A magician in a carnival--who actually can read minds and levitate people and objects--works with a superintelligent chimp named Alex, who can also talk. The magician and the chimp soon become the stars of the carnival, drawing in big crowds. However, the wild-animal trainer, who has been displaced by the team as the carnival's top act, decides to kidnap Alex and sell him to a medical laboratory for experimentation, thereby getting rid of his competition.

Cory Grant must handle a great deal of responsibility and pressure for a boy his age. After his morning paper route, he cooks breakfast for his father, John, who is blind and ill. They talk of Cory's chances as quarterback for the Chase College football team.