Tempted 2001
Directed by
Bill Bennett
Made by
Gold Circle Films
Tempted Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Tempted (2001). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Charlie LeBlanc, Burt Reynolds, a construction contractor in New Orleans grappling with his mortality, begins a bold test of his wife Lilly LeBlanc, Saffron Burrows, who is thirty years his junior. He schemes to lure Lilly into an affair by enlisting a trusted, if reluctant, ally: Jimmy Mulate, a freelance carpenter, Peter Facinelli. Charlie lays out a tempting offer—$10,000 upfront, $50,000 if he succeeds, and a substantial $40,000 more if he can describe Lilly’s tattoo to Charlie in perfect detail—a gaudy test designed to strip away Lily’s defenses and reveal her true loyalties.
To carry out the plan, Charlie asks for surveillance help and turns to private investigator Byron Blades, George DiCenzo. Blades installs cameras and microphones throughout the LeBlanc mansion, quietly arming Lilly and Jimmy with a ring of watchful eyes as Lilly drives Charlie to the airport before his week-long trip. The tension thickens as Mulate, now under Charlie’s directive, fixes the broken door and makes a move to seduce Lilly. She responds with a cold gun in hand, orders him to leave, and later, after a tense exchange, accepts an invitation to a night out—drinking and dancing, watching Charlie’s business world collide with her own growing feelings.
Meanwhile, Ted, [Eric Mabius], arrives bloodied after killing the governor’s son, and Mulate helps him dispose of the body in the Mississippi River, an act that tightens the knot of fear and complicity surrounding the LeBlancs. Lilly’s secretary, Heather, reveals Charlie’s plot to Lilly, who is overwhelmed yet pragmatic enough to call Mulate for help with a window repair. The pair quickly cross a line, and they end up sharing a later, intimate night together.
Returning from Dallas, Charlie views Blades’ surveillance footage, which shows Lilly and Mulate in an intimate moment. When confronted, Mulate initially lies, reassuring Charlie and Collins about Lilly’s fidelity. Charlie reacts with violence, assaulting Mulate and pressing him to help kill Lilly, even threatening Mulate’s father. In a tense turn, Mulate warns Lilly, and the two menacingly navigate a second encounter, during which Lilly’s tattoo—the mark on her inner thigh reading “Dakota #7” —is suddenly noticed by Mulate.
That evening, Charlie is shot twice and killed; Lilly fires back at the masked assailant, who is revealed to be Ted. Blades then brings a recording of Lilly and Mulate in flagrante delicto to light, and Mulate seeks legal counsel to determine his next move. He weighs immunity in exchange for incriminating evidence against Lilly, while Lilly approaches an equally dangerous game of negotiation. As Mulate contemplates his options, he seizes the moment to escape with the recording after a confrontation that echoes through the mansion and the swamp’s murky edges.
A chilling bargain forms as Lilly offers Mulate $500,000 for the recording, and they arrange to meet at a swamp shack that Mulate’s father left him. Unbeknownst to Lilly, Mulate is secretly working with the police, and Blades and the rest of the force listen in on their tense exchange. The plan unravels when a gunshot from Lilly to Mulate triggers a swift, brutal intervention: Blades and law enforcement move in, Collins arrives with a shotgun intent on killing Lilly and Mulate, and a deadly showdown ensues. Collins dies in the crossfire, and Lilly is arrested after telling Mulate she can no longer trust him.
Tempted Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Tempted (2001) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Charlie hatches plan to test Lilly's fidelity
Struggling with his mortality, Charlie LeBlanc hires Jimmy Mulate to seduce his wife Lilly. He offers $10,000 upfront, $50,000 if he succeeds, and an extra $40,000 if he can describe Lilly’s tattoo in perfect detail. He brings in his henchman Dot Collins to help orchestrate the scheme and says the plan will unfold while he is away. The groundwork is laid at a New Orleans construction site that doubles as the setting for the arrangement.
Surveillance setup and Charlie departs
Charlie informs Lilly that he is leaving New Orleans for a week-long business trip and that Mulate should expect to arrive to repair a broken door. Private investigator Byron Blades reluctantly agrees to surveil Lilly and Jimmy during the absence and installs cameras and microphones around the LeBlanc mansion. Lilly accompanies Charlie to the airport as he departs, setting the stage for the planned seduction.
Mulate seduces Lilly and the first night out
Mulate fixes the door and attempts to seduce Lilly. She eventually draws a gun and orders him to leave, but he returns to ask to take her out for the evening. They go drinking and dancing, and Lilly's conflicted feelings surface as she notices Charlie's associates at a club. The uneasy dynamic hints at the affair to come.
