In the half-light of a stately old house, Samuel Davila and his grandfather Paul, once a revered writer, create schemes to repel the latest in a long line of psychologists who is coming to try to cure Samuel of his severe agoraphobia: some delicious biscuits with added spice, and a refreshing glass of water with added laxative. Samuel's older sister Marina has been looking after them for three years following the deaths of her and Samuel's parents, which was almost certainly the cause of Samuel's agoraphobia. The latest psychologist is Gabriel, a happy person because he knows nothing better in life. Only once he had a girlfriend; she left him to marry a whale psychologist but she now calls Gabriel every night to ask for his advice about her marriage. Gabriel considers this part of his nightly routine. He has become accustomed to living his life with the assumption that true happiness is for others, not for him. But sometimes happiness can catch you by surprise--and without Gabriel knowing it, it could even come from one of his patients.