[Camille] She wanted me to stay.
And now she's dead.
Throw this opportunistic baggage out.
[Majordome] A weapon should be in the hands of someone
who knows how to use it.
I can't read it. There's a water stain. Apri--
-Apricot, perhaps. -Your wife's words.
She took her own life. Because of you.
Support her last wish, that I flourish here in Paris,
or I will share your wife's ungodly act
with all your society.
Rose, let us pass.
What will you give me?
[Gabriel] There's no place here for a man
so lacking in morality.
My father's title, his fortune,
should have been mine when he died,
but you poisoned him against me.
My letters.
Do you know how dangerous it is to have them?
Less dangerous than not having them, I think.
[Jean] How could you possibly know a woman
such as Jacqueline de Montrachet?
[Camille] She promised me everything.
Then she threw me away as if I were nothing.
[Geneviève] Avenge our sex. Devise strategies.
Conquer or die.
[soft string music plays]
♪ ♪
[Pascal] Here you go.
Monsieur. Food. Food for us.
I think straight down the middle is the fairest way.
I made a new friend last night at the opera.
The Comtesse de l'Ancenis. It will soon be like old times.
[knock at door]
Stay. Eat.
[inquisitive music plays]
♪ ♪
[Azolan] What is it, sir?
A fresh shirt, Azolan.
It seems the Comtesse awaits me.
[dramatic string music plays]
♪ ♪
[lively string music plays]
♪ ♪
The Comtesse de l'Ancenis is here already?
I never discuss my patrons, monsieur.
That way, I keep them.
♪ ♪
Forgive me. I have the wrong room.
Did you ever look at me?
To be fair, you rarely had your clothes on.
The card was from you. Why?
You can't decide between vermillion or cerise?
You're starting to look shabby, Valmont.
I noticed at the opera.
Perhaps now I'm surrounded in all this finery,
I notice the loose threads about you, and it won't do.
Didn't seem to trouble my companion.
I forget, you have so many admirers.
But that list grows shorter by the day, I think.
So everything you need to look your best,
courtesy of my guardian.
New wardrobe from Jean de Merteuil?
No grief on earth would compel him to generosity.
Well, I've been encouraging his charitable side.
And do I want to know how?
Undress for me.
Ask me nicely.
You are fortunate I ask at all. Undress.
[cane thumps]
[suggestive string music plays]
♪ ♪
Put it on.
Pussycat.
Do not call me that.
What would you give to have me back?
Everything.
I am afraid to risk so much for you.
My place in Saint-Honoré, the wardship of a marquis.
I would have to be so sure of you in deeds, not words.
Tell me what to do.
Anything?
I would need to know you understand what love means.
What it takes.
There is a woman in Paris.
If you could seduce her, not just in body, but in mind...
...that might show me
you're capable of understanding love.
Why not simply make you love me?
You did.
Now you must be beyond doubt.
Or I can never give myself to you again.
And there must be proof, a letter, from her to you.
Declaring her love.
Isn't that your specialty?
-Who is she? -[Camille] Your challenge.
Jacqueline de Montrachet.
Tell Jean to prepare the guestroom.
I'll have you back before the day is out.
Send word when you have made progress.
♪ ♪
Hiya!
Don't look so disapproving.
I derive no pleasure from him.
I preferred you as a whore than a liar.
You forget my sweet tooth.
Look what you do.
Where is your head?
Clean up your mess.
And then, Majordome, you must make your choice.
You must decide to whom in this house you are loyal.
Bring me the letter my wife intended for me.
And remove that sash.
This house is no longer in mourning.
[operatic vocalizing]
[lively harpsichord music plays]
♪ ♪
♪ My secret being mastery ♪
♪ And being untouched ♪
No, no, no! How many times?
I must truly, truly believe you as Daphne
when you say you are a virgin.
Quite frankly, listening to that,
I think I'd fucked you myself.
But you have.
I was speaking metaphorically.
Go again, but this time, molto, molto innocente!
Every day, you change the score.
My libretto. My character.
This is not an opera! It's a tragedy!
It's a shame you can't bring that level of drama
to your performance, darling.
Difficult day, Theo.
Well, look at you.
Valmont in the daytime. Is it the apocalypse?
I need a favor.
I have an opera to prepare
-for the queen. -[Pascal] Mm-hmm.
And opening night fast approaching,
and still no story.
It's I who needs the favor.
[Pascal] Don't they always say write what you know?
Paris is not ready for that opera.
Oh!
[Theo] Now, what is this favor?
Need you to find someone.
A woman.
Did I not see you with the Comtesse de l'Ancenis
last night?
