Written by Tim Minear
Directed by Michael Levine

First US Airdate 23 February 1990   Episode 1.12

[Closeup shot of a hand of playing cards.  The camera pulls back to Don Alejandro holding the cards as he and three other caballeros sit at a table playing a card game.  Two lancers sit, talking and drinking, at a table to Don Alejandro's left.  A black man sits a table to the lancer's left as Victoria brings him a plate of food.]

Victoria
There you are.

Man [lifting up the plate and sniffing it[
Oh, beautiful.  I haven't seen food this good since I left home.

[He tucks a napkin into the neck of his shirt.]

Victoria
I hope it's as good as it looks. [She looks down to her right.] May I?

Man
Please.

[Victoria sits down to the man's right.  The two lancers look at each other then start whispering to each other.]

Victoria
You've traveled far from home, haven't you?

Man
Charleston.  A good three thousand miles as the crow flies.  Jack Holton.

[He extends his hand and Victoria shakes it.]

Victoria [smiling]
Victoria Escalante.  Mucho gusto.

[A chair is scraped loudly across the floor.  The two lancers come over and stand on either side of Holton.  He looks up at them.]

Holton
Something I can help you with?

[The lancer to his right reaches down and takes a piece of the food off Holton's plate.]

Lancer
This looks pretty tasty, Señor.

Victoria [looking up angrily]
This is a paying customer.  Do you mind?

[Don Alejandro looks in her direction.  The lancer on Holton's left also takes a piece of food off the plate.]

Holton
I really do wish you'd order you own food.

Don Alejandro [as he walks up behind Holton]
Excellent idea, gentlemen.

[The first lancer put his right arm up against Don Alejandro's chest.]

Holton [looking over at Victoria]
It's all right.  Thanks, but I'm all right.

[Victoria looks at him worriedly.  The second lancer pushes Holton's plate across the table and it lands on the floor, breaking into pieces.]

Holton [removing his napkin]
Perhaps I'd better be going.  I'm sorry about that.

Victoria [as Holton starts to stand up]
That's all right. [The first lancer reaches over to his table and picks up something.]  Look out!

[The first lancer tries to break a bottle over Holton's head.  Holton blocks the lancer's arm then punches him in the stomach.  The second lancer starts to swing at Holton but Holton hits him in the face.  The lancer is thrown backward and lands on his back on the floor.  Holton punches the first lancer again and he too falls to the floor.  The lancer rubs his jaw as Ramón and Mendoza walk into the tavern.]

Ramón [as he walks toward Holton]
Sergeant, what is the law regarding assault upon a man in uniform?

Mendoza
Uh. . . I-I. . .  It is against the law?

Ramón
Precisely. [He points at Holton.] Take this man away.

Don Alejandro [stepping forward]
Now see here.  Your men were the ones at fault.

Ramón
And another word from you will find you in a cell right next to his.

Mendoza [pointing his left hand at some other lancers]
Muchachos.

[Ramón turns and walks away.  Two lancers come up and grab Holton's arms.  They take him out of the tavern as Victoria steps toward Don Alejandro, opening her mouth but not saying anything.]

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

[Closeup shot of Mendoza showing the right side of his face as he stands in Ramón's office.  Ramón steps up and puts his face right into Mendoza's.]

Ramón
A broken jaw?

Mendoza
Si, mi Alcalde.

Ramón
And a broken nose?

Mendoza
Si, but Corporal Reyes's nose is not the prettiest thing to begin with.

[Interior shot of Ramón's office as he turns away from Mendoza.]

Ramón
This man is going to pay for making us look bad.  If I don't do something quickly, this might jeopardize my transfer.

Mendoza
You're planning to leave us?

Ramón
I'm being considered for promotion to the garrison at Monterey.

Mendoza [incredulously]
Really?  Uh. . .  Really?

Ramón
Yes.  The governor's magistrate is arriving tomorrow to discuss it with me.  You'll muddle along somehow without me.

[A door opens off camera.]

Don Alejandro [off camera at first]
We'd like a word with you.

[Ramón turns away as Don Alejandro approaches him.  Diego shuts the office door behind him.]

Ramón
Not now.  Not now.

