Answer:
a sort of blackout joke- that has happened in real life- scene a subway train. a power outage and the lights momentarily go off. train is stalled but lights on and air conditioning going.. minutes drag by- then a Charlie Chan type meekly asks the conductor- Whatsa Maller, Stling Bloke? ( what"s the matter, string broke- to refer to the power outage. that"s typical understatement.