Masterpiece Theatre Set against the brutal chaos of World War II, this wonderful love story centers on two prisoners of war - Jean Paget and Joe Harmon - whose romance begins during the Japanese takeover of Malaya in World War II and concludes in th... (more)e vast Australian outback. When the story begins, Japanese troops are about to invade Malaya. A group of resident Englishwomen and children, including Jean, are captured. As humiliated prisoners of war, they are forced on a death march across the country.