A Doctor in the Family

E1

1. The New House / The Mystery of Cetinka

6 Dec 1998 · 99m

The Martini family moves to Poggio Fiorito, a residential area on the outskirts of Rome. Lele faces all the problems that the move entails. Luckily, his sister-in-law, Alice, is there to help him. The family's new housekeeper, Cetinka, causes chaos: as soon as she's hired, some money goes missing, and suspicion falls on her. But could this really be true? And are we sure she's from Poland?

E2

2. A Cousin on the Run / Happy Birthday, Maria!

13 Dec 1998 · 102m

Alberto, Lele's only grandchild, runs away from home and takes refuge at the Martini house because his parents are divorcing. Meanwhile, Grandpa Libero, to save money, starts selling musical pillows. Maria's birthday is coming up and she asks her father if she can celebrate alone with her friends. Lele agrees but is reluctant. Around the same time, Maria gets her period, and Rebby is the first to know.

E3

3. Lele, Meet Irene / A Question of Image

20 Dec 1998 · 97m

Alice and Giulio, Lele's best friend, are worried because the doctor hasn't dated women in years, so they decide to set him up with a 35-year-old doctor named Irene. Lele's salary isn't enough to cover his family expenses. So his ex-father-in-law finds him a job at a private clinic that performs plastic surgery. Will this be the right fit for him?

E4

4. Heartbreaks / Wounds Old and New

25 Dec 1998 · 96m

Barbara, a young intern who courts Lele, arrives at the local health authority. Meanwhile, Giulio is admitted to the hospital after suffering a heart attack; will Lele's timely intervention save his life? Ciccio is struggling with his first love and would like to ask his father for advice, but Lele has other things on his mind at the moment. The trial regarding the accident that killed his wife Elena has begun.

E5

5. Forty-Four Cats / Missteps

27 Dec 1998 · 98m

Due to a sudden flood in his home, Giulio finds temporary shelter at the Martini house. Lele is obviously happy to lend a hand to his best friend... but only up to a point. Alice convinces Lele to sign up for a tango class with her. Sparks fly between them and they realize they're attracted to each other. But just then, Sergio, Alice's ex, arrives.

E6

6. Let's Go... Slowly / Loves... and Non-Loves

3 Jan 1999 · 97m

Grandpa Libero, attracted to piano teacher Maritè, takes some piano lessons from her, and Alberto and his friends start smoking against Lele's wishes. Laura, a colleague at the local health authority, is having problems with her ex-husband, and so Lele decides to help her, pretending to be her boyfriend. But it seems only Lele is pretending: Laura seems to have genuine feelings for the doctor.

E7

7. The Great Fear / Love Means Jealousy

10 Jan 1999 · 98m

Alice has an unusual mole appearing on her skin. She'll have to undergo surgery, and she wants only Lele by her side. This will trigger intense jealousy in her current boyfriend, Sergio. Sergio and Alice's relationship is becoming serious. Lele decides to openly confess his feelings to his sister-in-law, but the results aren't what he hoped for.

E8

8. Alice Is Getting Married / This Wedding Won't Happen

17 Jan 1999 · 94m

Sergio and Alice set a wedding date. At the Martini household, no one is happy about Alice getting married, and they're right: one evening, in fact, after returning home drunk, Sergio savagely beats Alice. Alice's wedding is annulled: fortunately, she has truly seen who she's dealing with. So, distraught, she moves into the Martini household. Meanwhile, an old flame of Lele's arrives at the clinic.

E9

9. Libero in Name and Deed / Scandal at the Park

24 Jan 1999 · 99m

Grandpa Libero argues with his in-laws who want Maria to enroll in a very exclusive private school. Although things aren't going well, she's rather focused on her crush on a boy from her school. Irene's reappearance creates a lot of confusion in Lele's mind, so much so that he doesn't realize how unhappy Alice is. Meanwhile, Grandpa Libero's romantic relationship seems to be progressing.

E10

10. Reunited / The Allure of the Circus

31 Jan 1999 · 99m

Lele organizes a weekend reunion at the Martini house with all his childhood friends, offering them room and board, but over the years his friends seem to have changed significantly. Ciccio is sad because he didn't bring a good report card to his father, who scolded him. He meets Gus, a boy who lives and works at the circus, and decides to go with him and run away from home.

E11

11. Doubts and Suspicions / The Other Side of the Coin

7 Feb 1999 · 98m

Great jealousy swirls in the air: Irene is angry with Lele because no doctor at the local health authority can resist his advances, while Maria is dealing with her first heartbreak. Not all the flirtations are welcome. Grandpa Libero tries to contain Marite's advances, while Alice must curb the editor-in-chief's "attentions." A surprise ending to Irene's birthday party.

E12

12. Finally... Lele! / Brothers

14 Feb 1999 · 100m

Lele finally manages to spend a passionate night with Irene, but things get complicated when he decides to introduce her to his family. Meanwhile, Giulio is grappling with a serious problem. Lele's relationship with Irene has begun, but not everyone is happy about it. Especially Maria. Uncle Spartaco's arrival from America is welcomed as something to celebrate, but the visit hides a bitter surprise.

E13

13. Drawings and Projects / When the Cat's Away

21 Feb 1999 · 97m

Maria continues to hate Irene, hoping that Aunt Alice will fall in love with her father, because to her they seem like a perfect match. Meanwhile, Cettina rejects her boyfriend's offer to live together. Lele discovers that Irene has hidden the news of her scholarship to Boston from him. She also doesn't intend to follow him to a friend's wedding in Milan. It's there that Alice and Lele meet again in Lele's room, alone.

