Hal Gates
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| Vital statistics | |
| Title | Quartermaster Captain |
| Gender | Male |
| Status | Deceased (Killed by Flint) |
| Ships | Walrus Ranger |
| Relationships | James Flint (Captain) Eleanor Guthrie (Friend; deceased) Billy Bones (Friend) |
| Appearances | First: I. Last: VIII. |
| Portrayed by | Mark Ryan |
| Gallery | Hal Gates Gallery |
- "There are no legacies in this life are there? No monuments, no history, just the water. It pays us, and then it claims us, swallows us whole."
- ―Gates[src]
Hal Gates was the Walrus’s quartermaster, elected representative of the crew’s interests, and a check on the power of the ship’s captain. Gates was by far the most senior member of the crew; he was initially loyal to Captain Flint to a fault and was very much aware that he was playing a younger man’s game.
Biography[]
Background[]
As a young man he sailed under the command of Henry Avery[1]. Over time, he became the quartermaster of a well-respected crew. When Captain Flint first arrived in Nassau, he persuaded Gates to help be elected captain of Gates' crew. Afterwards, they captured their first significant prize within four months[2].
Cregg, Gates' first bunkmate, had joined the crew of the Walrus with him. At some point, Cregg was killed in battle with a ship called the Pembroke. Gates went to Cregg’s locker and found a letter with instructions to deliver it to his sister in New York, 12 pesos and a broken pocket watch, a bounty far less than the massive stash Cregg had been bragging about. Gates bought a round for the crew with pesos and traded the pocket watch for the services of a prostitute. Gates spent two weeks that winter trying to deliver Cregg’s letter to his sister in New York. Despite his efforts, Gates couldn’t find her. On the way back to Nassau, Gates waited until they were in open water and he could see no land in any direction and threw the letter into the ocean[3].
Captain Benjamin Hornigold implied that Gates had been serving at sea around 50 years[4].
Season One[]
Gates first appeared below the decks of the captured merchantman taking inventory of the goods they had captured. As he walks through the ship, Joshua tries to scare him by jumping out at screaming at him, but Gates just tells him to grow up. The two then arrive at the door of the armory, which is blocked. Behind the blocked door he finds John Silver, standing over a dead body. Silver says that the man couldn't handle the thought of what the pirates would due to him, but he offered to join the crew of the Walrus as a cook.
Atop the deck, he introduces Silver to Billy Bones, the crew's Boatswain, and Billy warns him that Singleton is trying to take on as many new men as possible, pointing him out as he gives a speech to the surviving merchant crew. Gates then goes to the captain's cabin, where he finds Captain Flint and Dufresne, the crew's accountant. He informs them that they found eight more casks of whale oil in the hold. Dufresne adds this to the tally, and informs the two that the crew will earn a paltry eight dollars a man after injury payments. Gates warns that the crew will not be happy, but Flint dismisses this and directs his attention to Parrish's log, which includes a story about a man named Vazquez in Port Royal, proving that this was the ship they were hunting. Gates points out that the schedule they are searching for has been torn out of the book, rendering their victory moot. Flint insists that this means they are on the right path, but Gates reminds him that this is the fourth ship they've captured where the profits barely exceed the expenses of taking her, and that Singleton is turning his crew against him. Dr. Howell then walks in, and informs them that Duffy died of blood loss after Howell amputated his injured leg.
Back on the deck, he confronts Singleton and calls him out for trying to add more members to the crew who would be sympathetic to Singleton, were a vote against Captain Flint to be called. He asks Singleton about the recruits he plans on bringing on while Flint puts a temporary pause to the imminent torture of Parrish to have a private word with him. Gates asks Singleton if he wants the five men he plans on bringing on for their skills or their votes, and Singleton responds by calling Gates a "cunning bastard" for continuing to have the crew believe he represents them while remaining squarely in Flint's pocket. He then asks Gates if he plans on allowing Singleton the same wide berth he affords Flint once he wins the captaincy. Gates smirks and replies that they'll take the cook, but no more.
