(apprehensive music)
(upbeat music)
(woman whimpers)
- Not yet.
Not yet.
(woman gasps)
Shh.
(groaning)
(Vincent sighing)
(snoring)
(moans)
(door clacks)
(mysterious music)
(woman vocalizing)
- I didn't make you cum?
So you're blaming me.
- No, I just...
You know I can't cum
from penetration alone.
- But you were moaning.
You were--
'Cause it's sex.
It felt good.
It just wasn't an orgasm.
- Like I don't know what
an orgasm sounds like?
- No, I know you do.
- Ask anyone I've ever been with.
They've all cum.
- I'm sure.
- Ever since you've gotten laid off,
every goddamn thing has been an issue.
- That is so not true.
- Oh, okay.
- Our sex life has been a
problem for a while now,
and you know that.
- I'm sorry, I didn't know
you were so unsatisfied.
- Oh, because all the bottles of lube
on standby weren't a clue?
- Maybe you just have a dry vagina.
- Maybe you just don't understand
that women need foreplay!
- If you're so unhappy with
this relationship, just say it.
- I'm unhappy.
(gentle guitar music)
I just have to find another place to live.
- [Jules] Dude, come stay with me.
- [Ashley] Jules, I have to find a job.
- [Jules] You'll find a job here.
Ivy may be a small town, but it's dope.
There's cute shops,
great food, cool people.
This is your fresh start.
What do you have to lose?
(upbeat rock music)
(screams)
- [Ashley] Oh.
- Dude, you look so good.
- Well, there's nothing like
getting out a bad relationship
to make a girl look her very best.
This house is awesome.
- I know!
My mom worked her whole life
just so she could afford her own place
and never even got to enjoy it.
- I'm really sorry about your mom.
- I'm not, I mean, how rad is this house?
Come on.
Let me show you around!
- Okay.
I love it.
(Jules squeals)
But I will only be here for a few months.
I have to figure out what I'm doing.
- No, don't figure it out.
Just stay here.
I want you here.
I need you here.
It's not like you can go back
to that shitty relationship.
- I faked it for an entire year.
- Faking it only reinforces bad technique.
"Oh, yes, baby, keep ignoring my clit.
"That's right, keep ignoring it!
"Oh, that finger jabbing's
gonna make me cum so hard."
For future reference, you can
gauge whether someone can fuck
within the first five
seconds of meeting them.
- No, you can't.
- Yeah.
All good fucks have aural fixations.
- Oral.
- Aural.
A person that can fuck
does a lot of ear shit when they talk.
- Okay.
- I'm serious!
What does an earlobe look like?
A clit.
Aural people subconsciously
always have sex on the brain.
- Jules.
- I'm serious.
I'm gonna find you a guy
that'll make you cum.
- By what, asking if he
has an aural fixation?
- Worked for me.
I'm having killer sex right now.
- You're in a relationship?
- No, no, not a relationship.
- Why not?
- Married.
- Oh, God.
- And I work for both of them.
- Jules.
- I know, I know,
I'm going to hell, but at
least I'll see my mom again.
- Where's the bathroom?
Why do you always go after
the people you can't have?
- Why do you always settle
for the ones you don't want?
(gentle music)
- I don't always settle.
- Mm, maybe not.
But remember, safe is easy,
and easy does not make people cum.
Nipple clamps.
For sex.
They're Dylan's, not mine.
- These go on a guy?
- No, no, no, Dylan, the
other roommate, a chick.
- Oh.
- Yeah, but she's chill.
I mean, she's into some,
like, weird kinky shit,
but you'll like her.
- Okay.
- All right, I've got some work
crap I have to take care of
and try not to shoot myself.
There's beer and leftover
tacos in the fridge.
Actually, don't eat the tacos
because I can't remember
when I bought them
and they probably have food poisoning.
(chuckles)
(upbeat rock music)
(door bells jingle)
(woman moaning)
- Oh, yeah!
What, whoa!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
Whoa!
Hey!
Hey, hold up a sec!
- No, no, I'll come back later.
- No, no, no. No, no, no, wait.
Wait. Hey.
I am so sorry.
I did not hear you come in.
- I figured.
Yeah, let me grab you a cup of coffee.
On the house.
- You know, I'm fine.
- No, no, no. Please, please.
Our beans come from Kona.
They're really great.
Trust me, they're delicious.
I'll even give you a bag to take home.
Just give me one second.
- Later.
- Yeah, bye.
See, I even washed my hands
before going back to work.
Okay.
- [Ashley] Mm.
- Yeah.
There you go.
Just have a little taste
and tell me that that is not incredible.
(zips)
- It's great.
When will your manager be back in?
(chuckles)
- Why, are you gonna report me?
- No, I was wondering about the job.
- The barista job.
- I guess, there's a sign on your door.
- Yeah, yeah.
Done. Yours.
- You're the manager?
- Owner, actually.
Raif Sterling.
- You're kidding.
- No.
You can start tomorrow.
- Don't you want to interview me?
- You'll make coffee, you'll
grind beans, you'll do fine.
And, you know, don't worry.
I promise I'm much more professional
when there's actually
customers here, so...
(phone clicking)
(phone chimes)
- [Dylan] In the back, you know,
like his dick is in me, right?
And then this fucking chick just shows up
and is staring at us,
like, hardcore.
- Oh, my God, who does that?!
- [Dylan] I know!
- [Jules] Has she never
have had sex before?
- [Dylan] I know, maybe
she was like a virgin
who'd never seen...
- I thought you stopped banging Raif.
- I needed to get laid.
- She was just sitting
there watching you guys?
- Yep.
She couldn't take her eyes off of us.
Total creeper.
(chuckles)
Oh, my God. That's her.
