The Seduction – S01E03 – War | Transcript

The Seduction
Original title: Merteuil (French)
Genre: Period drama
Created by: Jean-Baptiste Delafon
Based on: Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
Director: Jessica Palud
Stars: Anamaria Vartolomei (Isabelle de Merteuil (née Dassonville), Diane Kruger (Madame de Rosemonde), Vincent Lacoste (Vicomte de Valmont), Lucas Bravo (Comte de Gercourt), Noée Abita (Madame de Tourvel), Julien de Saint Jean (Louis de Germain), Fantine Harduin (Cécile de Volanges), Samuel Kircher (Chevalier Danceny), Sandrine Blancke (Madame de Volanges)
Premise: The series is both a prequel and a loose adaptation of the plot of the novel, and follows Isabelle de Merteuil (Vartolomei) as she is trying to get revenge on the Vicomte de Valmont (Lacoste) after he betrayed her.

The day after her marriage, Isabelle Dassonville discovers that the ceremony was fake and that her husband was in reality the Vicomte de Valmont who was manipulating her. Condemned to take a vow of silence in a convent, her only way to escape is to follow Valmont’s aunt, Madame de Rosemonde, who wants to use her to seduce the Comte de Gercourt in Paris for her own mysterious motives. But when Rosemonde’s plan fail, Isabelle decides to marry the Comte de Merteuil in order to become a Marquise and gain power to help her to get revenge on Valmont.

The series is available for streaming on platforms including HBO Max/Max, Apple TV, and Prime Video.

* * *

Season 1 – Episode 3
Episode title: War
Original release date: November 28, 2025
Episode plot: As Gercourt furthers his quest to weaken her, Isabelle enlists help in her fight against Paris’ most powerful man.

The Seduction – S01E03 – War | Transcript

[breathing slowly]

[baby cooing]

[baby crying]

[baby crying]

[breathing heavily]

[animal cry]

[gasps]

[theme song playing]

[man] ♪ Deep in the ocean ♪

♪ Dead and cast away ♪

♪ My renaissance is burning in flames ♪

♪ A million miles from home ♪

♪ I’m walking ahead ♪

♪ I’m frozen to the bones ♪

♪ I am a soldier on my own ♪

♪ I don’t know the way ♪

♪ I’m ready for the fight ♪

♪ And fate ♪

[fireplace crackling]

The orangery?

No.

Isabelle won’t be late. You mustn’t fret.

[sighs]

There he is.

[horse carriage approaching]

What presence. What charm.

I myself had the pleasure of celebrating my marriage with Jacques Hervé.

One fine May day, and it was a blessing, truly.

Well, here’s to hoping the Marquis will return to us soon enough.

Let’s prepare the wedding quickly.

I would have preferred Madame Marquise to be here with us to discuss, but…

Why don’t we wait in this very spot?

You’ve demonstrated, ladies, that this place is made for joy and… celebration.

[footsteps approaching]

Madame…

That’s not possible.

Your face is like a mask of pain.

So why not let him hear you?

No misery in the world is alien to him.

And no soul is out of reach of his love.

[Rosemonde] Isabelle?

“Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, ‘Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee.

“And before you were born, I consecrated you.'” I thought that I couldn’t do otherwise.

I’m lost.

Completely lost. [sniffles] I’m married to a man…

The brutal man for whom the love of a woman is nothing but a sinister mirror. [sobs] Reflecting supposed grandeur in his middling power.

Not a man, but a beast.

I’ll have nothing of his. Nothing.

No child, boy or girl.

And when this child decided that it would reside in me, I… [sobs] I put an end to it.

[sobs]

So I did what I needed to make it happen.

Did you permit the innocent child, while it still breathed, to be baptized?

No. How would I have done that?

Your crime is of a gravity that is beyond me, a simple shepherd of Christ, madame.

I am not able to offer forgiveness for this.

No, no, I beg you, Father.

Your name, madame.

And the name of your husband, if you would.

Your name, madame.

[door opens]

Where were you?

Isabelle.

Pull yourself together.

You’ve told me already.

