November 3rd, 1883, Torino. The premier episode of "The Law According to Lidia Poet" unfolds with the tragic tale of Adele Valery, a rising star in the ballet at D’angennes theatre, discovered deceased within a chest in a dimly lit storage room. The grim discovery was compounded by the absence of the room's key, forcing staff to resort to the master key to unveil the heart-wrenching scene.
Meanwhile, in her rented abode, Lidia Poet shared an intimate moment with her beau, Andrea. As a practicing lawyer, Lidia's path soon crossed with the mother of Pietro, the man accused of Adele's brutal slaying. Paying a visit to Pietro in prison, Lidia gleaned that Adele's heart belonged to Claro, the Marquis of Clermont's son, and not to Carlo as previously believed. Pietro, driven by Adele's rejection, had reportedly been stalking her, culminating in his deadly act.
In court, Lidia's professional world collided with her personal as she encountered her brother, Enrico, also a lawyer. The judge revealed that Adele's father, General Ruggero Valery, had filed the missing person's report. Pietro had reportedly choked the life out of Adele due to unrequited love. Lidia inquired about fingerprint evidence at the crime scene, to which the judge responded with ignorance of such modern investigative techniques. The prosecutor, a chauvinistic figure, reprimanded Lidia for daring to undertake such a case.
Lidia's contemplation over Adele's body in the morgue was interrupted by the mystery of who had removed Adele's ring. Compounding her woes, the court had nullified her registration with the bar association, citing archaic beliefs: "Women are not meant to dabble in the realm of men. Such duties clash with their innate disposition and hinder them from fulfilling familial responsibilities." Additionally, women's fashion was deemed incompatible with the legal robe.
Desolate and financially ruined, Lidia returned to the family home. Enrico, living with his wife Teresa, their daughter Marianna, and Teresa's journalist brother Jacopo, refused to lend a helping hand. Flashbacks revealed that Lidia's father had similarly been unsupportive of her legal aspirations. Though considering an appeal in the Gazette, Lidia had given her word to Enrico that she wouldn't.
At Adele's solemn funeral, Lidia sought solace and conversation amidst the grief, engaging with Carlo and his family.
She introduces herself gracefully as an educator at Rosseau, the esteemed institution where Adele once danced with fervent passion. The poet's gaze falls upon Carlo, engaged in conversation with a woman who had ascended to the role of principal dancer after Adele's untimely demise. Meanwhile, Jacopo pens an article championing women's positions, dedicated to Lidia's cause. In a candid exchange with the dancer, the poet uncovers a secret yearning – Adele had harbored a fondness for Pietro's attention, unbeknownst to many.
The prosecutor presents Enrico with incriminating evidence: nude sketches of Adele by Pietro, revealing his fantastical escapades with her image. Yet, when the poet mentions the absence of the chest's keys, which contained Adele's final resting place, Enrico remains unperturbed and opts to close the case prematurely.
Later, she confronts Pietro about the engagement ring, only to be interrupted by the guard, who insists on her belief in the journals. This sudden declaration sparks a flicker of curiosity within the poet, propelling her towards Jacopo with renewed vigor. She seeks Carlo's address and urges Jacopo to publish an article highlighting the judge's unprecedented move to fingerprint the chest in the storage room.
At Carlo's residence, she inquiries about the engagement ring, learning that Adele had terminated her engagement mere days prior. With a calculated risk, she fabricates a story about the judge's order for fingerprint analysis on the chest.
The night of Giselle's performance arrives, and the poet extends invitations to the judge, Jacopo, and Enrico. She tasks Enrico with escorting the judge and two officers to the backstage during intermission. Positioning themselves behind a cupboard adjacent to the locked storage room, the poet and Jacopo prepare for their stakeout. She recounts Adele's recent decision to dissolve her engagement, explaining the absence of the ring on her finger. Adele's dedication to ballet overshadowed her love for Carlo.
A wager is set between Jacopo and the poet, testing the validity of her suspicions. Through a crevice, they spy the Marquis attempting to unlock the door, leading the poet to deduce his nocturnal visit aimed at persuading Adele to reconcile with his son.
The Marquis harbored ambitions to forge a union between his family and the esteemed General Valery's, yet Adele stood firm in her refusal, crushing his plans. Fueled by rage, he lost all semblance of control and choked the life out of her. Poet, later reflecting on the tragedy, revealed a crucial oversight—the Marquis, consumed by fury, had forgotten that he possessed the key and mistakenly believed the room could only be accessed by demolishing the door, unaware that a master key had been covertly used to unlock it. This revelation came during Adele's solemn funeral rites. Fortunately, the timely arrival of the judge put an end to the Marquis's reign of terror, and he was swiftly apprehended. The following day, Pietro saw his freedom restored. Enrico, though deeply impressed, masked his emotions subtly, thereby unwittingly allowing Poet the opportunity to make copies of his private correspondence.
As night fell, Poet eagerly anticipated Jacopo's arrival for dinner, as stipulated in their wager. However, a messenger delivered a disappointment—Jacopo would be unable to honor his commitment. Elsewhere, Jacopo was on his way to meet Nicole, unaware of the turmoil his absence caused Poet. Though her heart shattered into pieces, Poet summoned an inner strength, her voice turning steely as she resolved to confront her solitude in the bar, causing raised eyebrows among the patrons. There, she sought solace in a drink and began drafting her appeal, determined to reverse the decision that had stripped her of her former standing.
