Original subtitles

- Are you ready?

- Alan!

Alan!

Alan!

Alan!

- Machu Pichu is a magnificent example

of the great Inca civilization.

Great mysteries are locked within these ruins.

Like how, from far distances, these stones were brought here

using huge birds to carry them.

Afterwards, the Incas made war on them.

This angered them, so they flew off into the sky

and became stars.

Someday, they will return from the heavens,

as birds of fire, to punish man.

Marta, will you explain the symbol of the condor?

- Thank you.

So this is the condor.

You can see the head right here, the two eyes,

the beak and the head around.

There is also an underground channel that runs down there.

This way, please.

- No one knows how and why

those perfect geometric configurations were made.

- From up here, the figures are clearly visible.

Like that hummingbird.

And that's the exact figure of a spider.

Since these figures can only be seen from the air,

the lines were made like beacons on a landing field.

- You see, possibly, it's so that those strange fire birds

that were seen by the Incas would fly down, then land.

- Spacemen.

- That could be.

That figure over there, it's called "The Astronaut."

As you can see, it has all the likeness of an astronaut,

yet it was built and drawn several centuries ago.

According to the Inca, man's future was linked to the

arrival of the fiery birds that would come from the heavens.

- 80 over 140.

Excellent, much better.

It looks like this weather and the rest

are doing you a world of good.

- Yes, I feel a lot better.

- Well, if you need anything, just call me.

- Sure, thanks.

- Blindfolded and with a single shot, Giuseppe Ferrere

will attempt to bring down a bird in flight.

This is considered one of the most remarkable feats

in the history of marksmanship.

The blindfold is in place.

This is quite an amazing feat.

It's just too bad he has to use such a beautiful target.

The birds are being prepared.

The gun is loaded and ready to fire.

He senses the birds.

And fires.

It's amazing what people will do

for the sheer entertainment of it.

Did you get that, Peter?

- Why did you do that?

- For pleasure.

- For pleasure?

For pleasure?

Fuck.

- This is considered to be one of the most remarkable feats

in the history of marksmanship.

- Cut to commercial and freeze-frame on the titles.

Bring up music.

- Okay, you got it.

- What is this?

- Great stuff, fantastic shot of that bird blowing up.

- I wish you could fly.

Listen, when are you gonna give me some decent assignments?

I'm a journalist, not a sideshow barker.

And this is ridiculous!

A story about attacking chickens.

I'm not gonna do it, I won't do it.

- It'll make great copy. "Attack of the killer chickens."

You do that kind of stuff well.

- I majored in journalism in college, not animal husbandry.

Give me some news to cover.

- Soon.

But these specialty items get good response,

and our audiences enjoy watching you do them.

- Mm-hmm.

Enjoy watching me make a fool out of myself.

- Just do this one.

I'll get you some hard news to cover, I promise you.

Anyway, if you don't, I'll can your pretty little ass.

- You have such class.

- I'm giving a party at my place tonight, wanna come?

- Hmm.

Sorry, I only have time for chickens.

- What a waste of talent.

- The Ballestas Islands have offered a sanctuary

for sea lions, seagulls and seals

for as long as we can remember.

Even here, on this remote island, pollution and

contamination threaten these animals with extinction.

- It happened here.

These coops are filled with happy chickens.

Harmless creatures, or so it would seem.

Then one day, for no apparent reason,

they launched an attack on their owner.

The feathered mutiny spread

and these turkeys joined the fray.

And it's not even close to Thanksgiving.

This would have been dismissed as a single freak incident,

except for one thing.

We'll be right back to tell you all about it, stay tuned.

Cut.

It's not funny, Peter.

I'm a grown woman, I shouldn't have to be doing this.

Hey, man, we all gotta make a living.

Thanks a lot, jerk.

Roll.

So what happened next? Mr. and Mrs. Neilson were just coming

out of church, when a new feathered army attacked them.

Flocks of wild birds and doves

swooped down on them from the trees.

- I've been in this business for 22 years.

