Based on the best-selling 1969 novel by Irwin Shaw, the series follows the divergent career courses of the impoverished German American Jordache brothers.
As World War II ends, a 20 year odyssey begins for brothers Rudy and Tom Jordache. Two brothers couldn't be more opposite as they compete for the attention of their bitter, embattled immigrant parents. Rudy is hard at work at the family bakery trying to figure a way to pay for college, while Tom gets caught in pranks and fights. As Rudy prepares for graduation from high school, events begin to set each on a path of his own. It's the beginning of an unforgettable tale of two destinies that although quite different, can never be separated.
Rudy's dispute with his childhood sweetheart Julie leads her into the arms of the town playboy. On one of his escapades Tom discovers the affair, but his misguided efforts to alert Rudy result in disaster. This latest mishap is the last straw for Tom's iron-willed father as he orders Tom out of the house.
Tom's flight from home led him to California to live with his uncle. While living there, Tom discovers love with Clothilde the housekeeper. But happiness doesn't last long for Tom as he sets out on the road again. Back in Port Phillip, Rudy meets up with local playboy Teddy Boylan and Julie's name comes up in what seems to Rudy a mystifying conversation. Julie has followed her dream to New York where she finds her first break-and a new romance.
Trouble continues to follow Tom as he gets involved with young Teresa who becomes pregnant and names him as the father. Because she is a minor, Tom is arrested for statutory rape. Tom's father Axel reluctantly pays off Teresa's father to drop the charges and Tom takes flight again. Axel had planned to finance Rudy's small ski shop, but spent his savings paying off Teresa's father.
Tom's new life with Theresa begins to bring the happiness that has eluded him. Theresa gives birth to their son, Wesley, and Tom achieves early success as a prizefighter. Upon graduation, Rudy begins his business career after a surprising meeting with Duncan Calderwood. Rudy has since met up with Julie again. After an awkward reacquaintance, Rudy learns of the difficult choices Julie must now make in her life.
After an unsuccessful attempt at saving his marriage and keeping his family together, Tom returns to the boxing ring. But his affair with a new woman draws him deep into boxings dangerous underworld. Rudy's business career has taken off and he turns his attention to winning over Julie once more. But Julie is not fully recovered from her rocky marriage. She and Rudy must deal with problems from the past that come back to haunt her.
Rudy's ambitious business proposal to Calderwood takes some unexpected turns. Help comes from an unlikely source and Rudy must make a difficult decision. Tom continues to enjoy success in the boxing ring. Rudy's surprise appearance at one of Tom's bouts proves to be a difficult encounter as the brothers discover that their differences remain after many years. Rudy struggles in his renewed relationship with Julie, while Tom confronts his own family problems.
Willie Abbott's (Julie's son) return threatens Rudy's relationship with Julie, forcing Rudy to take action. Ginny Calderwood's vow to get back at Rudy for spurning her affection results in a heated confrontaion between Rudy and Duncan Calderwood. Tom, still on the run from boxings underworld, steps up his search for his wife and son. His desperate efforts lead to dangerous close calls. As the underworld intestifies its mnhunt for Tom, he is forced to flee farther than ever before.
As Rudy breaks up his partnership with Duncan Calderwood, he considers a career in politics. But first he realizes his longtime dream of marrying Julie. Tom continues his life away at sea, constantly on the move. On his latest ship he confronts a vicious foe in Falconetti, while beginning a friendship with Roy Dwyer. As Rudy's campaign heats up, he and Julie are forced to confront the many demands and strains of a political career.
Tom's troubles with Falconetti continue, leading to a bloody confrontation and forcing Tom to flee. While hiding out in New York, Tom receives a surprise visit from Rudy and learns that their mother is dying. The brothers travel together to their mother's bedside and their is a brief reunion before she dies. After the funeral, an awkward encounter between the family and Teddy Boylan revives old memories.
As Rudy's political career thrives, Julie continues her battle with drinking. A bad break for Tom turns into good luck when he meets Kay and they begin to fall in love. Rudy contacts Tom with good news: Tom's troubles with the underworld are over and Rudy has located Tom's son Wes. Tom rushes home where he and Wes have an awkward reunion. Julie's concerns about her own son Billy prove accurate as their visit ends poorly. Tom and Wes grow closer until a boating accident threatens to separate father and son once more
1965: Tom writes Rudy that, if he has any rich friends that vacation in the Mediterranean, he should mention Tom's name. The yacht is called Clothilde. While docked in Cannes, Wesley takes the boat out to impress some girls and damages the propeller. Tom has to find the hiding boy and recalls his father beating him. When Wesley approaches, Tom puts his arm around him and says tomorrow he will teach the boy how to repair a propeller. Falconetti sees the father and son pass by him in the night. College students show up at Rudy's house to protest and Julie answers the door, drunk and naked. The students make copies of the photos taken of her, so Rudy goes to the newspaper office and starts throwing stuff around, causing a shelf to fall on a student.
