It is altogether fitting that Burgess Meredith, who'd played The Penguin on Batman, should guest-star in this episode, which likewise boasts an "avian" theme. A wealthy man has been murdered, and his faithful manservant (Meredith) has been charged with the crime. To get to the truth of the matter, Ironside (Raymond Burr) must rely upon the dead man's pet myna bird Mr. Micawber, who talks only in riddles--one of which may very provide the solution to the mystery. "Michael Shayne" creator Brett Halliday cowrote this episode, which marks the American directorial debut of Ironside associate producer Jeannot Szwarc, later a fixture of the Rod Serling anthology Night Gallery. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi