Valmont (1989)
Siân Phillips: Madame de Volanges
Photos
Quotes
-
Madame de Volanges : Did I show you the cabinet I gave Cecile? It's an exquisite piece. Well, I told her: "You can lock all your secrets in there." Do you know what she said? "Maman, you know it will never be locked." Isn't that the sweetest thing a daughter can say to her mother?
Mertuil : Oh! Yes, yes.
Madame de Volanges : Well, it's locked.
Mertuil : Oh.
Madame de Volanges : I have a duplicate key of course.
Mertuil : Of course.
-
Madame de Volanges : Cecile! Martine!
Martine : Yes, Madame?
Madame de Volanges : Where is Cecile?
Martine : [nervously] Cecile? She's... she... she has...
Madame de Volanges : Where is she?
[Martine can't form an answer; Volanges, unable to find Cecile, rings for José]
Madame de Volanges : José, have you been at your post all night?
José : Yes, madame.
Madame de Volanges : Has anyone come in?
José : No, Madame.
Madame de Volanges : Martine?
Martine : [fearfully] Yes, Madame?
Madame de Volanges : Did she go and see that music teacher?
Martine : [hysterically] I don't know, Madame. She doesn't talk to me anymore. She only talks to Madame de Merteuil now. And she... she...
[Volanges turns to leave, Martine faints]
-
Mertuil : It's really sweet to see Cecile so excited about her marriage.
Madame de Volanges : Oh, yes, yes. She's excited, very excited. It almost has me worried.
Mertuil : Why?
Madame de Volanges : Well, she's been at that convent since she was *eleven*. She's so innocent. So unprepared.
Mertuil : Well, as long as her husband doesn't mind.
Madame de Volanges : Oh, no! On the contrary, he seems obsessed by her purity and virginity.
-
Madame de Volanges : Oh, my dear. I'd love you to spend some time with Cecile. She could learn so much from you. I want her to enter this marriage as innocent as she is - and as wise as you are.
Mertuil : Oh, you flatter me.
-
Madame de Volanges : Do you know what I found? Letters. Love letters.
Mertuil : From?
Madame de Volanges : From her miserable music teacher.
Mertuil : That little boy?
Madame de Volanges : That little snake!
-
Madame de Volanges : Why are you locking your cabinet?
Cecile : Is it locked?
Madame de Volanges : Give me the key.
Cecile : I don't know where it is.
Madame de Volanges : It's hanging round your neck.