Written by Paul & Sharon Boorstin
Directed by Michael Levine
First US Airdate 20 April 1990 Episode 1.20
[Interior shot of the de la Vega hacienda as Diego and Felipe sit next to each other and look at a pile of bones on a table in front of them.
Diego
Just think of it, Felipe. The same tar we use for everything from
roofing to caulking fishing boats, Mother Nature used to preserve these bones
over ten thousand years ago. I wonder what ancient creature they belonged
to.
[He picks up one of the bones and examines it as Felipe looks at another bone.]
Diego [as he tries to fit two pieces of bones together]
How kind of Mother Nature to give us such a challenging problem. Such
a puzzle.
[He fits the two pieces of bone together then takes them apart. Don Alejandro walks up to where Diego and Felipe are sitting.]
Don Alejandro
You'll never guess who the new owner of the Portillo hacienda is.
Diego
They actually found the rightful owner?
Don Alejandro [excitedly]
Mendoza!
Diego [incredulously]
Mendoza? Oh, wait a minute, I thought. . . I thought he was
an orphan.
Don Alejandro
Well, it seems the last owner turned out to be his second cousin.
Mendoza is his only living relative so . . .
Diego
So Mendoza is to be a man of property. A man of leisure. I wonder
how that will suit our favorite sergeant.
[He chuckles then shakes his head.]
[Exterior shot of Mendoza's hacienda.]
[Interior shot of Mendoza's hacienda where a man in a dark suit leads Mendoza into a room through a pair of French doors.]
Man
And this is the drawing room, Señor Mendoza.
Mendoza
You know, I can't believe al this is really mine, Torres.
Torres
I've been a servant here for many years. I was distressed to see my
master let his hacienda fall into a state of disrepair.
[The two men walk into another room.]
Torres
But you see, he was obsessed by the legend.
Mendoza
What legend?
Torres [stopping just inside the room]
I think it brought about my master's fatal illness. [He looks over at Mendoza.]
Did they tell you about the ghost?
Mendoza
A ghost?
Torres
You see, Don Portillo, [He indicates a portrait hanging on the wall opposite
them of a man dressed in armor like a conquistador.] the man who originally
built this hacienda, was dejected over an ill-fated romance. [He points upward.]
He hung himself from that chandelier.
[Shot looking down from the ceiling of the chandelier and Mendoza and Torres standing underneath it.]
Torres
It is said his ghost still wanders the hacienda.
Mendoza
You mean my hacienda is haunted by a ghost?
Torres [shrugging his shoulders]
Who knows?
[He walks away, leaving Mendoza alone in the room. Mendoza starts to follow Torres but stops as the chandelier sways and squeaks as there is a ghostly sounding wind. Mendoza backs slowly out of the room.]
*****COMMERCIAL BREAK*****
[Interior shot of the tavern where Diego sits at a table with Mendoza and Don Emilio. Mendoza is dressed like a caballero in a green jacket.]
Mendoza [quite animatedly]
And you would not believe what the houseman, Torres, told me next. [He turns
and looks over his shoulder.] More refreshments for my friends, Señorita
Escalante.
Victoria [standing behind the bar]
Yes, Sergeant. [Mendoza gives her a look.] Oh, I mean, Señor Mendoza.
[Everyone smiles then Mendoza leans closer to Diego and Don Emilio.]
Mendoza
Then Torres said that after Portillo's horrible death, his ghost haunts
my hacienda. [He sits up straight.] Of course, I was not a-scared for a minute.
[He looks over at Don Emilio.] Should I be, Don Emilio?
Don Emilio
I lived in the neighboring hacienda all my life and I can assure you I haven't
seen a single ghost. But if you should tire of yours, send it next door.
I could do with the diversion.
Mendoza [chuckling]
I have planned a little diversion of my own. I would like you both
to come to my home tomorrow night for a banquet to celebrate my good fortune.
Diego
I'd be delighted.
[He lifts his glass.]
Don Emilio
And so would I.
