The Associate (1996)

In the cutthroat realm of Wall Street, where the financial chessboard is dominated by white males, Laurel Ayres, a formidable black businesswoman, is caught in the crushing undertow of ingratitude and discrimination. Despite her razor-sharp acumen and relentless dedication, she is overshadowed and unacknowledged by her senior investors, particularly the opportunistic Frank Peterson, who gleefully claim the fruits of her labor. In a bold and audacious move, Laurel abandons the stifling confines of her old firm, driven to carve a niche for herself in the unforgiving world of high finance. She constructs an elaborate ruse – an absent male partner named Robert Cutty, fashioned after enigmatic figures like Howard Hughes. Through her sophisticated persona of the non-existent Mr. Cutty, she establishes a thriving investment firm, dazzling her clients with her financial wizardry while maintaining the illusion of Cutty's existence. However, the success of her daring stratagem brings an unexpected twist. As her firm basks in its newfound prosperity, the demand to meet the elusive Mr. Cutty begins to surge. Laurel finds herself on the precipice of a critical challenge - how to physically manifest a phantom that was never meant to be seen. The Associate is a cunning tale of one woman's audacious attempt to upend the Wall Street status quo, and the unexpected trials she faces as a result of her own ingenious deception.

The Associate is a comedy movie featuring Whoopi Goldberg.

The Associate is currently streaming on Hulu.

It is also possible to buy The Associate on AMC on Demand, Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.