Domenico begins recounting his second (and best) year at the Experimental Center in Rome. One reason it was his best year is that he met a very special person.

Domenico happens to get a glimpse of Vittorio De Sica himself and chases him down to ask him for a part.

De Sica is generous with Domenico. Later on, seated on the curb with his friend, Domenico borrows a guitar from a "blind" person nearby and sings a song he wrote.

Domenico gets a small role in a movie where he has to sing a child to sleep. He then tries his luck in a singing contest. He also seems to be getting some attention from some women...

Mimmo is discouraged about getting rejected at the radio station, and Riccardo gives him some criticism. Franca has a different opinion. The students get together to celebrate the end of their two-year program at the Experimental Center.

Domenico keeps telling his story, fast-forwarding a bit, and focuses on when he got a new place to live with his friends helping him, and meeting up with Franca again.

Domenico isn't very adept at keeping his emotions, including jealousy, in check, and at the dinner party, he allows them to get the better of him. But there are all kinds of people at that party, and they aren't all against him.

Domenico gets a big chance to sing for a celebrity, but it doesn't go the way he imagines. Palmieri keeps coming up with ideas for him, however.

Domenico can't wait to tell Franca about doing the show, but she won't take his calls, so he goes to see her in person.

Franca was very skeptical about doing the broadcast with Mimmo, but ends up on the radio with him. There's one word to describe them: bravissimi! Remembering that these performances were live, not taped makes it all the more exciting to watch.

For the radio show, Mimmo sings a very sad song, based on a story he had read in the newspaper. Note: The images of the event may be disturbing. This broadcast was one of the last Mimmo and Franca would be doing, and they talk about the immediate future as they walk home.

Franca's career is going nicely, and Mimmo decides that he'll do whatever they want him to: Sing, dance, act...

At their meeting with the head of Curci music publishers in Milan, Riccardo and Mimmo dare to mention the word "contract." Once back in Rome, the Prince shows up at the artists' circle where Mimmo is having dinner.

Before the prince leaves the gathering in a very melancholy mood, he tells Mimmo about a job. Mimmo gets the job, but has a hard time satisfying the director (who is a bit eccentric, it must be said). Franca comes to the theater to see Mimmo at a certain point, but it might not have been the right moment.

Franca, disappointed and hurt, goes to visit her grandmother in Sicily and writes a letter to Mimmo.