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Capital City

Capital City

★ 7.0/10•1989•50m•12•Drama
Similars

Capital City is a British television drama programme produced by Euston Films for ITV, broadcast from 26 September 1989 to 20 December 1990 over two series, totalling 23 episodes. Created by Andrew Maclear, the plot focuses on the lives of London investment bankers living and working on the corporate trading floor of international bank Shane-Longman.

Andrew MacLear · Creator

StatusEnded
Runtime50m
LanguageEN
First Air DateSep 26, 1989

Episodes

Episode 1 - Second Quarter FiguresE150m

Second Quarter Figures

It's Monday morning on the trading floor of Shane-Longman, a London-based international bank. The market has been erratic, nobody is getting it right and with the US trade figure due, the dealers are under pressure to improve on last month's performance. Several members of the board are critical of the 'maverick' image of the trading floor. Heads may roll. Meanwhile, Hudson's mentally unwell wife abandons him and their infant son, and Chas Ewell befriends teenage runaway Louise.

Sep 26, 1989

Episode 2 - Insider TradingE250m

Insider Trading

A serious problem looms at Shane -Longman. Leonard Ansen, the Senior Director of Banking Activities, and Wendy's closest ally on the top floor, is in trouble with the DTI. He is suspected of insider trading and is forced to inform the board of his situation. Lee Wolf, the Director of Corporate Finance, and Ralph Goldring, the Director of Finance, demand Leonard's resignation; however, when CEO James Farrell and major shareholder Peter Longman put their support behind Leonard, it is Ralph Goldring who is forced out.

Oct 3, 1989

Episode 3 - ThanksgivingE350m

Thanksgiving

It's Friday evening. The market is winding down. Sirkka is flying to Copenhagen for the weekend to see her boyfriend, Sven, and is about to leave when she hears that Aristotle has dropped out of an important deal she has set up. She must find another player fast as the deal has to be in place by Monday morning. Sirkka confronts Aristotle in a nearby bar and ends up with a black eye.

Oct 10, 1989

Episode 4 - Max in TroubleE450m

Max in Trouble

Declan is having a dinner party for Max, Michelle and Sophie – an art dealer who likes Max and whom Max, for his part, seems to like as well until he discovers she used to use drugs and, he feels, might start using again. Max, though, seems far more interested in a potential deal, making a killing in some bonds by selling now while the price is high and buying back once the price has fallen. Jimmy and Chas fall out after Jimmy sexually assaults Louise, a 17-year-old runaway, following a night of partying.

Oct 17, 1989

Episode 5 - Pension FundE550m

Pension Fund

Leonard has spent a year wooing back a major client, the Municipal Pension Fund, and he assigns the job of advising them to Declan, the bank's senior dealer. Unforeseen problems threaten the deal that Declan is setting up for the bank thanks to Jimmy, a junior dealer.

Oct 24, 1989

Episode 6 - Newspaper StoryE650m

Newspaper Story

Jimmy Destry meets journalist Sarah Douglas at a private party, Not realising her profession, he divulges potentially damaging information about his colleagues and the departure of Ralph Goldring, Shane Longman's former Finance Director. The article is later published in the London Evening Post and includes unfavourable references to team members including a "Scandinavian cow", which Sirkka believes is her. It is later revealed that Max and Sarah were once lovers.

Oct 31, 1989

Episode 7 - RainforestE750m

Rainforest

Hudson Talbot, Shane Longman's capital markets originator, is woken in the middle of the night by his colleague, Max Lubin, the Bank's Director of Swaps. Hudson is persuaded, reluctantly, to discuss what sounds like another of Max's unorthodox but possibly brilliant schemes.

Nov 7, 1989

Episode 8 - TakeoverE850m

Takeover

A dawn raid has occurred and Friedmans, a rival bank, has acquired 15 per cent of Shane Longman's shares. A takeover is threatened and the dealers' jobs are suddenly at stake. Chief Executive James Farrell tries to contact Peter Longman, the bank's major shareholder, only to discover that he is fishing somewhere off the north-west coast of Tahiti and cannot be reached. But a young accountant doing an audit at Shane lets slip to Chas and Declan that things at the rival bank are not what they seem.

Nov 14, 1989

Episode 9 - Japanese FundE950m

Japanese Fund

Peter Longman is in ebullient spirits. As Shane Longman's major shareholder, he has secured a deal with Tokyo-based Ikeda Bank to set up a joint venture. The signing of the agreement between the two banks is to be widely covered by the City press. Leonard Ansen is not so enthusiastic and believes Longman has rushed into the deal too quickly without considering the long-term implications of the tie-up. Ikeda executives give some indication of their desire to eventually take over Shane Longman but walk away from the deal after being less than impressed by what they perceived as a lack of discipline in the dealing room.

Nov 21, 1989

Episode 10 - Max in SpaceE1050m

Max in Space

Max and Hudson have completed a deal with the Pan Mediterranean Fund, an EEC entity which offers finance to the poorer areas of Europe. Jerome Heron is a difficult character but his deputy, Monique Danvier, is far more likeable.

Nov 28, 1989

Episode 11 - Twelve Degrees CapricornE1150m

Twelve Degrees Capricorn

Eyebrows are raised when Max employs astrology to predict major deals. Thrill-seeking Sirkka enters dangerous territory when she becomes a high-class prostitute and discovers that risk isn't confined to the dealing room floor.

Dec 5, 1989

Episode 12 - Max in PolandE1250m

Max in Poland

Whilst finalising an awkward deal in Warsaw, Max becomes very taken by Maxine, who works in an art gallery. Meanwhile, Sirkka hits rock bottom when she collapses with alcoholic poisoning and is rushed to hospital.

Dec 12, 1989

Episode 13 - The Snail and the PhotographerE1350m

The Snail and the Photographer

Wendy is promoted to become the new Head of Derivatives and is replaced as Chief Trader on the floor by the hard-boiled Sylvia Roux Teng. Sirkka gets a wake-up call and decides to join Alcoholics Anonymous. Jimmy Destry is sacked for malpractice after Declan discovers his off-market trades.

Dec 19, 1989

Actors

William Armstrong

William Armstrong

Max Lubin

Douglas Hodge

Douglas Hodge

Declan McConnochie

Jason Isaacs

Jason Isaacs

Chas Ewell

Joanna Kanska

Joanna Kanska

Sirkka Nieminen

Trevyn McDowell

Michelle Hauptmann

Rolf Saxon

Rolf Saxon

Hudson J. Talbot

John Bowe

John Bowe

Leonard Ansen

Emily Bolton

Emily Bolton

Sylvia Roux Teng

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