Localization of titles is a scourge not only of Russian distribution. Let's take another look at how things stand with this in the homeland of cinema.
Four years ago we already talked about movie titles. Let's see how things are now, this summer?
We then identified four ways to localize - and, unsurprisingly, examples of each of these four creative ways can be seen on the posters gracing French cinemas this summer.
1. The name is translated directly, straight forward, without any changes
Works well if we're talking about about cities and other geographical names known literary works etc.
Or, let’s say, about medical terms - here’s “Arrhythmia”.
Despite the fact that our localizers slightly spoiled the name of the picture - they called it “Reincarnation”, giving out one plot twist - “Innate” and in French box office remained "Innate".
However, in some cases the name is translated taking into account already established traditions. Let’s say, in the classic French translation by A. A. Milne, the boy’s name is not Christopher Robin, but... Jean-Christophe (apparently, it’s easier for children to associate themselves with familiar name than with a foreign one). As a result, “Jean-Christophe and Vinny” will be released in France this year instead of the original “Christopher Robin.”
2. The title is not translated at all
Most often used when talking about titles consisting solely of proper names, or about already well-known franchises.
For example, “Tully” with Charlize Theron - “Tully” is everywhere.
“Hotel Artemis hasn’t changed a single letter in its name.
“Moth” remains “Moth” (especially since the hero who bears this nickname is French).
But as for franchises - let's say, this summer "Jurassic World 2" was released in France under exactly the same name as in its homeland, no translations, only Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom.
But “Mission: Impossible: Fallout” remained at the French box office Mission: Impossible - Fallout.
A funny version of this case is to use the original name with the addition of the French article (" do you know what they call a big mac? le big mac!"). Eg? this year the film “Book Club” was so “lucky” - it’s from the original Book Club turned into Le Book Club.
Sometimes there is a mixture of the first and second points - the name is partially translated. Most often this happens when a certain character or work in French has a name that has not been translated into French. For example, this year Ant-Man and the Wasp fell into this category: Ant-Man in French translations of Marvel is traditionally called AntMan, directly in English in French text (by the way, a similar situation happens with many Marvel and DC heroes). But Osu is being translated, and it has turned from English-language The Wasp to French la Guepe. The result is on the poster.
3. There is a new, creative name in French
Sometimes close to the original - for example, “A Quiet Place” ( A Quiet Place) by John Krasinski turned into "Not a Sound" ( Sans un bruit).
Sometimes not so close: New film Steven Soderbergh from Unsane(for us it was famously localized as “Not in my head”) turned into “Paranoia” - that is, instead of describing the heroine, we immediately have a medical diagnosis.
The film "Meg: Monster of the Depth", originally known as The Meg, is released in French distribution under the romantic title “In dangerous waters» ( En eaux troubles).
A combination of the second and third approaches: some we don’t translate, some we create, also occurs. Let's say what happened with the second "Killer" this year. "Day of the Soldier" in the original became "War of the Cartels" in the French box office, while maintaining Sicario In the title.
4. A new, creative name in English is found
Thus, the franchise “The Purge” is known in France under the name American Nightmare (“American Nightmare”).
But the winner of this year's Sundance festival, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, is being released in France under a mysterious title Come as you are- this is not even a translation or retelling of the plot, but exclusively the song of the Nirvana group in associations.
The French are a complex people, and to understand how names will go better (with translation, original, reworked or even invented anew) - right away, apparently, without knowledge target audience it won't work. So they continue to use all four approaches.
My friends, and again I am with you, Mikhail Bitev.
We select from 3 to 7 works.
Go?
1. Mikhail Bitev (out of competition)
Where the air is clear and fresh.
To get away from the noisy capital.
To - be quiet. To - the angle is bearish
I was once a Rousseau tourist,
I came with a voucher, “on a ball”.
And he quickly got used to the sea.
And he stayed. And he became a clochard here.
Then I’ll pick up a couple of euros in the sand,
Then I'll catch a lobster for dinner.
