At the close of the first decade of the 2000s, Lawrence Jordan wove together a vast river of image and sound from unused film material piled-up in his studio since 1952. In essence, this is his visual autobiography, including clips from strange and unusual appropriated footage, outtakes from many of his films as well as material from uncompleted projects.

In this third chapter of CIRCUS SAVAGE, comprising reels seven through nine, we return repeatedly to title-cards from the collaborative Jordan / Jess FINDS OF THE FORTNIGHT (1960 / 1980) yet alternated with completely different footage, wherein the viewer is informed that they are about to encounter a curious tale of THE CRAB AND THE LADY (and, shortly thereafter, a DANCE OF THE CRUSTACEANS). Assorted animation leftovers surface, interrupted by a plausible digression to THE PORTAL OF A WOMAN IN LOVE WITH HERSELF (listed as the fourth in a series, skipping number three). An ersatz fashion-show transpires as clothing is pulled from a garment chest, interspersed with one of the loveliest images from the entirety of the CIRCUS of the filmmaker in silhouette, then along to the fifth diversion, DEATH OF A BUILDING. There is a building, briefly, followed in quick succession by A TRADITIONAL TALE and SANCTUM OF THE DEPARTURE (six and seven, respectively). This breaks into a collage of additional animated excerpts, the observed web-making of a lone spider and footage of Jordan relaxing in his garden—as photographed by an unattributed collaborator (potentially Joanna McClure, briefly seen moments later)—and then at play elsewhere, concluding with a journey into the wilderness.