In the golden era of piracy, 1717, Stede Bonnet, a wealthy landowner, turned his back on his wife and children to embark on a pirate's life as the captain of the mighty Revenge. With a fervent desire to reform the wild culture of piracy and foster growth among his crew, Stede's noble intentions were met with mockery and disdain.
Faced with the threat of a brewing rebellion and a need to prove his worth, Stede chose to attack a nearby massive ship. Yet, when the moment of battle loomed, Stede's courage faltered. He sought counsel from Oluwande, the sole crew member who held him in esteem, and Jim, a mysterious, silent crew member skilled with a knife. Under Jim's guidance, Stede learned the art of stunning an opponent with a swift blow to the back of the head.
The Revenge finally closed in on its target, an English Naval warship whose captain, Nigel Badminton, was a childhood tormentor of Stede's. Nigel demanded a meeting with the pirate captain, forcing Stede's crew to disguise themselves as aristocrats and host Nigel and his officers for a meal. As Stede endured Nigel's mockery while showing him around, the crew's patience with the officers' racist and patronizing behavior snapped, leading to a violent outburst.
Upon hearing the commotion, Nigel drew his sword and attempted to rush into the fray. Stede, using the move Jim had taught him, aimed to stun Nigel but accidentally caused him to fall onto his own sword, resulting in his death. In a moment of desperation, Stede called for the help of Oluwande and Lucius, his personal scribe. Oluwande advised him to confess that he had killed Nigel intentionally, and Stede complied, finally earning a grudging respect from his crew.
With two officers taken hostage and the third gagged and forced to row back to the warship alongside dummies dressed as officers, the Revenge gained the precious time to escape. As the night drew in, the crew discussed their newfound, albeit reluctant, respect for Stede. While they still deemed him an inept captain, they were willing to remain under his command for a little while longer.
As the rest of the crew prepared for bed, Oluwande delivered dinner to Jim, who was revealed to be neither mute nor a man. Stede, lost in melancholy thoughts of his wife and children, reminded himself that the crew was now his new family and read them a bedtime story as they drifted into slumber.
