Written by Michael Marks
Directed by Peter Diamond

First US Airdate 2 Nov 1990 Episode 2.8

[Exterior shot of the pueblo plaza. It is market day.]

[A lancer is weighing Victoria's produce.  He places a head of lettuce on a scale for about half a second then takes it off.]

Lancer
One half kilo.

Victoria [incredulously]
One half kilo?  That is a head of lettuce, not a melon, soldier.

Ramone [standing nearby with Mendoza]
Are you questioning the accuracy of my scales?

Victoria [walking toward him]
Oh, of course not.  You are our alcalde, our leader, our benefactor.  And we know you always have our best interests at heart.

Ramone 
How very true.

Victoria [angrily]
And we also know that Sergeant Mendoza's mules can tell your scales are rigged!

[She turns away.  A horse's loud whinny is heard.  Townspeople start moving out of the way.]

Voice
Zorro!

[Zorro comes riding quickly into the pueblo.]

Ramone 
Be careful, Sergeant.

Mendoza
Where are my lancers when I need them.  I told you he would come.

[Zorro rides by the fountain and scoops out a pitcher of water.  He rides up to the soldier at the scales and kicks him, causing him to fall backward over a table.]

Mendoza [waving his sword]
Zorro, please!  You are under arrest for. . .for. . .for what?

[He looks over at Ramone.]

Ramone 
Treason, sedition, conspiracy, thievery, assault with deadly weapons, attacking government troops and riding with reckless endangerment.

Zorro
And what of your own guilt, Alcalde? [He holds up the pitcher of water.] Observe!  A liter of water weighs 283 grams. [He places the cup on the scales and it sinks dramatically.]  On the Alcalde's scale, it weighs nearly twice as much.

[Victoria shoots Ramone an exasperated look.]

Ramone [sarcastically]
How shocking!  Mendoza, repair the scales at once.

Mendoza [as he sheathes his sword]
Si, Alcalde.

Victoria [looking up at Zorro who is astride Toronado]
Thank you, Zorro.  Again, you've helped our people win justice.

[Zorro nods.]

Ramone [smiling smugly]
And he's helped me guarantee his capture.  You see, this time, Zorro, I have found the man who will hunt you to the ground.

[He turns around and points to an Indian standing in front of his office.  Zorro rides toward the man, stops, stares at him for a moment, nods, then rides away as the people cheer.]

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

[Diego and Felipe walk out the front door of the de la Vega hacienda.]

Diego
His name is Gray Wing.  They say he can track the wind across the open desert.

[Felipe points to his left, them moves his hands up and down, then moves two fingers of his right hand across his eyes.]

Diego
Yes, I believe he could follow Zorro's tracks here from town.  If there were tracks to follow.

[Diego keeps walking as Felipe stops.  Felipe has a confused look on his face, then hurries to catch up with Diego.]

[A kneeling Gray Wing is waving pine branch over the dirt near the plaza fountain.]

Gray Wing [getting to his feet]
This man Zorro eludes you because his horse is like no other I've ever seen.  A long, even gait.  Seventeen hands high.  An amazing creature.

Ramone 
Lead us to Zorro and after we hang him, the horse is yours.

Gray Wing [staring off in the distance]
Sheep.

[The sound of bleating sheep is then heard.]

Ramone [taking a step forward]
What?

[A flock of sheep come pouring into the plaza.]

Ramone 
Stop those sheep!

Mendoza
Lancers, keep those sheep away from Zorro's tracks!

[The lancers run out and start chasing the sheep around the plaza.  They tackle several to the ground, but the sheep escape and run around some more.  Mendoza sits backward on one sheep as he wrestles with it but it throws him to the ground.]

Mendoza
Aah!  Oof!

Ramone [raging]
Get. . .Get these sheep out of here! [He looks down and yells at Mendoza who is lying on the ground.] Stop those sheep!

[The lancers continue to chase and wrestle with the sheep as Diego and Felipe ride into town.  Ramone stares down at Mendoza then turns and sees Diego.]

Ramone 
Don Diego!

[He walks angrily toward Diego.]

Diego [seemingly very sorry]
My profound apologies, Alcalde.  My horse startled Don Pizarro's sheep back down the road.

Ramone 
You idiot!  You destroyed Zorro's tracks!

Diego
I missed Zorro. . .again.

