Original subtitles

I was born in a forgotten province,

far from here.

I had no money, no name, no family.

I only had one freedom...

to marry the man I loved.

This future was everything to me.

Yet it was taken from me.

A YEAR AGO.

Isabelle, he is here.

Your skin is burning...

I can't live without you.

Monsieur...

Your pretty words are not enough.

Isabelle, I'm writing to you, risking everything,

to prove to you, one last time, how far my love goes.

You've opened your heart to me. I offer you mine.

And I'll do whatever it takes to get you out of this orphanage,

to set you free, and escape this prison.

I met you in a place designed to extinguish souls,

and yet you were burning.

In your eyes, I see the miracle

of two beings promised to each other,

whose passion must never be tamed.

So, since my words are no longer enough...

I've come with a wish. Marry me.

My life is yours. Lucien Beaucaillou.

You'll run away tomorrow.

I've found a priest who's agreed to marry us.

I know you don't have any family.

But my aunt will be your witness. My best friend will be mine.

You and me forever.

Isabelle Dassonville.

Lucien Beaucaillou.

In the presence of your witnesses,

I now pronounce you husband and wife.

For better or for worse...

until death do you part.

My love...

Let her in.

I've been expecting you.

-Hello, Mademoiselle. -Where has my husband gone?

Monsieur Beaucaillou?

Come on, Mademoiselle.

There never was a Monsieur Beaucaillou.

Your wedding was just a show, a ruse by my nephew

-to take advantage of your charms. -You're lying!

The man you slept with is named Valmont.

He's a vicomte.

He's not your husband and you'll never see him again.

I can't keep you in this pension, Isabelle,

nor can I abandon you.

We'd soon find your throat slit in a brothel in Saint-Malo.

Only a life of silence and prayer can redeem your guilt.

The Black Cross Convent expects you tonight.

No... No, have mercy!

Madame? Shall we return to Paris for the Comte de Gercourt's ball?

Have you seen an invitation?

It seems I'm not welcome.

Very well, Madame.

What's going on here?

-I need money. -Get out of here immediately!

You got me into this mess, Madame. You and your nephew.

-Jacques, kick her out. -Over my dead body.

I have nothing to lose. They want to take me to the Black Cross Convent.

And what's so bad about this convent?

I want to live.

I wasn't meant to say mass till I die and renounce the world.

Leave us, Jacques.

It's true that it would be a pity to lock up such youth and beauty,

when they can be used as weapons.

I may have a proposition for you.

-What is it? -Madame.

What must I do... Madame?

-To begin with, seduce a man. -Who?

-Valmont? -Forget Valmont.

It's too soon to say.

First, I must be sure you're capable of it.

You'll accompany me to Paris. You'll observe and listen.

But above all, you'll obey me.

No questions asked.

My dearest, we've had wonderful times,

but the inevitable has happened.

I've grown weary of you.

Since there's no easy way to say it, forgive my bluntness,

I'm leaving you, and can no longer pay your expenses.

Accept this necklace as a memento of the pleasure we shared.

Your devoted prince, Zaferano.

Paris awaits.

-Will men fight for her? -No.

Do you want to marry me off?

Don't be silly.

-Then why all this? -I told you, Mademoiselle.

No questions.

Wipe that stupid smile off your face. Only harlots act that way.

Seduction is easy. You must learn to master men.

Show me.

His face looks familiar.

An officer now retired.

-This is for Mademoiselle. -Very wealthy. Widowed.

From the Marquis.

"The gown was made for you. Allow me to buy it for you,

as a tribute to your beauty. Marquis de Merteuil."

See, Mademoiselle?

No need to sell yourself to get it all.

Come.

It's delicious.

Yes.

Sit.

Did you have a good night?

-I saw you with your two... -My two Vikings?

Are you a libertine?

Do you know that word?

Do you consider yourself as skilled in the art of pleasure?

Well?

Tomorrow I'll take you to Gercourt.

The Prince of Libertines.

The guardian of our games.

He's the one you must seduce.

Will Valmont be there?

Why?

-Was I wrong about you? -No, Madame.

Learn to live life without looking back.

The past is nothing, but a decaying corpse.

Cast no eye upon it.

Bear no shame nor bitterness...

nor tenderness.

Valmont despises Gercourt. He won't come.

Listen, Mademoiselle.

To disappoint me... would be to betray me.

Louis de Germain.

Anything wrong, Monsieur?

You smell of woman, instead of man.

-Last night... -Yes?

the Vicomte was tired.

My friend is a man of great reputation.

After being pounded all night, you must need a well-deserved rest.

Absolutely, Monsieur Louis. Last night, the Vicomte had 10 rounds.

-10? -20.

-Six seems already honorable. -Yes, Monsieur.

Go on.

-How do you feel this morning? -Exquisite.

I've been worrying since we got back from your wedding in Normandy.

-Any regrets? -Don't insult me please.

I must see her again.

I met her as a girl. Now I want her as a woman.

May she love Valmont as she loved Beaucaillou.

A new challenge? Would you want her to love you for you?

Consider for a moment how much little Isabelle must hate me today.

-A terrible hatred. -Doubtless, yes.

What is simpler than turning love into hate?

Winning it back is hard.