It’s a corpse already dead, and I’m not to dwell on it anymore.

I can’t stop, though.

I need you more than ever.

You know I have to return to Paris tonight.

Tell me what I have to do, please.

Gercourt wants to celebrate his marriage in your lovely home.

Madame de Volanges is delighted, which would mean you’re in no position to oppose it.

[scoffs]

Well, your soiree was still a great success, was it not?

The people of Paris are talking.

Our soiree?

The Comte de Gercourt will marry Cécile with or without your consent.

But his marriage may also be an opportunity for him to forget things, grievances, and to seal new agreements.

And mark his territory.

You have to allow a chance for him to save face.

And how might I?

I’m supposed to grovel at his feet?

We have no choice.

Isabelle.

I see that you’re losing yourself.

And what I see, the world will soon see as well.

Gercourt’s returning here for lunch on Friday.

I’ll be back to be by your side.

Have no fear.

I have to hand this to Vicomte de Valmont personally.

I’ll handle it.

Monsieur, please.

I have to give it to him personally.

Come in, then.

[woman laughing] Go on.

My friend will read it, I swear.

Someone still thinks of me in this sad world.

Oh.

Remembered only by the devil.

[all laughing]

It’s from your aunt.

Well, please read what she wrote.

ISABELLE NEEDS YOU

[whispering prayer] Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…

[continues praying indistinctly]

Amen.

Hello, Marquise.

Your role must be convenient.

My role?

The one nature has given you, which spares you particular crimes.

Which ones, madame?

You just defended yourself.

You wanted life, so you chose to live.

Soon life will repay you for your faith in it.

Oh, shut up.

Discipline, dear Isabelle.

You’ve got to hold on to your discipline.

Did my aunt not succeed in imparting her lesson?

Will you for once be quiet?

Yes, when you decide to heal.

Because time’s now running out.

I’ve been told Gercourt will marry right here.

Detestable provocation.

An obvious affront from a man who has long crushed his adversaries.

Madame de Rosemonde says differently.

And I’m shocked.

The two of you aren’t of one mind?

I love her, but I fear for you, madame.

You don’t forgive.

Maybe you’ve never forgiven.

Not even yourself, but Gercourt, you should.

He flatters only to get close enough to stab you, and once married to Cécile, he will abuse his new authority in an effort to completely humiliate you.

So, Madame de Rosemonde would suddenly be so naive?

Naive, no, but prudent. Vigilant.

My aunt no longer believes she has the same skills she once had to impose her power over men.

In our predatory world, the slightest weakness reeks, haven’t you noticed?

Were you to help Gercourt, you would be in great danger, madame.

And what are you proposing?

To take the marriage and ruin it.

[singing in Italian]

[Valmont] Cécile and the Chevalier are in love.

They’re both stupid enough to believe in the purity of an impossible union.

Their ideal of love is submission, a mediocre allegiance to a world that vomits love.

[singing continues]

[Valmont] They’re young and burn with appetite, and that’s what we push.

You’re saying that we strip poor Cécile of her dearly held purity?

What originality.

Do you believe, Vicomte, that you’ve got nothing better to do?

Other than devising ways that you can deflower young women?

Not at all, madame. But in this situation, and considering her obvious desire for the Chevalier…

Please go on.

This will be my mission.

Gain the trust of Cécile.

Get her discussing music.

And then, imperceptibly… her music teacher.

I’ll show her that I am moved by her feeling, and that will get her to talk.

You of all people should know that love always begins with words.

The more voice we give to love, the more love will grow.

Excellent. As for your mission…

I will gain Danceny’s trust through music.

And how it feels… to teach a student.

Be moved by his confusion.

[inaudible]

Love is a language, after all.

The more we give voice, the more it grows.

And finally spills out.

Good night, madame.

I wish you a good evening as well.

[door opens]

[door closes]

Come.

[knocks softly]

[panting]

[moaning]

Oh.

Oh.

[moaning]

[door opens]

[footsteps receding]

[footsteps receding]

[knocking at door]

[knocking at door]

Madame.