Mendoza
The alcalde himself has said he would come. Can you imagine, the man
who once commanded me, now accepts me as his peer.
Diego
You've always been the alcalde's peer, Mendoza. [Victoria carries a tray
to their table and starts setting glasses in front of them.] I was hoping
you'd set your sights a bit higher.
Mendoza
Ah, Señorita, will you join us at for my dinner tomorrow night?
It will be a princely feast. I plan even to roast a pig.
Victoria
Yes. Of course. Just as long no one at the feast acts like one.
[She sets down a glass in front of Mendoza, who looks up at her and frowns. Diego nods at him. Mendoza turns and twitches his mustache from side to side.]
[Exterior night shot of Mendoza's hacienda as lightening streaks through the sky and thunder booms.]
[Interior shot of Mendoza's bedroom where he is tossing and turning in his bed. A coyote howls in the distance, then an owl hoots. Mendoza turns over and lays on his right side. Off camera, a door creaks open. Mendoza opens his eyes then sits up. His eyes look left then right. Off camera, footsteps are heard. Mendoza gets out of bed.]
[Interior shot of the portrait room. Mendoza pokes a sword through the curtained doorway as he carries a candle. The footsteps can still be heard getting closer. Mendoza walks slowly into the room. Suddenly there is a clap of thunder and a set of French doors blow open, reveal a man in a suit of armor surrounded by mist.]
Mendoza
Who. . . Who are you? [The armored man points at Mendoza.] What. .
. What do you want?
Armored Man [in a ghostly voice]
Leave this place. Leave this place. . .or die!
[Mendoza looks at the armored man then up at the portrait of Don Portillo. There is a resemblance.]
Mendoza
Madre de Dios.
[The armored man disappears into the mist as Mendoza looks scared.]
[Exterior day shot of market stalls in the plaza as Victoria walks through them, carrying a basket on her left arm. Mendoza is at a stall where he picks up a leek and puts it in his basket. He then goes over and looks at some plucked chickens handing off a string. Diego walks up behind Mendoza and pats him on the back. Mendoza jumps nervously as he turns around.]
Mendoza
Oh, Don Diego.
Diego
You don't look so well. Didn't the mattress at the hacienda agree
with you?
Mendoza
I couldn't sleep last night. The mattress had nothing to do with it.
I saw the ghost of Don Portillo. He . . he spoke to me. He said.
. . [Mendoza starts talking in a deep, spooky voice.] ‘Leave this hacienda
or die'.
Diego [crossing his arms skeptically]
Did he now?
Mendoza
Yes, he did. And I'm hosting a dinner party tonight. If I cancel
it, the alcalde will be insulted. But what can I do under the circumstances?
Diego [chuckling at little]
Have your dinner party. All you risk tonight is a case of indigestion.
I'm only sorry I won't be able to attend.
Mendoza
Mmm. . . So you are afraid of ghosts?
Diego [laughing]
No, not at all. My father's rheumatism is acting up again and I must
stay with him. You'll have plenty of company with the alcalde, Don Emilio,
and Señorita Escalante. You have nothing to fear from any ghosts
tonight.
[He walks away to his right. Mendoza stares after him skeptically.]
[Exterior night shot of the de la Vega hacienda as the camera pans closer to one of its windows.]
Diego [off camera at first]
Strange. Torres, Mendoza's houseman. . .
[Interior shot of the secret cave where Diego is sitting behind his desk, looking at a opened book while holding a yellow quill. Felipe is leaning over Diego's right shoulder, looking at the book too.]
Diego
. . .told him that Don Portillo hung himself from a chandelier. [He points
his quill at the book.] But the chronicles of the pueblo say he died peacefully
in his sleep. Why would Torres terrify Mendoza with such gruesome tales?
[Felipe shrugs and shakes his head.]
Diego
You know, I have yet to find a ghost who could stand up to the heat of scrutiny.
Mendoza did see something. Perhaps it's time for Zorro to meet this
ghost face to face.
[He closes the book and gets up from his chair as Felipe smiles.]
