Written by Robert L McCullough
Directed by Ray Austin

First US Airdate: 25 May 1990 Episode 1.25

[Exterior shot of the pueblo.  A soldier rides his horse from a side street and into the plaza which is bustling with people.]

[Exterior shot of the tavern.]

[Inside the tavern, Diego and Mendoza are playing cards (poker?).]

Mendoza [looking at his cards]
Well, you have finally met your match, Don Diego.

Diego [somewhat sarcastically]
Yes, I can see you know this game very well, Sergeant.

Mendoza
Well, you do pick up a few tricks in the barracks.

Diego [laying down his cards]
Then I suppose this is just beginner's luck?

[Diego's hand is four queens which beats Mendoza's full house.]

Mendoza
B. .  B. . .But I had a perfect hand.

Diego
You're a very good teacher. [He pats Mendoza on the shoulder.] Why don't you let me buy you a nice lunch?

[Diego stands up and walks away.]

Mendoza [nodding]
That would be a good idea

[Diego walks over to the bar behind which Victoria is standing. She gives him a strange look as he leans against the bar.  Mendoza comes over to the bar then.]

Mendoza [grinning]
Señorita Escalante, what are they serving for lunch today?

Victoria [a bit angrily]
The kitchen is closed.  I had to dismiss the cook in order to pay for the Alcalde's new bed tax.  You have your commandante to thank for you empty belly.

Mendoza [taken aback by her outburst]
Well. . . the Alcalde can be a bit aggressive.  Look on the bright side. . .

Victoria
Mendoza, there is no bright side to oppression.

[Diego gives her an admiringly look.]

Mendoza
Yes, true, but. . . it is nice and quiet around here with the garrison away on maneuvers.

Victoria
Maneuvers?  That is nothing more than an excuse for the Alcalde to take the ‘summer air' in Monterey.

[Diego tries to hide a smile.]

Mendoza
Well, the Alcalde is better than Colonel Palomarez.  Is he not?

Diego [glancing over at Mendoza]
That's not saying so much, Sergeant.

Victoria
Sergeant Mendoza, please do not mention that name again in my tavern.  I would rather die than submit to his rule.

[She slams shut a ledger that was on the bar in front of her.]

Palomarez [off camera]
Is that so, Señorita?

[Everyone turns to see Palomarez standing in the tavern door with his troop of soldiers behind him.]

Palomarez
Death, you see, is easily arranged.

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

Palomarez [walking into the tavern as he talks]
I've just returned from Madrid.  The king was quite upset to hear of the continued popular support for the renegade Zorro.

Victoria
Maybe he'd like to hear how upset we are by the way we are treated.

Palomarez
That is precisely the traitorous attitude that has forced the king to reconsider all colonial property rights.

Diego
Forgive me, Colonel, but the king has already issued a number of land grants over the years. . .

Palomarez
They're all rescinded.  Null and void.  As if they never existed.

[He pulls out a piece of parchment from inside his jacket.]

Palomarez
This is a new land grant, overriding all others.

[He hands the grant over to Diego.]

Diego [reading from the grant]
So all property in the territory belongs. . .[He looks up at Palomarez.] You.

[Palomarez smiles smugly.]

Victoria
But that can't be legal!

Diego [holding up the grant]
It bears the king's signature.

[Palomarez walks by and takes the grant from Diego.  He goes over to confront Mendoza.]

Palomarez
Where is the Alcalde?

Mendoza [nervously]
In Monterey on maneuvers.  Very official military. . .matters.

Palomarez
Then bring me the acting commandant.

Mendoza [adjusting his open jacket]
That is me.

Palomarez [sneering as Mendoza buttons up his jacket]
The incompetence is incredible.  Very well, Sergeant, inform the local populace they have forty-eight hours to either evacuate the territory or become subject to my rule.

Mendoza
Forty-eight hours?  But this is not enough time to. . .

Palomarez
Perhaps you would rather face the gallows once again?

Mendoza
No, Sir.  I mean, yes, Sir.  Right away, Sir.

[He runs out of the tavern.  Palomarez walks by Diego again.]

Diego
I suppose you and your men will be stationed at the cuartel.

Palomarez
My men, yes.  For myself, I have something a little bit, shall we say, nicer in mind.

