The Shoes
My Brilliant Friend | Season 1 | Episode 5

The Shoes

TV-MA | 55 MIN

Written by: Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo

Directed by: Saverio Costanzo

To celebrate the Epiphany, Rino leaves Lila the traditional lump of coal in her stocking and calls her "good for nothing." He gives their father the shoes they have been working on, and although Fernando seems to like them at first, he snaps and throws Rino out.

Bolstered by her academic success, Elena breaks up with Gino. Lila reveals she received two declarations of love that week: one from Pasquale and one from Marcello Solara. She tells Pasquale she loves him like a friend, but rebuffs Marcello, saying, "I'll never get engaged to you because you're an animal."

Rino takes Elena, Lila, Pasquale and Carmela into town for ice cream. They go to an upscale cafe and make fun of the way people dress. Rino punches a guy who calls him "riffraff" and blames Lila for pushing them to go to a place where they're not wanted. The girls board a bus to return home but hop off when they see Rino and Pasquale fighting the guy and his friends. The Solaras arrive with bats and join the fight; they take the girls home in their car.

Marcello has dinner with Lila's family. He asks to try on the shoes, but Lila lies and says she threw them out. The tension increases when she questions why her father wants them now, embarrassing him in front of Marcello.

When Fernando starts selling the new shoes, Marcello goes to the shop to try them, and asks for Lila's hand in marriage. Fernando advises his daughter to say yes, and when she refuses, he strikes her.

Maestra Oliviero arranges for Elena to go to Ischia and stay with her cousin. She gives her a stack of books and sends her on her way.

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