“You-you eat like a bird.” – Norman Bates, Psycho ... Movie Quotes Database

Norman Bates

You-you eat like a bird.

Marion Crane

[Looking around at the stuffed birds]

And you'd know, of course.

Norman Bates

No, not really. Anyway, I hear the expression 'eats like a bird' -- it-it's really a fals-fals-fals-falsity. Because birds really eat a tremendous lot. But I-I don't really know anything about birds. My hobby is stuffing things. You know -- taxidermy. And I guess I'd rather stuff birds because I hate the look of beasts when their stuffed -- you know, foxes and chimps. Some people even stuff dogs and cats -- but, oh, I can't do that. I think only birds look well stuffed because -- well, because they're kind of passive to begin with.

In this scene

Norman Bates Anthony Perkins More Norman Bates quotes →

Marion Crane Janet Leigh More Marion Crane quotes →

More from Psycho

Marion Crane Oh, we can see each other. We can even have dinner but respectably in my house with my mother's picture on the mantel and my sister helping me broil a big steak for three. Sam Loomis And after the steak, do we send sister to the movies? Turn mama's picture to the wall? Marion Crane Sam! Sam Loomis All right. Sam Loomis I'm not saying that you shouldn't be contended here, I'm just doubting that you are. I think if you saw the chance to get out from under you would unload this place. Norman Bates This place? This place happens to be my only world. I grew up in that house up there. I happen to have a very happy childhood. My mother and I were more than happy. Dr. Fred Richmond No. I got the whole story -- but not from Norman. I got it... from his mother. Norman Bates no longer exists. He only half-existed to begin with. And now, the other half has taken over. Probably for all time. Lila Crane Did he kill my sister? Dr. Fred Richmond Yes -- and no.