Murder in Leathers — Kyle Cicero / L.G. Fabbo-Gonnella

Synopsis:

Max couldn't be happier when his friend is cast in an off-off-Broadway play entitled, “Bondage and Discipline: The New Spanish Inquisition?” Brad is positive this production will launch his career since its playwright/director, Oliver Leclerc, the theater's enfant terrible, is known for his controversial plays. As Brad enthusiastically explains to Max and Maisie, “this one is about how society's criticisms of the leather community's lifestyle is a modern-day form of the Inquisition.”

Problems emerge when a group of right-wing religious fanatics, enraged by the theme of the play, stage a series of violent protests. When one of the actors is injured due to a questionable accident, Brad suggests to Leclerc that he cast a highly reluctant Max as the replacement for “submissive #2”. Max has his doubts about the role, but the knowledge that David Lancaster, a rising macho, action star, is the lead overcomes his qualms.

Leclerc is famous for his views that actors must live out the roles they play onstage to add realism to their performances. To ensure that this will happen, he announces he's hired both dominants and submissives from New York City's leather community to serve as instructors. As he informs his cast, “I will assign each of you a suitable teacher to train you as a dominant or a submissive. If you fail to comply with your instructor's assignments you will be fired. I will also use my influence to make certain that you never appear upon any stage in this city.” To Max and Maisie's amusement, Brad has been handed over to a highly aggressive dominatrix.

Tensions arise when some actors resent not only being labeled as a submissive, but also having to undergo real life training in subservience. Soon both boys, along with Maisie, find themselves exploring the world of domination, submission with a touch of murder and bondage on the side.