Written by Philip John Taylor
Directed by Ray Austin
First US Airdate 8 September 1991 Episode 3.2
[Exterior shot of a farmhouse.]
[Exterior shot of Jose Rivas tying a rope around a pole. Suddenly a gunshot sounds off camera. A horse whinnies loudly then a woman screams. Jose turns around and starts running to his left.]
Woman's Voice [off camera]
No! No! No, please no!
[Another gunshot is heard off camera. Jose runs out of his house, carrying a pistol. He runs to his left.]
[Exterior shot of a stream as Jose runs across it.]
[Exterior shot of the countryside as Jose runs up a hill then stops at the top.]
[Exterior shot of an overturned carriage where a man holding a horse's reins is going through the pockets of a man lying on the ground.]
Jose [off camera]
Stop!
[He fires his pistol. The bandit gets up onto his horse and rides away. Jose runs down the hill as if to run after the bandit but then stops.]
Jose [looking at the man on the ground]
Oh no! Don Sebastian!
[He crouches down and puts his hand on Don Sebastian's neck. He then looks to his right.]
Jose [getting up and going to his right]
Señora Valverdes!
[He crouches down beside a woman lying on the ground on the other side of the overturned carriage. He goes over and pulls a mirror out of a purse lying nearby and polishes it with his hand. He puts the mirror under Señora Valverde's nose.]
Jose
Breathe, Señora! Breathe!
de Soto [off camera at first]
Stand up!
[Jose looks up to see de Soto on horseback, pointing a pistol at him.]
de Soto
Very slowly. [Jose stands up.] Move out here where I can see you.
[Jose walks slowly to his left as Mendoza and several other lancers ride up behind him.]
Mendoza
Jose, what happened? We were out on patrol . We heard shooting.
[De Soto dismounts his horse as Mendoza does as well. Mendoza goes over to Don Sebastian's body.]
Mendoza
Don Sebastian!
Jose
I was just . . .
de Soto [walking up to Jose, still aiming his pistol at him]
You were just caught red-handed. [He takes Jose's pistol and sniffs its
barrel.] Recently fired.
Jose
No. . . Listen. I heard shots. I rushed over here.
I saw a man running away. [He brings his hand up to his face.] He was wearing
. . .
de Soto
What do you take me for, a fool? And we have motive, Sergeant.
Robbery. Take him away!
Jose
But I would never harm the Valverdes. [He looks over at Mendoza.] Sergeant,
tell him. Don Sebastian was like a father to me.
Mendoza
It's true, Alcalde. I've known Jose a long time. He would never.
. .
de Soto
Sergeant Mendoza! Every murderer has a mother. Every murderer
is somebody's best friend! Now take care of the bodies!
Mendoza [to the other lancers]
You heard the alcalde.
de Soto [turning and walking away]
Bring him!
[Two lancers grab Jose's arms and lead him over to de Soto's horse.]
Lancers
Over here!
Voice [off camera]
Ooo.
[Mendoza turns around then goes over and crouches down beside Señora
Valverde.]
Mendoza [as he rolls her to her back]
Maria? Lancers! Help me! Quick!
[He starts to pick up Señora Valverde.]
Lancers
Si, Mendoza.
[Exterior wide shot of the de la Vega hacienda. Loud knocking is heard off camera.]
Don Alejandro [off camera at first]
Yes?
[Interior shot of the de la Vega hacienda as Don Alejandro walks toward the front door.]
Mendoza [off camera]
It is me, Sergeant Mendoza.
[Don Alejandro goes over and opens the door.]
Mendoza [off camera at first]
Forgive me the intrusion but we need your help, Don Alejandro.
[Mendoza carries Señora Valverde through the door.]
Don Alejandro
Maria! Quickly, into the library!
Mendoza [as he carries Señora Valverde inside]
We didn't know where else to bring her. The doctor is at the Indian
settlement.
[Don Alejandro walks along side Mendoza into the library. Diego and Felipe come up behind them.]
Diego
What happened, Sergeant?
