Episode 5 of "My Family" kicks off with a poignant scene of Fausto penning a heartfelt letter to Mari on the eve of his passing. In his missive, he bares his soul, professing his undying devotion and expressing gratitude for the solace she brought to his twilight years. The backdrop of their shared memories at an amusement park flickers by, where Mari triumphantly won a colossal teddy bear, a symbol of their joyous times together.
Presently, Mari stands before her class, reciting a poem that Fausto had dedicated solely to her. A curious student inquires about her love for Fausto, to which she readily affirms. However, her response hesitates when the question pivots to whether Fausto reciprocated her feelings. The narrative seamlessly transitions to a nostalgic flashback, revisiting the day Fausto abruptly interrupted her class after years of estrangement. Much had transpired since then; Fausto and Sarah had divorced, sharing custody of their children, while Mari pondered a move to Rome.
Fausto implores Mari to accompany him to a destination undisclosed, their conversation flowing naturally during the train journey as they catch up on lost time. Fausto reveals his apprehension about receiving his medical test results. Initially hesitant, Mari ultimately retrieves the results for him and delivers the ominous news. Fausto, gathering his courage, recites a haiku, a poignant reflection of his innermost thoughts.
In the present timeline, Demetrio and Mari chance upon the children secretly meeting with Sarah. They promptly inform the children’s officer, who reminds them of Sarah’s unsuitability as a parent, following Ercole’s mishap, which led to Fausto gaining sole custody. The officer expresses concern that these clandestine encounters may unsettle the children. Lucia argues that rekindling Sarah’s bond with the kids isn’t inherently harmful. An ensuing dispute escalates, culminating in Lucia unveiling Demetrio and Mari’s romance. Just as tensions begin to dissipate, the police arrive, serving Valerio with a legal order amidst his recent judicial woes. The revelation stuns everyone, including the children’s officer.
Later, Sarah offers an apology, prompting Lucia to extend an invitation to the children’s recital. While the others concur, Mari harbors reservations. Lucia, sensing Mari’s reluctance, invites her out for a heart-to-heart, urging her to embrace life fully. Lucia fears that Mari has been using her late love for Fausto as a shield to fend off her own happiness. It transpires that prior to his relationship with Sarah, Fausto had confessed his affection for Mari, who gently declined. Their evening concludes with Mari asking Demetrio to escort her home, where she spends the night weeping over lost love and cherished memories.
Flashing back to the inception of Fausto’s treatment, we witness Mari and Demetrio’s steadfast support. Amidst this, Sarah’s desire to travel abroad with the children creates friction. Storming the house while Fausto rested, she accused him of concealing the children’s passports, unaware of his illness. Demetrio, grappling with his own emotions, was reluctant to witness Fausto’s decline. Mari stepped in to lend a helping hand until her own circumstances compelled her to leave Rome, leaving Demetrio to stand by Fausto’s side until the end.
A couple of days hence, Fausto conceived a novel idea to embark on a fresh entrepreneurial venture, which led to a heated verbal altercation with a mechanic engaged in restoring his van. Subsequently, Mari urged him to champion the well-being of his children and seek legal counsel, as he was apprehensive about their future. At this juncture, Libero had shut him out, choosing to reside with Sarah. Mari emphasized the importance of hiring an attorney to safeguard his offspring.
That very night, Fausto confronted Sarah, revealing that he had forwarded a voicemail she had left for him during Ercole's injury. In that message, Sarah confessed to harming Ercole. Meanwhile, Sarah attended the children's recital, only to have Libero flee upon sighting her. She pursued him relentlessly until he burst into tears, confessing that he was the one who had hurt Ercole, unaware that the blame would fall on his mother.
The journey back was enveloped in an atmosphere of tension. To alleviate the mood, Lucia initiated a karaoke session, hoping to bring some cheer. Later that evening, Demetrio ended his relationship with Mari after she honestly admitted to denying herself happiness with him. He came to the realization that she did not love him and struggled to name even one thing she admired about him.