- That's Ashley.
- Talk about a small world.
- I guess a formal
introduction isn't needed,
since you've already seen her vagina.
- Jules.
- I'm Dylan.
- [Ashley] Ashley.
- Welcome to the family.
- So, did you enjoy the
show this morning, Ashley?
- I'm really sorry about that.
- Don't be sorry.
You got a sneak peek at
the world's most epic dick.
- It is perfection, isn't it?
- I didn't really notice.
- It was sculpted by the gods.
- You've seen it?
- I've heard about it.
- It's so thick, you can't
quite fit your fingers
all the way around it.
And it's just the perfect length
that he can totally
plow the shit out of you
and you can still walk
home the next morning.
(Dylan chuckles)
(cell phone ringing)
- God, where can a person find a job
that doesn't require that they work?
Hey, how's Thailand?!
Yeah.
I was over there earlier.
They're fine.
Who told you that?
Well, she's wrong.
They're not dying.
- Lay out with us.
- Oh, I would, but I don't
know where I packed my bikini.
- Are you wearing a bra and panties?
- Yeah.
- There's your bikini.
(ominous hum)
- [Elliott] You're late.
- I'm sorry.
I know your text said eight o'clock.
- Look at me.
Eight sharp.
Did you find a girl yet?
- Not yet.
I'm still working on it.
- That's a shame.
(ethereal music)
- [Ashley Voiceover] My name
is Maura, and I was his slave,
a plain faced girl in a maid uniform
that floated around his house,
taking care of every corner and crevice.
For years, he watched me from a distance.
I wondered if he ever fantasized about me
the way I had of him.
But after a year of waiting,
he finally made the move
I'd been yearning for.
I was distracted by a smudge on the window
when his hand found
the inside of my thigh.
I tensed to his touch, but
my breath came in an exhale.
He ripped my underwear from my body.
(Maura gasps)
I was already wet with excitement.
(man sighs)
- Turn around.
- [Ashley Voiceover]
Should these ropes he used
to tie me down suddenly
break, I would not have moved.
I was enslaved to him,
and it was neither rope or cuff
or belt that kept me there.
- [Man] Where are your eyes?
- [Ashley Voiceover] It
was my unwavering need
to feel his breath against my bare skin.
I waited for the pain
that I knew would come,
not from the flame,
but from the inevitable waning of emotion
that seemed to take hold of every--
- [Dylan] Good morning.
- Oh, my God. You scared me.
- That's my book.
- I'm sorry, I was just
skimming through it.
- You were drooling.
- No, I wasn't.
I don't really like books like this.
- Okay.
But if you change your mind,
I'm having some girls
over on Thursday night
to talk about it.
Book club thing.
- You know what?
That actually sounds like fun.
- Okay.
You can have my copy.
It looks like you wore out
the pages a little bit anyway.
(gentle guitar music)
- Nolan Keats paints a provocative picture
of the BDSM underworld.
- Give me that.
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme.
- I never took you as a closet freak.
- I'm not, and didn't you promise
to be more professional from now on?
- Oh, I lied.
- Of course you did.
- So, what is this?
You don't strike me as a
girl who likes to read smut.
- It's for Dylan's book
club, and it's not smut.
- Oh, okay.
His penis throbbed.
- Okay, you can stop embarrassing me.
- I want to come to the book club.
- Well, you can't.
It's for women only.
- Oh, too bad.
Love to find out why sex books
have suddenly become hip with chicks.
- [Ashley] It's gospel.
- It's a poorly written smut story.
- Oh, just because the writer
has a better understanding of women?
- I have plenty understanding of women.
- Okay, then explain Dylan to me.
- The chick's crazy.
- Yet you slept with her.
- Guys don't have a problem banging crazy
if crazy is hot enough.
- Oh, no, she's not crazy.
- Three months ago, she
fucked a complete stranger
in that bathroom over there.
I'd say that's crazy.
- What?
- Yeah, some guy's girlfriend.
Never even spoken to her before.
- Wow.
- Don't get me wrong.
There's nothing wrong with casual sex.
Casual sex is fucking
great, but Dylan's weird.
- Why, because she's as
emotionally unavailable as you are?
- Pretty much, yeah.
- I don't know, I think it's kind of cool
that a woman can be that spontaneous.
- Oh, well, maybe you
should try it sometime.
- Who wouldn't want to
get nailed like that?
- [Tina] I wouldn't.
It was textbook abuse.
- It was not.
- Maura was clearly a victim
of Stockholm syndrome.
- Oh, okay, that's extreme.
- It was full on coercion.
He was in a position of power.
- Who cares if it was a position of power?
- Kim, he used a riding crop on Olivia
like she was some kind of animal.
(riding crop cracks)
(Olivia yelps)
- Okay, so it's kinky--
- And he yanked that other
one around with a leash.
- [Man] Suck it.
- [Kim] Calm down.
It was just role-play.
- [Tina] It was not just role-play.
He forced them into actual slavery.
- And yet they couldn't
stop fantasizing about him.
- Of course they couldn't,
because it was written by a man.
- So they say.
- Please don't tell me
you are buying into that
it was written by a woman bullshit.
- Well, maybe it was.
- So if a woman wrote it,
then we should be completely
okay with misogyny, right?
- No, that has nothing to do with it.
- That has everything to do with it.
Society wants us to believe
that women are like these
pathetic little creatures
that live and die by a man's happiness.
- Why is it pathetic if a
woman wants to submit to a man?
- Are you serious?
- It isn't pathetic, and more
women should give it a try.
(phone clicking)
(phone chimes)
(sighs)
- Okay.
The current identity of
Nolan Keats is unknown.
Many have suspected that the
writer is actually a woman
working under a pen name.
