A New York advertising executive has fired his secretary after a passionate affair. She has recently been released from a mental hospital (she had a breakdown after her dismissal) and now lies in wait for him at one of the centrepieces of his existence, the 5.48 train which he takes home to his suburban family every night She has a pistol . The film represents the combination of the talents of two rather different creators with a leaning toward satire Writer John Cheever, upon whose short story the film is based, is much concerned with the morality and situation of modern suburban America, while James Ivory is known best for his gently satirical view.