I just saw the Chevalier Danceny running away from here.

Mademoiselle.

You can speak to me.

After all, I’m your friend.

The Comte de Gercourt tells me that you are not.

But why is that?

I can’t answer, madame.

It was said in confidence.

I understand.

Let me offer a guess.

He believes that I’m jealous.

Mademoiselle, I put friendship between women over everything.

And certainly over any man.

What happened here?

You’re a guest.

We have linen maids for this.

I’m fine, merci.

You are very pleasant, mademoiselle.

Truly, who could fault a gentleman for failing so terribly at controlling his ardor.

Even if we regret it as well…

I’m going to bed, little angel.

[piano music playing]

[women laughing]

[both laughing]

[music stops]

My friend, where were you?

I need to be alone.

Sébastien, I’m worried.

I was waiting for word, but you never sent it.

I should apologize, you’re right.

I was most ungenerous with you.

I was at the Tuileries with a few Bavarians.

Say more.

Three cousins. Formidable.

Absolutely the prey.

I understand.

I wanted them earlier, but they’re real magicians.

I was with the Marquise de Merteuil.

What?

I love her more than ever.

I was too sure of myself.

We’re never enough.

I fear I’ll never win her back.

Vicomte, enough!

Pardon?

That woman’s poison.

She pushes you to lie and disparage.

I lie to you because that’s all that you deserve.

Fool that you are.

Tell me, please, since facts matter so much.

When I speak of these lascivious girls, what makes you tremble?

You imagine us?

Or rather just me?

I don’t know what you’re trying to say.

I mean this.

Stop!

You’re possessed.

And you’re much too possessive, darling.

So, the Chevalier Danceny will join us?

Madame de Volanges insists that Cécile give a concert for Gercourt after we eat.

Danceny should be here already.

What’s different about you?

My nephew has been good company for you?

Why, yes.

You feel you’re ready for this?

I do, yes.

Dear Comte de Gercourt, a pleasure to have you here again.

[Gercourt] What news from the Marquis?

His troops are progressing along the Mississippi.

He informed me that the locals welcome the French with respect and friendship.

And after a while, New France will be old news and America will completely belong to us.

An admirable man.

Ah. Excuse me, if you don’t mind.

I’ve waited some time to ask you about something.

You two, how is it you know one another?

Oh, I think, I’m in a position to speak to that question.

I was the one who introduced the two.

At the opera, wasn’t it?

You’ve confused it, madame.

Have I?

My dear Marquise, soon the two of us will share a bond that’s indestructible.

That of family.

Your husband is absent.

Yours, alas, I won’t have the chance to know at all.

I’m well aware of the responsibility that’s placed on me as soon as, by the grace of marriage, I will…

I will have to dedicate myself to serving all our interests.

This is why I believe that the two of us should be completely transparent.

Am I wrong, Marquise?

Well, I couldn’t have said it any better.

[Gercourt laughs] The details are not important, but here are the essentials.

Before being what she is today, Isabelle was a simple woman without any fortune or name.

She came from a province to seek her destiny in Paris.

It’s true, then.

[Gercourt] It’s amusing, isn’t it?

Isabelle gained entry to a party at my house under the esteemed tutelage of Madame de Rosemonde, present here.

And our audacious young lady seemed determined to mar the soirée with her brand.

Being the master of the house, I was, of course, the primary mark, and she tried with any means she could… while, of course, legitimate, to win my eye and mind, though it meant allowing any excess.

You seem surprised, madame.

That’s what I myself felt in the moment, surprised, and a certain dismay.

Well, I believe I need a rest.

Come, madame, don’t deprive us of your presence.

I am sure that our young Cécile here can understand.

That evening, Isabelle was… surrounded by all sorts of leering looks.

And to better conceal her fear, our future Marquise had the instinct to take on traits of a cynic and manipulator, of a woman afraid of nothing, least of all men and their desires.

Madame, I want to tell you In no case is it up to me to pass judgment upon the person you were back then.

All my life, I’ve defended the feminine.

[coughs sharply]

And that’s why I would be angry with myself if our initial meeting lived as a poor memory for you.

