Written by Robert L McCullough
Directed by Ray Austin

First US Airdate 12 January 1992   Episode 3.15

[Interior shot of de Soto's office as Mendoza comes through the front doors, taking off his hat.]

Mendoza [after yawning]
Buenos dias, Alcalde.  I. . .

[He closes the door behind him then walks toward de Soto's desk.]

Mendoza
Alcalde?

[De Soto jumps out behind Mendoza with his sword drawn.]

de Soto
En garde!

[Mendoza turns around then staggers back, putting his right hand over his heart.]

Mendoza [as de Soto advances on him, pointing his sword]
Oh!  Oh!

de Soto [disgustedly as he lowers his sword]
Oh, Sergeant!  No wonder the Spanish Empire is crumbling.  How many times must I tell you?  We must be eternally vigilant!  We must be on our guard twenty-four hours a day.

[Mendoza whimpers.]

de Soto [disgusted]
Aah!

[Exterior shot of the tavern as Mendoza runs off its porch and across the plaza.]

de Soto [off camera]
Mendoza!  Get over here!

[Mendoza keeps running across the plaza.  De Soto stands in front of a line of men and women while lancers with muskets stand behind him.]

de Soto [to the line of people]
Take off your shoes!

Lancers [as the people bend down and start taking off their shoes]
Come on.  Come on.

Mendoza [running up to de Soto]
What is it, Alcalde?

de Soto [as a lancer goes down the line, prodding people with his musket]
This morning, I discovered a single foot step outside the cuartel kitchen.  A foot step made by the stains of crushed berries. [He crouches down and picks up a shoe then turns it over before standing back up.] Immediately thereafter, [Mendoza bends down and picks up shoe.] I discovered the last basket of the garrison's blackberries was missing. [He bends down and picks up another shoe.] Stolen. . . [He shakes the shoe at the line of people.] by someone in this pueblo!

Mendoza
I don't see any stains.

de Soto [turning to look at Mendoza]
No, then perhaps going barefoot will get us some cooperation. [He looks over at Sepulveda standing to his left.] Corporal, take their shoes!

[Sepulveda turns around and goes to his left.]

Mendoza
But, Alcalde, the ground is rough.  It will cut their feet.

de Soto
Only until they give us the thief.

[Zorro rides Toronado into the plaza.]

Voice
Zorro!

[Zorro rides through three lancers, knocking them down, on his way to de Soto.  He comes to a halt, pointing his saber at de Soto's chest.]

Zorro
Call your men off.

de Soto [nervously]
It's all right, lancers.

Zorro
Without their shoes, these poor people cannot work their fields.  Are you truly that petty?

de Soto
I am merely enforcing the territorial laws against thievery!

Mendoza [smiling up at Zorro]
Not to mention the Alcalde's love of blackberries.

[De Soto glares at Mendoza.]

Zorro
Then he can eat to his heart's content.

[He removes his saber from de Soto's chest and swings it behind himself, then brings out a basket of blackberries that was hidden under his cape.  He thrusts the saber at de Soto, tossing the basket into de Soto's hands.]

de Soto [as Zorro points his saber at his chest again]
You're missing the point, Zorro!  These people need to be taught a lesson.  They're harboring a criminal!

Zorro [calmly]
They need their shoes.

de Soto
All right.  Sepulveda!

Sepulveda
Si Alcalde!

de Soto
Return their shoes!

Mendoza
Corporal, return their shoes.

[Sepulveda scrambles to give the people their shoes back.]

Zorro [indicating the basket of berries]
Try one.  They're very fresh.

de Soto [pouting]
They're not the same.

Zorro
Trust me.  They'll taste just as sweet.

[He whips his saber up into the air then starts to right away.  People start cheering.]

de Soto
How dare he interfere like that!  Sergeant, take your best men and run him into the ground!

Mendoza [as Zorro rides out of the pueblo]
But, Alcalde, that is Zorro.  He is not that easy to catch.

de Soto
Well, Sergeant, this time, you don't come back here without him.