Check the coops every morning, clean up.

Water and feed the birds ... and nothing ever happens.

But I don't know why.

It was different.

- Okay, cut.

Okay, action.

Come in.

Do you know why?

- I'm not real sure.

The chickens got all together,

like they were following some kind of orders.

Just like that, they jumped on me.

Real angry like.

Lucky I had the broom with me and I beat them off.

I was close to the door and I backed out.

Never seen anything like it.

I was real scared.

- And these attacks were repeated by wild birds?

- That's right!

Any bird that sees me.

Jumps at me, just like that.

- What Mr. Neilson is saying is hard to believe,

so we've brought this along for an experiment.

A small, harmless canary.

The delight of many households.

In fact, this canary was bred and hatched in a cage.

Let's see what happens.

You know, Peter, it's really crazy.

If I hadn't seen that canary, I never would've believed it.

- Tell you what, starting to make a believer out of me.

- Yeah, the guy we're going to see was also attacked.

- By what? A turkey roasting in the oven?

Yeah.

- All right.

- [Man] I have spent most of my life hunting animals.

Now, it's their turn.

I am the target.

I saw your broadcast about the man

who was attacked by his chickens.

I think there might be a link.

- But that was on the other side of the world.

- Birds invented flying, remember.

Who knows how they communicate with the different species?

I really don't know.

But since I was attacked,

I get a feeling that I am being ... watched.

There is always a flock of doves following me.

As if I were a marked man.

- You see any doves out there?

- Believe me, they are watching us right now.

- Do you think, since your attack,

you've created a fear and maybe you're giving off some

vibrations that's provoking the birds into attacking?

- Birds don't just cluster

and follow someone around like that.

It seems organized.

Like these birds are in a rush to prepare a war.

Imagine that.

Billions of birds at war with mankind.

You think I am talking nonsense.

I am not crazy.

There was a town that was attacked about 30 years ago.

I know two of the survivors.

I am sure even you would be horrified

by the stories they can tell you.

- Where are they?

- They live in Rome.

- Could you put us in contact with them?

Maybe this would help give some credibility to your story.

- [Hunter] Sure.

- Looks like we're off to Rome.

- Some things you can't forget.

- This is really hard for me to believe, but I think this is

something that should be brought to the public's attention.

Something that could be a possible disaster.

Usually, birds are thought to be harmless creatures,

and what you're saying contradicts all that.

- Well, they sure didn't behave that way.

At least, not that time.

They seemed to be organized, like it was planned.

- Like they were acting on some kind of intelligence?

- Like tactics.

They fly, then regroup, and then attack again.

They always hit whoever was wounded,

or seemed the weakest.

- You are the cutest little baby.

- It was horrible.

Every time I remember anything about those birds,

I just can't help it.

- I guess what Susan and I have come to feel

is exactly what the birds felt.

Hate.

- Do you think it was hate, or an instinct to survive?

- Hey, I'm asking the questions here, okay?

Hate or an instinct to survive?

- Possibly their chance of survival is at a crisis.

The way man contaminates everything.

- So what you're saying is their natural instincts

led them to defend their natural ecological balance?

A last effort for the survival of their species?

- Well, it's hypothetical, of course.

Nature has been pushed to the wall.

Maybe fighting back, if enough of us are disposed of,

a little balance could be restored.

- Not if the contamination has gone too far.

- What happened to us, and what's happening toward us,

seems like a clear warning.

- A fight to the end, no holds barred.

- Jimmy.

Do you remember the park I told you about in New York?

This is it, son.

I used to play here when I was just a kid.

Hey.

Go out there, I wanna get a shot of you with the birds.

Okay, Jimmy, get over there, okay?

Stand right there.

Right there, lean forward, huh?

Okay, hold it.

Come on, smile, smile.

Okay, one more.

Come on, come on, smile again, smile, come on.

Come on, big smile.

Carmen!

Come here, honey.

I wanna take a picture of you and the kids.

- Well, now it's our turn, come on.

