Oddities (2010–…): Season 5, Episode 3 - Evan's Odd Anniversary - full transcript
WELCOME TO THE WEIRD WORLD
OF "ODDITIES."
I WAS KIND OF HOPING
YOU MIGHT HAVE A SHRUNKEN HEAD.
I MIGHT BE ABLE TO
MAKE ONE.
REALLY?
YEAH.
THE COOL FACTOR'S THROUGH
THE ROOF WITH THIS THING.
OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT
CAN BE A LITTLE DANGEROUS.
AH!
DON'T DO THAT.
- WOW.
- THAT'S A LOOK.
OBSCURA AIN'T YOUR
GRANDMOTHER'S ANTIQUE SHOP.
WHOA!
WELL, UNLESS YOUR GRANDMA'S
A BIT OF A KOOK.
IS THAT A STRAITJACKET?
I'M MIKE.
AND I'M EVAN.
WE'VE SPENT OUR ENTIRE LIVES... COLLECTING
AND DEALING... HUNTING AND PICKING...
TO GET THIS BUSINESS...
DOWN TO A SCIENCE.
THIS IS "ODDITIES."
GOOD AFTERNOON!
HEY, HOW YOU DOING?
GREAT.
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?
GOOD.
ANYTHING YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,
OR...?
I WANTED TO SHOW YOU
WHAT I BROUGHT IN WITH ME TODAY.
I THINK YOU MIGHT POSSIBLY
BE INTERESTED IN IT.
WHAT KIND OF PIECE
IS THIS?
THINK "FRANKENSTEIN."
I'M A MUSIC DIRECTOR,
CONDUCTOR, AND PIANIST.
I WAS READY TO GIVE UP
PIANO LESSONS
AS I WAS NEARING PUBERTY,
TILL I DISCOVERED THAT
ACCOMPANYING THE GIRLS' CHOIR AT MY LOCAL
HIGH SCHOOL WAS A PRETTY AWESOME THING.
THE COOL FACTOR'S THROUGH
THE ROOF WITH THIS THING.
OH, WOW.
A JACOB'S LADDER.
MM-HMM.
VERY NICE.
THIS REALLY DEMONSTRATES
THE ARC OF ELECTRICITY.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BUT THEY CAN
BE A LITTLE DANGEROUS.
WHAT HAPPENS IS ELECTRICITY
JUMPS THIS LITTLE GAP HERE,
AND THEN IT STARTS GOING UP
AND AS IT GETS WIDER AND WIDER,
THE ARC
GETS WIDER AND WIDER.
AS IT GOES UP, IT GETS
TOO FAR AND BREAKS IT...
I DON'T THINK THERE'S REALLY
AN APPLICATION
FOR THESE THINGS
IN SCIENTIFIC LABORATORIES,
BUT IT'S PRETTY NEAT
TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SEE IT.
JACOB'S LADDERS ARE MEANT
MORE FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES.
THEY COME IN DIFFERENT SIZES,
DIFFERENT COLORS, DIFFERENT SHAPES.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE PRACTICAL USES FOR
AN ELECTRIC SPARK JUMPING A GAP...
THEY'RE USED IN IGNITION SYSTEMS,
THEY'RE USED IN SPARK PLUGS.
ACTUALLY, EVEN EARLY RADIO
SIGNALS USED THIS, AS WELL.
IT STILL WORKS?
YEAH.
WE COULD PLUG IT IN AND TRY.
YEAH.
LET ME GET IN THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
YOU READY? YEP.
JUST HERE?
THERE WE GO.
WOW!
IT'S ALIVE! IT'S ALIVE!
ONE OF THE COOL
THINGS... WITH A PENCIL,
YOU CAN ACTUALLY STOP IT.
OF COURSE, YOU DON'T WANT TO
TOUCH THE METAL PART,
YOU DON'T WANT TO USE
A WET PENCIL, NOTHING METAL.
THEN YOU
CONDUCT THE ELECTRICITY.
CORRECT, ALTHOUGH THERE'S SO MUCH POWER IN
THERE, IT CAN LIGHT YOUR PENCIL ON FIRE.
IF YOU PUT IT IN HERE...
OH, WOW.
YEAH.
JUST IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD DO TO YOUR
FINGER OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AH!
DON'T DO THAT.
I THINK MAYBE I SHOULD TURN THIS
THING OFF BEFORE I GET IN TROUBLE.
SO, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO
SELL THIS PIECE?
I DON'T HAVE THE SPACE
FOR AN ITEM LIKE THIS.
HOW MUCH ARE YOU ASKING
ON THIS THING?
I'D REALLY LIKE TO GET
200 BUCKS FOR IT.
UM... IT'S A NICE ITEM
AND I DO LIKE IT,
BUT I DO STILL HAVE
TO DO SOME WORK ON IT
TO MAKE IT SELLABLE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST,
I WOULD GET A GLASS
DOME FOR THIS THING
THAT WILL COVER IT,
MAKE IT A LITTLE SAFER.
HONESTLY, I'D PROBABLY
BE MORE INTO ABOUT 100 BUCKS.
I REALIZE IT'S
HALF OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
$150?
WANT TO SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE
AT $125?
I THINK YOU COULD HAVE YOURSELF
A DEAL WITH THAT.
EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU, MAN.
APPRECIATE IT, MAN.
YOU BET.
HEY, WHAT'S UP, NATTY?
HEY, RYAN, HOW'S IT GOING?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
WHAT'S UP WITH YOU?
WELL, I ACTUALLY... I'M
STILL WORKING ON THE BOOK,
STILL FIGURING OUT
THE BIG PICTURE, YEAH.
WHAT'S GONNA BE
THE OVERALL PREMISE OF THAT?
WELL, IT'S BASICALLY
A HISTORY... ABOUT 200
YEARS OF HISTORY...
OF DANDIES.
OKAY.
I'M A WRITER, CURRENTLY WORKING
ON A BOOK ABOUT DANDIES...
ECCENTRIC, WELL-DRESSED MEN
THROUGH HISTORY.
AND I'M ALSO A MANAGER AT THE
AGAINST NATURE MENSWEAR SHOP,
WHERE WE SELL
SOME OF RYAN'S JEWELRY.
I WANT SOMETHING, MAYBE TO KEEP ON MY WRITING
DESK, MAYBE SOME SORT OF MEMENTO MORI
TO TELL ME
NOT TO WASTE ANY TIME.
SO, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,
LIKE, A SKULL OR SOMETHING?
ACTUALLY, I WAS HOPING FOR
SOMETHING A LITTLE RARER.
I WAS KIND OF HOPING
YOU MIGHT HAVE A SHRUNKEN HEAD.
A SHRUNKEN HEAD, NATTY?!
WE DON'T GET THEM VERY OFTEN,
BUT WE DO HAVE ONE.
REALLY?
I COULD SHOW IT TO YOU.
I'D LOVE TO SEE IT.
COOL, MAN.
I CAN HOOK YOU UP, SON.
WOW.
FEAST YOUR EYES
ON THIS GUY.
THAT IS AMAZING.
THIS IS
A REALLY FINE HUMAN ONE.
IT CAME FROM
A REALLY WELL-KNOWN AUCTION.
HE'S EVEN GOT
A MUSTACHE LIKE MINE.
YEAH.
LIKE, THAT LITTLE
SEATTLE GOATEE.
YEAH, HE'S GOT A LITTLE
SOUL PATCH THERE.
THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
YEAH.
WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND IT?
THIS IS A TOURIST-TRADE HEAD,
DONE BY THE JIVARO TRIBE.
PRE-COLUMBIAN TIMES, MAN.
