
Bully!
(IF 'NO'...)
SMOLLETT & TREWLANEY (CONT’D)
PLEASE!!!!?
(IF THERE ARE YES'S AND NO'S)
TREWLANEY
They are divided.
(IF YES'S WITH ONE OR TWO NO'S)
TREWLANEY (CONT’D)
I see a pirate or two have snuck in among you.
NARRATOR
When the pirates come, wait for them to look into the shadows where
you are. When peering in, like this...
(shows audience)
start screeching like monkeys. Let me hear you screech!
(GET AUDIENCE TO SCREECH)
SMOLLETT
Monkeys, man? They should roar like lions ! Let me hear you roar!
(GET AUDIENCE TO ROAR)
TREWLANEY
You're both wrong. They should... flutter like butterflies!
(Smollett stares at her.)
Butterflies are frightening.
Flap like butterflies.
NARRATOR
(to audience, dryly)
(AUDIENCE FLAPS AND TREWLANEY SCREAMS IN
TERROR.)
MORGAN
(off-stage)
This way! I hear that money-bagger screaming!
SMOLLETT
They come!
5.
(to audience)
When the time is right, do whichever you think best! Monkey, lion or...
butterfly.
(SMOLLETT AND TREWLANEY HIDE. ENTER BILLY
BONES, PEW, MERRY, AND MORGAN.)
PEW
We've got 'em now! They can't be far.
BONES
(nervous)
Ripping through the jungle isn't the wisest thing. There could be lions or
crazy monkeys or... rabid butterflies.
MERRY
Batten your hatch.
PEW
Silver will be in his glory when we drag Captain Smollett back.
BONES
Trewlaney and the good doctor too.
MORGAN
Trewlaney’s money will be second best to digging up the treasure of
Captain Flint.
AUDIENCE
DOOM, DOOM, DOOM!
(Actors look around.)
MORGAN
We'll find that old money-bags.
TREWLANEY
Money-bags?!
(standing)
(SMOLLETT DRAGS HER DOWN AS THE PIRATES
SPIN AROUND. THE PIRATES SLOWLY TURN AWAY
AGAIN.)
Nor am I old!
TREWLANEY (CONT’D)
(standing again)
6.
BONES
I'm hearing voices! And, look! Out there! It's the ghost of Captain Flint!
AUDIENCE
DOOM, DOOM, DOOM!
PEW
I don't see anything.
BONES
Of course you don't! You're blind!
MORGAN
It ain't no ghost.
MERRY
(looking out into the audience)
I do see movement in the shadows.
PEW
Now! Monkey, lion, or butterfly!
(THEY PEER INTO THE DARKNESS AROUND THE
AUDIENCE.)
(The audience will most likely
create all three animals - if not,
only call out the ones seen and
heard)
MERRY
Lions!
PEW
Mad monkeys!
BONES
Rabid butterflies!
(THEY START TO RUN.)
MORGAN
No, fools! It's a ruse!
MERRY, PEW & BONES
It's a moose?! AHHHH!!!
7.
MORGAN
Ruse! Not moose!
(calling after)
(MERRY, PEW AND BONES FLEE WITH MORGAN
CHASING AFTER. SMOLLETT,AND TREWLANEY
EMERGE.)
SMOLLETT
Thank you, friends. Let's find the children and get off this curséd island.
TREWLANEY
Do you two think I'm old?
(EXIT)
SCENE NOTES:
1.
TIME:
IF THE AUDIENCES FAILS TO MAKE ANIMALS NOISES AT CORRECT
SMOLLETT
Now! Lions and monkeys!
TREWLANEY
Or butterflies!
IF THEY STILL MAKE NO NOISE (WHICH IS UNLIKELY) THEN THE
PIRATES WILL MOVE OFF, PRETENDING NOT TO SEE ANYTHING.
SMOLLETT
Not a sound? You're all scalliwags!
THEN PROCEED WITH FINAL SMOLLETT & TREWLANEY LINES.
2.
BE PREPARED TO CALL OUT "NOT YET!" IF AUDIENCE START MAKING
NOISES EARLY. IF ONE OR TWO PEOPLE MAKE EARLY NOISE FOR FUN OR BY
MISTAKE, ALL SHOULD IGNORE CALLS EXCEPT BONES AND PEW. BONES
SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE HE HEARS THEM AND BE AFRAID. PEW SHOULD
SIMPLY BE INTRIGUED OR PUZZLED.
