Clockwatchers 1998

In the dreary environment of a mundane credit company, Iris (no last name) steps in as a timid temp, where she unexpectedly finds a source of comfort and support in the bold Margaret. Together, they weave through the challenging maze of corporate life, with Margaret taking the initiative to mentor Iris in surviving the monotonous grind of temporary work. Their camaraderie is further enriched by the presence of two other temps: Paula, an aspiring actress who utilizes her lunch breaks to strategize her next moves in the harsh world of entertainment, and Jane, a naive bride-to-be, encumbered by her fiancé’s unsavory behavior.

When an intriguing new temp named Cleo strides into the office and secures a permanent role after just one day, Margaret’s ambitions of becoming the executive assistant to the beleaguered Mr. Lasky are abruptly upended by his unexpected death. As the temps, each an outsider in the rigid structure of the company, band together, strange thefts begin to unravel their fragile trust, with suspicions falling on unlikely culprits: Margaret and her new friends.

As the the atmosphere thickens with tension, disaster strikes when Iris discovers her beloved plastic toy monkey has vanished, only to turn up mysteriously in Margaret’s desk drawer. This incident shakes Iris’s faith and trust, prompting a crisis of belief regarding her own judgment. In another twist of fate, Jane finds her fiancé caught with another woman, but both Margaret and Iris, united by their outsider status, decide to remain uninvolved.

As the office environment grows increasingly oppressive, the temps find themselves stuck in a cramped workspace, subjected to invasive monitoring from a fervent security team. Amid this backdrop of rising anxiety, Paula’s inner struggles spill out during a particularly raw confessional moment in the bathroom with Iris. Here, Iris learns of Paula’s fragile ego masked by her claims of acting credits, confirming that the real challenge isn’t just navigating corporate politics but maintaining the bonds of friendship they forged under pressure.

In a significant turning point, Margaret initiates a symbolic strike to challenge the treatment they face as temps. Despite the hesitance of her colleagues, only she stands firm, leading to a confrontation with Barbara, the uncompromising head of human resources, who ultimately dismisses Margaret. As Margaret is led away in silence, Iris comes to realize the truth behind the stolen monkey, feeling remorse for her misplaced accusations against Margaret during the chaotic events.

With relationships within their ranks crumbling, Iris recounts the disintegrating bonds with her friends, including Jane’s forthcoming wedding and Paula’s move to accounting. A tone of sadness permeates as she shifts to a different temp desk, reflexively discarding a treasured photograph from a memorable night with her former friends.

The tension escalates when Iris catches Cleo in the act of stealing from a senior executive’s office, prompting her to embark on a surveillance mission. This leads her to a shocking discovery: Cleo resides in an opulent mansion. In a confrontation at work, Cleo tries to soothe Iris with the return of a stolen notebook, yet Iris’s simmering rage prompts her to destroy its contents in an act of rebellion.

Fueled by newfound courage, Iris resolves to terminate her connection with the credit company. On her last day, a distant but amiable senior executive consents to sign a pre-prepared letter of recommendation in Margaret’s name. In a heartfelt moment of reconciliation, Iris mails the letter along with a personal note to Margaret, symbolizing her departure from the passivity that once defined her existence as a temp.

With her decision made, Iris embarks on a fresh journey, equipped with valuable lessons gleaned from her tumultuous experiences.