-She's not enough? -Oh, she's far too much.
And comes as a pair with her husband.
Theo.
You're a man in demand at every fine cellar,
-not to mention Versailles. -[Theo] Mm.
Where will I find Jacqueline de Montrachet?
Tell me you don't seek to fuck her.
Can't you find something meaningful
-to do with your life? -[Pascal] Hmm.
One day, when I don't have rent to pay.
Where will I find her?
On her knees. But don't get excited.
It's the Church of Saint-Sauveur
she can't get enough of.
I'll pray for your opera whilst I am there.
Theo.
We are no longer in mourning?
Apparently not.
Ah, here she is! Our visitor from Carcassonne.
Oh, Camille.
I feel as if I know you already.
Oh, what sorrow you have endured!
I can see it in the dullness of your eyes and skin.
I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced.
How remiss of me. The Comtesse de Sevigny.
We'll get to know each other over dinner tonight,
and we can remember my cousin in every detail.
Though Geneviève was not one for gossip, it's implausible
I wouldn't have heard of this Camille.
A fact you will illuminate tonight.
A shadow can only survive in the dark.
Why do you not simply cast her out?
Far better that she leave
because she cannot bear to stay.
[both chuckle]
How can there be no trace of her?
I mean, they were cousins, so there must be some letters,
a journal, something I can glean
some sense or knowledge of her from.
There's nothing here.
-Madame wanted to protect me. -[Victoire] From what?
You overestimate her affections for you.
I can't be exposed tonight.
Then we should leave.
Not until Valmont does what he promised.
[suspenseful string music plays]
♪ ♪
[indistinct preaching]
-Madame de Montrachet. -Huh?
Direct me to Madame de Montrachet.
I have a message for her.
Love thinks no evil. Bears all things. Believes...
Love sounds like a bore at a party.
[both chuckle]
Forgive me, madame,
but I was compelled to come closer to you.
Why?
You have bewitched me.
I felt your presence the moment I entered here.
Then God does indeed hear my prayer.
Might he hear them even more clearly outside?
[playful music plays]
♪ ♪
[panting]
I shall be known at confession.
Forgive me.
I have never felt such desire for a stranger.
Perhaps it's because I leave Paris tonight for America.
I don't know when I'll be back.
My dear boy, it was very nice.
But I have to get back.
The sermon's about to get very fiery.
Grant me something more tangible than a memory.
A letter, perhaps, so that
I may read it on my journey, relive our joy.
If it means we say "adieu."
Might you address me as your beloved Valmont,
in your words, of course, Jacqueline.
Jacqueline?
De Montrachet?
Montachet.
No. Montrachet.
Candice Montachet. And you are?
Mistaken. Madame.
Adieu.
Vicomtesse de Valmont.
Thank you for granting me this audience.
You're not here to arrest me?
I've stolen the hearts of so many, monsieur.
Why would the Unit of Moral Discipline
seek an audience with me?
To discuss your late husband's son.
Prévan.
[Gabriel] Pascal Valmont.
If you are here to ask me to pay for his drinking debts
or the father of some foolish girl he seduced,
your journey is a wasted one.
That...man has no place in my family.
May I ask why he is so regarded?
Perhaps I wasn't clear. He is not regarded at all.
A man without morals has no place in my family.
A man without morals
is a danger to society, Vicomtesse.
He is disinherited and penniless.
He's as dangerous as a blind hen.
Do not underestimate what those with nothing will do.
Then why do you not act?
I require more than my suspicion, Vicomtesse.
I require proof.
And with this proof?
I will see him in a prison cell.
Then we must hope such proof is found.
[suspenseful music plays]
♪ ♪
Please, Majordome.
I've helped you enough. I owe you nothing more.
I'm not asking you to break some kind of sacred trust.
Just tell me who this woman is.
Their time together. The affection between them.
There is tarnish. See it is removed.
[servant] Majordome.
Madame promised to guide me through this world.
I'm lost here without her.
I can tell you about etiquette.
Which knife to use at table. But I cannot fabricate a life,
nor will I compromise myself further.
And why should I?
You are not who you say you are.
No one is who they say they are, Majordome.
Is that your name? Or was it given?
Because if it was given, then you are who they say you are.
I need your help.
If I thrive, so will you. That's a promise.
And I have saved you once already here.
I am not in need of a savior such as you, mademoiselle.
Your instructions for dinner are noted.
♪ ♪
[Majordome] Mademoiselle.
You should pray more, as madame did.
You mock me now?
It gave her guidance when she needed it most,
and you are a woman in much need of guidance,
not least in how you address me in the future.
