Narrator: Ah, the beginning. A quiet English pub by the sea on a perfect, peacefulmorning. The Admiral Benbow Inn looks out across the Bristol Channel.Jim Hawkins, twelve years old, all but runs it himself. His father’s died. Hismother’s exhausted. Jim dreams of adventure, something to take him outof this dull workaday existence, when an old sailor, with a pigtail, a sabrecut on one cheek and a large mysterious sea-chest, comes looking forlodgings.
Billy Bones: ‘In the heart of the blue Caribbean…’
Jim: Good morning, sir.
Billy Bones: This be a handy cove. Much company, my young mate?
Jim: Company, sir? No. No, sir.
Billy Bones: Come here boy. Closer. D’you see this?
Jim: Yes, sir.
Billy Bones: There’s one of these every month for ye - if ye keep a weather-eye openfor a sea-faring man with one leg. One leg - ya hear me?
Jim: One leg? I’ll keep a look out, sir.
Billy Bones: You call me cap’n. Hmm?
Jim: This way, captain.
Billy Bones: Now lend a hand with this here chest. I’m a plain man. Rum and bacon andeggs is what I want. Mainly rum. ‘Yo ho ho and up she rises, yo ho ho andup she rises…’
Narrator: So the mysterious sailor comes to stay. And Jim keeps his weather-eyeopen. The weeks pass, and then one day another stranger arrives, thinand tall, with his legs intact - but with fingers missing. The stranger’s name:Black Dog. Black Dog tells Jim he has come to see his old ship-mate Billyand talk square. But they’re not friends, it seems…
Black Dog: You’re a dead man walking!
Billy Bones: And you’re a scurvy dog! Away with ye!
Narrator: Black Dog limps away wounded. The Captain struggles to his feet. He hasthe look of a man who has much to fear. Next day another stranger turnsup - a blind beggar. He slips into the inn, and presses a piece of paper intothe captain’s hand.
Billy Bones: Agghh! Tis the Black Spot!
Jim: Captain?
Mother: Jim, Jim! What’s happening?
Narrator: But before Jim can find out more, the beggar’s gone - and the captain hasfallen to the floor, stone cold dead. Turns out the captain - Billy Bones, hisreal name - is on the run from his old pirate crew. They’re after something.Something he’s hidden.
Mother: Oh Jim, we shouldn’t.
Jim: I’ve searched the room, nothing. Whatever they want must be in here.
Mother: Oh my! What a fine suit of clothes.
Jim: He would have smelled better if he’d worn them. He did have money!
Mother: Uh! Didn’t pay us a penny, mind. And me just lost your father.
Jim: Take the lot. Let’s be going!
Mother: I’ll have my dues and not a farthing over. Mmm, is that gold?
Narrator: As his mother tries to extract her rent from the bagful of doubloons,guineas and…
Mother: Pieces of eight! Very nice!
Narrator: …Jim finds an old parchment. But before he can look at it, the piratesattack!
1: Jim Hawkins and The Admiral Benbow
Jim Hawkins lives and works at The Admiral Benbow Inn near Bristol. His life is dull and Jim dreams of adventure. Then one day his life changes…
An old sailor called Billy Bones arrives at The Admiral Benbow asking for lodgings. He asks Jim to keep his eyes open for another sailor with one leg.
Over the next few weeks Billy Bones has two visitors - one of whom hands him 'the black spot'. The effect of this pirate curse is almost immediate and Billy Bones falls to the ground, dead.
Jim and his mother search through Billy Bones' possessions. They find an old map in a chest…but before they have time to examine it closely the pirates attack.
Teacher Notes
This series can be used to increase pupils' familiarity with a broad range of texts and narratives, including myths, legends and traditional stories and to make connections between these and other stories they are familiar with.
It will also support a broad range of writing objectives.
This series is relevant for teaching English at KS2, in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and at First and Second Level in Scotland.
2. The Squire and the treasure map. video
Jim and his mother escape the pirates with the map and seek help from Squire Trelawney.
3. Long John Silver and the Hispaniola. video
Jim arrives in Bristol where he has been told to find Silver and join the ship's crew
4. The voyage and the apple barrel. video
The Hispaniola sets sail and Jim becomes friendly on the voyage with the Long John Silver.