[He grins evilly.]

[Exterior shot of the de la Vega hacienda.]

[Inside the hacienda, Palomarez's men are setting down several trunks in the foyer as Palomarez, Don Alejandro, Diego, and Felipe watch.]

Don Alejandro [very angry]
I am Don Alejandro Sebastian de la Vega.  I was born here.  My son was born here.  My father and his father set the first stones for this hacienda.  You can't throw me out of my own house!

[Diego nudges Felipe, then jerks his head toward him.  Felipe slowly sneaks away.]

Don Alejandro
How do we even know the signature on this new land grant is authentic?

Diego [looking over Don Alejandro's shoulder at the grant]
It certainly appears to be.

Palomarez
Trust me, Señor de la Vega, it is quite genuine.

Don Alejandro
Can you prove it?

Palomarez
Perhaps you don't understand.  I now own the land beneath your feet.  I don't have to prove anything to you.

Don Alejandro
You'll have a revolution on your hands.  Hundreds of people will take up arms against you.

Palomarez
Then we'll have hundreds of executions.

Don Alejandro
If you do, the only thing you'll have left is land, worthless land.  Without people, you'll have nothing.  Come, Diego.

[He starts to walk out of the hacienda and Diego follows.]

Palomarez
Don Alejandro!  Wait!

[Don Alejandro and Diego stop in front of the door and turn around to face Palomarez.]

Palomarez
Suppose. . .  Suppose you are right.  What would I have to do to win the trust of the people?

Don Alejandro [walking back toward Palomarez]
I'll tell you what you have to do.  Let them judge the authenticity of this document.  If it proves to be authentic, then you stand on firm legal ground.

Palomarez
You're suggesting a public forum?

Don Alejandro [pointing with his index finger]
With an impartial judge to study the document.

Diego
But that would require someone with no property interest at all, nothing at stake.  And the territorial magistrate is in San Francisco now.

Don Alejandro
I think I know just the man.

Mendoza [in the tavern]
Me?  Why me?

Don Alejandro
Because you neither own property nor pay any rent.

Mendoza
But Señores, I'm not an expert on such things as land grants.

Don Alejandro
But you do know the king's signature, don't you?

Mendoza
Oh, si.  It's on the garrison commission that hangs above the Alcalde's desk and the king's signature is right on the bottom.

Don Alejandro [crossing his arms over his chest]
Good.  Then that's settled.

Diego [patting Don Alejandro and Mendoza on their backs]
Well, I'll see you both in the morning.

[He walks away.]

Don Alejandro
It's a bit early, isn't it, Diego?

Diego [pausing on the stairs]
Yes, but it's been a rather trying day and I do want to be up in time for the sergeant's ruling.

[Don Alejandro looks with a disgusted expression as Diego walks up the stairs.]

[Diego goes into one of the rooms and closes the door, revealing Felipe who was standing behind it, wearing Zorro's hat.]

Diego
Did anyone see you come in?

[Felipe shakes his head then strokes his chin and points to his right.]

Diego
There's a stranger at the hacienda? [Diego flips the hat off Felipe's head.] We'd better hurry.

[Diego takes off his jacket and starts to unbutton his shirt cuffs as Felipe hands him Zorro's clothing.]

[Zorro and Toronado approach the back entrance of the secret cave.  The tree blocking its opening swings out and Zorro and Toronado enter.  Felipe runs in on foot behind them.]

[Inside the hacienda, Palomarez picks up two glasses of wine and hands one to the stranger Felipe saw.]

Man [lifting his glass]
To Britain.

Palomarez [raising his glass too]
May the sun never set on her glory.

Man
When we control these western Pacific ports, it never will.

[He then takes a drink.]

Palomarez
It's only a question of money, Señor.

[Palomarez turns around and picks up a wooden box.]

Man
Ah, my government wants no difficulty with the local population.

Palomarez [opening the box]
I have a new land grant signed by the king which I am prepared to sell to you with the full support of my people.

[Shot of an eye looking through the viewing hole in the library bookcase.]

[Zorro is in the cave, looking through the hole.]

Palomarez [holding up the grant]
Señor Bickell.  Shall we discuss terms?