- Come on.

Come on, bend down.

Little closer, that's it.

Come on, smile, everybody.

Nice.

Look at the camera, honey, come on.

- [Radio Reporter] And now for a late bulletin.

A priest from a small mountain community

drowned in a lake where he was fishing.

Two eye witnesses claim they saw a large flock of wild ducks

attack the priest, causing him to lose his balance

and fall into the water.

Also, from Acapulco, Mexico,

two hang-gliders were apparently attacked by eagles.

One of the operators, a man, was killed.

- Shit, the world's got bird fever.

They're becoming star material.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen!

Just what you've been waiting for,

brought to you directly from everywhere!

Birds!"

- Shut up, I'm tryin' to hear this.

- [Radio Reporter] Police everywhere are investigating

these strange happenings.

We will be back with more news, as well as the weather --

- This has to be some kind of weird joke.

Chickens, canaries, ducks?

Give me a break.

- Oh, look at those chickens over there.

Now, if they were my buddies being roasted

with a skewer up their ass, I'd be a little upset, too!

- I'd like to put a skewer up some of those asses

back at the office.

- [Peter] I'm sure you would. I'm sure they wouldn't mind

putting one up your you-know-where, too.

- Up yours, lover boy.

- Hello?

- Hi, Grandpa.

- Hi, beautiful. How are you?

- Fine, Grandpa, how's my horse?

- He's fine, my love.

He misses you very much.

Do you know, you have to tell your mom to bring you over

so you can ride him.

- Okay.

I think we're going tomorrow.

Here's Mom. Bye.

- Hi, Dad.

- Hi, Sharon, how are you?

Glad you called. - Feeling better?

- Yeah, I'm fine.

I feel very well, perfect.

- Oh, that's super, Daddy.

Look, tomorrow's Cathy's birthday and I thought

maybe we'll throw a little party for her over at your place.

Just a few kids from her school.

Nothing real big, don't worry.

I'll bring everything, mm?

- Okay, Sharon, see you tomorrow.

- Bye, Dad.

- Well, well, you little bitches.

Your tune may be changing, but not that much.

You are not all on the same side.

Blood-thirsty.

Just like us.

It's all a struggle for power.

You won't surprise me again.

Welcome home.

- Here we are, surrounded by all kinds of different

and beautiful birds.

And this is Dr. Murayama, who is in charge here,

and who is also responsible for this wonderful habitat,

where the birds appear to live in relative freedom.

As you can see, we can share the same space

with these wonderful creatures, and one gets the impression

of being in some kind of paradise.

Peter.

Peter!

Over here, please?

- Why don't we park somewhere on the beach?

You know, watch the ocean?

- Are you sure you only wanna watch the ocean, Liz?

- Well.

That depends.

Do you ... fool around?

- Dr. Murayama, as you know,

birds have recently been responsible for many unusual

and violent incidents all over the world.

Have you noticed any strange forms of behavior

here in the aviary?

- Well, in this case,

the birds react in an entirely different manner.

They don't have total liberty and this lack of freedom

can lead to many different responses.

One of them could be the unwillingness to mate.

This is a serious problem.

We have here numerous species

that are on the verge of extinction.

- [Vanessa] Are these birds endangered because of

the losses of their natural habitats?

- Basically, yes.

Man has gone about his business

without much regard for the natural ecological balances.

In many cases, the migratory species suffer the most.

- Peter!

Okay, you were saying, Doctor?

- For instance, many species are hatched in one place,

and then, in the winter, they migrate to another.

This is a built-in program that leads them and they must

go back to the same place in order to reproduce.

But when man invades and pollutes their nesting sites,

the species tend to disappear,

because they have no other place to go.

It is not in their program, so to speak.

- But there have been conservation measures?

- Yes, many, but for each one we protect,

hundreds are destroyed.

Man's progress is too rapid

and protection too slow.

So many birds are subject to total extinction.

That is, of course, if man does not destroy himself first.

- This is Vanessa Cartwright, reporting for Mega Vision.