Ramone 
Don't worry.  The next time you see him, he'll be at the end of a rope.

Diego
So you're actually going to capture him then?

Ramone [through clenched teeth]
If it's the last thing I do!

Gray Wing
Do not be upset, Alcalde.  The sheep have not destroyed anything of importance.

Ramone [turning to face Gray Wing]
The tracks!

Gray Wing
There will be more. . . [He points toward the pueblo gate.] There.

[Ramone stares in the direction Gray Wing points.]

[In the secret cave, Diego picks up two little sandbags.]

Diego
We can't underestimate this man, Felipe.

[He carries the weights over to a saddled Toronado.]

Diego
These weights might make him think he's on the trail of a grown man.

[He places the weights in Toronado's saddlebags as Felipe look on.]

Diego
But you need to ride quickly.

[Felipe gets up onto Toronado's back.]

[Felipe rides Toronado across the countryside.]

[Exterior shot of the pueblo plaza.]

[Diego rides into town.]

Diego
Alcalde!

[Ramone, his men, and Gray Wing are getting ready to hunt Zorro.  Everyone but Ramone is already on their horse.  Diego rides up to them.]

Diego
I would like to join the search party and help you capture Zorro.

Ramone [ignoring Diego]
Sergeant, prepare to move out.

Diego [taking off his jacket]
It's my civic duty.  Besides I can be of help to you.

Ramone 
If you want to help, stay out of the way.

Diego
Well, if Zorro's tracks happen to cross my father's land. . .

Ramone [through gritted teeth]
I hardly need permission.

Diego
Of course not.  But since the recent floods, we've discovered quicksand in unexpected places.

Mendoza
Quicksand?

Diego
Yes.  We've lost several cattle.

Mendoza [incredulously]
You mean. . .whole cows have been swallowed up?

Diego
So far the ranch hands have managed to avoid it.

Mendoza [to Ramone]
Mi Alcalde, it wouldn't hurt for someone who knows the terrain to come along with us.

Ramone [reluctantly]
Very well.

[Diego smiles as Gray Wing looks at him suspiciously.  Ramone mounts his horse.]

Ramone 
Let's move.

[He, the soldiers, and Gray Wing ride past Diego, who has to turn his horse around so he can follow them.]

[Felipe still rides Toronado but is dragging a branch behind them.  He drops the branch then rides off in another direction.]

[Gray Wing runs ahead as the rest of the posse rides behind him.  He stops and kneels down, looking at the ground.  He looks up at Ramone as he stands back up.]

Gray Wing
He is a clever man.

Ramone 
What do you mean?

Gray Wing
The tracks change here.  From this point on, they are made by the same horse, carrying the same weight.  But the rider is different.  Not as strong.

Ramone [grinning evilly]
Zorro has an accomplice.  Well, we have enough rope to hang the two of them.

[Diego listens nervously.]

Ramone 
And his tracks will lead us right to Zorro.

Gray Wing
Yes.  And this second rider moves much more slowly.

[Gray Wing and the posse ride down a hillside toward the river.  Gray Wing runs ahead to the water.]

Diego
Wait!  Stop!

[Gray Wing stops and turns to look at Diego.]

Ramone [impatiently]
What is it now?

[Diego rides toward Gray Wing then dismounts.]

Diego
We can't cross here.  Quicksand.

Ramone 
We haven't got time for this.  We're in a hurry.

Gray Wing
Yes.  But only a fool rushes to his own death.

[He bends down and picks up a rock.]

Gray Wing
A simple test.

[He throws the rock at what looks like regular sand on the river bank.  It is swallowed up by the quicksand.]

Ramone 
All right, we'll cross further on downstream.

Gray Wing [to Diego]
You're very observant.

Diego
Out here, one has to be, don't you think?

[He leads his horse away as Gray Wing stares after him suspiciously.  Ramone and the lancers follow after Diego.]

[Felipe rides up to a bush covered with red berries.  He stops, picks a berry, and eats it.  Then he picks several more berries.]

[Gray Wing and the posse come up to the same bush.  Felipe is hiding behind some other bushes and peers out cautiously.  Gray Wing picks one of the berries and looks at it.  He turns to Ramone.]

Gray Wing
The one who helps Zorro is a young man.

Mendoza
How can you tell that?