At that moment, His Majesty's Ship the Scarborough, a Royal Navy man o' war, is spotted sailing towards them. Knowing they are outmatched, the pirates flee for Nassau. En route, Gates brings the news of Singleton's future attempt at a coup to Flint in his cabin. Flint is shocked, reminding Gates that he assured him that he had placed crew members loyal to Flint in vital spots to guard against such an overthrow attempt. Gates says things have gone too far after three months pursuing Parrish with barely any profits to speak of. Flint is aghast at the idea that the crew thinks Singleton would do better at putting money in their pockets, but Gates tells him all the crew cares is that he isn't Flint. Flint then comes up with the idea to see Richard Guthrie and ask him for help recreating the schedule. Gates is pessimistic about this working, but Flint promises that if this fails, he will return to hunting better prizes. Before he leaves, Gates acknowledges that they both know Flint is lying.
In Nassau, Gates tasks Billy with accompanying Flint to visit Richard Guthrie, the wealthy merchant who fences the pirates' cargo. Billy is surprised to be going with Flint, and Gates explains he has business to attend to in town. He orders Billy to keep Flint in line if his temper gets the better of him, as the last crew that ran afoul of Guthrie was unable to buy or sell anything on the island for two months.
While Flint was away, Gates was tasked with keeping the vote tally on Flint's side instead of Singleton's and to do so he needed bribe money. He visited Eleanor Guthrie at her Tavern and persuades her to give him a thousand pieces of eight to help secure Flint's captaincy. He took the money and went to visit Mosiah the de facto leader of the African members of the crew. If Mosiah and his Africans put all their votes behind Flint, Singleton would lose the election. Gates persuaded Mosiah to back Flint. He did so without paying out the bribe money because he says that the bribe money had already been spent buying and securing 16 other votes in favour of Flint. Convincing Mosiah to support Flint later caused Mosiah to lose his life when word reached Charles Vane, who has been secretly supporting Singleton for his own schemes.
Once Flint returns to the ship, Gates tells Flint that it is time for the vote, while Flint points out that he has brought a wounded Guthrie with him. Gates tells Flint that he has to make the crew care about what he has to say, and says he will stall for a few more minutes for Flint's sake while Flint retires to his cabin. When Flint exits, he accuses Singleton of having undermined their effort to capture the treasure ship by stealing the schedule from the logbook. Gates explains that a conviction of theft carries with it the death sentence, as well as does a false accusation of thievery. Gates tells Singleton that he can either have a trial, which Singleton promptly rejects believing it would be rigged, or he can have a duel against his accuser. After a lengthy duel, Flint prevails, beating Singleton to death. He than hands a bloodied page to Billy, who confirms that it's the schedule[5].
After Singleton was branded a thief and killed, Bones confided in Gates, informing him that the "stolen page" they got off Singleton's body was blank. In the captain's cabin, Flint explains to Bones and Gates that he knows that the thief is someone on the ship because someone had been in his room looking at the logbook to try and figure out what they had. They come to the conclusion that the only person who might have known about the page and who wasn't searched after the battle was their new cook: John Silver, who realizes they are onto him and escapes ashore. Instead of chasing around the island looking for him, Gates figured it would be better to follow Frasier, one of the local appraisers, as he would be needed in figuring the value of whatever gems they used instead of coins. This paid off, and they followed him to Max, who was working as a middleman for Silver.
After the deal falls through, Flint, Bones, and Gates arrive and Eleanor is faced with a choice: run away with Max or side with Flint. She decides to go along with Flint and forces Max into telling her the plans about the exchange, which is to take place at the Wrecks at night. Max is devastated by Eleanor's decision and falls to the floor weeping. Silver is captured, but reveals that he has burned the schedule after memorizing it, forcing them to keep him alive. Gates and Billy bring Silver to the Tavern and ask Eleanor to watch him for the night[6].
Gates brings the injured Richard Guthrie to Miranda Barlow's home in the interior to recuperate. Later at the Tavern, Silver transcribes the schedule for Gates, Flint, Billy and Eleanor. Flint remarks that the transcription is incomplete because the Urca has to stop in Florida to take on water but there is no mention of this on the schedule. Silver explains that in the interest of self-preservation, he intentionally left off some of the latter details of the Urca's course. When they threaten to bring Joji in to torture the remaining bits out of him, Silver states that he has an exceptionally low tolerance for pain and he would tell them anything to make it stop, so that wouldn't work. Silver proposes a mutually beneficial arrangement to Flint. He offers to remain with the crew and to forego payment for the schedule in exchange for a share of the prize. Billy objects, and Gates tells him to speak with him outside. Outside on the streets, Bones expresses his reluctance to Gates about Flint accepting Silver as a member of the crew, stating that there are still men on board that don't support Flint's captaincy and that Silver might slip up and tell them the truth that Singleton did not steal the schedule. Bones suggests that they canvass the crew and find out which crew members are still against Flint so that they may be put on different watches than Silver. Gates warns him that he will cause the same suspicion he is trying to ferret out.
