Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) has a few strikes against her when she applies for a secretarial position at the law office of E. Edward Grey (James Spader). At first the work seems quite normal but soon in between typing, filing and coffee making, Lee and Mr. Grey embark on a more personal relationship together, crossing the lines of conduct that would give any human resource director the vapors!

Lee's (MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL) secretarial position at the law office of E. Edward Grey (JAMES SPADER) seems quite normal - but soon, in between typing, filing and making coffee, Lee and Mr. Grey embark on a personal relationship crossing lines of conduct...

Lee's (MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL) secretarial position at the law office of E. Edward Grey (JAMES SPADER) seems quite normal - but soon, in between typing, filing and making coffee, Lee and Mr. Grey embark on a personal relationship crossing lines of conduct...

A young woman, recently released from a mental hospital, gets a job as a secretary to a demanding lawyer, where their employer-employee relationship turns into a sexual, sadomasochistic one.

Sadomasochism provides the backdrop for a very unusual employer/employee relationship in this very offbeat romantic drama from filmmaker Steven Shainberg. Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a shy young woman, who, after a brief spell in a mental institution, is released in the care of her overprotective mother (Lesley Ann Warren) and hard-drinking father (Stephen McHattie). Hoping to make good on her own, Lee begins looking for a job, and in her free time indulges in her odd habit of inflicting pain upon herself in various ways. Lee is hired as a secretary by E. Edward Grey (James Spader), a grim and ruthlessly efficient attorney who warns her that her work will be both dull and demanding. Lee takes to the job with genuine enthusiasm, and while she's recently acquired a new boyfriend, Peter (Jeremy Davies), she's far more intrigued by Grey's coldly patrician demeanor. While Grey often criticizes Lee, she seems to thrive on his abuse, but one day he crosses a line when he insists upon spanking her after some

After being released from a mental hospital, Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) lands her first job ever as the secretary for successful lawyer E. Edward Grey (James Spader). He s an egomaniacal perfectionist who gets angry when things aren t done right. She is a self-hater who goes back to self-mutilating herself after spending time with her dysfunctional family. One day, when Lee turns in a typo-ridden letter, the boss punishes her with a real spanking and the two discover they just might be perfect for each other. -

After being released from a mental hospital, Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) lands her first job ever as the secretary for successful lawyer E. Edward Grey (James Spader). He s an egomaniacal perfectionist who gets angry when things aren t done right. She is a self-hater who goes back to self-mutilating herself after spending time with her dysfunctional family. One day, when Lee turns in a typo-ridden letter, the boss punishes her with a real spanking and the two discover they just might be perfect for each other. -