Down on his luck, loner, loser, Bill Roberts tries his hand at robbing the fireworks stand across the road from his house.

Things don't go well, and he barely escapes with his life into an East Texas swamp.

A day later, his head swollen with insect bites, he stumbles into a low rent traveling freak show carnival.

His appearance allows him to fit in, and seeing no other way to escape his predicament, he joins the group and travels with them putting on shows.

As Bill gets closer to Gidget, he soon realizes she has plans of her own, and remaining the wife of a sideshow freak is not one of them.