The Raffle

Francesca, a wealthy widow in Bari, discovers Maurizio's betrayals and a mountain of debt left behind. She worries about Giulia's future as she faces mounting bills and a dwindling safety net. The crushing financial pressure pushes her toward a plan far beyond conventional options.

On Cesare's advice, she begins liquidating assets: the villa by the sea, furniture, furs, jewelry, and even a boat that Cesare purchases. The goal is to raise enough funds for at least one year of rent and for Giulia's exclusive schooling. The drastic sale marks a radical departure from her previous life.

With no job prospects, Francesca and Cesare hatch a radical solution: a raffle to turn private misfortunes into public windfalls. The prize is described as the right to live with Francesca for four years, and the winner can ask for anything. Twenty participants would each pay 100 million lire to enter.

The raffle is publicly announced with Francesca as the prize, sparking gossip and controversy in Bari. The idea immediately captures the attention of people close to Maurizio's circle and Cesare. The town watches as the plan unfolds, unsure of the consequences.

The rules specify twenty participants, each paying 100 million lire, with the four-year companionship and the right to request anything as the core prize. Francesca's friends mobilize to support the plan, hoping to secure a stable future for her and Giulia. The raffle begins to take on a life of its own.

One day, Francesca runs over a young man named Antonio, and a secret affair begins. He claims to love her, but his meetings reveal a deeper awareness of the raffle and its prospects. There is a sense that his affection doubles as a calculation tied to her wealth and plan.

The penniless Antonio continues his meetings with Francesca while secretly planning to benefit from the raffle money. He uses their relationship to position himself for access to the potential windfall. His actions hint that romantic interest is a cover for financial ambition.

A few days before the drawing, a prosecutor receives a complaint about the raffle and about Cesare. The case threatens to trigger a scandal that could shake local society. The threat of investigation adds pressure to everyone involved.

The lawyer's office is searched, and Francesca is questioned. She does not deny the raffle, but asserts that the real prize is the boat Cesare bought and that friends are helping her and Giulia. The interaction increases the tension around the plan and risks exposure.

To avoid a public scandal, the commissioner accepts Francesca's explanation that the prize is the boat rather than herself. The truth about the raffle is effectively downplayed as authorities look for a quiet resolution. The plan edges closer to a resolution that avoids open confrontation.

With exposure looming, Francesca takes a plane and leaves Bari forever. She intends to live off the raffle money and begin a new life elsewhere with Giulia. The departure marks the end of her old life in Bari.

Francesca begins a new life financed by the raffle winnings, continuing to provide for Giulia while letting go of Maurizio's betrayals and the debts that shaped her past. The money affords stability and distance from the scandal that nearly consumed her. Her future becomes defined by the choices she makes with the funds.