- [first lines]
- [Felipe enters the room where Don Diego is trying to make lunar observations with his telescope]
- Don Diego de la Vega: Put out that light. What is it, Felipe? Yes, I know the hour is late. You see, there is one obstacle which has vexed astronomers down through the ages - you can only study the moon at night.
- Don Diego de la Vega: Felipe, it is time for you to learn some swordsmanship.
- [Diego parries Felipe's sudden thrust]
- Don Diego de la Vega: Excellent... but you forgot the salute. That's very impolite.
- Alcalde Luis Ramone: Good evening, Zorro. Those shots were a warning... the pleasure of killing you is mine.
- Zorro: My sword says differently, Señor Alcalde.
- [Sergeant Mendoza discovers the "corpse" was feigning death]
- Sergeant Jaime Mendoza: Why did you not let me in on this plan, Alcaide?
- Alcalde Luis Ramone: It was all part of my strategy, Sergeant. If we could fool you, we could fool anyone, because you are a fool's fool.
- Sergeant Jaime Mendoza: Oh, thank you, sir!
- Ricardo Cortez: But h-how did you know I was really still alive?
- Zorro: The insignia of the great Calederon Theater Company, Mexico City - so nicely embossed upon your saddlebags. Who would want to kill an actor, I asked myself? Not even his harshest critic.
- [Zorro sets Sergeant Mendoza's pants on fire with the lens of his telescope]
- Zorro: Yes, Sergeant, I burn, too. I apologize if I've made you uncomfortable, but such are the forces of nature when harnessed by man. I burn, too - with injustice! Alcaide, a remarkable thing has occurred... a dead man has been resurrected. May I present Ricardo Cortes, alias a corpse known as Morales.
- Alcalde Luis Ramone: Seize him!
- [the Alcaide's men charge towards Zorro]
- Zorro: Another step and your old school friend may die yet again.