Original subtitles

When daggers are pointed at innocent hearts and muskets are ready to fire.

When tyrants ride high and govern with fear as the forces of evil

conspire. Then from out of the night, a hero must rise. The courage that

even a mask won't disguise.

They turn to... The man comes to...

Able -bodied men are making themselves scarce, Mayor Calde. Perhaps they've

heard about your plan.

Senorita Escalante tells me your soldiers are dragging men from their

No, Dushina, these men have been recruited by the territorial government.

As slave labor.

Don Alejandro is inhuman.

I would hardly characterize my efforts to improve the lot of this pueblo as

inhuman. Besides, these men are in need of meaningful work.

What kind of work?

Construction on the Ramon Highway.

It will provide us with a direct link to the port of San Pedro.

The Ramon Highway?

A better way to commemorate my years of public service.

With forced labor?

Progress does not come without some sacrifice, Don Alejandro.

The governor shall hear of this.

In Monterey, I doubt it. For my own lips.

Senor de la Vega does not go north.

Well, I'll tell thee. That is an order.

I should really be going with you.

Monterey's a long way off, Diego. At least a week's ride.

Besides, I need you here.

You're sure Don Sebastian is meeting you? At the trailhead.

Don't worry. We'll be fine.

Things will change for us all when the governor hears about this Alcalde.

Adios. Adios.

Yes, Felipe.

Knowing how the Alcalde works, my father may be in need of Zorro's help.

We're hereby ordered to return to the Pueblo.

Sergeant!

It's such a nice day for a ride.

Zorro! Beat him!

He's dead.

We must tell the alcalde.

Váyanse, váyanse.

Oh, Felipe.

I fell.

My head.

It's time Zorro outsmarted himself, huh?

I don't know, Felipe.

There's no way out of here.

You better go.

Always been.

So sure of everything.

Sure of everything.

I don't want you to worry about a thing, Felipe.

I'll write to you every month, and before you know it, I'll be back.

I'm going to Madrid because I want to study all the sciences.

And when I return, I'll teach you everything I know.

Yes. I'll teach you any bits of swordsmanship I pick up as well.

You'll do more than pick it up.

I've arranged for you to study with Sir Edmund Kendall, the European saber

master.

The saber?

I have no intention of killing anyone.

Well, neither have I, but we live in unpredictable times.

Well, perhaps I should stay then.

No, no. In four years, you'll return a mature, educated young man ready for

leadership among the caballeros.

And what of other responsibilities?

Without the ability to hear, you'll be severely handicapped.

I taught you to read and write, didn't I?

Don't worry.

Even though he's deaf.

I'll see that he's well -schooled when you return. Now, hurry along. Your ship

sails in less than 12 hours.

Incredible! Is this all we have to show after nearly four years?

I'm sorry, Sir Edmund, but... But, but, but... Do your studies weigh too heavily

upon you, Diego?

My studies are no problem.

Good. Because a man who buries his nose in books never sees the real world.

And the real world demands that a man be able to defend himself.

Hunger!

I hear the things in Los Angeles are not going well.

Do you think that's why your father sent you here? To keep you out of harm's

way?

No. I think he sent me here to learn.

To grow.

Precisely. And when my job is done, I can send to Los Angeles a man of whom a

father can be proud.

A man who can fight!

A puppy can bite.

You've been holding back on me, haven't you?

Sir Edmund, I've just discovered a theory which applies Euclidean

principles to da Vinci's early mechanics as a demonstration.

Diego, you and your books.

Diego, I've just received a letter.

A letter?

Apparently the rumors we've heard of problems in California are true.

Your father wants to know if I think you're ready to go home yet.

Earlier today you were saying I had so much to learn.

Don't we all?

As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.

Socrates. Very good.

You've been a superb pupil, Diego.

Now you must be a superb man.

Take this.

I don't understand.

You're the first student to ever beth me in the courtyard.

You've earned it.

But this is your championship saber. You'll have to work with it. Become

accustomed to its weight.

