During the thirtieth year of his practice as a dentist, Dr. Herman Morrison receives a new patient named Duane Vincent who refuses to give his prior dental history, saying he had no records at all. At this news, Morrison wants to refer Vincent to a different dentist, but Vincent continues to show up unannounced at the office. Morrison relents and tells Vincent that he will need five different sessions to properly attend to his teeth, but Vincent insists for Morrison to get everything done in one three-hour-long appointment.  On the day of the appointment, Vincent is compliant until Morrison starts to draw the anesthesia. Vincent insists that he does not need it and is fine with being pumped full of Novocain instead. He also refuses laughing gas, saying that it is “pure poison.” Although he is surprised, Morrison continues with the procedure. Vincent has at least five cavities, destroyed tissues, and at least eleven teeth needing to be capped with gold or porcelain. Two wisdom teeth need to be pulled.  Morrison begins to drill, and Vincent gnaws at his lower lip, bleeding. Morrison completes a few restorations with no issues until he gets to the right first premolar, which cracks and splits vertically. Vincent jolts, and Morrison decides to extract the tooth at the end of the appointment, along with the wisdom teeth. Morrison then tries to inject Vincent’s gums to numb them, but Vincent orders that he not deliver the second shot. Since the double injections are a precaution, Morrison respects the request.  As he continues, Morrison asks Vincent why he didn’t come to him earlier, before he had so many tooth problems. Vincent replies that toothaches are “overrated,” and when Morrison asks for the last time he brushed his teeth, Vincent retorts that he is a busy man. Soon, Morrison prepares to extract the first wisdom tooth and almost tries to inject Vincent with Novocain without him noticing. Frustrated, he leaves the room, and his assistant begs Vincent to reconsider.  When Morrison returns, Vincent demands to know why he left and tells him to finish as quickly as possible. Morrison extracts the tooth easily, and although Vincent appears uncomfortable, Morrison thinks that he should not be in pain. Morrison moves to extract the next tooth but faces complications. Vincent bites Morrison’s fingers, looking shocked as he swallows the rapid flow of blood. Morrison tries again and again, nearly causing Vincent to faint. Vincent begins to choke but looks oddly peaceful, smiling mockingly at Morrison. Upset, Morrison saws his scalpel toward Vincent’s jawbone, and his assistant shrieks his name, trying to pull him away.