Original subtitles

When daggers are pointed at innocent hearts And muskets are ready to fire

Where tyrants ride high and govern with fear as the forces of evil conspire.

Then from out of the night, a hero must rise with courage that even a mask

won't disguise. They turn to the man called Zorro.

Zorro! One who's larger than life and defender of all. He's this man whom the

people acclaim.

He's the one who strikes back for the poor and oppressed.

A hero whose name is Zorro.

His name is Zorro.

Zorro.

Nicely done, Felipe.

You know, we can learn much from observing our winged visitors.

Each has its own personality.

They're the proud peacocks, the ugly ducklings, the predators, the prey.

Just like human beings.

I hear the new Padre just arrived from Santa Barbara. Padre Benitez.

You know him?

Through our letters.

He's not only a man of God, he's also a renowned lover of nature.

I wrote him because I've identified a new species of bird. We don't need

bird watcher, Diego. We need a wise hand to guide our mission.

Well, if anyone can guide the mission with wisdom and compassion, it's Padre

Benitez.

I hope you will find everything all right, Padre Benitez.

If it is not, Carlos, you will be the first to know.

This is the mission's vine, is it not?

Yes, Padre.

What are these women doing, helping themselves to what does not belong to

The old Padre always let the poor take what they needed.

And what has been the result?

A bankrupt mission.

If I catch either of you two stealing from this vine again, you will be

punished. But, Padre, things are going to change around here, Carlos.

Things are definitely going to change.

There has been altogether too much flak in here.

It will no longer be tolerated.

These people are working the fields from dawn to dusk. It is not enough.

In the evenings, they must help with the mission chores.

But the old padre always let them... I am not the old padre!

We are maybe your servants, but we are not your slaves.

This is not right!

I shall destroy what is right, Padre Benitez!

Take them to work.

It's difficult keeping these people in their plane.

Can I help you, senor?

I'm Alejandro de la Vega.

I believe you and my son Diego have been in correspondence for some months.

Why, yes, of course.

He tells me you're interested in the study of ornithology.

The only study I am interested in is keeping the mission on a sound footing.

If you'll forgive me, Signor. With all due respect, Padre, loyalty is earned by

kindness and guidance, not by oppression.

My orders come directly from the Cardinal.

I suggest you take the matter up with his eminence in Mexico City.

But how can the padre who wrote this letter, a gentle student of nature, be

hard?

Look what he sent to all the caballeros.

I tell you, Diego, he treats Carlos and the others with great cruelty.

He's asking you to triple your offerings to the mission.

Oh, it's not a request. It's a demand.

Did he give any reason?

Something about renovating the sanctuary.

There's not a need of renovation. Besides, the church has more than

funds for such things.

I think this new padre needs a good bookkeeper. He's even accused Carlos of

stealing the church silver.

Carlos would never steal anything.

I'm going to find out more about this. Are you coming?

Yes.

This handwriting is totally different.

Alcalde, there must be some mistake.

The Padre found the church's silver chalice underneath Carlos' coffin.

The rest of the silver is still missing.

I must take this man into custody and make him confess.

This is ridiculous.

We've known Carlos all his life.

I'm sure he's innocent.

Sometimes innocence alone is not enough to protect a man from injustice.

to find out more about this imposter at the mission, this wolf in priest's

clothing.

Yes.

Zorro rides tonight.

It is gratifying to finally have a progressive priest such as yourself,

in our humble Pueblo.

Progressive enough to pay your share of the church's increased income?

Truly, you are a man of generous spirit.

Tell me, how generous would you think I am? In spirit, that is. Very.

An equal share would feel appropriate.

Ten percent is more traditional.

But not as charitable as, say, 40%. 20. 30.

25. Not a cent time or more. Agreed.

Of course.

Nevertheless... What exactly do I get for 25 % of the church's revenue?

The protection and support of my devoted troops.

In other words, Padre, you get to stay in business.

This man, Carlos Hernandez, stands accused of stealing the precious silver

the mission.

He is to receive 20 strokes of the lash unless he reveals where he has hidden

it. How can I tell you what it is?

I didn't steal it.

Save your lash for its proper victim.

