Readers’ Theater

Characters Scene 1 (Main characters in Narrator 1: Fall is turning to winter boldface) on England’s western coast. World Narrators 1, 2, 3, 4 War II is about to begin; there is Nat Hocken, a restlessness in the air. Nat Hocken thoughtful man sits on a ledge at the cliff’s edge, Mr. Trigg, a farmer; watching Hocken’s neighbor the birds. Mrs. Hocken Narrator 2: They come to the By Daphne du Maurier Jill Hocken, the peninsula in great numbers, rest - Hockens’ daughter less, uneasy, circling the sky. Adapted by Bryon Cahill Mrs. Trigg Narrator 3: Flocks of jackdaws, Jim, stableman starlings, and larks scatter from Radio Announcers 1, 2 trees to ledges. Narrator 4: As the slow sea meets the shore, the birds race and run on the beach.

This photo is frTohme Birds,a film adaptation of the du Maurier story directed by Alfred HitchAcsock. you might be able to inferREfArDo?ms adaptation of the original, Hitchcock changed the story quite a bit, putting the spotlight on the mother, rather than the father.

Universal/The Kobal Collection READ 7 Nat Hocken: (to himself) Per - and behind the cottage. Nat puts stumbles into their room, the Narr 1: At last, the beating of haps a message comes to the his mouth to the scratch. The candle’s flame goes out. Imme - the wings about him lessens. birds in autumn, like a warning: bird has drawn blood. diately, he can feel the beating Nat waits and listens; there is no Winter is coming. Many of them Narr 1: Shocked and confused, of wings about him in the dark - sound but the fretful crying of perish. They’re like people who Nat shuts the window and ness. his children from the hall fear death before their time, dri - returns to bed. Before long, he Nat: It’s all right. I’m here. beyond. ving themselves to work or folly. hears a forceful tapping at the Narr 2 : Swiftly, Nat pushes the Narr 2: Robins, finches, and Narr 1: Nat stands up and window. This time, his wife children through the door into sparrows litter the floor. They heads back to his cottage as the wakes too. the hall and shuts it behind have his blood on their beaks. noisy birds soar above. On his Mrs. Hocken: See to the window, them. Alone in the bedroom Sickened, Nat shuts the window way, he comes upon Mr. Trigg, a Nat. It’s rattling. with the birds, he seizes a blan - and heads back to his room. farmer, who is out on his tractor. Nat: I’ve already seen to it. ket and whips it through the Mrs. Hocken: Something must Mr. Trigg: There are more birds There’s some bird there, trying to air, using it as a weapon. have cut Johnny—there was than usual today, and some of get in. Narr 3: Again and again, they blood at the corner of his eye. them are daring! One gull came Mrs. Hocken: Send it away. I return the assault, jabbing his Jill said it was the birds. What n so close to my head this after - can’t sleep with that noise. o hands and his head. The little does she mean? i t c

noon, I thought he’d knock my Narr 2: Nat opens the window a e stabbing beaks are as sharp as Nat: There were birds in there, l l cap off. I’ve a notion it’ll be a second time. Half a dozen birds o pointed forks. nearly 50 of them, all dead now. C l

hard winter. That’s why the birds attack him, flying straight into a Mrs. Hocken: What is it, Nat? Let’s try to get some sleep. b o are restless. his face. K What’s happening? e h

Nat: You may be right. Narr 3: Nat shouts, striking out T Narr 4: He covers his head with / l