WHEN THEY'D GO AND SLAY A VICTIM, THEY
WOULD CUT THE HEADS OFF OF THEIR ENEMIES
AND TAKE THE HEADS
BACK TO THEIR VILLAGE.
THEN THEY WOULD MAKE AN INCISION
ON THE CROWN OF THE HEAD
DOWN TO THE NECK AND REMOVE
ALL THE SKIN FROM THE HEAD.
WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF
A SHRUNKEN HEAD,
THEY THINK IT'S A HEAD
THAT'S CUT OFF OF SOMEONE,
EVERYTHING IS JUST SOMEHOW,
MYSTERIOUSLY,
MAGICALLY SHRUNK INTO
THIS LITTLE, TINY THING.
BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY
NO SKULL INSIDE OF THERE.
IN ORDER TO SHRINK A HEAD,
THE JIVARO WOULD TAKE THE SKIN
AND PLACE IT IN HOT WATER AND THEN DRY
IT TO BASICALLY START THE PROCESS.
AFTER THAT, HOT ROCKS AND SAND WERE
PLACED INTO THE CAVITY OF THE HEAD
TO FURTHER SHRINK IT.
FINALLY, THEY WOULD PUT IT NEAR
AN OPEN FLAME TO HARDEN THE SKIN.
THIS PRACTICE WAS USED ON ENEMIES'
HEADS FOR TRIBAL CEREMONIES,
BUT ALSO FOR THE HEADS
THEY USED FOR TRADE.
OH, THAT'S REALLY
INTERESTING.
IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT, THEN I WOULD LOVE
TO, YOU KNOW... THEY'RE NOT CHEAP, NATTY.
THIS ONE WE HAVE $5,000 ON.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S...
OUT OF MY BUDGET.
DON'T LET
THE THREE-PIECE SUITS FOOL YOU.
BENEATH THIS POCKET SQUARE BEATS THE
WALLET OF A STRUGGLING WRITER, SO...
I HEAR YOU, MAN.
WELL, WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?
BUDGET IS ABOUT HALF THAT,
I'D SAY... $2,000.
$2,500 MAYBE.
OKAY.
YOU KNOW
WHAT I COULD PROBABLY DO?
I MIGHT BE ABLE TO
MAKE ONE.
REALLY?
POSSIBLY.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
VERY INTERESTED IN THE PROCESS.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK
I COULD FIND A HUMAN HEAD.
RIGHT. I WOULD HOPE NOT.
WELL, YOU KNOW
I LIKE EVERYTHING MADE FOR ME,
SO I THINK
THE IDEA IS PRETTY APPEALING.
WELL, FIRST OFF, I NEED TO GO
FIND A HEAD TO SHRINK.
OKAY.
MAYBE A PRIMATE HEAD
OR AN ANIMAL?
YEAH. IT SOUNDS GREAT.
I'LL GO POKE AROUND,
SEE WHAT I CAN FIND,
AND GET BACK TO YOU.
THAT SOUNDS EXCELLENT.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL BE IN TOUCH.
EXCELLENT.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
THANK YOU.
- GOOD MORNING.
- HELLO.
HOW ARE YOU?
JUST ASK
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
ACTUALLY, I HAVE THIS ITEM THAT I
THOUGHT MAYBE YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN.
OH, SURE.
IT'S FROM THE '40s.
MY FATHER
USED TO WORK AT YALE.
HE WAS A MACHINIST, AND WHEN HIS DEPARTMENT
CLOSED DOWN THEY JUST GAVE THIS TO HIM.
WELL, SURE.
I'D LOVE TO TAKE A LOOK.
I CAN'T IMAGINE... IT'S BEEN
IN THE ATTIC FOR 30 YEARS.
SO, I DUG IT OUT
AND HERE I AM.
I FEEL THAT IT STILL
HAS SOME BLOOD ON IT.
I THINK
THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
IT'S GRUESOME.
VERY GRUESOME.
MM, LOOKS LIKE
A NICE, OLD BOX.
OH.
I... WHAT?
WHAT IS THAT?
CAN I TRY THIS ONE?
SURE!
CAREFUL. LOOK AT THAT!
WHERE'S HE GOING?
THE BIRD AND THE DOG ARE STILL HERE, SO
THAT'S A GOOD SIGN. IT'S COLLATERAL.
WOW. THIS IS REALLY NICE.
IS THIS THAT CAT
THAT YOU WERE TELLING ME ABOUT?
YEAH. I MADE IT FOR A SHOW
THAT WAS ABOUT CATS AND MONEY.
THIS IS "ODDITIES."
ACTUALLY, I HAVE THIS ITEM THAT I
THOUGHT MAYBE YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN.
OH, SURE.
MM, LOOKS LIKE
A NICE, OLD BOX.
OH.
I... WHAT?
WHAT IS THAT?
IT'S CALLED
A PADGETT-HOOD DERMATOME.
OH, IT'S A DERMATOME.
WOW.
BASICALLY,
IT'S A SKIN SLICER.
THEY TAKE OFF A FEW LEVELS
OF SKIN IF YOU NEED A GRAFT.
IT'S PACKED IN A LOT OF GREASE AND...
OR MAYBE BLOOD. I HOPE IT'S GREASE.
IT COULD BE BLOOD.
I HAVE SOME GLOVES
HERE, IF YOU'D LIKE.
UM, YEAH.
I THINK IT'S MOSTLY OIL.
THEY TAKE
THE DERMIS AND THE EPIDERMIS
AND THEN THEY GET THE BLOOD
VESSELS AND FAT LAYERS.
AND THE BLADE
WOULD FIT IN HERE.
MAYBE AN OPERATOR WOULD
HAND-OPERATE IT LIKE THIS?
OH, THAT MUST HAVE HURT
SO BAD. OOF.
AND THEN YOU'D END UP WITH
THIS NICE, LARGE SWATH OF SKIN
THAT YOU COULD THEN ATTACH
TO A WOUND
ELSEWHERE ON THE BODY
THAT CAN'T HEAL ON ITS OWN.
THIS WOULD BE
KIND OF A SCARY PROCEDURE.
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S VERY, VERY PAINFUL.
I MEAN, YOUR SKIN... IT'S
THE LARGEST ORGAN IN YOUR BODY.
IT ALSO HAS
PAIN RECEPTORS.
EVEN TAKING OFF THE EPIDERMIS
FROM THE DERMIS IS QUITE PAINFUL.
IT'S LIKE A DELI SLICER.
USING SKIN
TO REPAIR SEVERE WOUNDS
IS MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN
A PATIENT'S OWN SKIN IS USED.
IN SEVERE CASES, SKIN FROM
ANOTHER PATIENT MAY BE USED,
BUT THAT CAN BE REJECTED BY THE
BODY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM IN ABOUT A WEEK.
IN SOME SEVERE CASES, SKIN FROM
ANIMALS LIKE PIGS CAN BE USED,
BUT THAT CAN BE REJECTED
IN TWO TO THREE DAYS.
ARE YOU SELLING IT?
YEAH, I'D BE INTERESTED
IN SELLING IT.
WHAT ARE YOU ASKING
FOR IT?
I DON'T KNOW.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
HOW ABOUT, WHAT, $250?
$250.
UM... IT IS PRETTY CLEAN AND I WOULD
LIKE TO PLAY WITH IT A LITTLE BIT.
UM... YEAH, I GUESS WE
CAN DO IT FOR $250.
DEAL.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM...
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
FASCINATING.
MY FRIEND NATTY WAS IN
THE MARKET FOR A SHRUNKEN HEAD.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE HUMAN ONES
ARE OUT OF HIS BUDGET,
SO I OFFERED TO
MAKE HIM ONE MYSELF.
