Peppino is an aging taxidermist mocked for being short and sleazy who meets Valerio, a handsome if artless young man fascinated by his work. Euphoric, Peppino offers him a large salary to come work as his assistant, with the job burgeoning into a budding friendship Peppino mistakes for something more. But when Valerio meets Deborah, their fledgling romance is threatened by an insanely jealous third wheel.