Page Notes
Episode published on Sunday 18th of October, 2015.
As the tagline points out, I decided to stick their headquarters in a location where I don't have the foggiest on how to speak the language. I might have been able to just about stumble through if I'd set it in Germany as I have at least a basic knowledge of the German language, but no. I went with France. Still, perfect opportunity to explore the language a little, eh?
At the time of writing I'm due to go on a holiday abroad. Not only is it the first time out of the country for me, but the first time to France! I'm intrigued to see what the "real deal" is like. Full of French people, presumably.
Tagged:
The Captain,
Language barriers,
Location - Le Cafe,
Location - Paris, France,
Max Valerion
Comments
Transcript
Title - 81: "Resting on the Language Barrier"
(Outside a café in France, simply called "Le Café", Pain and the Captain sit at a table. Pain is reading a newspaper, an edition of "The Moon", whilst the Captain points at an item on a menu to a waitress. Civilians and another waitresses can be seen milling around. The Captain acknowledges the waitress who has served them as she walks off, a smile on her face.)
Captain: Murky.
Pain: (not looking up from his newspaper) Hmm? What is?
(The Captain looks at Pain, confused. Pain lowers his paper.)
Captain: Wha?
Pain: You said "murky". What's murky? Your drink?
(The Captain realises what Pain is talking about and starts grinning, assuming he's got one over on his boss.)
Captain: Ohhh, no! It's French.
Pain: Ah. I think you mean "merci".
Captain: Nope! Em-ee-ar-cuh-eye. Murky. Means "thanks".
(Pain pinches the bridge of his nose, frustrated. He closes his paper.)
Pain: No no no, it's spelt that way but it's pronounced "mer-see".
(The Captain scratches his head, struggling to grasp this information. Pain turns his full attention onto the Captain in order to help.)
Captain: Oh. Really? So are all these French words said in a funny way?
Pain: It's French. So yeah.
(The Captain rubs his chin in though, while Pain looks on in disbelief.)
Captain: 'splains why I've been gettin' funny looks whenever I say "murky be-oo-coop".
Pain: "Mer-see bow-coo". Merci beaucoup, see?
(The Captain looks pleased with himself as he produces a tatty piece of paper from his pocket. Pain is not impressed.)
Pain: Where have you been learning your French?
Captain: Just printed out a whole bunch of phrases and figured I'd get away with reading them off.
Pain: Yeah, that won't work.
(Pain takes a swig of his whiskey and returns to his paper. The Captain glances over his list, trying to figure out how to actually say the phrases. Another waitress passes their table, the Captain brightening up and grinning at her.)
Captain: Hallo mon pet-it chair amy!
(The waitress walks off, leaving the Captain to look disappointed. Pain straightens out his paper, clearly giving up on the conversation.)
Pain: Getting closer, mate.
Episode tagline: In retrospect, setting the comic in a location that speaks a language I cannot was a poor choice.