Mendoza [saluting]
Si, Alcalde.

[De Soto takes a berry from the basket and puts it defiantly into his mouth.  He then turns and pushes his way through the people as he walks toward the cuartel.]

Voices
Oh!

[Exterior shot of the cuartel gate as it opens and Mendoza and four other lancers ride out of it.]

[Exterior shot of the countryside as Zorro and Toronado rides through a flat, rocky field.  They come up to an arroyo and stop.  Zorro turns Toronado around in a circle then rides to his left.  They ride through rocks and trees.  Mendoza and the lancers ride up to the edge of the arroyo.  They too came to a halt.  They then are riding in the arroyo as two men (one wearing a white hat} look down on them from the top of the arroyo.  The men then look at each other worriedly.]

Mendoza [coming to a halt]
Ah, we lost him.  Looks like Zorro got away again.

Man with the Hat [to his companion]
I want their leader.  That sergeant there.

Bandit #1
I will separate him from the others.

Man with the Hat
Just be careful not to hurt him.  He won't be any use to us dead.

Mendoza [to his men]
We'd better head back.

[A gunshot is heard then.  The bullet hits a bush near Mendoza.]

Lancers
Ambush!  Mendoza!

[A bandit on horseback rides down into the arroyo and fires a pistol.  The shot hits a rock near Mendoza.]
Mendoza
Bandits!  Battle formations!

[The other lancers turn and start riding out of the arroyo.]

Mendoza [turning around as more shots are fired]
Men?

[Another bandit rides down the hill, firing his pistol into the dirt in front of Mendoza's horse.  The horse rears and Mendoza falls off backward.  More bandits ride into the arroyo as the lancers ride away.  The bandits ride up to where Mendoza is lying face down on the ground.]

Man with the Hat [after pulling down his bandana]
Fool.  I told you he was no good to us dead.

[He dismounts then goes over and crouches down beside Mendoza.  He rolls the unconscious Mendoza onto his back, revealing a blood stained rock.]

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

[Exterior shot of the pueblo gate as the camera zooms into the plaza.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel where Sepulveda is holding his horse's reins as he talks to de Soto.]

Sepulveda
And we didn't even have a chance to go back for Mendoza's body.

de Soto
Bandits in the hills.  Thieves right here under our noses.  Zorro continually evading justice.  We're living in a state of anarchy.

Sepulveda
Si, Alcalde.  An armed platoon should be able to retrieve the poor sergeant.

de Soto
Perhaps.  But first we're going to draw the line right here in this pueblo.  [He slams his right hand down on Sepulveda's shoulder] We are going to find out who stole the garrison's blackberries, Corporal.

[He walks away.  Sepulveda stares after him before turning to his horse.]

Sepulveda [incredulously]
I don't know about this guy.

[He shakes his head.]

[Exterior wide shot of the de la Vega hacienda.  A horse and wagon wait outside the gates.]

Don Alejandro [off camera]
Diego. . .

[Interior shot of the de la Vega hacienda as Diego and Felipe walk out of the library where they meet Don Alejandro and Victoria in the foyer.]

Don Alejandro
Diego, did you hear?

Diego
What?

Victoria
Mendoza has been killed

Diego [aghast]
Oh no.

Don Alejandro
Attacked by bandidos while out on patrol.

Diego
Where?  North of the pueblo?

Don Alejandro [a little curiously]
Yes.

Victoria
It happened this morning while they were tracking Zorro.

Diego [a bit bitterly]
Zorro.

[Felipe looks over at Diego worriedly.]

Victoria
But I'm sure Zorro will avenge his death.

[Don Alejandro nods.]

Diego
Indeed.  Uh. . .if you will excuse me.  I don't feel very well.

[Don Alejandro reaches out and grabs Diego's arm then takes Victoria's hand.]

Don Alejandro [as he leads them into the library]
Diego, at a time like this, it's important for all of us to be together.

[He lets go of them then picks up a decanter of wine and starts pouring it into glasses.]

