Thursday, September 30, 2004

Is It Safe?

I have a new dentist. He's great. I had an appointment this morning to have a filling replaced. A dental procedure is an odd social experience. You are unable to speak clearly. You willingly let someone sticks sharp instruments and a high-speed drill into your mouth. You can't see what's going on. The dentist and assistant speak dental jargon so you don't really know what they're doing.

Is it safe?Normally I let my mind drift away from the procedure. But this morning I starting thinking about movies. Given the context, I immediately thought of Marathon Man and the evil Dr. Szell.

If you remember the film, at one point Szell has taken Dustin Hoffman's character (Babe) hostage. Babe doesn't really know what's going on. Szell needs to know if Babe's brother, a government spy, has told him anything. He needs to know if it is safe for him to go to pick up a large cache of diamonds in a safe deposit box. Szell uses a dental drill on a strapped-down Babe:
Szell: Is it safe?... Is it safe?
Babe: You're talking to me?
Szell: Is is safe?
Babe: Is what safe?
Szell: Is it safe?
Babe: I don't know what you mean. I can't tell you something's safe or not, unless I know specifically what you're talking about.
Szell: Is it safe?
Babe: Tell me what the "it" refers to.
Szell: Is it safe?
Babe: Yes, it's safe, it's very safe, it's so safe you wouldn't believe it.
Szell: Is it safe?
Babe: No. It's not safe, it's... very dangerous, be careful.
Before you get the wrong idea let me reiterate. I have a great dentist. And no, he never asked "Is it safe?".
posted by Bob at 9/30/2004 06:15:00 AM  | | digg | del.icio.us | reddit