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[ DING! ]
ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY?
THEN MEET A MAN WHO POSSESSES PLENTY TO FRIGHTEN...
IF YOU STAB SOMEONE WITH THEM, ALL HELL WOULD BREAK LOSE.
Edgar: ...A CHARMING YOUNG LADY
WHO PRESERVES PIECES OF HER FRIENDS AND RELATIVES...
Rachel: A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT I DON'T EVER GET GROSSED OUT,
BUT IT IS REALLY GROSS.
Edgar: ...AND A DELIGHTFUL COUPLE WHOSE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER
IS SECOND ONLY TO THEIR LOVE OF DANGER.
Donny: I WANT TO TRY TO HAVE HEATHER HIT A BALLOON
OUT OF MY MOUTH WITH A KNIFE.
[ GASPS ]
PLEASE MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME.
WHAT LIES BEHIND YOUR NEIGHBORS' CLOSED DOORS
THAT LINE YOUR STREET?
[ INSECT BUZZES ]
WHAT WEIRD WORLDS LURK?
[ BEAR GROWLS ]
MAY I PRESENT THE PECULIAR LAIRS,
STRANGE COLLECTIONS,
AND CURIOUS TALENTS...
OF SOME VERY ODD FOLKS.
[ DOOR CREAKS ]
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
DO YOU REALLY KNOW ANYONE
OR ONLY WHAT THEY PERMIT YOU TO KNOW?
BEHIND THE DOOR OF THIS UNASSUMING HOME
ARE YOUNG LOVERS
WHOSE DEATH-DEFYING SKILLS RISK LIFE AND LIMB.
[ CARNIVAL MUSIC PLAYS ]
I'M DONNY VOMIT.
AND WE COLLECT SIDESHOW ODDITIES.
WELCOME TO OUR CURIOUS WORLD.
SO, THESE ARE PLASTER MOLDS OF OUR FRIEND'S HAND.
HE WAS BORN WITH ECTRODACTYLY.
PEOPLE WITH HANDS LIKE THIS
IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN KNOWN AS "LOBSTER BOYS" OR "SEAL BOYS."
THIS GENTLEMAN PREFERS TO BE KNOWN AS "THE BLACK SCORPION --
THE MAN WITH PINCHING CLAWS WHERE HANDS SHOULD BE."
HE'S A VERY ECCENTRIC PERFORMER.
[ GASPS ] NOW, THESE ARE REALLY CUTE.
THIS IS NIP AND PIP, THE TWO-HEADED WONDER.
IT'S A HAMSTER WITH TWO HEADS.
TWO-HEADED ANIMALS ARE VERY POPULAR IN THE SIDESHOW WORLD.
NIP AND PIP ACTUALLY WORKED A SEASON DOWN IN CONEY ISLAND.
TWO HEADS, ONE BODY, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
[ LAUGHS ]
I REALLY WANT TO SHOW YOU THESE PICTURES.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY REALLY NEAT BECAUSE ONCE A YEAR,
WE HAVE THIS GUY COME DOWN TO CONEY ISLAND,
AND HE TAKES THESE AWESOME PHOTOS.
HE DOES 30-SECOND EXPOSURES JUST TO CAPTURE US.
AND HE DEVELOPS THEM ON A WET PLATE.
ONE OF THE HARDEST POSES WAS THIS ONE RIGHT HERE,
WHERE I HAD TO KEEP A SWORD DOWN MY THROAT
UNTIL HE GOT THE EXPOSURE.
WE ARE BOTH SIDESHOW PERFORMERS.
WHEN WE PERFORM OUR ACTS,
A LOT OF THEM ARE DRAWN FROM TRADITIONAL SIDESHOW STUNTS --
KNIFE-THROWING, SWORD-SWALLOWING,
FIRE-EATING, STRAITJACKET-ESCAPE.
ALL THESE STUNTS ARE VERY TRADITIONAL STUNTS
THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION...
OF PERFORMERS.
THIS RIGHT HERE IS A REALLY GOOD SWALLOWING SIZE.
THIS IS ABOUT 30 INCHES.
