The Promise
My Brilliant Friend | Season 1 | Episode 8

The Promise

TV-MA | 1 HR 1 MIN

Written by: Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo

Directed by: Saverio Costanzo

With sales of Cerullo shoes lagging, Stefano cuts a business deal with the Solaras against Lila's wishes. As part of the deal, Silvio Solara will be the speech master at Lila and Stefano's wedding — a role that declares him practically family. Lila almost calls off the wedding, but agrees to go through with it and the business plan on one condition: Marcello cannot attend the wedding.

After Elena gets kicked out of a class for voicing her opinion and disagreeing with her Religion teacher, Nino encourages her to write an article for his magazine about her experience. She gives Lila a draft to read and Lila edits it, complimenting her friend's writing, but admitting it hurts to read it.

Elena picks out a simple wedding gown for Lila. They stop by Maestra Oliveira's apartment to invite her to the wedding but Maestra, who is unwell, shuts Lila out, and claims to not recognize her. Before the wedding, Lila makes Elena promise she'll never stop studying.

The wedding ceremony goes off without a hitch. As everyone dances at the reception, Nino tells Elena her article didn't make the magazine. Elena's mother keeps her from seeing Antonio,stating, "We don't let you study so you can get ruined by a mechanic with a crazy mother." Elena worries she'll never be able to escape the neighborhood. Shocking both young women, Marcello shows up at the wedding wearing the Cerullo shoes Lila made.

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