Mendoza [placing Señora Valverde on a settee in the library]
Don Sebastian is dead. [Señora Valverde moans with pain.] The alcalde
says Jose Rivas did it. I can't believe that.
[Diego takes off his jacket and hands it to Mendoza.]
Diego [kneeling down beside Señora Valverde]
Ah, let me, Father.
Don Alejandro [as Diego looks at Señora Valverde's wound]
I don't understand. Jose Rivas is the most gentle man in the whole
village. He'd never kill anyone, let alone Don Sebastian. He worshiped
the ground the old man walked on.
Diego [as he puts a cloth on the wound]
This bullets will have to come out. [He looks up at Felipe.] I'll need towels,
bandages, and a knife.
Don Alejandro [looking over at Felipe and nodding]
Felipe.
[Felipe and Don Alejandro go off to their right. Diego unbuttons his cuffs as Mendoza looks on.]
Diego [as he rolls up his shirt sleeves]
Stay alive, Doña Maria. Save yourself. Save Jose Rivas.
[He presses another cloth to her wound.]
[Exterior shot of a sunset? as a crow caws.]
[Interior shot of the cuartel jail as Mendoza carries a tray of food up to a cell door. He bends down to unlock the door then opens it. He steps inside the cell where Jose is sitting on a cot. Mendoza takes the lid off a bowl then sniffs at it.]
Mendoza
Aah!
Jose [as he holds up his left hand]
I'm just not hungry, Sergeant.
Mendoza [putting the lid back onto the bowl]
Perhaps later.
[Jose nods.]
de Soto [appear outside the cell]
Perhaps your appetite would improve if you simply confessed.
Jose
I have nothing to confess. The Valverdes were my friends.
de Soto
Señor, last year Don Sebastian filed a new will at the records office.
A will giving you all the land you have been renting from the Valverdes if
they both died.
Jose
Don Sebastian was always very generous to me and I would never harm him.
[De Soto sighs.] You must believe me. I'm innocent.
de Soto
Save you speeches for the trial. Sergeant Mendoza, set the gallows
up in the plaza. . . Just in case.
Mendoza
Alcalde, if you recall, the last time we tried to hang someone, Zorro burned
down the gallows.
[He chuckles. De Soto does not.]
de Soto [leaning down into Mendoza's face]
Then build another! And this time, when Zorro once again show his
face to once again impede the course of justice, I'll hang him right alongside
this murderer!
[He turns and walks away. Mendoza turns and looks sympathetically at Jose, who looks worried.]
*****COMMERCIAL BREAK*****
[Interior shot of de Soto's office where the skylight in the ceiling is being opened. Zorro climbs down through the rafters then drops down onto the office floor. He goes over and looks out a window.]
[Exterior shot of the plaza where de Soto watches as several lancers build a gallows. De Soto then turns and goes inside his office, closing the door behind him.]
[Interior shot of de Soto's office as de Soto walks across the room and over to a bookcase where he takes out a book and opens it. He turns around and drops the book as Zorro is standing right in front of him.]
Zorro
Did I surprise you? And I though you were always urging your men to
be on the lookout for danger. ‘Eternal vigilance' is the phrase I believed
you use.
[De Soto reaches for a pistol sitting on a shelf. Zorro puts the tip of his saber on de Soto's chest.]
Zorro
Pay attention, Alcalde. You've only been in this pueblo a short time,
so take it from me, Jose Rivas is quite incapable of killing anyone, least
of all his friend and mentor, Don Sebastian.
de Soto [sarcastically]
Oh, yes, he was like a father to poor downtrodden Jose. So everyone
keeps telling me. Well, sons have been known to kill even their real
fathers for far less than this.
Zorro
But according to this, [He holds up a piece of paper.] Don Sebastian was
going to leave individual parcels of land to all his tenants. Why single
out Jose?
de Soto [defensively]
I found him standing over the bodies with a gun in his hand.
Zorro
What about the man Jose swears he saw leaving the carriage?
de Soto
Ah, an obvious lie to cover himself.
[Zorro whips away his saber then walks to his right. He turns his back on de Soto, who grabs the pistol.]
Zorro
Perhaps not.
