The Shipwrecked Marriage | Auralyn | 1
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What mistake did the hosts apologize for at the start of the episode?
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of British Scandal ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. Now, Matt, usually at this point in the show, we would do a much beloved comedy skit, if you will. But today we can't do that.
No, we can't. All of us here at British Scandal and Audible Originals would like to apologise for the insensitive mispronunciation of a key character's name in this episode.
Yes, we made some sweeping assumptions about the naming conventions of working class 1960s men. So we plumped for Maurice Bailey.
We did. We take cultural differences very seriously on this show. And we would like to apologise to all members of the 1960s working class Derby community for misnaming one of your own.
From here on in, he'll be known simply as Maurice.
All right, Alex, let's crack on.
Fourth of March, 1973. The Aurelin, the Pacific Ocean. Maurice Bailey squints at the chart table, tracing the penciled line from Panama. He feels a flurry of butterflies. In three days, they will finally reach the Galapagos Islands. He's enjoyed the isolation out here in the Pacific. He and Marilyn haven't seen another person or boat in weeks, but he can't wait to explore the untouched land. Nine months into their two-year circumnavigation around the world, and finally they're reaching the rare wildlife and crystal waters of one of their dream destinations.
An all-inclusive in Benidorm.
They just have to get through the shit tip that is the Galapagos. The rich smell of coffee drifts down through the hatch above Maurice's head, mingling with the salty air. Hearing Marilyn's voice calling to him, he shouts up.
Be there in a minute, love.
He shuffles his way across the tiny wood-panelled cabin to the galley kitchen. When the yacht suddenly lurches sideways, his water glass skids off the table. Hitting the floor, he grabs the nearest leg of the built-in table.
Marilyn!
Another slam shakes the hull. Maurice feels the vibration all the way up his spine to his back teeth. Crockerie flies from the cupboard, smashing beside him, along with Marilyn's beloved dolphin figurines and their framed wedding photos. And then, stillness. Maurice scrambles to his feet, calls back up to Marilyn.
Marilyn, are you okay?
His heart thuds against his ribs.
Marilyn, Marilyn!
Maurice's blood turns to ice as he casts his eyes towards the bow, where a fracture line is creeping across the plywood. He rushes towards it as it starts to spread. Six inches, eight, 12, 16. He desperately snatches a tarpaulin as liquid begins to force its way through the hold. But this doesn't look like seawater. It's the wrong color. It's bright red, like blood. He winces as a hot metallic stench, iron mixed with a rancid sour oil, fills the cabin. Within seconds, it's spreading across the floor. He feels sick as he catches a glimmer of a dark-skinned creature thrashing and twisting. He scrambles backwards, never taking his eyes off it. He peers through the crack and sees a row of giant teeth, and then a terrifying eye raising up, peering back at him.
Maurice gasps, knowing only a piece of splintering wood lays between him and its jaws. Maurice snaps his head round to see Marilyn standing at the bottom of the steps, her face ghost white with fear.
It's a whale! A mad fucking whale! Help me!
His throat is too tight, his mouth too dry. He scrambles around the cabin for some kind of weapon, because if he doesn't stop this creature now, he knows he and Marilyn are going to die.
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How does the episode open the story of Marilyn and Maurice at sea?
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