Three scientists \u2014 Papaia, Banani, and Ravioli \u2014 and their assistant Igor, who work at NASAL, begin to take an interest in creationism. Alarmed, their superiors send them to see a psychologist: Professor Faggioli \u2014 a shady character determined to get them fired by making them seem insane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re in Professor Faggioli\u2019s office, and it\u2019s Banani\u2019s turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here in your file\u2026 there\u2019s an interesting detail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re partially deaf in one ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BANANI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(turning around) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Huh?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(louder) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I said: are you deaf in one ear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BANANI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ah, sorry, I just bent over to check if my shoes were untied. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yeah, I can\u2019t hear out of this ear. It\u2019s a long story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(taking notes) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tell me everything from the beginning. How did it happen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani becomes serious for a moment, his gaze lost in a distant point on the ceiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BANANI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It happened when I was twelve\u2026 It was a night like any other, but I couldn\u2019t sleep\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
—<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FLASHBACK \u2014 Interior, afternoon, Banani\u2019s house garage. A light bulb hangs from the ceiling, casting a flickering cone of light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani, in his pajamas, pushes the garage door open. Behind him, Henry follows yawning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HENRY <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Did you fix the Commodore 64?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BANANI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve got something better here\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But you have to keep your mouth shut!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HENRY <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Okay, okay\u2026 What is it, another one of your experiments?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani approaches his father\u2019s metal cabinet, which is left open. With cautious reverence, he opens the door. Inside, wrapped in a black cloth, is the gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HENRY <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is\u2026 is it real?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BANANI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yeah. My dad left it here. He didn\u2019t even take it apart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But don\u2019t worry, I know how it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HENRY <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani, I don\u2019t know if this is a good idea\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BANANI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just one shot. Just one can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then I\u2019ll put it back exactly where it was. You just watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani sets up three cans on an overturned shelf. Then he grabs the gun and aims, awkwardly mimicking the position he\u2019s seen in movies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BANANI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ll shoot the target. It\u2019s just like the river, only… inside. And with the parquet in the living room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HENRY <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani, this is a really bad id\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BANG! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shot explodes. The echo reverberates through the entire garage like thunder in a box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani falls to the ground, his hands on his ears. Henry screams, pales, then\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HENRY <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(stepping back toward the door) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2026 I\u2019m leaving! I think I left the gas on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Henry runs off as always. Banani stays sitting on the floor, his face contorted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BANANI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(narrating) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One ear stopped working. The other one was ringing\u2026 loudly. For three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
—<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CUT \u2014 Interior, waiting room of the emergency room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani\u2019s parents are speaking animatedly with a doctor. Banani sits between them, with a dazed and muffled expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BANANI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(narrating) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
My parents took me straight to the ER. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then to specialists\u2026 five in total. But the diagnosis was always the same: permanent damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
—<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BACK TO PRESENT \u2014 Professor Faggioli\u2019s office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani looks at the floor, gently rubbing his right ear with his fingertips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BANANI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And since that day\u2026 I can\u2019t hear out of this side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s also why sometimes\u2026 I answer the wrong questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FAGGIOLI <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I understand. And your parents? How did they react?\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
IGOR <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They\u2026 shot him!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n\n\n\n