Strictly for the Birds
- Year:
- 1963
- 63 min
- 44 Views
[Birds Squawking]
[Birds Squawking]
[Squawking, Cawing]
[Wings Flapping]
[Chirping, Twittering]
[Squawking Intensifies]
[Cable Car Bell Dinging]
[Squawking Continues]
[Car Horn Honking]
[Boy Wolf Whistles]
[Squawking, Chirping]
[Birds Chirping]
Hello, Mrs. MacGruder.
Hello, Miss Daniels.
Have you ever
seen so many gulls?
What do you suppose it is?
There must be a storm at sea.
That can drive them inland,
you know.
I was hoping you'd be
a little late.
He hasn't arrived yet.
But you said 3:
00.I know.
I know.
I've been calling
all morning.
Oh, Miss Daniels,
you have no idea.
They are
so difficult to get.
Really, they are.
We have to get them
from India when they're
baby chicks, and then...
This one won't be a chick,
will he?
Oh, no, certainly not.
This will be a full-grown
mynah bird.
- And he'll talk?
- Well, yes, of course he'll...
Well, no, you'll have
to teach him to talk.
I guess maybe I'd better phone.
They said 3:
00.Maybe it's the traffic.
I'll call.
Would you mind waiting?
Well, maybe you'd better
deliver him.
Let me give you
my address.
Oh, well, all right,
but I'm sure they're
on the way.
Would you mind
if I called?
No. All right.
I wonder if you
could help me.
What?
I said, I wonder
if you could help me.
- Yes. What is it
you're looking for, sir?
- Lovebirds.
Lovebirds, sir?
Yes. I understand there
are different varieties.
Is that true?
Well, yes,
there are.
Well, these are for
my sister for her birthday,
and as she's only gonna be 11,
I wouldn't want
a pair of birds...
that were...
too demonstrative.
I understand completely.
At the same time, I wouldn't
want them to be too aloof.
No, of course not.
Do you happen to have
a pair of birds that are...
just friendly?
Oh, I think so.
Now, then, let me see.
[Chirping Continues]
Aren't those lovebirds?
No. Those are, uh...
red birds.
I thought they were
strawberry finches.
Yes. We call
them that too.
Here we are.
Lovebirds.
Those are canaries.
Doesn't this
make you feel awful?
Doesn't what make me feel...
Having all these poor, innocent
creatures caged up like this?
Well, we can't just let them
fly around the shop.
I suppose not.
L- Is there an ornithological
reason for keeping them
in separate cages?
Certainly.
It's to protect the species.
Yes, that's important,
especially during
the molting season.
That's a particularly
dangerous time.
Are they molting now?
Oh, some of them are.
How can you tell?
Well, they... get a sort
of hangdog expression.
Yes, I see.
Well, what about
the lovebirds?
Are you sure
you wouldn't like to see
a canary instead?
We have some very nice
canaries this week.
All right.
All right.
May I see it, please?
Oh! Oh!
[Mrs. MacGruder]
What is it?
Oh! Oh!
[Mrs. MacGruder]
Oh! Oh! Oh!
Oh! Oh!
There we are.
Oh, there.
Wonderful.
Back in your gilded cage,
Melanie Daniels.
What did you say?
I was merely drawing
a parallel, Miss Daniels.
How did you know my name?
A little birdie
told me.
Good day, Miss Daniels.
Madam.
Hey, wait a minute.
I don't know you.
Ah, but I know you.
How?
- We met in court.
- We never met in court
or anyplace else.
- That's true. I'll rephrase it.
I saw you in court.
- When?
Don't you remember one of your
practical jokes that resulted
in the smashing of a window?
- I didn't break that window.
- Yes, but your little prank did.
- The judge should've
put you behind bars.
- What are you, a policeman?
I merely believe in the law.
And I'm not too keen
on practical jokers.
- What do you call
your lovebird story...
- I really wanted the lovebirds.
You knew I didn't work here.
You deliberately...
I recognized you when I came in.
to know what it's like to be
on the other end of a gag.
What do you think
of that?
I think you're a louse.
I am. Good day,
Miss Daniels. Madam.
And I'm glad you didn't get
your lovebirds.
I'll find something else.
See you in court.
Who was that man?
I have no idea.
[Cable Car Bell Dinging]
They said the mynah bird would
be here later this afternoon,
if you care to come back.
No, you'd better send him.
May I use this phone?
Why, certainly.
Daily News?
It's Melanie Daniels.
Could you get me the City Desk?
Just a minute,
Mrs. MacGruder.
Hello, Charlie.
Melanie.
I want you to do
a favor for me.
No, this is a small one.
Pressure you?
Why, Charlie, darling,
would I try to pressure you?
Would you call the Department
of Motor Vehicles for me?
Find out who owns
this license plate:
W- J-H-0-0-3.
Yes, a California plate.
No. I'll stop off
in a little while.
Is Daddy in his office?
No, I don't want
to break in on a meeting.
Tell him I'll see him later.
Thank you, Charlie.
Do you have any lovebirds?
Well, no, not in the shop,
but I can order them for you.
How soon?
Well... Well, when
would you want them?
Immediately.
Well, I could probably have them
here by tomorrow morning.
Would that be
all right?
That would be just fine.
[Chirping]
[Door Slides Closed,
Elevator Hums]
[Door Slides Closed]
Miss, is that
for Mitch Brenner?
Yes.
He's not home.
That's all right.
He won't be back
until Monday... I mean,
if those birds are for him.
Monday?
Yes.
I don't think you should leave
them in the hall, do you?
Well... Where did he go?
Bodega Bay.
He goes there every weekend.
Bodega Bay.
Where's that?
Up the coast,
about 60 miles north of here.
Sixty mi... Oh!
It's an hour and a half
by freeway, or two hours
if you take the Coast Highway.
I'd look after them myself,
but I'm going away too.
I'm awfully sorry.
[Engine Revving]
[Tires Screeching]
[Bell Dings]
Good morning.
Good morning.
I wonder if you
could help me.
I'll try my best.
I'm looking for a man
named Mitchell Brenner.
Yeah.
Do you know him?
Yeah.
Where does he live?
Right here, Bodega Bay.
- Yes, I know, but where?
- Right across the bay there.
Where?
Now, see where
I'm pointing?
Yes.
[Shopkeeper]
See them two big trees
across there?
On the other side
of the bay? Yes.
And the white house?
Yes.
That's where
the Brenners live.
The Brenners?
Mr. And Mrs. Brenner?
No. Just Lydia
and the two kids.
The two kids?
Yeah, Mitch
and the little girl.
Oh, I see.
How do I get down there?
You follow the road
around the bay, and that'll
take you to their front door.
The front door. Is there
a back road I can take?
No. That's the only road.
You see, I want
to surprise them.
Oh.
I don't want them
to see me arrive.
Oh.
It's a surprise, you see.
Well, you could get yourself
a boat and cut right across
the bay to their dock.
Where would I get a boat?
Down by
the Tides Restaurant.
- Did you ever handle
an outboard boat?
- Of course.
- Want me to order one for you?
- Well, thank you.
What name?
Daniels.
Okay.
[Shop Bell Dings]
[Rotary Phone Dialing]
I wonder if you
could tell me...
Yeah.
Hold it a minute, please.
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"Strictly for the Birds" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Dec. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/strictly_for_the_birds_4125>.
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