Written by Robert L McCullough
Directed by Ray Austin

First US Airdate 27 October 1991 Episode 3.9

[Exterior shot of the plaza which is filled with people who are gathered around a caravan.  A man in a red jacket has his hands on another man's shoulders as they face each other.]

Man in the Red Jacket
Deeper. . .  Go deeper in yourself.  Let yourself go.  Deeper. . .deeper. . .  Let me have control.  You're no longer Pedro Gonzales. . .  You're a chicken.

[The man in the red jacket lets go of Gonzales's shoulders and Gonzales starts clucking and flapping his arms as he walks around like a chicken.  The people in the plaza laugh.  The caravan has the name ‘Dr Lorenzo Lozano' prominently displayed on it.]

Don Alejandro [as he stands next to the caravan with Diego]
You know, Diego, I've heard about this.  A Doctor Franz Mesmer, he developed a technique.

Diego
Yes, until Benjamin Franklin declared him a charlatan.

Don Alejandro [waving his hand dismissively]
Oh. . .

[Gonzales continues to act like a chicken until Lozano claps his hands.  Gonzales then stops and looks around in a confused manner.  People start clapping.]

Voices
Bravo!

Don Alejandro
Well done.

Lozano
Thank you.  Thank you.  You have just noticed the power of the mind.  You can accomplish miracles with my help.  For only five pesos, any of you, I can relieve your pain, your every ache. . .

Mendoza [who is standing next to Victoria, opposite of where Diego and Don Alejandro are standing]
The only thing you're going to be relieving us from is our money!

[He laughs loudly and other people join in.]

Lozano
Obviously you're a skeptic, Señor.  Such people often make the best subjects.

[He pulls out a pocketwatch and starts waving it in front of Mendoza's face.]

Lozano
Look into my timepiece.  Focus on it.  Concentrate. . .  Let yourself go.  Deeper. . .  Let me have control.  Release yourself.  Let go.

Mendoza
I feel it. I feel it.

Victoria
What do you feel, Mendoza?

Mendoza
I feel. . .  Hunger! [He chuckles.] It's time for lunch!

[He starts laughing again as do other people in the plaza.  Lozano looks angry as he stops swinging the watch.]

Mendoza
The people of Los Angeles won't be giving you any of their money, Señor.

[He turns and walks away.  Don Alejandro walks past Lozano.]

Don Alejandro
Welcome, Doctor.

[Lozano turns back to his caravan.  Diego is standing beside it, an odd look on his face.  Lozano glances at Diego before picking up a stand.  He turns to look at Diego again.  Looking over his shoulders, Lozano goes up to Diego and snaps his fingers in front of Diego's face.  Diego doesn't flinch.  Lozano bends down and picks up a rock.]

Lozano [to Diego]
You were looking at my timepiece, weren't you?

Diego [in a singsong voice]
Yes.

Lozano [holding out the rock]
Take this rock and throw it through that window.

[Diego takes the rock and throws it, breaking one of the tavern's windows.]

Mendoza [looking up]
What was that?

Lozano
Very good.  The sergeant was right.  The people of Los Angeles won't be giving me any of their money.  I'm going to take it.  And you're going to help me, aren't you?

Diego
Yes.

Lozano
Good.

[He pats Diego on the shoulder as Diego just stares blankly.]

*****COMMERCIAL BREAK*****

Lozano [circling around Diego]
You will do as I tell you.  Is that perfectly clear?

Diego
Yes.

Lozano
Good.  Now, when you hear the words. . .  I say it should be something classical, something literate, something these fools would never know.  Ah yes. . .  When you hear the words ‘E tu Brute', you will return to yourself.  Do you understand?

Diego
Yes.  I understand.

Lozano
Good.  I must be rewarded for tolerating these unsophisticated settlers, these uneducated rubes, just to earn a living. [He chuckles.] Speaking of which, this pueblo's alcalde must have a safe where he keeps the garrison's payroll.  Bring me that money and then break in the bank and bring me all the cash you find.  Where else is there money?

Diego
The tavern.  There's money there.

