Dangerous Liaisons Page #5

- There is no one there.

The others have all decided

on an early night.

- I very much missed our walk today.

- Yes.

I fear with the weather as it is, we can

look forward to very few more of them.

- This heavy rain is surely exceptional.

- Yes. May I?

Of course.

But, you see, within a week

I shall have concluded my business.

- I see.

- Even so, I am not sure...

...I will be able to bring myself to leave.

Oh, please. You must.

Are you still so anxious to be rid of me?

You know the answer to that.

I rely on your integrity and generosity.

I want to able to be grateful to you.

Forgive me if I say

I do not want your gratitude.

What I want from you

is something altogether deeper.

I know God is punishing me for my pride.

I was so certain this could never happen.

Nothing like what? Do you mean love?

- Is love what you mean?

- You promised not to speak of it.

Yes, of course, I understand,

but I must know.

I can't, don't you understand?

It's impossible.

You don't have to speak. Just look at me.

Yes...

For God's sake, you must leave

me if you don't want to kill me.

You must help...

Fetch Madame,

Madame de Tourvel has been taken ill.

I heard something as I was passing.

She seemed to be having

difficulty breathing.

- Oh, my dear, whatever is it?

- I am all right now.

I shall leave her

in your capable hands, Aunt.

We must send for a doctor, my dear.

No, no, please.

I don't need a doctor. I just...

Sit with me for a moment.

I must leave this house.

I am most desperately in love.

To leave is the last thing in the world

I want to do, but...

...I'd rather die than

to live with the guilt.

My dear girl,

none of this is any surprise to me.

The only thing that might surprise

one is how little the world changes.

What should I do? What is your advice?

If I remember rightly in such matters...

...all advice is useless.

I have never been so unhappy.

I'm sorry to say this but...

...those who are most worthy of love

are never made happy by it.

But why? Why should that be?

Do you still think men

love the way we do?

No...

...men enjoy the happiness they feel.

We can only enjoy the happiness we give.

They are not capable...

...of devoting themselves

exclusively to one person.

So to hope to be made happy by love...

...is a certain cause of grief.

I am devoted to my nephew.

But what is true of most men...

...is doubly so of him.

And yet...

...he could have, just now...

...he took pity on me.

If he has released you...

...my dear child, you must go.

Get up, sir, quick.

Sir!

Over here.

What is it?

- Madame de Tourvel.

- What?

I want you to follow her, right now.

Stay close to her.

I want to know everything.

Where she goes. Who she sees.

What she eats. If she sleeps.

Everything.

That's for bribes. Yours will come later.

- Yes, sir.

- Now, go.

Go!

Dear Father Anselme...

... try as I may, I cannot see...

... the necessity for the interview

you suggest.

However, since you insist...

... I propose you bring him to see me...

... on Thursday, the

This is excellent.

Make sure Father Anselme receives it.

What news?

No visitors.

There still has not been

a single visitor since she got back.

A bite of soup last night,

didn't touch the pheasant.

Afterwards, a cup of tea.

Nothing else to report.

Oh yes, sir, there is.

You wanted to know

what she was reading.

The book by her bed is

"Christian Thoughts...

"... Volume Two. "

How is Julie?

She seems a bit keener than

she was in the country.

And yourself?

Talk about devotion to duty.

Off you go.

Keep it up.

- Madame...

- Vicomte...

Well...

...what a pleasant surprise.

Danceny...

Thank you, Monsieur, for everything.

Well, I was afraid I had been

a sad disappointment to you.

On the contrary.

It is you I have to thank

for keeping our love alive.

Well, as to love, Ccile

thinks of little else.

She and her mother are coming

back to Paris in two weeks...

...and she is longing to see you.

I have had the most

wonderful letter from her.

Really?

Not like any of her other letters,

somehow...

...quite a different tone of voice.

My dearest...

...Danceny...

...I swear to you...

...on my chastity...

...that even if my mother forces me

to go through with this marriage...

...I shall be yours completely.

Your friend, the Vicomte de Valmont...

... has been very active on your behalf.

I doubt if you could do more yourself.

I don't know how I could bear to go

another two weeks without seeing her.

We shall have to do our very best

to provide some distraction for you.

If you would be so kind

as to wait in the carriage.

There's a matter I must discuss

with the Vicomte in private.

Of course.

I don't know how I can ever repay you.

Don't give it another thought.

It's been delightful.

Poor boy, he's quite harmless.

Sometimes, Vicomte,

I can't help, but adore you.

I have a piece of news I hope

you might find entertaining.

I have reason to believe

the next head of the house of Bastide...

...may be a Valmont.

What can you mean?

Ccile is two weeks late.

Aren't you pleased?

I'm not sure.

Your aim was to revenge yourself

on Bastide.

I have provided him with a wife trained

by me to perform, quite naturally...

...services one would hesitate

to request from a professional...

...and very likely pregnant as well.

What more do you want?

All right, Vicomte, I agree.

You have more than done your duty.

Shame you let the other ones

slip through your fingers.

I let her go.

But why?

I was moved.

Oh, well then, no wonder you bungled it.

I have an appointment

to visit her on Thursday...

...and this time I shall be merciless.

I am pleased to hear it.

Why do you suppose we...

...only feel compelled to chase

the ones who run away?

Immaturity?

I shan't have a moment's peace

until its over.

I love her, I hate her...

...my life is a misery.

Well, I think I may have kept

our young friend waiting long enough.

I shall call on you

sometime soon after Thursday.

Only if you succeed, Vicomte.

I am not sure I can face

another catalogue of incompetence.

I shall succeed.

I hope so.

Once upon a time you were

a man to be reckoned with.

I understand that Father Anselme...

...has explained to you

the reason for my visit?

Yes, he said you wished

to be reconciled with me...

...before beginning instruction with him.

That is correct.

But I see no need for formal reconciliation,

Monsieur.

No.

When I have, as you said, insulted you...

...and when you have treated me

with an unqualified contempt.

Contempt?

You ran away from my aunt's house

in the middle of the night.

You refuse to answer

or even receive my letters.

And all this,

after I have shown a restraint...

...of which I think we are both aware.

I would call that,

at the very least, contempt.

I am sure you understand me better

than you pretend to, Monsieur.

It was me you ran away from, wasn't it?

I had to leave.

And do you have to keep away from me?

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