SO, I'M LOOKING FOR
AN APPROPRIATE ANIMAL
VERSION AS A STAND-IN.
HEY.
HEY, RYAN. HOW ARE YOU?
HOW ARE YOU, DIVYA?
GOOD TO SEE YOU, DARLING.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME OVER.
OF COURSE.
IT'S BEEN A LITTLE WHILE.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE.
YEAH. WOW.
WOW.
IS THIS THAT CAT THAT
YOU WERE TELLING ME ABOUT?
YEAH, THIS IS THAT CAT.
THIS IS REALLY NICE.
JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, I NOTICE, LIKE, THIS
CAT'S GOT SOME INTERESTING ACCESSORIES.
UM, WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?
SO, ACTUALLY, I MADE IT FOR A SHOW
THAT WAS ABOUT CATS AND MONEY.
THIS CAT JUST SEEMED
REALLY REGAL.
YOU HAD TO MAKE HIM
KIND OF, LIKE, GHETTO
FABULOUS I THINK.
I'M DIVYA. I DO TAXIDERMY.
I GOT INTO TAXIDERMY BECAUSE,
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER,
I FOUND A LIZARD
THAT DIED IN OUR MOSQUITO LAMP
AND I KEPT IT IN
A LITTLE AMARETTO COOKIE BOX.
AND AFTER THAT,
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW I CAN
KEEP THIS LITTLE LIZARD
AND NOT HAVE IT STINK.
SO, YEAH.
SO, ANYWAYS, DIVYA,
I HAD A CUSTOMER COME IN
AND HE REALLY, REALLY WANTS
A SHRUNKEN HEAD.
COOL!
NOW, THE PROBLEM
THAT HE'S HAVING IS PRICE.
THEY'RE VERY, VERY RARE AND, AS A
RESULT, THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE.
SO, I SUGGESTED WHY NOT DO
SOMETHING IN, MAYBE, AN ANIMAL.
SO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING
THAT WOULD WORK FOR THE PROCESS.
YEAH, I THINK
I'VE GOT SOMETHING.
YOU DO?
YEAH, I THINK SO.
LET'S CHECK IT OUT.
YEAH.
SHALL WE?
WE SHALL.
IT DOES LOOK LIKE
IT'S PRETTY WET.
WHAT DO YOU
HAVE IT FIXED IN?
HE IS PRETTY WET.
HE'S FIXED IN ALCOHOL.
WOW. A SLOTH SKIN.
IT LOOKS AMAZING.
THIS IS A VERY LARGE SLOTH.
IT'S FULL-GROWN.
THIS IS KIND OF PERFECT,
BECAUSE THE JIVARO INDIANS,
THEY REALLY ONLY SHRUNK TWO THINGS...
HUMAN HEADS AND SLOTHS.
OH.
THE JIVARO OF ECUADOR USED THESE
NOTORIOUSLY SLOW-MOVING ANIMALS
AS SUBSTITUTIONS WHEN THEY COULDN'T
GET THEIR ENEMY'S ACTUAL HUMAN HEAD.
SLOTHS ARE SO SLOW, IN FACT, THAT
THEIR DAMP FUR GROWS A GREEN ALGAE
THAT HELPS CAMOUFLAGE THEM
IN THE TREES.
HE'S GOT A PERFECT FACE
FOR MY PURPOSES.
I'M TOTALLY
INTERESTED IN THIS.
WHAT WOULD YOU
WANT TO SELL IT FOR?
UM... I FEEL LIKE
$450 WOULD BE REASONABLE.
$450? OKAY.
YEAH.
QUITE HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW
WHERE THE HECK ELSE
I WOULD FIND A SLOTH SKIN FOR ANY CHEAPER,
SO... I COULD DO $450. ALL RIGHT. COOL.
AND ACTUALLY, DIVYA, I KNOW THAT YOU
LIKE TO MESS AROUND WITH DEAD ANIMALS.
YEAH. I MEAN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO HELP ME
OUT, IT WOULD BE A COOL EXPERIENCE.
I WOULD LOVE TO.
WELL, COOL.
LET'S WRAP
THIS LITTLE FELLA UP.
LET'S GET STARTED.
WE'RE GONNA JUST START
FILLING IT RIGHT UP.
I BET YOU HAVEN'T
DONE THIS BEFORE.
I HAVEN'T.
JUST MAKE SURE NOT TO
GET IT ON THE ACTUAL FIRE.
WHOA!
OH!
THIS IS "ODDITIES."
- HELLO!
- HELLO.
WOW, LOOK AT YOU!
WOW. YOU'VE GOT
QUITE A SENSE OF STYLE.
HELLO.
SHE'S AN AFRICAN GREY?
SHE HOUSE TRAINED, OR...?
NO!
UH, WELL, WE HAVE A FEW...
PUT DOWN YOUR FRIENDS,
IF YOU...
I AM MS. COLOMBIA,
THE QUEEN OF QUEENS.
YOU LIKE THIS ONE?
THAT'S A NICE PIECE.
SURE. PLEASE DO.
THAT'S ACTUALLY
A PRETTY EXOTIC PIECE.
THIS DATES TO ABOUT THE 1920s.
CAREFUL.
OH, LOOK AT THAT!
YOU KNOW
WHAT KIND OF FUR THAT IS?
IT'S MONKEY.
WHERE'S HE GOING?
I DON'T KNOW.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
THE BIRD AND THE DOG ARE STILL HERE, SO
THAT'S A GOOD SIGN. IT'S COLLATERAL.
"BETTER COME BACK
WITH OUR MONKEY OR WE
GOT YOUR DOG AND BIRD."
WELCOME BACK.
OH, LOOK AT THAT.
IT'S A COLOBUS GUEREZA
MONKEY COAT.
THIS MONKEY, WHOSE FUR FEELS
EERILY LIKE HUMAN HAIR,
IS NAMED COLOBUS, AFTER
THE GREEK WORD FOR "MUTILATED,"
BECAUSE THIS MONKEY DOESN'T
HAVE THUMBS LIKE OTHER MONKEYS.
SURE!
SURE.
THE COLOBUS'S LACK OF A THUMB MAY BE AN
EVOLUTIONARY ADAPTATION THAT HELPS THEM
MOVE MORE QUICKLY
THROUGH THEIR FOREST HABITAT.
WE HAVE THIS HAT, AND THIS ACTUALLY
CAME FROM A KNIGHT TEMPLAR.
VERY BEAUTIFUL.
THAT'S AN OLD ONE.
PROBABLY ABOUT 18...
I LIKE THAT.
WOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
$65?
MM...
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OH, WELL, THANK YOU!
IT WAS LOVELY.
AND THANK YOU
FOR THE FASHION SHOW.
YEAH! I'M INSPIRED.
OH, AND DON'T FORGET
YOUR HAIR.
NO, MY...
YOU'RE WELCOME.
GOODBYE, MS. COLOMBIA!
THAT'S A LOOK.
MM-HMM.
I'VE BEEN COMMISSIONED TO TRY TO CREATE
A SHRUNKEN HEAD FOR A CUSTOMER OF OURS.
SINCE SHRINKING A HUMAN HEAD
IS OUT OF THE QUESTION,
I'M USING A SLOTH,
WHICH WERE ACTUALLY USED
BY THE JIVARO TRIBE.
THEY WERE MASTER HEAD-SHRINKERS.
THEY WOULD USE THESE
AS SUBSTITUTES
WHEN THEY COULDN'T GET THEIR
ENEMIES' ACTUAL HUMAN HEADS.
