It's Cettina's day off, and nobody seems to have the time to help with the dishes, but at least, Maria and her father get some alone time.

Libero is still trying to think of what to get Maria for her birthday and talks to Alice about it. At the health center, Lele talks to his colleague about Maria's party wishes. The woman who had "fallen down the stairs" comes back.

The principal and the teacher taste the four dishes and decide on the grades.

Lele is asked by a fellow doctor to have a look at a patient who might not be telling the truth about what happened to her. Maria and Rebi are planning the guest list for the party. Cettina is listening and commenting as she works in the kitchen.

The cooking contest begins. Joy isn't quite her usually buoyant self, however. The kids on team "the Best" have already planned on cheating.

Max and Alice have a conversation and it is clear that she is trying to tell him something without coming out and saying it. Joy goes home and her mother asks her where she has been.

We begin a new episode and this time the conversation at the breakfast table comes around to Maria's upcoming birthday. Lele still thinks of Maria as his little girl, so he is a bit surprised at her request.

Joy meets up with Michelino, Max's little brother, the mascot of the group. Soon after, Ettore, the attorney, happens by.

While Giulio is in the middle of trying to make a deal on the pillows, Vanessa comes back to the Martini house in search of her glasses and meets up with people she knows and people she doesn't know.

In class, the teacher notices the excitement in the air and takes pity on his students. Later on at the bistro, the JAMS make the dish Stefano had suggested. Davide leaves them to clean up.

Nilde, Lele, and Libero have a frank discussion about the whole situation regarding Alberto. Giulio tries to help Libero sell his pillows to Nicola.

It's time for the challenge. Customers can choose either Davide's cake or the one JAMS made. Whichever cake is gone first wins.

Nilde and Alberto try to talk, but it seems useless. Lele tells Alice about Giulio's "prank," and as they walk and talk, Lele sees something that makes him regret becoming a doctor.

Pina takes her son Christian to see Lele, who gives him a stern talking-to. On the home front, Giulio teases Libero about getting conned in the pillow affair. Be on the lookout for the noun bidone. It means "dumpster" or "garbage can," but colloquially also refers to a "no show, a "scam," or a "piece of junk."

Joy has an interesting idea about where they can practice cooking. But it's a bigger challenge than she expected.