JD: Why do you only use each design once, and then retire it?
Charlie: Well, pretend you saved up enough money to buy the Mona Lisa. And you bought it. Then you discovered that da Vinci made four of them? Wouldn't that just frost your pumpkin? That's why.... just one.
JD: You really are a man of scruples.
Charlie: It's art! We treat it like art because it is art.

[Of Mark Glaser's tattoo and his partners' approaching Charlie for an identical one:]

Charlie: It was... it was only because of [his death] that I broke my own rule. When I put that tattoo on him, I retired it. But there were four of his partners, four people who worked with him, who said they wanted that same tattoo as a memorial. (pause) I don't like that. Art is a living thing. I mean, that's almost like having a second kid to replace a first one who died. And I didn't really feel comfortable with that. But I could see they really liked this guy and they really appreciated his love for the piece. I did it. I gave all four of them an identical tattoo.
JD: Are they all happy with it?
Charlie: You know what? They haven't been back since. (pause) Maybe they didn't get out of it what they thought they would. I don't think I'll ever do that again. Once it's retired, it stays retired.

Close