John Silver
Background
John Silver is a sailor on a merchant vessel in the West Indies. He spent three years at the St. John's Home for Poor Orphan Boys.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 1 Episode 1 I. played by Luke Arnold
As a merchant ship is being attacked by the Walrus, the Ship's Cook goes into the storeroom and as he is shutting the door, Silver barges in. The Ship's Cook calls Silver a coward and tells him the ship that is chasing them is Captain Flint's ship. He says that ship's cooks are in short supply and he will be spared. A cannonball rips through the ship and a page the Ship's Cook tore out falls from his clothes and Silver comments on it. The Walrus catches up to the merchant ship and most of the remaining sailors on the merchant ship are killed.
Gates comes to a door that is blocked and when he breaks it down, finds Silver inside and the Ship's Cook dead. Silver offers to join the crew and says he is very good cook. Gates tells Billy Bones that Silver wants to join the crew. Randall is petting Betsy when Billy introduces Silver to him. The pirates land at Nassau on New Providence Island and Logan tells Silver that Nassau belongs to the pirates. Silver and Logan unload the stolen items to be taken to Richard Guthrie. Gaunt Man walks up to Silver and demands he meet Blackbeard. Silver is then taken to a room and is brought to "Blackbeard" who is a prostitute with a lot of hair below. He is then pleasured by Max, Idelle and some other prostitutes. Max finds the page and asks Silver why it is so important.
Silver sneaks onto The Walrus with Max's help and starts searching through Flint's books. Silver finds Parrish's Captain's Log and the sheet he has matches the one missing in the log. Flint speaks to the crew that includes Morley and apologizes for their small hauls and tells them the truth of what they have been chasing. He says that a crew member discovered their plans and betrayed them and accuses Singleton of being that person. Gates tells Singleton that he has a choice, a trial or combat and Singleton chooses combat. Flint and Singleton fight and Flint ends up beating Singleton to death. Flint seemingly pulls a piece of paper from Singelton's pockets and hands it to Billy to read. Billy opens the page and says it is the stolen page. Flint tells the crew that he will make them rich and they cheer him.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 1 Episode 2 II. played by Luke Arnold
Randall, who is standing next to Silver, says that the pirates don't like thieves. Gates and Billy start to search for Silver, who sees them looking for him and Silver jumps into the water. Silver makes it to the beach and asks various people including Crewman where various locations are. Silver walks through Max's door and interrupts her Handjob Pirate and Handjob Pirate is upset with Silver's lack of decency. Silver tells Max that Flint has discovered that he has the schedule and they should quickly make the deal and leave for Port Royal. Silver looks through a peephole as Frasier appraises the pearls for Max. Idelle asks him if she can give him oral sex, but Silver declines.
Captain Charles Vane barges in and accuses Max of lying about the schedule and Rackham notices Silver looking through the peephole and tells Vane and Silver runs away. Rackham and Vane go to the Wrecks in the evening and Silver watches them as an Old Man walks up to them and asks for the pearls. Vane yells that Silver will have to appear to them if he wants the pearls. Vane stabs the Old Man to death and Old Man 2 walks up and asks for the pearls. Billy and Flint arrive at the Wastes and they all begin to chase Silver. Silver sneaks next to a campfire and starts to memorize the schedule. Flint and Billy catch Silver and he tells them that he burned the schedule after memorizing it.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 1 Episode 3 III. played by Luke Arnold
Silver writes out the contents of the page he burned and memorized in front of Eleanor Guthrie and Billy. He finishes writing and hands the paper to Gates. Flint reads it and notices Silver left some details out. Silver admits that he left some parts out as he figured they would kill him and offers to join their crew for a piece of the prize. Flint asks him why he doesn't think they will kill him when they get the L'Urca de Lime and Silver tells him that he assumes they will be friends by then. Billy brings Silver to Randall and tells him to guard Silver and make him peel potatoes. While Silver is talking with Randall he asks him if he knows anyone that doesn't like Flint. Turk goes to sit down after arguing with Morley and play dice, Silver is his opponent. Silver has Billy follow him and points out Turk, and Morley and tells Billy they are what's left of the mutiny.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 1 Episode 4 IV. played by Luke Arnold
Billy tells the crew that they will need to careen the ship. He asks the crew where they should do it and Muldoon suggests somewhere where there is plenty of rum. Froom asks if they will have a tent for fornication and Billy mentions that it is something they can discuss later. Billy asks De Groot his opinion and De Groot says The Walrus is unsuitable for the task of careening the ship and asks to find a more suitable beach. Flint says they cannot delay the careening or they will lose their chance at catching the Urca. Billy calls for a vote and all but Morley agree to it. Froom brings up the fornication tent again and after Billy talks about forgoing it, the crew becomes silent. A fornication tent is set up and Randall drops a pig at Silver's feet.