(Jane and Liza sneak onstage.)
8.
JANE HAWKINS
Have you seen Long John Silver?
LIZA MARIGOLD
He's tracking us down
JANE HAWKINS
(holds up map)
He wants this. Flint’s treasure map.
LIZA MARIGOLD
And he'll do anything to get it.
JANE HAWKINS
(To audience)
If you see him, if you think you see him, yell, "Long John Silver!"
LIZA MARIGOLD
Let's practice. On the count of three yell, "Long John Silver!"
JANE HAWKINS
Ready? 3-2-1!
(AUDIENCE SHOUTS 'LONG JOHN SILVER')
JANE HAWKINS (CONT’D)
Perfect! Just like that.
(Enter BEN GUNN behind children looking quite pirate
like.)
(AUDIENCE SHOUTS 'LONG JOHN SILVER')
LIZA MARIGOLD
Yes, great. Shout that if you see him.
(IF AUDIENCE REPEATS NAME...)
LIZA MARIGOLD (CONT’D)
Yes, thank you.
(MOST LIKELY YOUNGER VIEWERS WILL START
SHOUTING "HE'S BEHIND YOU!)
JANE HAWKINS
He's behind us?
(The girls turn and scream)
9.
(IF NO ONE REPEATS THE NAME, THE GIRLS
SHOULD SENSE SOMEONE BEHIND THEM TURN
AND CONTINUE SCENE)
LIZA MARIGOLD
This is Ben Gunn, a castaway left by Flint when he buried his treasure.
JANE HAWKINS
He hates pirates now and has been helping us.
JANE HAWKINS (CONT’D)
Just...
(whispers to audience)
He's missing a couple coconuts.
BEN GUNN
I ain't missing no coconuts. All I got to eat is coconuts. I hate coconuts!
(he spots some coconuts)
Ooo, look! Coconuts! I love coconuts!
(Kids slap foreheads.)
AUDIENCE
Silly Ben!
BEN GUNN
I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts
Here they are all standing in a row
Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head
You give em a twist, a flick of the wrist
That’s how ben gunn is fed
I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts
if they were jewels then I'd be rich
Wilson is my friend, He says again and again:
He sings: See the mine, the gold that's in the ditch?
All
SINGING See the mine, the gold that's in the ditch.
SINGING See the mine, the gold that's in the ditch.
SINGING See the mine, the gold that's in the ditch.
Singing see the mine, the gold that's in the ditch.
I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts (they’re lovely)
10.
Here they are all standing in a row (one, two, three, four)
Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head (and bigger)
You give em a twist, a flick of the wrist
That’s how ben gunn is fed
I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts (la da da da da)
if they were jewels then I'd be rich (La da da da da)
Wilson is my friend, He says again and again:
He sings: See the mine, the gold that's in the ditch? (Everybody now!)
SINGING See the mine, the gold that's in the ditch.
SINGING See the mine, the gold that's in the ditch.
SINGING See the mine, the gold that's in the ditch.
SINGING Singing see the mine, the gold that's in the ditch.
(Enter Long John Silver)
(AUDIENCE MAY SHOUT 'LONG JOHN SILVER')
(Silver comes forward, clapping.)
SILVER
Ben Gunn... mate.... I haven't seen you since... well, since Flint left you
here. How's life?
BEN GUNN
My best friend is a coconut
SILVER
That's swell. Kids, you ran out on me. That's not what friends do.
BEN GUNN
Especially when they're coconuts. Ain't got no legs.
(Kids slap foreheads.)
AUDIENCE
Silly Ben.
JANE HAWKINS
We're not your friend. Not anymore.
SILVER
You betray me then?
11.
LIZA MARIGOLD
It was you who betrayed Captain Smollett! She trusted you.
SILVER
Trust is a womanly weakness. You'd best get over it.
JANE HAWKINS
You told Lady Trewlaney you'd handle hiring the crew.
SILVER
And so I did.
LIZA MARIGOLD
You hired pirates!
(Enter Morgan, Merry, Pew and Bones, Ben hides.)
MORGAN
And what's wrong with pirates?
BONES
Everyone wants to be a pirate.
MERRY
They just don't admit it.
SILVER
(to audience)
When I raise my hands, everyone sing: "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for
me."