Diego [as he walks up to stand beside Don Alejandro]
It's about the man you're holding prisoner.

Ramón
You know, you de la Vegas have a bad habit of always sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong.

Don Alejandro
The arrest of an innocent man is everyone's concern.

Ramón [spinning around angrily]
My men were assaulted and they have the injuries to prove it.

Mendoza [looking over at Don Alejandro and Diego]
You should see Corporal Reyes's nose.

[He turns and looks toward Ramón then snaps to attention.]

Ramón [walking toward Don Alejandro and Diego]
The prisoner will remain in my jail until reparations can properly be made.  Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I have preparations to make for the arrival of the governor's magistrate.

[He goes over and sits down in the chair behind his desk.  Diego walks up to the front of the desk.]

Diego
Alcalde, suppose. . .  Suppose there was a way for you to collect your reward and to prove to the magistrate what a firm hand you hold over the pueblo?

Don Alejandro [coming up and standing beside Diego]
Diego. . .  What are you saying?

Ramón
It's the first intelligent thing I've heard you say.

Diego
This man that you're holding is a truly talented boxer.  Perhaps you should put your best man up against him in a true contest of skill.

[Don Alejandro nods approvingly.]

Ramón
What would be the point?

Diego
Perhaps a small wager and a chance to prove to the magistrate how well you've trained your men.

Ramón
The prisoner might escape.

Diego [holding up his hands]
I'll personally post his bond. [He leans over Ramón's desk.] Here.  Five hundred pesos.

[Ramón smirks as he rubs his right index finger over his lips.]

Don Alejandro
But if our man wins, he goes free.

[Diego finishes writing on a piece of paper, folds it, then hands it to Ramón, who snatches at it.]

Diego [looking at Don Alejandro]
Can this man truly fight?

Don Alejandro
Believe me, son, he can fight.

Ramón
You can't expect a runaway slave to vanquish a royal lancer, do you?

Diego
A fight for his own freedom brings out the best in a man.

Don Alejandro
Now, if you don't mind, kindly release the poor man.

[Ramón gestures dramatically to his left with his left hand.  Diego and Don Alejandro turn and go in that direction.  Mendoza steps over to Ramón's desk.]

Mendoza
But if the prisoner beat up two of our best men, how do you expect to win this bet?

Ramón
What ever happened to that man, what was his name?  Damasco?

Mendoza
You mean the private we mustered out last month for single-handedly whipping three men in a tavern brawl?

Ramón
Yes, the big one.  Find him and put him in a uniform again.

Mendoza [chuckling nervously]
He's crazy!  He has an uncontrollable temper.

[Ramón sits back in his chair, looking smug.]

Ramón
I know.

[He then smiles evilly.]

[Interior shot of the cuartel jail as Holton gets to his feet in his cell and comes up to the bars.]

Holton [grabbing the cell bars]
Why should I trust either of you?

Don Alejandro [as he and Diego stand on the other side of the bars]
We're on your side.

Holton [laughing as he walks over to the cell window]
As far as I know, you're in league with that insane commandant.

Diego
The Alcalde?  Hardly.

Don Alejandro
You probably haven't heard about the de la Vegas, hmm?

Holton
No, I can't say I have.  You probably never heard of Crispus Attucks.

Diego [as a lancer enters the jail]
The only free black man to die in the Boston Massacre of seventeen seventy, I believe.

[The lancers walks up to the cell door and unlocks it.  He opens the door then walks away.]

Holton [stepping out of the cell]
Not many people would know that around here.

Diego
True.  But some of us are keenly aware of your people's struggle for freedom. [He holds out his hand.] Diego.  And my father, Don Alejandro.

[They all shake hands.]

Don Alejandro
The way you handled yourself at the tavern, you'll have no trouble with any of the Alcalde's men.

Holton
What if I refuse to fight?

Diego
The Alcalde thinks you might be a runaway slave.

Holton
He's wrong.  I'm a free man. [He looks down.] And I got papers to prove it. [He searches his clothes.] They're gone..  The soldiers must have taken them.

Don Alejandro
I'm not surprised.  The Alcalde probably plans to sell you to one of the American plantations.