Flint overhears Muldoon accuse Silver of feeding him bad pork. Flint puts a piece of pork in his mouth and tells Muldoon it must be something else. After Muldoon leaves, Flint spits out the piece of pork and tells Silver to get another pig. Silver overhears Morley complaining to Billy and tells Flint that he thinks Billy might be feeling uncomfortable about lying to the crew. The wind starts to make the palms pull away from the sand. As everyone is running away from the ship, Randall sees Betsy hiding under the ship. Randall goes after her and the ship leans slightly and starts to crush Randall. Morley and Flint run to help Randall and Betsy runs away. They start to dig the sand under Randall while De Groot tells Billy that they have to cut the remaining rope to save the ship's mast. Silver runs over and throws his butcher knife to Flint who starts to hack at Randall's stuck leg. The ropes are cut and the ship lurches, Flint manages to pull Randall away, but Morley is crushed under the ship. Flint asks Silver what Billy and Morley were talking about and Silver tells him that they mentioned the name Barlow.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 1 Episode 5 V. played by Luke Arnold
Eleanor goes into her office and finds Silver handcuffed to Randall. Silver warns Eleanor that she isn't giving enough concern to the mob. Eleanor explains to Silver that if she rescinds the ban on Vane, then she will be saying that what Vane's men did to Max was acceptable.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 1 Episode 6 VI. played by Luke Arnold
Eleanor goes to Silver and threatens him if he doesn't help her and Anne Bonny. Silver walks up to Hamund and offers to sell him the stolen page and then suggests Rackham gave Max some of the pearls. Later, Silver tells Eleanor that he doesn't know if he should be more afraid of her or Flint.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 1 Episode 7 VII. played by Luke Arnold
Eleanor asks Flint how the Scarborough knew where to find his ship. Flint tells her that Richard betrayed them and Eleanor says that Miranda Barlow must also assume some blame. She tells him about the new trading system she has set up and tells him that Silver helped her and she agreed to defend him against Flint.
De Groot and Dr. Howell hold back Randall from attacking Silver. De Groot tells Silver that the ship's council voted Randall off the crew. Randall Tells De Groot and Howell that Silver stole the page and not Singleton. Later, Silver tells Randall that more than likely Randall will be killed to be kept silent. Dufresne tells Silver that De Groot plans on handing Silver over to the crew unless Silver can pass a memory test. Silver goes to Randall and offers to be his caretaker so that they both can stay alive. Dufresne, De Groot and Howell go to get Silver after he fails his test and Silver pulls a knife on De Groot, who pulls his own knife out. Randall then starts calling everyone a thief. On the ship, Silver starts to walk away and Logan reminds him that the deal was he never takes eyes off of Randall. Silver tells Randall that he thinks Randall may be faking his condition.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 1 Episode 8 VIII. played by Luke Arnold
As The Walrus is going through a storm, Dr. Howell gives Silver a fake leg for Randall to wear. Gates, Silver and Flint have a meeting in Flint's cabin and Flint has Silver write down the last of the Urca's schedule. Flint compares what Silver wrote down to notes of inlets he has and realizes the course leads to Division Bay. Flint then hands Silver coordinates to give to De Groot. The Walrus and Ranger arrive at Division Bay and Flint briefs his crew. Once they get view of the bay. no ship is there. Logan spots sails and yells it to the crew and yells out that the ship is a Man-o'-War. Flint comes up with a plan to make it appear like the Ranger is attacking The Walrus and then ambush the Man-o'-War as it gets closer.
