Written by Tom Sawyer

Directed by Robert L McCullough

First US Airdate 1 December 1991 Episode 3.11
 

[A military wagon is going down the road, flanked by soldiers on horseback.  Mendoza is seated on the wagon with the driver, Corporal Perez.]

Perez
The men are tired, Sergeant.  Can we stop and rest?

Mendoza
I would to stop.  My stomach is caving in.  We are all tired.

Perez
But me, Perez. . . I am the best.

Mendoza
Correna was sighted on this road  two days ago.  Personally I would rather feel a little hunger than two feet of Correna's steel.  We'll keep moving on.

[He turns around to shout at the soldiers behind the wagon.]

Mendoza
Tighten it up back there.  I don't want to hear anymore grumbling.

[Whooping riders come rushing down the hillside as the wagon passes by.  Shots are fired at the wagon, one nearly missing Mendoza.]

Mendoza [ducking down]
Madre de Dios!

Soldier
There they are!

Another Soldier
Watch out!  He's got a rifle!

Yet Another Soldier
Cover me!

[The riders surrounded the wagon, firing pistols and swinging their swords.  Mendoza draws out his own sword and jumps down from the wagon seat.

Mendoza
Protect the wagon!

[He runs to the side of the wagon while Perez crouches down by the horses.  One of the riders knocks a barrel of gunpowder from the wagon, then comes upon Mendoza, striking him in the arm with his sword.  Mendoza clutches his injured arm and kneels down in pain.  Another rider cuts the ropes attaching the horses to the wagon then swats the animals on their rears.  The horses run away, leaving Perez exposed.  He goes to hide behind a rock.  Another solider tackles a rider and knocks him off his horse.]

Rider [with a bandanna covering the lower half of his face]
This is one shipment of ammunition that will not be used against the people!

[Mendoza runs away from the wagon and grabs a rifle lying on the ground.]

Masked Rider
Down with Spain!  Free Mexico!

[Mendoza takes aim and shots the man in the torso.]

Masked Rider [doubling over on his horse in pain]
Viva la Revolucion!

[Another rider throws a flaming torch at keg of spilled gunpowder.]

Mendoza [getting up and running as the men ride away]
Run for your life!   Take cover, men!  Fast!

[The soldiers all run after the riders.  Zorro comes up over the hill and brings Toronado to a halt just as the wagon blows up.  The debris from the explosion falls on the soldiers who have taken cover behind some rocks.  Zorro rides down the hill.]

Soldiers [as the debris hits them]
Argh! Oh!

Mendoza [spotting Zorro]
Zorro, they've gone!

[Zorro keeps riding toward the soldiers.]

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

[People are passing under the gate leading into the pueblo. They are being stopped by soldiers who search their belongings, carts, wagons.

Soldier [stopping a man]
Papers, please.  Señor.  Your travel papers. [The man hands him the papers.] Yes. [The soldiers goes on to the next man.] Your papers, please.

[Mendoza, with his arm in a sling, is nailing up a wanted poster of Joaquin Correna on a post on the tavern porch as another soldier holds it up from him.  Diego walks up to them and reads the poster.]

Diego
Five thousand pesos, Sergeant?

Mendoza
Ah, not enough. [He turns to look at Diego.]

Diego [smiling a little]
That's almost as much as the price on Zorro's head.

Mendoza [groaning as he points at his arm with his hammer]
Joaquin Correna put my arm in this sling.  If it weren't for Zorro, I would have bled to death.

Victoria [coming out on the porch carrying a tray with a pitcher and several glasses on it]
Well, if Joaquin Correna is in California, we may soon be independent from Spanish rule.

Mendoza
You sound like your support Correna, Señorita.

Victoria [on her high horse]
I support any resistance that opposes the tyranny of men, Sergeant.

[Mendoza starts to say to her but is distracted by a noise coming from the gate.  It is the sound of calliope music as a circus wagon with a sign that reads "The Circus Rodriguez, Daring Acrobats Clowns & Magic" painted on it side pulls up to the entrance of the pueblo.  Diego and Victoria turn away and go inside the tavern.  Mendoza and another soldier walk over to the gate where the wagon is stopped.]

Soldier
May we have your travel papers, please, Señor?

Circus Wagon Passenger
And why should I have to show you my papers?

Mendoza
Ah, the circus.  I love the circus.  What is the problem, Señor?