Holton
But those papers are mine!

Diego
So's your freedom.  Fight for it.

[Don Alejandro nods.  Holton stares at both of them.]

[Exterior shot of Ramón's office as Ramón leans up against one of the post supporting the porch's roof.  Holton steps through the front doors of the office, carrying a suitcase.]

Ramón [as Don Alejandro and Diego step out of the office]
Allow me to introduce you to your opponent.  Sergeant. . .

[Mendoza stands to the left of the office.  He holds up his right hand, then turns and motions to his left with his left hand.  Don Alejandro, Diego, and Holton all stare at Mendoza.  Mendoza motions again.  A very large muscular man, Damasco, comes out at Mendoza from the side of the building.  Mendoza jumps back then points with his right hand.  Damasco swaggers toward the office as Mendoza follows him.  Damasco stops and punches a wooden post (which is obviously already in two pieces) and breaks it in half.  Diego and Don Alejandro look on worriedly.]

Ramón [to Holton]
I've given your measurements to the undertaker.  He says he'll have your coffin ready for tomorrow's fight.

[He stares at Holton then turns and goes inside his office.  Damasco looks at them smugly.  Mendoza taps Damasco on the shoulder then points to his left as Damasco turns his head.  Damasco nods and walks off in that direction, followed by Mendoza.  Diego looks over at Don Alejandro, who looks over at Holton.]

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

[Closeup shot of Zorro's black-shirted back as he walks away from the camera, tying on his mask.  Felipe stands to his right in the secret cave.]

Zorro
Yes, I suppose we could help Señor Holton flee the territory. [He turns and faces Felipe.] But that would make him a fugitive and not a free man.

[Felipe holds out Zorro's black gloves.]

Zorro [as he puts on one of the gloves]
No, the time has come for Zorro to even the odds on tomorrow's fight

[Felipe smiles and nods.]

[Exterior night shot of the pueblo gate as Zorro rides Toronado underneath it then into the pueblo.]

[Closeup night shot of a rope tied to something.  The camera pans down the rope to a punching bag tied to its other end.  Mendoza is holding onto the punching bag and grimacing.  Damasco spins around and punches the bag which hits Mendoza in the head.]

Mendoza [coughing and looking a bit dazed]
Better, Private Damasco.  Better.  But perhaps a little food would put some snap into those punches.  I'll check the kitchen to see what they have.

[Damasco stares as Mendoza turns and walks away.  Damasco takes a metal bar out of his pockets and closes his right hand around it.  He then hits the punching bag again, sending it flying into the air.]

Zorro [standing above the punching bag]
Perhaps a bit of Toledo steel will be a match for that bit of iron.

[He holds up his saber and smiles.  He then tosses the saber at the rope of the swinging punching bag, cutting through the rope.  The punching bag hits Damasco in the stomach and knocks him on his back.  Zorro jumps down to the ground.  Damasco gets up and rushes at Zorro who sidesteps out of the way.  Damasco falls on his stomach.  He gets up again and picks up an iron bar.  He puts it behind his head and bends it forward.]

Zorro
You are a strong fellow, aren't you?

[Damasco throws the bent bar at Zorro who catches it.]

Zorro [as he puts the bar up against his chest and straightens it out]
You realize, of course, that stronger is not necessarily better.

[He tosses aside the bar as Damasco growls and comes at him, swinging his fist.  Zorro ducks out of the way.]

Zorro
And sometimes, stronger. . . [Damasco punches at Zorro, who moves aside, causing Damasco to punch his fist into the wall of a building.] isn't better at all.

[Zorro bends over as Damasco shakes his injured right hand.  Zorro stands back up.]
 
Mendoza [carrying a tray as he walks up to Zorro]
Zorro!

Zorro
Sergeant. [He walks up to Mendoza.] Thank you. [He takes an apple from the tray then takes a bite out of it.] Delicious.

[He walks past Mendoza, taking the apple with him.  Mendoza just turns and stares.]

[Exterior night shot of the tavern.]

[Closeup shot of a hand being bandaged with strips of white cloth.  The hand moves out of the shot as Ramón and the governor's magistrate walk into the tavern.]

Magistrate
I am most anxious to meet this champion of yours.

