Guybrush Threepwood is a pirate wannabe who has just ended up on an island in the Carribean, called Mêlée Island. Here, he learns from three old grog-swinging pirates that there are three things to master to be a pirate: You must know how to fence, how to find a treasure and to steel loot. So, Guybrush's first quests are the master these things. For instance, when you fence somebody, your swordplay isn't the most important thing, but what really counts is your wits. If you insult your opponent and he doesn't come up with a snappy answer, you get the overhand. On the other hand, if he does come up with a snappy answer, he gets the overhand. Guybrush learns how to fence and find treasure and when he's trying to steal a small statue at the governor's mansion, he runs into the governor, who turns out to be a beautiful young woman by the name of Elaine and Guybrush falls in love with her. Much at his dismay, the instant he's mastered all three tasks, Elaine is kidnapped by the ghost pirate...