[He points to his right with the grant then walks away.  Bickell watches him a bit suspiciously before following him.]

Zorro [turning away from the viewing hole and to Felipe]
He's trying to sell our pueblo to the British.

Bickell [walking into the de la Vega dining room, carrying his glass of wine]
What about this Zorro, the fox?

[He stops in front of Palomarez.]

Palomarez [sneering]
Zorro.  He's nothing.  If he shows his face to me this time, he's a dead man.

Bickell
You sound rather confident.

Palomarez [opening another box]
A deadly poison, used by an obscure tribe of South American headhunters.

[He holds up a brown vial then draws out his sword.]

Palomarez [as he dips the point of his sword into the vial]
A single scratch will mean slow, agonizing death.

[He holds up the point of his sword for Bickell to see.]

[A bell rings off in the distance.]

Palomarez [putting away the sword and the vial]
Ah, dinner is served, Señor Bickell.  Shall we dine on the terrace?

[He leads Bickell out of the room.]

[Zorro is in the secret cave, still looking through the viewing hole.]

Zorro
I've got to get a better look at that land grant.

[He turns and walks out of the cave.]

[Zorro emerges from the fireplace and into the library.  He walks across the foyer and into the dining room.  He opens the box containing the land grant, takes it out and goes back through the fireplace panel.]

[A close-up shot of the seal on the land grant.]

Zorro [off camera]
The forgery is brilliant.

[He is studying the grant with a magnifying glass.]

Zorro
The king himself would be deceived.

[Felipe nods toward the grant.]

Zorro
No, it can't be authentic.  The parchment is much too porous.  It's made from a tropical papyrus which would only be found in South America.

[Felipe nods then points toward the hacienda.]

Zorro
Yes, you're right.  I must return this so Colonel Palomarez can have his day in court.

[He walks over to a bureau and picks up his hat.  Then he goes over and looks out the viewing hole before exiting the cave.]

[Crickets chirp as Zorro emerges from the fireplace once again.  He walks back over to the wooden box and opens it, placing the grant back inside.]

Palomarez [coming up behind Zorro and whispering]
Zorro.

[He moves quietly up behind Zorro and grabs the sword with the poisoned end.  He slashes at Zorro's left shoulder.  Zorro turns around to look at Palomarez in surprise.]

Palomarez [grinning evilly]
You've been poisoned.

[Zorro touches his injured shoulder as Palomarez laughs wickedly, holding up the vial of poison.  Zorro slowly unsheathes his saber.

Palomarez
You will be dead within twenty-four hours.

[Zorro hits Palomarez's hand holding the vial with his saber, causing the vial to fly up in the air.  Zorro catches it, then turns and jumps through a closed window, shattering its glass.]

Palomarez [as Bickell stares in astonishment]
You're a dead man!

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

[Zorro comes through the back exit tunnel, removing his hat as he walks.]

Zorro [to Felipe who rushes over]
Were you watching?

[He sets down his hat then pats Felipe's shoulder as he and Felipe walk over to the laboratory table.]

Zorro [holding up the brown vial]
It appears to have natural origins. [He uncorks the vial and brings it up to his nose, sniffing it.] Possibly a refined snake venom.

[He re-corks the vial.  Felipe points to Zorro's left shoulder.]

Zorro [leaning against the table and holding his shoulder]
Yes, I know, it's already inflamed.

[He then sits down.]

Zorro
But even the strongest poison has to have an antidote.

[Felipe shakes his head hopelessly.]

Zorro
Exactly.  It would take months to research all possibilities.  By then, I'll surely be dead.

[Felipe nods his head sadly.  Zorro picks up a quill and studies it.  He puts his finger on its tip.]

Zorro
Actually quite sharp, isn't it?

[Felipe gives him a confused look.]

Zorro [grabbing Felipe's arm]
Go down to the river and select a strong, straight thistle reed.

[Felipe shakes his head, still confused.]

Zorro
Because Felipe, we're going to get Colonel Palomarez himself to lead me to the antidote.  Now, it's nearly sunrise.  I must get back to the tavern before my father misses me.  Hurry.

[He pats Felipe's arm then Felipe runs off to do as Zorro asked.  Zorro stares at the quill then picks up the vial of poison.]