[Zorro turns back around as de Soto hides the pistol behind his back.]
Zorro
I suggest you delay the execution until Doña Maria recovers.
When a man's life is at stake, isn't it prudent to verify all the facts?
de Soto
The facts are Jose Rivas will hang on Friday. [He brings out the pistol
and aims it at Zorro.] And so will you.
[Zorro smiles insolently as de Soto cocks the pistol.]
de Soto
You were saying something earlier about vigilance?
Zorro [sarcastically]
I can see I am wearing out my welcome.
[He starts to calmly walk away from de Soto.]
de Soto
Move and I'll fire! [Zorro keeps walk toward the door. De Soto pulls
the trigger and the pistol just clicks.
Zorro stops and turns around.]
Zorro
Oh, I was vigilant enough to remove the ammunition before you arrived.
[Zorro nods then opens the door.]
de Soto
Lancers!
Lancers [off camera]
Si, Alcalde!
[Zorro grabs the first lancer that comes up to the door and throws him across the office.]
Zorro
Adios, Alcalde.
[The lancer falls into a table and knocks over a decanter of red wine. Its contents spill onto a yellow rug. Zorro slams the door into the face of the next lancer who comes up to the door. The lancer holds his injured nose. Zorro reopens the door then punches the lancer in the face.]
Lancer
Ooh!
[Exterior shot of de Soto's office as Zorro runs out the door and to his right.]
[Interior shot of de Soto's office as de Soto slams his pistol down on his desk.]
de Soto
Argh!
[Exterior shot of the plaza where Toronado waits. Zorro vaults up on Toronado's back from behind then rides out of town.]
Diego [off camera as the scene morphs]
Zorro was here?
[Exterior shot of the tavern as people walk in front of it.]
Mendoza [off camera]
He was trying to persuade the alcalde to postpone Jose's execution.
But the alcalde wouldn't hear him.
[Interior shot of the tavern where Diego, Felipe, Mendoza, and Victoria stand in the middle of the room.]
Victoria [holding a tray]
Mendoza's under orders to personally perform the hanging.
Mendoza
That's a terrible thing to ask me to do. Jose and I are friends.
Victoria
And he's innocent!
Mendoza
I know! I would give a week's pay if I could make Friday disappear.
If the good Lord would just take it right off the calendar.
Diego [thoughtfully]
Maybe he will, Sergeant.
[Mendoza, Victoria, and Felipe all look at Diego.]
Diego
Maybe we will.
[Diego looks thoughtful as Mendoza and Victoria look at each other then at Diego.]
[Interior shot of de Soto's office as de Soto paces while two lancers clean the rug.]
Lancers [grumbling]
Oh, look at this. This must be cheap wine.
[The front door of the office opens and Mendoza steps inside, carrying a tray.]
Mendoza
Alcalde, Señorita Escalante asked me to bring you your lunch.
[He walks over and puts the tray down onto de Soto's desk.]
Lancers [still grumbling as they clean]
Make a mess, clean it up. We're always cleaning. I know.
[De Soto sips from a glass of wine then walks toward the lancers.]
de Soto
Lancers! Finish it later.
[He walks over to his desk and peeks under the napkin covering the tray as the lancers leave.]
de Soto
Ah, Enchiladas de Soto, my favorite. My own recipe.
[He sits down in his chair as Mendoza salutes.]
Mendoza
Bon appetit, mi Alcalde.
de Soto
Thank you, Sergeant.
[He sips from his glass again then leans over and sniffs the enchiladas. He blinks a couple of times then he falls face first into the napkin covered plate. The office door opens and Diego, Mendoza, and Victoria all sneak inside. Diego stops causing Mendoza and Victoria to bump into him.]
Diego [whispering]
The potion worked. You were very brave, Sergeant.
[They walk over to the desk.]
Mendoza
I have never been so scared in all my life.
Victoria
Remember, this may be the only way to save Jose from the gallows.
Diego [with his hands on de Soto's neck]
He'll be out for twenty-four hours. Now comes the hard part..
