The year is 1984, and Norma, a 26-year old military intelligence officer finds herself lodging in an Edinburgh town-house owned by retired headmistress Agnes Maxwell. Agnes informs Norma that the cellar is out of bounds, and Norma's curiosity is increased when she sees a visitor followed by her landlady emerging from the forbidden basement. It isn't long before Norma sneaks down to the cellar at the first opportunity. To her surprise she finds a schoolroom kitted out with blackboard, desk, punishment book and a formidable range of implements. The set up excites her and she fantasises about what goes on down there, to the extent that she decides to confess to Agnes. Thus begins a disciplinary regime, with Norma willingly submitting to corporal punishment from Agnes, and later she joins Agnes and her clients for more role-playing fun down in the cellar. Things take an unexpected turn when Norma is summoned by her boss, Commander Nick Haynes, regarding a matter of national security. It seems that the professional disciplinary services provided by Agnes Maxwell may be something that the military can use to their advantage in an ongoing clandestine operation...