(SILVER RAISES HANDS AND ALL PIRATES SING
WITH THE AUDIENCE: "YO HO, YO HO, A PIRATE'S
LIFE FOR ME.)
PEW
They seem to be ready and willing pirates to me.
JANE HAWKINS
No one who really understands pirates would ever want to be one.
PEW
And I suppose you really understand pirates.
JANE AND LIZA
12.
YOU PILLAGE, YOU PLUNDER, YOU RIFLE AND LOOT.
SILVER
THAT'S US, ME HEARTIES.
PIRATES
YO HO!
JANE AND LIZA
YOU KIDNAP AND RAVAGE AND DON'T GIVE A HOOT.
PIRATES
THAT'S US, ME HEARTIES.
SILVER
YO HO!
SILVER & PIRATES
(raise hands)
YO HO, YO HO, A PIRATE'S LIFE FOR ME.
JANE AND LIZA
YOU EXTORT AND PILFER. YOU FILCH AND SACK.
SILVER
BIG WORDS, ME HEARTIES. YO HO!
JANE AND LIZA
MARAUD AND EMBEZZLE AND EVEN HIGHJACK.
hi, jack!
hi, fellas.
PIRATES
(OUT TO AUDIENCE)
'JACK'
(FROM AUDIENCE)
13.
PIRATES
EVEN HE'S ME HEARTY, YO HO!
SILVER & PIRATES
(RAISE HANDS)
YO HO, YO HO, A PIRATE'S LIFE FOR ME.
WE KINDLE AND CHAR AND IN FLAME IGNITE.
THAT'S US, ME HEARTIES. YO HO!
WE BURN UP THE CITY, WE'RE REALLY A FRIGHT;
WE ARE, ME HEARTIES. YO HO!
(SMOLLETT AND TREWLANEY HAVE ENTERED
AND ARE HIDING. THEY SING TO THE
AUDIENCE.)
SMOLLETT & TREWLANEY
THEY'RE RASCALS AND SCOUNDRELS,
THEY'RE VILLAINS AND KNAVES AND LIARS, THESE PIRATES, OH, HO!
THEY'RE DEVILS AND BLACK SHEEP. THEY'RE REALLY BAD EGGS.
IT'S DIRE WITH PIRATES, YOU KNOW!
SILVER & PIRATES
(raise hands)
YO HO, YO HO, A PIRATE'S LIFE FOR ME.
JANE AND LIZA
YOU'RE BEGGARS AND BLIGHTERS AND NE'ER DO-WELL CADS.
THAT'S YOU, YOU PIRATES, IT'S SO!
SILVER & PIRATES
AYE, BUT WE'RE LOVED BY OUR MOMMIES AND DADS
14.
ALTHOUGH WE'RE PIRATES, YO HO!
(raise hands)
YO HO, YO HO, A PIRATE'S LIFE FOR ME.
YO HO, YO HO, A PIRATE'S LIFE FOR ME!
SILVER
Now, as for you 'loyal' young'uns...
(Silver and the Pirates stalk forward. Suddenly,
Smollett and Trewlaney break their cover. They race
across stage, grabbing the children's hands and race
away.)
SMOLLETT
This way, my young friends!
(Trewlaney halts, thrusting her finger at pirates
and audience)
TREWLANEY
In the name of her majesty, Queen Victoria, I hereby charge you all with
piracy. Surrender yourselves so that you may be properly punished.
Run, Trewlaney!
SMOLLETT
(grabbing her hand)
TREWLANEY
(being pulled away)
You can all expect a severe slap on the wrist from me! It's really going to
sting.
(Silver and the pirates are alone on stage. Silver
turns expectantly at crew.)
What?
MERRY
(uncomfortable pause)
SILVER
After them!
15.
(The pirates race away, stumbling over one another.
Silver shakes his head and follows after.)
SCENE 3
(BEACH. ON THE BEACH IS A WOODEN TABLE AND
CHAIRS WHICH THE ACTORS TAKE NO NOTICE OF
NOR OF PEW WHO SITS THERE.)
(Enter Smollett, Trewlaney, Jane, Liza and Ben.)
BEN GUNN
Oh, no! I've left behind my friend!
SMOLLETT
What friend?
BEN GUNN
Me best friend!
LIZA MARIGOLD
His coconut.
BEN GUNN
Wilson! Wilson!!
I'm sorry, Wilson!