When he wakes up, we have to convince him a week has passed and you, Sergeant,
have already hanged Jose Rivas. Let's get to work.
[Diego walks behind Mendoza and Victoria. Mendoza lifts up de Soto's head and Victoria removes the tray from the desk. Mendoza lets de Soto's head drop back onto the desk. He jumps as de Soto moans but stays unconscious.]
*****COMMERCIAL BREAK*****
[Exterior shot of de Soto's office.]
[Closeup interior shot of a calendar that reads ‘January 10'. Under it is a slip of paper that reads ‘Wednesday' which is changed to read ‘Thursday'. The camera pulls back to show Victoria fiddling with the calendar as de Soto still is face down on his desk. Mendoza, Diego, and Jose Rivas all come into the room through the jail door.]
Jose
Señora, what are you doing? If the alcalde wakes up and finds
you. . .
Victoria [as Diego kneels down beside the desk and starts writing on a
piece of paper]
Oh, he won't wake up until tomorrow and by that time you will be dead and
buried. . . In a manner of speaking.
Jose
But I don't understand.
[Diego stands up and hand Jose the piece of paper he had been writing on.]
Diego
Ride out of Los Angeles as fast as you can. Go to our hacienda.
Give my father this note. Now, he'll hide you until Señora
Valverde recovers and we clear your name.
Jose
I will never forget this, amigos.
Victoria
Don't worry, we believe you.
Mendoza
I believe in you, Jose, or I would not be risking my military career, such
as it is. Go! Go!
[Jose leaves the office. Diego sits de Soto up in his chair.]
Diego [as Felipe enters the office carrying a white cloth bag]
Ah, dirt from the plaza. Sergeant, would you be so kind as to give
the office a little atmosphere?
Mendoza [taking the bag from Felipe]
It would be my pleasure.
[He chuckles as he pats the bag all over the desk then around the room. Felipe stand to de Soto's left as Diego kneels on de Soto's right. Felipe hands Diego two bundles of white cloth.]
Diego [as he opens the bundles]
It's an old theatrical trick, Felipe.
[Victoria coughs as Mendoza sprinkles the dirt bag near her.]
Diego
Glue and iron filings. [He starts dabbing glue on de Soto's right cheek.]
It will look and feel as if he hasn't shaved for several days.
[He puts more glue on de Soto's cheek then pours the iron filings from one of the cloths into the palm of his hand then blows them onto de Soto's cheek. Victoria looks on, impressed. Diego put glue on the other cheek.]
[Exterior night shot of the plaza as Diego walks under the gallows, holding a large unrolled scroll.]
Mendoza [following Diego]
Why are your being so precise, Don Diego?
Diego
Well, my design has certain features you don't find in a normal gallows.
The sun will be up soon, we'd better get our backs into this.
Mendoza [chuckling]
You are right.
[Diego walks away, still looking at his plans. Victoria walks up to him holding a tray containing a pitcher and several glasses. Diego takes one of the glasses and keeps walking.]
[Closeup shot of de Soto's feet as they hang out the end of his bed. His toes wiggle then the camera pans up to show de Soto's face as he yawns then opens his eyes. He blinks then starts to get out of bed. He stumbles then touches his head.]
de Soto
Oh!
[He shakes his head a couple of times then stares forward. Looking into a mirror, he touches his ‘whiskered' cheeks.]
[Exterior day shot of a window as a bell rings off camera. De Soto walks up to the window and looks out of it.]
[Shot from de Soto's point of view of people going into the church as the bell rings.]
[Closeup shot of de Soto looking out the window with a confused expression. He turns away. The camera pans from the window to the front door of his office, which de Soto opens and looks out.]
[Exterior shot of the plaza as Mendoza, Diego, and Don Alejandro step out of the tavern and into the plaza.]
de Soto [off camera]
Mendoza!
[Mendoza, Diego, and Don Alejandro all stop. Diego pats Mendoza on the shoulder. Mendoza waves then starts walking away.]
[Closeup shot of de Soto looking out of the door then moving away from it.]
[Exterior shot of Mendoza walking across the plaza.]
