The Promised Life

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.

Mr. Ferri takes the Rizzo family under his wing but his motives may not be entirely altruistic; young prostitute Rosa comes to Little Italy with a newborn child and an agreement to marry Rocco, Carmela's son, by proxy.

The relationship between Rosa and Carmela grows more tense; Maria continues to blame her mother for leaving her in Italy as she lay ill, and she feels torn between her first love, Alfio, and her new life in New York with her husband and child.