Keats's literary agent recently announced
that there will be no book tour for Slave,
further fueling suspicions
about his or her identity.
(car alarm beeps)
(gentle music)
- I'm rolling around in your bed right now
so I can smell you.
That's how bad it's gotten.
So have you had the conversation yet?
Okay, then when?
(sighs)
Do you know how hard it
is to be here in your bed
when you're motocrossing
all the way in Fuckit?
Who get, whatever.
How am I supposed to know
how to pronounce a place
halfway across the world?
(phone buzzing)
Oh, shit, that's my roommate.
Hang on.
What up?
- Dylan just put Chelsea in her car,
handcuffed and blindfolded.
- Okay.
- Okay?
So you don't think
that's a little bizarre?
- Dude, it's Dylan.
I told you, she's into some freaky shit.
- But what was she doing?
- Who knows? Who cares?
I'm dealing with an
actual crisis right now.
- Why? What happened?
Jules.
- Are you still there?
Of course you have to go.
You always have to go.
And I'm just here, alone,
smelling your sheets,
impaled by a bunch of swords.
It's a metaphor.
So, when you get back,
you have to have the talk.
I'm slowly dying here without you.
- Oh, my God, I am so glad you're here.
- Yeah, well, told you she was crazy.
- Give me one logical reason
why somebody would do that?
- Dylan's not a logical
person, so I can't.
- But, I mean, that girl's
gonna be okay, right?
- Yeah, of course.
Do you realize how crazy you sound?
(chuckles)
- No.
- Okay, you need another beer.
- Okay, you can make
fun of me all you want,
but Keats writes men
that women actually want.
- Mm-hm.
- It's like aggression
is this lost art form.
Men have become these
like passive little boys.
- Oh, have they?
- Yes.
- All right.
- Women just want a guy
who can, you know, like,
throw down and get dirty, you know?
- Oh, no, no. No, no, no.
- Oh, what--
- Raif, no.
- What?
- We are not doing this.
- Why not?
- Because I'm drunk.
- Mm-hm.
- And you're kind of drunk.
- Yeah.
- No.
No.
(upbeat music)
(Raif grunts)
(Raif laughs)
- [Raif] Wait, where are you going?
- Jeez.
(gentle music)
Oh.
- Last night was fun.
- Yeah, okay, Raif, there's customers.
- There's one customer,
and we can go in the back.
- [Ashley] Stop.
- What's wrong?
- I don't want to talk
about this stuff at work.
- We could talk about
it at my place later.
I'll be right back.
(sighs)
- Good morning.
- Oh, yes, it is.
- Why? What happened?
- Raif was pulling out of the driveway
when I got home this morning.
- Looks like the good
girl had a bad girl night.
- It's not what you think.
- It's exactly what we think.
- Was it epic?
- It was fine.
- Fine?
- Yeah, it was just fine.
- Fine is shit!
Fine is not what you need right now.
I want every horrific detail,
but first I gotta go pee.
Get me a coffee?
- You didn't tell her, did you?
- About what?
- The surprise party.
- Oh, no, I wouldn't do that.
- Because she was asking
if the three of us
wanted to hang on Saturday,
so I thought maybe she
suspected something.
- No, I would never do that.
I know how to keep a secret.
- Good to know.
Too bad Raif doesn't.
(upbeat music)
(people chattering)
(Jules squealing)
- [Jules] Hi!
- How are you?
- Thank you.
Ash.
- Excuse me for a second.
- Oh, sure.
- Hi.
- Ash, these are my bosses,
Scarlet and Tomas.
- Oh, it's very nice to meet you.
- Our pleasure.
- I've heard wonderful things.
- Not from Jules, I'm sure.
- Shut up, you know I love you.
- Cranberry vodka?
- Please.
Birthday girl, show me where the bar is.
- Better watch out, I'm gonna
steal your husband away.
- Jules just adores you.
- Well, she is the best.
- I will scold her for not
telling me how beautiful you are.
- Oh, that's very nice of you to say.
- And very honest.
I'd love to photograph you sometime.
Do you model?
- Oh, I used to a little bit
in high school, but not anymore.
- Would you take your clothes off?
- So, how was Fuckit?
- Do you even care?
- Not particularly.
- So why would you ask?
- Because pretending like I care
gets me further with you than honesty.
- You're drunk.
- Not drunk enough.
- It's not nudity in
the exploitative sense.
It's erotic art.
- Either way, I don't take off my clothes
in front of cameras.
- Think about it.
It's liberating.
And I won't even keep
the digital pictures.
And you can pose with Jules.
She's been begging me to shoot her.
I think she likes the idea of her pictures
hanging in our living room.
- I bet she does.
Could you excuse me for just one second?
- Of course.
- No more hiding from Raif.
- I wasn't.
- Dude, I am not blind.
- I can't help it.
It's just that work has been so awkward.
It's like a nightmare.
- You're making it a nightmare.
What's the worst that could happen?
He fucks you again, and then
maybe this time you like it.
Boom.
- Yeah, or just makes it more awkward
because I don't know how I feel about him.
- Don't overthink it.
Just play it cool,
especially if there's
a chance you like him.
- Maybe you should play it cool.
- What?
- "Better watch out, I might
steal your husband away."
Really, Jules?
- What?
- You're parading him around
right in front of her.
- Ashley.
- And she is so sweet
and she really likes you.
- [Dylan] What are your hard nos?
- Hard nos are a cop out.
- I totally agree.
- Beg for the pain,
don't shy away from it.
- Exactly.
- Can I get you another shot?
- You know all the right
things to say, don't you?
(gentle music)
This is a party.
No more maid service.
- Mm-mm.
- Mm.
