This clip shows Italian migrant Nino Culotta (Walter Chiari), who has just arrived from Italy, walking down a busy Sydney street. He enters a crowded bar to buy a drink, but encounters problems when the barmaid uses unfamiliar terms such as 'schooner’ and 'middy’. An Australian man (Jack Allen) at the bar assists him and buys him a drink, teaching him about the custom of the 'shout’, and engaging him in conversation that includes Australian slang. Misunderstandings ensue, but are ultimately sorted out, and the clip ends with the two men sharing a second beer together.

This clip starts approximately 15 minutes into the feature.

Nino enters the Marble Bar which is noisy and full of people. He makes his way through the crowd to the bar.

Barmaid What’ll it be?

Nino Culotta If you please, I wish to drink some beer.

Barmaid A schooner or a middy?

Nino looks confused and hesitates.

Nino If you please, I wish to drink some beer.

Barmaid (in a louder voice) A schooner or a middy?

Man How long you been in Australia, mate?

Nino Oh, I just arrived today, sir.

Man Oh, that explains it. These big glasses are called schooners and the small ones are middies.

Nino Oh, thank you.

Barmaid Schooner or middy?

Nino Uh, I wish to have a middy.

Man Have one with me. Two schooners, thanks Jean.

Nino Thank you. I would be extremely delighted to accept your kind invitation.

Man Where do you come from?

Nino I am Italian.

Man Are ya? Big bloke like you? You don’t look it.

Nino Please, what means ‘big bloke’?

Man Ah, well, everyone’s a bloke. You’re a bloke, I’m a bloke. We’re all blokes. Cheers.

Nino Cheers

The men raise their glasses and drink.

Man Tasted Australian beer before?

Nino No, this is the first time.

Man Best beer in the world. Puts a gut on you, though. What do you do for a crust?

Nino I’m sorry, sir, but I didn’t understand you.

Man How do you earn your living?

Nino Oh, I’m a writer.

Man In Italian?

Nino Yes, in Italian.

Man Well, your turn.

Nino Please, what means my turn?

Man Your turn to shout.

Nino Why I should shout?

Man Because I shouted you.

Nino I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you shout me.

Man When a bloke buys you a beer it’s called a ‘shout’, see? Now I shouted you. Now it’s your turn to shout for me.

Nino Oh. I’m sorry but I think I do not wish to drink another beer.

Man Now listen, in this country if you want to keep out of trouble, you always return a shout, see?

Nino Oh, is it a custom?

Man Bloody oath, it’s the custom. Your shout!

Nino Alright. Excuse me, sir. It would be offensive for your susceptibility if I buy a drink for you and I don’t buy another drink for me?

Man That’s the worst insult you can give a man. Jean…

Nino I wish to shout.

The men receive their beers and chink glasses, smiling at each other.

Nino What do you do for your crust?

Man Me? I do shipwork down the … hey, did you hear what he said? Cheers.

Nino Cheers.