Tales from the Golden Age Page #2

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Quiet!

Yes, sir!

It's for you.

Sandy here.

I see.

If something comes up, let me know.

Yes, sir!

The visit has been canceled.

They're going to Constants instead.

Holy sh*t!

Now you regret it?

After all we did to get ready!

Excuse me.

What do we do with the carousel?

We'll take a spin!

- Come on!

- I'm not going on it!

Comrade Mayor, I said everybody!

Come on!

Hey, you, grab the coat!

Come on, girl!

What are we waiting for?

Come on, everybody on!

Us too, boss?

- Comrade Mayor!

- He has a bad heart!

Shut up!

Luminosity, let's swing together!

Comrade Mayor! I said everybody,

I mean everybody!

Everybody on!

- Everybody?

- Everybody!

Watch out!

Stop it, Florica!

Comrade Mayor's throwing up!

Florica!

Stop the carousel, Florica!

Where are you, Florica?

Here I am.

Tell them to stop,

Comrade Mayor is dying!

Tell who to stop?

How do you stop this thing?

Press the button!

Who's going to press it?

I don't know.

What are you doing up here, Florica?

You said everybody!

Oh, no! Comrade Mayor has fainted!

Stop the carousel!

Stop the carousel!

Florica! Turn it off!

How?

Comrade Mayor is dying!

I can't do anything about it.

How long is it going to spin?

Until it runs out of fuel.

How long?

I filled it up this morning!

Stop it once and for all!

Don't worry!

The situation's under control!

Quick, or we'll lose Comrade Mayor!

Listen to him croaking!

Give him a slap!

- I can't reach!

- He mustn't swallow his tongue!

Gogu, shout for someone to stop us!

Hello!

Not like that!

We need to yell together!

Help!

Vasile!

Quiet!

What's ringing?

Are they calling us?

Comrade Mayor has woken up!

It's alright for some.

We work all night

and they have a party!

Legend has it they were still spinning

when the motorcade

turned up at the village.

THE LEGEND OF THE

PARTY PHOTOGRAPHER

This one?

Yes, this one's fine.

Erase the photographer

and lift Comrade Ceausescu

to look a bit taller.

Taller? From this angle,

he's as tall as the Frenchman.

Stop arguing.

Just a bit taller, I said.

But first, let's take a cigarette break,

get some air.

- Which factory are they from?

- Timisoara, near home.

Then give me one.

When I see them coming,

I get shivers down my spine.

Don't start that again, Uncle.

My poor father was always prepared...

He knew a black Volga might come

to pick him up at any time.

When he thought he was OK...

Yeah, then it came!

You know what? Once you're afraid,

they've got you anyway.

I bet you have your suitcase ready.

Should I prepare mine, too?

You can laugh...

Because you're too young to know.

Let's get back to work.

These two are identical.

Right.

Except I took out the photographer

on this one.

It looks better.

So if it's suitable politically...

- What did you cutout?

- The journalist.

Well done.

You can't even tell.

But Comrade Secretary looks too...

He should look a bit taller.

What do you think, Comrade Costache?

Yes, indeed, he should.

I showed you the first version.

Comrade Technician, you're

telling me how to do my job?

Comrade Secretary has decided,

so just do what you're told!

I apologize for my young colleague,

he's new to all this.

We'll retouch it now.

Making him too tall

might seem bizarre

compared to how he looks on TV.

It's not for you to judge how

Comrade Ceausescu looks on TV.

Enough arguing, Comrades.

Your guidelines are clear.

Just follow them!

But the guidelines...

Shut up!

You've 15 minutes to retouch it!

Mr. Vesper J'Espaing

is coming tomorrow.

- Giscard d'Estaing.

- Right.

If we don't concentrate

on getting the paper out on time...

Relax, Comrade Secretary,

we have the summit's program.

The editorial's ready,

the 2nd and 3rd pages too.

Only the official photo

might cause a slight delay.

Go to the airport,

take a quick picture,

retouch it and it's ready to print!

Scanteia must reach the workers

first thing in the morning.

Comrade Secretary, we'll do our best!

If you need us to delay

the trains in the station...

That won't be necessary, I promise.

Comrades...

The motorcade's just been past.

Are they here with the picture?

They should be here by now!

Hurry UP!

Stop knocking!

Be quiet! Are you crazy?

You want to put me in jail?

You promised to stop mouthing off.

Go on!

Take these upstairs and, please,

no more remarks!

Comrades, I propose this one.

It fulfills all requirements.

Yes, but this one's quite good, too.

It's your decision,

but we must get a move on.

We have to get

the presses rolling by 6:30!

We need Party approval!

The Party...

They're here.

May I come in?

Yes, come in.

Come in, then!

Come on!

I didn't want to ruin anything.

You haven't.

Come upstairs with all your photos.

What's wrong now?

They'll tell you.

Be careful. That nephew of yours

has a big mouth.

I've told him to shut up!

I don't want any problems

just before retiring.

- Comrade Costache is watching him!

- Oh, my.

Gentlemen!

Is there a problem?

Perhaps I can help.

The problem is all the photos

are the same.

But we've already made

the Comrade President taller.

Comrade Ceausescu is bare,

while the Comrade d'Estaing

is wearing a hat.

Our President is not bare!

Sorry, I meant bareheaded.

And it's Mr. Giscard d'Estaing!

Sorry, you're right, of course!

But as the Comrade Party Secretary

has noted,

it looks like Comrade Ceausescu

is taking his hat off

to Mr. Giscard d'Estaing.

He's taking his hat off to what

Mr. Vespar J'espaing represents!

- Giscard d'Estaing.

- Right.

A capitalist society.

Why don't we choose another photo?

- They're all the same.

- I'll do the talking!

He's right.

It's a mistake.

Protocol wasn't followed.

We'll have to find a solution

with the pictures we have.

And fast, if not,

we'll miss the train for Suceava.

Comrade Editorial Secretary!

Scanteia must reach our workers

before their morning shift!

That's exactly what I meant.

We'll put a hat on Ceausescu.

Or take Giscard d'Estaing's away.

Ideologically, what is better?

F*** ideology!

Let's just get this sorted!

It'd be quicker to put

a hat on Comrade President's head.

Let's do it!

I'll see the trains wait in the station!

But have the photo on the

front page in half an hour!

Yes, sir!

- Long live the Supreme Commander!

- Stop that!

Yes.

We're being as quick as we can!

Of course!

No, it's not quite ready,

just a few more minutes...

Inform him, yes.

MY respects!

What did he say?

The boss is coming down.

Come in!

Is it ready?

You stay there.

He's feeling weak.

- Is it ready?

- The first attempt's drying.

- It looks fine.

- It's not finished!

Wait!

It still needs retouching!

He's got his hat on. Let's go!

Stop the presses!

- Stop?

- Yes! And stop loading outside!

- You'll take responsibility?

- Yes!

Stop the presses!

They left the hat in his hand too!

You sent it to the Party?

Yes. The first copies that came out.

But I've stopped printing.

You're taking a taxi?

No. I'll walk to the metro station.

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