Don Alejandro
Sergeant Mendoza. . .  He was a kind man.  A man of charity. . .goodwill.  Great appetite. . .

[Felipe smiles.  Don Alejandro hands Diego and Victoria glasses of wine then hands one to Felipe and keeps one for himself.]

Don Alejandro [raising his glass]
To the memory of Jaime Mendoza. . .  You were a fine friend.

[Diego doesn't drink as he looks very ill.  Victoria lowers her glass with a sad look on her face.  Felipe looks sadly into his glass.]

[Exterior shot of the bandit's camp as Man with the Hat and Bandit #1 sit by a campfire.]

Bandit #1
But what if he refuses?

[A still unconscious Mendoza lies on his back on a blanket under an awning.]

Man with the Hat
He won't.

Mendoza [as he begins to stir]
Ooh. . .  Where am I?

[The bandits notice that Mendoza is waking up.]

Mendoza [putting both hands on his head]
Whoo. . .  What happened? [The bandits walk over toward him.] Where am I? [He looks up and sees the bandits.] Who are you?

Man with the Hat
Jorge Santiago.

Mendoza
My name is. . .  Uh. . .  My name is. . .  Uh. . .

Santiago
You don't know your name?

Mendoza
Yes, of course.  My name is. . . [He looks confused.] What is my name?

Bandit #1
He doesn't know.

Mendoza
Who am I?

[Santiago turns around and put his left hand on Bandit #1's shoulder.]

Santiago
This is going to be easier than we thought.  We won't have to force him if he thinks he's one of us.

Bandit #1
Si, but carefully, huh?

[Santiago turns back around and crouches down in front of Mendoza.  The other bandits gather around behind Santiago.]

Santiago [smiling]
Don't joke with us, Martinez.

[Mendoza turns to look at Santiago, lowering his hands.]

Mendoza
Martinez?

Santiago
Si.  Malo Martinez.  Our leader!

Bandit #1 [incredulously to Santiago]
Our leader?  Oh. . . [to Mendoza] Our fearless leader!

Santiago
Martinez, you were grazed by a bullet fired from soldiers at the cuartel at Los Angeles.  We have much unfinished business with that pueblo, huh?

Mendoza
Why would they shoot me?

Santiago
Because we're bandits, amigo, ravishing this whole territory.  You're the most feared outlaw in all of California.

Mendoza
I am?  This is true?

Santiago [as Bandit #1 nods]
Under your command, we've robbed banks, held up military payrolls. . .killed many men.

[Mendoza smiles as he stands up.  He then looks down at his uniform then back up at Santiago.]

Mendoza
What am I doing in this uniform?

[Santiago looks nervously over at Bandit #1 then back at Mendoza.]

Santiago
We, uh, stole it.  That's why the soldiers were after us.  This uniform, it's, uh, part of your plan.

Mendoza
Plan?  What plan?

Santiago
The one where you cleverly impersonate the sergeant of the Royal Brigade.

Mendoza [still slightly confused]
Oh.  Of course.

Santiago
And get us into the garrison cuartel so we can blow up the arsenal.  Without arms or ammunition, the lancers will never be able to stop us from looting the entire pueblo.

[Mendoza stares at him.]

Santiago
It's a brilliant plan, Martinez!

Mendoza [nodding and smiling.]
Yes, it is brilliant.  It's a brilliant plan, isn't it? [He points to himself.] I am brilliant.

Santiago
Si, Martinez.  You're a man to be feared.

Mendoza
Yes. . .  Fearless.  I am fearless. [He walks through the group of bandits.] Fear me.  They all fear me.

[He keeps walking away.]

Santiago
Oh, si. . .

Bandit #1 [taking Santiago aside.]
He's forgotten who he is, but can he be trusted to help us destroy the garrison arsenal?

Santiago [looking in Mendoza's direction]
Perhaps we should test him first and see how fearsome he really is.

[Interior shot of the de la Vega hacienda library where Victoria sits in a chair as Diego and Don Alejandro stand to her right and Felipe stands to her left.]

