The Associate
Laurel Ayres is a businesswoman trying to make it but unfortunately she works at a investment firm where she does all the work but all the senior investors like Frank Peterson grab all the credit. She then leaves and starts her own firm. While trying to find clients Laurel pretends that she has a male partner named Robert Cutty. And when she starts to do well all of her clients wants to meet Cutty which is difficult since he doesn't exist.
The film disappointed at the box office against its respectable budget of $23.0M, earning $12.8M globally (-44% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unique voice within the comedy genre.
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%)
The Associate (1996) exhibits precise plot construction, characteristic of Donald Petrie's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 54 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Laurel Ayres
Frank Peterson
Sally Dugan
Camille Scott
Walter Manchester
Fallon
Main Cast & Characters
Laurel Ayres
Played by Whoopi Goldberg
A talented financial analyst who creates a fictitious male business partner to succeed in a male-dominated industry.
Frank Peterson
Played by Dianne Wiest
Laurel's chauvinistic colleague who takes credit for her work and becomes her business rival.
Sally Dugan
Played by Eli Wallach
Laurel's best friend and loyal assistant who helps maintain the Robert Cutty charade.
Camille Scott
Played by Tim Daly
A romantic interest who becomes involved with Laurel while trying to meet the mysterious Robert Cutty.
Walter Manchester
Played by Bebe Neuwirth
A potential major client who insists on meeting with Robert Cutty personally.
Fallon
Played by Austin Pendleton
Laurel's former boss who passes her over for partnership despite her contributions.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Laurel Ayres is a brilliant financial analyst working at a prestigious Wall Street investment firm, proving her expertise by landing major deals but receiving no recognition from her male colleagues.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Laurel is passed over for partnership despite bringing in major clients. Frank, her less competent male colleague, is made partner instead, and he fires her when she protests.. At 11% 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Laurel makes the bold decision to invent a fictional male business partner named Robert Cutty. She creates an elaborate backstory for this mysterious, reclusive genius to attract clients., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False victory: Laurel's firm becomes wildly successful, attracting major clients and media attention. Robert Cutty is hailed as a financial genius, but the demands for him to appear publicly intensify., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 85 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Laurel's deception is exposed at a major public event when her disguise fails. Her credibility is destroyed, clients abandon her, and she faces potential legal consequences and public humiliation., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 91 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Laurel realizes that the work was always hers and decides to fight back by exposing the systemic sexism that forced her deception. She finds evidence of her original firm's unethical practices., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Associate's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping The Associate against these established plot points, we can identify how Donald Petrie utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Associate within the comedy genre.
Donald Petrie's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Donald Petrie films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Associate represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Donald Petrie filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Donald Petrie analyses, see Miss Congeniality, My Life in Ruins and Ri¢hie Ri¢h.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Laurel Ayres is a brilliant financial analyst working at a prestigious Wall Street investment firm, proving her expertise by landing major deals but receiving no recognition from her male colleagues.
Theme
A colleague remarks that "it's not what you know, it's who you are" in the finance world, establishing the theme of identity and perception versus merit in business.
Worldbuilding
Laurel navigates the sexist environment of her firm, consistently doing brilliant work that her partner Frank takes credit for. She pitches a major deal successfully but is excluded from the credit and partnership opportunities.
Disruption
Laurel is passed over for partnership despite bringing in major clients. Frank, her less competent male colleague, is made partner instead, and he fires her when she protests.
Resistance
Laurel attempts to start her own financial consulting firm but cannot attract clients as a woman. She debates various solutions and struggles with the reality that her expertise isn't enough without the "right" identity.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Laurel makes the bold decision to invent a fictional male business partner named Robert Cutty. She creates an elaborate backstory for this mysterious, reclusive genius to attract clients.
Mirror World
Laurel meets Sally, a makeup artist and bartender who becomes her ally and helps her create the physical disguise of Robert Cutty. Sally represents authenticity and self-acceptance.
Premise
The fun of the premise: Laurel's firm thrives as clients clamor to work with the mysterious Robert Cutty. She occasionally appears in disguise as the elderly white male Cutty, while doing all the real work as herself behind the scenes.
Midpoint
False victory: Laurel's firm becomes wildly successful, attracting major clients and media attention. Robert Cutty is hailed as a financial genius, but the demands for him to appear publicly intensify.
Opposition
The pressure mounts as clients, media, and potential investors demand to meet Robert Cutty in person. Laurel must perform more elaborate disguises while her personal life suffers. Her former firm becomes suspicious and investigates.
Collapse
Laurel's deception is exposed at a major public event when her disguise fails. Her credibility is destroyed, clients abandon her, and she faces potential legal consequences and public humiliation.
Crisis
Laurel confronts the dark truth that she felt she had to hide behind a male identity to succeed. She grapples with whether to give up or find a way to reclaim her authentic self and prove her worth.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Laurel realizes that the work was always hers and decides to fight back by exposing the systemic sexism that forced her deception. She finds evidence of her original firm's unethical practices.
Synthesis
Laurel publicly reveals the truth about Robert Cutty while simultaneously exposing her former firm's corruption. She reclaims her identity and demonstrates that her expertise was real all along, winning back clients on her own merit.
Transformation
Laurel runs her firm under her own name with confidence, respected for her true abilities. The closing image shows her as a successful businesswoman who no longer needs to hide behind a false identity.