Carnival Magic

Stoney hires Markov the Magnificent to boost the carnival's fortunes. An early confrontation erupts when Markov hypnotizes Kirk's dog into not barking at him. Friction grows as Kirk demands Markov be fired, and Stoney gives him one week to leave.

Ellen 'Bud' Martin discovers Alex's intelligence and urges Markov to show him off. Markov agrees and presents Alex to Stoney, who is astonished by what Alex can do—brush teeth, comb fur, sweep floors, and pour drinks. This public reveal marks a turning point for the carnival's appeal.

Markov stages a show with Alex, introducing him as 'Alexander the Great.' The audience witnesses Alex speak and perform tricks that seem genuinely intelligent. Dr. Poole watches from the back, his curiosity edging toward something more sinister as the act ends.

The carnival's crowds swell in response to Alex's presence. Markov confides in Kim that his wife died and Alex is all he has left, revealing a vulnerable motive behind his devotion to the chimp. The emotional honesty deepens the bond between Markov and the troupe behind Alex.

Alex secretly commandeers a car with a girl inside and goes on a joyride. A police car pursues them, culminating in a ditch collision before the car is finally pulled over. The stunt underscores the growing chaos surrounding the sensational act.

Dr. Poole visits Markov and asks to study Alex for two weeks, suspecting he is a missing link. Markov refuses the proposal, insisting that Alex's life and autonomy are his responsibility. The tension highlights the ethical line between spectacle and science.

During another show, Markov demonstrates a telepathic connection with Alex, communicating across minds in real time. The display strengthens their bond and proves Alex's extraordinary comprehension. Poole's interest sharpens as the act unfolds.

In a separate demonstration, Markov hypnotizes a man named Clarence into believing his name is Gus and that he can bend steel. Clarence succeeds in bending a steel bar while hypnotized, a feat unobtainable without the trance. The moment further cements Markov's command over his performers.

Bud asks to be called Ellen to sound more grown-up, and Stoney confides his fears that she may drift away as she grows. Ellen and David announce they are engaged and will marry, presenting a personal milestone amid the carnival whirlwind. The news adds a human layer to the central conflict.

Kirk is attacked by one of his tigers, threatening a catastrophe behind the scenes. Markov uses hypnotic influence to stop the tiger and defuse the crisis, demonstrating control when the stakes are highest. The moment reinforces both Markov's power and the fragility of safety in the carnival world.

Kirk kidnaps Alex and delivers him to Dr. Poole's Anthropological Institute, where Poole plots to vivisect him for study. The carnival workers race to intervene, understanding the danger that now surrounds Alex. Tension climbs as the ethical cost of 'progress' becomes brutally apparent.

Poole moves toward vivisection, prompting Alex to steal a key and break free. He battles Institute staff using improvised objects and throws items to fend them off. Chaos erupts as the facility's darker intentions collide with Alex's will to survive.

Kim calls Stoney to report the situation; Markov leads the carnival crew to the Institute to rescue Alex. They confront Poole in a chaotic showdown, united by loyalty and a desperate desire to save Alex from harm. The climactic moment pits family, friends, and science against each other.

Alex drinks poison to avoid vivisection and dies; Stoney punches Poole during the ensuing struggle. Alex is rushed to the hospital, where he flatlines, and Markov is overwhelmed with grief. In a dramatic turn, Alex returns to life, suggesting an extraordinary bond between his keeper and his companion.

Back at the carnival, a final show features Alex performing with Markov while David and Ellen watch, signaling a renewed family and a reconciled partnership. The crowd cheers the resurrected act, reframing the story as a bittersweet triumph rather than mere spectacle. The film closes on a note of enduring friendship between man and chimp.