MY FRIEND DIVYA
SOLD ME THE SLOTH
AND SHE'S GONNA HELP ME IN
THE BACKYARD SHRINKING PROCESS.
HEY, RYAN. HOW ARE YOU?
HEY, WHAT'S UP, DIVYA?
I'M JUST
LAYING THE SLOTH OUT.
I BET YOU HAVEN'T
DONE THIS BEFORE.
I HAVEN'T.
SO, I GOT THE GRILL STARTED UP, 'CAUSE
WHAT BASICALLY IS GONNA HAPPEN IS,
AFTER WE GET THE HEAD CUT OFF OF THIS AND
SEWN UP, YOU WANT TO FILL IT WITH STONES,
AND THAT'S WHAT'S ACTUALLY GONNA CURE THE
FLESH AND, EVENTUALLY, SHRINK THE HEAD.
IT'S LIKE PUTTING WET LEATHER
IN A DRYER, BASICALLY.
ALL RIGHT.
EXCELLENT.
SO, IF YOU WANT TO START SEWING THERE,
I'LL JUST START GOING FROM THIS END.
IF THE LADIES AT THE
KNITTING STORE THAT SOLD ME
THESE SUPPLIES ONLY KNEW.
THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT I WAS
KNITTING A SWEATER FOR MY MOM.
I LOVE THE, LIKE, LITTLE...
DISCS OF MEAT THAT POP OUT.
TURNING ANIMAL SKINS INTO LEATHER IS A
COMPLEX AND SORT OF MYSTERIOUS PROCESS.
FIRST, THE SKIN
IS CURED OR DRIED OUT,
AND THEN A CHEMICAL AGENT
IS USED IN THE TANNING PROCESS.
NOWADAYS,
WE USE THINGS LIKE CHROMIUM,
BUT HISTORICALLY, THINGS LIKE
FISH OIL, ANIMAL BRAINS,
AND EVEN HUMAN URINE WERE USED.
IT LOOKS GREAT.
OKAY.
SO, WE'RE GETTING THERE.
LET'S THROW THESE ON
AND GET STARTED.
BASICALLY, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO,
FLIP HIM UPSIDE DOWN
AND WE'RE GONNA JUST
START FILLING IT RIGHT UP.
ALL RIGHT.
SHOULD I HOLD IT OPEN?
YEAH. JUST TRYING TO GET
THE STONES INTO THE SMALL AREAS.
WE'RE CONSTANTLY
REFILLING AND SHAPING IT.
BUT, WE ALSO WANT TO KIND OF MANIPULATE
THE SKIN TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE SHAPE.
ALL RIGHT. JUST MAKE
SURE NOT TO GET IT
ON THE ACTUAL FIRE.
WHOA!
OH!
THIS IS "ODDITIES."
YOU WANT TO
FILL THE SLOTH WITH STONES
AND THAT'S WHAT'S ACTUALLY GONNA CURE THE
FLESH AND, EVENTUALLY, SHRINK THE HEAD.
WE'RE GONNA JUST
START FILLING IT RIGHT UP.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
JUST MAKE SURE NOT TO
GET IT ON THE ACTUAL FIRE.
WHOA!
OH!
ALMOST GOT IT IN THE FACE.
MAKE SURE
THAT SNOUT IS FILLED.
THE SHRINKING PROCESS
IS PRETTY MAGICAL.
I MEAN, FIRST YOU HEAR THE SIZZLE OF THE
STONES HITTING THE SKIN AND CURING IT.
YOU'RE BASICALLY, LIKE, CREATING
THIS LITTLE SACK OF A HEAD.
HE'S ADORABLE!
AS A COUPLE PASSES OF STONES GO BY, IT'S
AMAZING HOW ITS FACE IS JUST SHAPING UP.
I LOVE THAT IT LOOKS LIKE
A HEAD WITH A TAIL.
THAT'S SO AWESOME.
I THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY
IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE
GOTTEN DOWN, I DON'T KNOW, 20%?
YEAH. THAT'S TOTALLY
LIKE 20%, 25%.
I TRULY APPRECIATE
YOU HELPING ME.
OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT WAS A PLEASURE
DOING THIS WITH YOU.
I'LL TALK TO YOU SOON,
DIVYA.
I'LL TALK TO YOU SOON.
HEY. WHAT'S UP, MAN?
HEY, MAN. HOW'S IT GOING?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.
MY BUDDY NATTY COMMISSIONED ME
TO MAKE A SHRUNKEN HEAD.
SO, I TRIED SOMETHING
I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE...
I ACTUALLY MADE MY OWN
SHRUNKEN HEAD FROM A SLOTH.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
I JUST HOPE THAT
NATTY LIKES IT AS MUCH AS I DO.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IT?
YEAH! I'M DYING TO SEE IT.
HOLD ON ONE SECOND,
I HAVE IT IN THE BACK.
EXCELLENT.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
SHRUNKEN SLOTH'S HEAD.
OH, MY GOD.
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
I'M GONNA ACTUALLY PUT THIS HERE SO I
CAN SHOW YOU A COUPLE LITTLE DETAILS.
AFTER I GOT THE SLOTH SKIN, YOU SLOWLY
START TO CURE THE SKIN WITH HOT STONE.
WHEN LEATHER GETS WET
AND IT DRIES, IT SHRINKS.
AND THAT'S THE SAME EXACT
PROCESS AS THIS.
SO, WHAT IT DOES IS BASICALLY
JUST SHRINKS INTO ITSELF.
AND THEN, FINALLY,
YOU END UP WITH A PIECE
THAT IS HALF THE SIZE
OF WHERE YOU STARTED.
IT'S AMAZING.
DID YOU DO THIS ALL AT HOME?
I DID IT ALL AT HOME.
OKAY.
YEAH, I DID IT ALL
IN MY BACK YARD WITH
THE HELP OF MY FRIEND.
RIGHT. WELL, THIS IS
ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
WHAT ARE THE STRINGS
IN THE FRONT FOR?
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE REALLY COOL...
'CAUSE WHEN YOU SEE A HUMAN SHRUNKEN HEAD,
THEY ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE
THESE LONG LIP STRINGS.
YEAH, I LIKE THAT.
I TRIED TO MAKE THIS PIECE
LOOK AS LEGITIMATE AS POSSIBLE.
YEAH, IT LOOKS AMAZING.
THE REASON WHY THIS CORD IS ON HERE... YOU
COULD ACTUALLY WEAR IT AROUND YOUR NECK.
SO, AT THE NEXT PARTY YOU GO TO, NATTY...
SOUNDS GOOD. ...YEAH, YOU CAN WEAR THIS
WITH YOUR FINE SUIT.
YEAH. "OH, THAT?
OH, THAT'S NOTHING.
JUST MY SHRUNKEN SLOTH'S HEAD."
NO BIG DEAL.
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK, MAN?
I'M COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY.
THIS IS SO COOL.
THANK YOU.
I HAVE TO SAY, IT WAS A FIRST, SO THIS
WAS CERTAINLY A LEARNING PROCESS FOR ME.
I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT TO EXPECT.
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS GONNA LOOK
LIKE, AND THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU.
IT'S WONDERFUL.
SO, HOW MUCH WILL THIS BE?
WHAT DO YOU THINK
ABOUT $2,200?
YEAH. THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
WE GOT A DEAL, BUDDY.
EXCELLENT, MAN.
LET'S GO WRAP THIS UP.
YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE
LIKE HAMBURGERS, SOME
PEOPLE LIKE HOT DOGS,
BUT TO ME, NOTHING SAYS
"AMERICAN HOMESTYLE BARBECUE"
LIKE A SLOTH HEAD.
MEDIUM RARE.