[Exterior shot of the tavern as a rooster crows.]

[Victoria comes out of the kitchen carrying a tray holding a teapot and several cups and saucers.  She walks across the room then stops when she sees Diego coming down the stairs.]

Victoria [looking up at Diego]
Don Diego!  This is awfully early for you, isn't it?

[She sets the tray on a table.]

Diego [holding on to the railing as he unsteadily walks down the stairs]
Couldn't sleep.  I guess I'm a bit worried about the hearing.

Victoria
Yes.

[Diego sits down at the table as Victoria indicates the tray.]

Victoria
Coffee?

Diego
Oh, please.  Maybe that's what I need.

[Victoria pours a cup of coffee and hands it to Diego.]

Diego
Thank you.

[His hands are unsteady and he spills the coffee on the table and the tray.]

Diego
I'm sorry.  I'm sorry.

Victoria [looking at him oddly]
That's all right.  I'll get something to clean it.

[She goes to the kitchen as Diego takes out his handkerchief to wipe his hands.   Felipe comes running into the tavern then.]

Diego
Did you find one?

[Felipe pulls a reed out of his shirt sleeve and holds it out for Diego to see.]

Diego
Perfect.

[Diego leans over and takes a deep breath as Felipe looks at him with concern.]

Diego [reaching into his jacket]
Look how sharp I made the quill.

{He pulls the much smaller and sharper quill feather out of his jacket and holds it up.  Diego then gets hit by a dizzy spell.  Felipe puts his hand on Diego's shoulder and bends over to see if he is all right.]

Diego [holding his head down]
It's all right.  The dizziness comes and goes.  Come and learn the proper technique for hitting a target.

[Felipe helps Diego get to his feet then goes ahead of Diego up the stairs and into the room. Another dizzy spell hits Diego as he reaches the top of the stairs.  He goes into the room after he recovers.]

[Victoria comes back out of the kitchen and looks upstairs in time to see Diego going back into his room.  She shakes her head and smiles.]

Victoria
I should have known.  He went back upstairs for more beauty sleep.

[She giggles as she shakes her head again then starts to clean up the coffee Diego spilled.]

[Later the day, the main room of the tavern is filled with people.  Mendoza stands behind a table with three of Palomarez's men standing behind him.  Palomarez sits at Mendoza's right with the box containing the land grant on the table in front of him.]

Mendoza
. . .and I will judge the document's legal authority.

[Palomarez places the box in front of Mendoza who bends down to look at Palomarez.]

Mendoza
Not that there is any doubt, of course.

[He lowers his voice and speaks to Palomarez.]

Mendoza
What do I do now?

Palomarez [out of the side of his mouth]
Examine the document.

[He points to the box..  Mendoza opens it, takes out the land grant and unrolls it.  He looks at it then flips it over and looks at its back.  He turns it right-side up again.]

Mendoza [as Palomarez grins evilly]
This is a transfer of deed, granting complete control of the territory to Colonel Palomarez.

Victoria [standing near Don Alejandro and Diego]
Are you sure, Sergeant?

[Mendoza holds up the document as he looks over at her.]

Diego [holding onto a pillar]
Excuse me, Sergeant. . .

Don Alejandro [grabbing Diego's arm]
Careful, Son.

Diego [looking at Don Alejandro]
I may have no skill with a sword but I do know fraud when I see it. [He turns back to look at Mendoza.]  Could you hold the document up to the light please?

[Mendoza looks confused but holds the grant up toward a window or open door to his left.]

Mendoza
It still looks like the king's signature.

Diego [as he starts walking across the room toward Mendoza]
As it should.  Enrique Rodero is very good at his trade.

Mendoza
Enrique Rodero?  Who is that?

Diego
A brilliant man who left Spain to embark on a career as a forger and a counterfeiter.

[Mendoza glances over at Palomarez who is glaring at Diego.]

Diego
He now resides in a Brazilian prison.

Palomarez [angrily as his eyes never leave Diego]
There's absolutely no evidence of forgery here.

Diego [putting a hand to his forehead as another dizzy spell hits]
Perhaps he has had a recent visitor.  Someone who claims to have returned to Spain but who in fact went to Brazil instead.

Palomarez [getting to his feet]
This is absurd! [to Mendoza] Make your ruling!