Lozano
Yes.  Bring me the tavern's money as well.  Now, you must clever. . .and cunning like a fox.  Let's get to it.  The sooner I'm out of this dusty little town, the happier I'll be.  We'll meet at the crossroads.  Get on with it.

[Diego walks away as Lozano watches.  De Soto and Mendoza come up to Lozano's caravan.]

de Soto
Lorenzo Lozano, you're under arrest.  For medical quackery and um. . . [He waves his hand.] Charlatanism.

Lozano [indignantly]
I beg your pardon!  I am a doctor of sciences, general and specific.  A man of letters.

de Soto [not impressed]
I see.

Lozano
I've traveled the world.

de Soto [even less impressed]
Take him away.

[Two lancers grab Lozano's arms and drag him away.]

Lozano [struggling]
Let me go!

de Soto [turning to another lancer off camera]
Private. [He points to Lozano's caravan.] Impound this embarrassment.

Lancer
Si, Alcalde.

[De Soto follows the two lancers who are dragging Lozano to the cuartel.]

[Diego walks into the courtyard of the de la Vega hacienda.  Don Alejandro comes out a door, wearing a gray jacket and fiddling with its cuffs.]

Don Alejandro
Ah, Diego.  I'm glad you're home.

[Diego marches right past him.]

Don Alejandro [not paying attention]
The tailor just made this for me.  What do you think?

[He holds out his arms, then turns around.  Diego has already disappeared through the door.]

Don Alejandro [looking down at the jacket]
That bad, huh?

[He starts to walk back to the door.]

Don Alejandro
Oh. . .  Diego!

[Inside the secret cave, Zorro is putting on his gloves.  Felipe walks in front of him then stops and puts his hand on Zorro's arm.]

Zorro [knocking off Felipe's hand]
Stay out of my way!

[Felipe stares at Zorro as he gets onto Toronado's back.  Zorro rides out of the cave as Felipe looks on worriedly.]

[Exterior shot at night as Zorro rides along the road to Los Angeles.  He rides under the pueblo gate and through the empty plaza.  He stops alongside de Soto's office and climbs up onto its roof.]

[Below, a lancer walks up to another lancer who is standing guard outside the office.]

First Lancer
Okay.  You're relieved.

[The second lancer marches away as the first lancer assumes guard duty.  Up on the roof, Zorro pulls off a tile.  He whistles then drops the tile.]

Lancer
What's that?

[He looks up and the tile lands on his head, knocking him to the ground.]

Lancer
Ooh!  Ooh!

[Zorro climbs down the side of the office and goes through its front door.]

Mendoza [as he and two other lancers walks across the plaza from the tavern]
I've told you men.  You have to be alert.  He's dangerous.

[He stops in his tracks when he notices the downed lancer.]

Mendoza
What!  Madre de Dios!

Lancers
Rodriguez!

Mendoza
Come on, men!

[They run over to Rodriguez and start to help him up.]

Mendoza
Sanchez, get the Alcalde!

[Inside the office, Zorro is stuffing bundles of money from the safe into his saddlebags.  He looks up when Mendoza bursts through the door, sword drawn.  He is followed by two other lancers.]

Mendoza
Zorro!  What are you doing here?  Lancers!

[Zorro stands up, saber drawn and defends himself as the lancers attack him.]

Lancers
I'll take him.  Get back!

de Soto [coming through a door]
Lancers!  Take him!

[Zorro hits a lancer with the saddlebags, then pushes him behind him.  Zorro does the same to the second lancer.]

de Soto [charging at Zorro with his sword]
Aargh!

[Zorro hits him with the saddlebags then advances on Mendoza.  De Soto falls to the floor.]

de Soto
Oooh!

[Zorro kicks Mendoza in the face.]

Mendoza
Oooh!

[Then Zorro jumps through a window, breaking through the glass.  He hops onto Toronado's back and rides away.]

[Exterior shot the next day, people are gathered in the plaza.  Victoria and Don Alejandro are standing at the front of the crowd.  De Soto walks out of his office, followed by several lancers carrying the emptied safe then setting it down on the office porch.]

de Soto [pointing at the safe]
Good people of Los Angeles!  Here is the evidence.  The myth of Zorro is simply that. . .  A myth!

