Original subtitles

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

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

conspire. Then from out of the night, my hero must rise.

I'm sure it's that evil a mask won't disguise.

They turn to the man comes around.

The one who's larger than life and defender of all. He's this man who

the people acclaim.

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

A hero.

Finally met your match, Don Diego.

Yes, I can see that you know this game very well, Sergeant.

Well, you do pick up a few tricks in the barracks. And I suppose this is just

beginner's luck.

I had a perfect time.

You're a very good teacher.

Why don't you let me buy you a nice lunch?

That would be a good idea.

What are they serving for lunch today?

The kitchen is closed.

I had to dismiss the cook in order to pay for the alcalde's new bed tax.

You have your comandante to thank for your empty belly.

Well, the alcalde can be a bit aggressive, but look at the bright side.

Mendoza, there is no bright side to oppression.

Yes, true, but it is nice and quiet around here with the garrison away on

maneuvers. Maneuvers?

That is nothing more than an excuse for the alcalde to take the summer air in

Monterey.

Well, the alcalde is better than Colonel Palomares, is he not?

That's not saying so much, Sergeant.

Sergeant Mendoza, please do not ever mention that name again in my tavern. I

would rather die than submit to his rule.

Is that so, senorita?

Death, you see, is easily arranged.

I have just returned from Madrid.

The king was quite upset to hear of the continued popular support for the

renegade Zorro.

Maybe he'd like to hear how upset we are with the way we are treated.

That is precisely the traitorous attitude that has forced the king to

all colonial property rights.

Forgive me, Colonel, but the king has already issued a number of land grants

over the years.

They're all rescinded, null and void, as if they never existed.

This... is a new land grant overriding all others.

So all property in the territory belongs to you.

But that can't be legal.

It bears the king's signature.

Where is the Al -Qaeda?

In Monterrey, a manoeuvre. Very official military matters.

And then bring me the acting commandant?

That is me.

The incompetence is incredible.

Very well, Sergeant. Inform the local populace they have 48 hours to either

evacuate the territory or become subject to my rule.

48 hours?

But that's not enough time to... Perhaps you would rather face the gallows once

again? No, sir. I mean, yes, sir.

Right away, sir.

I suppose you and your men will be stationed at the quartel?

My men, yes.

For myself, I have something a little bit, shall we say, nicer in mind.

I am Don Alejandro Sebastian de la Vega.

I was born here. My son was born here.

My father and his father set the first stones for this hacienda.

You can't throw me out of my own house.

How do we even know the signature on this new land grant of yours is

It certainly appears to be.

Trust me, Senor de la Vega.

It is quite genuine.

Can you prove it?

Perhaps you don't understand.

I now own the land beneath your feet. I don't have to prove anything to you. You

will have a revolution in your hands.

Hundreds of people will take up arms against you. And then we will have

of executions. If you do, the only thing you'll have left is land, worthless

land. Without people, you'll have nothing. Come, Diego.

Don Alejandro, wait!

Suppose... Suppose you are right.

What would I have to do to win the trust of the people?

I'll tell you what you have to do.

Let them judge the authenticity of this document.

If it proves to be authentic, then you stand on firm legal ground. You're

suggesting a public forum with an impartial judge to study the document.

But that would require someone with no property interest at all. Nothing at

stake.

And the territory of magistrate is in San Francisco now.

I think I know just the man.

Me?

Why me? Because you neither own property nor pay any rent.

Well, senor, I am not an expert on such things as land grants. But you do know

the king's signature, don't you?

Oh, si.

It's on the garrison commission that hangs above the alcalde's desk.

And the king's signature is right on the bottom. Good.

Then that's settled.

I'll see you both in the morning.

It's a bit early, isn't it, Diego?

Yes, but it's been a rather trying day, and I do want to be up in time for the

sergeant's room.

Did anyone see you come in?

There's a stranger at the hacienda.

We'd better hurry.

To Britain.

May the sun never set on her glory.

When we control these western Pacific ports, it never will.

It's only a question of money, senor.

My government wants no difficulty with the local population.

I have a new land grant signed by the king, which I am prepared to sell to you

with the full support of my people. Senor Bickle.

Shall we discuss terms?

He's trying to sell our pueblo to the British.

What about this Zorro, the fox?

Zorro, he's nothing. If he shows his face to me this time, he's a dead man.

You sound rather confident.

A deadly poison used by an obscure tribe of South American headhunters.

A single scratch.

slow, agonizing death.

Dinner is served, Senor Bickle.

Shall we dine on the terrace?

I've got to get a better look at that land, Grant.

Forgery is brilliant.