E14

14. A Head-Stopping / Let Us Go Let Us Go

28 Feb 1999 · 94m

Ciccio wears a hat lent to him by his girlfriend Susy, but it's full of lice, and the whole family becomes infected. Meanwhile, Alice and Giulio plan a night out, but it turns out to be a disaster. Lele and Irene argue after the latter discovers that Lele spent the night with Alice during their wedding in Milan; Irene is involved in a road accident, while Nonno Libero's motorbike is stolen.

E15

15. Guests / The Martinis Conquer Venice

7 Mar 1999 · 99m

A new doctor arrives at the ASL: Doctor Oscar Nobili. One day a shot is heard from the newcomer's room, it is a man who is trying to commit suicide in front of Oscar. Lele will discover a secret. The Martini family goes to Venice to visit Nonno Libero's brother. After visiting the city, the Martinis go their separate ways. From this moment on the trip turns out to be full of unexpected events hidden just around the corner.

E16

16. Fire! Fire! / Feelings of Guilt

14 Mar 1999 · 95m

While Lele and Irene visit the stalls of the neighborhood party where even Libero, Giulio and Giacinto sell modern objects, the Martini house catches fire. Lele is very worried: the insurance, which has expired, does not cover the costs for the renovation of the burnt house and Ciccio confesses that he caused the fire by playing with firecrackers.

E17

17. Prognosis Reserved / The Announcement

21 Mar 1999 · 97m

Alberto hopes that his mother has finally found the man of her life. Unfortunately the woman has decided to resume the affair with her ex-husband, who comes to a strong clash with her son. Alberto will still remain at the Martini house. Irene, due to the expiry of her contract with the Asl of Rome, has to ask for a transfer. Lele tries to save their relationship and asks her if she wants to marry him.

E18

18. A Gem of a Husband / Dad Don Giovanni

28 Mar 1999 · 102m

Grandpa Nicola finally returns from Brazil, and Nonna Enrica decides to peek into his suitcase, discovering a beautiful necklace. The bad surprise, however, is that her husband returned three days before her: he lied to her! Ciccio suspects a relationship between his father Lele and his friend Susi's mother. Meanwhile Alice is becoming famous, but her career seems to compromise her family affections.

E19

19. Engaged at Home / Old Grudges

4 Apr 1999 · 99m

While Lele and Irene spend the weekend in Bologna, the new neighbors arrive, with whom Ciccio has some problems. Meanwhile Cettina argues with Alberto because of his snobbish friends. At the Martini house, it seems that a maniac is pursuing Cettina, in reality it is just a misunderstanding. Meanwhile, Alessia Merz shows up at the local health authority and seems interested in Lele.

E20

20. Christmas Letters / Christmas at the Martini Home

11 Apr 1999 · 99m

A group of children from an institution for orphans arrive at the polyclinic for vaccinations. Among them is Robertino, a kid with Down syndrome who mistakes Lele for Santa Claus and asks him for a new bus for the Institute as a Christmas gift. Nonno Libero has organized a show with Orietta Berti, but it would appear to be a scam. Alice and Irene will also have to work on Christmas Eve, and the magic of Christmas is struggling to reach the Martini house.

E21

21. Old Lonely Hearts / Thank you, Dr. Lele!

18 Apr 1999 · 96m

Ciccio is looking for a girlfriend for Nonno Libero in a magazine for lonely hearts. Ricky, Jessica's boyfriend, ends up in a coma after a car accident. Maria, on the other hand, is invited by a boy she likes. On the radio where Alice works there is a column dedicated to health. Lele and Alice are convinced that the presenter is a charlatan, and even the ASL are starting to worry about the success of the show.

E22

22. Dad, will you let me go to the concert? / Awakening

25 Apr 1999 · 96m

Alice gives Maria tickets for the Backstreet Boys concert, but a worried Lele doesn't want to give her permission. Luckily grandfather Libero intervenes! Giacinto is fired, and it's up to Cettina to resolve the situation. Meanwhile Jessica and Lele go to Ricky who has awakened, but there is a nasty surprise lurking.

E23

23. The Law of Silence / Cettina's Dilemma

2 May 1999 · 96m

Ciccio steals from grandfather Libero's wallet and together with his friend Filiberto skips school and goes to the mall. But there the two are threatened by other kids, who force them to give them the money. Lele finds a pregnancy test in Irene's locker, and hopes for the arrival of a child. But things are not like that, and indeed Irene was taken to a clinic in Milan. This changes everything on the table.

E24

24. Leonardo or Johnny? / Alice Superstar

9 May 1999 · 98m

Maria heard the news of Leonardo Di Caprio's arrival in Rome to shoot a film and goes to Cinecittà, where she meets Johnny, the bodyguard, and develops a crush on him. Meanwhile Giulio decides to leave for Africa. Alice was seen in the company of Tiberio Timperi and Lele gets jealous. Meanwhile, Giorgi discovers that he has kidney failure and everyone at the ASL is worried, while Lele and Irene continue to argue.

E25

25. Long Live the Countryside / Love Has No Age

16 May 1999 · 96m

The Martini family relaxes in the countryside, where Maria meets a boy who invites her to a party. But the situation takes a turn for the worse: the boy shows too much insistence, until he becomes violent. But someone is ready to intervene. Grandma Enrica returns from Ponza with some news, she has fallen in love with the owner of a fruit and vegetable supermarket that Alice doesn't see kindly. Meanwhile Lele decides to buy a ring.

E26

26. ... and I Among You

23 May 1999 · 51m

Alice meets François, a doctor and friend of Giulio who arranges for African children to stay with host families for a time, and decides to go with him to produce a report. And what about Lele?

E27

27. A Love Found on the Fly

30 May 1999 · 49m

Lele and Alice spend the evening together to celebrate her departure, but he cannot bring himself to confess his feelings. However, when he learns from François that Alice is in love with him, he decides the time has come to declare his feelings.