The Birds

Hello, Mrs. MacGruder.

Oh, hello, Miss Daniels.

Have you ever seen so many gulls? What do you suppose it is?

There must be a storm at sea. That can drive them inland, you know.

l was hoping you'd be a little late. You see, he hasn't arrived yet.

Oh, but you said 3:00. Oh, l know.

l know. l've been calling all morning.

Oh, Miss Daniels, you have no idea.

They are so difficult to get. Really, they are.

We have to get them from lndia,

when they're just baby chicks, and then. . .

This one won't be a chick, will he?

Certainly not. Oh, no, certainly not.

This will be a full-grown mynah bird. Full-grown.

And he'll talk?

Well, yes, of course he'll. . .

Well, no, you'll have to teach him to talk.

l guess maybe l'd better phone. They said 3:00.

Maybe it's the traffic. l'll call.

Would you mind waiting?

Well, maybe you'd better deliver him.

Let me give you my address.

Oh, well, all right,

but l'm sure they're on the way.

Would you mind if l called?

No. All right.

MlTCH: l wonder if you could help me.

What?

l said, l wonder if you could help me.

Yes. What is it you're looking for, sir?

Lovebirds.

Lovebirds, sir?

Yes. l understand there are different varieties.

ls that true?

Well, yes, there are.

Well, these are for my sister for her birthday, you see,

and as she's only gonna be 1 1 ,

l wouldn't want a pair of birds

that were too demonstrative.

l understand completely.

At the same time, l wouldn't want them to be too aloof, either.

No, of course not.

Do you happen to have a pair of birds that are just friendly?

Oh, l think so. Now, then, let me see.

Aren't those lovebirds?

No. Those are red birds.

l thought they were strawberry finches.

Yes. We call them that, too.

Here we are. Lovebirds.

Those are canaries.

Doesn't this make you feel awful?

Doesn't what make me feel. . .

Having all these poor, little innocent creatures caged up like this?

Well, we can't just let them fly around the shop, you know.

No, l suppose not.

ls there an ornithological reason

for keeping them in separate cages?

Well, certainly. lt's to protect the species.

Yes, that's important, especially during the molting season.

That's a particularly dangerous time.

Are they molting now?

Oh, some of them are.

How can you tell?

Well, they get a sort of hangdog expression.

Yes, l see. Well, what about the lovebirds?

Are you sure you wouldn't like to see a canary instead?

We have some very nice canaries this week.

All right.

All right. May l see it, please?

Oh ! Oh !

Oh, what is it? Oh !

MlTCH: There we are.

Oh, there. Wonderful.

Back in your gilded cage, Melanie Daniels.

What did you say?

l was merely drawing a parallel, Miss Daniels.

How did you know my name?

A little birdie told me.

Good day, Miss Daniels. Madam.

Hey, wait a minute.

l don't know you.

Ah, but l know you.

How?

We met in court.

We never met in court or anyplace else.

That's true. l'll rephrase it. l saw you in court.

When?

Don't you remember one of your practical jokes

that resulted in the smashing of a plate-glass window?

l didn't break that window.

Yes, but your little prank did.

The judge should've put you behind bars.

What are you, a policeman?

l merely believe in the law, Miss Daniels.

And l'm not too keen on practical jokers.

What do you call your lovebird story if not. . .

Oh, l really wanted the lovebirds.

Well, you knew l didn't work here. You deliberately. . .

Right. l recognized you when l came in.

l just thought you might like to know

what it's like to be on the other end of a gag.

What do you think of that?

l think you're a louse.

l am. Good day, Miss Daniels. Madam.

And l'm glad you didn't get your lovebirds.

Oh, l'll find something else. See you in court.

Who was that man?

l have no idea.

They said the mynah bird would be here later this afternoon,

if you care to come back.

No, you'd better send him.

May l use this phone?

Why, certainly.

Daily News? lt's Melanie Daniels.

Could you get me the City Desk, please?

Just a minute, Mrs. MacGruder.

Hello, Charlie. Melanie.

l want you to do a favor for me.

No, this is a small one.

Pressure you? Why, Charlie, darling, would l try to pressure you?

Would you call the Department of Motor Vehicles for me?

Find out who owns this license plate,

W-J-H-0-0-3.

Yes, a California plate.

No. l'll stop off in a little while. ls Daddy in his office?

No, l don't want to break in on a meeting. Tell him l'll see him later.

Thank you, Charlie.

Do you have any lovebirds?

Well, no, not in the shop, but l can order them for you.

How soon?

Well, when would you want them?

lmmediately.

Well, l could probably have them here by tomorrow morning.

Would that be all right?

That would be just fine.

Miss, is that for Mitch Brenner?

Yes.

He's not home.

That's all right.

He won't be back until Monday, l mean, if those birds are for him.

Monday? Yes.

l don't think you should leave them in the hall, do you?

Well. . . Where did he go?

Bodega Bay. He goes there every weekend.

Bodega Bay. Where's that?

Up the coast, about 60 miles north of here.

Sixty. . .

lt's an hour and a half by freeway,

or two hours if you take the Coast Highway.

Oh.

l'd look after them myself, but l'm going away, too.

l'm awfully sorry.

Good morning. Good morning.

l wonder if you could help me.

l'll try my best.

l'm looking for a man named Mitchell Brenner.

Do you know him? Yeah.

Where does he live? Right here, Bodega Bay.

Yes, l know, but where?

Right across the bay there.

Where?

Now, see where l'm pointing?

Yes.

See them two big trees across there?

On the other side of the bay? Yes.

And the white house? Yes.

That's where the Brenners live.

The Brenners? Mr. and Mrs. Brenner?

No. Just Lydia and the two kids.

The two kids?

Yeah, Mitch and the little girl.

Oh, l see. How do l get down there?

You follow the road around the bay,

and that'll take you right to their front door.

The front door. ls there a back road l can take?

No. That's the only road.

You see, l want to surprise them.

Oh.

l don't want them to see me arrive.

Oh.

lt's a surprise, you see.

Well, you could get yourself a boat

and cut right across the bay to their dock.

Where would l get a boat?

Down by the Tides Restaurant.

Did you ever handle an outboard boat?

Of course.

Want me to order one for you?

Well, thank you.

What name? Daniels.

Okay.

l wonder if you could tell me. . .

Yeah. Just hold it a minute, please.

The little girl's name?

The little Brenner girl?

Yes.

Alice, l think.

Harry, what's the little Brenner girl's name?