It was only when watching this episode that I put together. Alan Plater who adapted the novel for television, also wrote Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt! Magic.
Plater does put in some nice touches that you might not catch the significance of at first hand. He also keep things brisk.
Guy and Harriet arrive in Cairo and end up as refugees. The difference being if you get a job and accomodation, you are not a refugee.
Guy gets a teaching job in Alexandria. Harriet stays in Cairo and gets a job sticking pins in a map at the American Embassy.
Once again they are seperated. Courtesy of Toby Lush and Dubedat cosying up to Lord Pinkrose and Professor Gracey. They got the plumb jobs on Cairo.
Meanwhile Harriet befriends another young soldier. Simon Boulderstone who is inexperienced and is looking for his brother, who has been in battle.
Plater goes through some of the eccentric or troubled characters that Guy and Harriet encounter in Egypt. Harriet also realises the true meaning of occupation. The irony is not lost on the educated Egyptians that the advancing Germans are just another bunch of occupiers, this one will replace the British.
There was a nice touch when Guy asks a soldier who was a noted actor to put on a production of Hamlet. The British contingent could play the other roles. The actor retorts that he does not work with amateurs looking at Guy. Kenneth Branagh would go on to be the best Shakespeare actor in the world.
Plater does put in some nice touches that you might not catch the significance of at first hand. He also keep things brisk.
Guy and Harriet arrive in Cairo and end up as refugees. The difference being if you get a job and accomodation, you are not a refugee.
Guy gets a teaching job in Alexandria. Harriet stays in Cairo and gets a job sticking pins in a map at the American Embassy.
Once again they are seperated. Courtesy of Toby Lush and Dubedat cosying up to Lord Pinkrose and Professor Gracey. They got the plumb jobs on Cairo.
Meanwhile Harriet befriends another young soldier. Simon Boulderstone who is inexperienced and is looking for his brother, who has been in battle.
Plater goes through some of the eccentric or troubled characters that Guy and Harriet encounter in Egypt. Harriet also realises the true meaning of occupation. The irony is not lost on the educated Egyptians that the advancing Germans are just another bunch of occupiers, this one will replace the British.
There was a nice touch when Guy asks a soldier who was a noted actor to put on a production of Hamlet. The British contingent could play the other roles. The actor retorts that he does not work with amateurs looking at Guy. Kenneth Branagh would go on to be the best Shakespeare actor in the world.
