Valmont Page #2

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Do you remember me?

Of course I remember you.

-Just jog my memory a little. -I'm Madame de Merteuil.

Of course you are, my dear.

-I just arrived. -I know you've just arrived.

Where is my table?

Where is everybody?

Sir.

There she is.

Give me a push.

May I invite you for a ride?

No, you may not.

-Why not? -I can't swim.

Neither can I.

No. My husband, he would never forgive me if I drowned.

-Where is your husband, madame? -He's in Rouen.

-You live in Rouen? -No. We live in Paris.

My husband is a judge and he has an important case in Rouen.

Do you love your husband, madame?

Yes, I love him very much.

-So why aren't you with him? -Because I'm visiting your aunt.

Besides, when my husband works on important cases he prefers to be alone.

-Does he often work on important cases? -Yes, quite often.

-Then you must be an exceptional woman. -No, it's...

-Not exceptional. Why? -To love a husband who's never there.

-Are you married, Monsieur de Valmont? -No.

I'm in love.

-You're in love. -Yes.

-Then why aren't you with her? -I am with her.

I'm talking to her right now.

-You shouldn't have said that. -Why not? Is it wrong to be in love?

No, as long as the feeling's mutual and legitimate.

Does that mean you don't love me?

Of course I don't love you.

Don't do that!

Monsieur de Valmont!

Monsieur de Valmont, please!

Don't do that. You frightened me.

What does it matter if I drown? You don't love me.

Look, sometimes my friends tell me I'm naive, but...

I'm not so silly that I don't see what you want.

Yes? What do I want?

If you don't stop talking that way, we can't be friends.

All I want is to be near you...

...and to hear you telling me over and over again that you don't love me at all.

No.

No, I'm not clever enough to talk to you.

Help!

Help me!

Help me!

Help! Help!

Vicomte.

What happened?

An accident.

So you did come.

Thank you, Azolan. I won't be needing you.

Yes, he will.

Prepare his traveling clothes and pack the rest.

-We're going to Paris. -Wait.

Wait.

-Why? -I need you in Paris...

...very much.

You may go.

What is it?

You remember my little cousin from the opera?

Yes.

-You remember she's getting married? -Yes.

Guess to whom.

How could I guess?

Monsieur de Gercourt.

Where do I fit in?

You're the only one who can help me.

Do you want me to challenge him to a duel?

Vicomte, for what I have in mind...

...I need you very much alive.

You know, little Cecile...

She reminds me so much of myself when I was .

She's naive, innocent...

She's naive, innocent...

...pure.

Yes?

I want you to put an end to it.

I want you to take her virginity.

I want Gercourt to discover on his wedding night...

...that he didn't get there first.

I want to make him the laughingstock of Paris.

You want me to seduce a little girl...

...who's seen nothing...

...who knows nothing...

...who'll probably flop on her back out of simple curiosity?

You don't need me for that. Anyone can do that.

But I thought you liked her. I thought I was doing you a favor.

Besides, I can't go to Paris now.

-Why? -The air here is so fresh.

And you hear the birds singing. You never hear the birds in Paris.

Who is she?

May I change the subject, madame?

Change anything you want, my dear.

Do you love your husband?

Yes.

Yes, I love him very much.

Then why are you here?

Why aren't you with him?

I'm afraid the Marquise and I share the same banal curiosity.

Seems that Madame de Tourvel's husband prefers to be alone when he works.

Men always say they prefer to be alone, but I love my husband.

So, I go where he goes.

-Out of love? -Why else?

Fear, maybe?

Fear? Of what?

-That you might be tempted. -You mean, I might be tempted.

Shush, my love.

Are you hinting that I could be unfaithful to my husband?

Not now, but, if you were alone...

Monsieur de Valmont, you simply don't understand women.

You're right.

If a woman wants a little adventure, she doesn't need to be alone.

She can manage it perfectly well right under her husband's nose.

Isn't that true, madame?

That's not at all what I meant, madame.

Monsieur de Valmont, I know some women might be weak...

...but...

...believe me, there are women who will always be true.

Nonsense!

A true woman is a contradiction in terms.

Not always.

I believe that some women stay true.

I find them fascinating.

Men usually do.

I've noticed that.

Why is that?

Because men are always chasing after visions, my dear.

They want us to be angels.

But in bed, they want us to be demons, my dear.

Yes, indeed.

But there always comes that morning surprise...

...when you wake up in the arms of an ordinary woman.

Do you agree, Vicomte?

I believed that for a long time.

-And you don't anymore? -No.

It seems to me, Vicomte, that you believe one thing in Paris...

...and another in the country.

Maybe I believe one thing when I'm in love and another when I'm not in love.

There's something I've been wondering about all evening.

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