Passenger
This man won't let us go into the pueblo with these papers. . .

Mendoza [cutting in]
Well, Joaquin Correna has been seen in the area.  We must question all fellow travelers passing. .

[He stops speaking when a beautiful woman emerges from the back of the wagon and smiles at him.]

Mendoza [gulping as he stares at the woman]
However, in this case, I can make an exception for honest circus folk like yourselves.

Woman
You're very kind, Sergeant.

Mendoza
Jaime Mendoza, at your service.

[He takes off his hat.]

Woman
Call me Zafira.  Perhaps you'd like to attend our performance this evening. [She reaches down her blouse and pulls out at ticket.] As my guest.

[Mendoza's mouth falls open as she leans down and hands him the ticket.]

Mendoza
I. . .I. . .I would be honored.  Ever since I was a small boy, I dreamt of running away and joining the circus.

Zafira
Well, it's never too late to listen to your dreams.  You'd make a wonderful strong man.

Mendoza [grinning like a fool]
Well. . .

[A clanging sound and a groan come from the back of the wagon.  Mendoza looks alarmed.]

Mendoza
What was that?

Zafira
Our trampoline artist, Señor Alevar.

Circus Man
Oh, stinking drunk again.  I have to sober him up for tonight's show.

[He touches the driver on the shoulder.]

Circus Man
Vamanos!

[The wagon moves forward as Mendoza steps out of the way.]

[Exterior shot of the tavern at night.  Applause is coming from inside along with circus music.  The man from the wagon is dressed as clown as he struggles with a handful of knives.  Picking one, he aims it at Mendoza who is standing in front of a board.  The knife barely missed Mendoza's left ear as Victoria and Felipe watch in amazement.  The clown throws another knife that hits near Mendoza's right ear.]

Mendoza [under his breath]
Who talked me into this? [The clown throws another knife that lands near Mendoza's left arm.] Watch out for the good arm, please.

[The last knife the clown throws lands just above Mendoza's head.  The audience members applauds as the clown takes a bow.]

Clown
Muchas gracias. [He walks over to Mendoza, who is now laughing.] Thank you, Sergeant.

[He leads Mendoza to his seat next to Diego, who pats Mendoza on the back.]

Clown
And now it gives me great pleasure to introduce. . .

[Inside the kitchen, Zafira is buttoning up a shirt for a man who is breathing heavily.]

Clown [voice-over]
Direct from a world tour in which he dazzled the crown heads of Europe and the Orient.

[The man in the kitchen kisses Zafira's hand.]

Clown [voice-over]
The premier acrobat of the universe, the sensational, stunning, superb, spectacular. . .

[The man walks to the curtains and waits until the end of his introduction.]

Clown
Senor Alevar!

[Alevar bursts through the curtains with a flourish, waving his arm in the air before taking a bow.  He nearly falls forward as the crowd claps.  He goes over to a corner where his trampoline is set up.  He gets on it and starts to bounce up and down.  Putting his arms out, he jumps higher, then grabs his side.  Repeating the move, this time he doubles over and stumbles off the trampoline.  The clown catches him before he falls to the ground.]

Clown [dragging Alevar from the room]
No problem, no problem.  We'll be right back.  No problem.

[Members of the audience are concerned by the acrobat's collapse.  Mendoza taps Diego on the arm.]

Mendoza
Poor fellow, he drinks.

Diego
Yes, it does take its toll.

Mendoza
You haven't seen anything yet. Wait until you see this woman, she is magnificent.  It is a shame that Don Alejandro is out of town.

[The clown runs back out from the kitchen.]

Clown
And the show will go on.  Ladies and gentleman, for your delight, to mystify you with feats of magic, the incomparable, the enchanting Señorita Zafira!

[A cloud of smoke suddenly appears and Zafira walks out of it, waving her arm.  She holds a red cloth in her other hand and waves it up an down several times before tossing it in the air.  It turns into a cane.]

Mendoza [to Diego]
I told you.  She is magnificent.

[Diego gets a strange look on his face as he stops clapping.]

[Back on stage, Zafira puts down the cane and picks up a piece of rope.  She runs her fingers down its length and it droops downward.  She runs her fingers over it again and it stay straight when she holds it from one end and then the other.  Holding it in the middle, she puts her other hand over it, then both ends of the rope droop down. She turns to put it down with the cane as Diego stares as her and flashes back in time.]