Don Alejandro [as Victoria stands up]
Perhaps Diego should take you back to the tavern.

[Diego, who is rather twitchy, starts to say something but Victoria interrupts.]

Victoria
I'll be fine, Don Alejandro.  Although the tavern won't be the same on Friday nights without Mendoza eating my tamales.

Don Alejandro
Well, then perhaps Diego and I will have dinner there this evening.

[Diego nods.]

Victoria
That would be very nice.

Don Alejandro [looking at Diego who is still acting twitchy]
At times like this, friends mean everything, don't they?

Diego
They do indeed.

Victoria [looking from Diego to Don Alejandro then to Felipe]
Adios.

[She leaves the library.  Diego pats Don Alejandro on the shoulder, then starts to lead him away from the fireplace.]

[Exterior shot of the countryside as Zorro rides Toronado down into the arroyo.  He dismounts then crouches down and touches his hand to the ground.]

Zorro [voiceover]
Whoever was here, they've broken camp.  No telling where they are now.

[He gets back onto Toronado then rides off to his right.]

[Exterior shot of the pueblo as people mill about and a dog barks.]

[Interior shot of the tavern as Victoria closes the front doors then latches them shut.  She turns and walks toward the bar, carrying a white cloth.]

Mendoza [voiceover as Victoria puts the cloth down on the bar]
Señorita Victoria, a plate of your hot tamales are to die for!

[Victoria looks sad then throws the cloth down the bar.]

Mendoza [voiceover]
Especially when you make them with those jalapeños peppers.  Oh, they are just delicious!

[Victoria walks toward the kitchen when the curtains are thrust open and Mendoza, dressed in a pink pattern shirt and a brown vest, stands in the doorway.]

Victoria [gasping]
Aah!  Oh, my God!  You're alive!

Mendoza [meanly]
Yes, and you will not be, I assure you, [He grabs her arm.] unless you do exactly what I say. [He pushes her forward.] Now, sit!

[Victoria goes over to a chair and sits down.  Mendoza holds a knife to her throat.]

Victoria
What are you doing, Mendoza?

Mendoza [sneering]
Malo.  Malo Martinez!  That's the name!

Victoria [incredulously]
Malo Martinez?

[He nods.  She looks down at the knife.]

Victoria
All right.  What is it that you want, Señor Martinez?

Mendoza
I am going to steal every last peso from this stinking pueblo! [He backs up, still pointing the knife at Victoria.] And I'm going to start with this.

[He reaches behind the bar and pulls out a cash box, opens it, then grabs a handful of bills.  He walks back over to Victoria and gestures with the knife.]

Mendoza
Now turn around. [Victoria stares at him.] Now!

[Victoria spins around in the chair.  Mendoza puts away the knife then starts tying her hands behind her.  Victoria looks very worried.]

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

[Interior shot of de Soto's office as Sepulveda comes through the front door, carrying a basket of blackberries.  He closes the door behind him then turns toward de Soto's desk.]

Sepulveda [holding the basket out to de Soto, who is standing in front of the safe]
Just as you ordered, Alcalde.

de Soto
Aah. . . [He reaches into the basket, takes out a berry and then eats it.] Perfect.  Corporal, excellent work.

[He takes the basket from Sepulveda.]

Sepulveda
I'd like to volunteer for the search party to go look for Sergeant Mendoza's body with. . .

de Soto
Corporal, I understand how you feel.  Sergeant Mendoza was a fellow soldier.  But he's dead.  He's not going anywhere. [He points at the basket.] And I need your help right now, in this pueblo, to restore law and order.  Is that clear?

Sepulveda
Si, mi Alcalde.

[De Soto walks over to the door leading to the jail and goes through it as Sepulveda shakes his head, then follows him.]

[Interior shot of the tavern where Victoria is still tied to the chair, now with a red-checkered napkin tied over her mouth.]

Diego [off camera]
Victoria!

[She looks to her left as knocking is heard on the front doors.  Victoria tries to talk through the gag.  The door bursts open then Diego and Don Alejandro run inside.]