Mendoza [still holding the grant and speaking a bit nervously]
It certainly looks like the king's signature.

Diego
Look at the watermark.

[He then walks back across the room.]

Mendoza
Wh. . .What's that?

Diego
Every royal document bears the king's watermark.

[He stops and stands by Don Alejandro again.

Diego
It's in the parchment.  Read it please.

[Mendoza opens up the parchment and finds the watermark.]

Mendoza [staring at the watermark then looking over at Diego]
I'm sorry, I only read Spanish.  This is in Portuguese.

Diego
Yes.  Which is the native tongue of Brazil, I believe.

[He is then hit by another dizzy spell.  Don Alejandro grabs Diego's arm as he nearly falls over.]

Don Alejandro [worriedly]
Are you all right, Son?

Diego [holding up his hand]
Yes, yes.  I'm fine.

Mendoza
I don't understand.  How can a parchment from South America bear our king's signature?

Don Alejandro [stepping forward]
That's just the point, Sergeant.  It can't

[Palomarez draws out his sword then points it at Mendoza's throat.]

Palomarez
Make the ruling, Sergeant.

Victoria
That document is a fake and so are you!

Palomarez [glancing over his shoulder at Victoria]
That's enough.  We've all agreed to abide by your official ruling, Sergeant.

[Felipe looks out between the kitchen curtains.]

Mendoza [nervously]
What can I do?  He'll kill me.

Victoria [turning to Diego] Where is Zorro? [Diego shrugs.] He should be here.

Palomarez [over his shoulder with a sneer]
Zorro?  That fool is saying his prayers.

[Diego looks back at Felipe and nods as Palomarez rants.]

Palomarez
He's a dead man.  Make the ruling, Sergeant.

[Felipe raises up the reed and aims it at Palomarez before blowing into it.  The quill hit Palomarez in the back of his neck below his right ear.]

Palomarez [feeling around on his neck]
What's this?

[He pulls the quill out and looks at it.  It has a ‘Z' written on it.  Palomarez turns to look behind him.]

Palomarez [starting out quietly but getting progressively louder]
Zorro.  He shot me.  With the poison.  I've been poisoned.

[Don Alejandro turns to look behind him and Diego as the people in the tavern begin to talk excitedly.  Bickell stands in a corner, looking concerned.]

Palomarez [slightly hysterical]
I've been poisoned!

[He walks out of the tavern.  His three men all start to follow after him.]

One of the Soldiers [pointing at the other two men]
You stay here.

[The two soldiers remain as the other one leaves the tavern.  Don Alejandro and Diego turn to watch him go, then they turn back to Mendoza.]

Diego [smiling]
I believe you are free to make whatever judgement you wish, Sergeant.

Mendoza [also smiling as he unrolls and holds up the land grant again]
Ah, this documents is. . .uh. . .

[He looks over at Diego and Don Alejandro.]

Mendoza
What's a good word?

Don Alejandro
Um, fraudulent.

Mendoza [confidently]
I declare this document to be fraudulent and it's also no good.

[The people cheer and clap.  Bickell leave the tavern unnoticed.]

Don Alejandro [clapping his hands together]
This calls for a drink.

[He turns to go to the bar.  Victoria approaches Diego as he puts his hand to his head again.]

Victoria
Don Diego?

Diego [jerking his head around to look at her]
Hmm?

Victoria
How did you know about the paper?

Diego [smiling]
Books.  You can learn almost anything from books.

Victoria [shaking her head and smiling]
Yes.  I should have known.

[She turns and walks away, still smiling.  Don Alejandro comes up to Diego carrying glasses.]

Diego [waving his hand]
No, thank you.  All this excitement has given me a bit of a headache.  I think I'll go up upstairs and rest.

[He turns and goes up the stairs.  About half way up, another dizzy spell hits him.  Don Alejandro looks up at him worriedly.]

[Zorro opens an upstairs window at the tavern and is hit by a dizzy spell as he starts to climb out.  He shakes it off then continues to climb out of the window.]

[Two men on horseback ride slowly over the desert terrain, obviously searching for something.]

[Palomarez dismounts his horse and he and the soldier continue their search on foot over rocky ground.  Palomarez spies a prickly pear cactus with a reddish flower on it and holds up his hand.]