Gates approaches Captain Benjamin Hornigold, captain of the Royal Lion, Steward of Fort Nassau and Gates' old friend, and asks him to hand over the captaincy of his ship, the Royal Lion, to Gates, so that Flint could have a consort to attack the Urca de Lima. When Gates arrives, he complains about having to climb a lot of stairs to meet Hornigold in his tower sitting in his old chair. Hornigold asks his crewman, Phillip, if he knows the history of the chair. Hornigold explains that the chair was taken in a prize off the coast of Boston, and once sat in the office of Francis Drake. Hornigold jokes that if Gates touches the chair, Phillip should shoot him.
The two then discuss how it was once a laughable idea for a pirate to try and take a treasure galleon. Hornigold originally thinks that he is to be the consort, but Gates explains that he will captain the ship. and Ben's crew. Every man will get a share and Hornigold will get two personally. Hornigold agreed to the proposition. However, he also voices his worries about his crew's faith in him. Gates asks if he has heard any news from his friends in Edinburgh, and Hornigold replies that the last he heard, James Francis Edward Stuart had fled to France and they were calling him "the Pretender" now. He explains to Gates that he promised his men that if they remained by his side, they would be soldiers fighting in a rebel navy to restore a rightful king. Now, Hornigold believes that they are all realizing the uncomfortable truth that they are thieves awaiting the noose.
Later that day, as Gates sits looking at navigational charts, he is approached by an overly friendly Rackham. Gates is immediately skeptical and calls Rackham out for his obvious desperation, stating that he knows about Rackham and the lost pearls. Rackham then begins to plant a seed of doubt into Gates about Gates' looming captaincy. He questions whether Gates is too old for such a job; what if he oversleeps or hurts his bum knee. This seed of doubt apparently grows because Gates immediately goes to find Flint and proposes that they use Charles Vane and the Ranger crew as their consort.
Later, inside Eleanor's tavern, the meeting is set up between Vane and Flint. As soon as the meeting begins, Flint interjects that he wants to talk about Mosiah. He demands that before they even begin to discuss anything, he wants to hear Vane apologize for Mosiah's murder. Gates immediately jumps in and takes Flint outside where he explains that Flint must behave himself or nothing will get accomplished. They eventually agree to terms with Vane joking about how surprising it is that he is the only one behaving himself. That night, after it is revealed that the Ranger Crew has been abusing Max, Eleanor says that if the crew does not vote to oust Vane and give control of their crew and ship to Flint, they will be banned from buying or selling anything on the island. All but a paltry few abandon Vane, and Flint congratulates Gates on his captaincy[4].
While Gates is sitting below decks on the Walrus looking over charts. Billy Bones tells him that it is time to go up on the deck and talk to the crew. Up on the deck, Gates explains to the crew that since he will be the new captain of the Ranger that they will need a new quartermaster and that nominates Bones. The crew wholeheartedly agrees and cheers for Bones. Bones goes on to tell the crew that if they are going to fight the Urca, that they will first have to careen the ship, i.e. scrubs the bottom of the hull. Concerning where they are going to be doing the careening, the ships master, De Groot, disagrees with Captain Flint's choice of location, stating that the risk of calamity is too high. However, since finding a new location would take perhaps take two weeks, De Groot's concerns are overruled by the crew. With the location agreed upon, the ship is pulled onto the beach and laid on her side. After the careening ends in disaster, with Randall's leg being amputated and Morley being crushed to death beneath the ship, Billy confides in Gates that he is starting to believe that Flint is wrong and that he shouldn't support him, but that he can't muster up any nerve to stand against him because he is afraid of him. That night, they spot the Andromache sailing away, and Gates points out that she's sailing low in the water, meaning the guns are still on board.[7]
As they chase the Andromache, Billy Bones briefs the crew on the battle plan. Afterwards, Gates commends him, joking that he'll be lucky to still have a job when they are finished. As the battle begins, Gates tells Flint he hopes he knows what he is doing, and Flint says he hopes for the same. As they sail towards their quarry, the Andromache unleashes her cannons on the Walrus, and after several volleys Gates warns that they can't take much more. Beauclerc then kills the Andromache's helmsmen, causing them to lose the wind and the current brings the ship alongside the Walrus. A fierce battle ensues, but the pirates prevail. After they clear the quarterdeck bunker, Gates informs Flint and Billy that he checked all the dead and injured but none of them are Captain Dyfed Bryson, while Billy wonders why only three men were left to defend the quarterdeck bunker. Gates adds that the vanguard is on its way to the hold and that maybe Bryson is there before De Groot arrives and says that the rudder is not responding and the mechanism must have been cut belowdecks. Flint realizes something is amiss and orders the vanguard called back, but three men are killed in the hold after coming across a fortified bunker.
