Carmela Carrizzo agrees to marry an American by proxy so she can flee Sicily with her family.

Carmela's daughter Maria marries a wealthy Italian to gain passage into America.

In New York, Carmela must face many difficulties and disappointments at her new husband's hand; she knows the dark side of 'Little Italy.'

While things in New York improve for Carmela, her son Michele decides to go on his own.

Rocco runs away after Carmela gets into a heated argument.

Carmela discovers that her son Michele fell in love with Rosa and that her daughter Maria was reunited with an ex. Carmela sees Vincenzo Spanò hanging around the neighborhood, along with Guarino.