BasedonthenovelbyL.P.Hartley,TheHirelingisadissectionofantiquatedbuthardlydormantBritishclassdistinctions.ChauffeurRobertShawisintheemployofaristocraticwidowSarahMiles.Whenshesuffersanervousbreakdown,Shawhelpsherthroughherrecovery.Theygrowtoloveeachotherduringtheconvalescence;butwhensheiscured,Ms.MilesrefusestoregardShawasanequal,andtheoriginalstatusquoisreinstated.TheHirelingprovidesaninterestingcontrasttothesimilarlystructuredAmericanfilmof1991,DrivingMissDaisy.