Later, he tells Flint that Bryson is in a reinforced bunker at the forward end of the lower gun deck, whose doors and roof are as thick as the outer hull. Furthermore, the bunker is right above a powder magazine, so they can't blow their way in. Anyone they send down there will be cut to shreds, and they cannot sail. Flint wonders what they are missing, because at the moment there is nothing stopping them from simply retreating and burning the ship when they leave. Bryson then sends a Slave up with a message that Joshua translates. The Slave explains that Bryson and 20 of his men are in a bunker, and that before leaving Bryson told the captain of the HMS Scarborough where they were heading and the route they were taking. Sure enough, Gates spots the Scarborough nearby. The Slave then tries to charge at Flint with a lit grenade but is shot down by Billy[8].
At night, Joshua and Joji cover Lars, an African crew mate, in soot. Muldoon gives him a special smoke grenade and warns him not to light it until he's close to the bunker. Gates tells him to get it through the murder hole and the vanguard would bust down the door while Bryson and his men are choking on the smoke, and they'll be on their way. Joshua and Joji lower Lars into the hold, and he is able to get close to the bunker. However, he is shot by Bryson's men. Billy then pulls Gates to the side and shows him the letter written by Miranda Barlow requesting a pardon for Flint that says he will betray his crew. Gates is dismissive, prompting Billy to voice his concerns about Flint given his history of playing fast and loose with his men's lives. Gates orders him to keep it quiet, reminding him that they are in battle and it would be dangerous to undermine the crew's trust in him over a woman they know nothing about. To assuage Billy, Gates promises to deal with it back in Nassau. Flint then walks up to them and asks what they are discussing, and Gates says that Billy has come up with their next plan.
Gates comes up with the idea to have four men dangle on ropes and break through the hull using axes, augers and charges. The distraction they provide is to allow the rest of the men time to move on the main door and get it open. Gates adds that he saw Henry Avery try it once. Logan asked if it worked, and Gates reiterates that he saw it tried. Flint then asks for volunteers, and when no one speaks up, Flint chooses Logan, Dooley, Paxton and Bobby. Logan then begins to question Captain Flint's authority. He openly questions the wisdom of Flint ordering the crew to remain on the Andromache as the Scarborough approaches. He is "saved" when Gates slugs Logan across the face, asserting that Flint, being the captain, demanded total obedience during a battle. They then notice a rag stuck through a hole in the hull, and Flint realizes that there are slaves below. He and Gates look over the manifest, and Flint finds that there are 38 slaves in the hold, 9 of whom are strong men. Flint tells Gates that he thinks that those men would jump at the chance to join the fight against Bryson. They drop a marling spike into the hold for the slaves to break their chains. Meanwhile, the pirates on the upper deck begin hacking and pounding with axes in order to cover up the noise of the breaking chains. The slaves ambush Bryson's men and open the door to the bunker, allowing the pirates to flood in. After Bryson and his men are all killed, they begin transferring the guns to the Walrus.
