The action takes place in 1942, at the end of the second year of the war in Italy. The Jovine family, consisting of fifty-year-old Gennaro Jovine, his wife Amalia, a beautiful thirty-seven-year-old woman, their children - the elder Maria Rosaria and Amedeo and the younger Rita, lives in a small, dirty and smoky ground floor apartment. During the period of the fascist regime, they exist on money received from the work of the "underground coffee shop" that they keep in their apartment, and on income from the sale of products on the black market.
Amedeo, a young man of about twenty-five, works for a gas company, and his sister, Maria Rosary, helps her mother at home. In the morning, when Amedeo is going to work, resenting his father who ate his pasta, loud cries are heard on the street: this is Amalia Jovine scolding her neighbor Donna Vicenza, who decided to compete with her and also opened a coffee shop in the house opposite, and takes a cup of coffee half a liter cheaper. The first visitors come to Amalia's coffee house: Errico the Handsome and Peppe Jack. These are two drivers lounging due to the ban on the use of vehicles. The appearance of Errico the Handsome justifies his nickname - he is handsome, handsome in the spirit of a Neapolitan street, he is thirty-five years old, he is physically fit, he smiles willingly and good-naturedly, but always with the appearance of a patron. He gives the impression of a pretty scammer. Peppe Jack is more vulgar and not so cunning, but stronger, he can lift the car with one shoulder, for which he was given the nickname Jack. He listens and thinks more. Don Ricardo enters after them. This is a wealthy employee, accountant. He is modest, but with dignity. All respectfully respond to his greeting. He came to get some products from Amalia for his sick wife and children. Due to lack of money, he has to part with his wife’s gold earring, into which the diamond is set.
Don Gennaro is surprised that in their house there are products that can not be obtained on the cards. He is opposed to speculating in his family. Amalia, however, replies that she has nothing from the resale, but simply provides services to Errico the Handsome, who leaves her with the consignment. So recently he brought a large number of products, including cheese, sugar, flour, lard and two centners of coffee, which Amalie poured into the lower mattress. A frightened Amedeo runs in, who has already managed to go to work with his friend Federico, and reports that Donna Vicenza, an hour after a quarrel with Amalia, decided to set up a rival and bring her to the carabinieri. Her threats were heard by Donna Adelaide, Amalia’s neighbor, who now retells Donna Vicenza’s speech in full detail.
The Jovine family, however, does not panic, but begins to execute a pre-prepared plan, the purpose of which is to mislead the Carabinieri. Don Gennaro goes to bed and portrays a dead man. The rest pretend to be deeply grieving relatives, and two young people even dress up as nuns. Soon, Chapp's Carabinieri foreman enters with his two assistants. This is a man of about fifty. He knows his business; life and service tempered his soul. He perfectly understands that in certain cases, especially in Naples, it is necessary to pretend that “something” is not noticed. He ironically notes that too many deceased have recently divorced in Naples. It’s an epidemic! Then, moving on to the official tone, he offers everyone to stop the masquerade. He asks the “dead man" to stand up and threatens to handcuff him otherwise. No one wants to give up first and stop the draw. Chappa does not risk touching the “dead man”, but promises that he will leave only when the dead man is carried away.
From a distance, a siren signal is heard announcing a raid by enemy aircraft. Chappa's assistants run away to the shelter, some of the company gathered in the room following them. Then Chappa, delighted with the endurance of Donna Gennaro, promises him that if he gets up, he will neither arrest him nor do a search. Gennaro gets up, and the team leader, satisfied that he was not mistaken, keeps his word. Then, under the sincere admiration of those present, the magnanimous foreman Chapp leaves.
The following events of the play take place after the landing of the Anglo-American troops. Donna Amalia's room shines with cleanliness and luxury. Amalia herself also became completely different: she is smart, hung with jewelry and looks younger. She is getting ready for the birthday of Errico the Handsome, which will be celebrated in the evening at her coffee shop. The busy traffic in the alley gives the impression that “freedom” has come and food is sold in abundance.
Don Gennaro disappeared a year and a half ago after one of the air raids. Since then, nothing has been heard about him.
Two friends come after Maria Rosary, with whom she is going to go on a date in the evening. The girls meet with American soldiers and are sure that they will marry them when their lovers collect all the documents necessary for the wedding. The possibility that young people will leave for America without them does not frighten girls; from their glances and omissions it is clear that through a certain, inadmissible line in relations with their beloved girls have already crossed, They are leaving.
Errico appears in the coffee shop. Now he is an archimillionaire and is dressed smartly. The fact that he is the idol of the women of the quarter is well known to him and flatter his vanity. He does business with Amalia, but he likes her as a woman. He wants to talk with her about something important, but someone is constantly bothering them. Don Riccardo comes into the room, he has lost weight, turned pale, dressed poorly, he looks pathetic. A few months ago, he lost his job and is now barely making ends meet. Before, he had two apartments and a house. He had to sell the apartments (Amalia bought them), and lay down the house (she also gave him money as a security with the right to buy out within six months). The ransom has passed, but Riccardo asks Amalia to make concessions and extend it. She treats him ruthlessly and sharply, reminding him of the times when he and his family used expensive shops and her children ate a pea stew. Riccardo is humbled and, muttering something, leaves. Handsome one more time tries to convince Amalia to become his lover. Amalia is not indifferent to Handsome, but she cannot give in to her desire. Three days ago, she received a letter addressed to Gennaro from a man who had been with him for the past year. Gennaro must be back. Their conversation is interrupted suddenly appeared from the street Federico, and then Amedeo.
Maria Rosary sad returns from a failed date: her lover has already left for America. She confesses to her mother that she committed an irreparable misconduct; the mother makes a scandal for her daughter and hits her. Don Gennaro appears on the doorstep of the house, followed by a whole crowd of shocked neighbors. He was at the end of the camp, escaped, went all over Europe and is now glad that he returned home and sees his relatives. During the celebration of his birthday, no one wants to hear about what Gennaro had to endure, and he, under the pretext of fatigue, leaves for Ritchucca's room.
The next day, a doctor is called to the girl, who says that if you do not get one medicine, the girl will die. No one can get this medicine. Even on the black market it is not. Amalia is in despair. Upon learning that Jovina needs to save the child, Riccardo comes to the coffee house, who accidentally had the necessary medicine, and gives it to Amalia for free. Riccardo’s behavior and words make her think about her heartless behavior towards him. Gennaro exacerbates her torment, calling her madness the pursuit of big money, for jewelry.
Amedeo, who contacted Peppe Jack and helped him steal cars, thinks over, listening to his father's words, and happily avoids prison, although the foreman Chalpa was waiting for him at the crime scene. Gennaro forgives Maria Rosary, who confessed her sin to her father. Amalia, he also lightens the soul and instills the faith that she. can still become a decent person.
