The Birds Page #7

FULL SHOT - THE CAR

pulling in, in front of the post office. Melanie opens the

door and steps out. She is smartly dressed in a traveling

suit and sweater. She looks up at the sign, and then walks

quickly toward the front door.

MED. SHOT - MELANIE

enters post office.

CLOSE SHOT - POSTAL CLERK

behind cage as Melanie approaches it. He is busy filling out

a form of some kind, affixing stamps to it, etc. He does not

look up as she approaches.

CLOSE SHOT - MELANIE

through the bars of the cage.

MELANIE:

Good morning.

CLOSE SHOT - POSTAL CLERK

CLERK:

(without looking up)

Morning.

TWO SHOT - MELANIE AND THE CLERK

MELANIE:

I wonder if you could help me.

CLERK:

Try my best.

MELANIE:

I'm looking for a man named Mitchell

Brenner.

CLERK:

Yep.

He is still busy with his form, still does not look up.

MELANIE:

Do you know him?

CLERK:

Yep.

MELANIE:

Where does he live?

CLERK:

Right here. Bodega Bay.

MELANIE:

Yes, but where?

CLERK:

Right across the bay there.

MELANIE:

Where?

It seems as if the Clerk will not answer her. Suddenly, he

leaves the window.

CLOSE SHOT - MELANIE

through the bars, exasperated.

REVERSE SHOT - FULL - MELANIE

as she tries to peek through the bars to see where he's

vanished. A door to the left of the window opens, and the

Clerk steps out. He walks a little distance as Melanie watches

him, then stops, turns and looks at her surprised, as if

he'd expected her to be right behind him. He stands stock

still, looking at her, saying nothing. She understands then

that he wants her to follow him, and she catches up, neither

speaking. They go to the front door. He opens it, looks at

her, then looks out across the town and the bay. He extends

his arm and points.

CLERK:

See where I'm pointing?

MELANIE:

Yes?

FULL SHOT - THE BAY - THEIR P.O.V. - (MATTE)

CLERK (O.S.)

See them two big trees across there?

MELANIE (O.S.)

Yes?

CLERK (O.S.)

And the white house?

MELANIE (O.S.)

That's where the Brenners live.

TWO SHOT - MELANIE AND THE CLERK

MELANIE:

The Brenners? Mr. and Mrs. Brenner?

CLERK:

Nope, just Lydia and the two kids.

MELANIE:

The two kids?

CLERK:

Yep. Mitch and the little girl.

MELANIE:

I see. How do I get down there?

CLERK:

Follow the road straight through

town 'til it curves off on the left.

That'll take you right around the

bay to their front door.

MELANIE:

The front door.

(pause)

Isn't there a back road I can take?

CLERK:

Nope. That's the road. Straight

through town, stay on your left,

right around the bay to the front

door.

MELANIE:

You see, I wanted to surprise them.

CLERK:

Mmmm.

MELANIE:

I didn't want to come right down the

road, where they could see me.

CLERK:

Mmmm.

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