[Victoria and Don Alejandro look at each other worriedly as people murmur.  Felipe is tying his pony to a hitching rail when he notices something going on in front of him.]

de Soto
The reality is he's a common thief!

Voices
No!

Don Alejandro
Why would Zorro steal our tax monies?

Mendoza [sporting a huge bruise by his left eye]
Why would he kick me in the face?

Victoria [appealing to the crowd]
Zorro wouldn't do that.  He's a good man.

Gonzales [coming up behind Victoria]
It's Zorro!  He's robbing the bank!

de Soto
A good man, is he?

Don Alejandro
Yes!  It's got to be an imposter!

[Felipe watches as Zorro mounts Toronado under an archway.]

Gonzales
What imposter could do this?

[He walks to the front of the crowd, pointing at the back of his vest, where a ‘Z' is slashed.]

Voices
Oh no!  It's Zorro!

[Zorro rides through the plaza, carrying his saddlebags.]

de Soto
Lancers!  Seal off the plaza!

[Zorro rides up to a line of lancers aiming their muskets at him.  He spins Toronado around and rides to his left, straight at de Soto, who gets out of the way.]

de Soto
Riflemen!

[More lancers block Zorro's path.]

de Soto
Fire, men!

[The lancers fire at Zorro, who spins around again to his left.  His way is block again by lancers and he turns around and rides under a low archway as lancers shoot at him.  More lancers block his path.  He spins Toronado again and rides up into the back of a wagon then jumps up onto a nearby roof.]

de Soto
Lancers!  After him!

[Zorro rides across the rooftop as the lancers chase afer him on the ground, firing up at him.  Toronado leaps off the end of the building and out of the pueblo.]

Don Alejandro [turning to Victoria with a stunned expression]
Amazing, Victoria.

[She turns to look up at Don Alejandro and smiles.]

de Soto [as lancers run past him]
The bounty on Zorro's head is hereby doubled!

[Exterior shot of the tavern at night.]

[Inside, Victoria is talking with Mendoza at the door.]

Victoria
I just can't believe it.  That Zorro could be a thief.

Mendoza
There has to be some explanation.

Victoria
Yes, Mendoza, but what?

Mendoza [shrugging]
What?  Hasta luego.

[He turns and leaves.]

Victoria [shutting the door behind him]
Hasta luego.

[She bolts the door then turn around and walks to the bar. She begins stacking plates on a tray when Zorro steps up behind her.]

Victoria [gasping as she turns to face him]
I knew you would come.  You should know someone has been impersonating you. . .

[Zorro knocks the tray of dishes from her hands and they clatter and break.  Victoria looks up at him with a terrified expression.]

Zorro
The cash drawer, Señorita.

Victoria
Zorro, what are you doing?

[Zorro grabs her chin.  Victoria gasps in pain.]

Zorro
As lovely as you are, you ask too many questions.  The money!  Now!

[Victoria looks up at him in terror.]

*****COMMERCIAL BREAK*****

[Inside the jail, Lozano is holding a hand mirror out through his cell bars, shining it at Mendoza, who is seated outside the cell and almost falling asleep.]

Lozano
Sergeant.  Sergeant! [Mendoza turns to look over at Lozano.] Look into the mirror.  Study it.  Focus on it.  Go deep into the mirror.

[Mendoza claps his hands and stands up, walking over to the cell door.]

Mendoza [grabbing the mirror from Lozano's hand]
I don't have time for this.  The Alcalde's office, the bank, and now the tavern have all been robbed by Zorro!

Lozano [looking confused]
Zorro?

Mendoza
Correct.  So just leave me alone.  Besides, I don't believe in this mesmerizing thing.  I'm too smart for that.

[He walks off, opening then going through a door.]

Lozano [still looking confused]
Zorro. . .?

[In the secret cave, Felipe is running his fingers down a length of string/wire that is placed about two or three inches across a walkway.  Felipe turns around when he hears the pulleys start to move.  He stands up and steps over the tripwire.]

