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.

Alberto and his mother meet up at the breakfast table. Tensions are high, Libero tries to help out in his way, Lele needs to leave for work, but he can't leave his sister in the state she is in.

At the park, the kids try to come up with a recipe and they invite Stefano to take part in the project. One thing leads to another.

"Uncle" Giulio finally sits down for dinner, but there is a strange vibe at the table. Later, Lele goes up to bed and has a surprise waiting for him.

Alice, Joy, and Max want to win the contest, so they go around the neighborhood to find some traditional recipes. One stop they make is at the home of Joy's father's friend. The three classmates meet up with Stefano more than once, making them curious.

Libero tries to sell his pillows to the neighbors. Giulio shows up with a surprise for Lele.

The class is welcomed by the principal as well as the art teacher. The surprise is that there will be a cooking course twice a week, as well as a group cooking contest. Who's on board? As we know, Joy is enthusiastic about it, but what about the others?

Libero is still trying to figure out how to sell his pillows and experiments on his friend who has shown up to watch some tennis on TV. They talk about Lele and the fact that he doesn't have a girlfriend. Later, Libero goes to the Sleep Center intending to talk to the man who sold him the pillows.

It's the first day of school for our friends. In fact, it's their first year of middle school. The desks are set up for pairs of pupils, so choices have to be made as to where to sit and whom to share a desk with.

It's breakfast time in the Martini household. Lele is late but he has to deal with Alberto. Cettina and Libero have a little discussion about pillows and work.

Nilde calls her brother, Lele, wondering if Alberto had shown up there. The next-door neighbors come by with some information, but they bicker so much that it is hard for Lele and Libero to figure out what they are talking about. But somehow, Lele finally puts two and two together.

Alice introduces us to her group of friends. They've called themselves "JAMS" and we find out why in this episode. She begins telling us the story of how they got to know one another. Alice talks about la prima media. This is equivalent to the first year of middle school or the 6th grade of elementary school. The kids are about 11 or 12 years old.

Cettina is complaining about all the work she has to do and Lele is trying to come up with a plan so that family members can help out. Ciccio is trying to get something to eat for Alberto, who is in hiding.