Dangerous Liaisons (1988)

John Malkovich: Vicomte de Valmont

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Quotes 

• Vicomte de Valmont : Now, yes or no? It's up to you, of course. I will merely confine myself to remarking that a "no" will be regarded as a declaration of war. A single word is all that's required.

  Marquise de Merteuil : All right. War.

• Vicomte de Valmont : I often wonder how you manage to invent yourself.

  Marquise de Merteuil : Well, I had no choice, did I? I'm a woman. Women are obliged to be far more skillful than men. You can ruin our reputation and our life with a few well-chosen words. So, of course, I had to invent, not only myself, but ways of escape no one has every thought of before. And I've succeeded because I've always known I was born to dominate your sex and avenge my own.

• Vicomte de Valmont : You see, I have no intention of breaking down her prejudices. I want her to believe in God and virtue and the sanctity of marriage, and still not be able to stop herself. I want the excitement of watching her betray everything that's is most important to her. Surely you understand that. I thought betrayal was your favorite word.

  Marquise de Merteuil : No, no..."cruelty." I always think that has a nobler ring to it.

• Vicomte de Valmont : I ended by falling on my knees and pledging her eternal love. And do you know that, at that time, and for several hours afterwards, I actually meant it.

• Vicomte de Valmont : Why do you suppose we only feel compelled to chase the ones who run away?

  Marquise de Merteuil : Immaturity?

• Marquise de Merteuil : My victory wasn't over her.

  Vicomte de Valmont : Of Course it was. What are you talking about?

  Marquise de Merteuil : It was over you.

• Azolan : It's all very well to be sorry now.

  Vicomte de Valmont : Let it be. He had good cause. I don't believe that's something anyone has ever been able to say about me.

• Vicomte de Valmont : Surely I've explained to you before how much I enjoy watching the battle between love and virtue.

  Marquise de Merteuil : What concerns me is that you seem to enjoy watching it much more than you used to enjoy winning it.

  Vicomte de Valmont : All in good time.

  Marquise de Merteuil : The century is drawing to its close.

• [repeated line] 

  Vicomte de Valmont : It's beyond my control.

• Vicomte de Valmont : Be careful of the Marquise de Merteuil.

  Chevalier Danceny : You must permit me to treat with skepticism anything you have to say about her.

  Vicomte de Valmont : Nevertheless, I must tell you in this affair, we are both her creatures, as I believe her letters to me will prove. When you have read them, you may decide to circulate them.

• Vicomte de Valmont : [Armand, who is getting all of his possessions taken by the tax collector, stands in the presence of Vicomte de Valmont]  Please, don't get up.

  Armand : I have to. They're taking my bed.

• Vicomte de Valmont : I want you somehow... somehow to get to see Madame de Tourvel.

  Chevalier Danceny : I understand she's very ill.

  Vicomte de Valmont : That is why this is most important to me. I want you to tell her that I cannot explain why I broke with her as I did, but that since then, my life has been worth nothing. I pushed the blade in deeper than you just have, my boy. And now I need you to help me withdraw it. Tell her it is lucky for her that I have gone, and I am glad not to have to live without her. Tell her her love was the only real happiness that I have ever known. Will you do that for me?

  Chevalier Danceny : I will.

• Madame Marie de Tourvel : I'm beginning to think you may have planned the whole exercise.

  Vicomte de Valmont : I had no idea you were staying here! Not that it would have disturbed me in the slightest if I had known. You see, until I met you, I had only ever experienced desire. Love, never.

  Madame Marie de Tourvel : That's enough.

  Vicomte de Valmont : No, no, you made an accusation and you must allow me the opportunity to defend myself! Now, I'm not going to deny that I was aware of your beauty. But the point is, this has nothing to do with your beauty. As I got to know you, I began to realize that beauty was the least of your qualities. I became fascinated by your goodness. I was drawn in by it. I didn't understand what was happening to me. And it was only when I began to feel actual, physical pain every time you left the room that it finally dawned on me: I was in love, for the first time in my life. I knew it was hopeless, but that didn't matter to me. And it's not that I want to have you. All I want is to deserve you. Tell me what to do. Show me how to behave. I'll do anything you say.

• [Cécile is startled by a sudden noise, Valmont gets up to investigate] 

  Vicomte de Valmont : It's only the wind.

  [Cécile is gasping] 

  Vicomte de Valmont : Where are you? It's nothing to be frightened about.

  Cécile de Volanges : Yes there is. I'm bleeding!