# The Mask of Zorro

The Mask of Zorro is a 1998 action film by Sony Pictures starring Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Its sequel was 2005's The Legend of Zorro.

## Don Diego

* You know there is a saying, a very old saying: when the pupil is ready the master will appear.
* A nobleman is nothing but a man, who says one thing and thinks another.
* Lesson number one: never attack in anger.

## Alejandro

* That is the way they are dancing in Madrid these days... Don Rafael, you'll have to excuse me, I have to catch my breath. Your daughter is a very spirited dancer.
* All this sword play, and riding around on horses, it gives me a frightful headache.

## Captain Love

* Murrieta’s brother or not, you are more than you pretend to be.
* You're doing very well. Your brother would have shot himself by now.
* Strange I'd say, it's the second time I've shot this man while he was flying through the air.

## Elena

* He was vigorous and young. (smiles then looks serious) He was very vigorous, Father.

## Dialogue

    Don Diego: You should not trade something like that for a mere glass of whiskey.
    Alejandro: Why not? You think I could get two?
    Alejandro: I would have killed him.
    Don Diego: No, not today. He is trained to kill. You seem trained to drink. Oh yes, my friend, you would have fought very bravely, and died very quickly. Who then would avenge your brother?
    Alejandro: I would have found a way. I've never lost a fight.
    Don Diego: Except to a crippled old man just now.
    What is your name?
    Alejandro: Alejandro.
    Don Diego: Alejandro… you know, there is a saying, a very old saying: “When the pupil is ready, the master will appear.” Now if you want to kill this man, I can help you, and I can teach you how. How to move, how to think, how to take your revenge with honour- and live to celebrate it. It will take dedication; it will take time.
    Alejandro: Why are you so eager to help me?
    Don Diego: Because once, a long time ago, [pointing at Alejandro’s amulet] you did the same for me.
    Don Diego: Do you know how to use that thing?
    Alejandro: Yes. The pointy end goes into the other man.
    Don Diego: This is going to take a lot of work.
[cut to training area]
    This is called a training circle. The master’s wheel. This circle will be your world, your whole life. Till I tell you otherwise, there is nothing outside of it.
    Alejandro: Captain Love-
    Don Diego: There is nothing… outside of it. Captain Love does not exist until I say he exists. As your skill with the sword improves, you will progress to a smaller circle. With each new circle your world contracts, bring you that much closer to your adversary; that much closer to retribution.
    Alejandro: I like that part.
    Don Diego: Shall we?
    Don Diego: You have passion Alejandro, and your skill is growing. But to enter Montero's world, I must give you something which is completely beyond your reach.
    Alejandro: Ah, yes? And what is that?
    Don Diego: Charm.
    Alejandro: ...And what is that?
    Alejandro: I miss my brother, sir.
    Don Diego: Your brother is dead. We lose the ones we love; we cannot change it. Put it aside.
    Alejandro: How? How can I do what is needed, when all I feel is... hate.
    Don Diego: You hide it. With this. (holding up the Zorro mask)
    Soldier: Hey... I thought you were tied up.
    Joaquín: That is because you are stupid.
    Don Rafael: Did you send men to the hills? Double the guard at the walls?
    Captain Love: Yes, yes, of course. After all, it's only one man...
    Don Rafael: It isn't just "one man", damn it! It's Zorro!
    Alejandro: Do you surrender?
    Elena: Never, but I may scream.
    Alejandro: I understand. Sometimes I have that effect.
    Elena: Forgive me father for I have sinned. It has been three days since my last confession.
    Alejandro: Three days? How many sins could you have committed in three days? Come back when you have more time, please.
    Elena: Excuse me?
    Alejandro: Listen, señorita… Please, go on.
    Elena: I have broken the fourth commandment, padre.
    Alejandro: You killed somebody?
    Elena: No, that is not the fourth commandment.
    Alejandro: Of course not. Tell me, in what way did you break the most sacred of commandments?
    Elena: I dishonored my father.
