Edit L'histoire du Corbac aux baskets
Last edited 02:45, 28th August 2008
by david turgeon (davidt)
by david turgeon (davidt)
L'histoire du Corbac aux baskets
- Creator: Fred
- Publisher: Dargaud
- Published on: 1993-08-01
- ISBN: 2205041894
About This Book
_L’histoire du Corbac aux baskets_ is one of the major works from Fred (real name Othon Aristidès), also known for his well-loved Philémon series. Nothing by Fred has been translated to English, even though he is one of the major French authors from the 1960s to 1990s. This book is a very suitable introduction to his work, filled with both biting social commentary and striking absurdist poetry — and drawn in Fred’s usual, unimitable style. This is one of his later books, and tells the story of Armand, who wakes up one day to find he is a crow. Looking for help, he goes to the psychiatrist and then…
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Translation
Page 5
Panel 1
Dr. Toward Crow, Psychiatrist
Panel 2
RRRRING [etc.]
Panel 3
TAP TAP [etc.]
Panel 5
Doctor… I came to see you because your name inspired trust in me. // I hesitated for a long, long time… And then I came.
Panel 6
You did well, my friend… What is your problem?
Panel 7
You don’t notice anything, Doctor?
— Of course I noticed. You take me for an imbecile or what? You are wearing running shoes.
— Of course I noticed. You take me for an imbecile or what? You are wearing running shoes.
Panel 8
Yes… But that’s not all, Doctor… // That’s not all. // ...Of course, I’m wearing running shoes, but that’s not all… // ... If only that was all…
— Ah? Then follow me, my friend, follow me.
— Ah? Then follow me, my friend, follow me.
Page 6
Panel 1
And close the door.
— Well one moment, I’m not even inside.
— No matter. Close the door! // I’m not paranoid but still, close the door. // If only as an act of politeness. // Because hey? You close the door when you enter a place… Especially a psychiatrist’s office…
— Well one moment, I’m not even inside.
— No matter. Close the door! // I’m not paranoid but still, close the door. // If only as an act of politeness. // Because hey? You close the door when you enter a place… Especially a psychiatrist’s office…
Panel 2
Speaking of doors, how long have you been wearing these shoes?
— Excuse me?
— Excuse me?
Panel 3
Fine. Let me be more precise: for how long have these shoes worn you? // And close the door.
Panel 4
Huh… I don’t know… A while, I suppose… But I didn’t come to see a psychiatrist to talk shoes… Otherwise I would have seen a shoemaker…
— Of course. But you came to a psychatrist.
— Yes, but not because of the shoes.
— That you think, my friend, that you think.
— Of course. But you came to a psychatrist.
— Yes, but not because of the shoes.
— That you think, my friend, that you think.
Panel 5
When your head is troubled, do you usually visit a shoemaker?
— I tell you my shoes do not trouble me. // Are you deaf?
— I tell you my shoes do not trouble me. // Are you deaf?
Panel 6
And I’m getting tired of those questions about my running shoes! // Am I asking you why you’re wearing a funnel on your head, huh?
Panel 7
But I can answer that question, my friend. My hat is the exterior and distinctive mark of my profession… // Eh!
Panel 8
I am a psychatrist, don’t you forget it.
Panel 9
If I were a shoemaker, of course, I’d be wearing a shoe on my head. // You gotta be logical. // Close the door.
Page 7
Panel 1
There. We are in my office.
Panel 2
Do lay down.
Panel 3
Well… With all these questions about my running shoes, I don’t even remember what I came here for!
Panel 4
That’s no problem, my friend. Lay down on the sofa, it will all come back to you…
Panel 5
... It always comes back on the sofa… // God, is this seat uncomfortable.
Page 8
Panel 1
If this seat is so uncomfortable, then why do you keep using it?
— Bah! I got used to it, it’s my work place.
— Bah! I got used to it, it’s my work place.
Panel 2
I had it when I was little… Very little… Very… Very… Very little…
— That didn’t change much.
— … A child… Yes… I was then but a child…
— That didn’t change much.