Don't ever imagine you know who I am.
[singing in Italian]
[lively harpsichord music plays]
[applause]
I have abused your music teacher long enough.
Delight us with your honeyed voice.
Everybody, Camille is here.
Camille.
The Comte de Sevigny and his daughter Emilie.
[Emilie] Camille.[laughs]
We will be like sisters while I'm in Paris,
especially as now I am
no longer a prisoner of the convent.
The Chevalier d'Ancenis.
And you've already met the Comtesse.
We look forward to learning everything about you.
[Majordome] Dinner is served, Marquis.
[Jean] At last.
Draw comfort from the book if your mistress will not.
[inquisitive music plays]
♪ ♪
Forgive me, mademoiselle.
You will find we're sticklers for customs here, Camille.
For your devotion, mistress.
[Majordome] Christine called madame "general,"
a play on Geneviève.
Madame in turn called her "musket"--explosive
and liable to go off at any moment.
♪ ♪
To my late wife, light of my darkness.
We all feel your loss, Jean.
None more so than I.
Geneviève was to be instrumental in our search
for a match worthy of Emilie.
With such a vast dowry, I valued another pair of eyes.
One can never have too much scrutiny
on the agenda of strangers.
Well, I'm in no rush to find a husband.
[laughs] Nonsense, darling.
The queen herself will want to help.
My wife is a favorite of Her Majesty.
Another little custom, Camille.
But, uh, seeing as you are so new to Paris,
how did you come to meet my cousin Geneviève?
Perhaps first a prayer of thanks.
We're building such anticipation.
Our Lord Christ, thou art here...
[Majordome] Madame went every spring alone to Geneva.
The air and waters were healing
to the melancholic nature she was disposed to.
Amen.
[all] Amen.
My mother knew madame from her time in Geneva.
That is where I first met her.
-Geneva? -[Camille] Mm.
Her melancholy always seemed to lift when she was there.
The melancholy that plagued her.
She would bathe in the lake morning and night.
As you know, she couldn't abide the heat,
but she would love the cool of the water. [chuckles]
I wish I did have more common ground to share with you,
but she rarely spoke of you.
When she did, she--
she called you "musket."
I don't know why. Blessings.
And yet your mother did not come to pay her respects?
The disadvantage of her herself being dead.
How I would adore to have heard the conversations
between you all.
But Mama, this is really--you can.
We can ask Geneviève herself.
No more wine for you, my darling.
There's a man new to Paris, a mesmerist.
We heard about him at a recital the other evening.
[Emilie] Crowds gather in the square,
and he performs miracles.
They say he receives messages from the grave,
that he can speak with ghosts. He is...
[both] Spectacular.
And chilling.
If he can commune with ghosts,
might we not invite him here, Jean?
We could put your mind at rest
that Geneviève is at peace.
[tense music plays]
[scoffs]
Your wife had a deep faith, Marquis.
A man such as that would be at odds with her.
If my wife has words for me, I shall hear them.
From whatever source they come.
Then let him bring back Geneviève.
Blessings.
♪ ♪
Did you see her reaction at the idea of a conduit
for Geneviève? She was terrified!
One charlatan in fear of another.
But tell me you do not believe that such things are possible.
Where there is belief, anything is possible.
So let us...
let us exploit her belief,
and let Geneviève send her packing
from beyond the grave.
You must not stay in the dark alone, Jean,
or more girls like this one
will come to take advantage of your good nature.
Protect yourself.
Find a new wife.
One who will...
...who will honor the great title your name bestows.
[Camille] "Well, Valmont, have you succeeded?
Do I make up the guest room?
And I thought this challenge would play to your strengths.
Though perhaps it is broken promises
you are master of rather than the hearts of women."
♪ ♪
[crowd murmuring indistinctly]
[indistinct chatter]
Stop. I know this one. Stop.
Fetch Gabriel Carré.
Get off.
This way. Over here.
♪ ♪
I'm so sorry. It's her.
It's Camille.
She always wore it.
See that no one touches her.
If you're in need of comfort--ah--
[bell tolling]
Cheers!
She comes every morning and night for communion,
always dressed in white, and always in a veil.
They call her the ghost around here,
but apparently, she's quite generous.
-[pastor] Body of Christ. -[person] Amen.
-[pastor] Body of Christ. -Body of Christ.
-Body of Christ.
Madame. Please. Your glove.
It is yours, surely.
And now I see it could not possibly be,
for you have quite a pair of your own.
We are in God's house, monsieur.
I do not come here to talk of gloves
or other vanities with strangers.
