By eight o'clock, the bar is completely packed with people from around the world.Come from Away · 2021 — Chapter 17 of 22 · 5'49" · B1
The Screech-In Ceremony, Explained: take the plunge
The bar has filled with stranded passengers, and the night turns into a Newfoundland initiation. Locals bring out instruments, then a ceremony: newcomers must drink Screech and "kiss the fish" to be made honorary Newfoundlanders. Two of them, not even married, get teased into a proposal on the spot: "Well, would you like to be?"
What happens
By eight, the bar is packed with people from around the world, trading stories while staff keep bringing drinks. Locals pick up fiddles and accordions, and the night builds to a Screech-In: to become honorary Newfoundlanders, the visitors drink Screech and kiss a cod. A couple who are not married are asked how their relationship works, and the question turns into a proposal.
Listen for
take the plungemake runs fornothing ventured, nothing triedput up my hand
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Now
Phrase of the scene
take the plunge
下定决心一试；终于豁出去
入籍仪式上大家被怂恿亲那条鳕鱼，歌里用这句话鼓励人豁出去。
They finally took the plunge and moved abroad.
Also in this scene
- make runs for
make repeated trips to fetch something
- nothing ventured, nothing tried
you must take a risk to gain anything
- put up my hand
raise your hand to volunteer
Everything marked in this scene
32 notes across 115 lines
elision
By eight o'clock, the bar is completely packed with people from around the world.and the bar staff keep making runs for more beer and liquor.After an hour, people are swimming in the river out back.present continuous
After an hour, people are swimming in the river out back.Couple of the local boys get up with their accordions and fiddles.Heave away, me jollies Heave awayThen we decide to have a bit of a ceremony.Let's make these people honorary Newfoundlanders!The only other way, at any rate Is pass away and pray to fate And wait to reincarnateThe only other way, at any rate Is pass away and pray to fate And wait to reincarnateAs a Newfoundlander Hey, hey, come on inside Nothing ventured, nothing triedellipsis in proverb
As a Newfoundlander Hey, hey, come on inside Nothing ventured, nothing triedwho-question
Who wants to become a Newfoundlander?raise your hand to volunteer
I have no idea why I put up my hand. And Kevin's like…why-clause
I have no idea why I put up my hand. And Kevin's like…Oh, my God. Are you serious? Oh, my God. You are serious.-Where you from, buddy? -Los Angeles.-Now, how does that work? -What?Diane had had two beers by then, so it was probably the alcohol talking.Hey, hey, just sing along Nothing ventured, just prolongedAll the locals were tossing it back with nar' a quiver,Down the hatch!liaison
Down the hatch!So don't be dumb Just take the plungeGo on, kiss the fishLadies and gentlemen, this is a genuine freshly caught Newfoundland cod.And if you want to become an honorary Newfoundlander, you'll have to give her a smooch!All right, look, I'll make you a deal.After it's over, out the door And you'll be a Newfoundlanderliaison
After it's over, out the door And you'll be a NewfoundlanderHey! Good job, LA.The Screech-In Ceremony, explained
What's really going on
The scene is a party that becomes a ritual, and the ritual is how the town turns strangers into neighbours. The details are deliberately silly - bad Jamaican rum, an ugly stick, a fish you have to kiss - but the ceremony is doing real work: "Let's make these people honorary Newfoundlanders!" It gives everyone in a room full of frightened travellers something to be part of, and the absurdity is the point. The comedy peaks when a Texan woman and her English boyfriend are asked how their marriage works, discover they are not married, and get the question turned back on them: "Well, would you like to be?" One beer too many does the rest. The scene is funny about it, but the offer underneath is serious: you are welcome here, and you can belong.
Theme
IdentityA ceremony hands strangers a new label, honorary Newfoundlanders, and with it a place to belong for the night.
TrustThe town invites frightened travellers into its own rituals, and the joke and the invitation both say: you are safe here.
Listen for
- packed with — elision
- Down the hatch — liaison
- out the door — liaison
Screech is basically bad Jamaican rum.The blunt truth about the local ritual drink: it's cheap, rough rum, and the joke is that it's treated as sacred.
So don't be dumb Just take the plungeThe ceremony's advice, and the town's whole attitude: stop hesitating and take the risk of joining in.
I am not kissing a fish!A flat refusal that makes the cod-kissing tradition sound as absurd as it looks, and gets everyone laughing.
And you'll be a NewfoundlanderThe refrain of the song: the reward for taking part is a new, borrowed identity for the night.
Diane had had two beers by then, so it was probably the alcohol talking.A wry aside admitting the engagement may have been the beer, which makes the moment both funny and real.
Questions about this scene
What is a Screech-In?
It's a Newfoundland initiation ceremony in which visitors drink Screech rum, kiss a cod and are declared honorary Newfoundlanders.
Why do the locals hold the ceremony?
To welcome the stranded travellers and turn a room of strangers into a community, using a silly ritual everyone can join.
What does "take the plunge" mean?
It means to finally do something you have been hesitating about. In the song it's the push to stop stalling and join the ceremony.
What happens between the Texan woman and the Englishman?
The host assumes they are married, learns they are not, and asks if they would like to be; a few beers later, they agree.
How do the travellers react to the ceremony?
Most of them play along, kissing the fish and drinking the rum, even as some joke about how awful Screech tastes.
Come from Away · 22 chapters
All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 18Don't be a strangerGander Says Goodbye to the Visitors
Chapter 1a lay of the landGander Learns of the Emergency
Chapter 2shaking like a leafPlanes Land Unexpectedly in Gander
Chapter 3a state of emergencyGander Declares a State of Emergency
Chapter 4for the love of GodA Town Gathers Supplies
Chapter 5rumors start flyingPassengers Stuck on Planes for 28 Hours
Chapter 6make no mistakeWaiting on the Plane for News
Chapter 7left over fromPassengers Disembark into the Dark
Chapter 8hear a pin dropGander Finds Translators and Animals
Chapter 9speak the same languageLocals Drive Passengers to the Camp
Chapter 10to the ends of the earthGander Academy Becomes a Shelter
Chapter 11suit yourselfStranded Passengers Wait for News
Chapter 12make small talkGander Locals Take In the Passengers
Chapter 13praise be to GodThe Gayest Town in Newfoundland
Chapter 14there for meA Mother Waits and Tells Jokes
Chapter 15a moment of silenceA Gas Station Falls Silent
Chapter 16jump at one's own shadowA Fight Breaks Out in the Hallway
Watching · Chapter 17take the plungeThe Screech-In Ceremony
Chapter 18Don't be a strangerGander Says Goodbye to the Visitors
Chapter 19take seriouslyA Muslim Passenger Is Searched
Chapter 20seize the momentDiane and Nick at the Lookout
Chapter 21ground zeroThe Aftermath Back Home
Chapter 22a big breakGander Remembers the Plane PeopleChapter 17 of 22 · about 16 min to go