El Cid

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This is Spain...

one thousand and eighty years

after the coming of Christ.

It is a war-torn, unhappy land...

half Christian, half Moor.

This is the time and the story

of Rodrigo Diaz of Vivar...

known to history and to legend

as El Cid, "The Lord. "

He was a simple man who became

Spain's greatest hero.

He rose above religious hatreds...

and called upon all Spaniards,

whether Christian or Moor...

to face a common enemy who threatened

to destroy their land of Spain.

This enemy was gathering

his savage forces...

across the Mediterranean Sea

on the north shores of Africa.

He was the African emir, Ben Yusuf.

The Prophet has commanded us

to rule the world.

Where in all your land of Spain

is the glory of Allah?

When men speak of you,

they speak of poets...

music makers, doctors, scientists.

Where are your warriors?

You dare call yourselves

sons of the Prophet?

You have become women!

Burn your books.

Make warriors of your poets.

Let your doctors invent

new poisons for our arrows.

Let your scientists

invent new war machines.

And then, kill!

Burn.

Infidels live on your frontiers.

Encourage them to kill each other.

And when they are weak and torn...

I will sweep up from Africa...

and thus the empire of the one God,

the true God Allah...

- Allah is the one God.

- will spread.

First, across Spain.

Then, across Europe.

Then, the whole world!

Heavenly Father,

we are lost and in darkness.

Once again they destroy our towns...

take our people in bondage.

Please help us, Father.

Send us someone...

who will take us to the light.

Father. Here. Come.

The Cross.

The Cross.

We couldn't save your village...

but we captured their leaders.

Who are you?

Rodrigo Diaz of Vivar.

Vivar?

You're a long way from home.

Sir, you are not dressed for battle.

This was to have been

my wedding day, Father.

How is it you came here, my son?

I thought this would be

the shortest road to my bride.

We are ready, my lord.

Do we hang them now?

No, Fanez.

They come to Vivar with us.

No! Stop!

Fernando, put down those stones!

Welcome home, my son.

Here are some Moorish

prisoners for you.

We didn't expect

such wedding guests.

Are you holding them for tribute?

They're your prisoners, sir.

They're yours.

You captured them.

You must decide

what is to be done with them.

Hang them! Now!

We are emir-- kings.

There will be a great ransom for you

if you let us live.

You were ready enough to kill.

It would seem

you're less ready to die.

I am ready, my Lord Rodrigo.

I have no great desire to live to see

what is coming for all of us.

What is coming for all of us?

Wars, death and destruction.

Blood and fire more terrible

than has ever been seen by living man.

Don Diego, I will take your prisoners

back to the King at Burgos.

They are not my prisoners.

They are my son's.

Oh, forgive me, Don Rodrigo.

Then it will be your prisoners we will

hang in the palace square at Burgos.

We will hang their bodies high

as an example to other Moors!

Don Ordonez, these prisoners

will not go to Burgos.

The King will be just as pleased

if you hang them here.

We've been killing them for years.

What has it brought us? Peace?

Hang me, and my sons

will not rest...

while a single Christian

remains alive in Vivar.

What other way is there

to treat the Moors?

Hang them now!

Do you want these people to live in fear

the rest of their lives?

Antonio, do you want to see

your church burned too?

Your villages destroyed?

Then kill them.

Don Diego, tell your son

that it is treason...

to refuse to turn over prisoners

to an officer of the King.

Rodrigo knows what he must do.

Do you solemnly pledge never again

to attack King Ferdinand's country?

I do.

Among our people,

we have a word for a warrior...

with the vision to be just

and the courage to be merciful.

We call such a man, "El Cid."

I, Moutamin, Emir of Saragossa...

pledge eternal friendship

to the Cid of Vivar...

and allegiance to his sovereign lord,

King Ferdinand of Castile.

May Allah strike

the eyes from my head...

and the flesh from my bones

if I break this pledge.

In the name of Allah.

In the name of Allah.

In the name of Ferdinand...

King of Castile,

Leon and Asturias...

I charge you with treason.

Within seven days, you will appear

before the King at Burgos...

to answer these charges.

You did take

the shortest road, my son.

Not to your bride,

but to your destiny.

God sent you to us, my son.

God has sent you.

Rodrigo!

But I did hear a sound.

He should have been here by now.

Why is he so late?

He is not late, my lady.

He was to be here at sundown.

It's barely noon.

Yes.

You don't really understand

how love keeps time.

Later means sooner;

sundown means noon.

Still, a man on a horse

can move only so fast...

no matter how much

the man is in love.

Yes, my lady.

All night long I kept thinking:

"Oh, the Moors

have ambushed him!

"Oh, yes, he's been

attacked by a madman.

Oh, he's fallen ill."

They say all women in love...

are tormented that way.

Because they don't dare believe

that such happiness...

can really be theirs.

Help me, please.

The gown is... very beautiful.

Your Highness is... very gracious.

It is not often we are so honored.

No. It is not an ordinary day.

Then you have not heard?

There has been news.

News of-- of Rodrigo, Your Highness?

Of Rodrigo.

The gown is so beautiful.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Can you tell me what

has happened to Rodrigo?

Yes, I can tell you.

- You knew that Rodrigo was on his way here?

- Yes.

That there was a battle?

You knew that there was a battle

with the Moors?

Chimene.

My father, tell me.

- Rodrigo's been hurt.

- No, Rodrigo's alive and well.

You love him so much.

Two names.

My father...

and Rodrigo.

Chimene...

you are my only child.

I have no wife.

You alone can carry my blood.

I should have had a son.

But Rodrigo will be your son.

No.

You're young.

You can learn to love again.

Could I learn

to love another father?

It is not the same.

There are others.

Chimene!

Chimene!

Don Garcia Ordonez,

tell me what has happened.

You have always been a good friend.

I would be more to you, Chimene...

if you would let me.

You know that can never be.

It can now.

- Why now?

- Could you love a traitor, Chimene?

Since I love Rodrigo,

the question can never have meaning.

It has meaning now.

Rodrigo is a traitor.

I do not believe you.

- There were others who were there.

- I do not believe them.

I am the one who brought

the charges against him.

He is to be tried for

treason against the King.

You would do anything

to hurt Rodrigo.

No. I would do anything to win you.

Chimene!

What if these charges are true?

- They are not true.

- But there are many who saw it.

They did not know what they saw!

You will see for yourself, Chimene.

His Majesty, Don Ferdinand...

the King, our Lord!

King of Castile, Leon and Asturias.

And the Infantes, Prince Sancho...

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