— … A child… Yes… I was then but a child…
Panel 3
What am I saying, a child? I mean a toddler! A baby! Who was already eating his pablum in this very seat…
Panel 4
You must always go back to childhood… Always…
Panel 5
Today, I take my notes on the same chair…
Panel 6
But I also continue to eat my pablum here…
Panel 7
This chair has become my alimentary desk… // By the way, it’ll be 400 Francs for the consultation.
Panel 9
Okay, well, but I’m not the one who came to see me, it’s you. Lay down on the sofa and tell me of your problems.
Page 9
Panel 1
This sofa isn’t very comfy. // For the price.
Panel 2
?
Panel 3
There. I’m listening, my friend.
Panel 4
That’s weird. You’re not taking your notes with your big pen?
— Excuse me?
— Excuse me?
Panel 5
I don’t see what’s weird? Why this bizarre question? Are you trying to avoid the issue?
— Not at all… I was just asking…
— Nobody asks anything for nothing. // So I will answer your question: if I don’t use my big pen, as you say, it’s because it eats up too much: seven litres per hour!... The price ink is! // I prefer to use the pencil, it’s more economical… And you can erase. // Erasing is important!
— Not at all… I was just asking…
— Nobody asks anything for nothing. // So I will answer your question: if I don’t use my big pen, as you say, it’s because it eats up too much: seven litres per hour!... The price ink is! // I prefer to use the pencil, it’s more economical… And you can erase. // Erasing is important!
Panel 6
I use this pen, this big pen, only to welcome my patients… It is a part of my uniform just like the funnel is.
Panel 7
Yes, my friends… The funnel and the big pen are the two mammaries of the psychiatrist! [translation note: This strange phrase seems to be a pun after the famous speeches of Franquin’s character the Mayor of Champignac.]
Panel 8
There! Are you satisfied? // So now, stop beating around the bush and speak, I am listening!
Page 10
Panel 1
Everything started a few months ago, Doctor, barely a few months ago and since, my life has gone awry…
— A few months, you say? Be precise. Two months? Six months?
— A few months, you say? Be precise. Two months? Six months?
Panel 2
You’re pissing me off with your precision! A few months, that’s it!
— Fine, fine. Go on, my friend, you intrigue me. What happened two or six months ago? What troubled you so?
— Fine, fine. Go on, my friend, you intrigue me. What happened two or six months ago? What troubled you so?
Panel 3
A feather.
— A feather?
— Yes: a feather.
— A feather?
— Yes: a feather.
Panel 5
I am sorry to say, my friend, but here I must ask that you be somewhat more precise… What do you mean exactly by a feather?
Panel 6
Well, a feather, period, just a feather. One morning, I went to shave myself, just like every morning and, on my face, instead of a hair, there was a feather.
— Really? // And that troubled you?
— Really? // And that troubled you?
Panel 7
It’s actually natural for a crow to have feathers. What’s less natural is to shave… // Whaen you have feathers…
Panel 8
But I wasn’t a crow before… I was a normal being… Like you and me… Well… Like you… (Almost)...
Panel 9
There is a slight difference between us, my friend… If I may: you are wearing running shoes… // Not I.
Page 11
Panel 1
But let’s go back to our business… Our feathery business. So you wake up one morning and you find out you have turned into a crow? // Is that it?
— Briefly, that is it, yes.
— Briefly, that is it, yes.
Panel 2
Have you consulted a veterinary?
— Are you crazy? I was already late!
— Are you crazy? I was already late!
Panel 3
I jumped in my running shoes and quickly went to work.
— Did you walk or did you fly?
— Did you walk or did you fly?
Panel 4
Late again, Mister Corbackobasket!
Panel 5
Corbackobasket is my name… Armand Corbackobasket.
— Thanks, I got it… And what did he recognize you by, your boss?
— Well, my running shoes.
— Corbackobasket… That’s not a name from here, that…
— Thanks, I got it… And what did he recognize you by, your boss?
— Well, my running shoes.
— Corbackobasket… That’s not a name from here, that…
Panel 6
This is uncanny! // What is this costume, Mister Corbackobasket? Are you really thinking you’re going to work in this disguise?
— This isn’t a disguise, Mister Ploum…
— This isn’t a disguise, Mister Ploum…
Panel 7
I woke up like this this morning. // Can you understand, Mister Ploum?