And no one gets on my nerves here,
And I don’t really need anyone here.
Good in a sleepy province.
Where the air is clear and fresh...
Thirty kilometers from Nice.
On Lazu-u-urn such a coast...
*
2. Yana Lyubicheva
Without feeling any trouble,
And cheerful and cheerful,
Came from Karaganda
On vacation in the summer I go to Odessa.
Heady Odessa flavor
I didn't find my wallet.
In the south - how can you live without a wallet?
Where now without the nth amount?
But, after thinking a little,
I think I've figured out a way out.
I walk along the beach until sunset,
I repeat like a cockatoo butt:
-Give me, people, what are you rich in?
I need a ticket to Karaganda!
Odessa residents are sitting by the sea,
But they don't care about me
Apparently my ticket is covered!
*
3. Yuri Voynov
Walk the fool earlier
Could for a ruble on the shore,
Now you can’t get it for three rubles
Even Grandma Yaga...
All! I'll leave today
Help, girls, grandfather!
*
4. Rose Naryshkina
So I’ve been walking around all day, “Zhe ne mange pa sis...” I repeat,
Something about a deputy. People believe, I'll see.
Suddenly I decide to go on a spree and order a restaurant.
I’ll invite two interesting girls with me.
I'll have fun with them! What should I tell Bender?
He promised to get chairs, and I value them!
This Bender, I’ll tell you, is not against courage.
So that we have enough for everything, I still have a little time left...
*
5. Yuri Kozhanov
“Zhe ne mange pa sis jour...”
My only translation
Completely different, “bonjour”
Not the same at all
“Six days without a woman already”
And this is at a resort
Come women to me
Don't disgrace gray hairs
*
6. Grandma Yoshka
ON THE BEACH
- What a funny old man!
Probably some fool is looking for him on the beach.
Look, Natasha is coming here!
And he: - Zhe ne mange pas sis jour...
- We won’t tell my wife! Really, Alka?
Looks like grandpa likes us.
- What do we care about! Sit, don't mind.
And he: - Tre bian, merci bok...
– Is it itching in your side? Why did you stomp?
Are you drunk or what?
- Zhe no pyo pa... Zhe shersh...
- Oh, butt?!
Get out of here, dude!
___
* Je ne mange pas six jours (Je ne mange pas six jours) - I haven’t eaten for six days.
* Tres bien, merci beaucoup - Okay, thank you very much.
* Je ne peux pas... Je cherche... (Je ne peux pas... Je cherche...) - I can’t... I’m looking...
(author's note)
7 Anna Khamatova (out of competition)
The banner hangs at the entrance to the city of Sochi.
The letters are bright and very large:
"DO NOT PLAY CARDS WITH THE LOCAL. THANK YOU.
WHY? IT'S JUST EVERYONE HERE KNOWS THE PURCHASE!..”
*
8. Irina Pudovkina
Look, Lucy, a man is emerging from the sea,
He looks at us with appreciation...
- No, Man, that old guy turns me on
Kepar with money! And he doesn’t look disabled!
*
9. Eduard Petrovich
Full of beauties on the beach
Now their heads are turned...
-Grandpa, what will you give in return?
Damn, it's not a lot of money!
-I will read you poetry?...
-Then go to your wife, hee hee...
-You are all...so...Pa sis zhur!
Then I'll take a look for free.
*
10. Marina Tarnopolskaya
"Matveich"
Matveich was a deputy,
He often sat in the Duma,
He took bribes and gave kickbacks
And I didn’t forget my friends...
Once upon a time, Comrade Bender
Invited him to the south
He promised that he would provide
Accommodation and leisure.
But the money ran out
(There is still inflation in the country),
And beautiful girls
As always, at a great price.
Ippolit Matveich in a trance
Can't pay for lunch
Yes, even at the station ticket office
Need to book a ticket...
He wanders along the beach in the morning -
A frown from under the eyebrows.
Hey, beauty, to the deputy
Give me at least five rubles...
*
11. Tarnopolskaya Marina
And glances turn to me.