[Diego is lying under a tree, reading a book.  Other young people are frolicking about.]

Zafira
Diego!  Diego!

[A young Zafira rushes up to Diego who gets to his feet. She throws her arms around him.]

Zafira
Yes!

Diego
Yes?

[He kisses her.]

Zafira
Absolutely and positively yes.

Diego
As soon as I graduate, we'll sail back to California and get married.

Zafira
But why must we wait?  I just want to be your wife, Diego.  Now.

Diego
You know the church at Colmenar? [Zafira nods]  I'll speak to the priest this afternoon.  Meet me there at sundown.  We'll get married today.  Yes?

Zafira [nodding]
Yes.

[Diego kisses her again.]

[Loud applauding brings Diego back to the present.  He watches as Zafira lights a bowl on fire then carries it so the audience can see.  She waves it up and down a couple of times and the fire extinguishes, turning into paper flowers.  The clown helps Zafira down off the stage and she walks up to Mendoza, intending to give him the bowl of flowers.  She puts her hand up to his ear and pulls out a bouquet of flowers.  Then she notices Diego sitting beside him and holds the flowers out to him.  Victoria looks on jealously.]

Zafira
Hello again, Diego.

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

[Exterior shot of the tavern at night.  Diego and Zafira are sitting across from each other at a table.]

Diego
So as we agreed, I made the arrangements with the priest in Colmenar.  He was kind, very understanding.  He counseled patience.

[A young Diego is shown walking and talking with a priest.  The priest shakes Diego's hand.]

Diego [voice-over]
I guess he could see my growing anxiety.  And so I waited, thinking only of you, making plans for our future, planning our family.

[Young Diego is seen sitting on a bench, holding a stick.]

Diego [voice-over]
I was so eager to share my dreams, my very life with you.

[A flashback to the earlier scene where Zafira meets with Diego under the tree.]

Zafira
Diego!  Yes!

Diego
Yes?  As soon as I graduate, we'll sail back to California and get married.

Zafira
But why must we wait?  I just want to be your wife, Diego.  Now.

[Back to Young Diego sitting on the bench at the church in Colmenar.]

Diego [voice-over]
And so I sat and waited for you, Zafira, I felt. . . confused [He draws a ‘Z' in the dirt at his feet with his stick.] Going over your every word in my mind.  I knew that we shared a promise, a devotion.  Then I realized you weren't going to come at all.  I was utterly heartbroken.

Zafira [reaching out across the table and taking Diego's hand]
Diego, I was on my way to meet you at the church, I swear.

Diego
Then what stopped you?

Zafira
My brother.  He had joined the rebellion, you knew that. [Diego nods.] That very afternoon I was told he'd been wounded.  He was dying.  He and his group were hiding out at a monastery in Segovia.  I left a message for you at your quarters.

Diego
I never got it.

Zafira
I looked after Ricardo for two weeks.  But he died.

Diego
I'm sorry to hear that.

[Victoria saunters over to their table.]

Zafira
Segovia fell under siege.  I couldn't get back to you.

[Diego looks up at Victoria, who picks up the empty glasses on their table.]

Zafira [not noticing Victoria]
By the time I returned to Madrid, you had left before you had even graduated.

[Victoria turns from them and walks away.]

Zafira
I though you had changed your mind.

Diego
No.  My father had written to me, asking me to return to California at once.

Zafira
Sometimes fate plays tricks.

Diego
Yes.

[The clown, with his makeup half off, rushes over to their table.]

Clown [to Zafira]
It's Alevar.  You'd better come.

Diego
Perhaps Doctor Hernandez should take a look at him.

Zafira [getting to her feet]
No, I can take care of this.  I'm used to it.  Buenos noches, Diego.

[Zafira and the clown hurry away.  Victoria watches them go before bringing a glass of juice and setting it in front of Diego.]

Victoria [smiling a bit smugly]
So Don Diego de la Vega has a past after all, hmm?

[Her expression changes when he doesn't answer her.]

[Exterior shot of the circus wagon at night.  Inside, ‘Alevar' is groaning with pain as Zafira and the clown look on.]

Clown
We must get you to a doctor!

‘Alevar'
No!  No doctors.  They will tell the authorities

Zafira
Diego de la Vega will help us.

‘Alevar'
He is no longer a naive young college student.  I do not want to put myself at his mercy.