- Hello.

Nice, you creep.

- With a body like that ...

And brains.

Men don't have a chance.

Mm-hm, mm-hm, mm-hm!

- I think the champagne's getting cold.

- You mean hot?

- Mm ... yeah, hot.

I'm getting thirsty.

- Right.

Me too.

Well, let's drink

to being together.

And ...

to the start of somethin' big, huh?

Yeah, really big.

- Well, kids, I guess we better stretch our legs, okay?

While Daddy changes the tire, come on.

- Shit, where is it? - I'm gonna go play!

- No jack. Where's the goddamn jack?

Your damn brother never returned it, that's where it is.

- It's probably your own fault.

Why did you lend it to him?

You know the kinda guy he is, he never returns anything!

- Christmas spirit. Remember, last Christmas?

- Yes, okay, okay!

What do we do now?

- Wait.

Wait until someone comes around and helps.

- Hey, Dad, there's a camper down the beach!

Maybe they have a jack!

- Yeah, you go down and ask them now.

- Fortunately, they're more like me

and not like someone from your family.

- Don't bitch at me.

You're the ass who forgot to get the jack back.

- No, I didn't forget, I just thought your brother

would have the decency to return it.

- You know what? - No, what?

- You're a real asshole.

- Hey, is anybody there?

- Hey, is anyone there?

- Shut up, let me do the talking!

- Stop whimpering. And you too, okay?

I know what we saw is awful, but it's over.

So try to get a hold of yourselves.

- Will you simmer down?

The kids are frightened.

And with your shouting, you're making them more upset.

- I'm sorry, we all have to get a hold of ourselves.

Watch it!

My God.

- I don't know what the hell is going on,

but we got to get outta here.

Shit, we're stuck!

- Take care.

- Lock yourself in.

I gotta get some help.

- You stay here with us and we'll all go with you.

- Okay.

Let's go to the inside of the inlet.

We'll be safer there, come on.

Inside.

Inside, hurry. - Come on, kids, hurry up.

Stay close to your father and me. Come on, come on.

- Anybody here?

Is anybody here?

- What in the hell is that?

I'll go and see.

- Careful.

- Don't worry, I will.

Who is it?

Who is it?

- I don't see anything.

- Goddamn it.

There is nothing out there.

- I'll be right back. Don't drown on me, okay?

Here.

- Oh, what a dismal fate to have to share the planet

with assholes who have to call at a moment like this!

- Hello?

What?

Right.

Yes, we'll be right there.

- Sorry, buddy.

Maybe next time, huh?

- Torn to pieces. That's how we found them.

- The scene is macabre.

The bodies of Arthur and Olivia Neilson

were found bloodied and mutilated.

The victims of doves.

The same white doves that have always been

a universal symbol for peace,

and they have now declared a war.

A mysterious war against mankind.

- Control tower, this is November 734 Delta Foxtrot.

Requesting permission for landing, over.

- Negative, November 734 Delta Foxtrot.

It's impossible to land.

There's a huge flock of birds flying over the airstrip.

They've already caused two crashes.

We can't risk it, over.

- What's the nearest auxiliary runway?

I've got about 30 minutes of fuel, over.

- We've got an alternate airstrip

north-northeast of your present position.

It should be well within your fuel range.

It's the only strip that is operating at this time.

Do you read?

Over.

- Go ahead, Tower. I read you, over.

- Radar indicates two large masses of birds

directly in front of you.

Over, over!

- Mayday, mayday, mayday.

Tower, I have a collision,

I can't control the plane!

I am being attacked by birds and I can't pull up!

I can't pull up, I'm going down!

Help me, I'm going down, help!

- Listen, we're not in Spain on a holiday, you know.

What's happening here is really incredible.

- Here's something incredible, listen to this.

We have been getting calls and telexes

from news agencies all over the globe.

They all got the same story.

- What?

I can't hear you very well.

- I said that all kinds of birds are attacking people

in countries all over the world.