- You are so fucking sexy.
- I wasn't trying to be.
- I think that is the best part.
- Happy birthday to the
baddest bitch I know.
- Halfway to 50.
- And you've got a whole lifetime
of amazing sex ahead of you.
- [Tina] She's got to find someone first.
- [Kim] She'll find someone.
- Well, I haven't found someone.
- Yeah, but there are
a whole slew of reasons
you're still single.
(chuckles)
- You're such a bitch.
- Can I talk to you privately?
- No more shots without me, ladies.
- Never.
- Somebody's in trouble.
- Uh-huh.
- I've got a girl for you.
- Is it her?
- Ashley?
No, she's--
- Dangerous.
- In a relationship.
(chuckles)
- That never stopped us before.
- She's also off limits.
- I decide who's off limits.
- So, you're stealing my
husband away, are you?
- You know I'd never do that.
I might steal you away, though.
- I'm down for anything.
You decide.
The dirtier the better.
- Nothing's off limits.
- You set the rules.
I obey them.
- If you'll excuse me for one moment.
- I'm sorry.
Elliott's version of foreplay
is leaving women hanging.
- Hey, why are you being like this?
- Because I'm not in the mood.
- Stop being so shy.
You weren't shy the other night.
- No. No, Raif.
- Weren't you the one that said aggression
was a lost art form?
- This is not what I meant by that.
- Hey!
Let her go.
- Who the fuck are you?
There's hall monitors?
This party's got a hall monitor?
- I'll stand here all night,
but I'm not leaving her alone with you.
- You're way too fucking sober.
I'm grabbing you a beer.
(knocking)
- You okay?
- Yeah.
He's usually a pretty nice guy.
He's just--
- Drunk.
I'm Elliott, by the way.
- Ashley.
- Is this your room?
- Yeah.
Kind of a mess.
- I don't mind a mess.
That's quite an interesting
book you've got over there.
- [Ashley] It was for a book club.
- Ah.
Who is your favorite character?
- You've read it?
- I have.
- I don't believe you.
- It's true.
- Well, what did you think?
Most men think it's just smut.
- What's wrong with smut?
- Exactly.
Um.
Uh, Maura.
Maura was my favorite character.
- She was quite the contradiction.
She was demure, but very powerful.
- She had no idea how powerful.
You know, most men just make fun of it,
but, you know, Keats really understands
the complexities of female sexuality.
And I can't believe I just said
that to a complete stranger.
- Why?
- You know, I read online somewhere
that Keats is probably a woman,
which is heartbreaking because--
- He's very much a man.
- How do you know that?
- Because I'm him.
(chuckles)
- Ah, you're Nolan Keats?
- Yes.
It's my pen name.
- I don't believe you.
- Give me your phone.
- [Ashley] Why?
- Just trust me.
(phone ringing)
Let it go to voicemail.
- [Woman] You've reached the
voicemail of Nolan Keats.
Please leave a message.
- How'd you get his number?
- You still don't believe me.
- No.
Nobody knows who he is.
- A few do, and now you're one of them.
- Why would you tell me?
You don't even know me.
- I'm a pretty good judge of character.
I'm fairly certain I can trust you.
If you still need proof,
I can give it to you.
- How?
- Well, you two look like
you're up to no good.
- I was just heading to the bathroom.
- Well, it's not in Ashley's bedroom.
It's down the hall.
- It was nice meeting you.
- Jules is looking for you.
- Okay.
- And your boyfriend
puked on the front lawn.
- [Ashley] He's not my boyfriend.
Jules.
- But it's complicated.
There's all these entanglements,
the fucking photography business,
a condo with these exotic plants.
It's like you can't get married anymore
without having all these commitments.
- Well, that's what marriage
is, Jules: commitments.
- I didn't set out to break up a marriage.
I didn't even make the first move.
I was just driving us to
this photography place,
and the next thing I know,
she's feeling me up at a
stoplight and I have no idea--
- Uh.
She?
- Scarlet.
- I thought you were having
an affair with Tomas.
(laughs)
- Dude, are you fucking kidding?
The guy's a total douche.
- Well, how was I supposed to know?
You're hanging on him all night and...
Wait a minute.
Does this mean you're gay?
- I don't like labels.
(gentle music)
- It's not a perfect fit.
- Come here.
Turn around.
Looks good to me.
Put your foot here.
Tonight is all about role-play.
- I like role-play.
- I want you to be a
virgin, an innocent girl.
- Mail.
(phone ringing)
- Hello.
- Did you get my gift?
- I did.
Thank you.
- [Elliott] So now do you believe me?
- I'm sorry I didn't before.
- I don't blame you.
It's good to be skeptical of strangers.
- [Ashley] So is this the new book
you have coming out in the fall?
- Yes.
- Wow.
- [Elliott] What?
- Oh.
Okay, so when I heard there
was a second book coming out,
I freaked, I got so excited.
- Well, I hope this one
doesn't disappoint, then.
- Oh, it won't.
You're brilliant.
In fact, I've been trying to
figure out a way to contact you
ever since I read Slave
so I could tell you that.
- Really?
- I think, more than anything,
I just wanted to say thank you.
- [Elliott] For what?
- That book completely
changed my entire perspective
on sex and love, and it opened
up this part of me that--
- Dude, Tomas wants them to
renew their wedding vows!
- Okay. We'll talk about it later.
- She hasn't told him she's leaving him!
What the fuck?!
- Hello?
- I'm still here.
- Oh, sorry.
My roommate was having a crisis.
What was I saying?
- How my book changed
your perspective on sex.
- Oh, right.
Yeah, it flipped on this switch inside me,
and I haven't been the same since.
- Elaborate.
- Um.
