The Ending In The Novel Is Different From The Movie

But it's right there in the movie just the same; it's just that the movie keeps on going beyond the novel's ending and goes for a more upbeat ending.

This is how the novel ends:

McGraw - Final Carnival Owner: Wait. I just happened to think of something. I might have a job you can take a crack at. Course it isn't much and I'm not begging you to take it, but it's a job.

Stanton Carlisle: That's all I want.

McGraw - Final Carnival Owner: And we'll keep you in coffee and cake. Bottle every day, place to sleep it off in. What do you say? Anyway, it's only temporary, just until we can get a real geek.