Gray Wing
He ate many berries.  An older man would be more careful of his stomach.

[Felipe ducks away to his right.]

Ramone [grinning evilly]
Brilliant.  The man is brilliant.  It won't be long now.

[Diego looks very worried.]

[Gray Wing and the posse ride up a hill, through trees and rocks.  Felipe rides Toronado, barely staying ahead of the others.  Felipe and Toronado come upon an abandoned mine.  Felipe dismounts, pushes Toronado away, then runs toward the mine entrance.  He stops and hears the hoof beats of the posse getting closer.  He goes into the mine.]

[Gray Wing and the posse ride up to the mine and dismount.  Gray Wing looks down at the ground.]

Gray Wing
The horse went that way. [He points to his right.] The rider went in there.

[He turns his head to look at the mine entrance.]

Ramone 
Finally, Zorro's hiding place.

Diego
Alcalde, this mine shaft is extremely dangerous.

Ramone 
Oh, don't you see, Don Diego?  Zorro's accomplice had finally led us to him.

Diego
But after the cave-in that killed several miners, my father ordered this shaft closed.

Ramone 
Obviously Zorro doesn't care about your father's orders.  Mendoza. [He looks over at Mendoza.] Prepare to enter.

Mendoza [nervously]
Alcalde, it looks dangerous.

Diego
It is, Sergeant.  The slightest vibration. . .  It certainly couldn't withstand the presence of all your men.

[Mendoza looks over at Ramone.]

Ramone 
Perhaps not.  I'll wait outside.  Mendoza, take the men and bring him to me.

[Mendoza nervously looks at Ramone again.]

Diego
It will be safer if only one man goes.  Since it's my father's mine, I will be that man.

[Mendoza looks upward thankfully.  Diego walks into the mine.]

[Inside the mine is dark and full of cobwebs.]

Gray Wing [stepping forward]
Zorro will kill him.

Ramone 
Sergeant, do your duty.  Bring me Zorro.

Mendoza
But, Alcalde. . .

Ramone 
Now, Sergeant.

Mendoza
Si, Alcalde.

[Mendoza and the other three lancers follow Gray Wing to the mine entrance.]

Lancers
I don't like this.

[Gray Wing and the lancers enter the mine.  The lancers are still grumbling.]

[Ahead of them, Diego walks through the mine.]

[Gray Wing and the lancers continue to walk deeper into the mine.]

Lancers
I can't see anything.

[Diego walks deeper into the mine.]

[Felipe turns and looks back then hurries forward deeper into the mine.]

[The lancers walk through cobwebs hanging from the ceiling.  Mendoza is looking backward then turns around almost directly into a big cobweb, startling him.]

[Outside the mine, Ramone waits, hand on hip.]

[Inside the mine, Diego keep walking.]

[Gray Wing and the lancers also keep walking into the mine.  Mendoza is waving his hat like a fan as he walks.]

[Diego is walking along when suddenly a rock breaks loose from the ceiling and falls to the ground.  Startled, he spins around.]

[Gray Wing and the lancers keep walking.  Mendoza lags behind, out of breath.  He stops for a moment to rest.  He hears squeaking and looks down.  Two huge rats scurry between his feet.]

Mendoza [jumping]
Aah!  Aah!

[Rocks come tumbling down from the mine's ceiling, falling on Mendoza, Gray Wing, and the other lancers.  Rocks also fall down on Diego.  A cloud of dust shoots out of the mine's entrance and Ramone ducks out of the way.]

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

[Exterior shot of the mine entrance which is sealed shut with neatly stacked rocks.]

[Inside the mine, Mendoza reaches up to light a lantern that is conveniently hanging from the wall where he and Gray Wing are leaning.]

Gray Wing [grabbing Mendoza's hand]
No.  No fire.

Mendoza
But I can't see.  Where is Don Diego?

[Gray Wing looks at another neatly stack rock pile blocking the way further into the mine.]

Gray Wing
For him, there is no hope.

Mendoza [sadly]
Don Diego. . .

[Gray Wing leans back against the wall and closes his eyes.]

[Diego pushes himself away from the rock wall, glances at the blocked tunnel before continuing on his way further into the mine.  A scared Felipe is standing under a support beam.]

Diego
Felipe!

[He hurries over to Felipe.]

Diego
All right?

[He gives Felipe a hug.]

