A pair of men on a rowboat are rowing through a bay.  An upside-down sperm whale is breaching the surface of the water in front of them
It's unusual to see a sperm whale in an area so close to shore that people are boating in
Why is that sperm whale there?
They're very intelligent, dear. Try reasoning with him.
scene: a river description: A pair of men on a rowboat are rowing through a bay. An upside-down sperm whale is breaching the surface of the water in front of them uncanny: It's unusual to see a sperm whale in an area so close to shore that people are boating in entities: Kayak, Shark. caption: They're very intelligent, dear. Try reasoning with him.
The whale is blocking their return to shore --- and because whales are often said to be "very intelligent" animals, the wife suggests that the husband try to negotiate the couple's safe passage to shore. It's funny because while whales are relatively intelligent, they aren't smart enough to be reasoned with in English, and so this solution won't work.