Written by Suzanne Herrera
Directed by Ray Austin

First US Airdate 16 March 1990 Episode 1.15
 

[Two boys run from the pueblo gate to where a lancer is talking with some citizens in near the church.  The lancer walks over to the tavern porch where Mendoza is eating lunch with three other soldiers.]

Lancer [whispering]
Mendoza, someone's here.

[Mendoza gets up and puts his hat on as he walks toward the pueblo gate.  A group of uniformed men ride their horses through the gate.  The leader raises his hand to bring them to a halt.  Then the leader slowly rides up to where Mendoza is standing.]

Palomarez
I am Colonel Mestifo Palomarez of the Royal Spanish Army. [He glances over at his shoulder at his men.] And they call this a soldier.  Pit bull. [He turns his attention back to Mendoza.] Where is your commandant?

Mendoza
At his office.  It's lunch time.

Palomarez
Get him.

Mendoza
You just don't ‘get' the alcalde.

Palomarez
Now.

[Mendoza gets a frightened expression on his face and scurries off to get Ramone.  The townspeople whisper amongst themselves curiously as Palomarez glares at them.  Mendoza keeps looking back over his shoulder at Palomarez as he nears the alcalde's office.  He goes inside]

Mendoza
Alcalde, there's a Colonel Palomarez out there with some men.  They look more like conquistadores.  They don't look friendly.

Ramone 
I don't believe it. [He comes to look out the doorway.] Colonel Palomarez. [He sounds very impressed.] They called him ‘The Butcher' during the Yucatan campaign.  He's the ultimate solider.  An expert swordsman.  I wish I had more time to prepare a proper welcome.

[Ramone pats Mendoza on the shoulder before walking across the plaza toward Palomarez.  Palomarez has dismounted and waits as the alcalde comes over to greet him.]

Ramone 
Ah, Colonel Palomarez, this is indeed an honor.

Palomarez [as he and Ramone walk back toward the garrison]
Word of your problems with the rebel bandit Zorro have reach Madrid.  I am here to eliminate him.

Ramone 
Ah, begging your pardon, Colonel.  Zorro is no ordinary bandit.  The people have taken him into their hearts.  They thwart my every effort. . .

Palomarez
Effort?  I am here for results.

[Palomarez turns and walks away from Ramone.  He stops in front of his horse before turning around and facing the gathered crowd.]

Palomarez
The King of Spain orders the arrest and execution of the man known as Zorro.

[A young man steps up to Palomarez.]

Young Man
You'll never catch Zorro.

Palomarez
You're quite wrong about that.

[Palomarez signals to one of his men standing behind the young man.  The soldier slaps the young man to the ground.]

Palomarez [to Ramone]
By sunset, I want the name of every person living in this pueblo.

Ramone 
Why?  What for?

Palomarez
There will be a lottery at midnight to determine who will hang at sunrise in the place of Zorro.

Ramone 
Colonel, you just can't go around executing people without good reason.

Palomarez [walking through the crowd]
Perhaps I have not made myself clear.  Henceforth, one of your citizens will die every day [He stops to flick a lock of hair of one of the pueblo women.] until Zorro is delivered to me.

[Palomarez stops in front of Ramone and glares at him before moving away.  Ramone stares after Palomarez in astonishment.]

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

[Exterior shot of the tavern.  Yelling can be heard coming from the inside.]

[On the second level, Victoria come to the aid of a female guest who is being thrown out of a room by one of Palomarez's men.]

Victoria [grabbing the soldier's arm]
Let her go!

[The soldier pushes Victoria away and she stumbles against the balcony railing.]

Victoria [pushing the soldier back]
Stop it!

[She turns to walk down the stairs.]

Victoria
All our rooms are full!

[When she reaches the bottom, she gets into Palomarez's face.]

Victoria
You're throwing out paying customers!

Palomarez
My men and I prefer privacy in our accommodations.

[Palomarez and Victoria both watch as a man tumbles down the staircase after being pushed by one of the soldiers.  Palomarez walks away only to be confronted by Ramone who comes striding into the tavern.]

Ramone 
What is going on in here?

