El Cid Page #2

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Prince Alfonso...

and the Princess Dona Urraca.

You have been gathered here

at this court...

to give your solemn advice

in a matter of great import to the Crown.

Garcia Ordonez has invoked

the charge of treason...

against Rodrigo of Vivar.

He cannot bring such charges against my son!

I repeat the charge! It is treason!

He's the man who's fighting Moors!

It is treason to the King!

You shouldn't have come.

Then I'll go.

No. Another moment.

Oh, forever.

Besides, there is no danger.

No danger?

Listen to them.

It doesn't matter.

Because I know you're not guilty.

- You don't even know what I've done.

- No.

But I know it was not treason.

What did you do?

I let a man live.

No. Five men.

But how can they call it treason?

Death to the Moors!

Who are these five men?

Emirs.

Moors? You let Moors live? Why?

I'm not sure it was right.

I don't know.

I think it was--

It happened strangely.

I was on my way to you.

I can't even remember where I was.

There must have been roads...

trees and people.

All I remember is your face.

There was a battle.

I fought too.

My heart wasn't in my sword.

I kept seeing your face.

Suddenly, I thought,

"Why are we killing each other?"

True, they're Moors,

we're Christians--

Chimene...

do you understand

what I'm trying to say?

Yes, but... there always

have been wars between us.

I know.

Always.

You don't think, then...

we could live in peace?

Silence!

Will you keep quiet,

the both of you!

This is not a charge

I would bring lightly against any man...

especially a man who in a short time

was to be my son.

But a man who frees

the enemies of the King--

son or no son--

I must call such a man "traitor."

Sire, he slurs

the honor of our family.

This cannot be.

I, too, was once

the King's champion.

That was many years ago, Don Diego.

Perhaps it will be better to

leave the matter in our hands.

No, Sire. There were things said here

which cannot be forgotten...

even in this royal assembly.

Count Gormaz of Oviedo...

when you call my son a traitor...

I say you lie.

I am the King's champion.

I would not want to shame my sword

with an old man's blood.

Yet no man can call me a liar.

Liar!

I don't really understand, Rodrigo.

I only know if it grew

out of our love...

it must be right.

What do you want?

You shamed my father.

I want his name back.

But not the way you left it.

I want it clean so he can once more

wear it proudly.

I cannot apologize.

It is not that I do not want to.

I do not know how to.

People will only

esteem you the more for it.

Everyone will understand.

I have told you no.

Go home, Rodrigo.

I ask nothing for myself.

I humble myself before you.

Have pity on a proud old man.

I have no pity for those who have outlived

the usefulness of their lives.

Count.

I beg you.

See? Two words are all I ask.

Can you not say, "Forgive me"?

I cannot.

I will not.

Now go.

Don't make me stain my life...

and Chimene's with your blood.

Go home, Rodrigo.

No one will think the less of you for not having

stood up against the King's own champion.

Count Gormaz!

I will ask you...

only this last time.

I see that courage and honor

are not dead in Castile.

And now I remember why I once thought

you were worthy of my Chimene.

Go home, Rodrigo.

What glory is there for the King's champion

in killing someone like you?

Can a man live...

without honor?

No.

Now, Count, now I am satisfied.

Chimene!

Chimene!

Chimene.

Father!

- Chimene.

- Oh, Father!

Avenge me...

as my son would.

Don't let me die...

unavenged.

Unavenged.

Oh, Father.

I didn't seek your father's life, Chimene.

No, but you knew he could

only answer the way he did...

and you were prepared to kill him.

You bought your honor

with my sorrow.

There was no other way for me.

The man you chose to love

could do only what I did.

Why did you come, Rodrigo?

Did you think the woman you chose to love

could do less than you?

I tried not to come.

I tried.

I told my love

it had no right to live.

But my love won't die.

- Kill it!

- You kill it!

Tell me you don't love me.

I cannot.

Not yet.

But I will make myself

worthy of you, Rodrigo.

I will learn to hate you.

Dona Chimene, daughter of

the late Count Gormaz of Oviedo...

the King's lamented champion.

Dona Chimene,

never was there a moment

when we needed

your father more.

His death is a great loss to us.

And never did I regret

more deeply...

that I am his daughter

and not his son.

I will not stand

on ceremony, Ferdinand.

Three times I have written you

on the matter of the city of Calahorra...

and have received no answer.

The city of Calahorra belongs to Aragon,

and I've come to claim it.

Calahorra has always been

a part of Castile.

His Majesty, King Ferdinand,

of Castile, Leon and Asturias...

denies these claims.

Ramiro, King of Aragon

by the grace of God...

does this day challenge Ferdinand,

King of Castile, Leon and Asturias...

to meet him in battle

on the plains of Calahorra...

with all the forces he can command.

To the victor in this battle

and to his heirs...

the city of Calahorra

shall belong forever!

No!

All Spain is threatened

by the Moors.

What could give greater comfort

to the enemy...

than to see two Christian kings and their

Christian armies tear each other to bits.

Why not then let the fate

of Calahorra be determined...

by the outcome of a single combat...

between your champion and mine?

We know why you have chosen

this moment to press your claim.

Our champion is dead.

The gauntlet lies there.

Let one man come forward now,

or give up Calahorra.

Lord King!

Let me take up this gauntlet, Sire.

Why should we entrust the fate of a city...

to your inexperienced hands?

It was I who killed

your champion, Sire.

What man has a better claim

to his place?

Don Martin has killed

You know that?

Yes.

Yes, Sire, I know that.

Why, then, would you risk

your life in this way?

I stand accused of treason, Sire.

And of other things.

I've not been permitted to answer

these charges. You've not judged me.

Let me now offer myself

before the highest judge.

If I'm guilty...

God will direct Don Martin's

lance to my heart.

If I'm innocent,

let him be my shield.

- He's never fought before.

- He is strong, Father.

A city, a whole city is at stake.

- He defeated our champion.

- How do we know it wasn't

from behind and in the dark?

- There were no witnesses.

- That is not Rodrigo's way.

Let him fight, Father.

He has much to fight for.

Rodrigo of Vivar,

take up the gauntlet.

And may God give you strength.

May God give me strength.

Why have you come to this place

at this hour?

We have come to do battle

for the city of Calahorra!

Will you fight to the death,

giving no quarter and receiving none?

- We will.

- We will.

Go, then, and fight for Calahorra.

Don Martin.

Don Martin.

You have always been

my father's enemy.

Will you be his avenger?

Will you wear my colors?

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