The Birds Page #3

Synopsis: Melanie Daniels is the modern rich socialite, part of the jet-set who always gets what she wants. When lawyer Mitch Brenner sees her in a pet shop, he plays something of a practical joke on her, and she decides to return the favor. She drives about an hour north of San Francisco to Bodega Bay, where Mitch spends the weekends with his mother Lydia and younger sister Cathy. Soon after her arrival, however, the birds in the area begin to act strangely. A seagull attacks Melanie as she is crossing the bay in a small boat, and then, Lydia finds her neighbor dead, obviously the victim of a bird attack. Soon, birds in the hundreds and thousands are attacking anyone they find out of doors. There is no explanation as to why this might be happening, and as the birds continue their vicious attacks, survival becomes the priority.
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
Director(s): Alfred Hitchcock
Production: Universal Pictures
  Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.7
Metacritic:
87
Rotten Tomatoes:
96%
PASSED
Year:
1963
119 min
856,150 Views


MRS. MACGRUDER

What is it? Oh! Oh my, one of the

birds is loose!

She joins in the chase around the room. The bird flutters up

to the ceiling, and then lands on the counter and watches

them suspiciously.

MITCH:

Shhh! Shhhh!

He tiptoes up to the bird, hat in hand. Quickly, he covers

the bird with his hat, then reaches under to grab it.

CLOSE SHOT - MITCH

the canary in his hand.

MELANIE:

There we are!

MRS. MACGRUDER

Oh, good! Oh, wonderful.

FULL SHOT - THE BIRD DEPARTMENT

as Mitch carries the canary back to the cage. He opens the

door.

MITCH:

(putting the canary

in)

Back into your gilded cage, Melanie

Daniels.

CLOSE SHOT - MELANIE

startled.

MELANIE:

What did you say?

TWO SHOT - MELANIE AND MITCH

MITCH:

(savoring this)

I was merely drawing a parallel,

Miss Daniels.

MELANIE:

But how... how do you know my name?

MITCH:

(secretly)

A little birdie told me.

(he smiles politely)

Good day, Miss Daniels.

(he bows to Mrs.

MacGruder)

Madam.

(he starts out)

MELANIE:

Hey, wait a minute!

She goes after him. Mitch turns, stops, smiles, enjoying her

bafflement immensely. Melanie studies him. Then:

MELANIE:

I don't know you.

MITCH:

Ahhh, but I know you.

MELANIE:

How?

MITCH:

We met in court.

MELANIE:

We never met in court or anyplace

else.

MITCH:

That's true. I'll rephrase it. I saw

you in court.

MELANIE:

When?

MITCH:

Do you remember one of your practical

jokes that resulted in the smashing

of a plate glass window?

MELANIE:

I didn't break that window!

MITCH:

No, but your little prank did. The

judge should have put you behind

bars!

MELANIE:

What are you? A policeman?

MITCH:

I simply believe in the law, Miss

Daniels, and I'm not too keen on

practical jokers.

MELANIE:

What do you call your lovebird story

if not a practical...

MITCH:

Ahhh, but I really do want those

birds.

MELANIE:

You knew I didn't work here. You

deliberately...

MITCH:

Right. I recognized you when I came

in. I thought you might like to know

what it felt like to be on the other

end of a gag. What do you think of

that, Miss Daniels?

MELANIE:

I think you're a louse.

MITCH:

I am.

(he tips his hat)

Good day.

(to Mrs. MacGruder)

Madam.

(and he goes down the

steps)

MELANIE:

And I'm glad you didn't get your

lovebirds!

MITCH:

(breezily, as he goes

out)

I'll find something else.

(he gives a slight

bow)

See you in court some day.

The door closes. The puppy begins BARKING.

MELANIE:

(angrily)

That... that... who was that?

MRS. MACGRUDER

I have no idea.

CLOSE SHOT - MELANIE

seething as she stares after him. Suddenly, she gets an idea.

MED. SHOT - MELANIE

going down the steps and to the front door of the shop. She

looks through the glass.

LONG SHOT - MITCH - MELANIE'S P.O.V.

Rate this script:2.5 / 13 votes

Ed McBain

Ed McBain (October 15, 1926 – July 6, 2005) is one of the pen names of an American author and screenwriter. Born Salvatore Albert Lombino, he legally adopted the name Evan Hunter in 1952. While successful and well known as Evan Hunter, he was even better known as Ed McBain, a name he used for most of his crime fiction, beginning in 1956. He also used the pen names John Abbott, Curt Cannon, Hunt Collins, Ezra Hannon, Dean Hudson, and Richard Marsten. more…

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Submitted by acronimous on March 23, 2016

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    "The Birds" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/the_birds_63>.

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