Palomarez
My men need their rest and some privacy.

Ramone 
Colonel, this tavern is the only public place in all of Los Angeles.  To close it to the public would mean. . .

Palomarez
Means absolutely nothing to me.  Now stand aside and let us get on with our work.

Ramone 
Colonel, I really must insist.

Palomarez
 You still don't understand.  Until further notice, this is my pueblo.

[The two men stare at each other for a moment then Ramone storms off.  Palomarez looks up at the balcony.]

Palomarez
Clear the tavern!

[The soldiers drag men and women down the stairs and bump into Victoria.  Mendoza grabs her hand and they back into the kitchen where Mendoza backs into the point of a knife left on the table.]

Mendoza
Oy, manditas.

Diego [entering through the back door]
Be careful, Sergeant.  That's sharp.

Mendoza
What are you doing here, Don Diego?

Diego
Well, I saw the glorious Colonel and his men approaching and I decided that discretion might be the better part of valor.  It certainly would have been for the alcalde.

Victoria [to Diego]
And what is the alcalde going to do about Palomarez?

Mendoza
What can he do?  Palomarez is a colonel under orders from the king.

Victoria [turning to look at Mendoza]
So we're just going to let a madman take control of the pueblo?

Mendoza
Believe me, the alcalde would like nothing better than to have Palomarez gone.  But until Zorro's capture, what can he do?

[Diego shakes his head and lets out a sigh.]

[Exterior shot of the tavern at night]

[Most of the pueblo is crammed inside the tavern.  A table holding a large bowl is placed in the middle of the room.  Palomarez walks up to it, pushing people out of his way.  Ramone, Diego, Victoria, and Mendoza are already gathered around the table.]

Ramone [to Palomarez]
Colonel, I beg you to reconsider.

Palomarez
Sniveling will not bring me Zorro.

Ramone 
But summary executions?  Not even I would conceive of such a thing.

Palomarez [smirking]
It is brilliant in its simplicity. [He turns to address the crowd.] I am here to draw the name of the individual who will face the gallows at sunrise.

Victoria
This is not justice.  This is murder.

Palomarez
Bring Zorro to me before dawn and only he will face the hangman's noose.

Diego
Señor. . .

Mendoza
Be careful, Don Diego.

Palomarez
Do you have particular knowledge of Zorro, Señor?

Diego
Zorro is a very difficult man to know.  We have always been protected by his secret identity.  And it has kept us safe from the excesses of the military.

[Ramone looks half guilty, half angry at Diego's remark.]

Victoria
It's true.  We do not know who he is or where he is.  So your threats of violence will not help you find him.

Palomarez
Well, I certainly think it's worth a try.

[He reaches his hands into the hat and begins stirring up the pieces of paper inside it.]

Palomarez
The first person to die under the curse of your Zorro is. . . [He pulls out a piece of paper and read from it.]  Sergeant Jaime Mendoza.

[People gasp as Mendoza begins to sway.  He topples over into Ramone.]

Ramone 
You can't be serious.  Military personnel should not be included in this.

Palomarez
Ah, but they are, Señor.  Even your name is in the bowl.

Ramone [incredulously]
What?

Palomarez
Persist with your interference and yours will be the only name in the bowl.  Take him!

[Two soldiers grab the still reeling Mendoza's arms.]

Ramone 
I'm sorry, Sergeant.

[Mendoza is taken away as everyone continues to talk amongst themselves.  Diego appears deep in thought.]

Victoria
Zorro should have shown himself by now.

Diego
Don't worry, Zorro will help somehow.

Ramone 
Unless he's learned what we already know.

Diego
And what's that, Alcalde?

Ramone 
That Colonel Palomarez is a man with no mercy.

[Zorro is riding Toronado down a hill in the dark.  They then gallop across the countryside to the pueblo.]

[The howl of a wolf breaks the still of the night as Palomarez sits at one of the tables in the tavern.  He is writing in his journal.  Suddenly, the tip of a blade taps against his chest.]

Palomarez [without turning around and in a excited whisper]
Zorro

Zorro [putting a finger against his own lips]
Shh

Palomarez [in a strangled tone]
Guards!

