As Episode 2 of "The Law According to Lidia Poet" unfolds, Lidia steps into Enrico's shoes, welcoming his clients into her fold while he is absent. A misconception looms large: Enrico is falsely credited with the Marquis of Clermont's arrest. Instead, it's Gaetano's sister, Anita, who finds herself ensnared in the initial dramatic scenes, apprehended inside a horse-drawn carriage where a grim discovery awaits—a lifeless body accompanied by anarchist pamphlets. Gaetano's wife swiftly intervenes, weaving a tale of intrigue, suggesting it's a devious plot orchestrated by the proprietors of the De Santis chocolate factory to incriminate Anita, the brightest among them.
The deceased? Elena, the wife of the factory's owner. Lidia orchestrates a clever maneuver, obtaining a power of attorney and deftly duping a prison warden to facilitate a clandestine meeting with Anita. Within the guarded confines, Anita recounts the fateful night: borrowing the carriage from Gaetano, she gathered leaflets from a riverside haunt for printing. Temporarily abandoning her conveyance, she returned to find Elena's lifeless—yet still breathing—body inside. With a recent strike Fresh in her mind, Elena had been a beacon of hope, championing a pay raise for the workers and even aiding Anita, who had been dismissed by the factory owners, to secure employment at a tobacco factory.
At the morgue, Lidia audaciously proposes to the judge a volumetric glove test (akin to a modern polygraph) for Anita, facilitated by the prosecutor. The judge, however, demands a written authorization from Enrico. Upon his return from his travels, Enrico rebukes Lidia for undertaking the case on his behalf, asserting his inability to defend an anarchist. Undaunted, Lidia confesses she's already forged his signature—twice. Though reluctantly agreeing, Enrico delivers a blow: the glove test request has been denied.
Marianna, seeking solace in confiding her crush on Lorenzo to the only person who understands—Lidia—views her as a wise adult with a unique perspective on life. Lidia vows to devise a strategy that will afford her some private moments with Lorenzo. The following morning, Jacopo escorts Lidia to the factory. A message, relayed through Fumigi, emanates from the owners, pleading for an end to class warfare and expressing trust in the judiciary to deliver justice.
In a heart-to-heart with Leone, the owner's son, Lidia senses his detachment from the grief over Elena's demise. As she surveys the office, her visit concludes abruptly upon the arrival of Leone's father.
She firmly believes that Elena was indeed the one wielding authority over the factory, judging by the meticulous decoration of the office. She hypothesizes that Leone might have been coerced by her, painting a picture of intimidation. Meanwhile, Marianna secures some private moments with Lorenzo, cleverly manipulating Teresa into accompanying her on a shopping spree. Jacopo leads Lidia to a dimly lit bar where they indulge in opium, their minds wandering amidst the smoke.
In a vivid flashback, Lidia's mother forces her into a marriage, revealing her as a resilient feminist who has always stood her ground. At the bar, Lidia spots Leone and approaches him. He concedes that Elena was a cherished friend, even introducing her to his father. Leone dismisses the notion that Elena's rejection had left him with a bitter taste. The narrative unfolds further, revealing that Nicole Greimas was once a radical anarchist before she vanished without a trace. Enrico informs Lidia that the judge has granted the Prosecutor's request for a glove test, a revelation that shocks Lidia as she learns Anita deceived her about not calling Elena that night. The Prosecutor produces a note from Anita, testifying to the lie. When Lidia confronts Anita about Elena's murder, the needles of truth remain unwavering, confirming Anita's honesty. Yet, Enrico refuses to admit this into evidence, leaving a lingering question: why did Anita lie?
Lidia speculates that Elena and Anita shared a romantic bond, a revelation that Anita reluctantly acknowledges in front of Enrico and Lidia. The print house served as their secret rendezvous point, but Anita insists that the lawyers keep this truth concealed. Elsewhere, Jacopo strikes a deal with a forger, crafting two fake transit documents for a journey to Uruguay. An anarchist himself, Jacopo plans to flee with Nicole.
That fateful night, Lidia and Jacopo break into De Santis' office, their hearts pounding with anticipation. Lidia urges Jacopo to search for letters or any incriminating evidence that might prove Elena and Anita's relationship. Jacopo stumbles upon a potential murder weapon, while Lidia discovers a dismissal letter. They narrowly escape detection, with Jacopo feigning a kiss to distract the guard as they slip away. The awkwardness between them is palpable as they part ways, Lidia later meeting Andrea while leaving Jacopo behind. Despite their intimate encounter, Lidia remains distracted, her mind fixated on the letter. Andrea mentions the freedom she could find in the United States, but her thoughts remain elsewhere.
Enrico and Lidia present the dismissal letter to Leone, revealing that Elena had ordered Fumigi's removal from the factory. Lidia alleges that Fumigi destroyed the original order, but Elena's copy, retrieved from the copy press the previous night, still existed. Fumigi confesses to Elena's murder, driven by the belief that she was undermining Commander De Santis' legacy. Upon discovering her relationship with Anita and her approval of the Commander's actions, Fumigi decided to eliminate her. Fumigi is apprehended, and Lidia has once again solved a complex case.
Jacopo's world shatters when he discovers Andrea's true identity as an escort. The Prosecutor bans Lidia from the courtroom, issuing a stern warning to Enrico against delegating his responsibilities in the future.
