Roustabout

Charlie Rogers delivers successful performances at a busy California restaurant, earning steady applause from patrons. His singing rouses a cheering group of female students, which provokes jealousy in their male companions. The lively crowds hint at the trouble simmering beneath his rising fame.

After the show, angry students ambush Charlie in the parking lot, sparking a brawl. The melee ends with Charlie being fired and arrested. The incident marks a sharp turn from fame to trouble.

Charlie spends a night in jail and, seeking a fresh start, decides to hit the road on his Honda 305 Superhawk. The confinement weighs on him as he contemplates his uncertain future. He chooses mobility over the life he just left behind.

On the road, Charlie spots Cathy Lean in a car driven by her father Joe, accompanied by their employer Maggie Morgan. The chance encounter draws him toward their circle as he searches for a new path. Joe's wary presence foreshadows ongoing conflict.

Joe drives Charlie's bike off the road, sending him crashing into a wooden fence and wrecking the bike. The accident leaves Charlie shaken and stranded. Maggie offers him a place to stay and a job with her traveling carnival, changing his direction entirely.

Charlie starts as a roustabout in Maggie's carnival, working behind the scenes while his talent waits for a chance. Maggie soon recognizes his musical gifts and promotes him to the carnival's featured attraction. His presence begins to draw larger crowds and renews the show's energy.

Charlie's performances attract big crowds as he tours with the carnival. He also begins a romance with Cathy, which brings him into repeated conflict with her father Joe. The love affair adds personal strain to their professional life.

A patron loses his wallet and accuses Joe of stealing. Charlie finds the wallet but is later accused of withholding it from the customer in Joe's defense. The incident muddies loyalties and deepens the town's suspicions.

Harry Carver entices Charlie away to star in his much more successful show. The lure tests his loyalty to Maggie and Cathy. Charlie's departure marks a new chapter in his career.

Despite his success elsewhere, Charlie returns when Maggie's carnival faces bankruptcy. His return helps rebuild the audience and revive the struggling show. The decision is driven as much by love for Cathy as by loyalty to Maggie.

Joe makes another attempt on Charlie's life, and Charlie defends himself in the ensuing fight. Maggie witnesses the confrontation and urges Charlie to tell the real reason he came back. The confrontation exposes unresolved tensions in the family.

Charlie finally reveals that he came back to save the carnival and because he loves Cathy. The truth clarifies his sacrifices and shows the depth of his commitment. Maggie's perspective shifts as the truth comes to light.

In the musical finale, Charlie and Cathy are happily reunited and the carnival crowds celebrate. The performance marks a triumphant end to the turmoil that preceded it. Maggie's carnival endures thanks to their renewed loyalty and love.