Ted's brutal act and disposal
Mulate returns home to a bloodied Ted, who has just killed the governor’s son. Mulate helps Ted load the body and dispose of it in the Mississippi River, deepening the pair's sinister alliance. The crime strands them closer to the spiraling consequences of Charlie's scheme.
Plot revealed to Lilly; window repair; sex
Charlie's secretary Heather reveals the plot to Lilly, forcing her to confront the plan. She calls Mulate to repair a broken window, and the two end up having sex. The breach of trust deepens Lilly's fear and mistrust of Charlie and sets up the next conflicts.
Charlie returns from Dallas; Blades shows footage
Charlie returns from Dallas and visits Blades, who hands over footage of Lilly and Mulate having sex. Confronted with the recording, Mulate initially lies to Charlie and Collins about Lilly's fidelity. The tension escalates as Charlie begins to suspect Lilly's betrayal.
Confrontation and orders to kill Lilly
Charlie physically assaults Mulate and orders him to help kill Lilly, threatening to harm Mulate's father if he refuses. Mulate keeps up the ruse, downplaying Lilly's supposed infidelity. The escalating coercion marks a turning point toward lethal actions.
Second tryst and tattoo surprise
Mulate warns Lilly of the danger and she and Mulate have a second sexual encounter. While undressing, Mulate spots Lilly's tattoo reading 'Dakota #7' on her inner thigh, revealing a symbol of their intertwined fate. The tattoo cements the danger of Charlie's game.
Ambush and Charlie's death
That evening, Charlie and Lilly are accosted. Charlie is shot twice and killed; Lilly draws a gun and shoots the masked assailant, who is revealed to be Ted. The couple's peril accelerates the plot toward a judicially perilous end.
Blades exposes the sex recording; immunity talks
Blades meets Mulate at a bar and presents a recording of Lilly and Mulate in an intimate moment, forcing Mulate to consider immunity in exchange for incriminating Lilly. Mulate asks what Crabbe, their attorney, can do for him in securing his own protection. The revelation compounds the risk that Mulate faces.
Crabbe counsels on the recording
Mulate and his attorney Crabbe review the recording and discuss possible immunity strategies. Crabbe advises leaving the recording with him to see what can be done, prompting Mulate to weigh his options against Lilly's power. The legal maneuvering begins in earnest.
Mulate seizes the recording
As Mulate is about to leave the recording with Crabbe, a speakerphone announcement reveals Lilly is on hold for Crabbe. In a swift move, Mulate strikes Crabbe and flees with the recording, while Crabbe's staff scrambles to recover it. The balance of power shifts as Mulate takes decisive action.
The swamp swap and police sting
Lilly offers Mulate $500,000 for the recording, and they arrange to exchange at a swamp shack. Unbeknownst to Lilly, Mulate is cooperating with police and Blades to monitor the conversation. When a gunshot echoes from Lilly, law enforcement closes in, and Collins arrives determined to kill both Lilly and Mulate.
Collapse and arrest
A chaotic shootout ensues as Collins dies in the encounter and Lilly is arrested after confessing she cannot trust Mulate. Blades and the police recover the critical evidence, closing the case with Lilly's arrest and the unraveling of the scheme. The film ends with the fallout of Charlie's scheme and its deadly consequences for everyone involved.
Tempted Characters
Explore all characters from Tempted (2001). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Charlie LeBlanc (Burt Reynolds)
A successful construction contractor who uses wealth and influence to control his surroundings. His fear of mortality fuels a controlling scheme to test his wife’s fidelity, prompting him to manipulate others and orchestrate surveillance. He becomes increasingly ruthless as the plan spirals, culminating in violent consequences.
Lilly LeBlanc (Saffron Burrows)
A former model married to a man years her senior, she navigates a web of manipulation and temptation. Her loyalties are tested as she becomes entangled with Jimmy Mulate, while also plotting to protect herself. She exhibits agency and calculating resolve, ultimately contributing to the plan’s dangerous outcome.
Jimmy Mulate (Peter Facinelli)
A freelance carpenter drawn into Charlie’s scheme by money and pressure. He negotiates his own safety while engaging in an affair with Lilly and later becomes entangled in the aftermath. His decisions swing between temptation and survival, with legal trouble looming over him.
Dot Collins (Mike Starr)
Charlie’s henchman and muscle, loyal to the end but ultimately caught in the crossfire of the plan. He enforces the scheme and participates in the deadly turns of events, dying in the ensuing confrontation.