AND YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO ANY LONGER THAN THAT
'CAUSE YOU MIGHT PUNCTURE SOMETHING PINK AND SQUISHY,
BLEED INTERNALLY, AND DIE.
[ INHALES SHARPLY ]
Donny: THIS IS VERY REAL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.
DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.
WE FIND IT VERY CUTE TO DROP IT RIGHT DOWN HER THROAT.
Heather: THIS TOOK ME ABOUT TWO YEARS TO LEARN.
IT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST DISGUSTING PROCESS OF MY LIFE.
TONS OF DRY HEAVING AND PUKING.
IT WAS PRETTY AWESOME. [ CHUCKLES ]
SOMETIMES, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH I'VE EATEN,
I CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THE SWORDS
POKING ON THE LINING OF MY STOMACH.
IT'S JUST AN AMAZING FEELING.
SO, THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHY I AM KNOWN AS "THE HUMAN BLOCKHEAD."
IT'S A TRADITIONAL SIDESHOW STUNT,
HAMMERING THE NAIL INTO THE SKULL.
THIS HERE IS A 60 PENNY NAIL, WHICH I CAN DRIVE RIGHT BACK...
[ INHALES DEEPLY ] ...IN LIKE SO.
NOW, YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS NAIL RIGHT HERE IS --
AND WE WANT TO GET THAT A LITTLE BIT DEEPER.
THERE WE GO. YEAH, THAT FEELS GOOD.
A LOT OF PEOPLE,
WHEN THEY SEE OR HEAR ABOUT SIDESHOW STUNTS --
THEY THINK THAT IT'S A TRICK OR AN ILLUSION.
THAT IS NOT TRUE,
BUT SOME PEOPLE JUST WILL NOT BELIEVE THEIR VERY OWN EYES.
THIS IS THE PROOF WE HAVE RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS AN X-RAY OF MY SKULL.
AND YOU CAN SEE IT RUNS ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF MY THROAT,
LESS THAN HALF AN INCH AWAY FROM MY SPINE.
IT IS REAL. IT IS DANGEROUS.
Heather: SO, THAT'S THE APARTMENT,
AND NOW WE HAVE TO GET READY
FOR A BIG SHOW WE HAVE COMING UP THIS WEEKEND.
A CURIOUS COUPLE WITH STRANGE OBSESSIONS
THAT ONLY THE STRONG CAN SURVIVE.
BUT WILL THEY?
IN THE MEANTIME, THIS BEGUILING LADY
HAS SOLVED THE ELUSIVE MYSTERY OF IMMORTALITY.
SHE IS CREATING ETERNAL LIFE OUT OF DEATH.
Rachel: HI. I'M RACHEL,
AND I LIKE TO COLLECT HUMAN AND ANIMAL REMAINS.
I WANTED TO COLLECT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE EASY TO ACQUIRE
AND THAT ALL OF MY FRIENDS COULD SORT OF PARTICIPATE IN,
SO I MAKE MINIATURE SCULPTURES AND JEWELRY
FROM BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS.
THIS IS MY LATEST THING I'M WORKING ON IS TRYING TO
FILL UP THIS JAR WITH HUMAN HAIR.
ALL OF THESE ARE FROM PEOPLE I KNOW -- MY FRIENDS, MY FAMILY --
AND IT'S A WAY TO GET OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED IN MY ARTWORK.
WHEN PEOPLE INITIALLY SEE MY WORK,
THEY ARE USUALLY REALLY SHOCKED AND A LITTLE GROSSED OUT.
I GUESS JUST THE FACT THAT SOMEONE WOULD KEEP THESE THINGS
THAT OTHER PEOPLE DISCARD EVERY DAY.
I FEEL LIKE I SUPPLY
A LOT OF THE CURIOSITIES FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S COLLECTIONS.
SO, THIS IS MY WORKSPACE.
IT'S NICE AND BIG, SO I CAN DO A LOT IN HERE.
OH!
LET'S SEE.
YEAH. THIS IS IMPRESSIVE.
THIS IS FROM A MAN IN CALIFORNIA WHO'S A SQUASH PLAYER.