If I may have wrongly led you to think that you were nothing more than a manipulative woman using her charms to pervert and corrupt, then today I will have to humbly beg your forgiveness.

Isabelle de Merteuil, will you forgive me?

Monsieur Chevalier Danceny.

Mesdames, messieurs.

[Gercourt] Ah.

We’d begun to worry.

So sorry.

I’d like you to meet Monsieur the Comte de Gercourt.

Monsieur.

[Gercourt] Well, take a seat.

[operatic singing in Italian]

[operatic singing continues]

[singing in Italian]

[in English] And you felt I should reach out my hand to him?

We have to make him hurt and fast.

Though I’m afraid he’ll eat you alive first.

That’s also the opinion of your nephew.

And what else does he propose?

We should block the marriage.

And push Cécile to her Danceny.

Into his bed.

Which it would seem that you’ve already begun.

I was wrong. Valmont was right.

[vocalizing continues]

[singing in Italian]

[in English] Marvelous.

[slow clapping]

Chevalier?

Cécile!

[Gercourt] What is all this childishness?

I’m very sorry, Monsieur le Comte.

[Gercourt] I’m counting on you to clear this up with me.

Bring over the Vicomte de Valmont immediately.

Yes, madame.

I’ve got Volanges.

Madame, what’s going on?

[Madame de Volanges] I don’t know.

[butler] Your horse is ready, monsieur.

[Valmont] I won’t be home for dinner.

[butler] Yes, monsieur.

Madame de Volanges is speaking with her daughter this evening.

I look forward to seeing Gercourt crawling in pain.

I knew it.

Knew what?

Hate. Isn’t it something marvelous?

You were so subdued the other day, half alive, and look at you now.

It renders one grotesque.

You’ve just proven the opposite.

[door opens]

[Rosemonde] Madame de Volanges and her daughter found themselves in a river of tears.

A grand moment of emotion.

Well, she let Cécile marry Danceny?

Yes.

That is her intention.

Madame de Volanges wants a happy daughter, even if she’s poor and feels that who she weds is up to her.

[Valmont] Wonderful.

You’ve done very well.

Gercourt punted for a penniless musician, announcing it to all of Paris.

[both laughing]

No.

It’s not enough.

Pardon?

That can’t be it.

After what that man has wrought in the world?

But he’ll be ridiculed far more than we ever dreamed.

I’m disappointed.

You’ve got no ambition at all.

Gercourt is the only victim of Cécile’s sentimental ways here.

The situation is sad but trite.

I want to see him suffering.

The Comte should know where it’s from.

But what do you think will happen here?

That you’ll make me suddenly despise men like Gercourt.

Simple contempt can’t appease me, madame.

I want war.

You won’t find victory.

All I want to win is my pleasure.

Because the more he stews in humiliation and rage, the happier I will be.

I’m indeed at war, madame.

But don’t be fooled.

I take aim at Gercourt to make an example.

I’ll chastise him in public, so all men will fear harming me.

Only terror can reliably protect me.

And this terror, Isabelle…

It’s what?

Is it you, alone, against all of these men?

Have I not already proven how much I respect you? Or admire you?

I hear what you’re telling me.

The balance of powers.

The preservation of appearances to maneuver out of sight.

All that has protected you, I know.

But you were alone.

And now we are together.

I want fear on our side.

That’s why I want to sign my victory.

Our victory, madame.

Gercourt should feel all my anger.

It should burn him up.

And the whole of Paris will observe.

Then a rumor, well forged and spread widely by all of us, should take care of the rest.

I’ve heard your service, madame.

To start, we need to prevent dear Cécile from breaking off her marriage with Gercourt.

Why?

Because we still need her.

It’s up to you, madame, to convince Cécile her mother’s choice is no more than a ruse.

If she confesses to love the man she does, she will be horribly punished.

Choose your own words, of course.

I leave it all to you.

Pour however much honey you judge necessary.

[knocking at door]

Mademoiselle, your mother has confided in me of her intention to set up a trap for you, and I cannot go along.

