The Birds (1963)

Veronica Cartwright: Cathy Brenner

Photos 

Quotes 

• Cathy Brenner : [while Melanie is playing the piano]  I still don't understand how you knew I wanted lovebirds.

  Melanie Daniels : Your brother told me.

  Lydia Brenner : Then you knew Mitch in San Francisco. Is that right?

  Melanie Daniels : No, not exactly.

  [grabs a cigarette out of an ashtray] 

  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.

  [Mitch comes in] 

  Cathy Brenner : 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?

  Melanie Daniels : [to Mitch]  Why did he shoot her?

  Mitch Brenner : He was watching a ball game on television.

  Melanie Daniels : What?

  Mitch Brenner : His wife changed the channel.

  [laughs and leaves] 

  Cathy Brenner : Are you coming to my party tomorrow?

  Melanie Daniels : I don't think so. I have to get back to San Francisco.

  Cathy Brenner : Don't you like us?

  Melanie Daniels : Oh, darling, of course I do.

  Cathy Brenner : Don't you like Bodega Bay?

  Melanie Daniels : I don't know yet.

  Cathy Brenner : Mitch likes it very much. He comes up every weekend, you know, even though he has his own apartment in the city. He says that San Francisco's like an anthill up the foot of a bridge.

  Melanie Daniels : Well, I suppose it does get a little hectic at times.

  Cathy Brenner : Well, if you do decide to come, don't say I told you about it. It's suppose to be a suprise party. You see, they've got this whole complicated thing figured out, where I'm going to Michele's for the afternoon, and Michele's mother will say she has a headache. Would I mind very much if she took me home. And when I get here, all the kids'll jump out! Oh, won't you come. Won't you please come?

  Melanie Daniels : I don't think so.

• Cathy Brenner : Mitch, can I bring the lovebirds in here?

  Lydia Brenner : No!

  Cathy Brenner : But Mom, they're in a cage.

  Lydia Brenner : They're birds, aren't they?

• [last lines] 

  Cathy Brenner : Can I bring the lovebirds, Mitch? they haven't harmed anyone.

  Mitch Brenner : Oh, alright; bring them.

• Cathy Brenner : What's the matter with them?

  Lydia Brenner : What's the matter with *all* the birds?

• Cathy Brenner : [crying]  When we got back from taking Michele home, we - we heard the explosion and went - went outside to see what it was. All - all at once the the birds were everywhere. All at once, she pushed me inside - and they covered her. Annie! She pushed me inside!

• Cathy Brenner : Mitch, why are they doing this? This birds.

  Mitch Brenner : We don't know, honey.

  Cathy Brenner : Why are they trying to kill people?

  Mitch Brenner : I wish I could say.

• Annie Hayworth , Cathy Brenner , School Children : [singing]  I asked my wife to wash the floor, Ristle-tee, rostle-tee, mo, mo mo! She gave me my hat and she showed me the door, Ristle-tee, rostle-tee, Hey bombosity, knickety-knackety, retro-retroquo-quality, mo, mo, mo!