Based on "Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay", the third book in author Elena Ferrante's quadrilogy.

Enzo and Pasquale, Elena's childhood friends get her in the middle of the night to go to Lila who's sick in bed. Lila tells her how she reached that state.

Elena decides she's going to help Lila and takes her to doctors. Elena start writing in the newspaper about the rough state of the laborers. Lila decides to return to the neighborhood though it is a call for trouble.

Elena marries Pietro, but is unhappy: she gets pregnant and feels trapped at home and unable to write.

Elena and Pietro's relationship continue to deteriorate. Pasquale and Nadia come to visit Elena at Florence. Lila sends her son Gennaro to spend the summer with Elena and her family.

Elena visits Naples and to her dismay finds out her family is in attached to the Solaras. Pietro meets Elena's Naples acquaintances. Lila works for Michele Solara.

Franco and Silvia's trauma gets Elena to write again. Nino comes to Florence and meets Elena and her family. Elena is enchanted with Nino again.

Nino stays at Elena and Pietro's home. While Elena and Pietro grow farther apart, Elena and Nino get closer together. Elena publishes a new book. Lila gives Elena bad news from the neighborhood.