As the transfer of the cannons is underway, Gates notices Billy talking to Dufresne and calls him over. Billy assures Gates that he wasn't saying anything about the letter. An explosive trap set by Bryson is then accidentally set off, revealing their position to the Navy and forcing them to flee. Their escape is hindered by a piece of debris from the Andromache that became tangled in with their bow. Billy rushes to cut it away with Flint on his heels. While they work on it cutting it away, Flint asks him what was in the letter, and Billy answers that they both already know. The Walrus is then hit by shots from the Scarborough's cannons, and Flint tells the crew that Billy fell overboard. A heartbroken Gates surmises that they can't turn back, or the Scarborough will tear them to pieces. Later, they hold a memorial service for their fallen brethren. When they get to Billy, since there is no body to bury, Flint drops Billy's cutlass into the sea[1].
Once the Walrus returned to Nassau, Gates Silver, and Flint went to Eleanor's office. Eleanor asks Flint about how the Scarborough managed to find them. Flint tells her that it was her father's doing and that her father will have to answer to him as soon as he sees him. Eleanor responds by pointing out that Barlow should also be questioned because Mr. Guthrie was under her care. Eleanor proceeds to tell Flint about the changes that have occurred while he was gone, such as her father leaving and her forming the new consortium. Before Flint leaves, Eleanor bring up to him the fact that Silver was of great help in helping her sort things out the past few days. She states that in lieu of his help to her, she demands that Flint not ever harm him, else it might hurt her relationship with Flint. Flint seems to reluctantly agree.
On the beach, Dufresne sits while a tattoo of a shark's mouth is placed on his arm. He is also sporting a very shortly cropped new hairdo. He explains to Gates that his new hairdo is a post-election initiation. Following Bones's disappearance, the crew has elected Dufresne as Quartermaster of the Walrus. Flint privately remarks to Gates that he didn't think the crew was capable of making such a decision, and Gates glibly replies that chewing a man's throat out tends to make an impression on people.
Gates then corners Flint in a cabin and says that they need to discuss the letter that Bones found from Barlow stating that Flint is going to betray his crew. Flint has difficulty answering Gates's questions about Barlow, stating that their relationship is so complex that he has trouble figuring it out for himself. Gates then asks about what happened the night before with Bones falling overboard. He insinuates that Flint had something to do with it. He then tells Flint that he knows what happened on the Maria Aleyne. He states that he knows that they captured that ship just so Flint could murder certain people on the ship. He tells Flint that Bones was like a son to him. Flint responds by saying that if that were the case, then Gates should have been a better father to Bones and not let his suspicions run rampant. Gates then says that he is tired of expending the energy required to keep believing in Flint's promises.
When Gates tells Flint that he is going to take everything about the letter and Bones to the crew, Flint stops him and admits that he is taking the prize money for himself. He states that he is going to put the prize money in a warehouse and then sequester a portion of it away from the crew. He says that he knows the crew will just drink, whore, and piss all their money away. He wants to keep a portion to be used for creating a safe place for the men to live in. Gates finally states that he will sail with Flint to take the prize, but after that, they are done working together. Later that night, Gates meets Dufresne for a drink in the Tavern. Gates asks about the situation with Silver, and Dufresne says that it has all been resolved, but admits that Silver was aware that Dufresne knew about the page, but that Silver assumed his knowledge came from Bones. Dufresne's knowledge of the page actually came from Gates. Dufresne then tells Gates that De Groot and Dr. Howell are skeptical of Gates's ability to do what is necessary when the time is right, i.e. to kill Flint. Gates reassures Dufresne that there will not be a problem from him on that account. The next morning, the Walrus and the Ranger depart Nassau to hunt the Urca[9].
As the Walrus and the Ranger sail to Florida, they encounter a hurricane. During the storm, Gates is rowed over to the Walrus, where he goes to Flint's cabin in order to hear the last portion of the schedule from John Silver, which Flint cross checks with his own reconnaissance about the possible anchorages for the treasure galleon. The coordinates match those of Division Bay, and Flint tells Silver to pass the location on to De Groot. Gates prepares to return to his ship but Flint says it isn't wise to tempt fate, and produces a bottle of Talbot Rhodes rum, remarking that after tomorrow they will either be able to afford a lot more of it, or as Gates says, they will be too dead to care. Gates and Flint drink heavily, and fondly remember funny stories. Flint tries to recall the name of a particular former crew mate of theirs, and Gates corrects his mistakes and says that it was Cregg. Flint notes that Cregg was known for being able to find alcohol on a prize ship. One time, after taking a prize ship, Cregg was digging through a stash and found a bottle behind a baseboard. Cregg, convinced that the prize captain had been hiding his best liquor, opens the bottle and takes a big swig in front of the crew, including Flint and Gates. However, the bottle actually contained urine.