SHRUNKEN SLOTH HEAD.
I LOVE IT.
OF "ODDITIES."
I WAS KIND OF HOPING
YOU MIGHT HAVE A SHRUNKEN HEAD.
I MIGHT BE ABLE TO
MAKE ONE.
REALLY?
YEAH.
THE COOL FACTOR'S THROUGH
THE ROOF WITH THIS THING.
OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT
CAN BE A LITTLE DANGEROUS.
AH!
DON'T DO THAT.
- WOW.
- THAT'S A LOOK.
OBSCURA AIN'T YOUR
GRANDMOTHER'S ANTIQUE SHOP.
WHOA!
WELL, UNLESS YOUR GRANDMA'S
A BIT OF A KOOK.
IS THAT A STRAITJACKET?
I'M MIKE.
AND I'M EVAN.
WE'VE SPENT OUR ENTIRE LIVES... COLLECTING
AND DEALING... HUNTING AND PICKING...
TO GET THIS BUSINESS...
DOWN TO A SCIENCE.
THIS IS "ODDITIES."
GOOD AFTERNOON!
HEY, HOW YOU DOING?
GREAT.
HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?
GOOD.
ANYTHING YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,
OR...?
I WANTED TO SHOW YOU
WHAT I BROUGHT IN WITH ME TODAY.
I THINK YOU MIGHT POSSIBLY
BE INTERESTED IN IT.
WHAT KIND OF PIECE
IS THIS?
THINK "FRANKENSTEIN."
I'M A MUSIC DIRECTOR,
CONDUCTOR, AND PIANIST.
I WAS READY TO GIVE UP
PIANO LESSONS
AS I WAS NEARING PUBERTY,
TILL I DISCOVERED THAT
ACCOMPANYING THE GIRLS' CHOIR AT MY LOCAL
HIGH SCHOOL WAS A PRETTY AWESOME THING.
THE COOL FACTOR'S THROUGH
THE ROOF WITH THIS THING.
OH, WOW.
A JACOB'S LADDER.
MM-HMM.
VERY NICE.
THIS REALLY DEMONSTRATES
THE ARC OF ELECTRICITY.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL, BUT THEY CAN
BE A LITTLE DANGEROUS.
WHAT HAPPENS IS ELECTRICITY
JUMPS THIS LITTLE GAP HERE,
AND THEN IT STARTS GOING UP
AND AS IT GETS WIDER AND WIDER,
THE ARC
GETS WIDER AND WIDER.
AS IT GOES UP, IT GETS
TOO FAR AND BREAKS IT...
I DON'T THINK THERE'S REALLY
AN APPLICATION
FOR THESE THINGS
IN SCIENTIFIC LABORATORIES,
BUT IT'S PRETTY NEAT
TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SEE IT.
JACOB'S LADDERS ARE MEANT
MORE FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES.
THEY COME IN DIFFERENT SIZES,
DIFFERENT COLORS, DIFFERENT SHAPES.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE PRACTICAL USES FOR
AN ELECTRIC SPARK JUMPING A GAP...
THEY'RE USED IN IGNITION SYSTEMS,
THEY'RE USED IN SPARK PLUGS.
ACTUALLY, EVEN EARLY RADIO
SIGNALS USED THIS, AS WELL.
IT STILL WORKS?
YEAH.
WE COULD PLUG IT IN AND TRY.
YEAH.
LET ME GET IN THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
YOU READY? YEP.
JUST HERE?
THERE WE GO.
WOW!
IT'S ALIVE! IT'S ALIVE!
ONE OF THE COOL
THINGS... WITH A PENCIL,
YOU CAN ACTUALLY STOP IT.
OF COURSE, YOU DON'T WANT TO
TOUCH THE METAL PART,
YOU DON'T WANT TO USE
A WET PENCIL, NOTHING METAL.
THEN YOU
CONDUCT THE ELECTRICITY.
CORRECT, ALTHOUGH THERE'S SO MUCH POWER IN
THERE, IT CAN LIGHT YOUR PENCIL ON FIRE.
IF YOU PUT IT IN HERE...
OH, WOW.
YEAH.
JUST IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD DO TO YOUR
FINGER OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AH!
DON'T DO THAT.
I THINK MAYBE I SHOULD TURN THIS
THING OFF BEFORE I GET IN TROUBLE.
SO, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO
SELL THIS PIECE?
I DON'T HAVE THE SPACE
FOR AN ITEM LIKE THIS.
HOW MUCH ARE YOU ASKING
ON THIS THING?
I'D REALLY LIKE TO GET
200 BUCKS FOR IT.
UM... IT'S A NICE ITEM
AND I DO LIKE IT,
BUT I DO STILL HAVE
TO DO SOME WORK ON IT
TO MAKE IT SELLABLE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST,
I WOULD GET A GLASS
DOME FOR THIS THING
THAT WILL COVER IT,
MAKE IT A LITTLE SAFER.
HONESTLY, I'D PROBABLY
BE MORE INTO ABOUT 100 BUCKS.
I REALIZE IT'S
HALF OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
$150?
WANT TO SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE
AT $125?
I THINK YOU COULD HAVE YOURSELF
A DEAL WITH THAT.
EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU, MAN.
APPRECIATE IT, MAN.
YOU BET.
HEY, WHAT'S UP, NATTY?
HEY, RYAN, HOW'S IT GOING?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
WHAT'S UP WITH YOU?
WELL, I ACTUALLY... I'M
STILL WORKING ON THE BOOK,
STILL FIGURING OUT
THE BIG PICTURE, YEAH.
WHAT'S GONNA BE
THE OVERALL PREMISE OF THAT?
WELL, IT'S BASICALLY
A HISTORY... ABOUT 200
YEARS OF HISTORY...
OF DANDIES.
OKAY.
I'M A WRITER, CURRENTLY WORKING
ON A BOOK ABOUT DANDIES...
ECCENTRIC, WELL-DRESSED MEN
THROUGH HISTORY.
AND I'M ALSO A MANAGER AT THE
AGAINST NATURE MENSWEAR SHOP,
WHERE WE SELL
SOME OF RYAN'S JEWELRY.
I WANT SOMETHING, MAYBE TO KEEP ON MY WRITING
DESK, MAYBE SOME SORT OF MEMENTO MORI
TO TELL ME
NOT TO WASTE ANY TIME.
SO, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,
LIKE, A SKULL OR SOMETHING?
ACTUALLY, I WAS HOPING FOR
SOMETHING A LITTLE RARER.
I WAS KIND OF HOPING
YOU MIGHT HAVE A SHRUNKEN HEAD.
A SHRUNKEN HEAD, NATTY?!
WE DON'T GET THEM VERY OFTEN,
BUT WE DO HAVE ONE.
REALLY?
I COULD SHOW IT TO YOU.
I'D LOVE TO SEE IT.
COOL, MAN.
I CAN HOOK YOU UP, SON.
WOW.
FEAST YOUR EYES
ON THIS GUY.
THAT IS AMAZING.
THIS IS
A REALLY FINE HUMAN ONE.
IT CAME FROM
A REALLY WELL-KNOWN AUCTION.
HE'S EVEN GOT
A MUSTACHE LIKE MINE.
YEAH.
LIKE, THAT LITTLE
SEATTLE GOATEE.
YEAH, HE'S GOT A LITTLE
SOUL PATCH THERE.
THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
YEAH.
WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND IT?
THIS IS A TOURIST-TRADE HEAD,
DONE BY THE JIVARO TRIBE.
PRE-COLUMBIAN TIMES, MAN.