[Outside, Zorro rides Toronado into the hidden entrance of the cave.]

[Inside, Zorro brings Toronado to a halt then dismounts.  He carries the saddlebags as he walks into the main room of the cave.  His foot hits the tripwire and a keg falls on his head, knocking him out as Felipe watches nervously.]

[Zorro's legs are tied together and his hands are bound then tied to the stall fence.  He begins to shake his head as he starts to wake up.]

Zorro [as Felipe crouches nearby]
Aaah!

[Zorro starts to struggle as he realizes he is tied up.  He stares over at Felipe.]

Zorro
Felipe, have you completely lost your mind?  Untie me!

[Felipe shakes his head no.  Zorro stares at him incredulously.]

[Inside the hacienda, Don Alejandro is walking around carrying a cup and saucer.]

Don Alejandro [looking through an archway]
Diego!  Diego?  Aaa, probably stayed at the tavern last night.  Just as well. [He lifts up the cup.]  He was in a rotten mood anyway.

[He takes a drink from the cup then nods his head and walks away.]

[Inside the cave, Felipe is giving Zorro a drink of water.]

Zorro [after Felipe lowers the cup]
That's better.  Thank you. [He stares up over at Felipe.] Be reasonable, Felipe.  It's been a long night, we're both tired. [He chuckles.] What will it take to convince you I'm not under any sort of spell?

[Felipe shakes his head.]

Zorro
Well, suppose I recite some Shakespeare, hmm?  ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer's day.  Thou art more lovely and more temperate.'  There.  You remember that. [Felipe smiles.] Shakespeare's eighteenth sonnet.  How could a man under a spell remember romantic bits of poetry, hmm?  This is really foolish.  Come on.

[Felipe starts to untie Zorro's hands.]

Zorro [rubbing his wrists]
Oh. . .  Thank you.  Lovely.

[He then reaches up and grabs the front of Felipe's shirt, pulling him toward him.]

Zorro
Remember the rest?  ‘Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, often is his gold complexion dimmed.'

[Zorro punches Felipe in the face, knocking him out cold.]

[Inside the jail, a tray of food is placed in front of Lozano by Mendoza, who then walks out of the cell.  He closes then locks the cell door.]

Mendoza [smiling teasingly]
Professor Lozano. [Lozano look up at him.] Time for breakfast!

Lozano
I'm not hungry.

Mendoza
Not even for fresh, hot tamales?

Lozano
No.

[He looks at Mendoza then at the food.  He picks up one of the tamales.]

Lozano
You know an awful lot about food, don't you, Sergeant?

[Lozano passes the tamale under his nose and sniffing it.]

Mendoza [chuckling]
Well. . .  Let's just say I never met a tamale I didn't like.

Lozano
Yes.  This is a very nice tamale.

[He stands up and walks to the cell door, holding the tamale up to the bars.]

Lozano
Beautiful, wouldn't you say?  Focus on it. [He starts to wave it back and forth in front of Mendoza's face.]  Think about its succulence. . .its aroma. . .its flavor.

[Mendoza stares at the tamale, his mouth hanging open.  Lozano snaps his fingers.]

Lozano [as Mendoza stares blankly]
It's just a matter of finding something of interest.  Open the door.

[Mendoza unlocks the door.  Lozano walks out of his cell.]

Lozano
Thank you, Sergeant.

[He starts to walk away but stops and turns back around.]

Lozano
No.  Wait.  You should be rewarded.  You've just been promoted to commandant of this entire garrison.  Congratulations.

[He pats Mendoza on the shoulder then runs off.]

Mendoza
Lancers!

[Inside the de la Vega hacienda, Don Alejandro walks into the foyer and sees Diego standing in the library, reading a book.]

Don Alejandro [walking up to Diego]
Where have you been, Diego?  Your bed wasn't even slept in.

Diego [in a monotone voice, not looking up from his book]
My books, Father.  I was up all night reading.

Don Alejandro [shaking his head in disgust]
You're amazing, Diego.  Zorro's running amok and you're buried in your books.