She will offer you your own choice of who you’d like to marry.

Should you then choose the Chevalier Danceny, she will punish you and put a stop to it and will act in order to ruin the Chevalier.

If you decide to marry the Chevalier…

[Isabelle] But let Cécile know that by choosing Danceny, she’ll be sent to the worst convent in the kingdom, and that the Chevalier will be ruined, banished from the world, and from his musical career.

I want to marry the Comte de Gercourt.

[sighs] And after?

[Isabelle] The solution is here.

Men are so fragile.

They worry so much that their precious tool is too little of this or that, but they totally fail to use it with skill and endurance.

And I’m sure you’re aware, but I did have the opportunity to get to know Gercourt’s.

And?

Well, let’s just say I know that all men have worries regarding the bigger size of their sex.

With Gercourt, I might say it’s more of a matter of, well, geometry.

[chuckles]

Imagine a corkscrew if you want a good approximation of it. That’s close.

So when it comes to that man, the most common worry becomes vivid anguish.

An anxiety that he hides with his passion for virgins…

[footman] The Count of Gercourt.

…who naturally have no point of comparison.

Conversely, I have no doubt that our Chevalier Danceny…

Follow me, Vicomte.

Danceny’s youthful humiliation persists.

Therefore, we must convince Cécile that in order to restore his confidence, she must express to him how wonderful their first encounter was.

Through the magic of ink on paper.

Like an ode in honor of his royal cock.

So difficult. It’s hard for me to know.

An image?

A metaphor? A line of poetry?

I’d say it’s like a vegetable, right?

Hmm, cucumber, zucchini.

A fruit, I feel.

All right.

An exotic fruit that’s not of this world, one that’s fabulous and divine.

Use the pen.

Chevalier My Love

I’m writing to you because I cannot stand knowing how unhappy you are.

We need to find a way to transport her missive to the Comte de Gercourt.

We might imagine some unscrupulous servant who sells the letter to him.

[Isabelle] For Gercourt, this letter will be the burning mirror of his most intimate shame.

[grunts]

Afterwards, we’ve only to spread it around.

Vicomte?

A traitor delivers this to Gercourt, why not imagine he showed it to me before?

Then I only need to echo it where people are greedy for rumors, so everywhere.

A mysterious servant, delivering the same missive to two notable foes.

Too complicated?

Yes.

Yes, it is improbable and farfetched.

And that’s exactly why Gercourt will believe he’s been a victim of a secret maneuver.

It’s precisely this marvelous complexity that will be your very signature, madame.

Madame, I fear I am obliged to cancel my wedding to your daughter, Lady Cécile de Volanges.

I ask you to believe when I say this decision is made with deep regret.

Respectfully, Monsieur le Comte de Gercourt.

But why, Gercourt?

The marriage?

WEDDING CONTRACT

You would be testifying that this Beaucaillou is actually the Vicomte de Valmont?

Your brother, your friend?

I’m ready to fulfill my obligations to help the Crown and Church in whatever way…

Yes, of course, but why?

I mean you, here, brings what?

I was feeble and broken.

Valmont has to pay for betraying and desecrating one of the most beautiful sacraments.

Eh, eh.

Valmont and Merteuil.

Yes, of course.

A woman of her station.

Small, filthy provincial whore wearing her Marquis’ fineries.

This document’s shameful.

And makes as clear as possible that she’s living in bigamy.

It’s embarrassing for the Marquis de Merteuil, hero in North America, whose goodness has been constantly trampled.

I’ll go tomorrow to the Magistrate, who’s quite severe, President Tourvel.

He’ll comprehend and he’ll act.

Isabelle de Merteuil will be destitute.

She will lose her title and her dignity.

Your responsibility is great, monsieur.

I swear it.

Isabelle knew what she was doing.

Voilà.

In the embrace of Valmont, she… laughed.

She laughed?

At the noble law of our kingdom.

Of course.

At good morals.

Certainly.

And at the world as commanded by our beloved King.

Right, right.

She laughed at God.

She laughed at God, and she wore the face of the devil.

[closing theme music playing]