Gates adds that Cregg was first bunkmate when they served with Henry Avery. He recalls that Cregg would talk at length about a hidden stash of money that he had, and would tell Gates that one day he will be rich man. However, Cregg died while the crew was taking a prize called the Pembroke. Gates went to Cregg’s locker and found a letter with instructions to deliver it to his sister in New York, 12 pesos and a broken pocket watch. Gates bought a round for the crew with pesos and traded the pocket watch for the services of a prostitute. Gates spent two weeks that winter trying to deliver Cregg’s letter to his sister in New York. Despite his efforts, Gates couldn’t find her. On the way back to Nassau, Gates waited until they were in open water and he could see no land in any direction and threw the letter into the ocean. Gates remarks that there are no legacies or monuments in their life as pirates. There is just the water, which pays them, and then claims them, swallowing them whole. Gates then takes his leave.
The next morning, the Walrus and the Ranger approach Division Bay, where they suspect the Urca to be. However, when they make the turn into the bay, the Urca is nowhere to be seen. The leadership then must decide what to do to keep the men from revolting. Flint determines that they should maintain their position and send out scouts to attempt to locate the Urca. Dufresne approaches Gates and tells him that De Groot is demanding that they inform the crew right away of Flint's crimes. Gates warns Dufresne against this, believing it will lead to civil war amongst the crew. Dufresne answers that De Groot predicted Gates would say that, and he and Howell believe that Gates is just trying to protect Flint. Gates promises that they will try Flint back in Nassau like civilized men, and gives Dufresne a letter detailing Flint's crimes to assure him.
Suddenly, Logan spots sails to the south. It is determined that it is not the Urca but is a Spanish man-of-war, possibly an escort of the Urca. Flint quickly calculates a plan of action. The Ranger will raise the black flag and will fire a few shots across the bow of the Walrus. Presumably, because the Walrus is flying a fake Spanish flag, the Man O' War will believe that it is a Spanish ship being attacked by a pirate. As the Man O' War gets closer, the Ranger will take off as if trying to get away. Then when the Walrus has successfully deceived the Man O' War into thinking that they are just a Spanish merchant ship, the Man O' War will leave the Walrus and chase the Ranger. When this happens, the Walrus will turn quickly and fire a broadside into the exposed stern of the Man O' War, while the Ranger turns to port and fires against the Man O' War's bow.
Gates is killed.
Before the plan is put into play, Gates demands to see Flint in private. Gates tells Flint that he cannot let Flint go down this road. Gates states that he is taking the Ranger and will try to get away. Flint tells him that he will have no chance to defeat the Spanish ship if the Ranger sails away. Finally, when Flint accuses Gates of disobeying orders and starting a mutiny, Gates admits that he is managing a mutiny. He tells Flint about Dufresne and De Groot and the others on the crew that know about Flint's lies and deceptions regarding Singleton and Billy Bones. As Gates goes to leave the room, Flint grabs him from behind and chokes him and eventually breaks his neck. As Flint holds his dead friend's body in his arms, he apologizes and begins to cry. Just then, Silver enters the cabin. When Flint explains that there is no way out of this, Silver tells him that there is always a way out.