-Assuming it's possible. -I aim to find out.

My aunt writes me that Isabelle came to see her.

-They're both in Paris. -Together?

-I don't get it. -My aunt is no fool.

Her rich lovers want more than a new dress.

-She's still beautiful. -Still.

An adjective that could mean her exile from Paris.

Gercourt only sleeps with a particular kind of woman.

The kind I saw in you the day you broke my window.

Which kind?

Those who've never been with a man, but who are itching to try.

The innocent ones who are already corrupted.

Virgins on fire.

But, Madame, I'm no longer...

A virgin?

There are ways to convince men

that they're the first to taste our charms.

Take this. This is an alum stone.

Imported from Saxony, where I was born.

You'll run a bath, and take it with you. It will tighten you.

And when Gercourt is inside you,

the miracle will happen with a few drops of blood.

In our language,

a white ribbon is proof of your virginity.

And your price.

Paris gets excited as quickly as it is bored.

A woman quickly goes from object of desire to object of scorn.

And the universal rule

that applies to a prince or an orphan like you,

your entire life rides on the first impression you make.

So always be what's expected of you.

It will keep you safe.

Tonight, you'll aim for Gercourt himself.

-What if I don't like him? -You will, fear not.

If he unties this ribbon, he'll make you a princess.

Why are you doing all this?

Don't try to understand things

-before you experience them... -Enough clichés.

I'm not asking about life,

men, women, the world, but you, Madame.

You.

If I manage to seduce Gercourt...

what will you expect from me?

We'll see in due course.

How will I recognize him?

Follow everyone's eyes.

And you'll see him appear.

The sun king of darkest night.

The Comte de Gercourt!

I'll introduce you.

-Madame... -Charles.

-Good to see you. -You look gorgeous tonight.

Thank you.

Isabelle, listen to me.

Sorry, I prepared a speech, but your gaze unsettles me.

-Then be gone, Vicomte. -I'm not asking you to forgive me,

or even understand. There's nothing to understand.

It was a stupid bet I'm ashamed of, but my feelings were true.

Inside, you know it.

Our passion that night couldn't lie.

-Our passion? -You've lit a fire in me.

A fire that...

I'm sorry. Practice. Years of misbehaving.

But please...

Go ahead.

I deserve it.

I'm from a modest and harsh world.

But it probably would have given me peace of mind.

You sent me to hell, Monsieur Vicomte de Valmont.

You sent me to hell, but promised me heaven.

You ruined everything.

And now I've come here...

to your world...

to become queen...

and destroy you.

-Adored aunt, light of my life. -What are you doing here?

Excuse me, but I can't let you pimp Isabelle to my rival.

I have other plans for her.

But you don't stand a chance! This is absurd!

Thank you, Madame. You couldn't make me want to fight more.

Isabelle, please.

Valmont?

What's the matter, friend?

Dressed as a servant? Great look for you.

Is this sweet child causing trouble?

My dear Comte.

Isabelle Dassonville is a young relative.

How lucky to find you here tonight in such refined company.

You stopped coming despite my insistence.

I almost thought you held a grudge.

But you know me so well. I can no longer be without you.

Come. Let us return to the festivities.

As for you, Mademoiselle...

Having gazed into your eyes, I must know your every secret.

And more...

Don't forget, Isabelle.

Your face is everything.

Your arm and your armor.

But you must learn to seduce.

To be aloof, mysterious, inaccessible,

first, it's all about speed.

Creating a whirlwind.

Go faster than he can think, daze him with your mysteries,

grab him by the gut and never let go,

making him a fervent slave to your whims.

You'll become his master.

You're marvelous.

Thank you.

Are you afraid?

-No. -Of course you are.

We're alone now.

We have all night.

No.

Let yourself go.

I'll be as gentle as a whisper.

No.

Are you that kind of woman?

Stop it!

Leave it to me.

I'm not a virgin!

I lied.

-Valmont deflowered me. -Valmont?

What did he do...

to make you a wild beast fated for submission?

What a hot-blooded creature!

She likes to play.

And so do I.

Take your slut back, Valmont.

Did you and your whore aunt have a good laugh?

Would you like to... play with me some more?

Comte, I'm your man.

Tell me not to go. I'll do as you say.

I want to be influenced by just one thing, and that's forever, yours.

-So you love me? -I'd die to prove it.

Fine. Go on, then.

I'll believe it when you're dead.

Valmont, you're a clown.

I can't let a country whore...

deprive us of such a clown as you.

Madame,

perhaps you'll open this letter expecting an apology.

You will get none.

I wanted so much to do what you expected of me,

but what can I say? I wasn't born to be sacrificed.

After our humiliating defeat,

I played the only card I had left.

I got married.

Out of interest, out of survival...

but without a single ounce of love.

But I'm not forgetting that my title, my fortune and my castle,

I owe them to you.

Today, you're alone against the world.

And your nephew is far too selfish to help you.

Let me help you.

I know how to give you your money back and your reputation.

Together, we can reclaim what makes life worth living...

our freedom.

My princess.

My wife.

My prince.

My husband.

Time drags without you.

Really? You're not bored?

I live only through you...

for you.

Marquise de Merteuil.

Marquise...

I'll show you.

I'll show you.