Diego
Victoria!

[He goes over and crouches down Victoria and removes her gag.  Don Alejandro starts untying her.]

Victoria
Mendoza's alive.

Diego
He is?

Victoria [nodding]
Only he isn't Mendoza.

Don Alejandro
What?

Victoria
And he took all my money.

[Diego, Victoria, and Don Alejandro all look at each other with confusion and worry.]

[Interior shot of the secret cave where Diego sits at his desk, looking through a book as Felipe paces nervously.]

Diego [looking up from the book at Felipe]
Felipe, please try to relax.

[Felipe comes up to the desk, points at Diego, then at his own head.  He then makes an arc with his index finger then sticks out his chest.]

Diego
Do I think Mendoza's really gone bad?  It certainly looks that way.

[Felipe resumes pacing while Diego returns to his book.]

[Exterior shot of the bandits' camp as Mendoza lets coins run through his fingers and into a leather pouch.  Santiago and Bandit #1 look up at him as they sit on the ground.  Mendoza tosses the pouch to Santiago then laughs evilly.]

Mendoza
And that is just the tavern, amigos. [He laughs again.] Pueblo de Los Angeles is ripe for the taking.

Santiago
I have only one question, mi jefe.

Mendoza [impatiently]
Yes?  What is that?

Santiago
Your plan, it is foolproof.  But, uh, suppose someone tries to stop us.  What then?

Mendoza [incredulously]
Someone. . . tries to stop us?

[Santiago looks up at Mendoza.  Mendoza puts his hand up to Bandit #1's head like it is a pistol.]

Mendoza
We kill them.

[He laughs evilly again and the other bandits join him.  Santiago holds up the pouch.]

Santiago [patting Bandit #1 on the back]
Eh?

[They all continue to laugh.]

[Interior shot of the secret cave where Felipe is cleaning a mortar and pestle as Diego stands behind his desk.  Diego points at the book he was looking at earlier.]

Diego
Felipe, listen to this. [Felipe turns and comes over to the desk.] From the early Greeks. . . ‘A severe blow to the head may cause change in humor'.  Now by that, they were referring to a person's disposition and temperament, not how much they laughed.  And Mayot, the Frenchman. . .  Now he worked with people with chronic forgetfulness.  He documented memory loss to varying length and degrees, even manifesting itself in extreme personality change.  A blow to the head. . .  Now, if Sergeant Mendoza has truly forgotten who he is, if his darker side had taken over. . . [He looks at Felipe.] Then it's time for Zorro to bring back the Mendoza we know.

[He shuts his book and sets it down atop at stack of books on his desk as Felipe walks away.]

[Exterior shot of the countryside as Zorro rides Toronado through trees and rocks and down into the arroyo.  He brings Toronado to a halt, looks around then rides ahead a little further before dismounting.  A broken sword lies on the ground.  Zorro crouches down and picks it up.]

Zorro [voiceover]
Mendoza's sword.  They made sure he was unarmed.

[He leads Toronado a couple of feet further then crouches down again, looking at the ground.  He looks up to his left.]

Zorro
The trail leads back to the pueblo.  No time to lose, Toronado.

[He remounts Toronado and then rides off to his left.]

[Exterior shot of the pueblo where the plaza is nearly deserted.]

[Exterior shot of the side of the cuartel as Mendoza, Santiago, and the other bandits are gathered around.]

Santiago
You don't think we should wait til night?

Mendoza [dressed in his uniform]
No, it's not necessary.  It's past lunchtime.  Those lazy lancers need their siesta.  You have the fuses, Santiago?

Santiago
Just as you ordered, mi jefe.

Mendoza [tapping Santiago on the chest]
Good.  You know what to do.

[Mendoza swaggers forward, putting on his hat as he walks up to the cuartel gates.  A lancer turns around and sees Mendoza.]

Lancer
Aaah!

[Mendoza puts out his hands then brings his right index finger to his lips as he walks around the lancer.]

Lancer
Mendoza!