Narr 2: Nat continues home at the birds with his arms, scat - a the blanket and then, in the Scene 3 s r e

across the fields and down the tering them. They fly out over the v greater darkness, beats at the Narr 3: In the morning, Nat has i n lane to his cottage. He watches roof and disappear, just as U birds with his bare hands. breakfast ready for his family the birds flocking over the west - the first bird did. Quickly, when they wake up. ern hills, in the last glow of the he shuts the window and Jill Hocken: Did you drive away evening sun. latches it. the birds, Dad? Nat: Did you see that? Nat: Yes. They’re all gone now. They tried to peck my eyes Jill: They tried to peck at us. Scene 2 out! They went for Johnny’s eyes. Narr 3: Just after 2 in the morn - Mrs. Hocken: It’s all right, Nat: Fright made them do that. ing, Nat wakes to a tapping at now. They were probably more scared the Narr 4: Suddenly, a fright - of you than you were of them. window. He goes to open it. As ened cry is heard from Jill: I doubt it. he does, a bird brushes his across the hall, where Narr 4: Having finished her hand, their two children sleep. breakfast, Jill puts on her jacket. jabbing at his knuckles and Mrs. Hocken: It’s Jill. Nat and his wife share a glance grazing the skin. Narr 1: Nat lights a candle across the table. A silent mes - Nat: What the— as cries of terror, this time sage passes between them. Narr 4: With a flutter of wings, from both children, echo Nat: I’ll walk her to the bus. the bird is gone, over the roof through the hall. As Nat Narr 1: Jill runs out the door

8 READ READ 9 ahead of her father. Mrs. Trigg: Are you sure they Nat: (to his wife) Keep all the were real birds, with proper windows and doors shut. I’ll feathers and all? go to the farm and find out if Nat: Mrs. Trigg, there are 50 the Triggs heard anything dead birds lying in the chil - last night. dren’s bedroom. They attacked Narr 2: Nat runs after Jill, who me. is busy chasing leaves. Her They tried to go for young face, whipped by the cold wind, Johnny’s eyes. hurries home. is rosy under her pixie hood. Mrs. Trigg: Well, I suppose Scene 4 Jill: Is it going to snow, Dad? the weather brought them. Mrs. Hocken: See anyone? Nat: No. This is a black winter, Foreign birds maybe, from that Nat: Mrs. Trigg and Jim. I don’t Scene 5 not a white one. Arctic Circle. think they believed me. Anyway, Narr 4: Nat enters his house Narr 3: Nat is searching the Nat: No. They were birds you nothing’s wrong up there. and meets his wife in the bushes for birds when Jill sees see about here every day. Narr 1: Nat grabs a large kitchen. her friends up ahead and runs Mrs. Trigg: Funny thing, no garbage bag and goes to the Mrs. Hocken: Nat, it’s on the to talk to them. explaining it, really. Well, I must bedroom to collect the dead radio. They’re reading a special Jill: My dad says it won’t snow. be getting on. birds. He takes the bag to the bulletin. It’s going to be a black winter. Narr 3: She turns and heads beach and opens it. The wind is Nat: What’s on the radio? Narr 4: The bus comes and back to her kitchen, leaving Nat colder than he can ever remem - Mrs. Hocken: About the birds. takes the children away. Nat dissatisfied. Walking back ber its being. He scatters the It’s not only here. It’s every - continues toward the Triggs’ across the farmyard, he hap - bird bodies over the sand. where—in London and all over farmhouse. pens upon Jim, the stableman. Nat: (to himself) The tide will the country. Nat: Anyone home? Nat: Had any trouble with take them when it turns. Nat: Turn it up. Narr 1: Mrs. Trigg appears at birds? Narr 2: Nat looks out to the sea. Radio Announcer 1: We urge the door. She is beaming. Jim: Birds? What birds? The wind cuts him to the bone. everyone everywhere to board up Mrs. Trigg: Why, hullo, Mr. Nat: We got them at our place The waves rise stiffly, curl, and their windows and take reason - Hocken. Can you tell me where last night—scores of them in break again. He tries to draw a able precautions for the safety this cold is coming from? I’ve the children’s bedroom. They breath and is once again sliced of themselves and their chil - never seen such a change. The were quite savage. by the frozen air. dren. radio says it has something to Jim: Oh? I never heard of birds Narr 3: Then he sees them. Nat: Let’s hope they hear that do with the Arctic Circle. acting savage. Birds are tame Staring at the waves, Nat real - on the farm. Down at the beach, Nat: We didn’t turn on the radio creatures. izes that he is not looking at there are thousands of them, this morning. Fact is, we had Nat: These birds weren’t tame. whitecaps. The line over the tens of thousands! They were so some trouble in the night. Jim: No? Cold, maybe. Or hun - water thick, you couldn’t put a pin Mrs. Trigg: Kiddies OK? gry. You should put out some that seems to go on forever is, between the gulls’ heads. Nat: Well … crumbs. in fact, gulls—thousands of They’re all out there, riding the Narr 2: Nat tries to tell Mrs. Narr 4: Realizing that Jim is as them. Eastward, and to the sea, waiting. Trigg his story, but the look in closed-minded as Mrs. Trigg, west, the gulls are there. Nat Mrs. Hocken: What are they her eyes conveys that she does Nat gives up and goes home. turns away from the sight and waiting for, Nat? not believe him. anxiously Nat: (distantly) I don’t know.