Ted (Eric Mabius)
A volatile figure who helps carry out violent acts, including the killing of the governor’s son’s assassin and aiding in disposing of bodies. His unpredictability adds a dangerous element to the conspiracy.
Byron Blades (George DiCenzo)
A private investigator who is initially reluctant but ultimately participates in surveillance. He provides footage that unsettles Lilly and Mulate, complicating loyalties and exposing hidden agendas.
J.A. (Randy Austin)
Charlie's associate whose role supports the broader network behind the scheme. Details are limited, but he serves as a roundabout figure in the crime plot.
Blades Man (David Jensen)
A figure connected to the Blades operations, appearing in scenes that involve surveillance and the movement of the plot forward. Acts as a functional ally in the manipulation network.
Saturn Barman (Jack Radosta)
A bartender encountered in club scenes that mark social interaction moments in the story. A minor but atmospheric presence within the setting.
Carl (Kyle Erby)
A minor supporting character who appears in various scenes within the LeBlanc circle and social environment. Largely serves to populate the network of relationships surrounding the main cast.
Tempted Settings
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Location
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, Mississippi River, USA, Dallas, Texas, USA
New Orleans serves as the primary backdrop, showcasing a sunlit, affluent world where wealth and power mask a dark undercurrent. The Mississippi River scenes anchor the film’s dealings with crime and disposal of evidence, highlighting the city’s shadowy edges. Dallas appears as a business travel node, hinting at a wider network beyond Louisiana. The Louisiana setting underpins themes of money, influence, and corruption throughout the story.
Tempted Themes
Discover the main themes in Tempted (2001). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Infidelity
Trust is weaponized in a marriage that appears glamorous but is built on manipulation. Charlie uses the idea of Lilly’s fidelity to exert control, turning love into a risk-laden game. Lilly’s responses oscillate between caution and calculated risk, exposing how desire can be a tool for power. The couple’s strained relationship drives the plot toward a deadly confrontation.
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Greed
Money funds manipulation and dangerous risk-taking, with upfront sums and large rewards driving everyone’s choices. The allure of wealth erodes judgment and fuels deceit, pushing characters to betray one another. Financial incentives create a web where loyalty is transactional and fragile. The pursuit of money escalates the violence and stakes of the scheme.
🕵️♂️
Surveillance
Watching becomes a tool of power as cameras and microphones infiltrate the LeBlanc mansion. The recordings expose true motives, turning private spaces into crime scenes of disclosure. Surveillance breeds paranoia and shifts the balance of control among charlateers. The plot hinges on what is seen, heard, and then acted upon.
Tempted Spoiler-Free Summary
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In the lush, humid backdrop of New Orleans, a world of wealth and restless ambition hums beneath the city’s famed decadence. Here, a seasoned construction contractor and his dramatically younger wife live in a sprawling mansion where every polished surface reflects both affluence and an undercurrent of unease. The film’s tone is sleek and sultry, its colors warm yet shadowed, inviting the audience to feel the palpable tension that lingers in the spaces between love and suspicion.
Charlie LeBlanc, confronting his own mortality, becomes obsessed with the idea of proving that love can survive a test of fidelity. Rather than relying on whispered doubts, he devises a daring arrangement: he offers a substantial sum to a trusted outsider to tempt his wife, hoping the outcome will either affirm his trust or expose a hidden fracture. The very notion of commodifying intimacy sets the story’s moral compass slightly askew, framing the narrative as a psychological play where desire and control intersect.
Lilly LeBlanc embodies the elegance of youth and the complexity of navigating a marriage marked by an unmistakable age gap. While she moves through the opulent rooms with poise, her reactions to the subtle manipulations around her hint at a deeper, unspoken strength. The person Charlie enlists for his unsettling wager is Jimmy Mulate, a skilled but reluctant carpenter whose practical sensibility clashes with the emotional stakes of the arrangement. Their tentative interactions pulse with an uneasy chemistry, suggesting that the boundaries between professional duty and personal longing are far from clear.
The film unfolds as a tense, character‑driven thriller, balancing moments of quiet, almost intimate reflection with the sharp edge of intrigue. It invites viewers to contemplate how far one will go to secure certainty in love, and whether the very act of testing a bond might become the catalyst that reshapes it. The interplay of power, vulnerability, and the seductive allure of New Orleans creates an atmosphere thick with anticipation, leaving the audience constantly questioning who can truly be trusted.
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