A ironworker, Ivan, is approached by a man who lives across the street from him, Peters, who asks him to make him a torture device. Peters shows Ivan a picture of a Scold’s Bridle from a book he owns, the device meant to resemble a donkey’s head and placed around the wearer's head to dig into their mouth. Peters says, however, that he wants rabbit ears instead of donkey ears. Peters informs Ivan that it is for teaching purposes as he is a history teacher. Ivan refuses, but then Peters offers him a large sum of money which Ivan needs as his business is slowly failing. He makes the device quickly and gives it to Peters, though afterwards he is overcome by guilt of having school children see the terrible device he has made. Ivan decides to go to Peters’ house and settle his mind to make sure his device is not being used for negative purposes. Peters welcomes Ivan in, who sees Peters’ wife in the kitchen donning the terrible contraption. Ivan tries to hold himself together, but upon seeing the pleading eyes and blood coming from the mask he escapes the house and Peters calls out to him that Ivan is culpable. Ivan gets to his house and is about to call the police when he realizes that he may be held responsible if they find Peters’ wife. He is lost in panic when a mother, Allison, approaches Ivan’s garage and asks him to make her a spiked-ball gag for her infant son who won’t stop crying.