diff --git a/trailer.html b/trailer.html
index b2f482e..12cb369 100644
--- a/trailer.html
+++ b/trailer.html
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@
   var RUN = null, DRAFTS = [], CUR = null, PKG = {}, NOTES = {}, REVIEWS = [];
   var timer = null, EDITING = null;
   var PLAYING = null, STATS = {}, QUEUE = [], QAT = 0;
+  var REELWANT = false;   // the author asked to play, not merely to prepare
   var runId = new URLSearchParams(location.search).get("run") || "";
   var audio = new Audio();
 
@@ -490,8 +491,18 @@
 
     if (running)
       out += '<p class="busy">Speaking every shot… ' + esc(st) + '</p>';
+    else if (st === "ready") {
+      var spoken = shots.filter(function (s) { return s.reel_url; }).length;
+      var silent = shots.length - spoken;
+      out += '<p class="lede">' + spoken + ' shots have dialogue and are spoken'
+        + (silent ? '; ' + silent + ' are silent and hold on the frame' : '')
+        + '.</p>';
+    }
     else if (/^failed/.test(st))
       out += '<p class="cont">' + esc(st) + '</p>';
+    else if (st)
+      out += '<p class="cont">The last attempt stopped before it finished — '
+        + 'the server restarted under it. Ask again.</p>';
 
     if (!REEL) {
       out += '<div class="tools" style="justify-content:center">'
@@ -880,12 +891,15 @@
       el.disabled = true;
       var rl = await api("reel", { draft_id: CUR });
       if (!rl.ok) { showMsg("msg", rl.error || "Could not load the storyboard."); return; }
-      if (rl.ready < rl.of) {
+      if (String(PKG.reel_state || "") !== "ready") {
         el.textContent = "Speaking every shot…";
+        REELWANT = true;
         r = await act("prepare_reel", { draft_id: CUR });
         if (r) showMsg("msg", "Speaking " + r.shots + " shots. This is the same "
-          + "audio the film will use, so it is only paid for once.", "ok");
-        setTimeout(refresh, 15000);
+          + "audio the film will use, so it is only paid for once. It starts "
+          + "playing on its own when it is ready.", "ok");
+        else REELWANT = false;
+        await refresh();
         return;
       }
       hideMsg("msg");