10 READ READ 11 Narr 1: Nat opens the drawer and grabs a hoe. He walks up that holds his hammer and the lane to the bus stop. Every tools. now and then he glances over Mrs. Hocken: What are you his shoulder. going to do? Narr 2: At the top of the hill, Nat: See to the windows. Nat waits. He watches as the a gun? Mrs. Hocken: You think they birds travel across the sky. Nat: I don’t want a gun. But I’d would break in, with the win - Narr 3: The bus appears, and be obliged if you’d drive Jill dows shut? Those sparrows and several children climb out of it. home. robins and such? How could Nat meets his daughter at the Mr. Trigg: Sure. Hop in, sweet - they? stop and takes her by the hand. ie. Narr 2: Nat does not answer Jill: What’s the hoe for, Dad? Jill: Aren’t you coming, Dad? her. He goes upstairs and Nat: I just brought it along. Nat: There’s no room for me. boards up all the windows. Come on now, let’s go home. It’s You be a good girl for Mr. Trigg. Narr 3: His wife watches as Nat cold. No hanging about. Jill: OK. works to make their house an Narr 4: Nat addresses the other Mr. Trigg: (to Nat) Why don’t impenetrable fortress. children. you join us for the shooting Mrs. Hocken: What they ought Nat: See how fast you can run match, Nat? We’ll make the to do is call the army out to home now. feathers fly! shoot the birds. Narr 1: The children giggle and Narr 1: Mr. Trigg drives away, n o

Nat: Do you think they’ve then run off across the fields. i and Nat is left alone in the t c enough soldiers to go around Jill: We always play in the e road. The birds are circling l l o

shooting birds off every roof? lane, Dad. C lower in the sky. l

Mrs. Hocken: I don’t know. But Nat: Not today you don’t. Come a heavier than he thought and b o something must be done. on now, no dawdling. K keeps slipping. She senses Nat’s e h

Narr 4: Nat continues working. Jill: Look, Dad, over there! Look T urgency and fear, and she Scene 6 / l a

At 3 o’clock, he steps outside at all the gulls! s begins to cry. Narr 2: Nat arrives at home r e and is faced with horror in the Nat: Yes, hurry now! v Jill: I wish the gulls would go just as Mr. Trigg drives down i n skies. The birds are hovering, Jill: Where are they all flying to? U away. I don’t like them. the silent. They soar and circle, rise Nat: Up-country, I think, where Narr 4 : Mr. Trigg comes driving driveway and greets him. and fall. it’s warmer. up the lane. He stops when he Mr. Trigg: Well, what do you Mrs. Hocken: (arriving outside) Narr 2: Nat squeezes Jill’s hand sees Nat running with Jill on his make of it? They’re saying in What’s the matter? You’ve gone a little tighter and drags her back. town that the Russians have white. along. Mr. Trigg: It looks as though done it— that they’ve poisoned Nat: I’m going for Jill. I’ll wait Jill: Don’t go so fast! I can’t we’re in for some fun. Have you the birds. for her at the bus stop. Keep keep up with you! seen the gulls? Jim and I are Nat: How could they do that? Johnny inside. Keep the door Nat: Do you want me to carry going to take a crack at them. Mr. Trigg: Don’t ask me. You shut, and draw the curtains. you, Jill? Everyone’s gone bird-crazy! I know how stories get around. Mrs. Hocken: Nat? Narr 3: Jill jumps on Nat’s back, hear you were troubled in the Will you join my shooting Narr 1: Nat goes to the shed and he begins to run. She is night. Want match?