[One of the bandits runs up and punches the lancer in the head then drags the lancers toward the cuartel.  Mendoza backs his way through the gates then the rest of the bandits follow.]

[Exterior shot of the countryside as Zorro rides Toronado along a dirt road then under the pueblo gate.]

[Closeup shot of a basket of blackberries that has a string tied across its handles that then leads upward.  The camera pans up and back to show de Soto sitting in one of the cells, holding the other end of the string.  He is asleep and snoring.]

Mendoza [off camera]
Lopez, psst. . . [De Soto starts to wake up.] Light the fuse.

[Exterior shot of the cuartel yard as Mendoza stands with Santiago and Bandit #1.]

Mendoza
Let's get out of here before it blows.

[Santiago and Bandit #1 each grab one of Mendoza's arms and drive him up against an archway.]

Mendoza
What are you doing?

Santiago
Getting rid of the evidence, [He holds up piece of rope.] Sergeant.

[Exterior shot of a rooftop as Zorro walks across it.]

Mendoza [off camera as Zorro climbs down from the rooftop.]
Sergeant?  Are you crazy?  I'm your leader!

[Zorro drops down to the ground then runs forward.]

Mendoza [off camera]
Untie me!

[Exterior shot of the cuartel yard as Lopez? and another bandit kneel down next to a metal strongbox.  Santiago and Bandit #1 finish tying up Mendoza.]

Santiago
Light it!

[He runs off to his right and Bandit #1 crouches down to tie Mendoza's ankles together.  Lopez lights the fuse that is attached to several sticks of dynamite (Dynamite was not invented until 1866!) and tosses it at a door.  Lopez and the other bandit then runaway past Mendoza and Bandit #1 who stands up and joins them.]

Mendoza
Santiago!  I'll get you for this!

[Exterior shot of the plaza where Santiago runs out of the cuartel gate and right into Zorro.  Zorro throws Santiago to his right.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel yard where Mendoza struggles to get free.]

[Exterior shot of the plaza where the rest of the bandits run past Zorro while he grabs Santiago and shakes him.]

Zorro
Where is Mendoza?

Santiago
He's as good as dead.

[Toronado comes up and blocks the path of two of the bandits.  Zorro punches Santiago then runs inside the cuartel.  Toronado crushes the two bandits up against a wall.  They slide down to the ground, unconscious.]

[Exterior shot of a stable as Toronado runs past it, whinnying loudly.]

[Exterior shot of de Soto's office as Sepulveda walks up to it.  He sees Toronado then runs over to the front door of the office and goes inside.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel yard as Mendoza sits on the ground, looking worried as he struggles to get free.]

[Closeup shot of the fuse as it burns closer to three bundles of dynamite sticks.]

[Interior shot of the cuartel jail as de Soto sits in a cell, half asleep, as Sepulveda opens the open and comes inside the jail.]

Sepulveda
Alcalde!  Zorro's in the yard!

[De Soto jumps up out of his chair.]

[Closeup shot of the basket of blackberries as its string is yanked and the berries spill out onto the ground.]

[Interior shot of the cuartel jail.]

de Soto [tangled up in the string]
Oh! Oh!  The string!

Sepulveda [grabbing at the string]
Here, here. . .  Let me get it.

[Closeup shot of the basket of blackberries as more berries are spilled out of it.]

[Interior shot of the cuartel jail as de Soto and Sepulveda struggle to untangle the string from de Soto's wrist.]

de Soto [waving his arms in the air]
Get away from me, Corporal!

[De Soto yanks off the string then runs over and opens a door leading outside.  Sepulveda follows him.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel yard where Mendoza still sits on the ground, still struggling to get free.  Zorro runs up to him.]

Zorro [crouching down and taking out his dagger]
We've got to get you out of here!

[He slices the ropes around Mendoza's ankles then stands Mendoza up then cuts the ropes on his wrists.  Mendoza then tries to take the dagger from Zorro and they struggle for a moment.]

Zorro
You'll thank me for this later.

