The second episode of The Monster of Florence unfurls with Francesco's harrowing escape from his abode on the night of the latest heinous murder. Hiding his car amidst the bushes, his escape route set in stone, he braces for the police's impending discovery. Following Stefano's confession, the authorities conduct a meticulous search of Francesco's residence, unearthing his mysterious disappearance.
A flicker of time transports us to a bygone era, prior to Barbara's tragic demise. In this past, Francesco, once a notorious thief, would sneakily conceal his weapon at a construction site while terrorizing Stefano with relentless bullying. It was during one of these encounters that he forcibly drops Stefano off at his home, where he makes his first ill-fated encounter with Barbara.
Francesco's unwelcome presence soon sows the seeds of discord within Barbara and Stefano's already fraying marriage. One fateful day, while Stefano is away at work, Francesco boldly makes his presence known at his house.
In the present day, Francesco's desperation to evade capture reaches a crescendo as he calls his wife, imploring her to continue lying to the authorities. Desperate for a means of escape, he hastily arranges for a fake passport and dispatches a go-between to collect funds from his wife.
Another flashback depicts Francesco's intimate moments with Barbara, her heart still raw from the traumatic assault at the hands of Salvatore. She lays the blame at Stefano's feet, accusing him of lacking the courage to intervene. It is in this vulnerable state that Francesco pounces, falling under Barbara's spell and showering her with gifts and promises. He even consents to abandon his wife and children for her.
Stefano's return from work is met with shock as he discovers Francesco in his own home. In a bid to assert his dominance, Stefano attempts to force himself on Barbara, only to be repelled by her. Francesco's threat of violence forces Stefano into a complicit silence, as he is compelled to turn a blind eye to their illicit affair.
Immediately thereafter, the police stormed Stefano's abode and apprehended Francesco, who had been denounced by his wife for infidelity. As the present day unfolds, Francesco is detained by the authorities as he awaits his passport. Detective Silvia and her partner grill him relentlessly about the recent string of murders, including the gruesome deaths of Barbara and Lo Bianco. The police then usher in Stefano, who recounts in detail how Francesco coldly dispatched his wife and her lover. Francesco counters Stefano's narrative with accusations of deceit, fueling his own aggression and subsequent detainment.
A flashback scene depicts Stefano escorting Salvatore home after Francesco's arrest. Six months later, Francesco is released from his prison cell and meets Salvatore, who unceremoniously plants seeds of mistrust in his brother's mind by revealing that Barbara had an affair with him while Francesco was incarcerated.
Barbara later endeavors to explain how Stefano lured Salvatore into his home and how she was brutally assaulted, but Francesco curtly dismisses her, labeling her a whore and violently tearing her dress amidst the street.
In the present, Silvia accuses Francesco of murdering Barbara after she had moved on with another man. She grills Francesco's wife about the fateful night of Barbara and Lo Bianco's demise. The woman insists that Francesco was at home with her throughout that night.
Another flashback scene reveals Francesco sneaking a pistol from his residence and compelling Stefano to accompany him to the car where Barbara and Lo Bianco were found together. Without hesitation, Francesco pulls the trigger, killing both of them while Stefano watched in helpless horror.
In the present, despite Francesco's insistence on his innocence regarding the murders, Silvia remains unwavering in her belief that he is the culprit. He is eventually arrested and sent to prison, with news reports hailing the capture of "The Monster of Florence."
However, on a fateful night in 1983, a gay couple is found murdered inside a van. The episode concludes with Francesco locked away in prison, while locals marvel at the fact that the streets of Florence are once again deemed safe for women.
