Zoo in Budapest

Flamboyant Zani grows up at the Budapest zoo and forms a deep bond with its animals. His kindness toward them earns him gentle scoldings from his boss, who feels he’s too soft. He is shaped by memories of his father, a great caretaker, and these memories fuel his compassionate approach to the zoo’s creatures.

Eve is a young, beautiful orphan who must escape a strict orphan school to avoid being bound to indentured labor. At eighteen, she faces what could be her last chance to strike out on her own. The prospect of escape becomes tangible when she overhears chances whispered by other girls near the zoo.

Dr. Grunbaum tends to a sick monkey while a fur theft complaint disrupts the otherwise routine day at the zoo. Zani is summoned to the doctor's office, where he confesses to stealing fur. The doctor tries to discipline him but cannot punish him fully, as the situation doesn’t warrant it at that moment.

The orphan girls drift through the zoo, whispering about Zani and catching Eve’s attention. Zani’s whistle draws the group closer, and the girls discuss the possibility of escaping. The group moves past the ostriches, setting the stage for a potential breakthrough.

The girls whisper to Eve that now might be her chance to flee. She initially misses her window, but a second chance arises thanks to the others’ signals. Clad in makeshift clothes, she slips away into the bushes, beginning a new life on the run.

Hearing that a couple intends to buy a fox fur for a muff, Zani is filled with anger and steals the fur himself. The couple reports the theft, and the authorities quickly grow suspicious of Zani. This fur incident marks a new escalation in the zoo’s troubles.

Paul, a young boy under a harsh governess, escapes on a bus and vanishes from sight. The orphanage’s head counts him missing, sending officers to scour the area. Paul eventually returns to the zoo by a back route, intensifying the pursuit around the grounds.

Even as the situation tightens around him, Zani volunteers to help locate Eve. He tracks her to the bushes, but tells the pursuing officer that no one is there and withdraws. His choice to help reveals the depth of his bond with Eve.

Dr. Grunbaum, convinced of Zani’s guilt, decides there is no choice but to arrest him. The zoo’s mood shifts as officers gather and the situation grows tense. Zani faces the prospect of detention, even as the search for Eve and Paul continues around him.

Zani evades capture to stay by Eve’s side as they decide their future together. They share a moment of closeness, and a kiss seals their commitment to run away. They head toward safety with the belief that they can outrun the pursuing authorities.

In a bold turn, Zani rushes into the hospital to aid the zoo’s ailing animal, bringing in Maria the other monkey to help. Dr. Grunbaum momentarily forgets Zani’s arrest in the crisis, recognizing his resourcefulness and care. The animals’ welfare becomes a turning point amid the human pursuit.

Paul’s father, Mr. Vandor, arranges for Eve to be under his protection for five years, and it is announced that she will marry Zani tomorrow. The two will live on Zani’s estate and continue caring for their animal companions. The final image shows Eve and Zani riding a horse, home at last.