In a small (fictional) emirate of the Persian Gulf a world-weary journalist is caught up in a coup where the Emir's son, under the influence of a political renegade, attempts to depose his father - the ruling monarch. Flashbacks of the journalist's life show us how his relationships with the Emir and a beautiful young woman develop and flourish.

John Hurt
as Granville Jones

Imogen Stubbs
as Lady Romy Burton

Robert McBain
as Sandy McCulloch

Greg Hicks
as Lou Rivers

Bargach Abdelrahim
as Abdullah

Julian Curry
as Stuart-Smith

David Conville
as Sir Geoffrey Burton

Roshan Seth
as The Emir of Hawa

Naji Ahmed
as Suleiman's brother

Ahmed Boulane
as Al-Bakr