<p>Peter Parker, a young British diplomat in Ceauşescu&rsquo;s Romania, goes on a trade promotion visit, with Stefan Teduscu a locally engaged Commercial Officer. He recklessly has a one-night stand with a local girl. Stefan, secretly a member of the Romanian Secret Service, discovers his indiscretion. Peter returns to Bucharest feeling anxious and guilty and watching every shadow. He gets involved with Mavis his boss&rsquo; secretary and makes her pregnant.</p><p>Twenty years later, Peter arrives in Barbados as the British High Commissioner. After an incident at the airport, Peter&rsquo;s posting rapidly goes downhill. He struggles to deal with the incompetence of Angus, his alcoholic deputy, and his own character weaknesses.</p><p>Life gets even more complicated when Stefan, now a dubious businessman, turns up as the leader of a Trade Mission and tries to blackmail him. Meanwhile Nicu, a problem solver for a South American cartel, is contracted to eliminate Stefan; a task which he addresses enthusiastically.</p><p>Concern is being felt at the top of the Foreign Office that all is not well in Barbados. Peter&rsquo;s efforts to control his rapidly deteriorating work and family situation and Nicu&rsquo;s vain attempts to despatch Stefan dissolve into near farce, reaching a climax at a Reception in the High Commissioner&rsquo;s Residence.</p>