The Assistant

Before dawn breaks, Jane arrives at the bustling New York City film production company where she will spend her day as a junior assistant. Eager yet apprehensive, she begins her early morning routine, diving into a series of monotonous administrative tasks that are vital to the functioning of the office.

Jane engages in various repetitive tasks that define her role, including turning on the lights and preparing coffee. Each small job, from printing presentations to cleaning stains from her boss's couch, adds to the tension of her work environment, highlighting the overwhelming demands placed on her.

During a phone call with her mother, Jane is reminded that she forgot to call her father on his birthday. This realization strikes a chord with her, adding guilt to the already heavy atmosphere of stress and responsibility she feels at work throughout the day.

As the day progresses, Jane observes her boss engaging in inappropriate behavior and making sexual advances towards younger women in the office. The uncomfortable lewd comments from male executives exacerbate Jane's feelings of discomfort and highlight the toxic atmosphere surrounding her.

Each time Jane makes a mistake, her boss retaliates with abusive phone calls, further intensifying her anxiety. Meanwhile, her male colleagues, Jonny and Noah, remain silent witnesses to this mistreatment, amplifying Jane's sense of isolation and oppression in the workplace.

In the afternoon, a new junior assistant named Sienna arrives from Idaho, which raises immediate concerns for Jane. Not only is Jane worried about Sienna's safety in the hostile work environment, but she also fears that Sienna may become her boss's next target.

Concerned for Sienna's well-being, Jane attempts to report her worries to the human resources department. After dropping Sienna off at a luxurious hotel—a benefit Jane never experienced herself—she feels compelled to step forward and warn about the potential dangers awaiting the newcomer.

Upon meeting with Matthew, the head of HR, Jane finds her concerns quickly dismissed as being overly sensitive and envious. His warning about the repercussions of filing a complaint leaves Jane feeling demoralized and trapped in a toxic environment where her voice carries little weight.

After her meeting with HR, Jane receives a call from her boss, who has been informed of her report. He demands an apology via email, insisting that his harshness is merely a tactic to train her for future success, leaving Jane feeling conflicted and helpless.

Later in the evening, Sienna drops by the office for a tutorial on the phone systems, indicating her eagerness to learn. This moment serves as a reminder of Jane's deepening concerns for Sienna, who seems oblivious to the risks present in their workplace.

As the workday comes to a close, Jane prepares to leave but notices that her boss is still in the office with a young actress. This ominous sight raises alarm bells in her mind, further emphasizing her discomfort with the ongoing atmosphere of inappropriate encounters within the company.

Choosing to avoid the tense environment, Jane decides to visit a nearby coffee shop instead of heading home immediately. While enjoying a snack and catching up with her father over the phone, she reflects on the day’s events, weighed down by her experiences.

As Jane ends her call with her father, she sees a silhouette in her boss's office window that suggests an ongoing indiscretion. This final moment crystallizes her fears about the other women's safety and solidifies her resolve to take a stand against the toxic dynamic at her workplace.