Chapter one, end to end
For the first time, the whole of chapter one plays from the needle dropping on the will to the last wreath landing in the canal. What is in it, what is broken and what comes next.
On Monday evening, for the first time, somebody in the studio sat down and played chapter one from start to finish without us having to restart anything, skip anything or explain anything over their shoulder. It took a little over an hour. Nobody spoke. Then everyone spoke at once.
The Noise Clause
Chapter one is called The Noise Clause. It covers the first stretch of the Long Spine, from Port Saffron to Lowmarsh, and it runs like this:
- The Reading. The prologue. The family, the gramophone, the will, and a race to the cars.
- Reading of the Will: Saffron Promenade. The first race proper. Checkpoints, rivals, a great many sun loungers.
- Heirloom: The Gilded Mascot. The deceased had a golden mascot modelled on himself. Hold it for ninety seconds in total, on the town hall steps, while everyone else tries to take it off you.
- The Long Spine: Coast Road. Night, rain, lorries and three and a half minutes to reach the Lowmarsh flood gates before they close.
- Reading of the Will: Lowmarsh Canals. The water rises. The roofs become roads.
- Rescue. Two and a half minutes to pull Juno Marsh’s tow truck out of a flooded garage.
- Final Viewing: Prudence. The eldest daughter, the hearse, the memorial gardens and the wreaths.
The story so far
Between chapters, the story so far is read into the record by Mr Twelvetrees, who has never been asked for his opinion and gives it anyway:
Item. The deceased requested noise. Item. The driver was left the right to try. Item. He tried. See attached.
We love this man. He will be back.
What is broken
It is pre-alpha, so here is an honest list from Monday’s notes, lightly edited for language:
- The flood in Lowmarsh is sometimes faster than intended. Sometimes much faster.
- Two rivals have been known to stop for a chat in the middle of the canal bridge.
- One of the sea walls in Port Saffron is still, from certain angles, a road.
- Pell occasionally assesses noise while the helicopter is still on the ground.
- Probate once appeared on the roof. He seemed fine about it.
All of it is on the list. The list is long. That is what pre-alpha means.
What comes next
Chapter two takes the road north into Verdance: jungle, a river crossing that floods, glasshouses full of rivals and, at the end, the twins. Two nephews, two trucks and, according to the brief, a chain that is optional.
Nine provinces. Eleven heirs. One car without plates. The deceased requests a little more noise.
We are not saying anything about the car without plates.