Capital Gains
Series One
Episode One
Julius finds that his daughter Kate is risking it all by staying in Australia to setup a winery, and hopes to fly him out once the first profits come in. Initially looking forward to spending his retirement "pottering", he attempts to come up with an idea to raise money by mortgaging his house to give money to Kate, which he runs past friend Sexton, by letter, who dismisses it as a crazy proposition. Going on to explain in future letters that he has decided to take on a risk, Julius loses everything and is offered the coach house owned by Sexton, as the demands for money come in. The situation also has Kate recall her feelings of desiring freedom and gaining independence which lead her to the far side of the world.
Episode Two
As the repossession of Julius' house proceeds and further bills come in, Julius takes to setting the situation out to his creditors. However, Julius is informed that a large deposit of more than four million pounds is placed in his bank account which is credited due to a clerical error, though after he has withdrawn the majority of the money. Julius sets about enjoying his new found wealth and makes friends with Pauline Tone who works at the bank. Setting off to tour Europe in a newly purchased car, Julius goes on to visit the rest of the world during which he discovers that the Hong Kong bank who made the deposit in error are trying to trace him, and decides to make a choice of philanthropy.
Episode Three
The bank continues to try to find Julius and the money, as Sexton reveals that the bank worker Pauline whose debts he offered to pay off has been in touch to clarify the situation. He also discovers that a man named Peter Fang is on the hunt for the money having been demoted at the bank. Julius keeps his location cryptic when communicating as Pauline looks for suggestions of holiday destinations. Julius starts purchasing a wide range of shares which begins to pay off as Peter believes he is getting close to finding Julius. In New York, he has a bad day however when a vagrant refuses to take a large amount of money and sets about taking a break from his now lavish lifestyle and responsibilities.
Episode Four
Pauline receives a letter written after Julius' arrest and imprisonment having returned to Britain and turned himself into the local police station. Despite the situation, he announces that he feels better about himself. Julius also hears from his daughter who has received plenty of visits from Mr Fang who also seems to come into his own chunk of money in suspicious circumstances, as she suggests that she will be selling the vineyard and winery. Fang also is looking forward to attending Julius' trial in London, while Sexton makes a discovery about the vineyard which puts Julius in a strong position to make a significant amount of money from the Hong Kong bank and Fang, while Julius also makes his first contact with Fang with the announcement that includes he and Pauline are now married.
Series Two
Episode One
Pauline writes a letter to Julius revealing that she is bored with their current life and sets about venturing out into the world on her own, which has Julius turning to looking at the nations political status and becoming an activist. The council also begins compulsory purchase of land owned by Julius which adds to his woes. Kate meanwhile has her own woes when she loses a court case on calling a product champagne, resulting in the community having to drink it before it is ordered destroyed. Julius establishes the Tree Party, a political group aiming to plant trees, which has him under fire from a number of people though it goes on to prove popular with the public who take to the garden centres. However, with an expensive commercial development threatened by Julius political party, he begins to receive threats.
Episode Two
The Haiku Jack consortium has managed to compulsory purchase Julius' land to build a leisure centre and shopping mall with him setting about continuing the battle with the help of some activist friends. The situation results in a warrant being put out for Julius arrest leading him to leave the country, though the situation has the consortium and development company vengeful. Julius heads to Las Vegas where he gets the idea of a game of poker involving Sexton and Mr Jack, though Julius' use of Haiku has Mr Jack losing his concentration and potentially a large amount of money. However, Julius pulls a last minute manouever of him having to sign a contract to withdraw from the development instead. However, the consortium continues to live on as the battle goes on.
Episode Three
Pauline is enjoying life travelling around the world while the Haiku Jack Consortium turns political, with chairman of the company Sir Gainford Blounty running for office in a byelection for the Traditional Party. Julius decides to take a step back from his own political party as the locals struggle to interfere with the ongoing works on the land as high fences and razor wire go up in preparation for a nuclear processing plant being constructed alongside the shopping mall. As the political winds turn against Julius, he uses his money to gain the right to demolish the headquarters of the Haiku Jack Consortium though the legal routes for Julius are headed off. The situation has Julius deciding to take the consortium head on and in person.
Episode Four
A tree planting protest is ongoing across London as Julius and other protestors remain camped on the land as Kate begins to worry about her father. The last person Julius expects to see appears - Haiku Jack - who has become an environmentalist since leaving the consortium. Gainford sets about arranging to clear the site using bailiffs who are less than reputable. Meanwhile, Pauline sets about returning home before believing to have killed in a hang gliding accident. With the bailiffs turning up to work, Julius receives some news about the election results while a surprise visitor to the woods arrives by parachute.