[He punches Mendoza in the face.  Mendoza falls forward and Zorro catches him, putting him over his shoulder.  Zorro then runs out of the cuartel yard, carrying Mendoza.  De Soto comes up behind Zorro and Mendoza as Zorro runs through the gate.]

de Soto
Lancers!  Zorro! [He points at Zorro who stops and turns around to face him.] You think returning Mendoza's body will save you from the gallows? [He draws out his sword.] Seize him!

[Two lancers run up to Zorro who swings Mendoza's feet around and knocks down the lancers.  He spins around and de Soto is also knocked down by Mendoza's feet.  Zorro runs off with Mendoza as de Soto get  to his feet and looks over where the fuse is about to reach the sticks of dynamite.]

de Soto
No!

[Exterior shot of the plaza where Zorro sits Mendoza up against the wall of a building.]

Zorro
You'll be safe here, amigo.

[He runs off to his right.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel yard as de Soto runs toward the gate.  The armoury explodes.]

de Soto [falling face down on the ground]
Aah!

[De Soto and several lancers get covered by dust and debris from the explosion.]

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

[Exterior shot of the cuartel gate as several lancers, followed by de Soto, walk through it and into the cuartel yard.  Santiago and the other bandits are being taken inside as well.]

[Exterior shot of the tavern where Victoria slaps both of her hands on the sides of Mendoza's face.  He opens his eyes groggily.]

Victoria [a bit sarcastically]
So you're back, huh?

Mendoza [smiling]
Back? [He then looks confused.] I'm here and I'm very hungry, Señorita.

[He smiles at her again.]

Victoria
Well, eat this, you crook.

[She slaps him hard on the left cheek.  Mendoza gets to his feet, staring incredulously at Victoria.  Zorro rides up then on Toronado.]

Zorro
No doubt you're hungry, Sergeant.  You've been a very busy man.

Mendoza
Not really.  I was just having a little siesta and dreaming of these gorgeous tamales.

Zorro
You don't remember anything about those men who captured you?

[Mendoza starts to say something but Victoria interrupts.]

Victoria
And what about stealing my money?  Do you remember that?

Mendoza [indignantly]
Why would I steal your money?  I am a sergeant in the Royal Brigade.

Victoria [looking over at Zorro as Mendoza touches his hand to his left cheek and grimaces]
He really doesn't remember anything.

[She looks back over at Mendoza.]

Mendoza
I only remember those marvelous tamales.

Victoria
Well, in that case, come into the tavern and I will make that dream come true.

Zorro
Dreams can come true, can't they?

Victoria [looking at Zorro again]
With hard work and lots of faith, I know they can.

Zorro
Indeed they do. [He salutes Mendoza.] Glad to have you back, Sergeant.

[Mendoza salutes back as Zorro rides away.  He rides through the plaza then comes to a halt outside the cuartel gate.  De Soto and the lancers turn around and see him.]

Voices
It's Zorro!  Zorro!

de Soto [running up to the gate]
Kidnapping, attempted murder, mayhem. . .  You truly are an enemy of the people.

Zorro [pointing at the bandits]
Those are the men you want, Alcalde, and if you truly care about the people of this pueblo, you'll pay more attention to their welfare and less to your craving for blackberries.

de Soto
It was you.  You stole my blackberries.

Zorro [chuckling incredulously]
I assure you, Alcalde, I only hunger for justice. [He glances over his right shoulder at Sepulveda, who is holding the basket of blackberries and shoving handfuls of berries into his mouth.] Obviously your men don't share my appetite.

[He salutes then rides away.  De Soto turns and walks over to Sepulveda who is still eating the berries.]

de Soto [breathing angrily]
Sepulveda. . .  It was you!

Sepulveda [lowering the basket and looking guilty]
Uh. . .

[Exterior shot of the plaza as Zorro rides Toronado through the pueblo while people clap and cheer.  Zorro waves as Toronado rears and whinnies.  Then they ride through the pueblo gate and into the countryside.]

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

Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland   27 & 30 July 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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