The Mark of Zorro

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Fair seat, bad hands,

mount not sufficiently schooled.

Disqualified.

Here's the California cockerel.

Ten pesos he clears 'em all.

Cleanly? Taken.

Grow wings, my friend.

Ten pesos, ifyou please.

Maybe you've forgotten that in California

they use horses for cradles.

- Well done, seor.

- And all I did was sit on his back.

Oh, three carrots

aFTer his oats tonight, Manuel.

- You go to an affair ofthe court, seor?

- No, ofthe heart.

- Something is wrong.

- The face, man. The face.

Why the fine feathers?

A seorita who'd put St Anthony

on the griddle. We're to meet...

Have you forgotten that you cross swords

with Lieutenant Cortez at three o'clock?

Santa Mara! It slipped my mind.

Why do I have to meet

every swordsman in Madrid?

Everyone enjoys a certain amount offighting,

but why does everyone pick on me?

It's become a distinction

to assail a California cockerel.

You pink them slightly in the arm and

shoulder and they boast of having met you.

Cadet Vega, the commandant

wishes to see you in his office at once.

Good. You see, I can't possibly fight

the fellow now. Explain that to him, will you?

But tell him I'll meet him tomorrow.

Seores, your attention, please.

- I'm buying wine for all.

- (murmurs ofapproval)

Come on, come on.

It's your last chance to fill up on me.

Last chance? What do you mean?

My father has ordered me home.

The commandantjust told me.

- I sail on the first ship from Lisbon.

- To California?

- But what about your commission here?

- I'll have to give that up.

What's California like?

Are the lndians troublesome?

- No.

- Then who is there to fight?

No one.

Then what will you do with

this spur ofyours, my cockerel?

This.

Leave it there.

And when you see it, think of me,

in a land of gentle missions,

happy peons, sleepy caballeros,

and everlasting boredom.

Wine!

A toast, seores. To California,

where a man can only marry, raise fat

children, and watch his vineyards grow.

- How are the vineyards? Bearing well?

- By some miracle the grapes remain sweet.

Why so gloomy?

People cannot sing

with hatred in their hearts, seor.

- Hatred for whom?

- The alcalde, may his soul burn in hell.

The alcalde? A kinder,

better man never lived.

You don't know him, seor.

I should know him. He's my father.

Well... I said it, and I won't deny it.

I've taken 20 lashes before

for a slip ofthe tongue.

Row, row. Get me to shore.

(# guitarmusic andsinging)

- Buenos das, seor.

- Buenos das.

- I'm honoured. How can I serve you?

- A glass ofyour best wine.

- You are a stranger in these parts, seor?

- No, not exactly.

I was born and raised not far from here.

I am the son ofthe alcalde.

(singing stops)

Where can I get a carriage

to drive me to Los Angeles?

- Wake up! Didn't you hear me?

- S, seor.

This way, seor.

Pedro! Pedro, here is a caballero

who would employ you.

- He is the son of His Excellency, the alcalde.

- I want to be driven to Los Angeles.

I have some boxes

and a portmanteau on the wharf.

I'll pay you well.

Well, stop staring at me.

Will you drive me or not?

What's come over this country?

Have you all gone mad?

Listen, you. Find speech,

or I'll cut out your tongue.

Oh, please. You are too late, seor.

Your good father has already attended to that.

- My father? What are you talking about?

- I'm sorry. But at a meeting ofthe peons,

this man spoke against the heavy taxes.

The next day, the soldiers of His Excellency

cut out his tongue. I swear it is true.

Therefore, until we receive

the reinforcements promised us...

Huh?

So people can still laugh in California.

I'd begun to think they'd lost the habit.

- Your name?

- He claims to be the son ofthe alcalde.

I claim nothing. I am Diego Vega,

son of His Excellency, Don Alejandro.

And this, although I find it

greatly changed, is my home.

Your pardon, I'd not heard ofyour returning.

Welcome to California.

I'm Capitn Esteban Pasquale,

military aid to the alcalde.

I'm honoured, Capitn, but bewildered.

Tell me, why has my father

turned his home into a barracks?

Conditions have changed since you leFT,

Don Diego. Your father... resigned.

Age, you know. Since then, the peons

have become more, uh... more industrious.

As to the caballeros, they're

encouraged to think oftheir own affairs.

We take care ofthe government.

I see.

I see. Tell me, who holds the office now?

- Don Luis Quintero. I'll take you to him.

- I'd like to see my family. Where are they?

At your old hacienda.

But Don Luis won't allow me to let you go

without a welcome from him.

I'm quite sure that you...

you'll save me a reprimand.

How could I refuse a man

with a naked sword in his hand?

So a wit has come to Los Angeles.

Carry out your orders, Sergeant.

S, mi capitn.

Foolish habit of mine.

Some men play with a glove,

or a monocle, or a snuffbox.

Churchmen finger their beads.

I toy with a sword.

Do you fancy the weapon?

I know very little about it, my dear capitn.

Swordplay is such a violent business.

(chuckling)

So, this bird killed the black-breasted red?

- Yes, Your Excellency.

- Was it a bloody battle?

At the side ofthe pit, all the people

were covered with blood.

Pity I missed it. What are you asking for him?

Oh, this is a noble bird. Well tested.

I'm asking 40 pesos for him, Excellency.

40 pesos? Esteban! This cheating dog

should have his taxes raised.

Oh, no, Your Excellency.

The bird is yours, as a giFT.

Not one centimo will he cost you.

That's a better attitude. Much better.

Turn him over to my handlers.

Seor.

And what caballero is this?

Or is he some young lord from Spain?

A good guess, Excellency.

He's just from Spain.

This is Don Diego Vega,

son ofyour respected predecessor.

Ah. I thought such fabric came from Madrid.

Must have cost you plenty, eh?

The caballero is here for words ofwelcome,

not to discuss the price of his clothes.

Of course, to be sure.

Welcome back, young sir.

Regard this house as still your home.

- I thank Your Excellency.

- Luis! Luis!

A ship is in from Spain. The shops

will have something worth looking at.

- I need...

- Money, money, money. It's always money.

Luis, I don't know this caballero.

- He's offyour precious ship from Spain.

- How delightful.

Will one ofyou ill-mannered boors

present him?

Don Diego Vega. Seora lnez de Quintero.

- My wife, seor.

- Seora.

Your Excellency is a very fortunate man.

I'm not so sure. She thinks

pesos grow on mulberry trees.

Your husband was also fascinated

by the caballero's... clothes.

We're overwhelmed by the latest fashions.

And no wonder.

What is there here to interest a woman?

I long for the life you've been leading. The

gaiety and splendour of Madrid and the court.

- Patience, my love. You'll see it all someday.

- Doubtless, when I'm an old hag.

That catastrophe could never

overtake you, seora.

Did you hear? How easily

he makes pretty speeches.

I regret, seora, that...

You were saying, Don Diego?

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