AND SINCE HE STUBS HIS TOES A LOT,
HE SENT ME ABOUT A DOZEN FULL-TOENAIL CLIPPINGS.
AND NOW IT'S TIME
TO GET SOME FRESH SPECIMENS FOR MY LATEST CREATION.
MY FAVORITE THING IN HERE IS SO SHARP AND SO DEADLY.
Donny: WE START OFF OUR SHOW
[ DRILL WHIRS ]
[ Laughing ] AAH!
Edgar: ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY?
[ DOOR CREAKS ]
ONCE I PUT OUT THE WORD THAT I NEED SOMETHING,
LIKE WHEN I NEEDED FINGERNAILS OR IF I NEEDED BELLY LINT,
I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE SENDING ME THINGS IN THE MAIL.
THIS IS FROM MY COUSIN TAFFY.
SHE'S GOT SOME REALLY LONG, THICK FINGERNAILS,
AND WHENEVER I MAKE A BUG,
I USUALLY INCLUDE HER FINGERNAILS.
OH. SO SHE GOT ME FULLY STOCKED.
LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE.
THIS IS FROM MY FRIEND WILL.
PROBABLY FINGERNAILS.
YEAH. THOSE ARE MY FRIEND WILL'S FINGERNAILS.
EW. PRETTY RAUNCHY.
SOMEONE DIDN'T CLIP THEIR DOG'S CLAWS.
THEY'RE DIFFERENT COLORS, BUT THEY ARE BOTH REALLY CURLY,
AND IF THEY SORT OF STUCK ON THE FRONT OF A SKULL,
THAT WOULD BE COOL.
I GET PACKAGES LIKE THIS PRETTY CONSISTENTLY.
THEY'RE REALLY FUN TO GO THROUGH.
IT'S LIKE A HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY.
THIS IS A BEAR MADE OF BELLY-BUTTON LINT.
TO PUT THIS TOGETHER, I HAVE TO DO IT LITTLE PARTS AT A TIME.
LINT -- I DON'T KNOW.
IT COMES IN ALL DIFFERENT COLORS,
DEPENDING ON WHAT PEOPLE WEAR, AND DIFFERENT SIZES,
DEPENDING ON HOW BIG THEIR BELLY BUTTON IS.
MY BOYFRIEND, RHODES,
HAS THE MOST INCREDIBLE BELLY-BUTTON LINT
WITH THE MOST VIBRANT COLORS EVER.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT I DON'T EVER GET GROSSED OUT,
BUT IT IS REALLY GROSS.
[ LAUGHS ]
THE HEAD GOES ON FIRST.
WHILE THERE'S STILL A BEAD OF GLUE UNDER THE HEAD,
I USUALLY PUT HIS LITTLE MOUTH ON.
ONE OF THE LAST THINGS I DO ON A LINT BEAR --
WHICH IS MY FAVORITE PART -- IS GIVE IT A FACE.
THIS BEAR LOOKS LIKE HE'S SAYING HE'S AFRAID TO BE ON TELEVISION.
AND NEXT, I'M GOING TO MAKE A SCORPION
OUT OF TOENAILS AND FINGERNAILS.
FIRST, I LOOK UP A REFERENCE PHOTO.
I HAVE A REALLY GREAT BOOK OF OLD CURIOSITIES.
I ALWAYS START WITH A BASE NAIL
THAT IS GOING TO BE THE SHAPE OF THE SCORPION.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ALL FINGERNAILS ARE DIFFERENT.
AND I DO HAVE TO PILFER THROUGH LOTS AND LOTS OF THEM
TO FIND THE ONE THAT I REALLY WANT.
FOR THIS PROJECT,
I AM GOING TO USE MY BOYFRIEND'S FINGERNAILS
BECAUSE HIS NAILS ARE VERY UNIFIED.
THEY'RE ALL THE SAME.
I USE A NAIL FILE...AND GLUE.
TWEEZERS ARE ALSO REALLY HELPFUL
SINCE MY FINGERS CAN'T PICK UP AND MANEUVER SUCH LITTLE THINGS.