Zafira
Diego would never betray me.

[‘Alevar' groans again in pain as the others look on helplessly.]

[Outside the cuartel, a whistling Mendoza carries a bouquet of flowers across the plaza to where the circus wagon is parked in front of the tavern.  He stops when he heard loud moans and voices coming from it.]

‘Alevar'
Ohh!

Clown
Have strength, amigo.  The cause need you now more than ever.

Zafira
It's not far to the de la Vega hacienda, Joaquin.  Rodriguez, hook up the horses.

[Mendoza heads for the tavern.  Inside he looks for his men.]

Mendoza [to Perez who is drinking and laughing at the bar.
Perez!  Vamanos!  We are going to the de la Vega hacienda.  That acrobat was no drunk, that was Joaquin Correna.

[Victoria overhears Mendoza's words to Perez.]

Mendoza
Come on!  We need to round up the men.

[He pushes Perez out the tavern door.  Victoria comes out from behind the bar and looks deep in thought for a moment before she unties her apron, tosses it on the bar, and goes into the kitchen.]

[Exterior shot of the de la Vega hacienda at night.  A knock sounds on the door.]

Diego [off camera]
Oh, no, there's nothing wrong, Felipe.  I just wish my father was here, that's all.

[He and Felipe go over to open the door.]

Diego [surprised]
Zafira!
 

Zafira comes through the door, followed Correna and the clown, now dressed in normal clothes.  The clown is partially carrying the obviously ill Correna into the room.  Diego reaches out to help hold him up.]

Zafira
Diego, this is Joaquin Correna.  My husband.

[Diego looks shocked at Zafira's announcement.]

[The soldiers ride their horses out of the cuartel.]

[Inside the hacienda, Diego is carrying a tray with medical supplies, followed by Zafira who is also carrying a tray.]

Zafira
I met Joaquin while I was trapped in Segovia.

Diego [over his shoulder]
You were looking after your brother?

Zafira
Yes, he was commander of the rebel battalion.  We spend four months together while the city was under siege.  I grew to love him and what he stood for.

[They come to the settee when the clown is holding Correna .  Diego kneels down as does Zafira and inspects Correna's wound.]

Correna
She's lying.  She didn't come back to you because I wouldn't let her.  She was too valuable to the revolution.

[More loud knocking is heard from the front door.]

Victoria [off camera]
Don Diego?

Diego [as the others are alarmed]
It's all right. [Felipe goes to let Victoria in.] Felipe, be careful.

Correna
You see, Señor, she married me because she was in love with the cause.  But I've always known that her heart belonged to someone else.

Victoria [running into the room, following Felipe]
Don Diego, Mendoza knows Correna's here and he's on his way with half the garrison.

Clown
We have to get out of here now!

Zafira
Help us, Diego, please, or they'll hang Joaquin.

Correna [to Zafira]
You can tell them I forced you to join us.  Stay with Señor de la Vega.  I know that you still love him.

[Diego turns away from attending Correna's wound to look at Zafira.]

Zafira
I do still love you.

[Diego looks away from her intense gaze and over at Victoria for a moment, then back to Zafira.]

Diego
Zafira, I'm no longer the man you once knew in Madrid.  There is someone else in my life.

[Zafira lowers her head, a hurt expression in her eyes.]

[Outside the hacienda, the soldiers arrive.]

Mendoza
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

[The soldiers bring their horses to a halt in front of the hacienda where they quickly dismounted.]

Mendoza
Cover the front. . .

[Victoria hears the commotion.]

Victoria
Mendoza's here.

Diego
There's a deserted farmhouse about a mile down the road.  You can hide there until morning.

[Diego and the clown help Correna to his feet as Victoria leads the way out of the room. Outside, Mendoza opens the gate, his sword draw.]

Mendoza
Hola!

[Inside everyone is heading toward the dining room.]

Diego
Quickly, out through the kitchen.  Victoria, show them the way.

Victoria
But what about you, Diego?

Diego
I'll delay the sergeant.

Mendoza [outside]
Come out, Correna.

Diego
Hurry!

Correna
I thank you, Señor.  You would make a fine addition to our ranks.

Diego
Like yourself, Señor Correna, I believe there are causes worth dying for.  I've yet to find one worth killing for. Go!

[Correna, the clown, and Victoria leave the room.  Zafira stays behind and Diego turns to look at her.]