So what you've got isn't news.

All my information's going on the air,

before you get back with your story.

- Forget about your damn show and who's on first.

Can't you see what's goin' on here?

We've gotta do something.

We've gotta warn them, or help them, or do something!

Damn it!

- How'd it go, did you get through?

- Yeah, I got through.

- So, what'd he say?

- A lot more than you could imagine.

Could you do me a favor? - Sure, anything.

- It's been a long time since I've been in a church.

Would you go with me?

- Help!

Help!

Please, help!

- They're back.

Flocks of birds from everywhere.

- We've gotta do something.

- What the hell happened to you?

- The birds.

- We gotta find a place to hide.

- Under the pier.

If they attack, we can dive under the water.

- Let's go.

Keep your heads down.

Go!

Come on, come on!

Come on!

No cause for alarm.

Repeat, there is absolutely no cause for alarm.

The city's authorities are bringing the situation

under control at this very moment.

Please proceed calmly and quietly

to the nearest public shelter.

- Mr. Mayor, can you tell us what's going on?

- [Officer] Remain inside the shelter.

- In all checks, the radar has picked up spots

of millions of birds heading in this direction.

- Give me a brandy.

- Same here.

- Look, Mr. Mayor, what do you plan to do?

- Evacuate.

We'll evacuate the town and take everybody to a safe place.

It won't be easy, people are bound to panic.

- These two areas, here and here,

have already been attacked.

This morning at dawn.

- People panicked and tried to get away in their cars.

The roads were fogged in

and there was a chain reaction of collisions.

The roads are blocked.

We have helicopters and rescue squads

evacuating the survivors.

- My God, what's happening?

- We are in a very vulnerable position here.

- You mean we're sitting ducks.

- That's not funny, Peter.

- It's not meant to be, we can't just sit here.

I never believed this, but we've gotta do something,

and we've gotta do something fast.

We can't just sit here drinking.

- We don't have time to wait for help, that's for sure.

- The birds, the birds banded together, right?

- We all know that.

- So what we need to do is concentrate the population.

Our strength is in numbers.

- Yes, that could be.

- It's our best defense.

- It's our only chance.

- Benitas, alert everybody and bring them together.

And use all available transportation.

- The roads are blocked, remember?

- Those birds certainly know what they're doin'.

- I saw a train when we first arrived, is it still here?

- I'll check on it.

- I hope so, 'cause if it isn't, we've gotta do something,

and we've gotta do something fast.

- Please, keep the window closed, don't even peek outside.

- [Man] Don't you think it's gone too far?

- [Woman] This is real dumb.

I can't believe any of this bird stuff, anyway.

- Hey, call Colonel Sanders.

He'll take care of these birds

and we'll have them prepared for lunch.

- Well, the only lunch they're gonna have is us,

penguin brain.

- [Man] This is crazy.

- Please, everyone, listen to me.

Keep the windows closed.

Draw the curtains and don't open them,

no matter what happens.

I repeat.

Keep the windows closed.

♪ London Bridge is falling down ♪

♪ falling down, falling down ♪

♪ London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady ♪

♪ Take a key and lock it up, lock it up, lock it up ♪

♪ Take a key and lock it up, my fair lady ♪

- Sharon.

I don't like the look of those birds.

There are too many of them.

Get in the house!

- What can they possibly do to us?

- Go! You heard me, get inside!

- Okay.

Get inside.

Come on, come on!

Do as you're told.

Come on.

Now, children, we're going to have a party inside the house.

Come on, let's go, come on.

- Children!

Hurry!

Come up here!

Come here, I said!

Quickly!

Hurry, hurry, get in the house!

- Hey, Cathy, come on!

- Hurry, quick! - I'm coming!

- Get inside! - Okay.

- [Boy] Quick, shut the door!

- All right, darling.

You and me, we're going to make a run for it.

Okay, let's go.

- And Patty?

Where is Patty?

Patty!

Patty!

Patty!

No!

Cathy!

Cathy!

Children, wait!