[Interior shot of de Soto's office as de Soto walks over to his desk. Mendoza opens the front door and steps inside the office.]
Mendoza
Si, mi Alcalde.
de Soto [shaking his head]
Sergeant. . . [Mendoza takes off his hat and nervously walks up behind de
Soto.] Did you think I would not notice? [Mendoza looks worried as de Soto
wipes his fingertips across his desk.] Dust! Everywhere! I thought
I told you, Sergeant. . .
Mendoza [as de Soto sits down behind his desk]
Please forgive me, Alcalde. I had so many duties to perform while
you were unconscious that I. . .
[He puts a white towel around de Soto's neck.]
de Soto
(Something unintelligible; sounded like ‘boo schwa') Unconscious?
What are you talking about?
Mendoza
Si, Alcalde. You had a terrible fever. You passed out a week
ago. Right here at your desk.
de Soto
A week?
Mendoza [holding a shaving brush]
Si, Alcalde.
de Soto
It must have been some fever. I. . . I don't recall a thing.
A week? [Mendoza starts to lather up de Soto's face.] Hmm. . .
Mendoza
Si, Alcalde.
[He continues to lather up de Soto's face.]
de Soto
I trust everything went smoothly while I was incapacitated?
Mendoza
Oh, si, mi Alcalde. I followed your orders to a ‘T'.
de Soto
Mm hmm.
[He closes his eyes. Mendoza brings up a straight-edged razor up to de Soto's face. His hand is shaking badly.]
de Soto [popping open his eyes just as Mendoza was about to start shaving
him]
Rivas! [Mendoza jumps back.] What happened to Rivas?
Mendoza
He was hung, last Friday. Just as you commanded.
de Soto
Ah. Good. . . Good.
[Mendoza moves in to start shaving him again but backs up as de Soto starts talking again.]
de Soto
Then. . . The people at the church. . .
Mendoza
A memorial service for the poor fellow.
[He puts the razor up to de Soto's face again.]
de Soto
Uh uh. Poor fellow. [Mendoza pulls the razor away.] He was a murderer,
Sergeant!
Mendoza
Si, mi Alcalde.
de Soto [impatiently]
Get on with it!
Mendoza
Si, Alcalde.
[Mendoza starts shaving de Soto's right cheek.]
de Soto
Aah!
Mendoza
I'm sorry.
[Mendoza start to shave under de Soto's chin.]
de Soto
Umm. . .
Mendoza
Perdone.
[He continues to shave de Soto's face.]
[Exterior shot of the tavern.]
Don Alejandro [off camera]
Do you think we can trust Mendoza?
Diego [off camera]
Only time will tell.
[Interior shot of the tavern where Don Alejandro, Felipe, and Diego wait by the bar. Victoria is behind the bar, holding a coffee pot.]
Victoria
More coffee?
Don Alejandro [as Diego takes a sip of his coffee]
No thank you, Victoria. I'm too anxious wondering what is happening
over there.
Diego
Ah, it's all up to Mendoza now.
[Mendoza comes into the tavern carrying his hat.]
Don Alejandro [as he pats Mendoza on the shoulder]
Hey!
Voices [as people start to gather around Mendoza]
Mendoza!
Victoria
Well, Sergeant, how did it go?
Mendoza [holding his chest]
I think. . . I think he believed it!
[Everyone in the tavern cheers.]
Diego [patting Mendoza on the back]
Well done!
[Interior shot of de Soto's office as de Soto starts to pour himself a drink. He stops and looks downward then pours his drink. He drinks it down in one gulp. De Soto turns and starts to walk toward the front doors but then stops and turns back around. He walks back up to his drink tray and looks down, rubbing his chin.]
[Closeup shot of the red wine stain on the yellow rug.]
[Interior shot of de Soto's office as de Soto looks down at the rug. He puts his hand on his hip.]
[Interior shot of the tavern where everyone inside is celebrating.]
Victoria
To Sergeant Mendoza! We couldn't have done it without his courage.
[Diego and Don Alejandro lift up their coffee cups.]
Mendoza
That is true!
