Transcript created: 3rd September 2026

Last updated: 3rd September 2026

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[The sound of high heels on stone. A heavy metal door opens far away from us with a thud. High heels come clicking over the floor toward us.]

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NOOR: (Calling over) So, you’re the new Captain Boring?

 

FINN: That depends. You planning on flying in those?

 

[Finn has a low voice. They have a Scottish, specifically Dundonian accent.]

 

NOOR: (Mocking) Why, is that gonna be a problem?

 

FINN: Cute

 

NOOR: (Hint of interest) You’re...bigger than the last guy

 

FINN: That gonna be a problem?

 

NOOR: No, no. (Walking away) I just thought they raised all you health and safety dorks in a lab deprived of sunlight. And protein. Calcium. That whole shebang.

 

[Noor starts getting changed.]

 

FINN: People like me tend to prefer the term Aerospace Engineer. And we come in all shapes and sizes. It tends to be the pilots who turn out more uniform, so we can fit you in the cockpit.

 

NOOR: (Teasing) You saying I’m short?

 

[There’s a rustle of clothing.]

 

FINN: (Audibly thrown) I’m… learning you have a big personality

 

[Noor clambers onto the wing of the aircraft, pulls up the cockpit hood, clambers inside.]

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NOOR: [Various effort sounds for the above]

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NOOR: (Whilst climbing in) What, you didn’t read that in my file already?

 

FINN: (Calling up) Reckless, brilliant, uncontrollable

 

NOOR: I should put that on my dating profile

 

FINN: I can’t imagine you need one

 

NOOR: Unbelievably I am still single. (To herself) Something about the addictive personality or the lack of self-preservation, I guess

 

[Finn climbs onto the wing too. They’re much bigger and heavier than Noor, and the plane responds a little by creaking. They check Noor is securely belted in.]

 

FINN: (CLOSE) So, what? The heels were some kind of test?

 

NOOR: (CLOSE) (Chuckle) Well, like I said, I’m single

 

[Long beat.]

 

FINN: You’re definitely trouble. 

 

[Finn steps back, and pulls the hood back down over Noor’s teasing laughter.]

 

NOOR: [Chuckling] Finn clicking a button on their radio.

 

FINN: Testing testing, am I coming through, over?

 

[Noor’s voice comes through a little fuzzy with static, but much clearer than Jamal’s voice did in episodes one to three. Both Finn and Noor’s lines end with a beep whilst they’re talking via the radio.]

 

NOOR: That’s what she said, over

 

FINN: This is going to be a long day, over

 

NOOR: (Teasing) We can always make it longer, over

 

FINN: [Sighs]

 

[The plane’s engines switch on. She begins to move out of the hangar. Finn strides over and opens the hangar doors with a huge metal screech.]

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[Quietly, the morse code of the opening theme tune comes in.]

 

FINN: Fly safe, Blackbird

 

NOOR: I always do

 

[As Noor’s plane taxis onto the runway and takes off, the theme music raises in volume and takes us into the opening credits.]

 

FERAH AHMET: The Bird Roads. Act Two. Part One.

 

[The music ends, transitioning into the bustling soundscape of a pub on a Friday night.]

 

NOOR: (Setting glasses down) Alright. One pint of guinness for yours truly and...whatever the heck kind of fruity abomination this is for the Designated Babysitter

 

[Noor sits down.]

 

FINN: I am the same age as you

 

NOOR: That beard says otherwise

 

FINN: You don’t like it?

 

NOOR: I didn’t say that. It’s got that sort of...lumberjack charm. Matches the plaid.

 

FINN: And last week you said I didn’t wear colours

 

NOOR: I don’t know that red flannel was where I was going with that. But....it’s cute. It’s a start.

 

FINN: Well thank goodness I have your approval

 

NOOR: You’re welcome. Cheers

 

[They toast. NOOR and FINN both take a drink.]

 

NOOR & FINN: [Sip and swallow]

 

[BEAT]

 

NOOR: You know, none of the other babysitters lasted this long

 

FINN: I’m sure they loved it when you called them babysitters

 

NOOR: One of them said my lipstick wasn’t regulation. Another tried to give me a lesson in aerodynamics

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FINN: I’m sure that ended well

 

NOOR: I maintain that I slipped, officer. My fist just so happened to land on his nose.

 

FINN: So… What’s changed?

 

NOOR: You

 

FINN: That much, I noticed. But why do you tolerate me more than the other (QUOTING HER) “sun-starved dingbats”

 

NOOR: (BEAT) ...You care

 

FINN: About what, exactly?

 

[Noor tries to pass off this next line as nonchalant, with mixed success.]

 

NOOR: I don’t know. All of it. The planes. The science. [BEAT] Me.

 

FINN: (Matter of fact) It’s my job to care. You’re my responsibility, just as much as whatever hunk of junk that gets sent our way for testing. 

 

NOOR: (Embarrassed) Forget about it

 

FINN: (Tender) No. No, tell me. What do you mean?

 

NOOR: Everyone else saw me as a problem. As if you didn’t need an impulsive risk-taker to take on the job of ‘fly the plane til it breaks’ in the first place. I was a cog in the machine. Worse than that, I was a misshapen cog. I didn’t fit. 

 

[Tender, slow romantic piano music comes in softly under Noor’s speech.]

 

FINN: (Soft) Well. I think I know a little something about that. 

 

NOOR: It’s like when you look at me, you see me as I am. Yes, a troublemaker. But more importantly a damn good pilot. A woman. A person.

 

FINN: I won’t deny it. I can’t imagine anyone not seeing the woman in you, though. 

 

NOOR: You’d be surprised.

 

FINN: Well. Maybe it’s time I had a taste of that lipstick.

 

NOOR: (Teasing) It’s not regulation

 

FINN: You know, I don’t think I mind

 

[They kiss. Noor catches her breath, and there’s silence for a moment, then she laughs, warmly.]

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CREDITS

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[The theme music plays as Ferah speaks.]

 

FERAH AHMET: The Bird Roads Act Two, Part One, was written and directed by Ella Watts, with music and sound design by Amber Devereux.

Noor was played by Ferah Ahmet and Finn was played by Spencer Mason.

Our script editor and production manager is Ross McFarlane. This podcast is a Tin Can Audio production. 

 

[The theme music swells for a final crescendo before fading out on the looping morse code melody.]