I had the most intense orgasm
of my life reading your book.
Hello?
- [Elliott] I'll call you tomorrow.
(gentle music)
- No more games.
- Jules, he's on his way back.
- You have to tell him about us.
- I will.
- This is masochism,
asking me to help plan a second wedding?
- I didn't ask you.
- No, he did, because you haven't told him
you're leaving him.
Why?
- I'm waiting for the right time.
- This is the right time.
End it or I'm done.
- I'm getting really tired
of you telling me no.
- Well, if you're such
a fan of giving orders,
why don't you find your own submissive?
- I prefer being on my knees,
begging you to give me what I want.
- What is that?
- I want to fuck you.
It's been a while.
You're frustrating me.
- I've been busy.
- What if I find us someone--
- Dylan.
- Someone we can both
have fun with?
You know that I know what you like.
- I'll think about it.
- Why are you doing this to me?
- Because any good submissive
should learn restraint,
and for whatever reason, you haven't yet.
- God, I hate you.
- You wish you hated me.
(sighs)
- And the thing is, she just
keeps giving me the runaround,
making me believe that I'm her soulmate,
when really, I'm just, like,
her lesbo mistress.
(phone ringing)
And I've read so many
stories about mistresses,
and they, like, never come out on top,
like, ever.
- Hello?
- What I need is--
- [Elliott] Go somewhere private.
- Evidence that proves that she's, like--
- I--
- I don't know,
really cares about me.
- I've got to take this.
- Okay, but hurry the fuck up,
because we've got to figure this out!
- Okay. Okay.
(sighs)
- I want you to turn two
chapter two of Owned.
- Okay.
Why?
- I want you to read it out loud to me.
Want to hear how my words
sound coming out of your mouth.
- Okay, but I--
- [Elliott] Do it.
- I was wet before he even touched me,
aching for him to open me
up and to crawl inside.
No tenderness.
My knees weakened to his touch.
I'd just met him and yet my
body was no longer my own.
And--
- Finish the rest of the book
by tomorrow morning.
- No problem.
- [Elliott] But you have
to promise me one thing.
- Okay.
- No masturbating until I say so.
- What?
- I'll tell you when to cum.
- You're kidding.
- If you think my books excite you,
imagine how intense the
real thing could be.
(door rumbles)
- I know how we can get the evidence!
Dude, it's genius.
- It's messed up.
- Hell, Scarlet asked
you to model for her.
You're just doing what she wants.
- Yeah, but I don't want to do it.
- She won't suspect anything.
Just get her to start talking to you.
Tell her how much you dig her artwork,
how creative and talented she is,
and then, boom, ask her if
she's leaving her husband.
- Okay, this is so not subtle.
- Well, then, figure out
what you're gonna say,
because I booked you an
appointment on Thursday.
- You're kidding me.
- Nope.
(gentle guitar music)
- [Elliott] Dear Ashley,
I'd like to invite you
a little deeper into my world.
How would you feel about a
real-life submissive experience
with me as your guide?
If this piques your interest,
enclosed you'll find a sealed
envelope with your first task.
Don't open it unless you're
willing to venture down a dark
and twisted rabbit hole with me.
- [Ashley] Here you go.
- Oh.
Thank you.
- Mm-hm.
- Thank you very much.
- Hey, no more refills for that guy.
- I thought it was unlimited refills.
- He's pouring it in the fucking plant.
- Why would he do that?
- So he can keep coming back
up here to stare at your tits.
What were you thinking
not wearing a bra today?
Go in the back, put on my flannel.
- I can't.
- Do it.
- My boss sent me home.
- [Elliott] But your
first task was successful.
- I'm totally humiliated.
- [Elliot] The point is to push you
beyond your comfort zone.
Enjoy it.
(elegant piano music)
- Now, where's that shy girl
who didn't want to pose
for me the other night?
- She's trying to be a little bolder.
- Well, there's nothing
to be nervous about.
All right, so keep the robe on,
but let it drape off your
shoulder a little bit.
You should be proud of yourself
for embracing an adventurous spirit.
(camera snaps)
We've all become so scared
to take any risks anymore.
Become slaves to our own boring lives.
(camera snaps)
All of us, slaves to our
jobs, our bank accounts.
I love my husband.
Well, he's done a lot
for me professionally,
and there's a part of me
that's very protective
of our marriage because of that.
(camera snaps)
So the question becomes:
Do I love him for him,
or do I love him because of
what he's done for my career?
(camera snaps)
The lines get blurred.
(camera snaps)
You see that picture hanging over there?
I love that photograph.
It sort of embodies the very struggle
that I'm talking about.
(camera snaps)
Who are they?
- These two women I shot many years ago.
They were slaves to their marriages.
(camera snaps)
I've never seen a connection
quite like theirs.
- Did they end up together?
(camera snaps)
- No.
Of course not.
They stayed with their husbands.
(camera snaps)
- That's tragic.
- Not every love story
ends like a romance novel.
(camera snaps)
(camera snaps)
- Jules is very vulnerable, Scarlet.
- I know that.
- She wants the romance novel.
- Well, then she's reading the wrong book.
(camera snaps)
- Hey, is everything okay?
- When I call, you pick up.
That's how this works.
- I'm sorry, I was doing
this thing for Jules and--
- You can't just disappear
whenever you want.
- I'm sorry. I didn't.
- [Elliott] This is not a
typical relationship, Ashley.
- I know.
- And if you're not cut out for it--
- No, no, I am.
I'm still just trying to
figure everything out.
- It's simple.
Just give up control.
- I know. I'm trying.
- [Elliott] You'll learn.
- Are you mad at me?
- No.
- Okay, good.
- But I will have to punish you.
- What's the punishment?
