Onward and upwards.

It’s not the birds, but the humans they’re surrounded by…

1.) Cathy the Sociopath

Cathy Brenner : Mitch knows a lot of people in San Francisco. Of course, they’re mostly hoods.

Lydia Brenner : Cathy!

Cathy Brenner : Well, Mom, he’s the first to admit it. He spends half his day in the detention cells at the Hall of Justice.

Lydia Brenner : In a democracy, Cathy, everyone is entitled to a fair trial. Your brother’s practice…

Cathy Brenner : Aw, Mom, please. I know all that democracy jazz. They’re still hoods….He has a client now who shot his wife in the head six times. Six times! Can you imagine it? I mean, even twice would be overdoing it, don’t you think?

Human darkness, my friends. The Birds are secondary to the sociopath that will grow up to haunt that coastal town.

2.) The Tension Between Melanie and Annie…

Annie is a straight up downstage left bitter brunette drunk before her time.

Who then has to help host an 11 year-olds birthday party. For the man she loves but can never have.

While tri-multaneously being the only one to suggest “let’s get the children in the house before this bird attack gets worse.”

3.) Melanie’s Outfit/Wool(?) is Aromatically Held On For Dear Life

She wears it for days. Covered in coastwater, sweat, stress, bird feathers, cigarette smoke, and a prayer.

4.) The Sheriff Is About As Good As We Can Imagine.

“The birds attacked us at my sister’s birthday party–“

“How old?” He asks, neglecting to gather any further information about the seagulls.

5.) Lydia Does Not Mention the Bird-ssacre’d Body While Fleeing the Scene of the Crime

She had a lot going on, what with judging the romantic liaisons of her adult son and the chickens not eating and the Jessica Tandy of it all.

6.) This, a Literal Crime

Where there’s smoke…there’s…

---