Ed's long-lost companion, Calico Jack, unexpectedly appears, drifting past the Revenge and shamelessly inserting himself into their company. His arrival is marked by his rude, boisterous, and uncultured demeanor, which clashes harshly with Stede's sensibilities. His presence awakens a similarly unrefined side in Ed, much to Stede's dismay. Despite his dissatisfaction, Stede strives to maintain his hospitality.
During a visit to Blind Man's Cove, a place where Jack once rescued Ed's life, Jack inquisitively probes into Stede and Ed's relationship, asking if they share a bed. He then divulges that he and Ed had their own fleeting romantic encounters in the past. Stede confronts Ed, expressing his dislike for the person Ed becomes in Jack's shadow.
Meanwhile, Jim returns to the Republic of Pirates with Geraldo as his hostage, hoping to extract information about the Siete Gallos from Spanish Jackie. However, to Jim's astonishment, Jackie herself terminates Geraldo's life, offering to end their rivalry since their accounts are now settled following Jackie's betrayal that left Jim for dead in the hands of the Spanish. Jackie informs Jim that Geraldo was indeed a member of the Siete Gallos, but she remains clueless about the whereabouts of the remaining members, assuming they are probably deceased. She persuades Jim to relinquish their pursuit of vengeance and let go of the past.
That fateful night, Jack, Ed, and the crew indulged in a drunken spree, wielding Jack's whip in mock combat, only to end with a tragic accident—Jack inadvertently slaying Karl, Buttons' cherished seagull companion. Stede, enraged, expelled Jack from the ship, but his heart sank when Ed chose to accompany Jack in his exile. As the night wore on, Ed and Jack slumbered peacefully on the beach, while Stede kept vigil, peering at them through his bedroom window, unable to rest.
The following morning, Ed and Jack embarked on a rowing journey in Jack's dinghy, as Stede informed the crew of Ed's departure. Jack confessed to Ed that he had been dispatched to the Revenge by Izzy, with the mission to lure Stede into a trap and ensure Ed's escape before the English arrived. Enraged by this revelation, Ed abandoned Jack and swam towards the Revenge. As English warships approached, they fired warning shots, one of which struck Jack. Stede rallied the crew for battle, but Ed reached the ship and urged them to hoist a white flag. The English Navy boarded the Revenge, arresting all on board, yet Ed and Stede were too elated by their reunion to be perturbed by the circumstances.
