The Fish That Kept Floating Up

Three scientists — Papaia, Banani, and Ravioli — and their assistant Igor, who work at NASAL, begin taking an interest in creationism. Their superiors, worried, send them to a psychologist, Professor Faggioli — a questionable figure determined to get them fired by making them look insane.

We’re in Professor Faggioli’s office, where Ravioli is undergoing evaluation.

Ravioli is telling the story of the year-end dinner with the “Anonymous Fish-Hiders” group — which unexpectedly turned out to be… fish-based!

[The Moderator eyes Giorgio, the stationmaster.]

Moderator (frowning):

“Giorgio… what’s that oil dripping from your forehead?”

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[Giorgio slowly removes his cap.]

[Underneath, stuck to his head, is a half-squashed piece of sea bass.]

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Giorgio (smiling, as if it’s perfectly normal):

“Elevated storage. Rail strategy.”

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[The group bursts into laughter.]

[They keep laughing. The Moderator turns to the opera singer.]

Moderator (pointing to a strange bulge under her jacket):

“And you, Rossella? What’ve you got under there?”

[Rossella, the opera singer, adjusts her dress proudly and pulls a baked sea bass fillet from under her jacket.]

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Rossella (making a theatrical bow):

“Stage companion. Got me through the hardest scenes.”

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[More laughter.]

[The Moderator turns to the accountant, who’s clutching his planner.]

Moderator (suspicious):

“And you, Dr. Cavallini? Nothing to declare?”

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[Cavallini opens the planner with a ceremonial gesture. A few chunks of sea bass fall out from between the pages.]

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Cavallini (completely serious):

“Supplemental clauses. Not subject to tax.”

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[Everyone laughs even harder.]

[Then the Moderator looks at the man with the boots, walking a bit oddly.]

Moderator (smiling):

“Foot problems, Giacomo?”

[Giacomo bends down, takes off a boot, and pulls out half a sea bass.]

🤣😅😅

Giacomo (calmly):

“Double portion. Maximum comfort.”

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[Finally, the Moderator turns to Ravioli.]

Moderator (chuckling):

“And you, Ravioli? Where’d you hide yours?”

[Ravioli smiles, opens his lab coat, and pulls a neatly packed piece of sea bass from the inside pocket — sealed in a plastic bag.]

Ravioli (shrugging):

“Classic method. Left pocket. Leak-proof guaranteed.”

🤣🤣🤣

[The whole group bursts out laughing again, clapping each other on the back — finally united in their strange, liberating brotherhood.]

[The flashback fades, and we return to the office.]

Faggioli (glaring at him):

Very educational. So you believe… organized fish-related crime is a form of therapy?

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[He notices the slip, clears his throat.]

Faggioli (quickly correcting himself):

…I meant therapeutic solidarity, of course.

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Ravioli (shrugging):

Well… it works better than hiding sea bream in your trousers.

🤣🤣🤣

[Brief silence.]

Igor:

“Instead of a carefree dinner, the fish-hiders found themselves… facing their final exam.”

🤣🤣🤣