The story takes place in the 17th century, during the height of piracy in the legendary Caribbean Sea. The charming and witty Jack Sparrow (played by Johnny Depp) is a pirate active in the Caribbean, possessing his own pirate ship, the 'Black Pearl.' For him, the most delightful life is to sail on the 'Black Pearl' across the Caribbean Sea, freely plundering passing ships. Unfortunately, his nemesis, the cunning Captain Barbossa (played by Geoffrey Rush), has stolen his 'Black Pearl.' Barbossa is a nefarious villain who, after robbing Jack's 'Black Pearl,' grows even more reckless and becomes the tyrant of the Caribbean Sea, dominating the waters for a time. One day, Barbossa's crew attacks the town of Port Royal and kidnaps Governor Swann’s daughter, Elizabeth Swann (played by Keira Knightley), along with her childhood friend, the blacksmith apprentice Will Turner (played by Orlando Bloom). They manage to rescue the imprisoned Captain Jack and steal the British Royal Fleet's fastest warship, the 'Intercepter,' to quickly pursue the 'Black Pearl.' During the battle, Will and Jack discover that Barbossa and his pirates are under a curse, transforming into undead skeletons on every moonlit night, and that Elizabeth is the key to breaking the curse.