Secretary
An emotionally fragile woman recently released from a mental hospital for self mutilation goes to school to gain secretarial skills to gain employment. She has an alcoholic father and a co-dependent mother who are clueless as to who she really is which a tormented soul who really wants to find something with which she can find success. She is a great secretary and finds a job with a unique, old fashioned, but off center in charge boss with a somewhat sadistic sexual proclivity. She grows and evolves and so does he.
Despite its limited budget of $4.0M, Secretary became a commercial success, earning $9.3M worldwide—a 133% return.
15 wins & 26 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Secretary (2002) reveals strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Steven Shainberg's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 51 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.7, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Lee Holloway sits in her wedding dress at a desk, performing submissive acts for E. Edward Grey. Flash-forward establishing her transformed state before returning to her broken beginning.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Lee finds and applies for a job posting: "Secretary needed for small law office." This simple want ad becomes the catalyst that will transform her entire existence.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to After Lee makes a typo, Mr. Grey calls her into his office and spanks her over his desk. Rather than quitting or being traumatized, Lee accepts this punishment - her active choice to enter a new world of BDSM relationship dynamics., moving from reaction to action.
At 54 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat After an intense encounter, Mr. Grey tells Lee "We can't do this anymore" and fires her. False victory: Lee has found herself, but apparent defeat: she's lost the relationship that awakened her. Stakes raised - can she have both self-acceptance AND love?., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 81 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Lee walks out on her own wedding to Peter, destroying her chance at conventional happiness. She goes to Grey's office and confesses her love, but he rejects her again, calling her disturbed. Her darkest moment: neither world wants her., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 89 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Grey returns after days, realizes Lee's complete devotion and self-knowledge, and accepts his own needs. He tenderly carries her to the bathroom, bathes her, and proposes marriage. Both finally integrate their true selves with genuine love., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Secretary's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Secretary against these established plot points, we can identify how Steven Shainberg utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Secretary within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Lee Holloway sits in her wedding dress at a desk, performing submissive acts for E. Edward Grey. Flash-forward establishing her transformed state before returning to her broken beginning.
Theme
Lee's mother says "You're not secretary material" - establishing the theme of self-worth, identity, and finding where you truly belong despite others' expectations.
Worldbuilding
Lee returns home from psychiatric hospitalization for self-harm. We see her dysfunctional family, her struggles with self-injury, her timidity, and her enrollment in secretarial school. She lives a small, controlled life of damage and shame.
Disruption
Lee finds and applies for a job posting: "Secretary needed for small law office." This simple want ad becomes the catalyst that will transform her entire existence.
Resistance
Lee interviews with the intimidating Mr. Grey, who hires her despite her inexperience. She begins working, navigating his exacting demands and strange behavior. She starts dating Peter, a safe conventional choice, while being drawn to Grey's intensity.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
After Lee makes a typo, Mr. Grey calls her into his office and spanks her over his desk. Rather than quitting or being traumatized, Lee accepts this punishment - her active choice to enter a new world of BDSM relationship dynamics.
Mirror World
Lee and Mr. Grey's dominant/submissive dynamic deepens. This relationship becomes the mirror that will teach Lee about power, control, self-acceptance, and genuine intimacy versus shame.
Premise
The promise of the premise: exploring the BDSM relationship. Lee stops self-harming, finding healthier outlets for her needs. She becomes more confident and capable. Grey gives her increasingly intimate tasks and punishments. Their relationship intensifies though he maintains emotional distance.
Midpoint
After an intense encounter, Mr. Grey tells Lee "We can't do this anymore" and fires her. False victory: Lee has found herself, but apparent defeat: she's lost the relationship that awakened her. Stakes raised - can she have both self-acceptance AND love?
Opposition
Lee tries to return to "normal" life. She agrees to marry Peter, attempting to conform to conventional expectations. But she's changed - she can't go back. Meanwhile Grey struggles with his own shame about his desires. Both suffer from their separation.
Collapse
Lee walks out on her own wedding to Peter, destroying her chance at conventional happiness. She goes to Grey's office and confesses her love, but he rejects her again, calling her disturbed. Her darkest moment: neither world wants her.
Crisis
Grey orders Lee not to move from his desk until he returns. Lee accepts this ultimate act of submission - sitting motionless for days while media, family, and Peter try to intervene. She endures, finally certain of who she is and what she wants.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Grey returns after days, realizes Lee's complete devotion and self-knowledge, and accepts his own needs. He tenderly carries her to the bathroom, bathes her, and proposes marriage. Both finally integrate their true selves with genuine love.
Synthesis
Lee and Grey marry and build a life together that honors both conventional marriage and their BDSM dynamic. They create their own version of partnership, refusing to hide or feel shame about their authentic selves.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening: Lee at the desk in her wedding dress. But now we understand - she's not broken or ashamed, but fulfilled and loved. She tends her garden with quiet joy, fully herself, the "secretary material" she was always meant to be.