The director of the reformatory has done a bit of thinking and comes to see the boys, a rare occurence. Manzi, with his proverbial foot in the door, keeps trying to push it open even wider. There is news on the home front, too.

Giorgio takes his friend Giuseppe to a ball in honor of Princess Elena Cajafa. Giuseppe feels out of place, but Giorgio insists on having him meet some important people, hoping it will help his career, not to mention the entrance exam they have the following day.

Manzi's pencil ruse gets found out and he is called into the director's office.

Two medical students at the University of Naples leave the library and race through town down to the beach. At the Cajafa palace, Princess Elena is called to her father's study where they discuss the ball to take place that evening.

The kids have gotten to the point where they can write much more than their own names. But what then? Alberto comes up with a wonderful idea.

Alberto becomes a hero by bringing his kids some pencils. They start to feel the thrill of simply being able to write their own names.

The prison director refuses Alberto's request for writing materials, so he takes matters into his own hands, and learns a thing or two from his pupils, too.

Alberto and the kids at the reformatory all lie down on the ground to see the clouds better. They let their imaginations run wild. Alberto takes Ida and Alda to their new home.

Ricotta can't believe his eyes when Manzi comes to take him back to his inmates. The kids are incredulous, too, and Manzi, having gained their respect, can finally begin teaching.

Alberto Manzi takes an exam, getting a high grade. He takes the opportunity to express his ideas about teaching troubled young people. There's trouble at the reformatory, and Alberto steps in.

Ida reads the letters Alberto had left for her and is clearly moved. She looks out the window at the empty bench...

Alberto sleeps on the park bench across from Ida's apartment and then goes to work at the prison, where, once again, it's an uphill battle.

Alberto gets a friend to drive him to where Ida teaches. He recognizes her right away as the kids come out of the school.

Manzi isn't getting anywhere with the kids at the reformatory. He talks to the director, and then goes to the Board of Education, too, to complain.

Alberto's friend, Eugenio, is ready to call it quits when it comes to teaching. Alberto is convinced that kids are the future, but even though he made some headway with the kids at the reformatory his first day, there are still huge obstacles.