Diego [looking upward]
I know this mine has a ventilating shaft.  It has to be blocked.  We better find it before our air runs out.

[He grabs a stick from one of the support posts and puts his arm around Felipe's shoulders.]

Diego
Come on.

[They turn and walk further down into the mine.]

[Mendoza and Gray Wing are breathing hard as they lean against the wall.  The other lancers are moaning in pain.]

Gray Wing
There is very little air.  We must be still.

[Diego and Felipe walk deeper into the mine, looking up at the ceiling.  Diego keeps poking at it with his stick as they go along.  Looking to his right, he smiles.]

Diego [pointing with his stick]
There it is.  Come on.

[He and Felipe walk toward a hole with light coming through it.]

[Ramone rides into Los Angeles.]

Ramone 
Lancers!  Lancers!

[He pulls his horse to a halt then spins it around as lancers start coming toward him.]

Ramone 
Form a rescue party!  Lancers!

[The lancers scramble to stay of his way as they hurry to the cuartel.]

[Felipe climbs through the ventilating hole, followed by Diego.]

[Outside, Diego pats Felipe's shoulder.]

Diego
We must hurry.  The others are still trapped.]

[Inside the mine, Mendoza and Gray Wing lean against the wall with their eyes closed.]

Mendoza [whimpering]
A little air.  A little air.

[Inside the secret cave, Zorro carries two small kegs which are tied together over to Toronado and hangs them from the saddle horn.  He gets up on the horse's back.  Felipe holds up his hand, expecting Zorro to help him onto Toronado as well.]

Zorro
No.  You must stay here.  You cannot be seen with Zorro.  Give me my other clothes.

[A disappointed Felipe goes over to the laboratory table where Diego's clothes are.]

Zorro
If all goes well, I'll soon need to appear as Don Diego.

[Felipe hands him the bundle of clothing.]

Zorro
Gracias. [He raises his thumb.] To success.

[Felipe smiles then looks anxious as Zorro turns Toronado around and rides away.]

[Zorro rides Toronado up to the mine entrance and dismounts.  He takes the two kegs from the saddle horn and walks up to the blocked entrance.]

Zorro
Hello in there!  Can you hear me?

[Inside the mine, Mendoza and Gray Wing have their eyes closed and they are breathing shallowly.]

Zorro [off camera]
Sergeant Mendoza, are you in there?  It's Zorro!

Mendoza [drowsily]
Zorro. . . [He wakes up.] Zorro!  We are here! [He struggles to sit up.]

[Outside, Zorro takes the rope off the kegs.]

Zorro
I have gunpowder.  Stand back and I will try to blow a hole in the entrance.

[Inside the mine, Gray Wing looks at Mendoza.]

Gray Wing
This man is our prey.  How can you trust him?

Mendoza
Because he is Zorro.  The Alcalde might hate him, but even he knows he is no murderer.

[Mendoza stands up and moves backward.  Gray Wing does the same.]

[Outside the mine, Zorro pours a line of gunpowder from one of the kegs toward the blocked entrance.

[Inside the mine, Mendoza, Gray Wing and the other lancers brace themselves for the blast.  Mendoza sticks his fingers into his ears.]

{Outside, Ramone and more lancers ride toward the mine.  Zorro looks up and hears them coming.]

Ramone [riding on his horse and pointing toward Zorro]
Zorro!  He's ours!

[Three of the lancers with him fire their muskets.  Zorro dodges the bullets and run from the mine entrance toward Ramone and the other lancers.]

Zorro
Stand clear of the mine!  I'm blowing it up.

[Ramone aims his pistols at Zorro.  Zorro cracks his whip and knocks the pistol from Ramone's hand and catches it as it comes his way.  Zorro turns, aims, then shoots at the end of the line of gunpowder.  It ignites and the flame burns up the line quickly.  Zorro turns back and tosses the empty pistol to Ramone.]

Zorro [a bit sarcastically]
Gracias.

[Ramone nearly drops the pistol as he tries to catch it.  Zorro remounts Toronado.]

Ramone [to his men]
Reload!  Stop him!

[The lancers try to reload their muskets.  The flame has nearly reached the powder kegs at the mine's entrance.  The lancers throw down their muskets and start to ride to safety.  Ramone jumps off his horse and falls to his stomach.]

