The Seduction of Mimi

In Sicily, Mimi is pressured by his employers to vote for the mafia candidate in the local election. Believing the ballot will be secret, he votes for the Communist candidate and is fired, told he will never work again. Frustrated and marked, he flees to Turin to escape retaliation.

In Turin, Mimi finds illegal construction work and soon witnesses a laborer fall to his death. He helps the injured man into a van, thinking he is taking him to the hospital, only to learn the mob plans to dump the body. He then mentions that the fallen man's wife is the goddaughter of Liggio, which helps him secure a good union job and pulls him deeper into the local communist scene.

Mimi first encounters Fiore when he helps her during an attack on street sellers and learns she is a Trotskyist. They later walk in a park, where he attempts to assault her, but she resists, declaring she is a virgin. Despite this, Mimi continues the relationship and begins seeing her regularly.

Fiore becomes Mimi's lover and soon becomes pregnant with his child. Although Mimi is married, Fiore accepts the relationship and eventually tells him she loves him. Their affair deepens as they hide their growing bond from the world.

At the christening for their child, Mimi goes to fetch champagne and witnesses a murder perpetrated by the mob. Though he is only scratched, the police question him and he refuses to divulge any answers. As a result, he is promoted to a management job in Sicily.

Terrified that his wife will discover his second family, Mimi hides Fiore and their child and pretends to be too tired for sex. The townspeople gossip and begin to suspect Mimi is homosexual. He maintains the cover for a time, with Fiore and their child living under the radar.

A few friends inform Mimi that Rosalia is pregnant with Amilcare's child. Mimi is outraged and attacks Rosalia, then tells her about Fiore and his son. The revelation heightens the tension at home.

To avenge his honor, Mimi seduces Amalia, Amilcare's wife, then informs her that Amilcare had impregnated Rosalia. Amalia is initially horrified, but agrees that the best revenge is to conceive a child together, and they begin monthly visits.

Mimi confronts Amilcare on the town steps, publicly claiming that Amalia is bearing Mimi's child. Amilcare threatens to shoot him, but a mafia watcher sees him reach for the pistol, shoots Amilcare, and shoves the smoking gun into Mimi's hand. Mimi is jailed for Amilcare's murder.

In jail, a mafia man tells Mimi that taking the blame has earned him respect and a guaranteed job upon release. Mimi refuses the arrangement, valuing his independence and integrity over a promised position.

Upon release, Mimi is greeted by Fiore and their child, but is also pressed by Amalia and Rosalia's bastard son. In need of money, he returns to mafia work, promoting the election of Vico Tricarico.

Fiore leaves Mimi, taking their son with her, and Mimi chases after her, only to collapse in despair as his ideals fade. He realizes his communist beliefs are gone as he becomes fully absorbed in the mob's world.