And I don’t lose timid hope,
*
12. Garik Zet
Walking with a heavy feeling in the back of my head
He was looking for yesterday's madam,
To the bottle you drink in the evening
Phenazepam was mixed in...
Grandfather woke up without money,
How two friends were blown away by the wind,
The only thing left in the house was a broom
And something else from trousers
The cypress trees were fragrant,
And he was depressed and gloomy,
Kisa's phrase was spinning in my head
About "Zhe ne mange" and "Pa sis jour"!
*
13. Em Glebov (out of competition)
I was given an assignment in our magazine
Take a photo of night moths on the number.
But, truth be told, I can hardly cope with the task -
I'm not at all ready to wander around at night.
Then I decided to use a trick:
Walked along the beach on a beautiful day,
He asked the beauty, “Please tell me,
Don't you want to be a "night moth"?
“How could you offer me this?
And what could you think about me?
But... A hundred bucks - I'll be with you.
Even a gray moth. Agree? Went..."
*
14. Vladimir Potapovsky
REMEMBER AND TELL OTHERS!
I'm walking along the beach -
I see girls in negligee.
All with face makeup.
(To look like a “star”)
Here is one leading the “game”: - Do I look like Monra?
And the other (with a bust - BEFORE...)
He says: - And I am Bardo!
You see, uncle, we already
Definitely want to get married -
For... wealthy people!
So we mow - “under the stars”...
Well, I haven’t eaten for SIX DAYS!
He went bald and lost weight!
I curse them! - I answer:
- I’m here from you ohhh...renel!
Yes... for wife status(!)
"Stars", in general, are not needed.
We need pilaf... and jellied meat...
And - with a glass! - cucumber...
And – HOMEMADE(!) – dumplings!
And a smoked side of taimen!
And with witch gravy!
And capons with mushrooms!..
And in the morning - you need brine,
There is sugar in the soup...
Appetizing pie.
(Don’t unfasten your underwear:
I'm not in the mood for sex right now
Get your tits out of your sight!
No time to think about the body:
I'm talking ABOUT BUSINESS!)
So, so... isho - wow
And veal offal!
And salty butter,
And, of course, piglets!
A bowl of juicy milk mushrooms -
Urgently! - no nails!
Chakhokhbili and shish kebab...
Well, in short, everything is “on the fang”!
Be quiet with your "Monra":
I stand for BORSCH - like a mountain!
Why do I need your “makeup”?!
Better yet, let's grill!
Well, after grilling -
I'll... look at you...
Don't be happy about it:
I... Isho... I'll figure it out...
Tomorrow - broth with dumplings,
Enjoy the “Napaliyon” cake!..
In the meantime, good night:
I have a healthy sleep!..
*
15. Vladimir Alekseev Pskov
ELDERLY LADYMAN
Here I am active, I walk, I don’t sit,
Full of love and intelligence
But I’ll look at others - Passisjour,
But for me, it’s mute!
*
16. Yaroslav Dobry
To me, a deputy of the first convocation,
Don't refuse, ladies, I ask...
No, no, not this: I’d like a glass of beer -
Unfortunately, I’m giving up on intimacy for now.
*
17. Tatyana Davidenko
Dad, I ask you to go back to your tent,
Well, this march was in vain.
You could pound a bucket and a spatula,
And if I could, a pot too.
Yes, I'm a bad daughter and even boorish,
But if thirty is nonsense.
Leave me alone, dad, with your Panama hat,
I will never get married in it!
*
18. Galina Hristova
Wonderful moments...or foreign holidays
We arrived in the country.
The one we know from wine.
Old farts walk along the beach
On principle I don’t look!
I haven’t been homesick here for a long time,
Macho soon saw it.
Word for word - conversation,
We met after lunch.
How he sang and danced -
Hollywood was on vacation!
I thawed my soul:
Happiness! Be always with me!
I had a good rest!
Only... the money is gone.
By candlelight he is a glamorous prince!
In the morning I see... he's cleaning the trash cans?
