The Birds

Conor McPherson

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN: 9781780012353
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

A suspenseful, atmospheric adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's enthralling short story.

Mysterious masses of birds have begun to violently attack at high tide, driving strangers Nat and Diane to take refuge in an isolated, abandoned house by the sea and form a bond to survive their haunting new circumstance. With no electricity and scarce food, the tension is palpable and hope is waning.

Yet if two is company, three is a crowd, as the sudden arrival of a young woman with a mysterious nature of her own ruffles feathers in the house and quickly threatens to destroy their so-called sanctuary.

Scene One

In the darkness we hear DIANE’s voice through speakers. It should sound intimate. We hear her thoughts. Lights onstage gradually reveal an isolated house in the countryside.

DIANE (voice-over). I met the man on the road. We had both abandoned our cars and decided to take our chances cutting through the fields. We broke into a house beside the water and locked ourselves in. The waves of bird attacks continued for the next two days, punctuated by terrifying hours of inexplicable silence. The man, who said his name was Nat, was sick. I nursed him while he slept through a restless delirium. And that night was the last broadcast we ever heard.

New England in the near future. It is night. The shutters are closed. We hear birds rustling outside the house. A fluttering of wings here and there. NAT is asleep. DIANE is trying to tune in a radio. All she gets is static with the odd voice trailing in and out. She adjusts the dial and begins to pick up a signal as voices fade in. Throughout the broadcast, random voices and sounds obscure what’s being said. There is chaos in the studio from where the broadcast is coming.

VOICE 1. Okay, so centres, aid centres, places where people can feel safe, somewhere to sleep. They know there’s a meal there…

VOICE 2. I never said that. I can’t say that.

VOICE 1. Yes, but they can…

VOICE 2. There are people there, they seem organised, maybe it’s safer there, that’s what we’re…

VOICE 1. We’re saying Mountstewart, St Thomas, Port Argus…

VOICE 2. Port Argus won’t be able to take the strain.

VOICE 1. Well, Lowtown, Newchurch?

VOICE 2. Well… And Winford, we think, although…

VOICE 3 (distant, off-mic). No…

VOICE 1. Sorry, what?

VOICE 3. No, there was no… eh…

VOICE 2. From Winford…

VOICE 1. Don’t go to Winford.

VOICE 2. No, what we are saying is what we can’t confirm. I’m not trying to tell people where to go. I’m saying that I’ve been given this advice, that I have received…

VOICE 1 (to VOICE 3). What’s the situation with Winford?

VOICE 3 (unintelligible).

VOICE 2. Because, I wouldn’t even have said St Thomas myself.

VOICE 3 (distant). There are people there…

VOICE 1. There are people there. One could go to St Thomas…

VOICE 2. So it seems but…

VOICE 1. City Councillor John Little announced today that if he couldn’t organise a quorum here tonight in Mountstewart that he will propose a… I can’t read this…

VOICE 4. Listen, the situation is…

VOICE 1. Sorry, Dr Brodie, you want to come in there.

VOICE 4. The situation is – (Interference.) simply because no one could have prepared for a…

Interference…

VOICE 2. This is what I’m saying, we are all in the same situation, but there’s no point in…

VOICE 3 (distant). They got into the gym at Cottonhills last night…

VOICE 1. Sorry, what?

VOICE 3. They got into the gym at Cottonhills last night so…

VOICE 4. You see, once they’re in…

VOICE 2. We’re talking about crows, sea birds, robins, sparrows! I mean, you think a man could… a grown adult can…

VOICE 4. Yes, but your average gull is big! Four or five or six pounds in weight coming straight down out of the sky, easily reaching speeds of forty miles an hour, can cause a tremendous amount of damage to a…

NAT stirs restlessly.

NAT. Sarah?

DIANE switches off the radio.

Sarah! No! Don’t!

DIANE goes to him, taking a cloth from a bowl of water to soothe his forehead.

No! Stay away from me!

DIANE. Shh…

NAT suddenly springs up towards the door.

NAT. I have to get out!

DIANE puts her hands on his shoulders.

DIANE. No, don’t do that.

NAT grabs her roughly, forcing her back across the room.

NAT. I’ll fucking kill you! I mean it…

DIANE. You’re just having a dream. It’s okay, it’s me, it’s Diane.

NAT looks at her, his eyes are wild.

NAT. It’s so cold.

DIANE. Why don’t you lie down? Here, come on…

DIANE goes and holds the blanket for him to get back into his ‘bed’. He looks around the room.

NAT. The baby was here.

DIANE. No. It’s okay…

NAT. She was over there. She came in the door. She… (Goes towards the stairs.)

DIANE. No, come over here and lie down.

He obediently goes to her and goes to lie down, suddenly springing up.

NAT. I hope she didn’t go back out!

DIANE (gently). No, no, it’s alright. Shh… Just try and rest. Try and stay warm. I’m here.

NAT quietens down and we hear birds shuffling around outside, enlivened by the voices.

Scene Two

Dusk. DIANE is at the stove, putting some fuel in. We can hear some wings flapping outside and scratching or pecking here and there. NAT is awake, watching DIANE.

NAT. What time is it?

DIANE. Oh, hi. Are you hungry?

NAT. I’d love a drink of water.

DIANE. Yeah.

She pours him a cup of water from a plastic bottle. He gulps it down.

More?

He nods and she pours him another cup.

NAT. Thanks. How long was I asleep?

DIANE. Two days.

NAT. What?

DIANE. Your temperature broke yesterday. It must have been at least a hundred and three.

NAT. Oh… I’m sorry; did you say your name was Diana?

DIANE. Diane.

NAT. Oh yes, Diane. No sign of the owners, of this place?

DIANE. No.

NAT. Is everything…?

DIANE. Everything’s… the same.

NAT. No news or…?

DIANE. Nothing for the last twenty-four hours.

NAT. Right. God… But nothing like, from the Government or…? I mean, how can all the phones all just be out?!

DIANE. I don’t know. They think it’s the tides.

NAT. What is?

DIANE. The birds go out with the tides. An...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Epigraphs
• Original Production
• Characters, Setting and Author’s Note
• The Birds
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information