Three scientists \u2014 Papaia, Banani, and Ravioli \u2014 and their assistant Igor, who work at NASAL, begin taking an interest in creationism. Their superiors, worried, send them to a psychologist, Professor Faggioli \u2014 a questionable figure determined to get them fired by making them look insane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re in Professor Faggioli\u2019s office, where Ravioli is undergoing evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli is telling the story of the year-end dinner with the \u201cAnonymous Fish-Hiders\u201d group \u2014 which unexpectedly turned out to be\u2026 fish-based!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[The Moderator eyes Giorgio, the stationmaster.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moderator (frowning):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGiorgio\u2026 what\u2019s that oil dripping from your forehead?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Giorgio slowly removes his cap.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Underneath, stuck to his head, is a half-squashed piece of sea bass.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Giorgio (smiling, as if it\u2019s perfectly normal):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cElevated storage. Rail strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[The group bursts into laughter.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[They keep laughing. The Moderator turns to the opera singer.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moderator (pointing to a strange bulge under her jacket):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd you, Rossella? What\u2019ve you got under there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Rossella, the opera singer, adjusts her dress proudly and pulls a baked sea bass fillet from under her jacket.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rossella (making a theatrical bow):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStage companion. Got me through the hardest scenes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[More laughter.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[The Moderator turns to the accountant, who\u2019s clutching his planner.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moderator (suspicious):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd you, Dr. Cavallini? Nothing to declare?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Cavallini opens the planner with a ceremonial gesture. A few chunks of sea bass fall out from between the pages.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cavallini (completely serious):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSupplemental clauses. Not subject to tax.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Everyone laughs even harder.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Then the Moderator looks at the man with the boots, walking a bit oddly.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moderator (smiling):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFoot problems, Giacomo?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Giacomo bends down, takes off a boot, and pulls out half a sea bass.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83d\ude05\ud83d\ude05<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Giacomo (calmly):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDouble portion. Maximum comfort.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Finally, the Moderator turns to Ravioli.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moderator (chuckling):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd you, Ravioli? Where\u2019d you hide yours?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Ravioli smiles, opens his lab coat, and pulls a neatly packed piece of sea bass from the inside pocket \u2014 sealed in a plastic bag.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli (shrugging):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cClassic method. Left pocket. Leak-proof guaranteed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[The whole group bursts out laughing again, clapping each other on the back \u2014 finally united in their strange, liberating brotherhood.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[The flashback fades, and we return to the office.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faggioli (glaring at him):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Very educational. So you believe\u2026 organized fish-related crime is a form of therapy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[He notices the slip, clears his throat.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faggioli (quickly correcting himself):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2026I meant therapeutic solidarity, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli (shrugging):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well\u2026 it works better than hiding sea bream in your trousers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Brief silence.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Igor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInstead of a carefree dinner, the fish-hiders found themselves\u2026 facing their final exam.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n