[Exterior night shot of Mendoza' hacienda as a owl hoots.]
[Interior shot of the dining room of Mendoza's hacienda as Mendoza walks into the room. He bows to a solider standing at his right and behind Ramone who is sitting with an irritated expression and tapping his fingers impatiently on the table. Mendoza comes up to Ramone and puts his right hand on Ramone's left shoulder then smiles down on him. Ramone looks up and smiles tightly at Mendoza then looks down at Mendoza's hand on his shoulder. Mendoza turns and walks over to Victoria who is also seated. He bends down and reaches for something on the table in front of Victoria. She slaps his hand away and shakes her head and a finger at Mendoza, mouthing the word ‘no'. Mendoza looks up and smiles at Don Emilio.]
Mendoza [nodding]
Don Emilio.
[Don Emilio, who is sitting opposite Victoria, nods at Mendoza. Mendoza then walks behind Victoria and goes to the end to the end of the table where Torres is pouring a glass of wine from a green bottle.]
Torres [setting the bottle down on the table and turning to Mendoza]
Do you wish anything more, Señor?
Mendoza
That will be all for now, Torres.
Torres [bowing]
Thank you.
[Mendoza bows then goes over and sits down at the end of the table. He picks up his napkin and shoves one end of it into the ‘V' of his vest.]
Mendoza
Try one of these little chickens, Señor Alcalde. They're small
but very tasty.
Ramone [condescendingly]
Those ‘little chickens' happen to be quail.
Mendoza
I thought they were awfully small to be chickens.
[Ramone nods patronizingly. Victoria looks over at Mendoza nervously.]
Don Emilio
In any case, Señor Mendoza, the meal looks delicious.
[Mendoza smiles and nods at Don Emilio, then stabs his knife into one of the quail then puts it on his plate. Ramone looks on disapprovingly as Mendoza stabs a couple more of the quail and piling them onto his plate. Victoria looks over at Mendoza while picking up her napkin. He looks over at her and puts down his knife.]
Mendoza [a bit sheepishly]
I suppose I will have to get used to a lot of things in my new position.
Ramone
Mendoza, now that you are one of the landowners, I hope you will join those
of us who oppose the crimes of Zorro?
[He picks up a glass picture and pours some of its contents into a glass.]
Mendoza
Yes. Of course, Señor Alcalde.
Ramone
Good. Then Zorro will have one more caballero to contend with, huh?
[He raises his glass. Mendoza nods.]
Victoria
I'm sure Zorro is shaking in his boots at the thought.
[Mendoza looks over at her then starts to eat his quail. A ghostly wailing is then heard. Mendoza turns around in his chair then gets to his feet. Ramone stands up too with a bewildered look on his face. The armored man rides a horse up to the entrance of the dining room.]
Armored Man
Leave the hacienda or die!
Zorro [off camera at first]
If anyone must leave, my ghostly friend, it will be you.]
[He jumps down from a roof overhang. Ramone turns to the soldier behind him.]
Ramone
Zorro is no ghost but if I have my way, he soon will be.
[The armored man rides away. Ramone points to his right and the soldier starts running and drawing out his sword. Zorro unsheathes his saber and defends himself against the soldier's thrust. Zorro drives the soldier backward until the soldier trips over his own feet and falls down. Ramone then comes at Zorro with his sword drawn, lunging at Zorro. Zorro traps Ramone's sword against the table with his saber. Zorro then picks up a piece of quail and takes a bite.]
Zorro
Delicious.
Ramone
Let's see if you have a taste for this.
[He pulls his sword out from under Zorro's and swings it at Zorro's head. Zorro ducks down while eating the piece of quail. The two men continue to duel as Zorro still eat the quail.]
Zorro
With all this exercise, you work up an appetite.
[Zorro sidesteps as the soldier lunges at him. The soldier lands face down onto the table. Zorro steps upon to a chair then onto the table, still fencing with Ramone and eating the quail. The soldier stands back up but before he can do anything, Zorro kicks him in the chest. Ramone lunges at Zorro but Zorro steps down onto Ramone's sword, pinning it to the table with his foot. Zorro takes another bite of the quail then holds it up into the air.]