    Alejandro: That is not so bad. Maybe your father deserved it.
    Elena: What did you say?
    Alejandro: I said, tell me more, my child.
    Elena: Well, I try to behave properly, the way my father would like me to. But I’m afraid my heart is too wild.
    Alejandro: Too wild?
    Elena: Yes.
    Alejandro: Could you be… a little more specific?
    Elena: I had impure thoughts about a man.
    Alejandro: Uh huh.
    Elena: I did- I think he was a bandit or something. He wore a black mask.
    Alejandro: He had a deep voice.
    Elena: Yes.
    Alejandro: Ruggedly handsome?
    Elena: I do not know, his face was half covered. But something in his eyes captured me.
    Alejandro: Captured you?
    Elena: I felt warm and feverish.
    Alejandro: Lustful?
    Elena: Yes, lustful… forgive me.
    Alejandro: I forgive you.
[soldiers enter the church]
    Soldier: Look over there, by the altar!
    Captain Love: Search everything! The chapel, the loft, the rectory, all of it.
    Priest: This is a house of God.
    Captain Love: Don’t worry Padre, we’ll be gone by the time he gets back.
    Alejandro: Señorita, you have done nothing wrong. The only sin would be to deny what your heart truly feels. Now go.
    Don Diego: Convince Montero that you're a gentleman of stature, and he will let you into his circle.
    Alejandro: Me? A gentleman? This is going to take a lot of work.
    Don Diego: Yes.
    Alejandro: Look at me. I look like a butterfly. This is the most stupid thing I've ever done.
    Don Diego: I doubt that.
    Alejandro: We'll never get away with this.
    Don Diego: Yes we will. A nobleman is nothing but a man who says one thing and thinks another.
    Alejandro: Weren't you the one chasing some legendary bandit recently?
    Captain Love: He was hardly legendary.
    Alejandro: So you caught him?
    Captain Love: It's only a matter of time.
    Alejandro: Well the bandit might have escaped. But we will all think twice… before going to confession.
    [guests laugh]
    Captain Love: The lady and I were trying to dance.
    Alejandro: You were trying. She was succeeding.
    Alejandro: Here. This is the canyon. That is where the mine is. They have 20… 30 guards at most. Nothing that Zorro can't overcome.
    Don Diego: I'm not going with you. Alejandro looks at him confused I'm not going with you. There's something I must do. It’s a personal matter.
    Alejandro: And the prisoners?
    Don Diego: There's nothing more I can do.
    Alejandro: Nothing you will do?
    Don Diego: I gave my life to them. My wife was murdered before my eyes, and my child was raised by my mortal enemy.
    Alejandro: Montero? Elena... She's your daughter!
    Don Diego: She was.
    Alejandro: So, you will simply take your revenge.
    Don Diego: No, my daughter. And don't pretend she means nothing to you.
    Alejandro: She does. But you taught me to see beyond personal feelings. Was that all a lie?
    Don Diego: You are too young to understand.
    Alejandro: To understand what? Betrayal? All the work, all the training, all the wise words, for what? To smile in the face of my brother’s killer while you make your own plans?
    Don Diego: I taught you everything you need to survive. Now I must look to my own heart. Elena is all I have left. I am not going to lose her again.
    Alejandro: What about California? What about the people?
    Don Diego: They still have Zorro.

## Taglines

* When freedom is a memory and justice is outlawed, the just must become outlaws.
* No one has seen his face....but everyone....knows this mark.
* This summer, justice leaves its mark.

## Cast

* Antonio Banderas - Alejandro Murrieta / Zorro:
   * José María de Tavira - young Alejandro Murrieta.
* Anthony Hopkins - Don Diego de la Vega / Zorro:
* Catherine Zeta-Jones - Elena Montero:
   * María and Mónica Fernández Cruz - Elena de la Vega (infant).
* Stuart Wilson - Don Rafael Montero:
* Matt Letscher - Captain Harrison Love
* Tony Amendola - Don Luiz
* Pedro Armendáriz, Jr. - Don Pedro
* Victor Rivers - Joaquín Murrieta
** Diego Sieres - Young Joaquín Murrieta
* L. Q. Jones - Three-fingered Jack
* Julieta Rosen - Esperanza De La Vega
* Maury Chaykin - Prison Warden

## External links

* Encyclopedic article on The Mask of Zorro on Wikipedia
* The Mask of Zorro quotes at the Internet Movie Database