Let go from his job, unmarried and with little money in his pocket, Harold Diddlebock (Harold Lloyd) needs a life makeover. He receives one thanks to a powerful drink served by a bartender, which knocks him out. He awakens to discover that, in his drunken stupor, he's purchased a struggling circus. He and his pal (Jimmy Conlin) try to unload it on some local fat cats, but Jackie the lion, one of the circus attractions who tags along, creates as much hysteria as interest among potential buyers.