Eternal

Nonna and Elisabetta now live together, and share a glass of liqueur, part of a nightly routine. Marco comes to the door, with a gift for Elisabetta, who still misses Sandro. She opens the gift to find a dress, and Nonna tells Marco to leave, before repeating that Elisabetta can’t date him. She reveals Beppe and Serafina’s affair.

Sandro walks through the Ghetto, heading unconsciously to his old house, which was confiscated. He sees closed businesses and poverty everywhere; his mother, a doctor, was fired because of the new race laws. When Massimo arrives home, he bemoans not doing more for the legal exception. Gemma reassures him that they have savings with which they can survive. Massimo says he already used most of the savings to issue loans to the community. With his father occupied, Sandro realizes he’s leading the family now.

Elisabetta and Marco go to a party at Palazzo Braschi, and she appears distant. She and Marco discuss her feelings, as she confesses that her mother and his father had an affair. He tells her that he knows, and that they will not repeat their respective parents’ mistakes. They learn Mussolini has arrived at the party, and the sash above the stage falls after he steps on stage. Marco climbs up a column and reattaches the sash to thunderous applause. Mussolini thanks him personally. Returning to Elisabetta, Marco kisses her.

Marco and Sandro meet, and Sandro shares his fears and family’s misfortune. They discuss the race laws, and Sandro tells Marco that the Fascist Party is responsible. Marco tries to separate his position from Sandro’s suffering. He takes out supplì for them to share, but Sandro refuses them. Sandro lies that he doesn’t love Elisabetta anymore, that he loves another girl named Anna. Marco reassures Sandro that they will always be friends.

Elisabetta tends to Nonna, sick with pneumonia. Looking around the room, she observes that Nonna doesn’t have a picture of the Pope, though she worships devoutly. Worried about Marco, Nonna notices Elisabetta has dinner plans with him. Marco picks her up, and they have dinner. Afterward, he proposes, and she asks for time to consider it.

Rosa returns from Britain, where she moved with David; he serves in the Royal Air Force. She walks through the Ghetto, seeing people selling rags and second-hand goods. She notices someone selling books, and realizes the books belong to her, and that her mother is selling them. Rosa has dinner with her parents, and they tell her how they’re coping. Sandro tells Rosa that Marco and Elisabetta have started dating.

Marco rides to the Ghetto to drop off groceries for the Simones, and then heads home. A secret police car chases him, and one of the men fights Marco, who is left with bruises and wounds. Returning home, he sees his father, who agrees they must keep helping the Simones.

A doctor arrives to check on Nonna. Marco comes by, hoping to take Elisabetta out. She refuses, saying she’s busy with work and attending to Nonna. He reminds her that they’re not family, and he can take care of her. She asks if he wants his ring back, but he tells her to keep it and promises to be more patient.

Buonacorso sends for Marco, who comes to see him at Palazzo Venezia, the headquarters of the Italian government. He tells Marco that he received reports of him helping Jewish people. He says one more report will result in his expulsion.

Sandro and Marco meet at the Spanish Steps, a place they normally don’t meet. He sees Marco wearing an orange hat, and Marco gives one to him. They discuss Marco’s job and Sandro’s made-up girlfriend Anna. Marco complains about Elisabetta’s uncertainty, and Sandro suggests he remain patient. Sandro tells him to buy Elisabetta a journal for her birthday. Marco gives him a bag of groceries.

Elisabetta hears Nonna’s coughing when she wakes up, remembering today is her own birthday. Nonna bought her a white kitten named Gnocchi. Nonna tells Elisabetta that Marco left her a birthday gift, and she finds a journal with Marco’s handwriting on a card. After work, Nonna’s son Paolo gives Elisabetta a cake and she receives larger tips. Afterward, she goes out to dinner with Marco. As they walk, they see one of Ludovico’s old friends, who yells at Elisabetta. He reveals Fascist men crushed her father’s hands, and that she’s a disgrace. Hurt, Elisabetta asks about the birthday journal and when Marco dropped it off. He admits he didn’t gift it and is angered by her reluctance to marry him. She breaks up with him. Taking Elisabetta’s ring off the table, Marco throws a water glass against the wall and leaves.

Sandro finds Elisabetta at his door, asking to talk. He takes her to the landing for privacy, and she asks if he left the birthday journal; Sandro doesn’t answer. He tells Elisabetta to marry Marco, who loves her. Marco arrives and sees them together, hurling an antisemitic slur at Sandro.

Marco leaves the Ghetto, and turns around to see the secret police behind him. They tell him that he gained clarity about Jewish people, and that he must go to Palazzo Venezia, because Italy will join the war the next day.