Ramón
I assure you, the man is unbeatable.

[The magistrate stares off to his left to where Mendoza is bandaging Damasco's hand.  Damasco flinches in pain.  Ramón looks worried.]

Ramón
Sergeant. . .   [He walks up to Mendoza and Damasco.] What is this?

Mendoza
The private tried to apprehend Zorro.

Ramón [through clenched teeth]
Mendoza. . .

[Damasco stands up and walks away.]

Magistrate [coming over to Ramón and Mendoza]
So much for tomorrow's fight and your leadership abilities.

Ramón
Nonsense.  Any of my men can defeat a runaway slave.  I just have to find the right one.

Magistrate
A good leader has confidence in any of his men. [He looks Mendoza up and down.] This, uh, sergeant here.  He looks strong enough.  He will fight your prisoner.

Ramón [bowing]
Of course. [He puts his left arm around Mendoza's shoulders.] Of course he will.

[Mendoza looks worried as he looks upward.]

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

[Exterior day shot of the countryside as Holton runs around through some trees.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel yard as Mendoza straightens out a jump rope.]

[Closeup shot of Mendoza doing a sit up in the cuartel yard.  He goes backward then tries to do another sit up but only makes it up about halfway before flopping back down to the ground.  Ramón comes over and bends down and stares in his face.]

[Exterior shot of the de la Vega hacienda as Holton does sit ups and windmills in front of a woodpile.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel yard as Mendoza punches the punching bag as Ramón watches.  The punching bag swings back and knocks down Mendoza.  Ramón rolls his eyes.]

[Exterior shot of the de la Vega hacienda as Holton chops firewood with an axe.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel yard as Mendoza tries to jump rope but get tangled up instead.]

[Closeup shot of Holton as he lifts a dumbbell in each hand in front of the woodpile.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel yard as Mendoza lies on his back and attempts to bench press a large barbell.  It comes back down quickly and lands on his throat.  Mendoza sticks out his tongue.  He is then shown jumping rope again and getting tangled up again.]

[Exterior shot of the de la Vega hacienda as Holton jumps rope very quickly in front of the woodpile.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel yard as Mendoza hugs the punching bag as ti sways back and forth as he snores.]

[Exterior shot of the de la Vega hacienda as Holton shadowboxes in front of the woodpile. Diego walks up behind him.]

Diego
Very impressive.

[Holton spins around to face Diego.]

Diego
Felipe has just returned with news from the pueblo that your opponent has been injured.

Holton
Then there'll be no fight.

Diego [chuckling]
Ah, no.  The Alcalde seems determined to prove his leadership abilities to the magistrate.  You'll be fighting Sergeant Mendoza.

Holton
That's fine.

[He resumes shadowboxing.]

Diego
I'd hate to see Mendoza get hurt just because he's following orders.

Holton
Well, winning this fight is my only chance for freedom.

Diego
Perhaps.  But where the Alcalde is concerned, they are rarely guarantees.

Holton
Señor, in this world, a man of color knows there's never guarantees.

[He turns away from Diego who then goes off to his left.]

[Exterior shot of the de la Vega hacienda.]

[Interior shot of the secret cave as Diego holds up a glass bottle of clear liquid in his right hand.  He holds a white cloth in his left hand.  Felipe stands and watches at Diego's right.]

Diego
It's called ether.  Recently discovered by an English physician. [He sprinkles the liquid onto the white cloth.]  It's used to deaden pain by inducing deep sleep.

[Felipe looks up at Diego in disbelief.]

Diego
You don't believe in such nonsense? [Felipe shakes his head.] Then perhaps seeing is believing. [He points to his right.] Sit right there.

[Felipe goes over and sits down in a chair.  Diego carries the white cloth over to Felipe.]

Diego
Smell.

[Felipe leans forward as Diego holds the cloth up to his nose.  Felipe pulls away, acting lightheaded.  Then his head falls to his left as he falls asleep.  Diego turns and picks up a glass of liquid (water?), dips his finger in it then sprinkles it on Felipe.  Felipe wakes up.]

Diego [putting his hand on Felipe's left shoulder]
It's all right.  Just relax.  Just breath deeply.  Relax.

