Paulie

The agency told you you had to pay

for your own uniforms, right?

(Heavy accent)

Yes, I to buy with money from job.

No, no, no. You can't start

a job without a uniform.

But how to buy when not been paid?

- You don't have any money?

- No.

This is why I take job.

To make money.

This is why I come to America.

- To be big shoot.

- Shot. Big shot.

I try not to live in past.

Only present tense since I come.

(Chuckling)

Yeah, but big shoot makes no sense.

This is the main building.

Administration, lecture rooms

and the laboratories.

It's just the floors in here.

Don't worry about the cages

or what's in 'em.

The research assistants feed them.

You know, they study animal behavior.

In cage,

only can behave like prisoner.

Word of advice, my man.

Try not to think so much,

and whatever you do,

don't bother the professors.

They're the real big shoots

around here.

Watch your step.

(Sighing)

This is purgatory.

I'll get the trash.

(Snoring)

What bird kind is this?

(Snorts) Huh?

The biting kind. Be careful.

(Growls)

Are you bird or dog?

What... What he's doing down here?

Paulie's an old project

for Dr. Reingold.

Didn't work out. Loss of funding

or something. I can't remember.

But he's not eat, I think,

and he lose his feather.

Don't worry about him.

Come on. I'll show you

where the incinerator is.

(Singing)

(Singing continues)

(Buffer starts)

(Singing)

# I loved you

the first time I saw you

# I always will love you

# Marie #

You made me your fairy godmother.

So if I'm your fairy godmother,

I command you to go to sleep.

You gotta go to sleep, Marie.

Look, I'll be right here.

Good night, Marie. I love you, too.

OK, I'll see you in the morning.

- (Yelling)

- Hey, who are you?

What are you doing down here?

Get outta here!

Come on! Leave me alone!

And don't come back!

Virgil. First, he's singing.

Now he's talking.

Quit messing with that parrot

and get back to work

before you get us both fired.

M.A.

Hello.

"Food consists of seeds,

"nuts, bugs.

"Flocks are seen feeding

in mango trees,

"bearing ripe fruit."

(Door opens)

Mango.

Muchas gracias.

(Sighing) Let's see.

What shall I have for lunch tonight?

Now, here is some big banana,

very plump papaya...

and... some nice mango.

Oh, yes, this is a good one.

Nice and yellow on the inside.

Oh, yes,

this going to taste delirious.

You like mango, bird?

Hmm? It's very juicy...

and good for growing feathers.

Want a bite? Hmm?

Say "mango".

Mango.

Mmm. Oh, this good.

Mmm.

All right. Mango, mango, mango.

M-a-n-g-o. Mango.

Are you happy now?

(Gasps and coughs)

Oh, my God.

This is what you've reduced me to.

I've sold out for a piece of fruit.

(Gasping)

I can't believe it. You can talk?

Believe it, Tolstoy, but don't

forget the fruit, the mango.

Give it to me, you mop monkey.

- Oh.

- Bird?

(Bird) Oh, my Lord.

What your name is, bird?

Talk to me, bird.

Bird.

The, uh, skin test...

- Excuse me, you are Dr. Reingold?

- Yes, I am.

- I am Misha Belenkoff.

- Hello.

- I have to ask you about a parrot.

- Parrot?

The one in the...

down in-in-in dungeon.

Maybe is wrong word. Uh...

- There is a bird down there.

- Mm-hmm.

A green parrot.

Oh, the little conure.

Yeah. Is he still with us?

Yes, I come to tell you,

with great amazement,

he can talk.

- No, he mimics.

- Mimics? What is "mimics"?

He repeats what he hears.

He does not talk.

No, he understand.

He's intelligent, Doctor.

I know...

I appreciate your concern, Mister...

- Belenkoff.

- Belenkoff.

But, well, you see these people?

This is what they do.

And this is what I do.

Don't you think if we had an animal

with that kind of intelligence,

somebody would have noticed?

I know parrot talk. He sing song.

He understand speech.

He even insult me.

- He call me mop monkey.

- (Laughing)

He talk.

I can prove you to it.

Would you like some mango?

(Misha) Mango.

(Growls)

(Dr. Reingold) Speak.

(Squawks)

- Speak.

- (Squawks)

No, please, listen, sir.

Maybe if I explain better.

If I say...

I think you've said enough.

Let us do our job and you do yours.

Like, maybe, pick up the trash.

Great. Now we're both in trouble.

What is problem with you?

You know,

maybe they should stuff you,

scoop you out, fill you with foam

and glue you to fake tree.

You're lonely, I think. I am lonely.

In Russia,

I was teacher of literature.

In America,

I am cleaner of bird crap.

I miss words.

I miss my language.

I just would like someone to talk to.

- Join the club.

- What?

I said, join the club.

So I'm not crazy. You CAN talk.

- Of course I can talk.

- Then why you not?

Because talking

just gets you into trouble.

- Trouble? Why you say that?

- It's a long story.

I'm Russian.

I like long stories.

All right, Chekhov. Sit down.

(Sighing) It all started with Marie.

The one in the song.

Yeah. The one in the song.

(Indistinct talk)

(Woman) Marie!

Marie, come see

what your grandpa brought you.

- (Stuttering) G-G-Grandpa!

- My beautiful girl.

W-What d-did you bring me?

Look in the basket, sweetie.

(Paulie) 'I opened my eyes,

and there she was.'

B-Bird.

(Squawking)

(Paulie) 'I didn't know what this

creature was, but I liked it.'

I thought I'd give her someone

to talk to. I named him Paulie.

Pretty P-Paulie.

(Paulie) 'Pretty Marie.'

You w-w-want some?

Just mix a little in there, OK?

O-OK.

G-Go down.

D-D-Do y-you like this?

G-G-Good.

G-G-Good boy.

(Chattering)

Marie, can you help Mommy?

This goes on the glass tray.

This goes in the star bowl, OK?

(Background music) # Lonely days

are gone, I'm a-goin' home

# My baby just wrote me a letter

# I don't care how much money

I got with me

# I got to get back to my baby... #

(Mom) Hey, Jerry,

did you get something to drink?

- Here you go, guys.

- Oh, that's great. Thanks.

Marie, can you get that bird

off the table?

Marie.

- Paulie's h-helping me.

- He's helping you. I know. I know.

Why don't you two go outside and play

until Daddy gets here?

Y-Y-Y-You like that?

Wait t-t-t-till Daddy sees you.

(Cheering)

There she is. There she is.

She's growin'. Hi, Bunny.

- How's my big girl?

- Say hello to your daddy, Marie.

Handshake first, kiss later, OK?

Ooh, that's a strong handshake.

- (Squawking)

- Hey.

When did we get a bird?

G-G-Grandpa g-got him for me.

H-H-His n-name is Paulie.

(Music box)

P-Paulie w-wants a kiss, too.

OK.

# I loved you the first time

# I saw you

# And I always...

will love you, Marie #

Good night.

(Door slams)

(Dad) I just cannot believe

you didn't tell me.

(Mom) I wanted to write you.

- Well, then, why didn't you?

- I didn't know what to say.

Is she getting any better?

Is it going away?

No, but it won't go away if you

put too much pressure on her.

I don't think

you put enough pressure on her.

I can't stand to see her suffer.

I can't stand it!

What happens when she goes to school?

Do you think she'll be made fun of?

Because I can guarantee you

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