WHEN THEY'D GO AND SLAY A VICTIM, THEY
WOULD CUT THE HEADS OFF OF THEIR ENEMIES
AND TAKE THE HEADS
BACK TO THEIR VILLAGE.
THEN THEY WOULD MAKE AN INCISION
ON THE CROWN OF THE HEAD
DOWN TO THE NECK AND REMOVE
ALL THE SKIN FROM THE HEAD.
WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF
A SHRUNKEN HEAD,
THEY THINK IT'S A HEAD
THAT'S CUT OFF OF SOMEONE,
EVERYTHING IS JUST SOMEHOW,
MYSTERIOUSLY,
MAGICALLY SHRUNK INTO
THIS LITTLE, TINY THING.
BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY
NO SKULL INSIDE OF THERE.
IN ORDER TO SHRINK A HEAD,
THE JIVARO WOULD TAKE THE SKIN
AND PLACE IT IN HOT WATER AND THEN DRY
IT TO BASICALLY START THE PROCESS.
AFTER THAT, HOT ROCKS AND SAND WERE
PLACED INTO THE CAVITY OF THE HEAD
TO FURTHER SHRINK IT.
FINALLY, THEY WOULD PUT IT NEAR
AN OPEN FLAME TO HARDEN THE SKIN.
THIS PRACTICE WAS USED ON ENEMIES'
HEADS FOR TRIBAL CEREMONIES,
BUT ALSO FOR THE HEADS
THEY USED FOR TRADE.
OH, THAT'S REALLY
INTERESTING.
IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT, THEN I WOULD LOVE
TO, YOU KNOW... THEY'RE NOT CHEAP, NATTY.
THIS ONE WE HAVE $5,000 ON.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S...
OUT OF MY BUDGET.
DON'T LET
THE THREE-PIECE SUITS FOOL YOU.
BENEATH THIS POCKET SQUARE BEATS THE
WALLET OF A STRUGGLING WRITER, SO...
I HEAR YOU, MAN.
WELL, WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?
BUDGET IS ABOUT HALF THAT,
I'D SAY... $2,000.
$2,500 MAYBE.
OKAY.
YOU KNOW
WHAT I COULD PROBABLY DO?
I MIGHT BE ABLE TO
MAKE ONE.
REALLY?
POSSIBLY.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
VERY INTERESTED IN THE PROCESS.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK
I COULD FIND A HUMAN HEAD.
RIGHT. I WOULD HOPE NOT.
WELL, YOU KNOW
I LIKE EVERYTHING MADE FOR ME,
SO I THINK
THE IDEA IS PRETTY APPEALING.
WELL, FIRST OFF, I NEED TO GO
FIND A HEAD TO SHRINK.
OKAY.
MAYBE A PRIMATE HEAD
OR AN ANIMAL?
YEAH. IT SOUNDS GREAT.
I'LL GO POKE AROUND,
SEE WHAT I CAN FIND,
AND GET BACK TO YOU.
THAT SOUNDS EXCELLENT.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL BE IN TOUCH.
EXCELLENT.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
THANK YOU.
- GOOD MORNING.
- HELLO.
HOW ARE YOU?
JUST ASK
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
ACTUALLY, I HAVE THIS ITEM THAT I
THOUGHT MAYBE YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN.
OH, SURE.
IT'S FROM THE '40s.
MY FATHER
USED TO WORK AT YALE.
HE WAS A MACHINIST, AND WHEN HIS DEPARTMENT
CLOSED DOWN THEY JUST GAVE THIS TO HIM.
WELL, SURE.
I'D LOVE TO TAKE A LOOK.
I CAN'T IMAGINE... IT'S BEEN
IN THE ATTIC FOR 30 YEARS.
SO, I DUG IT OUT
AND HERE I AM.
I FEEL THAT IT STILL
HAS SOME BLOOD ON IT.
I THINK
THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
IT'S GRUESOME.
VERY GRUESOME.
MM, LOOKS LIKE
A NICE, OLD BOX.
OH.
I... WHAT?
WHAT IS THAT?
CAN I TRY THIS ONE?
SURE!
CAREFUL. LOOK AT THAT!
WHERE'S HE GOING?
THE BIRD AND THE DOG ARE STILL HERE, SO
THAT'S A GOOD SIGN. IT'S COLLATERAL.
WOW. THIS IS REALLY NICE.
IS THIS THAT CAT
THAT YOU WERE TELLING ME ABOUT?
YEAH. I MADE IT FOR A SHOW
THAT WAS ABOUT CATS AND MONEY.
THIS IS "ODDITIES."
ACTUALLY, I HAVE THIS ITEM THAT I
THOUGHT MAYBE YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN.
OH, SURE.
MM, LOOKS LIKE
A NICE, OLD BOX.
OH.
I... WHAT?
WHAT IS THAT?
IT'S CALLED
A PADGETT-HOOD DERMATOME.
OH, IT'S A DERMATOME.
WOW.
BASICALLY,
IT'S A SKIN SLICER.
THEY TAKE OFF A FEW LEVELS
OF SKIN IF YOU NEED A GRAFT.
IT'S PACKED IN A LOT OF GREASE AND...
OR MAYBE BLOOD. I HOPE IT'S GREASE.
IT COULD BE BLOOD.
I HAVE SOME GLOVES
HERE, IF YOU'D LIKE.
UM, YEAH.
I THINK IT'S MOSTLY OIL.
THEY TAKE
THE DERMIS AND THE EPIDERMIS
AND THEN THEY GET THE BLOOD
VESSELS AND FAT LAYERS.
AND THE BLADE
WOULD FIT IN HERE.
MAYBE AN OPERATOR WOULD
HAND-OPERATE IT LIKE THIS?
OH, THAT MUST HAVE HURT
SO BAD. OOF.
AND THEN YOU'D END UP WITH
THIS NICE, LARGE SWATH OF SKIN
THAT YOU COULD THEN ATTACH
TO A WOUND
ELSEWHERE ON THE BODY
THAT CAN'T HEAL ON ITS OWN.
THIS WOULD BE
KIND OF A SCARY PROCEDURE.
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S VERY, VERY PAINFUL.
I MEAN, YOUR SKIN... IT'S
THE LARGEST ORGAN IN YOUR BODY.
IT ALSO HAS
PAIN RECEPTORS.
EVEN TAKING OFF THE EPIDERMIS
FROM THE DERMIS IS QUITE PAINFUL.
IT'S LIKE A DELI SLICER.
USING SKIN
TO REPAIR SEVERE WOUNDS
IS MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN
A PATIENT'S OWN SKIN IS USED.
IN SEVERE CASES, SKIN FROM
ANOTHER PATIENT MAY BE USED,
BUT THAT CAN BE REJECTED BY THE
BODY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM IN ABOUT A WEEK.
IN SOME SEVERE CASES, SKIN FROM
ANIMALS LIKE PIGS CAN BE USED,
BUT THAT CAN BE REJECTED
IN TWO TO THREE DAYS.
ARE YOU SELLING IT?
YEAH, I'D BE INTERESTED
IN SELLING IT.
WHAT ARE YOU ASKING
FOR IT?
I DON'T KNOW.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
HOW ABOUT, WHAT, $250?
$250.
UM... IT IS PRETTY CLEAN AND I WOULD
LIKE TO PLAY WITH IT A LITTLE BIT.
UM... YEAH, I GUESS WE
CAN DO IT FOR $250.
DEAL.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM...
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
FASCINATING.
MY FRIEND NATTY WAS IN
THE MARKET FOR A SHRUNKEN HEAD.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE HUMAN ONES
ARE OUT OF HIS BUDGET,
SO I OFFERED TO
MAKE HIM ONE MYSELF.
