Michael Kitchen, narrator.

Scobie is a highly principled police officer in a war-torn West African state. When he is passed over for promotion, he is forced to borrow money to send his despairing wife on holiday. In her absence, he falls hopelessly in love with Helen, a young widow, and his life is transformed by the experience. With a duty to repay his debts, and an inability to distinguish between love, pity and responsibility, to others and to God, Scobie moves inexorably to his final damnation.