Il colore del sangue

Dr. Douglas: [addressing a waiting room full of patients] Gentlemen, there seems to be some confusion. Let me explain what we're checking for. There is a germ that infects the genital area, resulting in a temporary and painless but highly contagious penile ulceration. Now, this ulceration will disappear as the disease becomes non-contagious, or latent. And this latency can last for up to 30 years until finally the cardiovascular and nervous systems will disintegrate and collapse. Are there any questions?

Eunice Evers, R.N.: [Seeing the bewildered silence of the patients] Doctor, could I just say something?

Dr. Douglas: Sure.

Eunice Evers, R.N.: By frolicking too much, or maybe passed on from your mama and your daddy, you might get a really bad sore down below on your private parts. Then through that sore a bug can crawl up inside of you and go to sleep for twenty, thirty years or more, so as not to hurt nobody but you. But when it wake up, you can't walk, you can't breathe, you can't think. That is bad blood. That's what we're checking to see if y'all got, so we can get rid of it.

[Chorus of "Ah!" and smiles from the patients]

Dr. Douglas: Nurse, could I speak with you for a second?

Eunice Evers, R.N.: Sure.

[They both walk into a private room]

Dr. Douglas: Thank you. I know I'm a good medical doctor, but I'm not so sure that I'm a good people doctor yet.

Eunice Evers, R.N.: Dr. Douglas, you're helping people. You're a good people doctor.