Rome,1880.Gregoriohasdecidedtoclosehisbakery,thefamilybusiness.ThenhetellshissonsPippo,MarioanddaughterTetathattheywillhavetofendforthemselves.ButnewlymarriedIrene,Pippo'swife,abeautiful,calculatingandambitiousyoungwoman,wantstotakeovertheinheritance.Actingonintelligence,weighingeverystepanditsconsequences,shemanagestoconvincethebrothersthattheymustpreventatallcoststhathisfatherfallsinloveagaintoavoidtheriskoflosingtheirinheritance.