Just moments after American ornithologist Junie Ooley steps off the ferry at the Shetland Islands, she is whacked by a cat flying through the wind. Robbie Baike's cat, Tiger, hits Junie with such force that she crashes to the ground. Right as Junie is about to get hit by a car, Robbie gets thrashed by the wind and lands atop the "bird woman" (which is how the townspeople refer to Junie), and the car flies into a streetlamp. Robbie pulls Junie into a nearby pub, where Junie expresses exasperation at the fact that the man was just on top of her. The crowd explains that Robbie saved her life. Rounds of whiskey are ordered, and Robbie and Junie fall into a deep and impassioned love. They are seldom seen apart, and Robbie begins to display uncharacteristically lovey-dovey behavior. One day, at an idyllic crofter's cottage, Robbie musters up the courage to propose to Junie. She respectfully declines, and cites their educational and citizenship differences. Robbie is broken and heads to the pub to drown his sorrows. That night, the winds gust stronger than ever, and Robbie feels that Junie is still out there, at the cottage, and in need of his help. But the cottage has blown away, as has Junie, and she is never seen again.