The Birds Page #6

MELANIE:

Oh.

MAN:

I'd hold the birds for him, but I'm

going away myself. Someone's got to

feed them, I suppose.

MELANIE:

(in utter despair now)

Yes. Yes, someone's got to feed them.

MAN:

(apologetically)

I'm awfully sorry.

He puts the key into his lock, opens the door, and goes

inside. The door closes. Melanie is alone in the hallway.

CLOSE SHOT - MELANIE

exasperated. She looks at the open elevator. She turns to

look at the birds.

LONG SHOT - THE LOVEBIRDS

in their cage outside the apartment door, CHATTERING.

MED. SHOT - MELANIE

surrendering with a gesture of resignation. She walks down

the hall, picks up envelope and puts it in her purse, picks

up the bird cage, carries it back to the elevator. The birds

are COOING and CHIRPING madly.

MELANIE:

Oh, shut up!

And she steps into the elevator.

DISSOLVE:

FULL SHOT - MELANIE'S OPEN CAR - (MATTE)

on the coast highway. It is a spectacularly beautiful day,

with a cloudless blue sky. The montage of SHOTS that follow

should alternate between the winding, twisting road and the

ocean below, and CLOSEUPS of Melanie driving with the caged

birds on the seat beside her. The last shot should be a FULL

SHOT of the car rounding a particularly sharp curve.

CLOSE SHOT - MELANIE

She turns wheel forcefully.

CLOSE SHOT - THE LOVEBIRDS

in the cage as the car rounds the bend. They lean to one

side as the car turns, come up straight again as the car

rounds the curve.

FULL SHOT - (MATTE)

Car approaching Bodega Bay seen high up.

CLOSE SHOT - MELANIE

at the wheel, she glances out toward the bay.

FULL SHOT - A CLUSTER OF BUILDINGS AT WATERFRONT

ahead, through the windshield as the car approaches.

CLOSE SHOT - MELANIE

behind the wheel, leaning forward slightly for a look at the

town.

LONG SHOT - DOCKS ON LEFT

through the windshield as Melanie slows her speed.

CLOSE SHOT - MELANIE

behind wheel.

LONG SHOT - STORES

on right of the road as Melanie enters the town. SLOW PAN

matching car's cruise past BAKERY, SHOE REPAIR, CLEANERS,

RADIO AND TELEVISION.

CLOSE SHOT - MELANIE

behind wheel.

LONG SHOT - THE TIDES

past the gas station and beyond to the parking area and the

docks, continuing Melanie's slow observation of the place.

CLOSE SHOT - MELANIE - (PROCESS)

studying the town. The car turns into road by gas station.

FULL SHOT - THE TOWN

through the windshield. The car turns right. There is life

in the town now, fishermen crossing the road, women with

their hair in curlers, old ladies carrying shopping bags.

This is Saturday morning, and the town -- such as it is --

is alive with its inhabitants. We see them from Melanie's

P.O.V. AS SHE SCANS THE PLACE FOR ITS POST OFFICE. (THIS TO

BE TAKEN ON BACK LOT.)

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