So after thirty years or so I have a good handle on most of the Britishisms and Adamsisms in HHGTTG et sequelae… and having had British editions of some, even know most of the changes between the US/UK versions (weasel for stoat, etc.)
But last night I hit the line “The waiter thought they sounded like a couple of bailiffs” again (as the gang comes into Milliways saying ten variations of “Wow!”) and it occurred to me that I have no idea what Adams meant.
I always assumed he meant some kind of vaudeville-shaded comedian or something, but fairly extensive searches turn up only (1) definitions of bailiffs as court agents and sheriff-type dudes, and (2) that they’re resented in Britain because like Traffic Wardens, they only come along to give you grief.
So why would Zaphod and Ford “sound like a couple of bailiffs”?
It’s not actually Zaphod and Ford who are referenced here, it’s Arthur and Trillian, since they’re the two who are doing all the talking at this point, goggling at everything they see: “The lights…!” “The tables!” “The clothes!”
That’s when we get “The waiter thought they sounded like a couple of bailiffs.”
Unless it’s a rhyming slang term, which I don’t think it is, it may simply be the colloquial use of “bailiff” as a synonym for debt collector or even repo man, pointing out everything that their targets have paid for. Or, if they mean a judicial bailiff, aren’t they known in England for calling out the names of the next witness? “Call Mrs. Ethel Smith!”
That’s the WAG I’ve got. Not a joke, really, just an insult at how Arthur/Trillian are yammering on about everything they see.
Well, star struck, but in a institutional way. Now that you mention it, its seems like Adams was trying to reinforce how Arthur and Trillian are very British, and locked in a type of institutional thinking. Like the movie (forgive me all for mentioning it in a HHGTTG book thread) gives Arthur the line: “OK. Leave this to me. I’m British. I know how to queue.”
IIRC when the bailiffs come round they have to physically touch and name everything they intend seizing. After that the debtor has a very limited amount of time to settle the debt (now with the bailiffs’ fees added) but cannot sell or otherwise dispose of the named items without agreement.
I gave you the waiter’s impression, just as the others have. Bailiffs as repo men, calling out everything they see that their targets have purchased (and that needs to be repossessed).
The character names matter (Zaphod/Ford are quite different in what they’d say/do from Arthur/Trillian), and even more important was getting the dialogue correct, which you didn’t. Your OP claimed that Zaphod and Ford were just saying different versions of “Wow.” But instead–and integral to the waiter’s “impression”–it was Arthur and Trillian specifically listing everything they saw.
In short, without the context I provided, your question was unanswerable. So, you’re welcome.
(I love when people who ask questions proceed to write snippity posts in response to people just trying to help.)
No. What Adams meant was that they sound like they are cataloguing everything prior to repossessing it: it’s as if they said “The TV, the stereo, the XBox, the laptop, the sofa…”. It doesn’t help that it’s not particularly funny.
I wasn’t in any way trying to be snippity. Your post was an appreciated step in the right direction, but it wasn’t until Quartz’s post that it was specifically spelled out that bailiffs have a practice/requirement of calling out and listing everything in the room. I see what you were saying, but only after the fact. I think the whole process (and basis for the joke) would be a mystery to most non-Brits, so a general explanation, assuming we know how bailiffs typically behave, zeno’ed out before the finish line.
I am from the USA and have never been to the UK or had anything but a most basic understanding of their court system. I too, was always confused by the waiter’s thought until Quartz’ helpful clarification. I do disagree with Penfeather though, once I understood the joke and re-read the bit, I thought it was a pretty funny little joke.