(crying)
JANE HAWKINS
I wish that map had never come to me.
SMOLLETT
Explain again how it first arrived...
(The children cross to the table and chairs.)
JANE HAWKINS
We had finished cleaning up the tavern after closing.
SMOLLETT
Don't leave out a single detail.
LIZA MARIGOLD
Three more rats in the traps! This one lost his head.
16.
TREWLANEY
Perhaps some can be passed over.
PEW
That's good meat. Have the cook grill it up.
LIZA MARIGOLD
Sir, it's past closing time. You have to get on.
PEW
You would cast me out in the cold?
LIZA MARIGOLD
It's summer.
PEW
It's England.
LIZA MARIGOLD
Another long night...
JANE HAWKINS
Late to bed, early to rise, work, work, work...
Oh I wish I lived in the life of a pirate
Yes it seems a delightful life to me
Out in the salty air
A thousand miles from here
From the putrid doldrums of our poverty
Yes I wish I lived the life of a pirate
For then I should be joyful and free
Yes when one lives the life of a pirate
He shares in Neptune's own nobility
Now they say that old Black Beard
Was mainly to be feared
But I say he's misunderstood
If he stole from gentry
Who take to have plenty
Then I say the man did some good
Now old Captain Flint
May have had him a stint
Of deception and violence it's true
But you can take heart
17.
Because, for the most part,
Punishment fell on his crew.
Wait, friends, consider,
If we were pirates true
Sailing from our homes
Under skull and bones,
Would we not be one of those crews?
Oh I wish I was in the Royal Navy
Yes it seems a delightful life to me
Out in the salty air
A thousand miles from here
From the putrid doldrums of our poverty
Oh, I wish I was in the Royal Navy
For then I should be joyful and free
Yes when one signs with the Royal Navy
He shares in Neptune's own nobility
(Enter Long John Silver)
SILVER
Well sung, lads. I meself was a proud member of the Royal Navy.
LIZA MARIGOLD
Were you a private? A lieutenant? A captain?
SILVER
I was a cook.
LIZA MARIGOLD
Adventurous.
SILVER
Take a look at this, lads. Got this at an old pawn shop today.
JANE HAWKINS
It's a treasure map.
SILVER
Look at the name on the back.
JANE HAWKINS
Captain Flint?
18.
AUDIENCE
Doom, Doom, Doom!
LIZA MARIGOLD
That can't be a good sign.
SILVER
Come, lass, you don't think it real, do ya? Who would give up a map from
(glances at audience)
that particular captain?
PEW
Only a madman! If it were real it would lead you to more treasure than
you could spend.
SILVER
Take it. Go on. It's a fake.
(The children bring the map across the stage to
SMOLLETT.)
SMOLLETT
Then it was all a set up. I made the mistake of letting you outfit the crew.
TREWLANEY
I said I knew how to do it.
LIZA MARIGOLD
When you were struggling we suggested our tavern's cook.
SMOLLETT
Long John Silver, first mate of Flint's crew. If only we had known at the
time.
(ENTER LONG JOHN SILVER, PEW, BONES, MERRY
AND MORGAN. THEY ARE INA DIFFERENT PART OF
THE JUNGLE AND DO NOT SEE SMOLLETT AND THE
REST.)
MORGAN
(sarcastically)
Well? What now, Silver?
LONG JOHN SILVER
Watch your tone, Morgan.
19.
PEW
Why should he? You've gone and bungled what was a sure thing.
BONES
He's behind you, mate. You're talkin' in the wrong direction.
PEW
You befriended them kids to get the map to ol' money bags, but then
what?
MORGAN
He’ll tell you what!
PEW
He started to believe in the friendship! He started to like the little urchins.
BONES
They are very likeable, always polite, very nice.
MERRY
Until they betrayed us.
PEW
And now what do you propose we do?
TREWLANEY
(to his crew)
There's only one thing to do. We make a try for the ship.
LONG JOHN SILVER
I propose we find the treasure, gentlemen.
PEW
Without the map?
SMOLLETT
Jane, why don't you give it to me for safe keeping?
(Jane feels for the map, but cannot locate it.)
LONG JOHN SILVER
Did you fellas mean this?
PEW
He's holdin' the map, ain't he?
20.
MERRY
How'd you get it?
LIZA MARIGOLD
How'd he get it?
