BUCCANEER BAY
Treasure Island at The Mirage
Las Vegas, NV

BUCCANEER BAY: THE STORY

LAS VEGAS -- Sounds of a bustling pirate village fill the air in Buccaneer Bay. Waves crash against the shore, seagulls chatter and pirates call to one another as they work together on their ship, the Hispaniola, to unload the booty they have plundered from around the world.

Suddenly, the HMS Britannia steals around the corner at Skull Point and British naval officers challenge the pirates to abort their mission and surrender. The pirates refuse and proudly stand guard to defend their ship and their home, Buccaneer Bay Village.

"In the name of His Royal Britannic Majesty, King of England, and all that he surveys, I order you brigands to lay down your arms and receive a Marine boarding party," the British captain warns.

The pirates scramble to their battle posts. They hold everything British in great contempt, especially the rigidly precise seamanship of those challenging them, and would like nothing more than to devastate the British in battle.

"The only thing we'll receive from you is your stores, valuables and whatever rum ye might have on board, you son of a footman's goat," the pirate captain responds.

The British fire a warning blow which hits just short of the Hispaniola's bow, causing an enormous splash of water. The pirate, answering in kind, fire their cannon and punch a hole in the Britannia's topsail.

Neither side shows signs of surrender and it becomes apparent that this will be a battle to the finish.

A British cannon hits the Hispaniola broadside and dark smoke begins to pour forth from the deck.

The British captain arrogantly gives one last warning, "Unless you scum want a real taste of His Majesty's artillery, I suggest you lower your colors and prepare to be boarded."

In unison the pirate crew replies, "Never! To Hades with their rotten hearts." And the battle continues.

The British fire four cannons in quick succession. Two hit the water, one hits the Hispaniola's deck and the last cannon hits the main mast, breaking it and causing it, and the pirate in the crow's nest, to fall down horizontally.

The Hispaniola appears to be on her last legs. Only the pirate captain remains on the ship and he refuses to surrender. The British captain fires one last cannon which hits the pirates' powder magazine, where explosives are stored. Three immense explosions send fire and smoke billowing forth.

The pirate captain, in a desperate final move, grabs a rope hanging from the main mast swings out toward the bow. Grabbing a fuse smoldering from the on-deck explosions, he successfully makes one last ditch effort to light the final cannon.

The cannon hits the Britannia at the waterline, travels into the ship's gunpowder storage area, igniting the ammunition and causing a huge explosion which devastates this once majestic ship.

Sinking into the waters, only the masts of the Britannia can be seen. The British sailors abandon ship but the captain remains. Standing proudly, with the traditional dignity of a British sea commander, he goes down with his ship.

Moments later, before everyone's eyes, the production begins to reset itself for the next show, when the excitement begins anew.