Come here!

Children, children!

Come with me, come on, come on, hurry up!

Move, come on, come on!

- The bedroom window's open, I'd better go up and close it!

- Cathy!

Cathy!

Cathy!

Cathy!

Cathy!

No!

Daddy ...

- The large flocks are over there.

- They've been trailin' us for a long time now.

- Won't attack no train, that's for sure.

- I wouldn't be too sure about that.

From what I've seen of these birds,

they might just be waiting for the right moment.

- Maybe they just found it.

- Please, keep the windows closed.

- We'll never get outta here at this rate.

We've gotta move these sheep out of the way.

- How do we do that?

- Can't we just push them out of the way with the train?

- Too many of them.

- [Man] Well, why are we stopping?

- Yes, we're herded in here like cows to slaughter.

I don't like this one bit.

- Yes, well, this isn't supposed to be fun.

- Well, we know that, but why are we stopping?

- I'd like to know myself.

As soon as I find out, I'll let you know.

Please keep the windows closed.

- Who gave you the authority to give orders around here?

Who do you think you are?

- Someone who doesn't wanna become bird feed.

If you don't like it, you do what you wanna do.

I'm sure the birds would love to meet you.

- Then we'll cut the fences and give 'em more room

to move out. Do you got anything I could do that with?

- All I got are these pliers,

but they'll cut through all right.

- Fine.

No, no, no!

The guns won't do any good if they decide to attack!

Go down the tracks, keep the sheep goin' that way!

I'll get the fence!

- Be careful, Peter!

- Come on, let's go, come on!

Ah, yeah, yeah, come on, let's go, come on, come on!

Come on, come on, come on, come on!

Let's go, let's go, let's go!

Hee-yah, hee-yah, come on!

Come on, come on, come on!

Come on, let's go, come on, yah!

Get outta here, let's go, come on, come on, come on!

Yeah, come on!

- Get moving! - Move, move!

- Go on, come on, let's go, let's go!

Come on, get outta here, let's go, come on, come on!

Let's go.

All right, I want everybody out of this car!

Now they've started, they won't stop 'til they've broken in!

Let's go, come on, everybody, out, out, out, out!

- [Vanessa] We'll be safer in the next car.

- [Peter] Move it, move it!

- One from him.

And one for me.

- They ran into their own trap.

Looks like we'll get some peace now.

For a while, anyway.

- [Vanessa] That's strange.

- What?

- The way they're tracking the smoke.

It's almost like they're following the souls of the dead.

- Momma, Momma, I think they're coming again!

- You've been a very brave girl, Cathy.

Now, I need you to be brave, just a little longer.

We have to keep the fire going, okay?

- [Cathy] Okay, Mommy.

- Stay close to Patty, I'm going to have a look.

- Are they there?

- I don't know.

Children, I don't want you to say a word.

Just follow me. Right now.

Come on.

Kids!

Kids!

Where are you?

Kids!

Thank God!

You're here.

You can come up now, come!

It's all right!

Come on, children!

Come!

No.

We're getting out of here.

Stay close to me, children.

Let's go.

Everybody, stay close together.

We're almost there.

Everybody, inside the car! Hurry!

Hurry!

- I think the birds are gone.

Hey, they're leaving!

- [Child] Quit pushing, come on!

Come on!

- Kids!

Hurry!

Run!

Run!

Hurry!

Hurry!

Come on.

Come on!

Get in!

That's it.

- In all parts of the world,

the birds appear to have returned to their normal behavior.

All attacks have ceased and we seem to be at peace.

The nightmare ended the same way it started.

Suddenly and inexplicably.

Perhaps they knew they could never defeat

the most cruel killer of all.

Man.

Or perhaps their message was sent.

A message to care for this fragile sphere we call Earth.

To nurture and share the riches with all God's creatures,

if we are to survive.

Or maybe it was a rehearsal

for some kind of natural master plan.

A plan to discard any and all

who disrupt nature's perfect harmony.

A plan to choose who will survive.