[The flame reaches the kegs and the mine's entrance explodes, spewing dust and rocks.  The lancers continue to ride away.  Ramone turn over to his back and looks up warily.  He then sits up.]

[The dust begins to clear and a coughing Mendoza comes out of the mine, dusting off his uniform.  He is followed by Gray Wing.  They watch as Zorro rides away.]

[Ramone gets to his feet.  Two lancers help each other out of the mine shaft.  Mendoza rests against an abandoned wagon.  Gray Wing comes over to him.]

Gray Wing
This man Zorro.  He saved our lives.

Mendoza [coughing]
Yes.

Gray Wing
But how did he escape the mine?

Mendoza
Maybe he was never in there.

Gray Wing
He is an unpredictable man.

Mendoza
If only he could have done something to save Don Diego.

[Outside near the ventilating shaft, Diego is putting on his white shirt.]

Diego
Go home, Toronado.

[He finishes putting on his shirt (boo!) and climb down through the hole.  Toronado gallops away.]

[Outside the mine entrance, Mendoza and Gray Wing still lean against the wagon.]

Mendoza
He was the first one in and the only one who never came out.

[He turns his head as he hears coughing coming from the mine's entrance.  Gray Wings looks surprised.]

Mendoza
Madre de Dios!  Don Diego!  You're alive!

[Mendoza runs over to Diego who walks out of the mine with his shirt unbuttoned (yeah!)]

Diego [grasping Mendoza's shoulder]
Yes.  My air was gone and suddenly everything opened up.  It was a miracle.

Mendoza [a bit giddily]
A miracle?

Diego
Yes, a miracle.

Ramone [running up to Gray Wing]
Quickly!  Get a horse!  Zorro couldn't have gone far.

Gray Wing
Why do you chase a man who saved the lives of your men?

Ramone [angrily]
Don't be fooled by him.  Tomorrow he'll slit their throats.

Gray Wing
I don't believe that he would.

Mendoza
He could certainly cut a ‘Z' into our uniforms.

[Gray Wing stares disgustedly at Ramone then turns and starts walking away.]

Ramone 
Where are you going?  I paid you money!

[Gray Wing pulls out a pouch and drops it.  It jingles as it hits a rock.  He continues to walk away without turning around.]

Ramone 
Come back here!

[Diego and Mendoza watch as Gray Wing keeps walking.]

Ramone 
Don't you walk away from me!  I want Zorro!

[He shakes his fist at Gray Wing's disappearing back.]

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

[Felipe runs out of the front door of the de la Vega hacienda as Diego rides up to the gate then dismounts.  Diego smiles at Felipe.]

Diego
The gunpowder worked perfectly.

[He walks toward Felipe, who points at something behind Diego.  Diego turns when Felipe grabs his arm and see Gray Wing riding up to the hacienda.]

Diego
Gray Wing.

Gray Wing
I was on my way out of town and I came across a familiar trail.  Zorro's.

Diego [acting nervous]
Zorro's around here?

Gray Wing
Yes, very close.

Diego [turning his head toward Felipe.]
You should lock the door, Felipe.

Gray Wing [looking curiously at Felipe]
Is that a rash on your neck?

[Felipe reaches up and touches a red patch on his neck and looks slightly guilty.]

Diego
He. . .He doesn't speak.

Gray Wing
But he does eat berries.  And too many of them will cause such a rash.

Diego [grabbing Felipe by the back of his neck]
So my father and I keep telling him. [He walks over to a bush covered in red berries.] As you can see, he's nearly eaten the entire bush clean.

[He picks a berry and eats it.]

Gray Wing [smiling then becoming serious]
If Zorro should ever cross your path, tell him I owe him my life.

Diego [walking back to stand on the other side of Felipe]
That's highly unlikely, Gray Wing.  But if that should ever happen, I would be happy to give him your message.

[Gray Wing nods and turns to ride away.  Felipe reaches over and picks a berry from the bush.  Diego slaps him up the backside of his head.  Felipe turns to Diego and defiantly pops the berry into his mouth.  Diego reaches out with both hands and pretends he is going to choke Felipe.  Felipe ducks out of Diego's grasp and runs toward the hacienda.  Gray Wing rides further away as Diego breathes a sigh of relief.]

*****END OF EPISODE*****
 
Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland 8 September 2006