You would be an idol in Russia!
And here are your pants made of holes.
The sea has caressed us all,
Gave me strength and vigor!
The sun was real
And the tan color is brilliant!
I'll tell you what was cool
Let Anyuta be jealous!
Why spoil the mood in vain?
There were wonderful moments!
*
19. Valentin Sysoev
Summer is in full swing. Beach. Anapa.
An old man is walking along the shore,
He has a hat in his hand,
The face is calm and confident.
Such old men at the market
For grooms now in price,
Two tanned blondes
Everyone knows everything about them.
“And I tell you a hundred times,”
One said to the other, -
Age is not important for the groom,”
And he points at the old man with his hand.
“For example, by the way, he’s a grandfather!
Get in touch with this old man
And you will live in a big cottage,
You go straight to heaven.
In a series of simple orientations,
What beckons you and me around,
There's no need to isolate yourself at all
Same-sex or two.
How school showed life
Solving problems with children
Completely manages without flooring.
However, this is clear to everyone"
*
20. Vladimir Khotin
The old man and the sea, the beach and thighs...
Girls. Looks like twins.
*
21. Nikolay Belozubov
I really want to get married...
Swimsuits, of course, are not shiny,
Yes, and on the faces we - let's say so! - Not good,
But with a soul...almost real!..
Single - for now! - by the way!..
Always searching is not an easy task! -
We are up to the star - it’s beautiful, isn’t it, the body,
What’s more important is the dacha on Rublyovka,
And so that it always rustles in your pockets
Preferably in dollars or euros,
Extremely - in rubles, but in thousandth bills!..
My girlfriend and I may be bitches,
But, excuse me, they’re not stupid at all!..
We can distinguish the quadrille... from the Viennese waltz...
(Man, why are you rolling your eyes at us?)
We don’t need it - for Vanka... the villager!..
Let's find... something... better on the beach!..
*
22. Yuli Treskin
*
Reviews
My friends, I am with you again, Mikhail Bitev.
And these are our “near-beach” results.
SECOND place - Yana Lyubicheva and Yuri Voynov (9 votes each) - 200 points each
THIRD place - Marina Tarnopolskaya, Tatyana Davidenko, Garik Zet and Yaroslav Dobry (8 votes each) - 100 points each
FOURTH place - Grandma Yoshka and Eduard Petrovich (6 votes each) - 70 points each
Thanks to everyone who smiled at my “rhyming baubles” from Em Glebov and company -
I thank everyone for the game, prizes will come a little later, but for now let’s once again give the floor to the current winners:
Yuliy Treskin
You understand, the sea is not a river.
Here are those who are richer than our locals.
Oh, Man, freeze, I see an old man.
And he is a client with money, no less.
In his hands is a cool Adidas cap,
And Nike shorts, maybe even cooler.
He is a foreigner, Man, my eye is a diamond!
I suppose the suits are actually from Gucci.
Coming here! What a gorgeous grandfather.
Looks like he's French. I’ll rush with him to Nice one day.
Bonjour, monsieur!.. Empty bottles?.. No...
Oh, Manya, how I want to get drunk!
*
Yuri Voynov
Walk the fool earlier
Could for a ruble on the shore,
Now you can’t get it for three rubles
Even Grandma Yaga...
All! I'll leave today
Help, girls, grandfather!
*
Yana Lyubicheva
Without feeling any trouble,
And cheerful and cheerful,
Came from Karaganda
On vacation in the summer I go to Odessa.
Heady Odessa flavor
Turned my head so much
That, having walked along Richelieuskaya,
I didn't find my wallet.
In the south - how can you live without a wallet?
Where now without the nth amount?
But, after thinking a little,
I think I've figured out a way out.
I walk along the beach until sunset,
I repeat like a cockatoo butt:
-Give me, people, what are you rich in?
I need a ticket to Karaganda!
Odessa residents are sitting by the sea,
But they don't care about me
One thing rushes after: -Go...
Apparently my ticket is covered!