Flint emerges from his cabin and tells Dufresne and the others that Gates's heart has given out and that he has died. He then orders Logan to tell the Ranger about the battle plan. When Dufresne enters the cabin to view Gates's body, Silver is there waiting for him. Silver attempts to talk sense to Dufresne and asks Dufresne what good can come from telling the truth about Flint to the crew at a moment such as this, when they are about to go into battle against a Man O' War. Dufresne appears to agree and walks back out onto the deck and tells Flint the best way to go about pretending to be a Spanish merchantman, but to avoid saying they carry tobacco, as the Spanish heavily monitor the trade. However, Flint does exactly this when hailed by the warship in order to prove that the warship is not merely a Guardacosta patrol but an escort for the Urca. After the ruse works successfully, Dufresne launches his mutiny after the warship passes them. He shows the crew the letter written by Gates detailing Flint's crimes, and Logan confirms that it is written in Gates's hand. Dufresne accuses Flint of murdering Singleton, Billy, and Gates, as well as planning on stealing a portion of the gold. Flint tries to fire a cannon himself, but is shot by Dufresne in the shoulder. Before the Walrus can flee, Silver fires an unattended cannon, forcing Dufresne to continue the assault. However, the Spanish warship is able to turn and unleash her broadsides on the pirates. The Ranger's powder magazine is hit and it explodes, the ship goes down with all hands. The Walrus is heavily damaged, but the surviving crew are able to sail away and beach the half-destroyed ship on shore[10]
Season Two[]
Silver and Flint are sent on a mission to eliminate the mainmast watch on the Man O' War so the crew can board her in exchange for a pardon from the crew. During their mission, Silver almost causes them to be caught by reaching for a Boatswain's Call, causing a Spanish Sailor to wake up who Flint has to kill before he can raise the alarm. Flint threatens to kill Silver for jeopardizing their mission for a "bauble" before Silver explains what it is. Silver then tells Flint that his distrust of him is completely unwarranted, given the fact that Silver has aided and abetted Flint countless times, including when he found Flint with Gates' body[11].
On the way to Nassau, Flint approaches Dufresne in the great cabin. He tells them that when they first brought him onto the crew, Flint was the one who pushed for him while Gates was opposed, finding that literate men were more difficult to control. Dufresne asked him how Flint convinced him and he says he told Gates that he was tired of being the only one Gates had a hard time controlling. Dufresne is amused by the anecdote, but asks why Flint has approached him. Flint explains that he is tortured over his murder of Gates, and offers to give Dufresne sage counsel as some sort of recompense, and he advises him not to tack east, which would likely cause them to encounter potential prizes. Flint warns him that they are too depleted and undermanned to successfully take a prize, and Dufresne should wait until they're back in Nassau and can take on more men[12].
After Flint is reelected captain, he briefs Dufresne on his plan to enlist Hornigold's support in taking the gold. Dufresne warns him that Hornigold will ask why the request isn't coming from Gates. When Flint goes ashore, he learns that Vane has taken the fort and goes to talk to Eleanor, who said she made a choice between a bearable evil or a hard sacrifice. Flint then tells her that Gates lost faith in their mission and he had to kill him. Meanwhile, Hornigold asks Silver if he's concerned about the fact that when they set sail, Gates had Flint's ear and Silver was "ballast" and now Gates is dead and Silver occupies that position. Later, Eleanor approaches Scott and asks for his guidance, having been frightened by the fact that Flint killed Gates. Scott tells her that she has to make the decision herself[13].
Billy Bones washes ashore in Nassau, Silver takes custody of him and stashes him in a tobacco storehouse. His first words when he wakes up are "get Gates."[14] Silver tells Billy about the events he missed. He tells Billy that Flint took Gates' death extremely hard, and Billy is aghast to hear all of this. Silver further explains that he has realized that a crew needs two type of men to function- one to tell them what to do and and another to tell them why they want to do it. He says that with Gates gone, he took up the latter role. Billy remarks that Silver filled that position after believing that Flint killed both Gates and Billy, and says that Silver is either very dangerous or very stupid[15].
When Billy returns to the crew, Dufresne asks them how he fell into the water, saying that Gates and all of them assumed Flint pushed him in. Billy says that he lost his footing when they were hit by the Scarborough, and Flint tried to save him[16].
Before the election between Flint and Hornigold, Billy warns Flint that Hornigold's main point will be that Flint will betray anyone if it suits his purposes, and will bring up the death of Gates in this vein. After Flint wins, Billy talks privately with Flint and tells him that he sided with Flint because he believes Flint is the only one who can lead them through what is to come. He said he won't make the mistake Gates made of turning his back on Flint[17].
In Charles Town, Flint explains to Miranda Barlow how he chose his alias. He tells her that when Gates first asked him his name, he feared the persona he was about to create. After Charles Vane and his men take over the Spanish Man O' War, he has Billy taken to the great cabin to speak privately. He calls Billy "Mr. Gates' boy" and remarks how he is a "proper pirate"[2].
Season Three[]
While the crew is starving in the Doldrums, now quartermaster John Silver laments his inability to stand up to Flint to Billy Bones. He explains that the thing Billy and Gates never understood is that you cannot choose to follow a man like Flint and then pick and choose when to deny him. Later, after Flint executes two men who accused the other of stealing food rations, Billy tells Silver that Gates and Miranda Barlow figured out how to get Flint to listen, the difference was that Flint saw them as his equal, and Silver needs to be viewed in the same light[18].
