suitor. Valmont gains access to Cécile's bedchamber on a pretext, and sexually assaults her. As she pleads with him to leave, he blackmails her into giving up physical resistance, and the scene ends. On the pretext of illness, Cécile remains locked in her chambers, refusing all visitors. A concerned Madame de Volanges asks Merteuil to speak to Cécile; Cécile confides in Merteuil, naively assuming that she has Cécile's best interests at heart. Merteuil advises Cécile to welcome Valmont's advances; she says young women should take advantage of all the lovers they can acquire in a society so repressive and contemptuous of women. The result is a "student-teacher" relationship; by day, Cécile is courted by Danceny, and each night she receives a sexual "lesson" from Valmont. Merteuil begins an affair with Danceny. After a night in Valmont's bed, Cécile miscarries his child. Meanwhile, Valmont has won Tourvel's heart, but at a cost: the lifelong bachelor playboy falls in love. In a fit of jealousy, Merteuil mocks Valmont and refuses to honor her end of their agreement unless Valmont breaks up with Tourvel. Valmont abruptly dismisses the latter with a terse excuse: "It's beyond my control." Overwhelmed with grief and shame, Tourvel retreats to a monastery where her health deteriorates rapidly. Despite the breakup, Merteuil still refuses to honor the agreement and even declares "war". She informs Danceny that Valmont has been sleeping with Cécile. Danceny challenges Valmont to a duel, ending with the latter voluntarily running into Danceny's sword. With his dying breath, Valmont asks Danceny to communicate to Tourvel his true feelings for her; he also gives Danceny his collection of intimate letters from Merteuil. After hearing Valmont's message from Danceny, Tourvel dies. Merteuil goes to the opera but she is booed by her former friends and sycophants: all of Paris have learned the full range of Merteuil's schemes and depredations. She flees in disgrace. In the last shot we see her removing her makeup, alone. Cast Glenn Close as Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil John Malkovich as Vicomte Sébastien de Valmont Michelle Pfeiffer as Madame Marie de Tourvel Uma Thurman as Cécile de Volanges Swoosie Kurtz as Madame de Volanges, mother of Cécile and cousin to Merteuil Keanu Reeves as Le Chevalier Raphael Danceny, suitor to Cécile Mildred Natwick as Madame de Rosemonde, Valmont's aunt Peter Capaldi as Azolan, Valmont's valet Valerie Gogan as Julie, Madame de Tourvel's chambermaid Laura