Part 5 begins with epigraphs from Field-Marshal Albert Kesselring declaring his love and hate for Italian people and Primo Levi’s If This Is a Man, describing the plight of educated Italian Jewish people in labor camps.

Massimo returns from his meeting with Kappler, frantically searching for gold, as a shocked Gemma, Rosa, and Sandro look on.

The local synagogue opens to collect gold: Even with a line of people, the Jewish leaders struggle to collect enough. Sandro recognizes these people from his childhood, fearful of them getting deported. Massimo leaves him in charge while he leaves for a while.