72: Not to tattoo the skin

The Book of Knowledge
Laws of Idolatry and Paganism
Not to tattoo the skin (Lev. 19:28)

CW: disturbing imagery

1
            a DOCTOR and an OLDER PATIENT

            the DOCTOR studies the OLDER PATIENT’s forearm

DOCTOR
could have it gone tomorrow

OLDER PATIENT
oh

DOCTOR
i’ve an opening

OLDER PATIENT
like to think it over

DOCTOR
i fill up fast
always rolling here
this is a rare opportunity this opening

OLDER PATIENT
how would it work?

DOCTOR
easy to remove
we make the incision
here
cut the skin
here
get under the tissue
here and here
slid a blade under like this
pry up your skin
what was your skin
there’s blood of course
you might scream of course
most do
of course
you have to be awake
insurance malpractice lawyers you know the drill
you have to be awake so there’s consent or what have you
these modern times i’ll tell you what
you can’t even insult anyone anymore without them getting insulted
so because of the lawyers
gotta be wakey-wakey
you know lawyers?

OLDER PATIENT
…yes

DOCTOR
they make fun of doctors
“God complex” “unfeeling automatons” “literal sociopaths”
“what happened to my husband?”
but you ever meet a lawyer?

OLDER PATIENT
my daughter

DOCTOR
my condolences
or congratulations
depending on how you skin that cat
no pun intended
or was there?

            DOCTOR laughs heartily

            awkward silence

OLDER PATIENT
i thought lasers

DOCTOR
oh

OLDER PATIENT
i saw the ad for
laser removal
i thought
with lights and and and
electronic
…
i don’t understand the medicine

DOCTOR
i wouldn’t call this medicine

OLDER PATIENT
aren’t you a doctor?

DOCTOR
aren’t you a patient?

OLDER PATIENT
aren’t i?

DOCTOR
not yet but fingers crossed

OLDER PATIENT
does the laser involve blood?

DOCTOR
don’t worry about the blood
that’s my treat to trample

OLDER PATIENT
i’d prefer the laser
it sounds
…
i’m not good with blood

DOCTOR
laser will cost you
laser can be
oh i don’t have the numbers off the top of my
…
but maybe
eight thousand?
nine thousand?
at least
you have good insurance?

OLDER PATIENT
no

DOCTOR
ooof then
double that
and in this economy
whooooo buddy
no siree

OLDER PATIENT
so laser removal is-

DOCTOR
a pretty penny
but the skin graft
the skin graft
you don’t pay a cent

OLDER PATIENT
i don’t?

DOCTOR
the other patient pays for it
and you get the service for free

OLDER PATIENT
completely free?

DOCTOR
nothing at all
that’s all on them
the other one
the one that comes after
you come in
you remove this tattoo
and you’re on your way
no need to grab the ole checkbook
that’s what they do
            silence
take your time
            silence
but not too much
            silence
i have other patients

OLDER PATIENT
it’s not too much blood is it?

DOCTOR
we patch you up all nice

2
            the same DOCTOR and a YOUNGER PATIENT

            they both examine the YOUNGER PATIENT’s forearm

YOUNGER PATIENT
fully authenticated?

DOCTOR
yes we’ve the paper trail/ to prove it-

YOUNGER PATIENT
my god it looks just like my skin

DOCTOR
it is
it is your/ skin
now

YOUNGER PATIENT
my god
oh my god
fuck
fuckity fuck FUUUUCK
that’s
…
that’s heavy that’s heavy man
godDAMN

DOCTOR
umm
no swearing
please
i’ve got God to answer to
            beat
            laughs
no can you imagine?
it is “goddamn heavy” as you kids say
here let me show you some photos
so you can see more closely

YOUNGER PATIENT
i can see right here on my literal arm

DOCTOR
recovery i always say recovery recovery
gotta show you what to watch out for

            the DOCTOR pulls up an enlarged photo of the YOUNGER PATIENT’s arm

            we can see the photo clearly

            a patch of skin has been grafted onto his arm

            on the skin is a six-digit number

            a concentration camp tattoo

YOUNGER PATIENT
when was this guy at Auschwitz?

DOCTOR
barely a year
before getting transferred to-

YOUNGER PATIENT
does he miss it?
did he like say goodbye?

DOCTOR
say goodbye to…?

YOUNGER PATIENT
his digits man

DOCTOR
no
he cried a little

YOUINGER PATIENT
aww

DOCTOR
i assume it was the blood
even after the blood was gone

YOUNGER PATIENT
it’s so important man
so important we honor their
their story their like
…
it's like i’m one with the history now
my dad’s gonna FLIP
he's got one too
won it at a church raffle

DOCTORY
now if you’ll look here
            pointing at the photo
this is where to look out for infection

            END OF PLAY