Diego
Goodbye, Zafira.

[She hangs her head down as she walks around him, but looks up at him before she speaks.]

Zafira
Goodbye, Diego.

[Felipe walks up behind Diego, who is pensive for moment before he realizes Felipe is there.]

Diego
Quickly, Felipe, find some muskets.  Let's see how good a shot you are.

[Felipe rushes off, leaving Diego with his thoughts again.]

[Outside, Victoria is leading Correna and the others around the hacienda.  A soldier comes up behind them and fires a shot.  It alerts the other soldiers at the front of the hacienda.]

Victoria [ducking down]
Down.  This way.

Mendoza
This way, men!

[The soldiers follow Mendoza.  The first soldier fires again as Victoria and the others run away.  Zorro comes riding up to the hacienda, stopping the other soldiers in their tracks.]

Soldiers
It's Zorro!

Zorro [dismounting Toronado]
Fancy meeting you here.

Mendoza
Zorro, please.  Not now!  We are after Correna!

[Felipe peers over a rock as Zorro points in his direction.]

Zorro
But his men have you surrounded.

Mendoza
I don't see anyone!

[Felipe fires several times, nearly hitting the soldiers but not quite.]

Soldiers [as the shots are being fired]
Oh!  Oh1

Zorro
If I were you, I'd throw down your guns.

Mendoza
If you support the revolution, I am forced to place you under arrest.

Zorro
Sergeant, I assure you I never meddle in politics.  But I do enjoy a good swordfight.

[He lunges at the soldiers, taking them on one at a time.  He drives them backwards with his saber and with well-placed kicks.]

Mendoza
Perez, you take care of Zorro.  I'll go after Correna.

[The fighting continues as Mendoza takes about four men and goes off after Correna.  They turn a corner where they are confronted by Toronado.]

Mendoza
Whoa!

[Toronado rears up, driving the soldiers back.]

[Zorro picks up a barrel.]

Zorro
Having fun yet, Perez?

[He smashes the barrel down over Perez's head.]

Zorro
I am.

[He then carves a ‘Z' into the barrel.  Zorro then whistles and Toronado trots over to him.  He swings up onto the horse's back and rides off.  Perez dances around still underneath the barrel.]

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

[Diego is entering the tavern the next day, followed by Mendoza.]

Diego [to Victoria]
Buenas dias, Señorita.

Victoria
And to you, Don Diego.  Any news of Correna, Sergeant?

Mendoza
Oh, I'm afraid not.  He's probably far away by now.

Victoria [cutting something up into little pieces]
Oh, he'll be back to plague you.  You can be sure of that.

[She glances up at Diego before returning to her dicing.]

Mendoza
It's about time for our lunch, Don Diego.

Diego
I'll meet you at the table.

[Mendoza goes off to their table while Diego turns his attention to Victoria.]

Diego [a bit worriedly]
They got away safely?

Victoria [nodding]
Mendoza told me that Zorro tied you and Felipe up.

Diego [smiling]
Zorro made a good alibi.

Victoria
I see.  I knew it didn't sound like Zorro.

[She looks down at the plate she is cutting up something on then back up at Diego.]

Victoria
So, who is she?

Diego
I beg your pardon?

Victoria
You told Zafira that there was someone else in your life.  Who is it?

Diego
It doesn't really matter.  The fact is. . .uh. . .she's in love with another man.

Victoria
What a shame.  Perhaps you should tell her one day.

Diego
Oh, I will.  One day.  Uh, you were very brave to help Correna last night.

Victoria [stabbing the diced pieces of substance with her knife]
Well I just hate to see a man of justice inside the Alcalde's jail.

Mendoza [ groaning from his table]
Don Diego, I'm hungry.

Diego [over his shoulder at Mendoza]
I'll be right there, Sergeant. [Turning his attention back to Victoria] That would include, I presume, a man like Zorro.

Victoria
Oh, especially Zorro.  Not only would I help Zorro escape, I would do anything for him.

Diego [holding out his hand to stop her]
Please, um, spare me the details.

[He takes the plates of food and carries them over to where Mendoza is sitting.  He sits down as Mendoza shakes out his napkin.]

Mendoza
Ah, Don Diego.  The circus will never be the same for me for me again.

Diego
Yes, Sergeant.  I know how you feel.

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

Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland 9 June 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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