SO, I'M LOOKING FOR
AN APPROPRIATE ANIMAL
VERSION AS A STAND-IN.
HEY.
HEY, RYAN. HOW ARE YOU?
HOW ARE YOU, DIVYA?
GOOD TO SEE YOU, DARLING.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME OVER.
OF COURSE.
IT'S BEEN A LITTLE WHILE.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE.
YEAH. WOW.
WOW.
IS THIS THAT CAT THAT
YOU WERE TELLING ME ABOUT?
YEAH, THIS IS THAT CAT.
THIS IS REALLY NICE.
JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, I NOTICE, LIKE, THIS
CAT'S GOT SOME INTERESTING ACCESSORIES.
UM, WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?
SO, ACTUALLY, I MADE IT FOR A SHOW
THAT WAS ABOUT CATS AND MONEY.
THIS CAT JUST SEEMED
REALLY REGAL.
YOU HAD TO MAKE HIM
KIND OF, LIKE, GHETTO
FABULOUS I THINK.
I'M DIVYA. I DO TAXIDERMY.
I GOT INTO TAXIDERMY BECAUSE,
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER,
I FOUND A LIZARD
THAT DIED IN OUR MOSQUITO LAMP
AND I KEPT IT IN
A LITTLE AMARETTO COOKIE BOX.
AND AFTER THAT,
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW I CAN
KEEP THIS LITTLE LIZARD
AND NOT HAVE IT STINK.
SO, YEAH.
SO, ANYWAYS, DIVYA,
I HAD A CUSTOMER COME IN
AND HE REALLY, REALLY WANTS
A SHRUNKEN HEAD.
COOL!
NOW, THE PROBLEM
THAT HE'S HAVING IS PRICE.
THEY'RE VERY, VERY RARE AND, AS A
RESULT, THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE.
SO, I SUGGESTED WHY NOT DO
SOMETHING IN, MAYBE, AN ANIMAL.
SO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING
THAT WOULD WORK FOR THE PROCESS.
YEAH, I THINK
I'VE GOT SOMETHING.
YOU DO?
YEAH, I THINK SO.
LET'S CHECK IT OUT.
YEAH.
SHALL WE?
WE SHALL.
IT DOES LOOK LIKE
IT'S PRETTY WET.
WHAT DO YOU
HAVE IT FIXED IN?
HE IS PRETTY WET.
HE'S FIXED IN ALCOHOL.
WOW. A SLOTH SKIN.
IT LOOKS AMAZING.
THIS IS A VERY LARGE SLOTH.
IT'S FULL-GROWN.
THIS IS KIND OF PERFECT,
BECAUSE THE JIVARO INDIANS,
THEY REALLY ONLY SHRUNK TWO THINGS...
HUMAN HEADS AND SLOTHS.
OH.
THE JIVARO OF ECUADOR USED THESE
NOTORIOUSLY SLOW-MOVING ANIMALS
AS SUBSTITUTIONS WHEN THEY COULDN'T
GET THEIR ENEMY'S ACTUAL HUMAN HEAD.
SLOTHS ARE SO SLOW, IN FACT, THAT
THEIR DAMP FUR GROWS A GREEN ALGAE
THAT HELPS CAMOUFLAGE THEM
IN THE TREES.
HE'S GOT A PERFECT FACE
FOR MY PURPOSES.
I'M TOTALLY
INTERESTED IN THIS.
WHAT WOULD YOU
WANT TO SELL IT FOR?
UM... I FEEL LIKE
$450 WOULD BE REASONABLE.
$450? OKAY.
YEAH.
QUITE HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW
WHERE THE HECK ELSE
I WOULD FIND A SLOTH SKIN FOR ANY CHEAPER,
SO... I COULD DO $450. ALL RIGHT. COOL.
AND ACTUALLY, DIVYA, I KNOW THAT YOU
LIKE TO MESS AROUND WITH DEAD ANIMALS.
YEAH. I MEAN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO HELP ME
OUT, IT WOULD BE A COOL EXPERIENCE.
I WOULD LOVE TO.
WELL, COOL.
LET'S WRAP
THIS LITTLE FELLA UP.
LET'S GET STARTED.
WE'RE GONNA JUST START
FILLING IT RIGHT UP.
I BET YOU HAVEN'T
DONE THIS BEFORE.
I HAVEN'T.
JUST MAKE SURE NOT TO
GET IT ON THE ACTUAL FIRE.
WHOA!
OH!
THIS IS "ODDITIES."
- HELLO!
- HELLO.
WOW, LOOK AT YOU!
WOW. YOU'VE GOT
QUITE A SENSE OF STYLE.
HELLO.
SHE'S AN AFRICAN GREY?
SHE HOUSE TRAINED, OR...?
NO!
UH, WELL, WE HAVE A FEW...
PUT DOWN YOUR FRIENDS,
IF YOU...
I AM MS. COLOMBIA,
THE QUEEN OF QUEENS.
YOU LIKE THIS ONE?
THAT'S A NICE PIECE.
SURE. PLEASE DO.
THAT'S ACTUALLY
A PRETTY EXOTIC PIECE.
THIS DATES TO ABOUT THE 1920s.
CAREFUL.
OH, LOOK AT THAT!
YOU KNOW
WHAT KIND OF FUR THAT IS?
IT'S MONKEY.
WHERE'S HE GOING?
I DON'T KNOW.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
THE BIRD AND THE DOG ARE STILL HERE, SO
THAT'S A GOOD SIGN. IT'S COLLATERAL.
"BETTER COME BACK
WITH OUR MONKEY OR WE
GOT YOUR DOG AND BIRD."
WELCOME BACK.
OH, LOOK AT THAT.
IT'S A COLOBUS GUEREZA
MONKEY COAT.
THIS MONKEY, WHOSE FUR FEELS
EERILY LIKE HUMAN HAIR,
IS NAMED COLOBUS, AFTER
THE GREEK WORD FOR "MUTILATED,"
BECAUSE THIS MONKEY DOESN'T
HAVE THUMBS LIKE OTHER MONKEYS.
SURE!
SURE.
THE COLOBUS'S LACK OF A THUMB MAY BE AN
EVOLUTIONARY ADAPTATION THAT HELPS THEM
MOVE MORE QUICKLY
THROUGH THEIR FOREST HABITAT.
WE HAVE THIS HAT, AND THIS ACTUALLY
CAME FROM A KNIGHT TEMPLAR.
VERY BEAUTIFUL.
THAT'S AN OLD ONE.
PROBABLY ABOUT 18...
I LIKE THAT.
WOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
$65?
MM...
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OH, WELL, THANK YOU!
IT WAS LOVELY.
AND THANK YOU
FOR THE FASHION SHOW.
YEAH! I'M INSPIRED.
OH, AND DON'T FORGET
YOUR HAIR.
NO, MY...
YOU'RE WELCOME.
GOODBYE, MS. COLOMBIA!
THAT'S A LOOK.
MM-HMM.
I'VE BEEN COMMISSIONED TO TRY TO CREATE
A SHRUNKEN HEAD FOR A CUSTOMER OF OURS.
SINCE SHRINKING A HUMAN HEAD
IS OUT OF THE QUESTION,
I'M USING A SLOTH,
WHICH WERE ACTUALLY USED
BY THE JIVARO TRIBE.
THEY WERE MASTER HEAD-SHRINKERS.
THEY WOULD USE THESE
AS SUBSTITUTES
WHEN THEY COULDN'T GET THEIR
ENEMIES' ACTUAL HUMAN HEADS.
MY FRIEND DIVYA
SOLD ME THE SLOTH
AND SHE'S GONNA HELP ME IN
THE BACKYARD SHRINKING PROCESS.
