Jeanne Tantois, portrayed by Maria Petrano, is a shy and reserved young woman who possesses a deep, lifelong fascination with the mechanics of amusement-park rides. This passion manifests in her private life, where she spends her time building intricate miniature mechanical attractions within the confines of her bedroom. Because of her singular focus and eccentric interests, she often finds it difficult to relate to other people or fit into social norms. She shares a home with her mother, Margarette, who is the complete opposite of her daughter. Margarette is an outgoing and uninhibited woman whose open approach to romantic relationships frequently serves as a source of embarrassment for the timid Jeanne.
Seeking a way to connect with her passion, Jeanne secures a job working the night shift at a local amusement park. The park has recently installed a new attraction called "Move It," which immediately captures Jeanne's attention. While her manager, Marc, played by Thomas Carr, finds himself attracted to her and attempts to pursue a romantic relationship, Jeanne finds herself increasingly preoccupied with the machine. In her mind, she creates a deeper bond with the ride, privately renaming the attraction Jumbo.
As she spends her nights cleaning and maintaining Jumbo after the park has closed to the public, Jeanne begins to perceive a form of consciousness within the machine. She starts to interpret the rhythmic lights, the mechanical sounds, and the subtle movements of the ride as direct responses to her own presence. Over time, she develops a complex system of communication with the attraction, eventually becoming convinced that Jumbo reciprocates her romantic feelings. Their interactions grow increasingly intimate, eventually culminating in a surreal, dreamlike sexual experience where Jeanne imagines herself completely enveloped by the machinery and drenched in black oil.
Parallel to this development, Margarette begins her own relationship with a man named Hubert, who is a visitor from outside the area. When Jeanne eventually confesses to her mother that she has fallen in love, Margarette is initially delighted, mistakenly assuming that her daughter is referring to the advances of Thomas Carr. However, upon the shocking discovery that Jeanne's heart belongs to a mechanical amusement-park ride, Margarette reacts with a mixture of disbelief and open hostility. Despite her mother's rejection, Jeanne remains steadfast, insisting that her emotional connection to the machine is genuine.
The tension reaches a breaking point when Margarette completely rejects the relationship between Jeanne and Jumbo, ultimately throwing her daughter out of the house. In her state of distress and isolation, Jeanne returns to the park and shares a sexual encounter with Marc, yet her emotional attachment to the ride remains unshaken. The conflict peaks during the park's end-of-season celebration. During the event, Marc honors Jeanne by naming her Employee of the Year, but he follows this praise with a devastating announcement: "Move It" is to be removed from the park because it failed to attract a sufficient number of visitors. Overwhelmed by grief and rage, Jeanne attacks Marc onstage.
In the aftermath, Hubert steps in to criticize both Marc and Margarette for their lack of empathy and their harsh treatment of Jeanne. This intervention leads Margarette to eventually reconcile with her daughter, choosing to accept her unconventional relationship. Before Jumbo is permanently removed from the premises, Jeanne organizes a formal wedding ceremony beneath the ride, a poignant event attended by both Margarette and Hubert.
