For a three-act plot analysis, put on your screenwriter’s hat. Moviemakers know the formula well: at the end of Act One, the main character is drawn in completely to a conflict. During Act Two, she is farthest away from her goals. At the end of Act Three, the story is resolved.
Act I
Alan arrives in Jeddah and assesses the situation at KAEC. He has a hard time getting a read on cultural expectations…and even greater difficulty finding out when the king might arrive.
Act II
Waiting. Soul-searching. Neck-cyst probing. More waiting. A lot has happened to Alan over the last couple of decades, and he finds that the desert is a great place for contemplation.
While he waits for the king, Alan also manages to befriend (and alienate) Yousef, Hanne, and Zahra Hakem.
Act III
Here we get the arrival of King Abdullah…followed by massive disappointment. Alan's left at loose ends to figure out his next steps and how to face another crushing professional failure.