The Birds Page #2

TWO SHOT - MELANIE AND MITCH

MITCH:

(deadpan)

Lovebirds.

MELANIE:

Lovebirds, sir?

MITCH:

Yes. I understand there are different

varieties, it that true?

MELANIE:

Well... yes, sir, there are.

MITCH:

These are for my sister... her

birthday you see. As she'll be eleven

and... well, frankly, I wouldn't

want a pair of birds that were too

demonstrative.

MELANIE:

I understand completely, sir.

MITCH:

As the same time, I wouldn't want

birds that were aloof, either.

MELANIE:

(leading him around

shop)

No, of course not.

MITCH:

Do you have a pair that are just

friendly?

MELANIE:

I think so, sir.

(she looks around)

Now then, let me see.

MITCH:

(at the finches)

Aren't these lovebirds?

MELANIE:

No, sir, those are... redbirds.

MITCH:

The sign says strawberry finches.

MELANIE:

(airily)

Yes, we call them that too.

(she moves away)

Ahhh, here we are, Lovebirds...

(and stops before a

cage of canaries)

MITCH:

Those are canaries, Miss.

(pause)

Doesn't this make you feel awful?

MELANIE:

(baffled)

Doesn't what make me...?

MITCH:

All these innocent little creatures

caged up like this?

MELANIE:

Well, we can't just let them fly

around the shop, you know.

MITCH:

I suppose not. Is there an

ornithological reason for keeping

them in separate cages?

MELANIE:

Oh, certainly. It's to protect the

species.

MITCH:

I imagine that's very important.

Especially during the moulting season.

MELANIE:

Yes, that's a particularly dangerous

time.

MITCH:

Are they moulting now?

MELANIE:

Some of them are.

MITCH:

How can you tell?

MELANIE:

Well... they get a sort of hangdog

expression.

CLOSE SHOT - A CAGED BIRD - MITCH'S P.O.V.

The bird is wearing a distinctly hangdog expression.

MITCH:

Yes, I see.

(pause)

About those lovebirds, Miss...

MELANIE:

Are you sure you wouldn't like to

see a canary instead? We have some

very nice canaries this week.

MITCH:

All right.

(he smiles)

She smiles back.

MITCH:

(he waits)

All right, may I see one, please?

CLOSE SHOT - MELANIE

as she realizes she is expected to take one of the canaries

out of the cage. She smiles feebly, glances toward the counter

where she expects Mrs. MacGruder to reappear momentarily,

and then takes a deep breath. She opens the door to the canary

cage, and cautiously puts her hand into it.

MELANIE:

(feebly)

Here, birdie. Here, birdie, birdie.

One of the canaries suddenly flutters out of the cage and

into the room. Melanie leaps back, startled.

MELANIE:

Oh! Ohhhhh!

FULL SHOT - THE BIRD DEPARTMENT

as the canary flies frantically about the room, Melanie and

Mitch in pursuit. Mrs. MacGruder appears at the counter,

finally confronted with the chaos she's been expecting all

day.

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