Birdman of Alcatraz Page #4

you wanted, Shorty.

Thanks, Bull.

Do you want anything to read, Stroud?

I want something from you, I'll ask for it.

Stroud! Get in outta the rain, you nut!

You're all gut, you little runt.

Hey, Stroud, what ya doin'

up there on the ceiling?

- Collecting beetles and cockroaches.

- I see.

Beetles and cockroaches.

Poor old Stroud. He's goin' bugs.

Gettin' pretty big now, huh?

About time for you to fly.

OK, kid, hop to it.

Well, go ahead, fly.

Well, come on, Runty, fly.

What's the matter?

A little chicken-hearted?

All right, come on, you little punk. Fly!

What are you gonna do when it's time to

go south for the winter? Walk to Mexico?

Hm.

All right, kid. Now give it a try.

Come on. Come on.

Come on, Runt. Come on, fly.

Here. Come on.

Come here. Come on.

Come on!

- What's the matter with you, anyway?

- He'll never get off the ground.

That bird's yellow to the core.

You gonna be a quitter? Hm?

Now you fly, you little punk, or I'll throw

you out on your ear, you hear me?

Fly!

Fly!

Yellow, huh?

Cold?

About six months

after Stroud picked up the sparrow,

the biggest piece of news

a penitentiary can get

went through Leavenworth

like a forest fire.

A new warden had been appointed.

West.

Rather.

Sacourivitch.

Hollister.

Stroud.

Warden, can I have a minute of your time?

I mean you, Warden Younger.

I'd like you to watch something.

OK, Runty.

That's it.

Come on, come on. Open it, open it.

Open it.

Open up. Go ahead.

Open it.

Go ahead. That's it.

That's it.

I've never seen anything

like that in my life.

Where did you get that bird?

Found him in the exercise yard, sir.

Just put your finger on his feet.

- What kind of a bird is that?

- A sparrow.

It must have taken great patience

to train him. I admire that.

Then I can keep him, sir?

I don't see why not. Do you?

You're the warden now, Jess.

It's up to you.

I think it'll be permitted.

Don't take advantage, Stroud.

I wouldn't think of it, sir.

- There is one thing.

- Yes?

- I need some birdseed.

- Birdseed?

Yes.

I doubt if we've got any in the warehouse.

I took the liberty of ordering some.

It's at the post office.

I need your permission

to have it released.

I like your nerve. You'll get your order.

Thank you.

Trained sparrows in solitary!

Pretty cute act you put on there.

Just amusing myself.

Still ignoring prison regulations,

aren't you?

I hear you're going to Washington to plan

a new Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Yes, I am.

Every pen run by the book, huh?

If you mean uniformity, you're right.

- Drop me a postcard, Harv.

- I plan to keep in touch.

- You did middlin', Runty. Middlin'.

- Middling?

He just saved your carcass, that's all.

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