Peter, a psychotherapist, and Suzanne, a professional dominatrix, have been meeting once a week for over two years. In the privacy of a dungeon room in an S & M house, Suzanne delicately pierces, prods and ultimately soothes Peter as they engage in sensual, dominance and submission reenactments. Peter?s wife Pat knows about her husband?s other life, but there is an understanding between them; what happens in the dungeon is relegated to the world of fantasy. There are rules. Now it seems those rules are about to be broken as Peter and Suzanne, undeniably drawn to each other, agree to see each other on the outside. Though Suzanne is clearly ambivalent about any sort of physical intimacy, Peter becomes increasingly obsessed with consummating their relationship. The more Suzanne pulls away, the harder Peter finds it to let go. As they meet in coffee shops, bars and restaurants throughout New York City, Peter remembers the erotic ?scenes? between them and the relationship these fantasies have to his past. A sudden crisis in Suzanne?s life leads Peter to a meeting with Suzanne?s family where some of her own past torments are revealed. What draws Peter and Suzanne together, however, is also what pulls them apart. Even though both see the impossibility of the affair, it is Peter who suffers most when Suzanne decides to cut off contact. Whether or not this resolves the emotional and erotic issues the relationship created for both of them remains a question.

Eric Werthman has been a practicing psychotherapist for over twenty-five years. Before and during this career he has been involved in filmmaking. He worked for Walter Manley Productions for four years, is a graduate of the NYU?s ?Sight and Sound? intensive film workshop and made one short fiction film, The Scalper's Lament before making his feature film debut with Going Under.