That man is no priest, but he is most certainly a thief.

I found the stolen church silver hidden in his closet and returned it to the

sacristy. Do not listen to these lies.

Lies? What kind of liar hides behind the robes of a priest?

Forget the priest.

I want Zorro.

If you wish to see the true Padre Benitez alive, bring 500 pesos in gold

Ramon's pasture on the Camino Real.

There's also a message from the true Padre Benitez here.

Please pay the ransom so that I may someday see the beautiful starlings

Starlings.

I wonder if he's trying to give us a clue.

Well? Is the Alcalde going to pay the ransom?

He insists his coffers are empty when we all know they're overflowing with gold.

But surely the Alcalde will send out his soldiers to find out whether... He says

it would be a hopeless task.

But they could be holding him anywhere between here and Santa Barbara.

For once, the Alcalde has a point.

Which leaves only one honorable cause of action.

We cavalieros must raise the money amongst ourselves.

Amigos, is 500 pesos too great a price to pay to free our new padre?

We are with you, Don Alejandro.

Good. Then raising the ransom should be no problem.

But what if you pay the ransom and you still don't find Padre Benitez?

In that case, we will have to take action among ourselves.

Vamos.

I am pleased to be out of your drab, Padre, habit. The clothes of a man of

should be humbled.

It concerns more the treasures of the spirit.

Please spare me your righteousness.

Are you not afraid to die?

Even in death I shall live.

The time has come to collect the ransom.

I'm afraid you won't be coming with me.

Although you have been a valuable asset, Padre, now you are merely unwanted

baggage.

Do as you wish, Zaragoza.

I put my faith in the Lord.

What a pity.

I put my faith in this blade.

That will be your undoing, Signor.

Faith is a tool of the weak sorrow the strong have no need of such help right

now You need all the help you can get from above Or

below

Even

the priest's robes you wore could not hide the heart of a common

but an uncommon sword.

You're like a formidable opponent, Saul.

But why fight the death when we can both be rich?

I offer you half the ransom.

Oh, I'm afraid not, Zaragoza.

Instead, I offer you this.

How did you find me, Thoreau?

Your clue in the ransom note. The Starlings.

Oh, yes.

A friend of mine knows where they roost.

He remembered a letter you wrote to him before your journey to the mission.

You must mean Don Diego.

Your friend of his.

A mere acquaintance.

I believe the gold here.

The ransom note demanded.

Pray they keep their word.

Save your prayers and your gold.

Zorro, meet Padre Benitez.

The Lord has been kind to me today.

He's been kind to all of us.

Not only has he delivered this imposter, but Zorro as well.

Emilio, what are you saying?

We owe the Padres rescue to Zorro.

Perhaps. But Zorro is a criminal.

He's wanted by the Spanish throne. We must do our duty only to defend others

from greed and injustice, Caballero.

Who stands with me?

Any one of us is a match for you, Zorro. Here you will find no safety in

numbers, senor. Now, stop!

The next step will be your last, my friend.

Now listen, my friends. Listen. When Zorro found Saragossa, he offered to

the ransom with him, and Zorro, he refused. He's a good man.

Please, escort Padre Benitez to his new home at the mission, and my friend there

to his new home at the jail.

Padre, welcome to Los Angeles.

Don Diego, one thing I do not understand.

How did you ever find Zorro to tell him about the bird?

Well, I didn't have to.

Zorro has a way of always finding me.

You know, from the moment that criminal waylaid me on the highway and took me

prisoner, I did not lose hope.

As a student of nature, the birds teach me always to have hope.

How so?

Well, every morning in the cold and dark before dawn, the birds start to sing.

They do not know the dawn comes, and still they sing. And you know, Don

always the dawn does come.

We have much to learn from you, Father.

This poor thing, he has a broken wing.

Hey, Carlos.

Yes? Take him inside.

We will look after this little one till his wing heals and he can fly once

again. Yes, Father.

You know, after my ordeal, this place, it seems even more beautiful.

Now, it is time for lunch.

You would care to join with me?

I would be honored.

What a pity Zorro cannot be with us.

But he is, Father.

Inferior.