Despite its impressive history and reputation, the international trading company Struan's is in trouble. Overextended by the previous management, new tai-pan Ian Dunross has had to issue public stock to improve the company's financial standing. Even this, however, has not given him the capital he needs. As a result, he is courting a private investor, American billionaire Linc Bartlett. Bartlett decides secretly to back Dunross' arch enemy, Quillian Gornt, who will stop at nothing to destroy Struan's. When Dunross realises that Gornt is suddenly strong enough to ruin the Noble House, he must urgently forge new alliances or reshape ancient ones.
Episode 1
In Part 1, trading-firm executive Ian Dunross (Pierce Brosnan) seeks financial backing from American Linc Bartlett (Ben Masters), a corporate raider who sets his sights on Dunross's Noble House. Casey Tcholok: Deborah Raffin. Quillan Gornt: John Rhys-Davies. Orlanda Ramos: Julia Nickson.
Episode 2
n Part 2, a kidnapping plot takes an insidious twist; a Communist mole is unearthed; Gornt and Bartlett (John Rhys-Davies, Ben Masters) conspire to make Struan stock plummet.
Episode 3
In Part 3, romance blooms between Linc and Orlanda (Ben Masters, Julia Nickson); and between the tai-pan and Casey (Pierce Brosnan, Deborah Raffin), who frolic in Macao
Episode 4
Conclusion. Haunted by a tragedy at the race track, the tai-pan (Pierce Brosnan) travels to mainland China to seek financial aid and returns to face a climactic cataclysm.