The king himself would be deceived.

No, it can't be authentic.

Parchment is much too porous.

It's made from a tropical papyrus, which would only be found in South America.

Yes, you're right. I must return this so that Colonel Palomares can have his day

in court.

You've been poisoned.

You will be dead within 24 hours.

You're a dead man!

Were you watching?

It appears to have natural origins.

Possibly a refined snake venom.

Yes, I know, it's already inflamed.

But even the strongest poison has to have an antidote.

Exactly. It would take months to research all possibilities, by then I'll

be dead.

Actually quite sharp, isn't it?

Go down to the river and select a strong, straight thistle reed.

Because, Felipe, we're going to get Colonel Palomares himself to lead me to

antidote. Now, it's nearly sunrise. I must get back to the tavern before my

father misses me. Hurry.

Don Diego.

This is awfully early for you, isn't it?

Couldn't sleep.

I guess I'm a bit worried about the hearing.

Yes.

Coffee? Oh, please.

Maybe that's what I need.

Thank you.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

That's all right.

I'll get something to clean it.

Look how sharp I made the quill.

It's all right.

The dizziness comes and goes.

Come and learn the proper technique for hitting your target.

Should have known.

He went back upstairs for more beauty sleep.

And I will judge the document's legal authority.

Not that there is any doubt, of course.

What do I do now?

Examine the document.

This is a transfer of deed granting...

Complete control of the territory to Colonel Palomares. Are you sure,

Excuse me, Sergeant.

I may have no skill with a sword, but I do know fraud when I see it. Could you

hold the document up to the light, please?

It still looks like the king's signature.

As it should.

Enrique Rodero is very good at his trade.

Enrique Rodero? Who is that?

A brilliant man who left Spain to embark upon a career as a forger and a

counterfeiter.

He now resides in a Brazilian prison.

There's absolutely no evidence of forgery here.

Perhaps he has had a recent visitor.

Someone who claims to have returned to Spain, but who in fact went to Brazil

instead.

This is absurd.

Make your ruling.

It certainly looks like the king's signature.

Look at the watermark.

What's that?

Every royal document bears the king's watermark.

It's in the parchment.

Read it, please.

I'm sorry, I only read Spanish.

This is in Portuguese?

Yes, which is the native tongue of Brazil, I believe.

You all right, son? Yes, yes, I'm fine.

I don't understand. How can a parchment from South America bear our king's

signature?

That's just the point, Sergeant.

It can't.

Make the ruling, Sergeant.

That document is a fake, and so are you.

That's enough.

We've all agreed to abide by your official ruling, Sergeant.

What can I do?

You'll kill me.

Where is Zorro? He should be here.

Zorro. That fool is saying his prayers.

He's a dead man.

Make the ruling, Sergeant.

Zorro.

He shot me.

With the poison.

I've been poisoned.

I have been poisoned.

I believe you're free to make whatever judgment you wish, Sergeant.

This document is... What's a good word?

Fraudulent.

I declare this document to be fraudulent.

And it's also no good.

It

goes

for a drink.

Daniel.

How did you know about the paper?

The books.

You can learn almost anything from books.

Yes. I should have known.

No, thank you. All this excitement has given me a bit of a headache. I think

I'll go upstairs and rest.

Buried egg.

I found him.

Nopalito rojus blossom.

A man could travel a hundred miles through the desert and not find another

It's the antidote, isn't it?

Yes. Yes, it only takes a single drop of the nectar to counteract the poison.

Back away, Carl.

Please.

I believe I need it greater.

Do your eyes bother you, Zorro?

First, the eyesight fails.

Then, all sense of balance.

The flower.

So delicate.

So rare.

Please, let me have it.

What do I receive in return?

Anything. Anything at all.

All I want is for you to leave California forever.

You have my word. My men and I ride for Mexico today.

The flower.

He ate the flower.

Perhaps I'm not feeding him well enough.

So the great sorrow is nothing more than a murderer after all.

The only poison you need to worry about is in your own mind.

You mean the dart?

There was no poison?

No.

Only the motivation to get you to lead me to the antidote.

I have no need to kill another man, senor. Not even you.

But you return to this territory and give me the need, and I will kill you.

See?

I ride south.

Then let me be the first to wish you safe journey.

Diego, please, let us handle it.

Colonel didn't take very good care of your house.

Well, he's gone, that's all that matters.

Our courier saw Palomares and his men riding south.

I hope he's not coming back.

No, I don't think we'll hear from Colonel Palomares again.

What makes you so sure, Diego?

Well, I read about a similar case history in one of my behavior books.

You learn a lot of things from books.