Zorro [pressing the blade against Palomarez's throat.]
Please, people are trying to sleep.  Keep your voice down or your sleep could be a longer than you'd like.

Palomarez
In the event of my death, I have given orders for my men to execute two people each day until your capture.

Zorro
I'm not here to take your life, Señor.

Palomarez
Prove it.

Zorro
Under certain conditions, I'm prepared to surrender.

[Zorro removes his sword from Palomarez's throat and sheathes it.  Palomarez stands up and turn to face Zorro.  He is holding a small glass of amber liquor.]

Palomarez
What are the conditions for your surrender?

Zorro
That you and I meet on the field of honor, man to man.

Palomarez
I'm a master swordsman.  You wouldn't dare challenge me.

Zorro
I would indeed, Señor.

Palomarez
I promise you an agonizing death.

Zorro
Justice for the people is not without its price.

Palomarez [walking closer to Zorro]
Shall we say the plaza, at sunrise?

Zorro
Si.  If I win, you and your men must leave Los Angeles.

Palomarez
And if you lose, then you die.

Zorro.
In either case, innocent people will be kept from the gallows.

Palomarez
You are indeed a man of honor.

Zorro
Gracias, Señor.

Palomarez
And a fool.  Guards!  Guards!

[The room is immediately filled with Palomarez's men, all aiming rifles at Zorro, who realizes he is trapped.]

Palomarez
Put him behind bars.  He hangs at sunrise.

[The soldiers lead Zorro out of the tavern as Palomarez lifts his glass in a mocking gesture. He then takes a sip and smirks as he watches Zorro leave.]

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

[Two of the soldiers lead Zorro into the jail of the cuartel.  Mendoza is sitting on a cot in his cell, not sleeping.  He get to his feet as Zorro is locked up in the cell adjoining his.]

Mendoza
Zorro, it can't be true.  Zorro, is it really you?

Zorro
Indeed it is, Sergeant.  I hope my arrival didn't awaken you.

Mendoza
Oh, no.  I couldn't sleep anyway.  You see, they're going to hang me tomorrow.  And only Zorro could save me.  And now you're here.  They'll hang you.

Zorro
Excellent point, Sergeant.  I really should do something about this, don't you think?

Mendoza
Yes, of course.  But what can you do?

[Palomarez walks out of the tavern where he is intercepted by Ramone.]

Palomarez
We have Zorro.  He's in the jail.

Ramone 
Zorro?  Impossible!

Palomarez
Are you doubting me?

Ramone 
Well, I'm not doubting you, Colonel, but you make it sound so easy.

Palomarez
It is easy when you know what you are doing, Ramone.  The man is nothing more than a criminal.  I merely met him on his own terms.

Ramone 
What about my man?  Sergeant Mendoza?

Palomarez
Now that we have Zorro, his sentence is commuted.

[Palomarez turns away and walks off.  Ramone has a relieved expression come over his face before following Palomarez.]

[Inside the jail, Zorro has snagged his sword that is sitting on a nearby bench and drags it toward him.  When he has it, he turns to Mendoza and smiles.]

Zorro
Our little secret, Sergeant.  Or else.

[Zorro makes a slashing motion across his throat.  Then he hides his sword behind his back as footsteps approach and the jail door opens.  Ramone and Palomarez enter the jail.]

Ramone [gloatingly]
So you are finally here.

Zorro
I offered the colonel a fair fight, but we've seemed to have a slight misunderstanding.

Palomarez
There is no misunderstanding.  You hang in three hours.

Ramone 
Considering that reality, I'm going to unmask you now.

Mendoza [incredulously]
You're going to unmask Zorro?

Ramone 
Sergeant, his capture means your freedom.

Mendoza
Yes, good.  But he is Zorro. Something of a tradition around here.

Palomarez
Perhaps you'd rather die in his place.

Mendoza
I didn't say that. . .

Ramone 
Sergeant, enough. [to Zorro] I'm going to unmask you now.

Zorro
I thought you might be paying me a little visit, Alcalde.  So I took the precaution of asking Toronado to stop by.