The series kicks off in 1968, with U.S. Senator Rudy Jordache disillusioned about politics and concerned about his stepson Billy Abbott, and Wesley Jordache, the son of his murdered brother Tom.
An obsessive billionaire threatens Rudy's business world, so Rudy concentrates on rebuilding his personal life through relationships with his two surrogate sons.
Maggie and Rudy have their fling interrupted with the sudden return of her daughter, while Wes and Billy show personal interest in Ramona.
Billy seeks to start his career in the recording industry while Rudy and Estep's field personnel quickly try to find Sarah, who is the key to unlocking the past of the billionaire threatening Rudy.
Rudy and Wes barely escape murder and Falconetti is arrested for the attempt on their lives. But Rudy's surrogate family is in danger of collapsing due to Billy's involvement with Wesley' girl friend.
The investigation Rudy is conducting reveals a traitor in the Estep organization while Estep shifts alliances to Falconetti. Behind the scenes, Diane and Wes have a brief fling.
Billy realizes that something has come between Wesley and Ramona, she tells him it's that they are on different sides in the strike. Rudy and Billy have a heart-to-heart, Rudy tells him that you pay a price for trying to do without people. He says that's what happened between Rudy and Tom as well as between Rudy and Julie.
Scotty admits the strike was orchestrated by national, while Charles worries that Rudy is dangerously close to a secret that could destroy his wife Claire. When Wes and Rudy leave the hospital, Falconetti is waiting.
The news is not good by Billy, Ramona is caring his child. Falconetti joins together with Estep to kill Rudy, who gets comfort from his renewed friendship with Kate.
Wes and Diane get married. Billy confesses to betraying Rudy and wants to help him while Rudy seeks help from Maggie to save his career and bring Estep down.
In Dallas, Charles worries about Albert Dietrich--Claire's real father--and locates Rudy's weak spot. Up at Whitby, Wes learns about Billy and Ramona and a bitter fight ensues.
Charles Estep is aware that Falconetti tried to kill Rudy; he sends one of his men to bail him out so they can get the story of why. Maggie discovers that Falconetti has been bailed out and by whom, but doesn't know why yet. Rudy discovers Wesley and Diane in bed together, right after Diane advises Wesley to go to Ramona and tell her that he loves her. Wesley stops in front of Ramona's house and continues past.
Wesley goes down to the Port Authority to find Roy and ask for a job. Rudy receives a phone call from an unknown person offering information on the death of Sarah Hunt. Falconetti is watching Roy and Wesley. The mysterious caller was Charles Estep's CFO.
Billy, working for Estep in Las Vegas, follows Falconetti. Back in Washington, the Senate decides to go forward on hearings investigating Estep.
Rudy gets the go-ahead to hold Senate hearings on charges against Estep. Meanwhile, Wes stalks Falconetti in Las Vegas.
The Senate hearings probing Estep's bribery activities open in a storm of charges and countercharges, with Rudy failing to substantiate his allegations against the billionaire.
The Senate hearings collapse; Rudy goes to Aspen. Estep and Falconetti ally to silence Rudy permanently, who is in Aspen after the collapse of the Senate hearings. Kate: Kay Lenz.
Rudy faces charges of falsifying evidence and attempting to coerce a witness into lying before a Senate subcommittee. Meanwhile, Ramona finds out that she is pregnant by Billy.
Censure hearings open against Rudy. While Rudy is ostracized in Washington, Billy walks out of his record company contract.
Wesley finds out Falconetti's motel room number, but finds curtains blowing in the breeze when he enters. Billy leaves his star in Las Vegas with Estep. Falconetti comes to Wesley. Wesley makes an impulsive decision.
The drama builds as Billy manages to sneak into Estep's files and Mrs. Estep remains hidden away.
Rudy tracks down the person who is behind Estep's power. Wes gets beaten up by Falconetti and is confronted for the last time by Rudy.