[Felipe looks up at Diego then puts his hands up by his face then moves them outward with a questioning look on his face.]

Diego
What happened? [Felipe nods.] Well, quite simply, you've seen first hand the effects of ether.  Now, at tomorrow's fight, your job will be to get close to Mendoza's boxing gloves with this.

[Felipe smiles mischievously.]

[Interior shot of the tavern as people gather inside.  Don Alejandro stands while talking to a couple of men.  Ramón stands next to Mendoza, showing him how to throw a punch.  Diego wipes a towel on Holton's boxing gloves then goes to stand behind Holton and rubs his shoulders.]

Diego
Please, not too much bloodshed.

[He tosses the towel over his left shoulder and looks over to his right.  Felipe takes out the bottle of ether and shakes it on a white cloth.  He hides the bottle and cloth behind his back as  Ramón and Mendoza walk up in front of him.  Ramón is still showing Mendoza how to punch.]

Ramón
Huh. . .  Now let's see some blood.

Mendoza
Do we have to, Alcalde?  If we see blood, that means somebody is bleeding.

Ramón [punching Mendoza on the right shoulder]
Get a hold of yourself.  The magistrate will want to see the results of our training. [The magistrate walks behind Ramón and Mendoza and in front of Felipe.] Now don't let me down.

[Ramón turns to his right and sees the magistrate.]

Ramón
Ah, Señor Santiago, how good of you to come by.

Santiago
I trust your man will uphold the reputation of the Colonial Army.

[Felipe comes up behind Mendoza who is now sitting in a chair.  Felipe wipes the white cloth over Mendoza's boxing gloves.]

Mendoza
Gracias, mijo.

[Felipe smiles as he continues to wipe Mendoza's boxing gloves.]

Ramón [raising his voice and his arms]
Good people of Los Angeles!  We are honored today by the presence of the governor's magistrate, Señor Manuel de Santiago.

[People clap politely.]

Ramón [looking to his left]
Uh, Señor de la Vega. . .

[Don Alejandro steps forward into the make shift boxing ring, holding out his arms.  Holton stands up as Diego pats his shoulder.  Mendoza stands up as well.  Don Alejandro puts his hands on Mendoza's and Holton's shoulders.]

Don Alejandro
Let's have a clean fight, with no biting, no kicking.  Remember, first man knock down wins.  All right?  Good. [He pats their shoulders.] Good luck to you both, uh, and at the bell, come out fighting.

[Holton nods as Mendoza turns away.  Mendoza then kneels down in front of his chair and crosses himself.  He then turns and sits down in the chair.  Victoria nods as she lifts a cowbell then starts ringing it.  Holton turns around, ready to fight.  Mendoza stays in his chair, looking ill.  Holton comes up and stands before Mendoza who just stares.  Ramón is smiling smugly as he stands next to Santiago but then notices Santiago staring at Mendoza.  Ramón turns to his left and leans down next to Mendoza's right ear.]

Ramón [through clenched teeth]
Get out there!

[He pulls Mendoza up to his feet then pushes him into the ring.  Mendoza dances around as Holton throws a punch that misses.  The crowd shouts out encouragements.  Mendoza runs and hides behind Diego.  Mendoza then peeks out from behind Diego and sees Holton, then peeks out the other side and see Holton.  Mendoza then ducks down and looks out from between Diego's legs.  He stands back up and remains behind Diego.  Santiago yawns.  Holton tries to throw a punch but Mendoza runs out from behind Diego and stumbles backward toward Ramón who grabs him.]

Ramón [through clenched teeth]
Fight now!

[He pushes Mendoza back into the ring.  Mendoza and Holton stare at each other, waving their fists menacingly.  Holton punches Mendoza in the face and Mendoza falls backward as Diego winces.  Ramón and another man catch Mendoza as he falls.]

Ramón [into Mendoza's ear]
If I don't get this transfer, you'll wish I had.

[He pushes Mendoza back into the ring.  Santiago shakes his head.  Mendoza punches Holton in the jaw.  Holton looks dazed and shakes his head.  Ramón smiles as Holton acts dizzy.  Diego looks over at Felipe who looks back at him and smiles.  Mendoza dances around, smiling, as Holton regains his focus.  Holton punches Mendoza in the face again, knocking him backward.  Ramón catches Mendoza again. Don Alejandro looks on worriedly then covers his eyes.]

