In Los Angeles, Don Diego de la Vega is introduced as a refined nobleman who spends his nights gathering intelligence. He discovers through a stolen journal that a new governor is arriving, while his aunt María Pía is horrified to learn the newcomer is her former fiancé, Fernando.

The first episode introduces a star-studded cast that defined the series' 122-episode run: Zorro: La Espada y La Rosa - Full Cast & Crew - TV Guide

is being forced by her father, Fernando, to marry a wealthy old man. During the ceremony, the groom dies at the altar, or in some accounts, Esmeralda flees before it concludes. A Prophetic Encounter: While fleeing, Esmeralda encounters a gypsy named