SO, HERE IS MY COMPLETED SCORPION SCULPTURE
MADE OUT OF FINGERNAIL AND TOENAIL CLIPPINGS.
THE NEXT STEP IS TO ENCASE IT IN RESIN.
IT'S GONNA LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
AND THE RESIN IS A LITTLE BIT TOXIC, SO...
YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
BYE.
DO IT.
[ GASPS ]
THERE'S SOMETHING I WANT TO SHOW YOU THAT'S QUITE INTERESTING.
IF YOU STABBED SOMEBODY WITH THEM,
IT REALLY WOULDN'T DO THAT MUCH DAMAGE.
[ DING! ]
Edgar: ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY?
[ DOOR CREAKS ]
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
LIES A SECRET WORLD OF THE PECULIAR AND THE BIZARRE.
NOW OUR CURIOUS COUPLE
WHO DARE TO LIVE LIFE... ON THE EDGE.
Donny: HEATHER AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A NEW SHOW
CALLED "THE CURIOUS COUPLE FROM CONEY."
IT'S STILL A DEVELOPING SHOW OF ALL THE STUFF WE'VE LEARNED
WHILE WE WERE WORKING IN CONEY ISLAND.
WE HAVE A BASIC FORMAT FOR IT,
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FINISH THE ACT.
NOW THERE'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SUCH A LONG TIME
AND JUST HAVEN'T HAD THE NERVE TO REALLY PUT IT IN A SHOW YET,
WHICH IS KNIFE-THROWING.
[ HEATHER SIGHS ]
I KNOW WE CAN DO THIS RIGHT HERE.
BUT I REALLY THINK...
WE SHOULD DO THE BALLOON...
IN MY MOUTH...
TONIGHT ONSTAGE.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
YEAH.
YOU'RE FREAKING ME OUT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
NOW YOU'RE REALLY FREAKING ME OUT.
ALL RIGHT.
Donny: I WANT TO TRY TO HAVE HEATHER...HIT A BALLOON
OUT OF MY MOUTH WITH A-A-A KNIFE.
THIS RIGHT HERE IS JUST GONNA BE PRACTICE.
I WANT YOU TO GO ALL THE WAY UP.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO IT OUT OF MY MOUTH.
I GUESS I CAN HOLD IT OVER HERE?
NO.
OKAY.
NO.
I DON'T REALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING
THAT I'M NOT 100% CONFIDENT THAT I CAN DO.
WHOA.
IT'LL BE FINE.
PREPARE TO VISIT THE DARKEST OF THE DARK,
A LAIR THAT CELEBRATES *** AND THE MACABRE,
THE DWELLING OF A MAN OBSESSED WITH THE ENDING OF LIFE.
Jimmy: I'M JIMMY CASTIN.
AND I LIKE TO COLLECT THINGS THAT ARE A LITTLE GLOOMY.
WELCOME TO MY WORLD.
I'VE COLLECTED SINCE I WAS A CHILD.
MY FIRST COLLECTION OF SOMETHING
WAS MY GRANDFATHER'S COLLECTION --
INDIAN ARROWHEADS.
SO SHARP AND SO BEAUTIFUL,
AND SO DEADLY.
I'VE GOT THIS BOX OF INSECTS,
AND PEOPLE DO COME IN HERE AND ARE JUST LIKE "EW"
WHEN THEY SEE THE INSECTS MOUNTED.
AND I GET IT. IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY.
EACH ONE IS LABELED IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CALLIGRAPHY.
I LIKE THIS.
NOW, I WOULD NOT LIKE THOSE INSECTS
IF THEY WERE CRAWLING AROUND IN HERE.
I LIKE THEM DEAD, MOUNTED ON PINS.
SO, THAT WAS THE LIBRARY. THIS IS THE LIVING ROOM.
I THINK THE THING I WANT TO SHOW YOU FIRST IN HERE...
IS OVER HERE.
IT LOOKS LIKE SOME SORT OF WONDERFUL PLANT,
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A WASPS' NEST.
AND IT PROBABLY HUNG UPSIDE DOWN FROM A TREE LIKE THAT.
