Domenico hears some tragic news on the radio and it inspires him to express his grief in a song: Vecchio frac (old tuxedo), which later became a hit. He shares his mourning and memories with Franca.

Mimmo is describing the moment in which he and Franca take their relationship to another level and when he also finds the rhyme he'd been looking for in the song he'd been writing. Later, during the recording session of Vecchio frac, he finds out the censors have been at work and want him to change the lyrics.

Mimmo begins telling about his honeymoon, which was very short and simple and included his friends Riccardo and Rosi. A flashback takes us to the Modugno living room in Rome, where they all watch a little black and white TV where the famous presenter Mike Bongiorno is hosting a game show. Conversation turns to work and they talk about the future.

In Paris, Mimmo and Franca are having a rough time getting by. But that doesn't stop Mimmo from wanting to have a good time. They don't agree on the right path to take.

Domenico gets an impromptu chance to sing in Italian for a French audience, and it goes well. Not well enough, however, and he is still depressed and feeling uninspired.

Mimmo is stuck at home taking care of household matters, trying unsuccessfully to write new songs, and Franca is getting work and is out and about. This situation of dissatisfaction and imbalance leads to harsh words.

It's coming on Christmas, and Mimmo is strolling through the street market. He spies an old friend who is clearly not doing so well. Domenico has been in that situation many times in the past and doesn't hesitate to "pay it forward."

Domenico feels misunderstood by his friends. As he walks with his friend Franco, a magazine cover attracts his attention. He goes to see his agent Gramitto, who has some news for him.

Domenico's song Musetto is playing on the radio, and Franca hears it and realizes it's about her. He has dinner with his father who is in town, and some thorny subjects come up.

Franca is on tour and gets word about a new song of Mimmo's. She says she doesn't care at all, but it's clear she does.

Mimmo has realized that Franca wasn't the problem blocking him from songwriting. He misses her terribly, in fact, and his friend Franco comes up with an idea.

Mimmo doesn't want to have to change the lyrics of his latest song. Riccardo and Franco try to pressure him to do it, for the money. Franco is out of work, and Mimmo wants to help him.

As Franco Migliacci wakes up after his hangover, he sees the poster he bought of Chagall's famous blue painting, and starts writing some lyrics. Later on he gets together with Mimmo, and has to be cajoled into showing him what he has written.

Three months have passed, and Mimmo and Riccardo are still trying to find the right lyrics for the song. Their frustration comes to the surface and the song risks going up in smoke.

In the middle of the night, Mimmo finally comes up with the refrain to the song that would become famous the world over. He can't curb his enthusiasm and calls Franco and Gramitto, even though it's three in the morning.