- You want me to what?!
- Spank me, five times.
- Why?
- It's this whole new age
psychological practice
where adults benefit
from childhood punishment
as a way of changing their behaviors.
You should really read about it.
- I don't need to read about it.
I'll do whatever you want.
Just give me your ass,
and tell me what happened with Scarlet.
Start talking.
- Okay.
So she cares about you a lot.
- I know that.
- But I think she's torn.
- Really? How?
- Spank me.
(soft slap)
One.
She's really committed to her career.
I mean, she loves her job.
- This isn't news.
- But it's, like, her top
priority, even more than love.
- She says she loves her job more than me.
- No, but--
(loud slap)
Two.
Love does come at a price.
- What does that mean?
- I don't know, it's just, she--
- Tell me!
(loud slap)
- Three.
She doesn't want to sacrifice her marriage
for what it's done for her career.
- What it's done for her career?
Tomas has done shit for her career.
(loud slap)
- Four.
- All he does is hang
around like a fucking leech!
(loud slap)
- Five.
- Sucking every ounce
of happiness from her.
(loud slap)
- Six.
- Taking her money.
(loud slap)
- Seven.
- Taking credit
for all of her talent!
(loud slap)
- Eight.
- As if she can't be
successful without him!
(loud slap)
- Nine, Jules, stop!
- He's a lying, manipulative prick
who does everything he
can to keep her down!
I fucking hate him!
(loud slap)
- You were supposed to stop at five.
- Sorry, but your ass
is here and I'm pissed!
- [Ashley] So did you get the picture?
- [Elliott] Red and swollen, my favorite.
I wish that had been my hand.
- Yeah, well, she went crazy
and spanked me, like, 10 times.
- I told you only five.
- Well, what was I supposed to do?
She just wouldn't stop.
- Follow my instructions.
You can't disobey me, Ashley.
I'm going to have to punish you again.
- Are you serious?
- [Elliott] Yes.
- Well, then you're just
gonna have to do it in person.
- Are you giving me orders?
- Maybe.
- I'm gonna have to keep you
on a tight leash, aren't I?
- Probably.
- I'll text you my address in a bit.
9:00 p.m.
Not a minute late.
(ethereal music)
What the hell are you doing here?!
- Oh, I'm not leaving until we fuck.
- You can't show up at my house like this!
- You never had a problem with it before.
- Well, yeah, I'm drawing the line now.
- Well, that's no fun.
- Where'd you park the car?
- The garage.
What's wrong with you?
(Dylan gasps)
- I don't want you here.
- Well, too bad.
(handcuffs clicking)
- Very funny, very funny.
(Dylan chuckles)
Where's the key?
Where's the fucking key, Dylan?
- Inside of me.
- You are unbelievable!
- You love it.
(laughs)
- Uncuff me.
- You know where the key is.
Uncuff yourself.
- I mean it, now.
Goddammit, Dylan!
(moans)
(chuckles)
Give me your other hand.
(key jingles)
(handcuffs clicking)
When I get back, you won't
be able to sit for a week.
- Ooh, I must be in trouble.
- Hello.
(upbeat rock music)
- Hi.
- Hi.
- The blindfold stays on the entire time.
- But I want to see your face.
- This is your punishment, remember?
- Well, when do I get a reward?
- When you start doing exactly as I say.
(panting)
- Hi.
- Hi.
- That might have been my
most favorite punishment yet.
- Well, I went a little easy on you
given you haven't done this before.
- Mm.
(elegant music)
Hi.
- Right on time.
Come in.
Welcome to my home away from home.
Look around.
- Wow.
I've never seen anything like this before.
- You nervous?
- No.
I'm just taking it all in.
Saran wrap?
- It's for sensory deprivation,
specifically mummification.
- Mummification?
You wrap someone in this?
- Yes.
- As what, some sort of punishment?
- Sometimes.
I like to do it as an exercise in trust.
- Okay, now I'm nervous.
- Why?
- We're not gonna do that, are we?
Because I'm really claustrophobic
and I don't think I could...
- My goal is to open you
up, not to shut you down.
You will never have to do
anything you don't want to do.
So how do you feel about restraints?
If you feel uncomfortable
in any way, just tell me.
- Okay.
- We should establish a safe word
before things get too intense.
- It's already intense.
- We haven't even touched
the tip of the iceberg.
(tassel whip cracking)
(groans)
(tassel whip cracks)
- Cactus.
Our safe word.
Cactus.
- Okay.
Why cactus?
- Because it's beautiful and--
- You think cactus are beautiful?
- Yes.
It's beautiful and it has the
ability to cause great pain.
I think that's very fitting
for this scenario, no?
What?
- Okay, cactus it is.
But don't be afraid of pain.
Pain can be fun sometimes.
(tassel whip cracks)
(tassel whip cracks)
Impressive.
(sighs)
- Well, I aim to please.
- You do.
(Ashley moaning)
- What are you doing?
- [Elliott] I'm heading out for a bit.
- Are you kidding me?
- What's the fun of
giving you what you want
exactly when you want it?
(panting)
(playful music)
- So, what would you guys say
if I told you I was going to
start practicing polyfidelity?
- Is that a religion?
- No, it's like polyamory,
but with monogamy.
- Wait.
What's polyamory?
- Okay, so it's like this:
I'm in love with a married woman,
and for the last eight months,
I've been nagging her to
define her relationship
by conventional standards when
I fucking hate convention.
- Convention's overrated.
- Exactly!
Vanilla relationships equal vanilla sex.
You probably know this
better than anybody.
- Well, I'm working on changing that.
- With who?
- Dude, don't get sidetracked.
- It's nobody you know.
- Wait, so there is somebody?
- No, there's nobody.
