In a pair of sumptuous drawingrooms, one in a Parisian mansion, the other in a chateau on a luxurious estate in the countryside surrounding Paris, two aristocrats are very bored. The Marquise de Merteuil decides, therefore, to construct a little intrigue for her own amusement and the amusement of her former lover, the Vicomte de Valmont. The Marquise is aware that a young girl of good family, Cécile Volanges, has only just left the convent so that she can be married to the Comte de Gercourt. Now, the Marquise has a bone to pick with this particular Comte, and so she suggests to the Vicomte that he seduce and debauch Cécile to create a scandal and humiliate Gercourt. Valmont accepts the Marquise's proposal somewhat coolly, since he already has his eyes on another prey, the highly religious Présidente de Tourvel, the chaste wife of a member of Parliament. But, never one to refuse a challenge, Valmont suggests that he and the Marquise enter into a slightly different bet: if he can obtain written proof that he has slept with the Présidente, the Marquise must yield herself to him.
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- Dangerous Liaisons Script
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Meanwhile, Cécile has been presented to society, and in society she meets the charming and gentle Chevalier Danceny. Danceny becomes Cécile's music teacher and slowly, with a little coaxing from the Marquise de Merteuil, the two young people fall in love. During this time, Valmont is out in the country on his aunt's estate, trying to turn the Présidente de Tourvel's head. He has very little luck in this department despite his use of every known trick in the book. Then, as coincidence would have, Cécile's mother, Madame Volanges, who corresponds regularly with the Présidente de Tourvel, happens to say some rather unflattering things about Valmont in a letter which Valmont just happens to steal and read. And thus it is that Valmont resolves to seduce the little Volanges as revenge for her mother's only too accurate trash-talk.
Cécile's 'seduction' would be more accurately termed 'rape,' but the girl is persuaded to enter into a bizarre student-teacher relationship with Valmont, so that for a while she is being courted by Danceny and 'loved' nightly by Valmont. During his time as Cécile's teacher, Valmont is also able to win the heart of the Présidente de Tourvel.
Finally, the Dangerous Liasons script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Uma Thurman movieThis script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay and/or viewings of Dangerous Liasons. A sumptuously mounted and photographed celebration of artful wickedness, betrayal, and sexual intrigue among depraved 18th-century French aristocrats, Dangerous Liaisons (based on Christopher Hampton's Les Liaisons Dangereuses) is seductively decade.
However, the Marquise de Merteuil is not so easily pleased. Rather than encourage the Vicomte de Valmont to meet the conditions of their original agreement, she mocks him for having fallen in love with the Présidente de Tourvel. Valmont's pride does not withstand these attacks very well, and to avoid compromising his reputation as a good-for-nothing gigolo, he leaves the Présidente cold, with no explanation. Cécile fares no better, after a particularly rough night in Valmont's room, she miscarries his child.
Now things are really looking bad for everyone involved. The Présidente de Tourvel removes herself to a convent where she proceeds to die of grief and shame. Merteuil and Valmont are never able to reconcile their little snit and can only agree to go to war with one another. Danceny learns that Valmont seduced Cécile and challenges him to a duel; and Danceny wins the duel. Valmont hands over his correspondence with the Marquise to Danceny on his deathbed; all of society learns of her schemes and machinations. The Marquise is forced to flee town and, like a wicked old witch, is never heard from again. Full of regret for her activities with Valmont, Cécile returns to the convent from whence she came, with the intention of becoming a nun.
Sequence.
Well, my dear...
So how are you adapting
to the world outside?
Very well, I think.
I've advised her to watch and learn
and be quietexcept when spoken to.
So we must see what we can devise
for your amusement.
Valmont is here.
You receive him, do you?
Yes.
So do you.
Monsieur le Vicomte de Valmont,
my child...
...whom you very probably
don't remember...
...except that he is
conspicuously charming...
...never opens his mouthwithout first
calculating what damage he can do.
Then why do you receive him,
maman?
Everyone receives him.
Madame.
What a pleasant surprise.
Madame de Volanges.
How delightful to see you.
You remember my daughter, Ccile?
Well, indeed, but who could have
foretold she wouldflower so gracefully?
I wanted to call on you
before leaving the city.
Oh...
I'm not sure we can allow that.
Why should you want to leave?
Paris in August, you know...
...and it's time I paid a visit on my aunt.
I've neglected her disgracefully.
Madame de Rosemonde
has been good enough...
...to invite us to stay at the chteau.
Won't you please give her
our warmest regards?
I shall make a point of it, Madame.
I think it's time we took you home.
I'm used to being in bed
by nine at the convent.
So I should hope.
Your aunt?
That's correct.
I thought she'd already made
arrangements to leave you all her money.
Dangerous Liaisons Script Pdf
Do you know why I summoned you
here this evening?
I'd hoped it might be for
the pleasure of my company.
I need you...
...to carry out an heroic enterprise.
You remember when Bastide left me?
Yes.
And went off with that fat mistress
of yourswhose name escapes me.
Yes, yes.
No one has ever done that to me before.
Or to you, I suspect.
I was quiterelieved to be rid of her,
frankly.
No, you weren't.
For some years now,
Bastide has been searching for a wife.
He was alwaysunshakably prejudiced
in favour of convent education.
And now he's found the ideal candidate.
Ccile Volanges.
Very good.
And her 60,000 a year.
That must have played some small part
in Bastide's calculations.
None whatsoever.
Bastide's priority, you see...
... is a guaranteed virtue.
I wonder if I'm beginning to guess
what it is you're intending to propose.
Bastide is with his regiment in Corsica
for the rest of the year.
Dangerous Liaisons Play Script
That should give you plenty of time.
You mean to...?
- She's a rosebud.
- You think so?
And he'd get back from his honeymoon...
...to find himself the laughing stock
of Paris.
- Well...
- Yes.
Love and revenge. Two of your favourites.
No, I can't.
What?
Oh really, I can't.
- Why not?
- Oh, it's too easy.
It is.
She's seen nothing.
She knows nothing.
She's bound to be curious.
She'd be on her back...
...before you'd unwrapped
the firstbunch of flowers.
Any one of a dozen men couldmanage it.
I have my reputation to think of.
I can see I'm going to have
to tell you everything.
- Of course you are.
Dangerous Liaisons Script
- Yes.
My aunt is not on her own
just at the moment.
Dangerous Liaisons Script
She has a youngfriendstaying with her.
Madame de Tourvel.
You can't mean it.
Dangerous Liaisons Play Script Pdf
To seduce a woman famous
for strict morals...
...religious fervour and the happiness
of her marriage...
What couldpossibly be more prestigious?
I think there's something degrading
about having a husband for a rival.
It's humiliating if you fail,
and commonplace if you succeed.
Where is Monsieur de Tourvel anyway?
Dangerous Liaisons Screenplay
Presiding over some
endless case in Burgundy.
I don't think you can hope
for any actual pleasure.
Oh, yes.
You see, I have no intention
of breaking down her prejudices.
I want her to believe in God and virtue