

Newlyweds Guy and Harriet Pringle arrive in Bucharest, as does the impoverished Prince Yakimov, who takes a temporary job as a journalist for a British newspaper to save himself from destitution. Harriet is introduced to her fellow expatriates (befriending the middle-class Bella, who has married a wealthy local) and to Guy's Romanian friend and admirer Sophie. Their peace is interrupted by the assassination of Romanian PM Călinescu and Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland. Rumours fly of a German invasion of Romania, and Guy, though absorbed in his work and organising social events, is concerned about the family of Jewish student Sasha Drucker, given the antisemitic Romanian regime.
Newlyweds Guy and Harriet Pringle arrive in Bucharest, as does the impoverished Prince Yakimov, who takes a temporary job as a journalist for a British newspaper to save himself from destitution. Harriet is introduced to her fellow expatriates (befriending the middle-class Bella, who has married a wealthy local) and to Guy's Romanian friend and admirer Sophie. Their peace is interrupted by the assassination of Romanian PM Călinescu and Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland. Rumours fly of a German invasion of Romania, and Guy, though absorbed in his work and organising social events, is concerned about the family of Jewish student Sasha Drucker, given the antisemitic Romanian regime.
Commander Sheppey holds a clandestine meeting to plot against the authorities. Guy, guilty about not being on active service, is determined to be productive. When he cancels a lunch arrangement with Harriet, she worries over his whereabouts. One of his colleagues, Clarence Lawson, entertains a lonely Harriet. Concern for the Drucker family intensifies when they go missing. When Guy and Harriet spend a weekend in the mountains, the feckless Yakimov is left looking after their flat, with tragic consequences. Guy has ambitious plans to stage a production of Troilus and Cressida but casting causes dissent. During the after-show celebration, British envoy Dobson makes a disturbing announcement about the political situation. The Pringles find Sasha Drucker, now in desperate need of their assistance.