After rescuing Jack Rackham and the Cache of Gems, Flint approaches Jack belowdecks as they sail for the Maroon Island. Noticing the chest is locked, Flint asks what Jack has done with the key, and Jack answers that he threw it overboard. He explains that not only is he concerned about men stealing from it, but what concerns him more is that Charles Vane's sacrifice is inside, having been captured during the rescue attempt. If Billy Bones is unsuccessful, Vane's death is inside the box, along with Anne's lost love, Jack's own good name, and Gates' life. Jack concludes by saying that the awful sacrifices made to assemble the cache are now part of its contents, which he deems sacred and will only be opened when the upcoming war is done, and he and Anne walk away with it[19].
Before the Battle of the Maroon Island, Flint and Silver have a discussion. Flint explains his backstory with Thomas Hamilton to Silver. Silver voices his concern that he has stepped up to be Flint's partner, but he has just told him about a third person who was in a similar position to him and that ended up dead, making it more difficult to categorize Gates' and Barlow's deaths as bad luck[20].
Season Four[]
Billy Bones reveals to Governor Woodes Rogers that Henry Avery's Journal is kept in the cellar of the old Barlow Estate. When Rogers retrieves them, he remarks that Flint and Gates were so close that Gates gave Flint his most prized possession, the journals. However, all it took was a "disagreement over a little money" for Flint to kill Gates. Billy explains that there are no two people close enough that nothing can separate them, and the key to defeating Flint and Silver is to find the thing that can separate them, as happened with Flint and Gates[21].
Personality[]
Gates is the most senior member of the Flint’s crew, and is very well liked and respected by the men. He possesses a powerful ability to persuade others, which makes him one of the more diplomatic pirates. He is also quite intelligent. When tasked with finding Silver and the missing schedule page, he follows the appraiser, knowing that anyone who tries to sell such a valuable item will request payment in easily transportable jewels and will need the appraiser to make sure the jewels are real.
Gates and Captain Flint form a strong partnership; Gates handles most of the more practical day-to-day business with the crew, while Flint plots and dreams. Although he is loyal to Captain Flint to a fault, he is an honest adviser. He tells him in no uncertain terms what the crew thinks of him and how tenuous his grip on leadership is, frequently calling him out for his actions. He also has a very close relationship with Billy Bones whom he considers to be "like a son" to him.
He is advancing in years, and very much aware he is playing a younger man’s game. He views the Urca gold as a chance at a final big score that will let him quit piracy on his own terms.
Trivia[]
- Gates has a tattoo on the back of his head of the "All Seeing Eye of Providence", which is meant to represent divine providence, with the eye of God watching over humanity. This fits Gates well, for as quartermaster he watches over his crew.
- Gates also has "HOLD FAST" tattooed across his knuckles. This is also the title of actor Mark Ryan's biography. It is also possible that this is a reference to the film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World as one of the characters has the same tattoo and this is a common phrase and concept throughout the movie. It is also a common sailor tattoo, with the hope being that it brings good luck while gripping the rigging.
- Gates wears a bandage in some scenes after his meeting with Mosiah. This is explained in a deleted scene where Mosiah makes Gates take a blood oath that he will give extra profit to Mosiah and the other African members of the crew upon the capture of their next prize.
- Gates' first name is revealed to be Hal in VII. It is unknown if in this case, Hal is used as nickname, as it commonly is for a number of names.
- The spectacles Gates wears are a fairly anachronistic design for the early 18th century.
Memorable Quotes[]
- "Let me see if I have this right. This is the fourth prize in a row from which the profits will barely exceed the expenses it took to win it. Singleton's out there trying to convince your crew to torture that poor bastard of a captain simply 'cause he hasn't worked out how to get them to do it to you. But all's well because you've discovered that the information we can't tell anybody we're looking for exists on a page...that we don't have."
- ―Gates to Flint[src]
- "My fault. That was my fault. When I said we would need to keep our tempers in check, I failed to clarify that we would need to do so for the duration of the meeting. Entirely my fault."
- ―Gates to Flint
Appearances[]
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| V. | VI. | VII. | VIII. |