Frankie De Rossi's family used to own and work in one of the most prestigious circuses on the American Eastern Seaboard, but it all vanished in the blink of an eye due to a sudden act of violence.

Thirty-six years later, Frankie lives in New York City in a Federal halfway-house with drug addicts, rapist, and murders.

After more than three decades locked in a Federal prison, he tries to transition back into the real world, struggling to make a living working as a clown at children's parties – hanging on to the only profession he's ever known.

Frankie hardly gets a chuckle from the kids, but the parents laugh – and for all the wrong reasons.

On the anniversary of the worst day of Frankie's life, on a day that was the catalyst for the death of his whole family, life conspires against him, and once again he does something unimaginable.

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"Violence is a disease, a disease that corrupts all who use it regardless of the cause."

– Chris Hedges