PHIL (speaking to himself) Hello, I'm Phil. I live in London. My apartment
is close to the Houses of Parliament and I can hear the bells of Big Ben chiming every
hour. I live on bus route number 88 which is handy because it takes me to my office
in Oxford Circus. What do I do? Well, I'm an author – I write books – but don't
worry if you haven't heard of me, my books never sell – ever. In fact I want a career
change because I desperately need some money. When I pay all my bills, you see, I only have
enough spare money to buy a few drinks at my local pub – The Horse and Groom. That
reminds me – I've got to go there now to meet some friends. Excuse me, we'll speak
again soon.
AT THE PUB
JOHN Hello Phil. Late again!
EMILY Hello Phil. How is your writing going?
PHIL You know. It's all in my head not on paper.
TOM Hi Phil, mate, how are you? We were just talking
about travelling – Emily here, says she's climbed up Mount Everest! Rather extreme backpacking,
don't you think?!
EMILY I did do it. Five years ago. So come on John,
what amazing thing have you done?
JOHN Oh, I just went cycling across South America!
EMILY You didn't!!
JOHN I did. In my gap year. It was such a brilliant
time. Four months on the road, although I did get a bit tired.
TOM Sounds great. Did I ever tell you that I sailed
across the Atlantic to America in a yacht I built with my own hands? I still have that
yacht down at the docks – but I never use it now. How about you Phil – when did you
have your big life adventure?
PHIL Oh me? I haven't done much really. I'm not
really one for adventure.
EMILY Why not?
PHIL Err… I never had any money - and where would
I go?
JOHN Come on, you need some adventure in your life.
Don't you feel like doing some globetrotting?
TOM Hey! I've got an idea!
PHIL (speaking to himself) Tom has come up with a crazy idea where I
could make some money and have some adventure. He has offered to lend me his yacht to sail
around the world! Yeah – mad isn't it?! He thinks I could write about my adventures
and make some money from it. But… I'm not someone who takes risks and I can definitely
think of some problems…
Slight problem… I can't sail.
TOM No problem. There's an app you can download.
It'll show you everything.
PHIL An app? I'll need more than that. I've never
sailed a yacht in my life.
TOM It's easy! And how about if I give you the
boat – I'll never use it again - you can sell it when you get back. It'll earn you
a fortune, on top of the money you get from your travel writing.
PHIL I couldn't possibly keep your yacht. You might
want to use it again one day.
TOM Hmmm yes, that's true.
JOHN I know. Why don't you make it into a challenge?
TOM Yes, John! Great idea. I'll tell you what
– I'll make you a bet.
PHIL A bet – for money – what is it?
TOM Do you remember that story by Jules Verne
– when that guy, Phileas Fogg had to travel around the world in 80 days?
PHIL Yes.
TOM Well, you've got to do it in 80 days. I bet
you the boat that you won't do it. If you don't do it, I'll keep the boat. If you do
sail around the world in 80 days, then you can keep the boat – and you can sell it
if you want. He'll never do it!
PHIL Hold on. How much have you had to drink? You
want me to sail around the world, on my own, in 80 days?! Impossible.
TOM I know. But if you want an adventure – and
you want to keep the yacht – then that's the challenge. Exactly 80 days to sail all
the way around the world – not a minute longer.
EMILY Go on Phil, it'll be brilliant. Here, have
another drink…
JOHN Yes, and have my drink too.
PHIL (speaking to himself) What should I do? It is true I need an adventure
but this one is huge. I know, I'll have a few more drinks and think about it…
(SLURP OF DRINK) OK. Yes - I accept the challenge