12 READ READ 13 Nat: No, thanks. Have you ed until Jill was safe inside. boarded up your windows? They’re flying inland. They’re Mr. Trigg: No. Lots of nonsense. making for the towns. They like to scare you on the Mrs. Hocken: What will they radio. do, Nat? Nat: I’d board them up now, Nat: They’ll attack. Go for every - if I were you. one out in the streets. Mr. Trigg: Well … all right, then. Mrs. Hocken: Why don’t the row. and effort. We can’t destroy See you in the morning. We’ll authorities do something? Narr 3: The radio goes silent. them that way. There’s always have gull for breakfast! Nat: There’s been no time. Jill: What’s it mean, Dad? gas … mustard gas. We’ll be Narr 3: Mr. Trigg drives away. Nobody’s prepared. Nat: There won’t be any more warned first, of course, if they Suddenly, a bird dives from the Narr 4: The muffled sounds of programs tonight. do that. The best brains of the sky. It is followed by a dozen the birds come from the win - Jill: Is it the birds? Have the country will be on it tonight. others. Nat drops his hoe and dows, from the door. Wings birds done it? covers his head with his arms. brush the surface, sliding and Nat: No. It’s just that everyone’s He runs for the house. scraping, as the birds seek entry. busy. Scene 8 Narr 4: Nat begins to feel his Birds crash with a thud against Narr 4: A low, droning hum Narr 3: In the morning, Nat own fresh blood trickling down the house. begins to grow in the distance. wakes up to his wife’s voice. his hands, his wrists, and his Nat: Good. That will kill some of Mrs. Hocken: It’s planes! They’re Mrs. Hocken: Something smells neck. Flailing madly, he reaches them. Not nearly enough, sending out planes after the bad. Something’s burning. his door and begins pounding on though. birds! Isn’t that gunfire? Can’t Narr 4: Nat jumps up and runs it as hard as he can. Narr 1: Night comes, and Nat you hear gunfire? It’s good—isn’t to the fireplace. Nat: Let me in! It’s Nat! Let decides to bring the mattresses it, children—to hear the planes? Nat: The birds are trying to me in! downstairs to the kitchen. The The planes will get them. come down the chimney, and Narr 1: More birds are flying children watch him set up the Narr 1: Just then they hear a the fire is almost out! Stand toward him. Nat can see the makeshift beds. crash about 2 miles off, followed back! We’ve got to risk this. huge flock coming down. Just Nat: (to the children) It’s more by a second, and a third. Narr 1: Nat throws a jug of as they are about to join the cozy down here, close to the fire, Mrs. Hocken: What was that? Are kerosene into the fireplace. The pecking frenzy, the door swings don’t you think? they dropping bombs on the flames roar. A hellish screeching open. Nat stumbles across the Narr 2: Nat turns on the radio. birds? noise makes its way down the threshold, and his wife throws Radio Announcer 2: The birds, in Nat: I don’t know. I don’t think chimney. Scorched and black - her weight against the door. vast numbers, are attacking so. ened bird bodies fall into the Narr 2: They hear consecutive everyone in sight and have Narr: The sound of planes dies. fire. thuds as birds crash into already begun an assault on Jill: Where have the planes gone, Nat: I should have stoked the the house. buildings. People are asked to Dad? fire last night. I ought to be shot remain calm and not to panic. Nat: Back to base. Come on now, for this. Radio Announcer 1: Owing to the time for bed. Narr 2: Time continues to pass Scene 7 exceptional nature of the emer - Narr 2: The children lie down on slowly as Nat reinforces his Narr 3: Nat’s wife dresses his gency, there will be no further the mattresses with their mother. barricades. wounds. They are not deep. transmission from any broadcast - Nat stays awake and paces. Mrs. Hocken: The birds aren’t Nat: Thank goodness they wait - ing station until 7 a.m. tomor - Nat: (to himself) Waste of life hammering as loudly anymore.