Silver goes into Flint's cabin and sees him holding a dead Gates and tells him they can still fix things. Shortly after, Dufresne walks into Flint's cabin and Silver tries to convince him to keep Gates' murder quiet. Silver yells at the Man-o'-War that they are being followed by a pirate ship and points at the Ranger. He tells the Spanish Officer where they came from and the Man-o'-War continues on its way. As Flint is about to give the order to fire on the Man-o'-War, Dufresne pulls a pistol on him and accuses him of tyranny against the crew.
De Groot pulls a pistol on Silver. Silver and De Groot struggle for De Groot's pistol. As De Groot is about to shoot Silver, Randall hits him with his fake leg. Silver fires one of the cannons at the Man-o'-War and Flint tells Dufresne not to waste the moment. Dufresne freezes and the Man-o'War fires at The Walrus and Dufresne orders The Walrus to open fire. The Man-o'-War opens fire again and The Walrus is obliterated. Flint wakes up on the beach next to Silver who tells him that he and Flint have been charged with what has happened. Flint asks Dufresne why he didn't kill him and Dufresne takes Flint and Silver to another part of the beach where they look at the shipwreck of the Urca and its chests of gold scattered along the beach.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 2 Episode 1 IX. played by Luke Arnold
Flint, Silver and Dufresne watch as the Spanish crew continue to pile up gold on the beach. Dufresne tells Flint that his trial has been postponed in the hopes that Flint will help him steal the Spanish gold. Flint refuses to help Dufresne at first and then when back at camp starts to tell The Walrus crew his plan. Logan angrily yells that they should be cutting Flint's lying tongue from his head and Dufresne tells the crew to listen to Flint. Flint suggests they steal the warship and then take the gold. He continues to tell his plan of sending two people to kill any sentries on the ship while the rest of the crew readies an assault. De Groot gets upset with listening to Flint's plan and Flint volunteers to be one of the men to kill the sentries and Silver volunteers to be the other.
Dufresne explains to Flint what signals to use and that even if they are successful that Flint and Silver will be expelled from the crew. Flint and Silver then start swimming towards the Spanish ship after Silver is shocked that Flint's plan didn't involve them just escaping. Flint and Silver sneak onto the ship where the crew are sleeping. As Flint and Silver are sneaking around the ship, Silver sees a boatswains whistle and steals it, which wakes the sailor up and Flint stabs the sailor in the neck. Flint is about to kill Silver when he tells him that he is the one who dragged Flint onto the beach. Silver calls the watchman down and Flint kills him, but in the process wakes the crew who surrounds him.
Spanish Boatswain tells Flint and Silver that he could torture them to find out information, but he offers to pay and release the person who tells him what he wants to know, and the other one shall be killed. Silver tells him everything. Silver is released and as Spanish Boatswain is about to shoot Flint, Silver hits him in the head, and he and Flint fight and kill the two guards. They bolt the door and Joshua breaks the door down and he and the rest of The Walrus crew kill the remaining Spanish crew. They then manage to steal the Spanish ship and escape. Dufresne tells Flint and Silver that The Walrus crew voted 17 yea versus 15 nay votes to commute their sentences and they will be brought back to Nassau.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 2 Episode 2 X. played by Luke Arnold
Flint asks Silver why he is helping him, and Silver tells him the reason is, because he wants to become rich and have freedom to do what he wants in life. Silver is pacing and talking to himself about how to make himself essential when Muldoon yells at Randall for taking so long to make their food. Muldoon tells Randall he better not spit in his bowl, which Randall does when Muldoon leaves. Randall tells Silver that he doesn't like Muldoon and Silver figures out that he doesn't need people to like him, but to discover who doesn't like who. During dinner on the 13th of June, 1715, Silver tells the crew that one of them stole from another one and a crew member punches him. Silver tells Flint his plan of convincing the crew to let him rejoin them and that when he was in an orphanage, a boy named Solomon Little became invaluable to the other boys.