I THINK THIS IS FAR MORE BEAUTIFUL
THAN A BUNCH OF DAISIES OR A BUNCH OF ROSES.
IT'S A WASPS' NEST.
THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE I WANT TO SHOW YOU
THAT'S QUITE INTERESTING.
BUT IF YOU STABBED SOMEBODY WITH THEM,
IT REALLY WOULDN'T DO THAT MUCH DAMAGE.
[ INSECT BUZZING ]
[ DING! ]
Edgar: ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY?
[ DOOR CREAKS ]
Jimmy: THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE I WANT TO SHOW YOU
THAT'S QUITE INTERESTING.
THESE ARE PRISON FORKS.
SO THAT IF YOU STAB SOMEONE WITH THEM,
WHEREVER YOU STAB THEM, IT'S NOT GONNA GO IN THAT FAR.
EACH FORK IS NUMBERED.
THEY COUNTED THE FORKS AT THE END OF EVERY MEAL.
IF FORK NUMBER 319 WAS MISSING, ALL HELL WOULD BREAK LOOSE.
JUST THE FACT THAT SOMETHING MADE FOR PRISON USE
WAS MADE SO BEAUTIFUL.
COOL THING.
HERE'S THE ROOM WHERE MY FAVORITE THING IS.
THIS IS THE BEDROOM.
MY FAVORITE THING IN HERE IS THE BED.
THERE IT IS.
WELL, THANKS FOR COMING. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE HAVING YOU.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE SHOWING YOU MY COLLECTION,
AND I'D LIKE TO JUST SHOW YOU
THIS ONE LAST PICTURE AS SORT OF AN AU REVOIR.
"TILL DEATH DO US PART."
AN EXTRAORDINARY PLEDGE,
A DEMAND FOR CUPID'S CURIOUS COUPLE
TO FORCE THE HAND OF FATE
IN A DANCE WITH DESTINY.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Donny: ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
BOYS AND GIRLS, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
MY NAME IS DONNY VOMIT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
AND, FRIENDS, TO MY LEFT, IS MY BEAUTIFUL
AND TALENTED PARTNER, HEATHER HOLLIDAY.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WAH!
HEY, HERE WE GO. HERE WE GO. HEY.
WE START OFF OUR SHOW WITH SOME SIDESHOW STANDARDS --
STUFF WE'VE BEEN PERFORMING FOR YEARS --
BITING...THE... APPLE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. HERE WE GO
OH. OH, YEAH.
WAIT. ONE MORE, ONE MORE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
...SWORD-SWALLOWING...
...AND EVEN PUTTING POWER DRILLS UP INTO MY NOSE.
[ DRILL WHIRS ]
[ Laughing ] YEAH!
THE AUDIENCE USUALLY GETS A THRILL OUT OF THAT ONE.
I'VE EVEN HAD A COUPLE PEOPLE FAINT IN THE PAST.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
SO, AT THE END OF THE SHOW IS OUR BIG KNIFE-THROWING FINALE.
THIS NEXT ONE IS A BRAND-NEW STUNT
THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PERFORMING AND DEBUTING FOR YOU
RIGHT BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES TONIGHT.
MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE DIED
ATTEMPTING WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE.
THIS ONE MIGHT NOT WORK. [ Laughing ] SO...
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ DRUMROLL ]
[ AUDIENCE GASPING ]
[ CYMBALS CRASH ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NAME IS DONNY VOMIT.
THIS IS HEATHER HOLLIDAY.
WE TRULY HOPE YOU ENJOYED OUR SHOW.
Donny: THE SHOW ENDED UP BETTER THAN EXPECTED.
I WAS VERY NERVOUS MAKING YOU DO THE BALLOON STUNT,
BUT IT WORKED OUT.
YOU DID IT, AND YOU DIDN'T KILL ME.
I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
[ FIRE CRACKLING ]
BEHIND THE SHUTTERED PANES,
DEEP INSIDE THE BOWELS OF COUNTLESS ABODES,
THE GRIM SPECTACLE
OF THE STRANGE AND THE PECULIAR AWAITS.
ARE YOU STILL SITTING COMFORTABLY?
[ LAUGHS ]