Episode 4 of "My Family" kicks off with Fausto's heartfelt message intended for Valerio. Meanwhile, on his journey back to Ercolano, Valerio receives a harrowing update about Fausto's deteriorating health. Compelled by urgency, he abruptly disembarks from the bus and dashes towards the hospital. Amidst this rush, Fausto's voice echoes in the background, weaving their life's narrative.
Valerio, like many younger siblings, has always held his elder brother, Faustio, in high esteem. When the teenaged Valerio harbored dreams of joining the seminary at 14, Faustio steered him towards a vacation first—a decision that dramatically altered Valerio's life's course. Returning from that trip, Valerio's spirit was shattered, a fact that Faustio agonizes over, blaming himself for potentially steering his brother onto a darker path. Additionally, the guilt of abandoning Valerio with their mother to start anew in Rome gnaws at him. Faustio laments the hurt he inflicted in his ill-conceived attempts to mend Valerio's life.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Fausto dispatches Valerio to attend to a client. Currently, Valerio awaits his final client, having already spent hours in anticipation. An unusual noise emanating from the car trunk catches his attention. Stepping out to investigate, he discovers a note from his guests, informing him that they've entrusted him with an illegal pet monkey.
The following day, Mari assists Demetrio in selecting attire from Fausto's wardrobe. When a call about the monkey interrupts, Mari swiftly denies seeing Demetrio, eager to keep their relationship under wraps. Reluctantly, Demetrio concurs with her decision. At the children's house, Elcore bubbles with excitement over the prospect of the monkey, while Libero departs to meet his new girlfriend. Despite reservations about Libero traveling alone, the pressing issue of the monkey overrides their concerns. Amidst debates on the monkey's fate, Elcore pleadingly begs them to keep it for just one night.
Flashing back, we witness Fausto's turmoil with the nuns who rented him their house, their residence being situated above his flat. A leaking bidet pipe from their apartment floods his home. Valerio's unannounced visit stirs Sarah's discontent; she's neither pleased to see him nor informed of his arrival. Fausto cunningly employs Valerio to sway the sisters into agreeing to split the damage costs of the books.
This period marked a contentious chapter in Fausto's life, marked by constant squabbles with Sarah over Ercole. She resisted having a second child and displayed what Fausto perceived as indifference towards Ercole. Furthermore, Sarah disapproved of Valerio's proximity to the children due to his past with drugs. To resolve the tension, Fausto shows Valerio one of the properties on his real estate list, a place he occasionally stays when conflicts with Sarah escalate.
Valerio persuasively argued that Fausto would be happier without Sarah, urging him to dissolve their marriage. However, Fausto was determined to work things out for the sake of their children. Valerio then offers to babysit, enabling the couple some quality time over dinner, but Fausto gripes about Sarah's relentless suspicions. She is convinced that something is amiss with Ercole, despite doctors reassuring her of his well-being.
In the contemporary moment, Mari persists in concealing her romantic entanglement with Demetrio, whereas Demetrio finds himself inquisitively probing into Libero's newfound love interest, unsure why he harbors feelings for Serena, despite his previous awareness. Libero, seeking to deflect, fabricates a tale of Serena residing at a distant locale, making a long-distance relationship impractical. Meanwhile, the nuns, fresh from their missionary endeavors, return with heavy hearts upon learning of Fausto's demise.
A spat ignites between Mari and Demetrio when Demetrio declines to engage in a parking-spot altercation, wounding him deeply when Mari labels him as passive. Within the confines of their home, Ercole reveals to Valerio his whimsical belief that the monkey might be his father reincarnated, sparking Valerio's curiosity. He seeks clarification from the nuns, who intimate that reincarnation could indeed be a plausible concept. Intrigued, Valerio spends time with the children, contemplating indulging in drugs. Lucia's intervention halts his descent into recklessness; she had been scratched by the monkey and feared contracting rabies. Calling upon Sergio for assistance, their night concludes in a sexual embrace, with Valerio not overlooking Lucia's judgmental glance, leading to another heated altercation.
Flashing back, Fausto persuades Sarah to share a meal with him while Valerio oversees the children. Their evening blossoms into an enchanting experience, culminating in an intimate encounter within the confines of their vehicle. Subsequently, Sarah falsely accuses Valerio of stealing emergency funds she had concealed in the microwave, sparking another contentious dispute. Amidst the chaos, Fausto narrowly avoids hitting Sarah after she slaps him. That fateful night, in a separate abode, Valerio vows innocence, and Fausto, convinced of his honesty, awakens to Sarah's call. Rushing back, he discovers Ercole injured, prompting Sarah to believe she is culpable and contemplate departure. However, Fausto implores her to stay while summoning an ambulance, allowing Sarah to comfort Libero.
Currently, Mari visits Demetrio's abode to extend an apology. The family bids adieu to the monkey, yet Ercole steadfastly refuses a final farewell. To lift his spirits, Libero invites him to meet his girlfriend, a deceitful gesture as he has only been visiting his mother, who Ercole joyfully reunites with. Meanwhile, Valerio and Lucia agree to a tentative truce. Later, Valerio transports the monkey to a circus, his guilt gnawing at him until he confesses his theft of the money, blaming himself for the subsequent turmoil in Sarah and Fausto's life. Seeking forgiveness through a sign from the monkey, Valerio finds none. Abandoning the monkey at the circus, he departs but halts, once more contemplating drug use. He discards his stash but is promptly apprehended by the police, who received a tip about the monkey and discovered the discarded narcotics.