I just mean I'm opening
myself up a bit more.
- Oh, like with the spanking thing.
- Jules.
- She made me spank her.
- How unconventional.
- But getting back to
the whole Scarlet thing,
what I've come to realize
over the last few days
is that there is a way for
our relationship to work,
and that way is polyfidelity.
- You still haven't told us what that is.
- Why don't you just find
someone who's actually available?
- That's the thing, Scarlet is available.
- Yeah, to her husband, not you.
- Yeah, but she can be available to me
when I come to accept and embrace
the choices that she's made.
- And by "accept the choices,"
you mean accept the marriage.
- Yeah.
And by embrace the choices,
I mean I'm going to start
fucking both of them!
(gleeful music)
- So what's his name?
- What?
- You've been smiling
since you walked in today,
and I know it's not from
the Kona beans, so...
- Maybe I'm just happy.
Why does it have to be about a guy?
- Delivery for Ashley Pendleton.
- Thank you.
- Pain is beautiful
and so are you.
- Hey, give me that!
- You know, no self-respecting guy
would ever say that to a chick.
- Yeah, well, no self-respecting guy
would ever call a woman a chick.
What?
- I just think it's a
little too early in the game
to be sending each other gifts.
- It's not a game.
- Oh, sweetie, it's a game.
He's playing you.
Hard.
- Don't call me sweetie.
- You know, you really need to start
cleaning up after your whores.
- Where'd you find those?
- On the floor of the cellar.
- [Elliott] Give them to me.
- Whose are they?
- Now.
- So, this is why you've been acting
like such a little bitch lately?
You've been carrying on
with a secret affair?
- What I do outside of our arrangement
is none of your business.
- Who you fuck around
with is our arrangement.
What's her name?
Tell me.
(sighs)
- God, you're exhausting.
- Why, 'cause I call you on your bullshit?
- No, because you never stop pushing!
- Strong women are
intimidating, aren't they?
- You're not strong.
You're pathetic.
You want everyone to think
that you're this tough girl,
but you reek of desperation.
- Do I?
- You want to know why I'm
having this secret affair?
It's because I need someone
to hold my interest.
You bore me.
My eyes glaze over whenever you talk
because I know what you're going to say
before you even open your mouth.
I pay you, remember?
To find me women,
to do my errands,
to do the dirty work.
But you're not worth the hassle anymore.
So, leave me the keys and
get the fuck outta here.
- Mail.
- What made you change your mind?
- [Ashley] What you said.
- About?
- I need you to know that I'm yours.
- Ashley, we've--
- You've been so patient with me.
I want to prove how committed
I am to this and to you.
- You already have.
- Fine.
Then let me prove it to myself.
- Take off your clothes.
- I'll still be able to talk, right?
- Of course.
- And you're not gonna
blindfold me again, are you?
- You took the blindfold, remember?
- Right.
- I want you to keep your eyes
locked on me the whole time.
- Okay.
- [Elliott] And if you feel
afraid at any moment, you can--
- Use my safe word?
(sobs)
- Fuck!
(sobbing)
(sighs)
Okay.
- [Elliot] You ready for this?
- I don't think--
(touchpad clicking)
(woman moaning)
- It's gonna get really
warm in just a little bit.
Relax your mind.
Stay present.
Don't let your imagination
tell you how to feel.
Just feel.
- Fuck.
She was a fun girl.
The nondisclosure was a nice touch.
Jackpot.
- He had full possession over me,
and I had become a
slave to his every need.
I lived to be dominated by him.
Are your books based on real life?
- Sometimes.
- Do you think you'll ever write about us?
- I'd rather keep that sacred.
- This is my favorite part.
I crave those moments
where he would look at me,
down on my knees, and
know he'd put me there,
taught me that, enslaved me to him.
- [Dylan] Nondisclosure was a nice touch.
- [Elliott] Sells the story.
- I was an insatiable demon
willing to stop at nothing to please him.
We had reached the point of no return,
and now all I wanted was--
- I have to go.
- Why?
- Something came up at work.
A deadline.
- [Dylan] I bet you didn't
see that one coming, did you?
- Stop being such a cunt.
- You better be careful.
I'll send it to her.
I'm sure she would love to know
what a manipulative little
prick you really are.
- What do you want?
- Sit down.
(sighs)
(Elliott groans)
Why did you go after her
when I told you not to?
- Because I don't take orders from anyone.
(Elliott groans)
- You do now.
Give me one good reason
why I shouldn't just tell her everything?
- Because she doesn't deserve it.
- Neither did any of the other girls.
- Yeah, well, she's different.
- How?!
How is she so different, Elliott?!
- She just is.
- You don't want to talk, fine.
I'll send the email.
- Don't you dare.
- Then start talking.
- I didn't expect it to go this far.
I was going to end it after
the first night, but--
- But what?!
- I got caught up in it, okay?
She was sweet and--
- She was a fangirl sucked in by a name.
- That's not true.
She could be anybody else,
and I wouldn't care
what you would tell them about me, but--
- But what?!
You're in love with her.
- What do you want?
I'll do anything.
I'll give you money.
- I don't want your money.
- Then what do you want?
- Her.
- What?
- Loan her to me.
Eight o'clock tomorrow
night, bring her here.
She doesn't show or leaves
early, I tell her everything.
- You're fucking nuts.
- [Dylan] And you're terrified.
(gentle music)
- It's funny you bring this up.
Tomorrow night, I'm going to lend you out
to another dominant.
It might give you the
perspective that you need.
- What do you mean "loan me out"?
- Let me finish.
- No.
No.
I don't want to be with anybody else.
- Me having you submit
to someone else is--
- Is a no.
- Ashley--
- No!
No other people.
