Ivan is a shy outcast who dislikes being around people. When a circus comes to town he is outraged by the behavior of the patrons during and after the show. He decides to join the circus in order to kill its star attraction, an elephant named Spartacus, so that the circus won't be able to continue causing such horrible behavior in other towns. Ivan finds himself being drawn deeper into circus life, and becomes obsessed with making Spartacus's death the biggest spectacle ever seen.