On his fourth goings on, Silver tells the crew that Dooley defecated and used his hand to wipe himself. Dooley gets up, punches Silver and then wipes his hand on his face. He then tells the crew about Burly Crewman having sex with the milk goat. The Burly Crewman punches Silver, but is then punched by Joshua. A ship is spotted and Logan tells Dufresne that it is flying English colors. Dufresne then decides to attack it. Dufresne manages to take the English ship without a fight. Dufresne and part of The Walrus crew board the English ship and while Flint and Silver are watching everything transpire, Flint tells Silver that there comes a point in the mind of a captain whose ship has been captured, if he did the right thing by surrendering. The Merchant Captain whistles and a fight breaks out. Joji kills the Merchant Captain, but the pirates and Dufresne are forced to retreat back to The Walrus. De Groot tells Dufresne that they must retreat and Dufresne freezes once again. Flint tells Dufresne that they have to sink the English ship or no one will ever surrender to Flint's flag again and then Flint starts giving out orders. The English ship is then sunk.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 2 Episode 3 XI. played by Luke Arnold
During Silver's going on, he tells the crew that Joji has been masturbating onto the figurehead. He then tells the crew that they will be anchoring a mile from Nassau so they won't be seen. Dooley says he wants to vote on the matter. Silver reminds him that they are sailing a Spanish warship and would more than likely be fired upon by Captain Benjamin Hornigold's fort. Dooley still insists he get a vote and Logan diffuses the situation.
Silver introduces Vincent and Nicholas to Flint, who then tells them that their mission is to go back to the Urca shipwreck and to spy on the soldiers guarding it. Flint and Silver arrive on Nassau and notice Hornigold is camped on the beach and not in his fort. Flint tells Silver to tell the crew that Vane and his men stole all their food. Later, Flint tells the crew that he will tell Vane that he and his men must leave by sunrise tomorrow or they will attack the fort.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 2 Episode 4 XII. played by Luke Arnold
Mr. Scott tells Flint and the others that some pirates have joined Vane's forces. Flint tells Silver to go to the beach to try and stop any more pirates from joining Vane. Silver tells Flint that the pirates may have joined Vane, because they don't like Flint. In the past, Thomas tells Flint his proposal to offer amnesty to the pirates on Nassau. Flint tells him that his proposal is a bad one. Silver listens as a man on the beach describes the night Vane took the fort. Bystander recalls that there supposedly wasn't any survivors. After the man on the beach's speech, Silver pays him. Silver and Randall walk around the beach and Peering Pirate tells Silver that a man was pulled from the water and the man is a member of The Walrus crew. Silver walks over to look at the man and it turns out to be Billy. Silver pays Lowly Merchant to hide Billy and Randall. Randall doesn't think Silver is doing the right thing and Billy wakes up and asks for Gates.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 2 Episode 5 XIII. played by Luke Arnold
Silver tries to explain Flint's actions to Billy. Billy realizes that Silver is keeping him so he doesn't challenge Flint. Billy tries to leave, but finds out that he is chained to a post. Billy asks Silver how he managed to secure being Flint's right hand man, and Silver reminds him that he told him that he was easily liked. Randall tells Billy that the crew like him and Silver asks Billy what he will tell the crew what happened when Billy fell overboard. Billy demands Silver release him and Randall tells Silver that the crew like Billy also. Silver then releases Billy.
During the events of Black Sails: Season 2 Episode 6 XIV. played by Luke Arnold
Silver tells Flint that Billy has returned. Flint returns to camp and shakes Billy's hand and they hug. Hornigold tells Flint that it is time to recapture the fort. After Hornigold threatens to hold a council to vote for a new captain, Silver tells Flint that he should have more votes than Hornigold, but Flint worries that if Hornigold loses, he still may attack the fort. Flint reassures Silver that the gold is still a priority. Muldoon tells Silver that Logan went to the brothel. Silver goes to the brothel and tells Max to send Logan back to camp. Max shows Silver the bodies of Logan and Charlotte and Silver comes up with a story that Logan and Charlotte fled to Providence.