Absolutely not.
- Listen to me!
I need you to explore this world
as much as you possibly can.
- I am.
- How can you if you're
not willing to take risks?
I need to know what you
do and do not want--
- I don't want this.
- Well, I need you to want this.
It's not all about you.
It's about me and what I need
for this relationship to work.
Trust is an ongoing thing, Ashley.
- Okay.
- Okay?
- I'll do it.
(dramatic music)
- Couldn't convince
her to come, could you?
- She'll be here.
I'm not sure why I need to be here.
(ominous music)
- You're late.
- What are you doing here?
- Elliott didn't tell you?
- He didn't tell me it would be you.
- Don't look so scared.
- I'm not.
I just...
I don't understand what's going on.
- I'm training to be a dominant,
and since I don't have my own submissive,
Elliott was kind enough
to let me borrow you.
Stand here.
Are you deaf?
Stand here.
When I give you an instruction,
you follow it the first time I ask.
Understood?
- Yes.
- Tonight, I'm not your roommate.
I'm the bitch you answer to.
Clear?
- Clear.
(gentle music)
- Why didn't you tell me it was her?
- Would it have mattered?
- It might have.
What exactly is your
relationship with her?
- There is no relationship.
- Have you had sex with her?
- Yes.
- Are you still?
- No.
Of course not.
She worked for me.
I hired her to find me submissives,
and, occasionally, I would
allow her to join in on the fun.
But I tired of her very quickly.
- I don't want to do anything
like that ever again.
- You won't have to.
I know you're mine now.
- I was always yours.
What are you doing?
- Moving out.
- Why?
(sighs)
- I only planned on being
here for a few months.
It's been almost a year.
Time to move on.
- This doesn't have anything
to do with last night, does it?
- Why would it be?
- I don't know.
- Look, you're the one that
should be all fucked up,
knowing your boyfriend pimped
you out to somebody else.
- He didn't.
- Okay.
- You know, no offense, Dylan,
but you know nothing
about our relationship.
- No, but I know quite
a bit about Elliott.
- Not as much as I do.
- You've known him for a month.
I've spent nearly every day
with him for the past year.
- Running his errands
and getting him women.
- Is that all he told you?
- I know you two slept together,
if that's what you're smiling about.
And I also know you got needy
and that's why he ended it.
- I wasn't needy.
I was frustrated.
- Because he didn't love you.
He told me everything, Dylan.
- Even about Nolan Keats?
- Yes.
I've known he's Nolan
since the day I met him.
- Let me show you something.
- I have to go to work.
- I'll be quick.
- What is this?
- Just wait.
Just watch.
- That was delightful.
- She was a fun girl.
The nondisclosure was a nice touch.
- [Elliott] Sells the story.
- [Dylan] You're good, I'll give you that.
- I know.
- Hey, is Nolan Keats
aware you're using that name to get women?
- Nolan is well-aware.
(both laugh)
- I'm guessing by your reaction
he never told you that.
I thought you knew everything.
- No.
No, no, no, no, no, no!
He's Nolan Keats!
He told me he was, plus he
gave me a copy of his new book
that's coming out in the fall.
How would he have that?!
- Elliott is Nolan Keats's
copy editor, Ashley.
He's been working with
Nolan's publisher for years.
Nolan Keats introduced me to Elliott
and doesn't even live in Ivy.
Nolan doesn't do interviews
and would never talk to a little fangirl.
Elliott is not Nolan Keats.
(phone ringing)
(sighs)
- [Woman] You've reached the
voicemail of Nolan Keats.
Please leave a message.
- [Dylan] Hey, Elliott, it's Dylan.
Listen, I just wanted
to call really quickly
and thank you for last night.
I know now that I'm definitely not cut out
to be a submissive.
But Ashley, on the other
hand, she most certainly is.
Unfortunately, I don't think
that after this morning
she'll be submitting to you anymore
because I told her everything.
I guess, in a weird way,
keeping the little Nolan
Keats thing a secret
felt almost like an act of submission,
and as you know quite well,
I'm really bad at submission.
I make a far better dominant.
So, I showed her the video
and explained to her who
Nolan Keats really is,
not because it was the right thing to do,
but because it was the
ultimate act of domination,
not just over her, but over you.
- I did it!
I fucking ended it!
Where the fuck is everybody?
Dylan!
Dylan!
Holy shit.
- There you go. That'll be $10.
- Brewed coffee.
10 bucks.
Man.
- Is Dylan here?
- Excuse me!
- No, nobody's here.
Dylan's not here. Nobody's here.
- Where's Ashley?
- Ashley called out
sick, Dylan's a no-show,
and I have no employees here
today, so please get in line.
- Wait.
Does this mean you're hiring?
- Ashley.
- What are you doing here?
- Please.
- Get out of here.
- Let me explain.
- Don't come near me.
- Please.
- You're a sociopath!
- Just--
- I don't want to listen
to anything you have to say!
- Just let me tell you my side.
Please!
- You played me!
- No.
- Just like you played
everyone else!
- You were different.
- Why?
Because you didn't videotape us fucking?!
- Ashley--
- You should be locked up.
- I was gonna tell you.
- When?
- I was waiting for the right time, okay?
- Oh, yeah, 'cause there is
no right time to tell someone
that their entire relationship
is based on a lie!
- You know that's not true.
- How is that not true?!
You've been lying to me since day one!
You sent me his fucking book as proof!
- And you ate up every word of it.
- Excuse me?
- You wanted to believe I was him!
- I had no reason not to!
- You just loved the fact
that you were dating some sex writer.
(loud slap)
Ashley.
(gentle guitar music)
(knocking)
- Hi, Nolan.
(upbeat music)
(dramatic music)