Madame de Montrachet wears only silk.
Of course. My apologies.
With skin so delicate,
anything else would be like grit to an oyster.
[soft inquisitive music plays]
♪ ♪
Madame, before you leave, I wanted to introduce myself.
[laughter]
[Azolan] If mademoiselle loves you, sir,
why would she set you an impossible task?
She cannot simply take me back.
Her pride will not allow it.
[suspenseful music plays]
♪ ♪
Bring me a paper and quill.
"Camille, though perhaps I should call you torturer,
this task you have set me is a fool's errand.
I thought you sought to punish me,
because in that there is the possibility of redemption.
Now I see it is my humiliation you desire.
You may rest assured this has been achieved.
The only body that Jacqueline de Montrachet desires
is that of Christ.
She is at the Saint-Sauveur morning and night,
praying to a God who would not,
I am sure, condone this challenge.
A more pious and pure woman would be hard to find."
Pious? Pious and pure? She is neither.
"So the great Valmont has failed.
Perhaps it is only without my consent
that you can seduce others.
And I set you a task suited to your skills,
and you respond with defeat.
I take from this that you do not understand what it means
for a woman to give herself completely,
or that you lied
when you said would do anything to win me back."
[Victoire] Should I wait for your reply?
Valmont, lost for words? Let's mark this day, Azolan.
No more games.
That is my reply.
This is at an end.
It's a message, I'm sure, even with your limited vocabulary,
you could relay without error.
Good.
Then you've let her down for the last time.
You have no idea what you've done, do you?
When you stole my letters,
you didn't simply ruin things between Camille and me.
No, you set a fire burning that will consume everyone
and everything connected to it.
Get out.
Valmont does not decide when this is over.
-Monsieur. -Hmm?
-[Pascal grunts] -[shocked cries]
Stand up. Come with me.
[tense music plays]
♪ ♪
I want these people gone from here, now.
[servant] Yes, monsieur.
Mm.
She has been in the water some time.
Perhaps from the night she left to meet you.
You betrayed Camille, and so she drowned herself.
How can you think this is Camille?
It does not suit you to see the evidence
of your immorality, monsieur?
Look upon it.
The proof. If it was needed.
Have you no words of comfort for her, monsieur?
For the woman you ruined?
May God have mercy on her soul.
May God have mercy on yours. As I will not.
♪ ♪
It's not possible, is it? To summon the dead?
It's the living here I'm more afraid of.
I found something.
This isn't the Majordome's writing.
It's madame's.
She says, "forgive me,"
but what does she need forgiveness for?
[Camille] I have no time for the riddles, Victoire.
Just keep watch here and make sense
of what this contraption is.
[Victoire] Where are you going?
Where do you think?
♪ ♪
[knock at door]
I don't want to fight.
Neither do I.
Why did you never bring me here?
It's hardly the house I dreamed of for us.
Perhaps if you had laid out smaller dreams for us,
the disappointment would not be so great.
I don't want smaller dreams for us.
I want to give you another chance.
To complete your task.
You said you would do anything to have me back.
Jacqueline de Montrachet is not for mortal man.
Nor is she a damsel in distress awaiting rescue.
What's happened to you?
If you love me, you'd protect me as I protect you.
I was not aware of your protection.
I mean, from your officer. Gabriel Carré.
How could you know him?
[Pascal] He has a vendetta against me because of you.
Who is he?
The sort of man that thought I could be owned.
Worse, because he believed he was in love.
Everything I'm running from.
Well in your absence, he's turned his attention against me.
And it's already cost me my job.
Now he believes he's found your body
floating in the Seine.
Drowned because of my betrayal of you.
What did you tell him?
That it was you.
Because every instinct in me cries out
that it's safer to be dead to a man like that.
Thank you.
Are we even now, my love?
When you have made her love you.
When you bring me proof.
I know you will find a way.
[inquisitive music plays]
♪ ♪
[laughter, indistinct chatter]
What is it that you sell here?
Settlements, sir.
We have something for every man
who has not the energy to write his own.
Activities, assumptions, last judgments.
Forgive us our trespasses.
Passions, charity, sin, and hell.
Anything on hypocrisy?
If one must trap a songbird...
...one must first learn its song.
Tis a little brutal, Azolan.
A pious man should show no vanity.
The change will be good for you.
I disagree.
This crop disbalances my features.
I meant the lack of vanity, sir.
Ah. You have returned.
Much like my dead wife's spirit.
Let's hear her truths.
Have you forgotten your reputation is in my hands?
Geneva.
Where you and madame spent those springs.
Do you really think my wife would visit a city
of infidels and revolution?