Diego
Perhaps Zorro is finally showing his true colors.

Don Alejandro
Don't say that, son!  Especially after all that Zorro has done for the people of Los Angeles.  You know something, that's enough to have made Julius Caesar utter his immortal words, ‘E tu Brute?'

[Diego starts shaking his head as he comes out of his trance.]

Diego [looking over at Don Alejandro]
What?  What?

Don Alejandro
You heard me.  Zorro.  Why does he change so drastically?

Diego [very confused and concerned]
Zorro?  What did he do?

Don Alejandro
Well after he cleaned out the bank and the Alcalde's safe, he went into the tavern, he robbed Victoria.

[Diego puts his hand over his mouth, obviously appalled.]

Don Alejandro
A man of such high principles.  Lets face it.  He's a common criminal.

[Don Alejandro walks off.]

Diego [holding out his hand]
Uh. . .  Wha. . .

[Diego stands there for a moment then turns around and hits the spot on the fireplace.  He then duck through the opened panel.]

[Inside the secret cave, Diego stops at the top of the steps when he sees Felipe lying on the floor.  He rushes over to Felipe, crouching down beside him.  Diego checks Felipe for a pulse Felipe starts to move his head.  Diego helps him sit up.]

Diego
Felipe, are you all right?

[Felipe looks scared as he pushes Diego's hands away.  Diego is surprised by Felipe's actions.]

Diego [trying to reach out to Felipe]
Oh. . .  What is it?  What's wrong?

[Felipe knocks Diego's hands away again.  Felipe then points to Diego, makes a fist then mimes getting hit on the chin.]

Diego
I hit you?  I'm sorry.  I. . .I. . .  I don't know what came over me.

[Felipe looks at him doubtfully.]

Diego
Really.

[Felipe points to Diego then points to his own eyes then holds his arms straight out in front of him, obviously imitating a zombie.]

Diego
A trance? [He sighs.] It must have been that good doctor, that traveling Lozano.  Another ruthless purveyor of unknown evils we're better off avoiding.  Come on.

[He helps Felipe to his feet.]

Diego
I think it's time we paid the good doctor a visit.

[He goes over to the clothes rack of Zorro's costume and hands Felipe the black hat.]

[De Soto throws open his office door and runs through it out into the plaza.  Mendoza is speaking with a woman to de Soto's right.]

de Soto
Sergeant!  The prisoner's escaped!

[Mendoza turns away from the woman and starts walking toward de Soto.]

Mendoza
I beg your pardon.  You're not questioning my authority, are you, Private?

de Soto
Private?  Have you lost your mind?

Mendoza
As commandant of this garrison, I could have you shot on the spot for such insubordination.

de Soto [indignantly]
You could have me shot?  The man has lost his mind. [He turns away from Mendoza.] Lancers!  I want that prisoner caught!

Mendoza
I want that prisoner caught now!

[Several lancers run past Mendoza.  Zorro watches from a nearby rooftop.  Mendoza follows after the other lancers.  Zorro then stands up and runs across the rooftops then jumps down.]

[Lozano is driving his caravan down the road, smiling smugly.  He slows his horse as Diego, on horseback, wait in the road ahead of him.]

Lozano
Did you do as I ordered?

Diego [in a monotone]
Yes.

Lozano
Do you have the money?

Diego
Yes.

Lozano
Where is it?  Give it to me now.

[Diego brings up a pistol and points it at Lozano.]

Diego [still in a monotone]
I will kill anyone who stands in my way.

Lozano
Fool!  I'm your master.  You're not supposed to kill me.  E tu Brute.

Diego [cocking the pistol]
No one can stop me.

Lozano [panicking]
Please.  E tu Brute.  Please.  Look you can have the money.  I don't want it.  You can have it all.

Diego
You must leave California.  Permanently.

Lozano
Yes.  I will.  I'm leaving.

[Diego moves his horse out of the way as Lozano whips up his reins.]

Lozano
Eeyah!  Eeyah!

[Diego smiles as Lozano drives away quickly, things falling out of the back of the caravan.  Diego turns around and rides over to where Felipe is waiting astride his pony.  Felipe moves his right index finger up and down in the air in front of him.]