*
Tarnopolskaya Marina
I may not be young and sentimental,
But strong, even with a gray head.
Girls say he's sexy
And glances turn to me.
I've been wandering along the coast for three days now
Among beautiful, tanned ladies
And I don’t lose timid hope,
And I whisper tenderly: “Cherche la femme!”
*
The daily audience of the portal Stikhi.ru is about 200 thousand visitors, who total amount view more than two million pages according to the traffic counter, which is located to the right of this text. Each column contains two numbers: the number of views and the number of visitors.
(1897-1937) and (1903-1942), part 3, chapter. 39. These words mean in French “Gentlemen, I have not eaten for six days” (Je ne mange pas six jours, French). With these words, Kisa Vorobyaninov begged for alms:
" Ostap thoughtfully walked around Ippolit Matveyevich.
Take off your jacket, leader, be quick,” he said unexpectedly.
Ostap took the jacket from the surprised Ippolit Matveyevich's hands, threw it to the ground and began to trample it with dusty boots.
What are you doing? - Vorobyaninov yelled. “I’ve been wearing this jacket for fifteen years, and it’s still like new!”
Don't worry! It won't be as good as new soon! Give me your hat! Now sprinkle your trousers with dust and sprinkle them with narzan. Alive!
Within a few minutes Ippolit Matveyevich became disgustingly dirty.
Now you have matured and acquired full opportunity earn money by honest work.
What should I do? - Vorobyaninov asked tearfully.
You know French, I hope?
Very bad. Within the gymnasium course.
Hm... We'll have to operate within these limits. Can you say the following phrase in French: “Gentlemen, I haven’t eaten for six days”?
Monsieur,” Ippolit Matveyevich began, stammering, “Monsieur, um, um... isn’t it, isn’t it, mange pa... six, as it is, en, de, trois, quatre, senc, sis.” .. sis... zhur. Means -- it's not mange pas sis jour!
What a pronunciation you have, Kisa! However, what can you ask from a beggar? Of course, a beggar in European Russia speaks French worse than Millerand. Well, Kisulya, to what extent do you know? German?
Why do I need all this? - exclaimed Ippolit Matveevich.
Then,” Ostap said weightily, “that you will now go to the “Flower Garden”, stand in the shadows and beg for alms in French, German and Russian, emphasizing the fact that you are a former member of the State Duma from the Cadet faction. All net proceeds will go to fitter Mechnikov. Got it?
Ippolit Matveyevich was instantly transformed. His chest arched like Palace Bridge in Leningrad, his eyes flashed fire, and, as it seemed to Ostap, thick smoke poured out of his nostrils. The mustache slowly began to rise.
Ay-yay-yay,” said great schemer, not at all afraid. -- Look at him. Not a person, but some kind of hunchbacked horse.
Never,” Ippolit Matveyevich suddenly began to ventriloquize, “never has Vorobyaninov extended his hand...
So stretch your legs, you old fool! - shouted Ostap. “You didn’t extend your hands?”
Didn't hold out.
How do you like this gigoloism? He lives on my account for three months! For three months I have been feeding him, singing and raising him, and this gigolo is now in third position and declares that he... Well! Enough, comrade! One of two things: either you go to the Flower Garden right now and bring ten rubles by evening, or I will automatically exclude you from the number of shareholders-concessionaires. I count to five. Yes or no? Once...
Yes,” muttered the leader.
In this case, repeat the spell.
Monsieur, it’s not mange pas sis jour. Goeben mir zi bitte etvas kopek auf dem stück ford. Give something to the former State Duma deputy.
Again. More pathetic.
Ippolit Matveevich repeated.
OK then. Your talent for begging has been ingrained since childhood. Go. Meeting at the spring at midnight. This, keep in mind, is not for romance, but they simply serve more in the evening."