14 READ READ 15 Nat: (listening) You’re right. Their fury Nat: I’m filling their car up with Second Take must have receded with the tide. food too. We’ll take it home and Narr 3: Nat goes to the door and opens return for a fresh load. it cautiously. Mrs. Hocken: What about the Trig - Watch the Birdies Mrs. Hocken: Wait! Where are you gs? Who is this dapper gentleman with the going? Nat: They must have gone t a seagull and the crow? A film virtuoso you should Nat: I’ve only got about six hours until friend’s house. know: Alfred Hitchcock the tide comes in. I’ll take some bas - Mrs. Hocken: Shall I come in and kets and go up to the farm for food and help you? supplies. Nat: No. There’s a mess in there. Mrs. Hocken: Take us with you. I’d Cows and sheep all over the place. rather die than stay here alone. Wait here in the Triggs’ car with Nat: Come on, then. the kids. Narr 1: They make three trips back and forth. At night, Nat looks out Scene 9 to sea and sees something gray Narr 4: The family walks to the edge of and white moving. the Triggs’ property. Nat: The good old navy never Nat: OK, wait here. I’ll be back in a let us down! moment. Narr 2: He waits. Straining his Narr 1: In the farmyard, the birds are eyes as they tear up in the wind, everywhere, dead and alive. The live he understands: It is not the navy. ones are as quiet and as still as the It is the gulls rising from the sea. dead ones. They perch on the trees The tide has turned again, and and on the roof of the farmhouse. They they are making their way inland. sit on the fence and on the porch. They Narr 3: Nat’s face turns pale, and watch Nat. he closes the door slowly. He turns itchock was one of the world’s great directors. Yet when a Narr 2: Jim’s body lies in the yard—at to face his wife, who is turning the reporter asked him, “What is the deepest logic of your

least, what is left of him. dial on the radio. It is silent on t e

n films?” He gave a simple answer: “To put the audience .

Narr 3: Nat goes inside the house and every station. V H T

P through them.” And through them we have gone, kicking theater finds Mr. Trigg’s body close to the tele - Narr 4: A light tapping is heard. M seat backs in surprise phone. He looks up the stairs and sees It gets louder and is joined by the bloodied legs sprawled on the floor: sound of a hundred other beaks. and screaming in horror. Mrs. Trigg’s. The first bird makes its suicidal Hitchcock (1899–1980) was an absolute master of scare tactics, Nat: (to himself) Thank goodness there dive into the house. It is followed wielding themes of guilt, fear, and redemption for psychological were no children here. by another … and another … and effect. He came to Hollywood from England to direct Rebecca, an Narr 4: Nat fills his baskets with food another. Nat looks at the dying fire adaptation of the so-named Daphne du Maurier novel that would and carries them back to his wife and and then at the piles of food on win an Academy Award. He stayed on to create many classics, children. the counter. He smiles weakly at including four major his wife. masterpieces: Rear Window, North by Northwest, Psycho, and Nat: We forgot to get wood. Vertigo. The photos used on our cover and in the play are from his adaptation of du Maurier’s “The Birds.” The featured actress is Tippi Hedren. READ 17 16 READ