Zorro
And now for dessert.
[He tosses the quail bone over his left shoulder and Mendoza catches it. Zorro then slashes a ‘Z' into a chocolate pie then brings the tip of his saber up and cleans some of the pie filling off of it then tastes it.]
Zorro
Compliments to your chef, Mendoza. And to you, Señorita.
[He bends down and flicks his sword. Victoria catches a red flower then smiles up at Zorro.]
Zorro
Thank you for a most memorable evening.
[He salutes with his sword then turns to his right and whistles. Toronado whinnies. Zorro walks down the table and hops onto Toronado's back then rides away.]
[Exterior night shot of Zorro riding Toronado across the countryside.]
*****COMMERCIAL BREAK*****
[Exterior day shot of the de la Vega hacienda.]
[Closeup shot of two pieces of bones being fitted together. The camera pans up to a closeup of Diego's thoughtful face.]
Diego
The pieces still don't fit together.
[Interior shot of the hacienda library where Diego and Felipe are sitting in chairs in front of the fireplace, looking at the pile of bones on a table.]
Diego
If it hadn't been for the alcalde's interference, I would have been able
to find out what that ghost is really made of.
[Felipe looks puzzled as Diego taps the two pieces of bones together.]
Diego [looking up at Felipe.]
I suspect the answer is at the hacienda.
[He gets up out of his chair, puts down the pieces of bones with the others on the table, then walks away. Felipe stands up and watches him go.]
[Exterior shot of Mendoza's hacienda where a horse drawn wagon is being loaded with boxes and bags. Mendoza puts a burlap sack into the wagon as Torres watches. Then both men bend down and lift up a trunk then put it into the back of the wagon.]
Diego [off camera]
Good morning.
[Diego rides up behind the two men.]
Mendoza [turning around]
Good morning.
Diego
How was your dinner party last night? Lively, I hope.
Mendoza
Lively enough to convince me to move out of here today.
Diego
I don't understand. Where will you go?
Mendoza [as Torres carries a trunk and puts it into the wagon]
Back to the barracks. In my old job, I only had to worry about thieves
and cutthroats. Much safer than dealing with ghosts.
[He turns and walks toward the hacienda. Torres turns and follows Mendoza, leaving a black heel mark on the ground. Diego stares down at it for a few moments then rides off.]
[Interior shot of the secret cave where Felipe is currying Toronado. He looks up when Diego enters the cave.]
Diego [stopping when he sees Felipe]
Ah. [He walks toward Felipe.] The pieces are beginning to fit together.
At the hacienda, when Mendoza's servant, Torres, walked past, I noticed
a clue on his boot heel. A black, sticky substance. [He rubs his left
hand on the palm of his right hand.] Now, if it's what I think it is, the
mystery of the ghost will soon be solved.
Don Alejandro [off camera]
Diego!
Diego [turning to his right]
Hmm.
[He looks at Felipe then walks off to his right.]
[Interior shot of the de la Vega library as Don Alejandro walks into the room.]
Don Alejandro
Diego!
[He turns his back to the fireplace then turns and walks off to his left. Off camera, Diego can be heard clearing his throat. Don Alejandro stops then turns back around and walks back into the library. Diego is picking up a chess piece from the chess board. Don Alejandro stares at him open-mouthed.]
Diego
What is it, Father? [He walks toward Don Alejandro.] You look as if you've
seen a ghost.
Don Alejandro
I could have sworn there was. . . Somebody. . .
[Diego looks around the library then shakes his head.]
Don Alejandro [shaking his head]
Anyway, Mendoza has decided to sell hacienda.
Diego
Well, that doesn't surprise me.
Don Alejandro
But the other caballeros and I were hoping to buy it, to use as an orphanage.
Which our pueblo desperately needs.
Diego
What a wonderful idea.
Don Alejandro
Unfortunately, Mendoza has already agreed to sell it to his neighbor, Emilio.
