Three scientists — Papaia, Banani, and Ravioli — and their assistant Igor, who work at NASAL, begin to take an interest in creationism. Worried, their superiors send them to a psychologist: Professor Faggioli, a shady figure determined to get them fired by branding them as insane.
We’re in Professor Faggioli’s office, where Ravioli is undergoing evaluation.
—
FAGGIOLI
(sighs)
Ravioli…
Do you have anything to say about the stash of other people’s glasses found in your office cabinet?
RAVIOLI
(gazing into the distance)
It’s more complicated than you think, Faggioli.
It’s not about stealing… it’s about vision.
It all started many years ago…
—
FLASHBACK — SMALL-TOWN OPTICIAN’S SHOP, 1990s (or thereabouts)
Dusty interior, yellowish lighting. A young Ravioli, owl-eyed with a bowl haircut, sits in front of an elderly optician with trembling hands and a shirt stained with dried tomato sauce.
OPTICIAN
Let’s see here… -5.75 in the left eye… You happy with your new glasses?
LITTLE RAVIOLI
Yeah, I can’t wait.
OPTICIAN
I see you picked the Super Rooster frames.
LITTLE RAVIOLI
Yeah, everyone at school has them!
OPTICIAN
True, they’re all the rage now! Perfect. Come back in a week.
As Ravioli leaves, another kid walks in — broken glasses taped together, snobby air.
KID 2
My glasses broke!
OPTICIAN
Did you already pick a frame?
KID 2
Do you have the Super Rooster ones?
—
A WEEK LATER — GLASSES PICK-UP
LITTLE RAVIOLI
Good morning, are my glasses ready?
OPTICIAN
Let’s see here…
The optician pulls out two identical Super Rooster cases. One of them has a note on it.
OPTICIAN
Yes, yes, here they are, I marked them down…
A mom walks into the shop with a small child. As she rummages in her purse, the kid starts grabbing frames off the shelves to play with.
OPTICIAN
Hey, kid! Stop! Those aren’t toys!
In the scuffle, the two identical glasses cases fall to the floor.
The optician picks them up, but the distinguishing note flies off.
OPTICIAN
Here you go…
LITTLE RAVIOLI
Thanks… but my vision feels weird!
The optician is distracted, chasing the child.
OPTICIAN
Hold him, ma’am — he’s wrecking the place!
LITTLE RAVIOLI
These glasses feel… wrong.
OPTICIAN
(absently)
Don’t worry, it’s just because they’re new. You’ll get used to them!
He puts them on. Grimaces. The world looks strange. Trees shake. Mom looks doubled.
—
FIELD TRIP DAY — IN THE WOODS
Kids run around a playground in a wooded park. Ravioli spots a red blob in the grass. Behind him, Camomilla smiles. She has braids and a cow-shaped lunchbox.
CAMOMILLA
Raaavi-ooo-liii… what did you find?
LITTLE RAVIOLI
A wild strawberry! Just for you!
CAMOMILLA
How sweet…
She takes it. Eats it. Smiles. Then — wide eyes, arms crossed in front — she collapses.
TEACHER
(screaming)
Call an ambulance! And maybe a mycologist too!!
LITTLE RAVIOLI
(worried)
Oh no! What happened to her?
—
TWO DAYS LATER — AT SCHOOL
Ravioli is in class.
TEACHER
Children, just letting you know Camomilla is doing better and is being discharged today.
LITTLE RAVIOLI
(guiltily)
Phew!
TEACHER
And from now on, no eating anything on field trips without asking me first, okay?
The kids all respond “Okay” in unison.
Ravioli notices a classmate wearing glasses just like his, rubbing his eyes.
KID 2
These new glasses — I can’t see a thing with them!
LITTLE RAVIOLI
Me neither. But no one cares.
KID 2
Let me try yours!
They swap glasses. Silence.
KID 2
…Oh. Wow. I can see now!
LITTLE RAVIOLI
Wait! Me too!
—
BACK TO THE PRESENT — FAGGIOLI’S OFFICE
RAVIOLI
You see, Faggioli, that little girl had a close call because of me.
FAGGIOLI
You had a crush on her?
RAVIOLI
Yeah… but she never spoke to me again after that!
FAGGIOLI
And that’s when you started coveting other people’s glasses!
RAVIOLI
Yes, you see, professor… it feels like maybe, if I try them on, I might see better. Even though rationally I know that’s not true.
FAGGIOLI
(writing notes)
Well, well, well!
IGOR
Ravioli steals other people’s glasses. Especially at lunch in the cafeteria.
BANANI
Why?
IGOR
So he can steal their dessert too!
🤣🤣🤣