A magician named Corky struggles to find his footing on stage and faces harsh criticism from his mentor, Merlin. He discovers that to truly engage with his audience, he needs a unique hook. By incorporating ventriloquism into his act with a dummy named [Fats], he experiences an unexpected surge in his career.
As Corky rises to fame, performing in grand theaters and making appearances on talk shows, his manager, Ben Greene, presents him with a lucrative television opportunity. However, this comes with the unsettling requirement of a medical examination. Corky staunchly refuses, viewing it as a matter of principle, but his anxiety escalates to a hysterical point, forcing him to retreat to his old hometown to reassess his life choices.
At a serene lakeside resort owned by his former high school sweetheart, Peg, Corky attempts to revive their past romance, even though she is married to the controlling Duke. The tension mounts as Corky's connection with Fats transforms from playful banter to a darker split personality dynamic. What once brought joy now spirals into self-destructive torment.
Desperate for help, Corky’s manager tracks him down at the resort and witnesses Corky’s unraveling psyche. He calls out Corky, challenging him to silence Fats for just five minutes. The chilling reality of Corky's mental state reveals itself as he admits, >“I’m not going to make it...”
As the plot thickens, Fats convinces Corky that to safeguard their secret, Ben must die. In a horrific turn, Corky takes Ben's life and disposes of his body in the lake. The situation becomes even more convoluted when Duke suspects foul play after discovering Ben's car, leading to Duke's own demise.
Corky and Peg's chance for happiness hangs in the balance as Peg expresses her willingness to run away with Corky, but hesitantly insists on being honest with Duke first. In a twisted climax, as Corky grapples with Fats's malevolent influence, he is driven to contemplate the unthinkable.
Ultimately, in a heartbreaking conclusion, as Corky goes to execute a tragic plan at Fats’s insistence, he instead turns the blade on himself, choosing love over violence. He collapses beside Fats in a poignant juxtaposition of fate. Just as Peg approaches, ready to escape with him, she finds only silence in response to her calls, leaving a haunting air of unresolved love and loss.