Diego
Well, I suppose the orphanage just wasn't fated to be.
Don Alejandro [shaking his head again]
Diego, when will you learn that fate is in the hands of those who make things
happen. Ah.
[He pats Diego on the left shoulder then turns and walks away. Felipe opens up the fireplace panel and steps out into the library then comes over and stands in front of Diego.]
Diego [putting his hand on Felipe's right shoulder]
My father is right, Felipe. It's time to make things happen.
[Felipe smiles and makes a ‘Z' in the air with his right index finger.]
Diego [nodding]
Si.
[He and Felipe turn and walk toward the fireplace.]
[Exterior night shot of Mendoza's hacienda where Zorro is running out from behind a hedge and into an open doorway.]
[Interior shot of a barn filled with bales of hay. Zorro steps into the middle of the barn and looks around. He turns and sees a piece of armor sitting on top a pile of hay. He climbs up onto the hay and picks up a metal helmet. He puts down the helmet then starts to climb back down but stops.]
[Closeup shot of two tarry-looking footprints on the barn floor.]
[Closeup shot of Zorro nodding knowingly.]
[Exterior night shot of a tar pit in a field as Torres carries a bucket toward a covered wagon that is standing nearby.]
Eerie Voice
Torres!
[Torres spins around.]
Eerie Voice
You have toyed with dark forces.
Torres [as he spins around, trying to see where the voice is coming from]
Who's there?
Eerie Voice
The true spirit of Don Portillo.
Torres
No. No. It can't be.
Eerie Voice [as Torres spins around again]
You are to impersonate me? You dare to spoil the dead? Be prepared
to pay the price.
Torres
No. Please. Look, I will do whatever you ask. Just spare
me.
Eerie Voice
Then tell the truth.
Torres
I masqueraded as Don Portillo. For to scare Mendoza, for my true master,
Don Emilio, could buy the property. [He looks around.] Will you spare me now?
Eerie Voice
The spirit of Don Portillo forgives you. But I do not.
[A ‘Z' in slashed into the canvas of the covered wagon from within and Zorro bursts through it, saber drawn.]
Torres [turning to face Zorro]
You are no ghost.
Zorro
You, my friend, don't have a ghost of a chance of escaping.
[Zorro salutes with his saber. Torres runs to his left and grabs a sword from the wagon's seat, then lunges at Zorro. Zorro drives him backwards.]
Zorro
This is why you and Don Emilio want Mendoza's property, isn't it?
Tar. A most precious commodity. Always imported at great expense.
Torres
Until Don Emilio and I discovered this.
[The two mend continue to duel, going around in a circle.]
Zorro
A man of science would no doubt find this place greatly interesting.
He would no doubt find many ancient bones here.
Torres
And someday, your own too!
[He lunges at Zorro who sidesteps the thrust and ducks. Torres goes past him and fall down into a big puddle of tar.]
Zorro
I trust the smell of tar doesn't disturb you, Torres. It smells no
worse than those who steal what does not belong to them.
Torres [as he stands up in the puddle, dripping with tar]
You're too late, Zorro. Mendoza is signing over the deeds tonight.
This property will belong to Don Emilio in a matter of minutes.
Zorro
Don't bet on it, Torres. No phantom of darkness ever rode as fast
as you and I will ride tonight.
[He reaches out and grabs Torres by the shoulders then pulls him out of the tar.]
[Interior shot of the tavern where Mendoza sits at a table with Victoria standing behind him, her hands on one of her hips. Mendoza looks down at the table then upward.]
Mendoza [a bit testily]
The price you're offering, Don Emilio, is hardly a fair one.
[Don Emilio is sitting on the table at Mendoza's left. He leans over and puts his hand on Mendoza's left shoulder.]
Don Emilio
Would you rather live in a hacienda where every night you fear for your
life?
[Three men sit on barrels to Don Emilio's right. Mendoza looks at Don Emilio then over his right shoulder at Victoria.]
