Mauro gets a political slap in the face. Olivetti is undergoing huge financial challenges and risks going under but Adriano doesn't lose hope.

Little Livia is in the backseat as her mom drives another teacher home. She listens, she opens her mouth when she shouldn't, she observes. She draws her conclusions and then bets on them with her mom.

Karen sends a clear message to Adriano and they meet. She has something important to tell him.

The protest at school continues, and there is tension among the teachers and the principal. At home, Renzo has a first encounter with the housekeeper. He finds her a bit odd.

Christmas dinner is interrupted by a phone call from the plant, where engineers are working. Karen listens in. She then has an ominous meeting with the Americans.

There's a problem at school, and of course, our Prof (short for professore [professor, teacher], the affectionate, abbreviated term students use in addressing a teacher) has to investigate.

At the Olivetti home, it's Christmastime, and there's an air of celebration among the members of the extended family. Karen, who is listening in, is engulfed by feelings of nostalgia for her mother.

The election results have come out, and they're disappointing. Grazia gives Adriano all her support, and this gives him the hope he needs to push ahead with his dream.

Karen continues to do her work for the Americans, spying on Olivetti and the Community Movement. Dalmasso and Mauro are seriously trying to undermine Olivetti's efforts to get elected and to bring him to his knees financially.

The laboratory team is all excited as they come up with some great new innovations. They need more funding, however, and decide to demonstrate the results directly to the board.

The factory in Pozzuoli is a success, but the company has taken financial risks, which may be why Adriano is having nightmares. Dalmasso is closely following Adriano's movements.

Adriano goes to Rome to try and get financing for his project. He is unpleasantly surprised to have to deal with someone he knows very well and with whom he had had a falling out.

Karen's report to her superiors about Olivetti's plans prompts some serious spying on his operation by the U.S. Mario Tchou explains his ideas to the new team of young engineers.

Adriano's son Roberto has an idea he wants to develop, but Adriano is skeptical, at least at first. But Roberto knows how to tempt his father with good cocoa and this leads to an important meeting. While they are out, they discover that Mauro Barale is running for office.

Adriano imagines his new factory and describes the layout to Karen. The workers in Dalmasso's factory are not happy about their working conditions and Mauro manages to placate them. Dalmasso notices his skill in dealing with people and has a new idea of a job for him.