Palomarez [grabbing the keys from Ramone's hand before stepping up to the bars and inserting them into the lock.]
You are going to hang.

Zorro
Colonel, we have an appointment with fate, remember.

[He whistles loudly.  The bars of the cell window are pulled out as Toronado whinnies in the background.]

Zorro
Buenas noches, Señors.

[He tips his head before bailing out of the window.  Palomarez finally gets the cell door open but it is too late.  Zorro is gone.]

Palomarez [shaking his fist with rage]
I had him.  I had him.

Mendoza
Yes, you had him.

Palomarez [turning angrily at Mendoza.]
With Zorro's escape, the sentence is reinstated.  You hang at dawn.

[Palomarez stalks out of the cell as a suddenly despondent Mendoza watches him leave.]

[Exterior shot of the de la Vega hacienda at night.]

Diego [off camera]
All right, we're ready.

[He and Felipe are inside the secret cave.  Diego is molding a dark gray clay-like substance in his hands as he walks toward Felipe.]

Diego
Bring me an arrow, Felipe.

[Felipe picks up an arrow, and holds it as Diego nears the lab table.]

Diego
This is nothing more than a chemical compound held together by charcoal and sulfur.  All quite harmless really, unless it's mixed together.

[He tosses the clay ball to Felipe, who catches it gingerly and immediately hands it back to Diego.]

Diego
It's all right.  Gunpowder is not really that dangerous until it meets with friction or heat. [He indicates a nearby burning flame before pinching off a piece of the clay and forming it into a smaller ball.]  Zorro will certainly provide plenty of heat at sunrise. [Diego wraps the small ball in a piece of white cloth and attaches it to the end of the arrow.] Bring me another arrow.

[Felipe goes to get more arrows as Diego works with the gunpowder ball.]

[At daybreak, Zorro and Toronado emerge from the hidden cave entrance and ride along the water's edge, heading toward the pueblo.  They pass through the pueblo gate.]

[In the plaza  where a large crowd has gathered,  Mendoza is being led to the gallows by Palomarez's men.  Before Mendoza reaches the gallows  steps, Victoria comes forward and grasp Mendoza's shoulders.]

Victoria
Vaya con Dios.

[She then kisses Mendoza on both cheeks before stepping back.  Mendoza is pushed in the back by one of the soldiers.  He walks up the stairs and onto the platform, where he is roughly turned and the noose placed around his neck.]

Palomarez [to Ramone]
Is everything ready?

Ramone [through clenched teeth]
As you ordered, Colonel.

Palomarez [handing Ramone a rolled scroll]
Read the declaration.

[Ramone reluctantly takes the scroll and unrolls it.  Meanwhile, Zorro is using his whip to scale the side of the church.]

Ramone [reading from the scroll]
Under emergency law and  authority of the King in Spain [His voice cracks a little.] The prisoner is sentenced to death by hanging.

[As the last word is read, Zorro shoots an arrow which explodes on impact.  The crowd begins to panic and run away.  Zorro shoots several more arrows which cause more explosions.  Palomarez nervously searches the plaza for the reason behind the disturbance.]

Palomarez
What is that?

Victoria [spinning around to face him with a smile on her face]
That is Zorro.

Ramone 
Zorro!  He must be leading an attack on the pueblo!

Palomarez
If it's a battle he wants, it's a battle he gets! [to his men] To your mounts!

[Explosions keep going on as the all soldiers and Ramone rush to their horses.]

Palomarez
Brigadiers!  Bring me the head of Zorro!

[The mounted soldiers ride out of the pueblo through the gate.  Palomarez goes to mount his own horse.  Mendoza looks up to see Zorro pointing an arrow at him from the top of the church.]

Zorro
Hold still, Sergeant. Hold very still [He lets the arrow fly.]

Mendoza [closing his eyes]
Oooo!

[The arrow hits the gallows rope, breaking it in two.  Mendoza stops in mid-scream as he falls to his knees.  He looks up at Zorro and smiles.  Zorro smiles back then disappears from the rooftop.]

