When Ida is raped in the very beginning of the story, she is living near Remo's inn/tavern in the San Lorenzo district of Rome. When Ida's building is destroyed by bombs, she moves to a community shelter but reluctantly turns to Remo, more than once, for food for her son. Remo is a political activist involved in Italy's resistance movement, with the same interests as Nino; however, he is a devout Communist and Marxist.