[Diego and Don Alejandro clink their cups together then start to take a drink.]
de Soto [off camera]
Mendoza!
[Everyone in the tavern quiets down.]
Victoria
Uh oh.
[De Soto walks up behind Mendoza, Diego, and Don Alejandro.]
de Soto
Ah, Sergeant, what day is this?
Mendoza [turning around to face de Soto as do Diego and Don Alejandro]
Eee. . . Aaa. . . I told you. It's Thursday.
de Soto
Then it's true. I've been in bed for a whole week.
Don Alejandro
That's true, Señor Alcalde. Exactly. All of us were quite
worried about you. You were. . .
de Soto
Then why hasn't that stain on my carpet dried? [Mendoza looks at Don Alejandro
who shakes his head.] Uh, when Zorro dropped in on me so unexpectedly,
he caused a carafe of wine to spill onto the carpet. My lancers got
most of it up with sponge and water. But the air is as dry as dust.
It's been seven days. Why hasn't that stain dried, hmm? [He pauses dramatically.]
I'll tell you why. Because it hasn't been seven days, has it?
You almost had me fooled. All of you. [He turns to Mendoza.] Sergeant.
Mendoza [in a high, squeaky voice]
Si?
de Soto
You come with me now.
Mendoza
Si, mi Alcalde.
de Soto
And you bring a shovel.
[He turns then and leaves. Diego grabs Mendoza's shoulders then Mendoza turn and leaves.]
Voices
Oh, poor Mendoza.
Don Alejandro
Ay, yi, yi. The game's up, amigos.
[Diego pumps his fist in frustration then shakes his head.]
[Exterior shot of the cemetery as Mendoza digs a hole. De Soto stands over him. Behind them, several lancers and townspeople stand and watch.]
de Soto
Getting tired, Sergeant? [Mendoza keeps digging.] Well, you know you're
going to keep digging until you come up with a coffin. Even if
you have to dig all the way to Australia. [Mendoza stops and rests on his
shovel.] Or you could just tell me the truth, Sergeant. I'll be merciful.
Mendoza [breathing heavily]
There is no coffin. [People gasp.] There was no hanging. And
you were unconscious for just one day. I did it all because. . .
Jose Rivas, he is innocent. I am ready to face the consequences.
de Soto [skeptically]
I see. So Rivas escaped and you came up with this plan all by yourself?
Mendoza
Si, mi Alcalde. [De Soto glares at him.] You said you would be merciful.
de Soto [a bit sarcastically]
Oh, I will, Sergeant. I will.
[Closeup shot of Mendoza with a noose dangling in front of his face.]
de Soto [off camera at first]
According to Spanish law. . . [The camera pulls back to show de Soto pacing
on the gallows platform.] Any soldier who aids in the escape of a convicted
felon, shall be hanged. Any soldier who disobeys a superior officer
shall be flogged! [He holds up his hand as people start to protest.] But I
am a merciful man. And so. . . I will spare Sergeant Mendoza.
. .the flogging.
[People start jeering.]
de Soto
Silence! Silence! [The people keep protesting.] This gallows will
be working overtime today! [The people quiet down.] Corporal Sepulveda, do
your duty.
[Sepulveda grimaces as he puts the noose around Mendoza's neck. Mendoza looks over at de Soto.]
de Soto
Justice must be served.
Voices
Zorro! Zorro!
[Exterior shot of the plaza where Zorro is riding Toronado past the church.]
de Soto [as Mendoza closes his eyes]
Pull the lever! Pull the lever, Corporal!
[Sepulveda fumbles around with the lever. Zorro tosses a round object at the feet of a line of lancers, who all jump back out of the way. Sepulveda turns around to watch.]
de Soto
Corporal! Pull the lever!
[He passes in front of Mendoza and grabs the lever himself. De Soto tries to pull it but it won't budge. A white smoke comes pouring out of the round object that Zorro tossed. Zorro throws something else (a knife?) and it severs the rope above Mendoza's head. Mendoza looks up in surprise. De Soto looks up too and glares. Victoria, Don Alejandro, and Felipe overturn a cart of produce, knocking down two lancers. Zorro spins his whip in the air then coils it around one of the legs of the gallows platform. Zorro yanks his whip and the whole gallows collapses. De Soto, Sepulveda, and another lancer go tumbling to the ground. Mendoza grabs onto a post. Zorro rides up to Mendoza.]