— Yes, I understand, Mister Corbackobasket! // I understand that you always find a reason to arrive late to work!
— Yes, I understand, Mister Corbackobasket! // I understand that you always find a reason to arrive late to work!
Page 12
Panel 1
And your shoes, Mister Corbackobasket! Are those the shoes of a honest man? I told you a hundred times not to come to work with these running shoes! A hundred times! But Mister Corbackobaskets is the stubborn type!
Panel 2
These shoes tie me to reality, Mister Ploum. A little… // They are the only link left.
Panel 3
Reality! HA! HA!
Panel 4
Hey, you all! Quit your machines for a few moments, even though every moment costs our corporation very, very much… But come to this distraction for a moment, a very short moment. // And quick!
— Right now, good master…
— Right now, good master…
Panel 5
I can’t wait to see what it is! Ha! Ha! I’m laughing already.
— It has to be very funny. Mister Ploum generally has a lot of humour. // Ha! Ha!
— In particular too! He! He!
— Mister Ploum is simply irresistible. Ha! Ha!
— I always wonder where he get his ideas. Ha! Ha!
— It’s a gift! Ha! Ha!
— We’re in for a laugh! Ha! Ha!
— It has to be very funny. Mister Ploum generally has a lot of humour. // Ha! Ha!
— In particular too! He! He!
— Mister Ploum is simply irresistible. Ha! Ha!
— I always wonder where he get his ideas. Ha! Ha!
— It’s a gift! Ha! Ha!
— We’re in for a laugh! Ha! Ha!
Panel 6
What are you all doing? Have you all gone crazy or what? Why are you all laughing? // I didn’t ask you to come over here for laughs!
Panel 7
I asked you all to come distract yourself for a moment, a very short moment, but what I have to show you is not funny.
— It’s true: nothing is funny right now, Mister Ploum.
— War everywhere, that’s not funny.
— And hunger in the world! Did you think of the hunger all around the world? That is horrible!
— And the economic morass? When you think of the morass, you don’t want to chuckle!
— Indeed, the current conjoncture is not conducive to hilarity. // Far from it.
— It’s true: nothing is funny right now, Mister Ploum.
— War everywhere, that’s not funny.
— And hunger in the world! Did you think of the hunger all around the world? That is horrible!
— And the economic morass? When you think of the morass, you don’t want to chuckle!
— Indeed, the current conjoncture is not conducive to hilarity. // Far from it.
Page 13
Panel 1
Look for a moment, a very short moment, at your colleague Mister Corbackobasket, and tell me, frankly, if his disguise makes you laugh!
— It is not a disguise, Mister Ploum… I am not trying to make anyone laugh…
— Me it does not make me laugh at all! // But I certainly do not want to influence you. // Speak!
— It is not a disguise, Mister Ploum… I am not trying to make anyone laugh…
— Me it does not make me laugh at all! // But I certainly do not want to influence you. // Speak!
Panel 2
Me I completely agree with Mister Ploum: Corbackobasket does not make me laugh.
— Me neither. Not at all!
— I even find hum grotesque.
— What an idea, coming to work with running shoes!
— And tied, too! That’s so yesterday, tying your shoelaces.
— If you look well, you’ll see they’re not even real running shoes.
— Then that’s worse! Tied pseudo-running shoes, that’s provocation.
— I didn’t see it that way but now that you say it…
— Just from his looks you see this guy is a punk!
— His name, too: Corbackobasket, is that from here?
— Surely not!
— Me neither. Not at all!
— I even find hum grotesque.
— What an idea, coming to work with running shoes!
— And tied, too! That’s so yesterday, tying your shoelaces.
— If you look well, you’ll see they’re not even real running shoes.
— Then that’s worse! Tied pseudo-running shoes, that’s provocation.
— I didn’t see it that way but now that you say it…
— Just from his looks you see this guy is a punk!
— His name, too: Corbackobasket, is that from here?
— Surely not!
Panel 3
Well, you can see now, and you say yourself that your running shoes play a great role in your troubles, Mister Corbackobasket.
Panel 4
These days, with ecology being all in fashion, people don’t have anything against crows, my friend, but a crow who goes to work with running shoes, that’s bothersome.
— I am not a crow.