Geneva is a house of care on the way to Versailles,
presided over by nuns who would attempt to dispatch
her melancholy by bathing her in salts
and letting out her blood.
And each spring, like the melancholy, she returned.
[chuckles] Oh, come now.
The Majordome, if he is your spy, could not have known.
Marriage must have some secrets, hmm?
No matter.
Let the entertainment begin.
Majordome, I need to see the letter madame wrote.
Please.
Do you really think you'll survive here
if Camille doesn't?
♪ ♪
Put it back when you are done.
Or it will be you that won't survive here.
[Victoire] "The bitter fruit our marriage bore.
"Apricot.
"Ariadne.
"Ariadne, forgive me.
♪ ♪
Does one bathe in it or drink from it?
I'm here, Lily.
I understand that I am to entertain you.
That I should speak to the dead on your behalf.
It is true that between this world and the next
there is an invisible chain.
I will not summon the dead.
But this chain of fluid,
this may draw the dead to us.
Close your eyes.
There is comfort on the dark.
It is you, not me, with power here.
You need only be open to what lies within.
The magnetic sea that draws knowledge
and awakes what is hidden
restores us to balance, to health.
Let me guide you, mistress.
[whispering] It's Ariadne.
The smudged word from madame's notes.
The same name in the prayer books.
It's someone they've wronged. They are haunted by her.
[mesmerist] Let these magnetized waters
connect and be guided by the spirit within you.
If you are willing to look,
you will see your own hearts tonight.
♪ ♪
I feel as if the rod draws me.
I do not move, yet it-- yet it turns in my hands!
[mesmerist] We are portals to the past
and to what is to come.
Whether we choose to listen or not.
There is a great darkness in this room.
[gasps]
Geneviève is here.
I gave that vase to her on her wedding.
It is symbolic of her.
It-it was me. I knocked it over.
Quiet! I see something.
[gasps] I see her before me.
In the water. Oh, she's crying.
There is an uninvited guest here.
An imposter.
A woman who makes her cry.
She's saying the same word over...
-Liar. -[Christine] And over again.
-She is saying-- -"Ariadne!"
She's saying, "Ariadne."
She's saying, "Forgive me."
she wants to talk.
She wants to talk of Ariadne.
-Be silent. Be silent. -Let go.
[tense music plays]
♪ ♪
[screams]
Victoire. Victoire!
Say something. Majordome! Majordome!
Victoire.
Charlatan. Fraud.
I promised you a mirror.
I did not promise you would like what you saw.
Get out of my house!
Once the child is safe.
Get out!
[mesmerist] It is an intuition of sorts,
the falling sickness.
You should note when she falls.
Events before may be symbolic.
[Camille] Like your intuition.
You didn't hold a mirror up to anyone.
I made it up. Now, please leave us.
You are in great pain from a past wound.
A wrong done to you. A betrayal of trust.
I am in pain.
What have you seen?
The damage done to you.
But now you must forgive.
Only through forgiveness can you find the light.
-I must forgive? -To find the light.
Otherwise, the darkness here will overtake you.
Then you have seen nothing of my pain.
For I cannot forgive.
And I don't want the light, monsieur.
[suspenseful music plays]
♪ ♪
And it is through the meek,
through the poor,
that we shall truly know God.
The Lord cares not for riches.
The Lord cares only for the heart.
God be with you.
[all] And with you.
Father.
Forgive me, but I am new to this church,
and I was moved by your words.
The other morning, I watched a young boy
eat half an egg for his breakfast.
So little had he, that to him, this was a feast.
It broke my heart.
[pastor] The Church does all it can, monsieur.
[indistinct chatter]
[Pascal] But what of the rich?
Where is their love for the children?
Starving in orphanages on the streets?
Surely, God would not condone such hypocrisy.
We have lost our morality, and without it, we are adrift.
I do not know how I can help you, my child.
[Pascal] It is I who offers myself to you.
To the Church.
It is I who will do all I can to help you.
Help the children.
-What is your name, sir? -Monsieur Lucien, madame.
And yours?
Madame de Montrachet.
I was moved by your words.
It's rare for a man to speak from the heart.
[Pascal] It was no more than needed to be said.
Yet it was previously unsaid.
♪ ♪
[Jacqueline] You have brought such shame.
[Camille] Madame, please. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
[Jacqueline] Sorry for your lies?
For all the damage you've done here?
I'm sorry for it all. Forgive me.
Even God doesn't forgive.
[tense music plays]
♪ ♪
Even God does not forgive.
♪ ♪
[dramatic string music plays]
♪ ♪