Mike Britton’s impressive museum set is dominated by the glittering sarcophagus but the walls to the side have the images of the Egyptian Anubis, god of the dead, with the body of a man and the head of a jackal, seemingly carved on slate.  The museum scene introduces a rich benefactor to the museum Linnet Ridgeway (Libby Alexandra-Cooper) who meets her old friend Jacqueline de Bellefort (Esme Hough) who had just become engaged.  Linnet is meeting Jackie’s fiancé Simon Doyle (Nye Occomore) for the first time.

We also meet an elderly actor Septimus Troy (Terence Wilton) whose real name was Roland Butter.  Aspiring middle aged actress Salome Otterbourne (Glynis Barber) is there with her daughter Rosalie (Camilla Anvar) and makes a beeline for Mr Troy. 

The Scene switches to the SS Karnak the Nile cruise boat.  The set is effectively changed to the boat having an upper and lower deck with multiple shutter screens opening and closing to provide different locations on board.  There is an initial shocking item of news which I am not going to reveal but suffice to say, there was a rumble in the audience as it was disclosed.  Also on board besides Poirot’s friend Colonel Race (Bob Barrett) who may be conducting his own investigation is an American legal type Annabelle Pennington (Helen Katamba) who needs Linnet to sign some papers.