The phrase "Zhe ne mange pas sis jour" in the cinema
From the transcript of V.V. Putin’s meeting with faction leaders:V. ZHIRINOVSKY: Personnel issue according to Borodin. The manager was busy. A man sits without a pension. Is there some way to solve this here? Now there is a decree signed by you, prepared by Golikova. At the beginning of this law, he was equal to the head of the Presidential Administration. Now there is a man left who worked so much, practically receives a regular pension, and held a position that is listed everywhere as a nomenklatura. And Golikova didn’t turn it on. I included all the positions, but forgot about him, because he is alone, only one position. Maybe we can see how it is possible?
G. ZYUGANOV: Vladimir Vladimirovich, support Borodin, this is correct. By the way, he was one of the best mayors in Yakutsk in his time.
V. PUTIN: I heard, I noted.
V. ZHIRINOVSKY: I will tell you. All materials are ready, all calculations are ready.
G. ZYUGANOV: Just support. He worked all his life.
V. ZHIRINOVSKY: The lawyers did their work, that is, just give it to Golikova so that she could include him in this list, and that’s all. Three lines.
As recently as April of this year I saw the starving Pal Palych in Montecatini Terme. The starving man was cheerful and rosy-cheeked. He brought his entire large family on vacation. He settled the entire crowd in the most expensive five-star hotel, Grand Hotel e La Pace, and he himself lived in the same presidential suite where Svetlana Medvedeva lived a month earlier. When I saw Pal Palych, I was really happy for him. After all, not so long ago, after Russia barely pulled him out of a Swiss prison, he was somehow afraid to travel to Europe. Moreover, the Italian prosecutor's office, after Borodin left a Swiss prison, having paid a bail of 5 million Swiss francs, opened its own case: regarding the laundering in an Italian bank of 62 million dollars allocated under Borodin for the reconstruction of the Kremlin. In Russia, the fact that Borodin was released from a Swiss prison was widely publicized, but few people know that in the end a Swiss court found him guilty and sentenced him to a fine of 300,000 Swiss francs. And Borodin paid this fine!
Gennady Andreevich remembers Borodin as the best mayor of Yakutsk. But in Yakutsk they remember something else:
- Hm... We'll have to operate within these limits. Can you say the following phrase in French: “Gentlemen, I haven’t eaten for six days”?
“Monsieur,” Ippolit Matveyevich began, stammering, “monsieur, um, um... isn’t it, perhaps, not mange pa... six, as it is, en, de, trois, quatre, senk, sis... sis... zhur.” So – it’s not mange pas sis jour!
- Well, your pronunciation. Kitty! However, what can you ask from a beggar? Of course, a beggar in European Russia speaks French worse than Millerand. Well, Kisulya, to what extent do you know German?
- Why do I need all this? - Ippolit Matveevich exclaimed.
“Then,” Ostap said weightily, “that you will now go to the Flower Garden, stand in the shadows and beg for alms in French, German and Russian, emphasizing that you are a former member of the State Duma from the cadet faction.” All net proceeds will go to fitter Mechnikov. Got it?
Ippolit Matveyevich was instantly transformed. His chest arched like the Palace Bridge in Leningrad, his eyes flashed fire, and, as it seemed to Ostap, thick smoke poured out of his nostrils. The mustache slowly began to rise.
“Ay-ay-ay,” said the great schemer, not at all afraid. - Look at him. Not a person, but some kind of hunchbacked horse.
“Never,” Ippolit Matveevich suddenly began to ventriloquize, “Vorobyaninov never extended his hand...
- So stretch your legs, you old fool! - Ostap shouted. -You didn’t extend your hands?
- I didn’t hold out.
– How do you like this gigoloism? He lives on my account for three months! For three months I have been feeding him, singing and raising him, and this gigolo is now in third position and declares that he... Well! Enough, comrade! One of two things: either you go to the Flower Garden right now and bring ten rubles by evening, or I will automatically exclude you from the number of shareholders-concessionaires. I count to five. Yes or no? Once…
“Yes,” muttered the leader.
“In that case, repeat the spell.”
- Monsieur, it’s not mange pas sis jour. Goeben mir zi bitte etvas kopek auf dem stück ford. Give something to the former State Duma deputy.