HEY, RYAN. HOW ARE YOU?
HEY, WHAT'S UP, DIVYA?
I'M JUST
LAYING THE SLOTH OUT.
I BET YOU HAVEN'T
DONE THIS BEFORE.
I HAVEN'T.
SO, I GOT THE GRILL STARTED UP, 'CAUSE
WHAT BASICALLY IS GONNA HAPPEN IS,
AFTER WE GET THE HEAD CUT OFF OF THIS AND
SEWN UP, YOU WANT TO FILL IT WITH STONES,
AND THAT'S WHAT'S ACTUALLY GONNA CURE THE
FLESH AND, EVENTUALLY, SHRINK THE HEAD.
IT'S LIKE PUTTING WET LEATHER
IN A DRYER, BASICALLY.
ALL RIGHT.
EXCELLENT.
SO, IF YOU WANT TO START SEWING THERE,
I'LL JUST START GOING FROM THIS END.
IF THE LADIES AT THE
KNITTING STORE THAT SOLD ME
THESE SUPPLIES ONLY KNEW.
THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT I WAS
KNITTING A SWEATER FOR MY MOM.
I LOVE THE, LIKE, LITTLE...
DISCS OF MEAT THAT POP OUT.
TURNING ANIMAL SKINS INTO LEATHER IS A
COMPLEX AND SORT OF MYSTERIOUS PROCESS.
FIRST, THE SKIN
IS CURED OR DRIED OUT,
AND THEN A CHEMICAL AGENT
IS USED IN THE TANNING PROCESS.
NOWADAYS,
WE USE THINGS LIKE CHROMIUM,
BUT HISTORICALLY, THINGS LIKE
FISH OIL, ANIMAL BRAINS,
AND EVEN HUMAN URINE WERE USED.
IT LOOKS GREAT.
OKAY.
SO, WE'RE GETTING THERE.
LET'S THROW THESE ON
AND GET STARTED.
BASICALLY, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO,
FLIP HIM UPSIDE DOWN
AND WE'RE GONNA JUST
START FILLING IT RIGHT UP.
ALL RIGHT.
SHOULD I HOLD IT OPEN?
YEAH. JUST TRYING TO GET
THE STONES INTO THE SMALL AREAS.
WE'RE CONSTANTLY
REFILLING AND SHAPING IT.
BUT, WE ALSO WANT TO KIND OF MANIPULATE
THE SKIN TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE SHAPE.
ALL RIGHT. JUST MAKE
SURE NOT TO GET IT
ON THE ACTUAL FIRE.
WHOA!
OH!
THIS IS "ODDITIES."
YOU WANT TO
FILL THE SLOTH WITH STONES
AND THAT'S WHAT'S ACTUALLY GONNA CURE THE
FLESH AND, EVENTUALLY, SHRINK THE HEAD.
WE'RE GONNA JUST
START FILLING IT RIGHT UP.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
JUST MAKE SURE NOT TO
GET IT ON THE ACTUAL FIRE.
WHOA!
OH!
ALMOST GOT IT IN THE FACE.
MAKE SURE
THAT SNOUT IS FILLED.
THE SHRINKING PROCESS
IS PRETTY MAGICAL.
I MEAN, FIRST YOU HEAR THE SIZZLE OF THE
STONES HITTING THE SKIN AND CURING IT.
YOU'RE BASICALLY, LIKE, CREATING
THIS LITTLE SACK OF A HEAD.
HE'S ADORABLE!
AS A COUPLE PASSES OF STONES GO BY, IT'S
AMAZING HOW ITS FACE IS JUST SHAPING UP.
I LOVE THAT IT LOOKS LIKE
A HEAD WITH A TAIL.
THAT'S SO AWESOME.
I THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY
IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE
GOTTEN DOWN, I DON'T KNOW, 20%?
YEAH. THAT'S TOTALLY
LIKE 20%, 25%.
I TRULY APPRECIATE
YOU HELPING ME.
OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT WAS A PLEASURE
DOING THIS WITH YOU.
I'LL TALK TO YOU SOON,
DIVYA.
I'LL TALK TO YOU SOON.
HEY. WHAT'S UP, MAN?
HEY, MAN. HOW'S IT GOING?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.
MY BUDDY NATTY COMMISSIONED ME
TO MAKE A SHRUNKEN HEAD.
SO, I TRIED SOMETHING
I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE...
I ACTUALLY MADE MY OWN
SHRUNKEN HEAD FROM A SLOTH.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
I JUST HOPE THAT
NATTY LIKES IT AS MUCH AS I DO.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IT?
YEAH! I'M DYING TO SEE IT.
HOLD ON ONE SECOND,
I HAVE IT IN THE BACK.
EXCELLENT.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
SHRUNKEN SLOTH'S HEAD.
OH, MY GOD.
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
I'M GONNA ACTUALLY PUT THIS HERE SO I
CAN SHOW YOU A COUPLE LITTLE DETAILS.
AFTER I GOT THE SLOTH SKIN, YOU SLOWLY
START TO CURE THE SKIN WITH HOT STONE.
WHEN LEATHER GETS WET
AND IT DRIES, IT SHRINKS.
AND THAT'S THE SAME EXACT
PROCESS AS THIS.
SO, WHAT IT DOES IS BASICALLY
JUST SHRINKS INTO ITSELF.
AND THEN, FINALLY,
YOU END UP WITH A PIECE
THAT IS HALF THE SIZE
OF WHERE YOU STARTED.
IT'S AMAZING.
DID YOU DO THIS ALL AT HOME?
I DID IT ALL AT HOME.
OKAY.
YEAH, I DID IT ALL
IN MY BACK YARD WITH
THE HELP OF MY FRIEND.
RIGHT. WELL, THIS IS
ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
WHAT ARE THE STRINGS
IN THE FRONT FOR?
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE REALLY COOL...
'CAUSE WHEN YOU SEE A HUMAN SHRUNKEN HEAD,
THEY ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE
THESE LONG LIP STRINGS.
YEAH, I LIKE THAT.
I TRIED TO MAKE THIS PIECE
LOOK AS LEGITIMATE AS POSSIBLE.
YEAH, IT LOOKS AMAZING.
THE REASON WHY THIS CORD IS ON HERE... YOU
COULD ACTUALLY WEAR IT AROUND YOUR NECK.
SO, AT THE NEXT PARTY YOU GO TO, NATTY...
SOUNDS GOOD. ...YEAH, YOU CAN WEAR THIS
WITH YOUR FINE SUIT.
YEAH. "OH, THAT?
OH, THAT'S NOTHING.
JUST MY SHRUNKEN SLOTH'S HEAD."
NO BIG DEAL.
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK, MAN?
I'M COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY.
THIS IS SO COOL.
THANK YOU.
I HAVE TO SAY, IT WAS A FIRST, SO THIS
WAS CERTAINLY A LEARNING PROCESS FOR ME.
I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT TO EXPECT.
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS GONNA LOOK
LIKE, AND THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU.
IT'S WONDERFUL.
SO, HOW MUCH WILL THIS BE?
WHAT DO YOU THINK
ABOUT $2,200?
YEAH. THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
WE GOT A DEAL, BUDDY.
EXCELLENT, MAN.
LET'S GO WRAP THIS UP.
YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE
LIKE HAMBURGERS, SOME
PEOPLE LIKE HOT DOGS,
BUT TO ME, NOTHING SAYS
"AMERICAN HOMESTYLE BARBECUE"
LIKE A SLOTH HEAD.
MEDIUM RARE.
SHRUNKEN SLOTH HEAD.
I LOVE IT.