Mendoza
On the other hand, it is an excellent price to pay to rid one's self of
a ghost.
[Mendoza starts to sign a piece of paper with a yellow quill when the end of a rope knocks the quill from his hand. Everyone turns to see Zorro holding the other end of the rope.]
Zorro
Here is your ghost, Mendoza. [A tar covered Torres stands behind Zorro.]
And you were about to sell your hacienda to the man who put him up to it.
Don Emilio
Don't listen to his lies, Mendoza.
[He motions to the three men sitting on the barrels and they get up. They draw out their swords and point them at Zorro. Zorro turns a barrel onto its side and rolls it toward the three men. It knocks them off their feet.]
Zorro
Lies?
[Mendoza ducks down. Zorro unsheathes his saber.]
Zorro
This blade was designed to puncture lies. And liars.
Mendoza [getting to his feet and drawing out his sword]
And so is this one.
[He backs up to where Zorro is standing.]
Mendoza [with his sword raised]
Don't worry, Zorro. Have no fear. With me at your side, how
can they defeat us?
[Zorro turns and looks at Mendoza incredulously, then he smiles. The three men lunge at Zorro and Mendoza. Zorro's saber blocks two of their swords while the third hits Mendoza's belt, causing it to drop around his ankles.]
Mendoza
My belt!
[He tries to walk but stumbles and falls on his face. Two of the men try to stab him but Zorro lassoes them with his rope. Victoria goes over and removes the belt from around Mendoza's ankles. He gets back on his feet and lunges at the remaining man. The man sidesteps Mendoza's thrust and Mendoza falls face down on a table. The man raises his sword but Zorro lassoes him too and pulls him over to where he has Torres and the other two men tied up.]
Don Emilio [looking down disgustedly at Mendoza on the table]
I should have killed you that first night in the hacienda.
[He lifts up the end of the table, dumping Mendoza off onto his back onto the floor.]
Mendoza
Aaah!
[Don Emilio presses the table down onto Mendoza, pinning him to the floor. He then draws out his sword, tosses the table out of the way, and then puts the tip of his sword to Mendoza's throat. He pulls back his arm.]
Mendoza
Uh oh.
[Zorro tosses his lasso around Don Emilio and pulls him over to the other tied-up men and loops more rope around him.]
Mendoza [getting to his feet]
That will teach you to ever cross swords with me.
Zorro [turning to Mendoza]
Well put, noble comrade in arms.
[Zorro raises his saber in a salute. Mendoza salutes back then turns and smiles at Victoria.]
*****COMMERCIAL BREAK*****
[Exterior day shot of Mendoza's hacienda where a group of boys run around outside, some carrying wooden swords. Diego and Mendoza walk out of the hacienda's front doors.]
Mendoza
It will be good to get back to the barracks. Back home. The
life of a country. . .man was never for me.
Diego
Really?
Mendoza
You see, because I was an orphan, the militia has always been a mother and
a father to me. In the garrison, I know what is expected of me each
day from morning til sunset. And I never did like quail much anyway.
[He turns to his left as Don Alejandro walks past, following after a boy rolling a hoop.]
Mendoza [in a slightly louder voice]
How are you, Don Alejandro? [Don Alejandro stops.] It seems your rheumatism
is much improved.
Don Alejandro [looking around]
Rheumatism? What rheumatism? [He then puts his hand on Mendoza's left
shoulder.] Most generous of you, Mendoza, to donate the hacienda and all this
land as an orphanage.
Mendoza
Well, if I can make these orphans' life a little happier than my own childhood,
it will be worth it. Besides, what do I need a hacienda for? I
need it like a fish needs an umbrella. [He chuckles.] I already have good
friends, a home. Why do I have to be rich?
Diego
Ah, perhaps you were rich already and didn't know it.
Mendoza
Do you know what a wealthy man is? A wealthy man is a man who is happy
with what he has.
[Don Alejandro laughs. The three of them then watch as children continue to run all around them.]
*****END OF EPISODE*****
Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland 22 & 23 March 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.
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