Diego
Yes.  I could put Lozano behind bars but he would soon realize his instructions to me were carried out by Zorro.  And that kind of information in his hands would be a dangerous thing indeed.

[Felipe looks down worriedly.]

Diego [chuckling]
Oh, don't worry.  Lozano thinks he's smarter that he truly is.  And justice has a way of catching up with such men, wherever they go.

[He shakes his head and smiles at Felipe who smiles back.]

*****COMMERCIAL BREAK*****

[Exterior shot of the tavern at night.]

[Inside, Don Alejandro and Mendoza sit at a table with Pedro Gonzales.]

Gonzales
And I found all the money back in the bank's vault.

Mendoza [importantly]
Of course.  Now that Zorro knows I am the new commandante of the garrison, he will do anything to avoid my considerable wrath.

[Don Alejandro shakes his head in wonder.]

Victoria [coming up to their table carrying a tray]
Then why would Zorro steal all our money then return every last peso.

[She places a plate of food in front of Gonzales.]

Don Alejandro
Victoria's right.  There's much more than meets the eye here.

Mendoza
It's obvious.  He's afraid of my ruthless power.  Even Private de Soto said that the stolen tax money had been put back in the cuartel safe.

Don Alejandro [incredulously]
Private de Soto?

[At a nearby table, de Soto slams down his glass, then turns around and walks up to their table.]

de Soto
Either the sergeant has completely lost his mind or he's under some kind of a spell.

Victoria
Perhaps a plate of fresh tamales will cure the sergeant's delusions, hmm?

[She walks away.   Don Alejandro holds out his hands.]

Don Alejandro
Gentlemen.  Gentlemen.

[De Soto snorts at Mendoza who growls back at him.]

[Victoria walks through the curtains and into the kitchen.  She picks up a plate.  As she turns to go back out, she sees Zorro standing in the corner.]

Zorro
Please.  Don't say anything.

Victoria [indignantly]
I certainly have nothing to say to you.

[Zorro takes a couple of steps toward her.]

Zorro
Victoria, for whatever I've done, I truly apologize.  It wasn't me.

[Victoria sets the plate back down on the table.]

Victoria
Oh, it was you all right.

Zorro.
No.  It was something deep inside me.  An irrational force.  Perhaps a dark side we all share, unleashed by a dangerous mental science.  The same irrational force that seems to have Sergeant Mendoza in its grip.

Victoria [a bit skeptically]
So you're free from this. . .force?  This. . .um. . .dark side?

Zorro
Yes.  Completely.

Victoria
How can you be sure?

Zorro [smiling]
I'll let you be the judge of that.

[He moves closer to her and they put their arms around each other and kiss.]

Mendoza [off camera]
I want service!

[He then bursts through the curtains as Zorro and Victoria reluctantly move apart.]

Mendoza
Zorro!

Zorro
Your timing leaves a lot to be desired, Sergeant.

Mendoza
Sergeant?  How dare you insult the. . .the commandant of the Royal Brigade.

[He unsheathes his sword and aims it at Zorro.]

Mendoza
Prepare to die.

[Zorro unsheathes his saber.]

Zorro
‘E tu Brute?'

[Mendoza comes out of his spell, shaking his head and surprised in the situation he finds himself in.]

Mendoza [his mouth hanging open]
Zorro?

Zorro [putting down his sword]
You don't really want to do this, do you, Sergeant?

Mendoza [sputtering]
I have always had the. . .greatest admiration for you.  I have total respect for you.  You would not hurt a sergeant, would you?

Zorro
Well. . .  It was you who drew on me first, amigo.

Mendoza
I drew?

[He steps back, making choking sounds.]

Mendoza [smiling pleadingly]
Please, forgive me. . .

[He chuckles nervously as he backs out through the curtains.  Zorro turns to face Victoria again.]

Zorro
Forgive me?

Victoria
Always.

[He pulls her toward him and they kiss again.]

*****END OF EPISODE*****

Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland  24 November 2006

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.

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