[The last of Palomarez's men rides out of the pueblo right before a rope is flung down the side of the church.  Zorro swings down it and onto the ground, right in front of Palomarez and his horse as they attempt to follow the other soldiers.  Zorro unsheathes his sword as does Palomarez.  Palomarez strikes first, but Zorro blocks it before slicing the reins of Palomarez's horse.  The frightened horse spins frantically around while Palomarez tries to grab what is left of the reins to no avail.  The crowd laughs then cheers as Palomarez finally falls off his horse and hits the ground face down.]

[Mendoza has come down from the gallows to stand beside Victoria.]

Mendoza
This should be interesting.

Victoria [confidently]
Zorro will defeat him.

Mendoza
Well, I hope so.  I mean, I'm a loyal soldier, but I hope so.

[Zorro approaches the prone Palomarez, his sword resting on his shoulder.]

Zorro
Ah, Colonel.  May I present to you the head of Zorro, firmly to attached to the body. [Palomarez stares up at Zorro as he reaches for his own sword and starts to stand.]  As you promised, Señor.  Just you and me.

[Zorro salutes the colonel with his sword before Palomarez makes the first move.  Their blades clash again and again.  Zorro drives Palomarez across the plaza to near the fountain.]

Victoria
Zorro will win.

Mendoza [lacking her confidence]
Palomarez has never been beaten.

[The swordfight rages on until both men are in front of the gallows.  Their blades entangle and they move together.  Zorro uses the pause in the action to wink at Victoria, who smiles and blushes.  Zorro pushes Palomarez away before going backwards up the stairs of the gallows as Palomarez and he engage their swords once again.  At the top of the platform, Palomarez lunges at Zorro but only hits his cape.  Zorro kicks a lever and a portion of the platform where Palomarez is standing falls away.  Palomarez tumbles to the ground underneath the gallows.  Zorro jumps down from the platform and grabs Palomarez, pulling him to his feet and leading him away from the gallows.]

Zorro
As we agreed, Colonel, you must leave Los Angeles.  Señor, may I borrow your mount.

[A man leads a donkey over to Zorro and Palomarez.  Palomarez shakes his head when he sees the donkey.  Zorro punches him in the face and Palomarez falls against the donkey.  Zorro lifts him up to lie across its back as the man leads it away.  Mendoza laughs as does the rest of the gathered crowd.  The soldiers begin to ride back into the pueblo.  They stop as they see their leader lying unconscious on the back of a donkey.  Ramone has to wipe a smug smile from his face as Palomarez passes by.  He then looks over at Mendoza, who is still laughing and standing in front of Zorro.  It takes Mendoza a few moments but he realizes he should be arresting Zorro.]

Mendoza
Zorro, I hereby place you under arrest.

[He turns around but Zorro has disappeared.]

Mendoza
Where did he go?

[He turns to Victoria.]

Mendoza
Where is he?

Victoria [shrugging her shoulders]
Who?

Mendoza
Zorro!  How does he do that?

[Zorro rides out of the pueblo at its citizens cheer.]

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

[Mendoza, Victoria, and Diego are sitting around a table at the tavern.]

Mendoza [tapping the table]
He was sitting right next to me in jail.

Diego
You actually saw him there, Sergeant?

Mendoza
Si, Don Diego.  Zorro came this close to the gallows.

Victoria
Yet he managed to escape from the alcalde's prison.

Mendoza
Ah, between you and me, this Zorro is a pretty smart fellow.  He is perhaps even a little smarter than the alcalde.

Diego [sarcastically]
Nooo.  You really think so?

Mendoza
Zorro was completely responsible for Palomarez's departure.

Diego
But how could he single-handedly drive such a tyrant from the pueblo?  He must have had help.

Mendoza [sitting up a little straighter]
Well, I was there, so there was a certain official military presence.

Diego
That's what I thought, Sergeant.  So when Colonel Palomarez returns, he'll surely be looking for you as well.

Mendoza
No problem.  When Palomarez returns, I will s. . . Madre de Dios, Palomarez is coming back?

[Diego looks at Mendoza and tips his head, a concerned expression on his face.]

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

Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland 26 May 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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