镇长 你们怎么 先去马克思那儿报到了
“Mr. Zheng and Ms. Li, you got an early appointment with Marx?”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
太平间 书记
“Morgue? Mr. Zheng and Ms. Li, you got”
镇长 你们 怎么 先去 马克思那儿 报到 了
“Mr. Zheng and Ms. Li, you got an early appointment with Marx?”
怎么说话呢这人
“How can he talk like that?”
“Did you really kick the bucket already, Mayor?”
In Chinese socialist context, 'going to see Marx' or 'reporting to Marx' is a famous euphemism for death, often used jokingly or solemnly among Party members.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
to check in / to report for duty
Literally used for registering at school or a new job; combined with Marx, it forms an idiom for death.
Signifies completed action or a sudden, shocking change of state.
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Parallel Spoken Cinema Scenes (语义近邻切片)
“Ms. Li. This is the town government! Don't go too far!”
“Mr. Xie, rest assured. I'll fulfill my duties to the last day. Well...”
“Mr. Zheng and Ms. Li, I failed in my duties.”
“Ms. Li. Find a spot to stand. Stand over there.”
“She does whatever she wants. Anything! - Mr. Xie, what do you mean by that? - Make a big fuss!”
“But Ms. Li might not. Why do I suddenly feel dizzy?”