Valmont (1989)

Colin Firth: Valmont

Photos 

Quotes 

• Valmont : You are confusing bets and marriages, madame. One must always honor a bet.

• Valmont : You want me to seduce a little girl, who has 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.

• Danceny : Sir, it would be embarrassing for me to fight you in your condition.

  Valmont : So what do we do? Send for our harps?

• Valmont : You must be an exceptional woman.

  Madame de Tourvel : No, not exceptional. Why?

  Valmont : Love a husband, and he's never there.

  Madame de Tourvel : Do you married, Mr. Valmont?

  Valmont : No, I'm in love.

  Madame de Tourvel : You're in love?

  Valmont : Yes.

  Madame de Tourvel : Then why aren't you with her?

  Valmont : I am with her. I'm talking to her right now.

• Mertuil : You're the only one who can help me.

  Valmont : You want me to challenge him to a duel?

  Mertuil : [chuckles]  Viscomte, for I what I have in mind I need you very much alive.

• Valmont : I feel awful.

  Mertuil : Are you surprised? You are an awful man.

  Valmont : Do you think a man can change?

  Mertuil : Yes, for the worse.

  Valmont : I think you're as awful as I am.

  Mertuil : I am.

• Mertuil : Valmont, you disappoint me. That's what's keeping you here. Tell me, are you really falling in love?

  Valmont : Does that make you jealous?

  Mertuil : Not really.

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

  Valmont : Not now. But if you were alone...

  Madame de Tourvel : Monsier Valmont, you simply don't understand women.

  Baroness : You're right. Look, if a woman wants a little adventure, she doesn't need to be alone.

  [looking straight at her husband] 

  Baroness : She can manage it perfectly well right under her husbands nose.

• Madame de Rosemonde : Ah, my sweet girl. If I understand what these people have been saying, you have a dilemma.

  Cecile : I do?

  Madame de Rosemonde : Tell me, if it were up to you, would you rather marry that Monsieur de... eh...

  Mertuil : Gercourt.

  Madame de Rosemonde : Exactly, Gercourt. Or the other one? The one with the harp.

  Cecile : Well, I... I... I'll do whatever my Maman wants me to do.

  Valmont : But that is not what my aunt is asking you. Forget Maman. If you had the choice, who would you pick? You, yourself?

  Cecile : Oh! I... I... I guess I would marry Monsieur de Gercourt, and... keep Monsieur Danceny for a lover?

• Madame de Tourvel : This letter is from a close friend of mine. "All his life, Monsieur de Valmont has been and is a consummate master of the art of seduction. Hundreds of women, and I am not exaggerating Madame, have paid for it. He has charmed his countless victims designing his every gesture, every word, every smile in a cold-blooded scheme that has only one squalid end: to destroy the woman's honor." Is this true?

  Valmont : Who wrote that?

  Madame de Tourvel : Is it?

  [no response] 

  Madame de Tourvel : Monsieur de Valmont, don't waste your time on me. I am not, and I never will be, one of those women.

  Valmont : I know that.

  Madame de Tourvel : So, why do you keep trying?

• Mertuil : That young lady is the daughter of my cousin, Madame de Volanges. She's about to get married and she's under my protection. So, you keep away from her.

  Valmont : How old did you say she was?

  Mertuil : Fifteen, you monster.

• Madame de Tourvel : Sometimes my friends tell me I'm naive.

  [clutches her chest] 

  Madame de Tourvel : But, I'm not so silly that I don't see what you want.

  Valmont : Yes? What do I want?

  Madame de Tourvel : If you don't stop talking that way, we can't be friends.

• Mertuil : You know, little Cecile, she - she reminds me so much of myself when I was 15. She's naive, innocent, - pure.

  Valmont : Yes?

  Mertuil : 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.

• Valmont : What do you want to wager?

  Mertuil : Anything you want.

  Valmont : You. Your body.

  Mertuil : And if you lose?

  Valmont : Anything you want.

  Mertuil : I want you to shut yourself in a monastery, anoint yourself with ashes and repent for all your sins.

  Valmont : I accept.

  Mertuil : Good night, my little monk. I'm afraid you'll be very lonely. Remember me in your prayers sometime.

• Madame de Tourvel : Monsieur de Valmont, I know some women might be weak, but, believe me, there are women who will always be true.

  Baron : Nonsense! A true woman is a contradiction in terms.

  Valmont : Not always. I believe that some women stay true. I find them fascinating.

  Mertuil : Men usually do.

  Madame de Tourvel : I've noticed that.

• Madame de Tourvel : I would never tell you what to do. But, please, go away. Please, please go away. I know I should be the one to leave. And I know it's my duty, but I haven't the strength. I can't go on like this. When I sit down, you sit next to me. When I speak, you answer. I blush in your company, and everybody sees it. But, then, when - when I am alone... oh... Please, go away. I beg you. Please. Please go.

  Valmont : Is that what you want?

  Madame de Tourvel : Do you want me to say - that I don't want you to leave? I can't say that. I can't!

• Valmont : I'd do whatever Mama wants me to do.

  Valmont : But that's not what my Aunt is asking you. Forget Mama. If you had the choice, who would you pick? You, yourself.

  Cecile : I guess I would marry Monsieur de Gercourt - and keep Monsieur de Danceny for a lover?

• Mertuil : Better than me?

  Valmont : No one compares to you.

  Mertuil : How true.

• Valmont : I won and I have the right to collect my prize!

• Valmont : I feel awful.

  Mertuil : Are you surprised? You are an awful man.

• Mertuil : We should never be enemies. We should always be friends. Good friends.

  Valmont : More than that.

• Valmont : You only have one choice, Cecile.

  Cecile : What?

  Valmont : We have to write Danceny another letter.

  Cecile : Oh, yes. But - we will only write, won't we, sir?

  Valmont : Oh, yes. Yes, we'll only write.