diff --git a/script.html b/script.html
index 7bddb0a..836778d 100644
--- a/script.html
+++ b/script.html
@@ -154,7 +154,12 @@ function render(r) {
   if (poll) { clearInterval(poll); poll = null; }
 
   if (p.status === "script_failed") {
-    out.innerHTML = '<div class="card"><p style="margin:0 0 16px">The writer could not finish this one.</p>'
+    // The reason was always stored; it just was not being shown. A dead or
+    // paywalled link is the usual cause, and only the reader can fix it.
+    var why = (s && s.error) ? s.error : "";
+    out.innerHTML = '<div class="card"><p style="margin:0 0 10px">The writer could not finish this one.</p>'
+      + (why ? '<div class="warn" style="margin:0 0 16px">' + esc(why) + '</div>'
+             : '<p class="foot" style="margin:0 0 16px">No reason was recorded.</p>')
       + '<a class="btn" style="display:inline-block;text-decoration:none" href="/create.html">Start again</a></div>';
     return;
   }