- Again. More pathetic.
Ippolit Matveevich repeated.
- OK then. Your talent for begging has been ingrained since childhood. Go. Meeting at the spring at midnight. This, keep in mind, is not for romance, but simply served more in the evening.
“And you,” asked Ippolit Matveyevich, “where are you going?”
- Don't worry about me. I act, as always, in the most difficult place.
The friends went their separate ways.
Ostap ran to a stationery shop, bought a receipt book there with his last dime, and sat on a stone pedestal for about an hour, renumbering the receipts and signing on each of them.
“First of all, the system,” he muttered, “every public penny must be taken into account.”
The great strategist moved at a shooting pace along the mountain road leading around Mashuk to the place of Lermontov’s duel with Martynov. Past sanatoriums and rest houses, overtaken by buses and two-horse carriages, Ostap came to Proval.
A small gallery carved into the rock led into a cone-shaped (cone up) hole. The gallery ended with a balcony, standing on which one could see at the bottom of the hole a small puddle of malachite-smelling liquid. This Proval is considered a landmark of Pyatigorsk, and therefore a considerable number of excursions and single tourists visit it every day.
Ostap immediately found out that Failure for a person devoid of prejudices can be a profitable source of income.
“It’s amazing,” Ostap reflected, “how the city has not yet figured out how to charge ten kopecks for the entrance to Proval. This seems to be the only place where Pyatigorsk residents allow tourists without money. I will destroy this shameful stain on the city’s reputation, I will correct this unfortunate omission.”
And Ostap acted as his reason, healthy instinct and the current situation told him.
He stopped at the entrance to Proval and, shaking the receipt book in his hands, cried out from time to time:
– Buy tickets, citizens. Ten kopecks! Children and Red Army soldiers are free! Students - five kopecks! Non-union members - thirty kopecks.
Ostap was sure to hit. Pyatigorsk residents did not go to Proval, and it was not the slightest difficulty to rip off ten kopecks from a Soviet tourist for entry “somewhere.” By about five o'clock I had already collected six rubles. It was not the members of the union, of whom there were many in Pyatigorsk, who helped. Everyone trustingly handed over their ten-kopeck coins, and one rosy-cheeked tourist, seeing Ostap, said triumphantly to his wife:
– Do you see, Tanyusha, what I told you yesterday? And you said that you don’t have to pay to enter the Proval. This can't be true! Really, comrade?
“It’s absolutely true,” confirmed Ostap, “this can’t happen without charging for admission.” Members of the union - ten kopecks. Children and Red Army soldiers are free. Students - five kopecks and non-union members - thirty kopecks.
Before evening, an excursion of Kharkov policemen arrived at Proval in two trains. Ostap was frightened and wanted to pretend to be an innocent tourist, but the policemen so timidly crowded around the great schemer that there was no way to retreat. Therefore, Ostap shouted in a rather firm voice:
- Members of the union - ten kopecks, but since representatives of the police can be equated to students and children, then they get five kopecks.
The police paid, delicately inquiring for what purpose the nickels were being collected.
“For the purpose of overhauling Proval,” Ostap answered boldly, “so that it doesn’t fail too much.”
While the great schemer was deftly selling the view of the malachite puddle, Ippolit Matveyevich, hunched over and wallowing in shame, stood under the acacia tree and, without looking at the walkers, chewed the three phrases handed to him:
- Monsieur, no mange... Geben zi mir bitte... Give something to the State Duma deputy...
It wasn’t that they served little, but it was somehow sad. However, playing on the purely Parisian pronunciation of the word “mange” and stirring souls with the plight of the former State Duma member, he managed to grab three rubles worth of coppers.
The gravel crackled under the walkers' feet. The orchestra performed Strauss, Brahms and Grieg with short breaks. The bright crowd, babbling, rolled past the old leader and returned back. Lermontov's shadow hovered invisibly over the citizens who were eating matsoni on the veranda of the buffet. It smelled of cologne and narzan gases.
