During the filming of Heaven's Gate, there were some dicey moments where De Sica had to deal with the German troops and needed all his wits about him. At the same time his crew was cooped up in the basilica and didn't always behave as they should — in fact, tutt'altro (anything but). The narrator also mentions an anecdotal story Fellini told about his experience with the Germans.

Margherita was much more interested in substance and knowledge than in material things, including physical appearance, and this became her brand, in a certain sense. That didn't keep people from loving and respecting her, although there were some occasional incidents, a few of which are recounted by people who knew her.

Peppe comes out of the operating room where all seems to have gone well. Luigi has a fever and the doctors are discussing the possible causes and what to do about it. Meanwhile Luigi feels he has to try to get out of bed, to prove to his body that he can.

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

The show finally happens. Ida, her family, and neighbors are watching from home, Ricotta is watching from the bar, along with everyone else there, and in the studio, the producers are waiting for Alberto to botch things.

Camilla and Dora take a stroll through the antique market while Renzo is at his daughter's dance performance. He runs into someone he knows.

The whole family is reacting to the new situation with Irene, a possible date for Lele. Giulio is there too, putting a lot of pressure on Lele who is quite reluctant.

To recreate the environment of the San Loreto church, the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls was used for the final scene of the film. The crew was accustomed to working in a non-religious setting where they could do as they liked, so it was a full-time job trying to keep their bad habits (such as smoking) in check so they wouldn't get kicked out by their hosts.

Margherita Hack made her mark on the University of Trieste, teaching Astronomy there for almost 30 years and linking it with the Observatory. She had to use some drastic means to be recognized, however, being a woman in a man's world. But the balance changed over time, with her help, to involve many more women than before, both as students and researchers.

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.

The moment has arrived, and now it is a matter of standing around in the studio waiting for the show to start. The directors are very nervous and it remains to be seen whether they have reason to be or not. Ida's family plus the neighbors are glued to the TV and can't wait to see Alberto on the small screen.

Camilla gets a note from Dora while teaching her class. It gives her an idea for a class assignment. Later on, Camilla goes to Dora's house for tea.

Mariano is seriously worried about the incident in the examining room. Some people can't help but tease him, however. At home, Ciccio is still "sick," but isn't thrilled with being served soup rather than lasagna. Giulio is being an idiot as usual, teasing Lele about Irene in front of the children.

Our narrator describes what it was like working on the set of La porta del cielo (the Gates of Heaven): the extras, the dangers, the boredom, and the strategies for keeping the cast and crew safe. He also explains how they reconstructed the railway carriages that are featured so prominently in the film.

Eda discovered Margherita Hack on a TV show hosted by Piero Angela. This changed Eda's life. Margherita as a young scientist had a rough time in a profession where men were the important ones and had little regard for women.