At the fifth installment of "The Law According to Lidia Poet," a haunting séance unfolds at a gathering, with masked attendees surrounding a woman channeling spirits. The eerie apparition issues a grim warning aimed squarely at Achille Castelnuovo. The following morning, Lidia confronts Jacopo, her composure shattered by the sight of weapons. Jacopo rationalizes, explaining that his friend is in dire need of funds and he's merely brokering the sale of firearms on her behalf. Lidia, sensing her family's vulnerability, feels a chilling sense of threat. In response, Jacopo lashes out, labeling her as "lonely" in a voice laced with defiance.
Later, Lidia ventures into the prison, where an unexpected encounter awaits: Margherita, a figure not revisited in subsequent chapters of the narrative. Margherita introduces Lidia to her new client, Azzurra, an escort entangled in a murder charge. Azzurra confesses to drugging her clients with a Mickey Finn and admits to stealing a watch and cash from her deceased client – Achille Castelnuovo. Enrico, as skeptical as ever, finds the narrative implausible. How could a prominent figure like Achille, who had spearheaded the construction of a synagogue and secured a lucrative telephone company tender, be felled by a prostitute? Marianna sits silently at the table, her demeanor sits in stark contrast to Teresa's anxious glances directed towards her . Enrico counters the perplexity by noting the synagogue project's stagnation and Achille's tender victory due to Massimo Chiaia's goodwill.
On the eve of the grand ball, Enrico and Teresa share a mutual understanding about Lorenzo's irrelevance and dismiss him from their considerations. Marianna, visibly upset, storms off the table. Teresa turns to Lidia, imploring her to intercede and help Marianna comprehend her plight. Meanwhile, Lidia seeks out Guiditta Ancelli, Achille's sister-in-law, who was once consumed by a vengeful fury against Achille, believing he had slain her sister, his wife. In a mental institution, Guiditta claims knowledge of Achille's demise, asserting her own guilt in his murder. Lidia, disbelieving, questions the method. Guiditta gestures towards a young male attendant, hinting at nightly escapades facilitated by favors. Yet, in the next breath, she renounces her capability for murder.
And then, there's Guiditta, who claims to know the murderer's identity. Perhaps, after all, she is merely a woman driven by madness. Andrea, who has dealings with Massimo, agrees to escort Lidia to the lavish party Massimo is hosting. Before leaving, Lidia urges Marianna to be more respectful to her parents and heed their advice, especially if she wishes to be with Lorenzo.
At the party, which we witnessed in the episode's opening scenes, Andrea and Lidia encounter Massimo. To their surprise, Massimo claims he was never friends with Achille, finding the deceased's sense of entitlement insufferable. For Massimo, who climbed from rags to riches, this was a deal-breaker.
Andrea reveals to Lidia the mysterious woman from the opening moments of the episode – Madame Crespal, who boasts of communicating with spirits. Crespal claims she summoned Achille's wife that night, who warned her husband of impending danger. When Lidia meets her, Crespal insists that she didn't summon the wife; rather, the spirit chose to manifest through her. Intrigued, Lidia asks Crespal to perform the ritual again, and she agrees.
Enrico is skeptical when Lidia mentions the meeting, but Jacopo sides with her in their argument. Reluctantly, Enrico accompanies Lidia to Crespal's. Though unwilling to participate, he is coerced by Lidia into taking part. As the séance begins, the glass starts moving, and the spirit reveals itself as Lidia's father, who forgives her. Overwhelmed with emotion, Lidia collapses, her nose bleeding.
Andrea confesses to his friends that he hasn't told Lidia he's leaving for America in ten days. He admits his love for her, but Lidia doesn't return his affections. Unconvinced by Crespal's charade, Lidia reads up on ventriloquism and suspects Crespal was hired to threaten Achille.
Meanwhile, Marianna is missing from home, prompting her parents to search the town for her. Andrea informs Lidia that Marianna is safe with him at his hotel. The little girl embraces her aunt, confessing her fear and lack of bravery compared to Lidia. Lidia shares her own story of leaving home, urging Marianna to speak with Enrico about Lorenzo.
Elsewhere, Jacopo is with Maya, the girl from the bathtub in episode 1, but his mind seems elsewhere, distracted by thoughts unseen.
As Lidia converses with Marianna, a stroke of genius strikes her on how to persuade Enrico about the intricate case. Determined, she heads to Crespal and engages her in a discourse about Sangilles. Crespal vigorously defends her position, yet Lidia artfully weaves a theory, suggesting that Massimo had tasked her with intimidating Achille because he was unwilling to share the profits. To further her deceit, Lidia invents a scenario where Guiditta purportedly spotted Massimo on that fateful night. Crespal's demeanor tightens noticeably as Lidia departs.
That very evening, Massimo finds himself at Guiditta's doorstep, unaware of the trap awaiting him. She lures him into a concealed chamber, where Lidia greets him with a steely gaze. She accuses Massimo of Achille's murder and boldly requests a position within his operations. Massimo, cornered and desperate, attempts to silence her. Just when he believes he's alone, Enrico, accompanied by the police, bursts in. Massimo's freedom is swiftly curtailed as he's apprehended.
Later, a note from Crespal lands in Lidia's hands, addressing her as "princess," a nickname reserved solely by her late father. However, Lidia remains skeptical, dismissing it as a forgery and brushing it aside. Meanwhile, Enrico, realizing he's yet to file the appeal, hastily proceeds to the courthouse. Jacopo, driven by unspoken emotions, confesses his love for Lidia and confessionally unveils the truth about Nicole. But before Lidia can delve deeper, Jacopo's lips seek hers in an unexpected kiss. Abruptly, he's summoned away on pressing matters. Outside, the police lay in wait, and Jacopo's world narrows to the cold steel of handcuffs as he's arrested for murder.
