12:08 East of Bucharest

In the humble city of Vaslui, Romania, the remnants of communism still lingered like an indelible stain. As the anniversary of the regime's collapse approached, locals gathered to reminisce about the tumultuous events that had transpired. Their discussions ultimately culminated in a plan to broadcast a live talk show on the local television station, with the goal of sparking communal celebration.

At the helm of this endeavor stood Virgil Jderescu, the director of the local broadcasting network. He was driven by a singular question: had there truly been a revolution in Vaslui? Had its citizens taken to the streets before or after Ceausescu's hasty exit, thereby rendering the anniversary more celebratory than commemorative?

Two initially invited guests declined the invitation, perhaps sensing that the topic lay closer to the bone than Jderescu anticipated. Undeterred, he managed to secure the participation of two new individuals: Tiberiu Manescu, a former professor who had long boasted about being the first in town to defy the regime's authority; and Emanoil Piscoci, an elderly gentleman with a penchant for dressing up as Santa Claus for local children.

As the broadcast commenced, Professor Manescu proudly regaled viewers with tales of his revolutionary exploits. However, two live callers promptly disputed his account, accusing him of fabricating under the influence of intoxication – although they lacked concrete evidence to support their claims. The initially tranquil confrontation began to unravel, as Manescu's growing agitation led him to launch scathing attacks on local "notables," including none other than the talk show's host himself, Virgil Jderescu (it emerged that Jderescu was a textile engineer moonlighting in television).

The once-pleasant and formal atmosphere of the broadcast gave way to a grotesque and salacious spectacle. Even the previously taciturn Piscoci, now masquerading as a philosopher, began spouting nonsensical aphorisms in bursts, further exacerbating the chaos that had taken hold. The talk show, initially designed to unite the community, had devolved into a cacophonous free-for-all, leaving viewers bewildered and wondering what exactly they were celebrating.