Michele's search for perfect order collapses under death, romantic fear, and the instability of human relationships.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
A New Order
Michele arrives in Rome, moves into a new apartment, and begins teaching mathematics at an experimental high school. His solitary personality and fascination with his neighbors establish his need for order.
Key Events
Arrival in Rome — Michele Apicella arrives in Rome and begins a new phase of his life. Characters: Michele ApicellaLocation: Rome
New Apartment — Michele moves into a new apartment and becomes attentive to his neighbors. Characters: Michele ApicellaLocation: Michele's new apartment
Experimental School Job — Michele starts work as a mathematics teacher at the experimental school. Characters: Michele ApicellaLocation: Marilyn Monroe high school
Eccentric Staff — Michele discovers that many members of the school staff are eccentric like him. Characters: Michele ApicellaLocation: Marilyn Monroe high school
Neighbor Obsession — Michele's solitary nature feeds his obsession with the lives of his neighbors. Characters: Michele ApicellaLocation: Michele's apartment building
Death Next Door
Michele befriends Aurora but is disturbed after seeing her with another man. Her death turns his neighborhood observations into grounds for police suspicion.
Key Events
Friendship with Aurora — Michele befriends Aurora, a young woman living in the neighborhood. Characters: Michele Apicella, AuroraLocation: Michele's apartment building
Aurora with Another Man — Michele sees Aurora with another man and becomes deeply upset. Characters: Michele Apicella, AuroraLocation: Michele's neighborhood
Aurora Found Dead — Aurora is found dead, transforming Michele's private observations into a criminal concern. Characters: Michele Apicella, AuroraLocation: Aurora's residence
Michele Under Surveillance — The police place Michele under surveillance because they suspect he knows more than he says. Characters: Michele ApicellaLocation: Michele's apartment
Bianca Joins School — Bianca arrives as an attractive new teacher at Michele's school. Characters: Michele Apicella, BiancaLocation: Marilyn Monroe high school
Perfect Affection
Bianca arrives at the school and becomes involved with Michele. Although her move into his apartment makes him happy, Michele already fears that their perfection will collapse.
Key Events
Bianca Joins School — Bianca arrives as an attractive new teacher at Michele's school. Characters: Michele Apicella, BiancaLocation: Marilyn Monroe high school
Mutual Interest — Bianca and Michele begin showing romantic interest in each other. Characters: Michele Apicella, BiancaLocation: Marilyn Monroe high school
Bianca's Existing Relationship — Bianca is revealed to be living with another man. Characters: BiancaLocation: Bianca's residence
Bianca Moves In — Bianca leaves her previous living arrangement and moves in with Michele. Characters: Michele Apicella, BiancaLocation: Michele's apartment
Fear of Imperfection — Michele enjoys Bianca's affection but fears that their apparent perfection will not last. Characters: Michele Apicella, BiancaLocation: Michele's apartment
Murder And Suspicion
Michele tries to reconcile Ignazio and Maria as their relationship breaks apart, but both are murdered. Michele is arrested, and Bianca saves him by giving a false alibi.
Attempted Reconciliation — Michele tries to reconcile Ignazio and Maria despite their continuing separation. Characters: Michele Apicella, IgnazioLocation: Michele's neighborhood
Ignazio Murdered — Ignazio and Maria are murdered, escalating the investigation surrounding Michele. Characters: Michele Apicella, IgnazioLocation: Unspecified location
Michele Arrested — The police arrest Michele as a suspect in the murders. Characters: Michele ApicellaLocation: Unspecified police setting
False Alibi — Bianca provides Michele with a false alibi, leading to his release. Characters: Michele Apicella, BiancaLocation: Unspecified police setting
Solitude Without Order
Michele ends his relationship with Bianca before their happiness can deteriorate. Alone again, he loses his fragile equilibrium and concludes with a rambling confession.
Key Events
Michele Ends Love — Michele breaks up with Bianca, preferring separation before their happiness can deteriorate. Characters: Michele Apicella, BiancaLocation: Michele's apartment
Rambling Confession — Michele gives a rambling confession about disappointment, dead acquaintances, and his need for order. Characters: Michele ApicellaLocation: Unspecified police setting
Story Breakdown
Roman Relocation — Michele establishes a new life in Rome through housing and teaching.
New Apartment — Michele moves into an apartment and begins studying the lives of his neighbors.
Mathematics Teacher — He starts a mathematics teaching job at the experimental Marilyn Monroe high school.
Obsessive Observation — Michele's concern with neighboring couples makes private relationships central to his attention.
Aurora Friendship — Michele befriends Aurora after moving into the neighborhood.
Troubling Sight — He sees Aurora with another man and becomes deeply upset.
Aurora Investigation — Aurora's death transforms Michele from an observer into a person under suspicion.
Death Discovered — Aurora is found dead.
Police Surveillance — The police watch Michele because they think he may be withholding information.
Bianca Romance — Bianca and Michele develop a relationship that briefly appears affectionate and ideal.
Mutual Attraction — The two teachers show romantic interest in each other.
Shared Apartment — Bianca leaves her previous living arrangement and moves in with Michele.
Fear Of Collapse — Michele's happiness is undermined by his expectation that relationships inevitably fail.
Perfect Affection — Michele is overjoyed by Bianca's beauty and affection.
Anticipated Rupture — He fears their apparent perfection will not last.
Ignazio's Breakdown — Michele becomes involved in another couple's separation and tries to impose reconciliation.
Relationship Fails — Ignazio and Maria are breaking up.
Reconciliation Attempt — Michele tries to bring them back together.
Murderous Suspicion — The deaths of Ignazio and Maria place Michele at the center of the criminal investigation.
Double Murder — Ignazio and Maria are murdered.
Michele Arrested — The police arrest Michele as a suspect.
Final Disintegration — Michele rejects continued happiness, isolates himself, and loses his psychological balance.
False Alibi — Bianca gives Michele a false alibi and secures his release.
Rambling Confession — Michele ends with a confused confession about disappointed people and his need for order.
Michele, a young mathematics professor, moves into a new flat. Lonely, depressed and neurotic, he spends his time obsessively monitoring the couples around him, especially his neighbors, a young pair struggling to make their relationship work. When Bianca, a new teacher at the local high school, enters his life, Michele finds himself falling in love. At the same time, a string of murders rocks the neighborhood, casting suspicion on him.
