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A face in a dark room, a woman is being tortured for information, she is not cooperating. She passes out and flashes back to night, castle, Clare Island on the West Coast of Ireland, 11 year old Gráinne (Graw-nya) O’Malley is cutting off her beautiful flowing curly red hair. The daughter of a chieftain, her dream is to sail, but society forbids it, so she takes matters into her own hands. Gráinne disguises herself as a boy on one of her father’s ships. Gráinne sails as a sea-lamb (apprentice sailor) to Cadiz and her eyes are opened to the ways of the world. On the way back, the Irish fleet is attacked by English war ships. Gráinne intervenes to save the day but in doing so, reveals her true identity. A heated discussion takes place to decide her future. Gráinne’s only desire in life is to sail the sea, her Mother wants her to learn housekeeping and marry a powerful chief. Her father owes her a debt for her bravery so he grants her wish to sail but makes it clear she will someday have to marry. 

We return to the jail cell where the adult Grainne resides. She is woken by a kind local servant Billy who works out who she is and that she is pregnant. Bingham shows up again brimming with hatred and delighting at the idea of hanging her. He takes her out to the courtyard of the garrison, strips her down and throws cold water on her.

Grainne is 16, on the bow of a ship now, every inch a sailor. She is promoted to captain, and returns home to congratulations and a surprise banquet but the banquet is not for her promotion, unbekownst to her, it's an engagement party for her and her fiance to be. He is a chief, Dónal O’Flatherty. Under fear of violent reprisal on her family from the rich and powerful Donal, Gráinne agrees to the wedding but on arrival at Dónal's castle it is clear he has lied about his wealth and power. It is within her rights under Irish law (Brehon law) to leave but Gráinne spots an opportunity. She strikes a deal with Dónal, in exchange for giving him an heir she wants control of the clan's fleet of ships. He agrees, thinking her a fool as they have no ships!  Very soon Gráinne O’Malley builds a thriving naval operation. Over time, he grows bitter of her rising power in his clan, but he relies on her income. To spite her, he sends their children away to another clan to be fostered. Soon after though, he is killed by his enemies, the Joyces. Gráinne seizes control of the clan, to the anger of Dónal’s deputy, Simon, and she overruns the Joyces in a swift retaliation, cementing her power. With Donal dead, Gráinne returns home to Clare Island, makes amends with her parents and assumes control of both clans, magnifying her power. She is now a major force on the Western Seas.

While Grainne has been busy building her fleet, Queen Elizabeth of England is growing her empire but is fearful of a Spanish invasion. She needs information on Spanish movements. Gráinne’s reputation reaches her and she lays out a plan to use Gráinne for information on the Spanish at sea in exchange for preferential treatment. At the same time, England sends a cruel and violent governor, Richard Bingham, to replace the docile diplomat currently overseeing the West of Ireland in an effort to finally secure England's control of the region. Bingham quickly learns of Gráinne’s place in the minds of the people and turns his focus on removing her, unaware of the deal she has struck with Elizabeth. 

Back in the jail cell, the local boy, Billy, is sneaking in food to help  Gráinne and the baby. Suddenly she hears a voice at her cell window. It's her current husband Richard, he has a troop ready to try and break her out. She tells him not to but to instead get word to Queen Elizabeth of her captivity. He is shocked to learn of this connection but agrees.

Flashing back again, Simon, in the meantime, has grown bitter and deserts Grainne for the remaining Joyces. Simon and the Joyces collude with Bingham to kill Gráinne. They kill her lover as bait to trap her with an ambush when she inevitably retaliates.  She spots the ambush though and defeats the Joyces and pushes Bingham back too, for now. 

She then realises that she is with child so she agrees to marry another chieftain, Richard Burke, who deeply admires her and is a good strategic match, he is unaware that she is with child. After the wedding, Gráinne takes a  trip to a powerful chief, Desmond, in the South of Ireland to seek advice on handling Bingham and the English. Desmond tells her of the plan being cooked up between Spain and his men to defeat England. He asks her to join the rebellion but she declines, wary of their chances. He turns on her and imprisons her in his castle. He hands her over to Bingham, feigning loyalty to the English. 

Bingham imprisons her while he builds a case to hang her. He treats her cruelly and sets out to kill her family. Richard, gets word to Elizabeth that Gráinne has pivotal details of the Spanish invasion and she sends a letter to release Gráinne but will it get there on time?

Act 3 - contact for more

Bryan 

+447828092818 

bryan@piratequeen.movie