The Sicilian Mafia have killed the husband of Titina Paterno (Sophia Loren). In the aftermath of the tragedy, Titina finds herself torn between the romantic advances of two men: determined attorney Rosario Maria Spallone (Marcello Mastroianni) and low-rent criminal Nick Sanmichele (Giancarlo Giannini). As the love triangle heats up, the widow tries her best to keep her romantic escapades under the covers. This Italian drama is set during the fascists' rise to power in pre-World War II Italy.