Ivan Timeline and Summary

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Ivan Timeline and Summary

  • Ivan lives at the Big Top Mall in a solitary cell he calls his domain; he was born in the wild, but doesn't remember much about his early life.
  • Ivan is inspired as an artist by Julia, who gave him his first crayons.
  • Stella encourages Ivan to uncover more of his memories from his early life.
  • Ivan notices that business is beginning to slow down at the Big Top Mall; Mack gives Ivan crayons to draw with and tells him to "earn his keep."
  • Stella's infected leg has Ivan very worried.
  • A new animal is coming to the Big Top Mall and Ivan can smell change in the air.
  • Ruby brings up strong feelings in Stella, and Ivan must console her when she laments the thought of another baby animal separated from her family the way she and Ivan were.
  • With a cute new animal attraction, Ivan starts to feel old and unimportant.
  • Ruby and Ivan get to know each other and Ruby questions Ivan about everything; Ivan notices how happy Ruby and Stella are together, like a mother and daughter.
  • When an image of a baby elephant is added to the sign in the parking lot, Ivan begins to feel like old news.
  • Ruby tells Ivan about an accident she had as a baby, and how a group of humans saved her.
  • Stella can't walk well now, or do the shows, and all the animals are worried.
  • As she dies, Stella asks Ivan to protect Ruby and get her out of the Big Top Mall.
  • Ivan doesn't know how to comfort Ruby and doesn't want to lie and say Stella had a good life.
  • Bob gives Ivan a pep talk, reminding him of his powerful nature.
  • To comfort Ruby and help get her mind off of Stella, Ivan tells Ruby the story of his childhood, including his time in the wild and being treated like a pet by Mack for a while, until his wife didn't want a gorilla in the house anymore and Ivan was put in a cage.
  • Ivan isn't happy that Mack is now using a claw stick to train Ruby.
  • When Ruby confronts Ivan about "saving" her and asks Ivan if she will spend her life here, Ivan tells her he wants to get her out of here and to a zoo.
  • Ivan hatches a plan to get Ruby transported to a zoo: He will paint a sign that draws attention to Ruby, and get Julia to recognize what he's done.
  • Julia solves the puzzle and she and her dad post Ivan's message outside the mall.
  • Hundreds of visitors come through and soon protestors fill the parking lot with signs calling for Ivan and Ruby to be freed
  • Both Ivan and Ruby are relocated to a zoo.
  • Since Ivan has lived with humans for most of his life, he must be slowly and carefully introduced to the troop of gorillas he will spend the rest of his days with.
  • Ivan climbs a tree and is happy to discover Ruby living among the elephants at the zoo.