It is heavy, isn't it? And its Toledo blade has never been defeated in

competition.

My only prayer is that it does as well in the heat of battle.

And mine will be that it never draws blood.

A worthy girl, Diego, but the fight for justice often demands more than

intellect. But what about everything I've learned here at the university?

The sciences, history, political strategy.

Aren't those skills the most valuable? In a utopian world, yes.

But in this world, there is often greater value in daring, self -reliance,

intrepid courage, and sharp Toledo steel.

Cut.

Diego, welcome home.

I came as soon as I could.

Well, I put some meat on you, I see.

And filled my head with ideas as well.

Good, good. I can't wait to hear all about it.

Who's this?

Oh, a new man I hired.

Whatever happened to that little boy, that fellow who was always underfoot?

was his name?

Felipe?

That's it. Whatever happened to him?

You're Philippe?

That's impossible. He was just this tall when I left.

Then give me a hug before you're too big to hold.

Any change?

Boy, I still can't hear a thing, Diego.

What's all this?

What is all this about?

Why, I sent for you.

Arroz con pollo for you.

And bonigas for you.

And for you, corporal?

My only hunger is for your affection, senora.

I do not fraternize with my customers, especially when they wear uniforms.

This is not just any uniform.

This is the uniform of the colonial military government. You should be

flattered.

Then why am I disgusting?

Diego, you remember Senorita Escalante?

Indeed.

But you've changed.

For the better, that is.

Thank you, Diego.

You've changed, too.

You wear the sword of a caballero.

Diego's returned to assume his proper place in the community.

Ah, say about time. Excuse me.

He's a popular man.

Yes, and courageous, too.

You should hear how he speaks out against the Alcaldes. You owe me an

Let go of me.

You ought to sit and let go.

Just who do you think you are?

This is my son, Corporal. He's just returned from Spain.

Where, among other things, I learned how to treat a lady.

And how to enfold the uniform of the colonial military government.

Gentlemen, let's not let this get out of hand.

Out of the way, sir!

Listen in manners, corporal. What is going on here, corporal?

This man has challenged me. And with good reason, too.

Thank you, Diego.

Diego? Don Diego de la Vega, your son?

Pleased to meet you, Sergeant.

Sergeant Jaime Mendoza. Permit me to welcome you to El Pueblo de Los Angeles.

And to collect your traveler's tax.

Traveler's tax? This is preposterous.

How much is it, Sergeant?

Five pesos.

It's not much, but... It adds up.

If they could, they would tax the very air that we breathe.

Actually, the alcalde is working on something.

And what if one refuses to pay such tax?

The alcalde becomes very angry, and that is not a pretty sight, senor.

The next shot will not be aimed over your miserable head, but into

your rebellious heart.

Alcalde, what's going on here?

It's quite simple.

These vermin refuse to pay any portion of their taxes.

These are poor farmers.

They have no money for taxes.

The fact remains that these disloyal reprobates only understand one thing.

Force.

Don't just stand there. Do something.

And force is what they will get.

Just how does the government intend to spend these new tax revenues?

You must not know who I am.

Oh, I know who you are, all right.

Allow me to introduce myself.

I'm Diego de la Vega from Spain.

You bear the rank of a gentleman.

Why not act like one?

Is that a challenge, de la Vega? If it were, my sword would be at your throat.

Only long enough for my soldiers to put a bullet through your head.

Not now, Diego.

Listen to your father.

Careful, or you will regret ever coming back to Los Angeles.

Bring the prisoners to the quartel.

Would you

have challenged the Alcaldes?

Ducati has clearly lost his mind.

Somebody's going to have to challenge him.

Who is this Pueblo?

Lose the Pueblo.

I can't lose the Pueblo.

Felipe, you're a good boy.

Thank you for helping me.

This will never be the same without him.

None of us will.

He was quite a guy, that's all.

Quite a guy.

Soldiers, you're Calde's men.

If we don't get out of here, Sorrow's work will be finished.