Up on deck, Cameron bestows Joe Don, Cheryl, and Ben with their coats of office (and a tricorne hat for Joe Don), as well as keys to the "Captain's Quarters." This turns out to basically be a floating HoH room. The power immediately goes to Joe Don's head, and he has Cheryl and Ben put everyone right to work. Louie goes on at length in interviews about how he plans to take Joe Don down.

Next morning, Cameron visits J.D., Ben, and Cheryl in the Captain's Quarters and explains how elimination works. It's the Captain's job to pick three pirates to mark with a black spot, and then each of them must defend themselves in "Pirates Court." Then the other pirates will vote, and the loser is "cut adrift." But look out, because if the pirates and the officers unanimously "mutiny," then it's Joe Don who gets booted. "Very well," Joe Don says seriously.

Joe Don has already decided that John has to go, due to being his own person. "I can't have any room for that on my ship," he interviews. Shut up, Joe Don. Something tells me it's going to be "your ship" for about a day and a half. Joe Don also names Louie, due to his talk of mutiny and the previously unmentioned rule that people with a black mark don't get a vote. As the "safe" person, they select Joy because everybody likes her. I decide that Joy is doomed.

Up on deck, the officers pass out the "summonses," and Joy, John, and Louie see the black spots on theirs. "I think it wise not to badmouth the Captain anymore," Louie says, and laughs uproariously. Joy gets totally emotional. John steals the ship's two compasses to keep himself safe, and to use as leverage to lead a mutiny against Joe Don.

Pirates Court happens on a rainy night amidships, with Cameron presiding. "Pirates Court's in session," Cameron says in all seriousness, and calls Louie as the first to defend himself. Louie's whole argument is that he loves everyone and they'll all miss him if he goes, and all he wants is fair pay for the job he does. Joy says that she's given her all, and that they don't want her to go any more than she does.