Killing Birds

Oh, thanks.

Woo!

Yeah!

Woo, all right!

Hey, Paul.

Hey, Paul.

Hey, Paul.

Hi, Steve.

Hey.

Take a look at this.

Ooh.

Holy shit, this is fantastic.

Right.

We got everything we asked for.

We got the grant, thesis credit...

the equipment, everything.

And have you heard from your pal...

in the Scientific American?

Well, I didn't want to say anything 'til this...

but they'll publish the paper if we find...

the ivory-billed woodpecker.

God, I'm gonna faint.

Do you think you can handle it?

Do you think I can handle it? Do bears shit in the woods?

Oh, I know, I know.

I'm sorry I asked.

I can't wait to see Mary Brad's face, she'll die.

About Mary...

I can't go without my camera assistant.

Mary Brad is essential.

Well, essential is essential.

Why all the sudden interest...

in the Ivory-billed woodpecker?

Dr. Green, I didn't hear you.

I know, you were busy with the Ivory bill.

Well?

Sir, it seems that not a single sighting of the bird...

has been reported in the last 20 years...

and if somebody doesn't find it fast...

it's gonna be declared extinct.

Fast?

Well, by 1992.

I understand the science department...

is financing an expedition to look for your...

Ivory bill, sir.

Ivory bill, of course.

I believe Steve Porter is leading the expedition.

You know him, don't you?

We're still friends.

Good.

Because we're thinking of sending someone...

to cover the story for "The Witness".

Well, why not me?

Why not?

You will if you want to stay on "The Witness".

I told you, I have to do a piece...

on the library building fund.

Fuck the library building fund!

This is a matter of life or death.

Okay, okay, whatever you say, sir.

That's more like it.

Now, dig up whatever you can on Frederick Brown...

Sarah Willis, and Arthur Nolan.

On my desk by 4.

Very funny.

Hi.

Hope I'm not interrupting anything.

Hi, Anne.

Hi, Anne. Did you have a nice summer?

Best ever, you?

Can't complain.

I should hope not.

I hear they approved your project.

Congratulations.

Thanks, Anne.

Well, I guess I'll be seeing ya.

I guess so.

"The Witness" is sending me to cover the expedition.

Over my dead body.

Steve, I didn't think you still cared.

Anne, this is serious.

I was kidding.

Okay, take it easy.

Not about the expedition though.

Forget it.

By the way, I've tracked down the last few persons...

to see the Ivory bill.

Rob, we got the grant.

I'm still working on it.

I just can't get it to look real.

So this is what you do for fun, huh?

Not for fun, son, for money.

If I could just get it to work right.

We got the grant.

And faculty credit?

Well, that's great!

No senior seminar.

You all set?

I've been working all summer on it.

I'll bet.

Well, maybe not all summer.

You know, it's nice not to have any senior seminar.

Hm?

Hi, everybody!

Hi. How you doin'?

I think ya'll know Anne...

she'll be covering the expedition for "The Witness".

Jesus, Steve, she'll scoop us!

Do you think the "Scientific American's"...

gonna want our stuff after it appears in "The Witness"?

Neither nor rain nor slow nor sleet nor hail.

Anne's not covering the results...

she's covering us.

And Steve's covering Anne.

Okay, I see we're gonna have to discuss...

some guidelines here.

Anne.

A journalist's work is done with patience...

and quiet determination.

What?

Well, it's about time.

Let's have it.

Well, Brown was an instructor at LSU...

before he went to Vietnam.

It says here he's blind.

Was that Vietnam?

Nah uh, that was later.

Poor bastard.

A blind bird watcher.

Keep reading.

Hi.

Yeah, that'll be great.

We can handle the rest.

Oh, the state says I gotta go along.

Keep an eye on things, take care of the motor.

Anything happens, you know.

Well, I'm sure we can manage.

Whether you can or can't, camper goes with me.

Call me Brian.

Right, Steve.

Pretty piece of tail.

You better not let Paul hear you say that.

Oh yeah?

Who's Paul?

Look, can we just go?

I'm tired of this parking lot.

Everything in?

Yeah.

Hey everybody, this is Brian.

Hey, Brian. Hey, Brian.

Hey, Brian.

I think that's fair enough.

IfAnne lets us read the article...

before she submits it, where's the beef?

Well, what if we don't like what she writes?

Just don't do anything you don't want...

in the papers, dear.

Steve.

Come on, Mary.

Anne's just teasing.

Don't give her the satisfaction.

And Professor Simon will arbitrate...

any differences of opinion.

And I don't have to submit my material to "The Witness".

Whoa, just a second.

Anne did give us the names of the last three people...

who'd seen the Ivory bill, didn't she?

Yeah, but one of them is dead.

That's not my fault.

And another one lives in California.

Yeah, but Frederick Brown still lives...

right here in Louisiana.

Thanks, Anne.

What's that guy doing back there?

He's filling in some data...

on some possible observation points.

Slow down, that must be it.

This must be the place.

Maybe I better go in alone.

I mean, we don't have an appointment or anything.

Come on!

I'm coming too.

After all, you wouldn't be here if it weren't for me.

Mr. Brown?

Anybody home?

Anne, Anne.

We shouldn't be doing this.

Is anyone home?

What are you doing in my house?

I meant to frighten you, and I'm glad I did.

No, I don't need your help, missy.

I'm not afraid of the dark.

May I?

As you may.

Make yourself at home.

Now Steven Porter, Wells.

Let me have a look at you.

I'm from the "Wells Witness", sir.

May I take notes?

How interesting.