LONG JOHN & JANE HAWKINS
When we were arguing.
SCENE 4
(TREWLANEY, SMOLLETT, BEN, JANE AND LIZA
TRUDGE ALONG TRAIL. JANE STOPS. LIZA BUMP S
INTO HER. THE OTHERS MOVE OFF, NOT
NOTICING.)
LIZA MARIGOLD
What's the matter?
JANE HAWKINS
(picking up coin)
It's a piece of eight. Maybe Lady Trewlaney dropped it.
(Enter SILVER with PIRATES. They tell the audience
to 'shhh' and sneak forward.)
(IF THE AUDIENCE KEEPS QUIET, THEY SNEAK UP
AND GRAB KIDS.
IF AUDIENCE CRIES OUT, THE PIRATES HIT THE
DECK AND KIDS LOOK AROUND BEFUDDLED. THIS
IS DONE UNTIL PIRATES ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO
GRAB THEM
21.
(IF AUDIENCE WON'T LET THEM GET CLOSE, THEY
SHOULD RUSH FORWARD AND GRAB KIDS ON
SILVER'S COMMAND)
JANE HAWKINS (CONT’D)
We don't have the map!
LIZA MARIGOLD
We thought you had it!
MORGAN
And so we do, little lady.
JANE HAWKINS
Then why come for us?
PEW
What good is a treasure, if one ain't got no way to spend it?
BONES
That's not a good treasure at all.
MERRY
You see, your friends are probably making off to sail without us.
PEW
We'd rather not be left as ol' Ben was. Doesn't seem to have done him
much good.
BONES
But your friends won't sail off without you, will they?
SILVER
Not only that, lads, I'm willing to bet they'd maroon themselves, if it
meant the safety of these young ones.
BONES
We'd have the ship all to ourselves!
SILVER
Just us and the young ladies here. Come, you don't think ol' Long John
would leave you to rot here.
PEW
We might even give you a cut of the treasure.
22.
MORGAN
Not bloody likely.
JANE HAWKINS
And what if we don't agree to go with you?
SILVER
You don't want to be doin' that.
You cannot trick up a trickster,
The trickster will always convince ya
You're one step ahead.
But you will find you are one step behind
And that kind of deception
Can get a man bled.
You thought we'd go,
We would not see
Your plot unfold:
To leave us alone
With no way to get home.
Your dear old captain will never imagine
Of leaving you here while they all sail away.
So we will make you insurance
Against Captain Smollett's ideas and make sure they stay.
With patience we're thrifty and justice moves swiftly
We are the lawyers and judge all in one
We like to get the trial over with quickly
Because it's the sentence that's really the fun!
Now that we've seen all the evicence
Piper: Wait! I object!
Silver: Overruled!
Liza: We object!
Silver: Stow it!
Piper & Liza: Dang!
Pirates:
We find you totally innocent
Which is the worst crime of all
So you're going to hang!
23.
(Exit Long John, Pirates, and Kids. Re-enter
Trewlaney, Smollett, and Ben.)
TREWLANEY
Where could they have got to?
SMOLLETT
Look here. A piece of eight... and boot tracks.
SMOLLETT (CONT’D)
Here's the kids' tracks. They were dragged away.
TREWLANEY
If we knew where the treasure was, we could get them back.
BEN GUNN
(nonchalantly)
I know where the treasure is.
SMOLLETT & TREWLANEY
WHAT?!
BEN GUNN
What?
TREWLANEY
You know where the treasure is!
BEN GUNN
No I don't!
TREWLANEY
You just said you did.
BEN GUNN
I did not.
SMOLLETT
(thinks)
'I wish I knew where the treasure is.'
BEN GUNN
I know where the treasure is.
SMOLLETT
There you go! Good, man! Where is it, Ben?
24.
BEN GUNN
Where's what?
SMOLLETT
(thinks)
'There's no one who can lead us to the treasure'.
BEN GUNN
Follow me!
(Ben turns on his heels and leads the way. The
others slap their foreheads and follow.)
AUDIENCE
Silly Ben.
(CONT’D)
SCENE 5
(SILVER AND THE PIRATES FOLLOW THE MAP,
DRAGGING THE KIDS ALONG. ON STAGE IS A
MOUND OF DIRT AND A SHOVEL.)
BONES
Maybe we should just let the treasure be.
MERRY
Oh, lay off, Billy.
