Giuseppe's colleagues want to get Giuseppe away from the hospital because he makes too much "trouble." Giorgio has a suggestion for that.

In the piazza, Giuseppe discusses the war with some colleagues. He then runs into an old acquaintance. Later, in the lab, he talks about science and faith with his professor friend.

As he had promised Cloe, Giuseppe continues to look for her little boy, with little success. Some children he treats aren't really ill, they're just not getting enough to eat. Italy enters the war. Some doctors go to the front, others stay behind.

Giuseppe, Cloe, and Nina have a relaxing moment together at home, but then a letter arrives for Giuseppe that challenges the lighthearted atmosphere they had created.

Nina goes back home to get some of her things and finds Cloe. She doesn't hide her resentment, but the two women end up having a conversation. Elena is clearly stufa (fed up) with Giuseppe never having time for her and she takes action.

Suor Helga is good at reading Giuseppe Moscati's moods and senses something is wrong. Giuseppe knows Elena is suffering on his account but at the same time, he can't help being dedicated to his patients over everything else. He writes Elena a letter and takes it to her house.

Giuseppe goes to see Giorgio in his fancy doctor's office, hoping to convince him to see Cloe. It's clear Giorgio has chosen the career path of least resistance, and seems more interested in fine art and fine cigars, than in treating patients who need it.

Elena tries to convince her father that Giuseppe will change after they get married. He remains very skeptical. Giuseppe is spoon-feeding Cloe to give her some nourishment, meanwhile telling her how he decided to become a doctor.

Cloe really does not want to stay in the hospital and Giuseppe finds a solution, but not everyone is thrilled about it.

Giuseppe would like to spend more time with Elena, but at the moment there is too much to do at the hospital. A woman brings a baby to the door of a church to leave it, but she is suddenly taken ill and falls to the ground.

Moscati tries to calm the crowd of people and help them understand that it isn't necessary to burn all their household belongings, and that cholera is transmitted through their drinking water. He promises to help treat them as Elena watches the scene from afar.

Moscati and his assistants do what they can, but they discover that the government has a different view of the situation.

Elena is at the fancy dinner, and is worried about Giuseppe, but at the same time, she is fascinated by the after-dinner entertainment. Giorgio is taking advantage of Giuseppe's absence. Meanwhile, Giuseppe is working against the clock, realizing that his patient, from one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods of Naples, has a terrible disease.

Giorgio is getting settled in his new office and gets an unexpected and unwelcome visitor. Giuseppe has a big evening ahead of him with Elena and her father, but he gets some news he has to take care of and is delayed.

Moscati discovers what Aniello died of and feels profoundly aggrieved and powerless. He seems to have doubts about his role as a doctor.