The Marquise de Merteuil (Annette Bening) and Vicomte de Valmont (Colin Firth) are two veterans of the arts of romance and deception. They make a bet about whether Valmont, who is seducing the young Cecile (Fairuza Balk) on the side, will be able to corrupt the recently married Madame de Tourvel (Meg Tilly). The problem is that in the process of seducing Tourvel, Valmont actually falls in love with her, and his loyalties are put to the test. Lines are drawn and crossed, and no one involved in this web will escape unscathed.