Zorro
Sergeant!
Mendoza
Zorro!
[Mendoza holds out his hand. De Soto sits on the ground looking like he is about to cry. Zorro rides off with Mendoza sitting behind him on Toronado's back. People and lancers start rubbing their eyes. Zorro rides over to Don Alejandro and Victoria.]
Zorro
Avoid the white smoke. It's a mild form of crying gas. [to Victoria]
I cannot bear to see you cry.
[He puts his fingers to his lips then rides over to where de Soto is sitting on the ground.]
Zorro
The wheels of justice move slowly for a reason. [He unsheathes his saber.]
They're not meant to run over innocent people. [He slashes a ‘Z' into de Soto's
vest.] Call it a reminder to think twice before you rush to judgement.
[He sheathes his saber then rides off with Mendoza.]
de Soto
Lancers! After him!
[He watches as Zorro rides away. He blinks several times as the gas is starting to make him cry.]
*****COMMERCIAL BREAK*****
[Exterior shot of de Soto's office as de Soto and several lancers walk into the plaza.]
de Soto [as he puts on his gloves]
If you had apprehended Zorro and his accomplice Mendoza. . .
Sepulveda
But, Alcalde, Sergeant Mendoza is. . .
de Soto [stopping and facing Sepulveda]
Don't contradict me, Corporal! I know very well most of you were involved
with this plot to deceive me. And do not think for a minute your disloyalty
will not go unrewarded. Now get the horses!
Sepulveda [to the other lancers]
Come on, men. Let's go!
de Soto [disgusted as he looks to his right]
Ah. . .
[Don Alejandro and Diego ride on horseback into town. They are followed by a wagon.]
Voice
Don Alejandro!
de Soto
What is this? Sepulveda. . . Arrest. . . Everybody!
Don Alejandro
Hold your horses, Señor Alcalde. As you can see, Señora
Valverde is well on the road to recovery.
[Señora Valverde sits in the wagon's seat. Mendoza and Jose Rivas stand behind her.]
Don Alejandro
And she has told us an very interesting story. It seems one Tomas
Porvas, a Valverde tenant, was in bad financial straits due to gambling.
He went to Don Sebastian to demand three hundred pesos to pay off his debts.
Don Sebastian refused and there was an argument and my old friend was shot.
When the señora tried to escape, he also shot her!
de Soto
Is that right, Señora?
Señora Valverde
Si, every word of it.
[De Soto sighs.]
Diego
So since Jose is not guilty, how can you punish Mendoza for helping him
escape and doing the right thing? [He looks back at Mendoza.] My hat
goes off to you, Sergeant.
[Mendoza waves at Diego nervously.]
Victoria [coming up to stand at de Soto's left]
Hear, hear, Sergeant.
de Soto
Sergeant Mendoza, you are reinstated. [Mendoza salutes happily.] Your first
task will be to chase down this Tomas Porvas and bring him to justice.
Get your horse! And don't come back without him!
Mendoza [saluting again]
Si, Alcalde.
Diego [nonchalantly]
I wouldn't bother, Sergeant.
de Soto [angrily]
De la Vega? You dare to countermand my direct order?
Diego [putting his hand over his heart mockingly]
I wouldn't dream of such a thing, Alcalde. But, um, obviously Zorro
thinks the good sergeant deserves a rest.
[A horse snorts off camera. Everyone turns to look its way. The horse comes trotting into the plaza with a man draped over its back. The man has a ‘Z' slashed into the rear of his trousers. People in the plaza start laughing.]
*****END OF EPISODE*****
Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland 1 & 3 June 2007
This transcription is a not-for-profit publication produced solely for the enjoyment of other Zorro fans and is not intended to infringe upon any rights of Goodman/Rosen Productions, New World Television, Zorro Productions, the estate of Johnston McCulley or anyone else.