Palomarez
Captain, there it is.  I found it!

[He climbs up some rocks, pulling a knife from his waist band.  He kneels down beside the cactus when a sword is pointed at his throat.  He looks up.]

Zorro
Nopalitos roseous blossom.  A man could travel a hundred miles through the desert and not find another one.

[Palomarez tries to go for the flower but Zorro presses his point a little harder.]

Zorro
It's the antidote, isn't it?

Palomarez
Yes.  It only takes a small drop of the nectar to counteract the poison.

Zorro
Back away, Colonel.

Palomarez [as he gets to his feet]
Please.

Zorro
I believe my need is greater.

[Zorro then closes his eyes and stumbles as he gets dizzy again.  When he opens his eyes, he is seeing double.]

Palomarez [mockingly]
Do your eyes bother you, Zorro?

[Palomarez lunges at Zorro with his knife.  Zorro sidesteps him them spins around and punches the soldier who was sneaking up behind him.  The man falls and hits his head on a large rock.]

Palomarez
First the eyesight fails. [He draws out his sword as Zorro is still seeing double.] Then all sense of balance.

[Palomarez thrusts his sword several times at Zorro, who parries each one.]

Palomarez [menacingly]
And soon, death.

[He attacks Zorro again but Zorro surprises him by launching a strong counterattack which drives Palomarez backward.  Zorro knocks the sword from Palomarez's hand and Palomarez falls onto his bottom.  Zorro slices the flower off the cactus and it flies into the air.  Zorro catches it while still pointing his saber at Palomarez who sits on the ground.]

Palomarez [desperately]
The flower.

Zorro
So delicate.  So rare.

[He squeezes it over his open mouth and a drop of the nectar lands on his tongue.]

Palomarez [pleadingly]
Please, let me have it.

Zorro
What do I receive in return?

Palomarez
Anything.  Anything at all.

Zorro
All I want is for you to leave California forever.

Palomarez
You have my word.  My men and I ride for Mexico today.

[Zorro holds out his hand that contains the flower.  Toronado comes over, snorts, then eats the flower as Palomarez stares in horror.]

Palomarez
The flower!  He ate the flower!

Zorro [petting Toronado's nose]
Perhaps I'm not feeding him well enough.

Palomarez
So the great Zorro is nothing more than a murderer after all.

Zorro
Ah, the only poison you need to worry about is in your own mind.

Palomarez
You mean. . .the dart. . .  There was no poison?

Zorro
No.  Only the motivation to get you to lead me to the antidote.  I have no need to kill another man, Señor, not even you.  But if you return to this territory and give me the need and I will kill you.

Palomarez
Si.  I ride south.

Zorro
Then let me be the first to wish you safe journey.

[Zorro slashes a ‘Z' into the front of Palomarez's jacket.  Zorro then smiles and darts away.  Palomarez looks ill as he watches Zorro ride away on Toronado.  Zorro stops and spins around, causing Toronado to rear up and whinny before they continue on their way.]

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

[Inside the de la Vega hacienda, Don Alejandro and Mendoza come in the dining room, carrying windows.  Diego is at the broken window, pulling out a piece of glass still stuck in the frame.]

Diego [cutting his finger on the glass]
Ow!

Don Alejandro
Diego, please.  Let us handle it.

[Diego turns away from the window and puts his injured finger in his mouth then looking at it.]

Mendoza
The colonel didn't take very good care of you house.

[Diego sits down as Don Alejandro and Mendoza set down their window sections.]

Don Alejandro
Well, he's gone, that's all that matters.

Mendoza
Our couriers saw Palomarez and his men riding south.  I hope he's not coming back.

Diego [absently as he plays with his cut finger]
No, I don't think we'll hear from Colonel Palomarez again.

Don Alejandro [staring over at Diego]
What makes you so sure, Diego?

Diego [trying to cover up his slip]
Well, I read about a similar case history in one of my. . .um. . .behavior books.

[Don Alejandro and Mendoza stare at Diego incredulously.]

Diego [shrugging]
You learn a lot of things from books.

[Don Alejandro looks unconvinced as Diego looks up at him uneasily.]

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

Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland 21 July 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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