Ninety-year-old Jacob Jankowski finds himself haunted by memories of his life in the circus during the Great Depression, recalling the bond he developed with Rosie, the show's troubled elephant, and Marlena, the star of the equestrian act and the unfortunate love of the circus boss.

A young, handsome man with a Harvard education and success on Wall Street has terrible urges that take him in pursuit of women, greed, and murder.

Private eye Doc Sportello's ex-old lady shows up with a story about her current billionaire land developer boyfriend whom she just happens to be in love with, and a plot by his wife and her boyfriend to kidnap that billionaire and throw him in a loony bin.