BONES
But his ghost may have returned here.
PEW
Whose ghost?
BONES
Ol' Captain Flint...
AUDIENCE
Doom! Doom! Doom!
BONES
There! Did you hear that?
25.
MORGAN
It's just thunder.
MERRY
Probably a storm approaching.
VOICE
Dead men tell no tales...!
BONES
And that?
SILVER
Keep on! You got us all hearing things!
MORGAN
(spotting shovel and hole)
What treachery is this?
MERRY
(grabbing Liza)
Did your friends do this? Did ol' Money Bags dig it up?
JANE HAWKINS
They couldn't have! We had the map until Silver got it!
PEW
Silver had it to himself, eh?
BONES
How long did you have the map before you came to find us?
SILVER
You lads came to find me.
PEW
Precisely. You weren't gonna find us at all.
MERRY
Thought you could have the treasure to yourself, eh?
SILVER
Run, girls. This is about to get ugly.
JANE HAWKINS
Run?
26.
SILVER
I ain't got nothin' against ya. I just needed to get here.
(The Pirates rush at Silver who fight with them
retreating backwards off-stage. The kids,
meanwhile, have raced to one side of the stage.
(Trewlaney, Smollett, and Ben rush over to them.)
SMOLLETT
Girls! We're here!
JANE HAWKINS
The pirates turned against Silver!
LIZA MARIGOLD
We also heard the ghost of Captain Flint!
AUDIENCE
Doom! Doom! Doom!
JANE HAWKINS
It called out to them! It said they'd be dead men!
TREWLANEY
That wasn't a ghost, friends. It was clever Ben Gunn here.
JANE HAWKINS
(repeating)
Dead men tell no tales...
BEN GUNN
I never said that. I said, "Ol' Ben sells no snails".
(awkward pause)
Wanna buy a snail?
JANE HAWKINS
Captain Smollett, there's no treasure. Someone dug it up!
SMOLLETT
Ben Gunn again. He found it while alone on the island.
BEN GUNN
Actually, Wilson found it. Oh, I miss poor Wilson.
27.
(TREWLANEY sees random coconut and hands it to
Ben.)
BEN GUNN (CONT’D)
Wilson!
(SMOLLETT slaps forehead.)
AUDIENCE
Silly Ben.
(There is a fatal cry off-stage, followed by a second.
The group rushes across stage. Silver stumbles on.
Smollett pauses then continues off-stage. He reenters shaking his head to signify there are no more
pirates. Silver slumps to sitting position.)
SILVER
An ol' sea captain knows when his time has come.
JANE HAWKINS
Thank you for letting us run.
SILVER
As I said, I ain't never had nothin' against ya. I just needed to get here.
SMOLLETT
And look what it got you.
TREWLANEY
Rather than winning a treasure, you lost God's greatest gift.
SILVER
Aye, thank you for pointing out the irony. It's just what I needed. Ben, I'm
sorry we left ya here. Say you forgive me.
BEN GUNN
I forgive you.
(Ben bounces coconut off Silver's head.)
BEN GUNN (CONT’D)
Wilson doesn't.
SILVER
Thank you.
28.
LIZA MARIGOLD
We forgive you, Captain Silver.
SILVER
Thank you, girls. You'd have made fine pirates.
LIZA MARIGOLD
(smiling kindly)
No... we wouldn't have.
JANE HAWKINS
But maybe, had things been different, you would have been a great
commander in the Royal Navy.
SILVER
Aye, that be true! I'd have been known as Honest John too... Ooo, I feel
I'm goin' out with the tide, mates.
(Silver slumps then lays flat. All stand about.
Smollett takes map.)
SMOLLETT
Let's let him lie in strove to reach.
(They carefully pull Silver behind dirt pile. All stand
about again.)
LIZA MARIGOLD
Let's go.
(They move off S.L.)
JANE HAWKINS
This isn't the way to the ship.
TREWLANEY
It is the way to the treasure.
SMOLLETT
Ben hid it in a cave near the top of the island.
TREWLANEY
We're all very rich.
LIZA
With no pirates trying to take it.
29.
(They exit. Pause.)
SILVER
And that is precisely the information I was waitin' for.
(He stands up behind the dirt pile, dusting himself
off. He smiles to audience.)
SILVER (CONT’D)
Yo, ho, yo, ho, a pirate's life for me.
(Exits after others.)