Five Graves to Cairo

Corporal John Bramble survives the fall of Tobruk and trudges into the North African desert, reaching the isolated town of Sidi Halfaya in June 1942. There he finds the Empress of Britain hotel, run by Farid, with only the French chambermaid Mouche for company. With Rommel’s advance pressing in, Bramble must hide and improvise to stay alive.

Farid hides Bramble when the Germans use the hotel as their headquarters. Bramble adopts the identity of Davos, the missing hotel porter, to blend in and avoid capture. The masquerade sets him up to influence events from inside the enemy’s circle.

Rommel calls Bramble to a private chat and Bramble realizes Davos was a German spy. Bramble learns he is to be sent to Cairo, but decides to play along while secretly gathering intelligence. The delicate deception begins as Bramble navigates his role inside Rommel’s camp.

Bramble fashions a plan to shoot Rommel by stealing a pistol from General Sebastiano. Not wanting to provoke trouble, Mouche steals the pistol and goes on Rommel’s staff to keep watch herself. The stage is set for danger and deception within the hotel.

During a luncheon with Rommel, one of the guests identifies that Davos has been replaced. Bramble privately explains who he is and what he intends, and Rommel asks him to use his position of trust to gather military intelligence. The exchange reveals Rommel’s awareness and Bramble’s precarious role.

From Rommel’s cryptic remarks and his reminiscences as a former archeologist, Bramble deduces the existence of five hidden supply dumps—the 'Five Graves to Cairo'. The key clue comes when Rommel’s references to points Y, P, and T align with the letters in the word 'Egypt' on his map. Bramble realizes Rommel has prepared a strategic network to conquer Egypt.

Bramble and Mouche clash as she resents the British and Bramble’s deception. He grows to distrust her mercenary lines, while she denies simple motives and tries to protect her brother. Her complicated loyalties add personal stakes to the espionage.

That night, during an Allied air raid, Schwegler discovers the body of the real Davos beneath the raid debris. Bramble kills Schwegler in the confusion and hides the body in Mouche’s area of the servants’ room. The hotel's secrets become lethal as the cover begins to crack.

To shield Bramble, Mouche confirms that Davos murdered Schwegler, even as she has learned the truth. Bramble departs for Cairo, leaving Farid instructions to reveal the truth about Davos at Mouche’s trial the following day. The risk of exposure forces Bramble to move on while still influencing events from afar.

Armed with Bramble’s information, British forces blow up Rommel’s five dumps, derailing the field marshal’s supply network. The action accelerates the approach toward the Second Battle of El Alamein. Bramble’s gambit turns from survival to strategic impact.

Brambles returns to Sidi Halfaya with his unit, scarred by the cost of espionage yet victorious in thwarting Rommel. The Germans execute Mouche for her role and for defying their authority, despite her exoneration in the murder case. Bramble places the parasol he bought for her at her grave to provide shade as a final, quiet gesture.