— Go on.
— I am not a crow.
— Go on.
Panel 5
Me, foreigners don’t make me laugh.
— To each country its humour.
— We already have a hard enough time laughing among ourselves.
— They’re coming to take the laugh out of our mouths, these people.
— I had a foreign friend. He is clean.
— Of course, there’s always exceptions.
— It’s better to look at it twice.
— Does he have feathers? Does he wear running shoes?
— Ah? As a matter of fact, he doesn’t have feathers but he does wear running shoes.
— Ah! You see?
— Not tied, though.
— There! He’s making an effort to adapt, at least!
— To each country its humour.
— We already have a hard enough time laughing among ourselves.
— They’re coming to take the laugh out of our mouths, these people.
— I had a foreign friend. He is clean.
— Of course, there’s always exceptions.
— It’s better to look at it twice.
— Does he have feathers? Does he wear running shoes?
— Ah? As a matter of fact, he doesn’t have feathers but he does wear running shoes.
— Ah! You see?
— Not tied, though.
— There! He’s making an effort to adapt, at least!
Page 14
Panel 1
See for yourself, Mister Corbackobasket, you are not making anyone laugh, not me, not your colleagues!
Panel 2
ALL RIGHT! ENOUGH! Go back to your work, you all! Recreation has ended. It cost enough already to the corporation.
— It was nice, Mister Ploum, I liked it.
— Mister Ploum is always nice.
— And good, too. He always thinks of his corporation.
— It was nice, Mister Ploum, I liked it.
— Mister Ploum is always nice.
— And good, too. He always thinks of his corporation.
Panel 3
Good. Now that we are between us, Mister Corbackobasket, I will speak to you man to man… Well, if I may say so…
Panel 4
As I did, you have noticed in your colleagues’ comments a certain animosity towards you… // No?
— Yes.
— Yes.
Panel 5
You bother them, Mister Corbackobasket, it’s obvious. You trouble them when you provoke them so.
— Me? I didn’t provoke anyone.
— Me? I didn’t provoke anyone.
Panel 6
Of course you provoke them! They are coming to work on time, wearing suit and tie, and you come to work late with feathers and running shoes! IS THAT NOT PROVOCATION?
Panel 7
But I repeat that it’s not my fault, Mister Ploum. I woke up like this, this morning… With feathers all over and a beak instead of a nose.
Panel 8
Well, yes… Feathers… Beak… That could be excusable… In the last resort… BUT YOUR RUNNING SHOES! You can’t make me believe you woke up with running shoes over your feet, Mister Corbackobasket?
— I have no more feet, Mister Ploum… I have palms.
— Ah?
— I have no more feet, Mister Ploum… I have palms.
— Ah?
Page 15
Panel 1
No matter if you have feet or palms inside or even outside of your running shoes, Mister Corbackobasket, all I notice is that you disturb our corporation.
Panel 2
Seeing the current economic context, we cannot allow ourselves a single fantasy. // And you are a fantasy, Mister Corbackobasket.
Panel 3
I would have kept you… I like fantasy… // Sometimes… // But there is the crowd of your colleagues. // You saw their reaction! They can’t stand people not like them.
Panel 4
The crowd is thankless to fools like you, Mister Corbackobasket. // Thankless!
Panel 5
The crowd has crucified many other fools before you… With or without running shoes.
Panel 6
And I am like Pontius Pilates, Mister Corbackobasket: I listen to the crowd! // For the good of society!
— Like him, basically.
— Yes but me, it’s for my society! [translation note: Here there is a hard-to-translate pun as the French word “société” means both “society” and “corporation”, which is how the word was translated in earlier dialogue.]
— Like him, basically.
— Yes but me, it’s for my society! [translation note: Here there is a hard-to-translate pun as the French word “société” means both “society” and “corporation”, which is how the word was translated in earlier dialogue.]
Panel 7
UGH! But those feathers are so greasy! // Very greasy!
— They are from this morning, Mister Ploum.
— They are from this morning, Mister Ploum.
Panel 8
I don’t have any advice to give you, Mister Corbackobasket, but after getting your last check, you should go and get a shower.
Panel 9
And I am thus going to wash my hands… // ... Speaking of Pontius Pilate.