Ramón
Mendoza, keep your guard up!

Mendoza [groggily]
Under the circumstances, Alcalde, that is an excellent suggestion.

[Ramón pushes Mendoza back into the ring.  Mendoza holds his boxing gloves close to his face.  Diego and Felipe react worriedly.  Mendoza starts to wobble then falls down on his back.]

Diego [quietly to Felipe]
Ether got the wrong man.

[He pulls the towel off his shoulder.  Ramón comes over to where Mendoza is lying on the floor and pours a pitcher of water onto his face.]

Ramón [through clenched teeth]
Mendoza, get up!

[Mendoza wakes up, shaking the water from his face.]

Holton
What happened?

Don Alejandro [grabbing Holton's right arm then holding it up in the air]
Er. . .  First knockdown wins.

[People start clapping.  Diego waves his towel over Mendoza's face, then reaches down and grabs Mendoza's chin then starts shaking Mendoza's head.  Then Diego starts to lightly slap Mendoza's cheeks until Mendoza opens his eyes.  Diego then helps Mendoza get to his feet.  Santiago starts to leave but Ramón steps in front of him.]

Santiago
If that is the way you train your men, the only new assignment you will get is to the garrison at Death Valley.

[He walks around Ramón and out of the tavern.]

 Ramón
Uh. . .  I. . .  Uh. . .

[Victoria steps in front of him and clucks her tongue at him as she shakes her head.  Ramón turns away from her.]

Ramón [angrily]
Mendoza!

Mendoza [still a bit groggy as Diego is holding him upright]
Si, mi Alcalde.

Ramón [pointing at Holton]
Put this man back in his jail cell.

Mendoza
But Alcalde. . .

Don Alejandro
We had a bargain.

Ramón
That's right.  Precisely.  Had.  All bets are off.

[He motions to his left with his left hand.  Two lancers come up behind Holton who looks over at Diego.]

Holton
So much for guarantees.

[Diego looks down as he still holds onto Mendoza.  Holton is led away by the lancers.  Diego pats Mendoza's shoulder then pushes him forward.  Mendoza follows the other lancers and Ramón out of the tavern.  Diego throws his towel down onto the wet floor.]

[Exterior night shot of Ramón's office.]

[Interior shot of the cuartel jail as Holton sits on the cot in his cell, rubbing the back of his neck.  A lancer paces in front of the cell.  Suddenly, a bouquet of roses drop down from the ceiling.  The lancer grabs the bouquet then sniffs it.  He then falls face down onto the floor.  Zorro looks down from a opening in the roof, holding onto his whip with the bouquet of roses tied to its end.  He then jumps down onto the jail floor, landing on his feet.  Holton gets up off his cot as Zorro walks in front of the cell.]

Holton
Who or what are you?

Zorro [as he coils up his whip]
A friend. [He goes over and takes the key from their hook.] And a believer in freedom for all good men.

[He unlocks the cell door.]

Holton
Thank you.  But where I come from, a man is innocent until proven guilty.  I'm going to fight the Alcalde in court.

Zorro
A noble thought, amigo.  But here is not where you come from.  Here, the Alcalde is the court.
 

Holton
But I am a free man.

Zorro
Each of us is free only so long as all of us fight for liberty. [He opens the cell door.] Come.

[Holton looks warily at the open door.]

Interior shot of Ramón's office as Ramón leans over his desk with his back to a green door.  The door opens and Holton and Zorro walk through it.]

Zorro [as Ramón spins around]
Excuse us, Alcalde, but this seems to be the only way out.

[Ramón grabs a pistol from his desk top and aims it at Zorro and Holton.]

Ramón
How unfortunate for you.  There's a rather steep toll for using my private doorway.  Your life.

Zorro
Alcalde, you have only one musket ball. [He holds up his left index finger.] If you shot one of us, the other  one will surely kill you on the spot.

Ramón [aiming the pistol at Holton]
A runaway slave, attack a Spaniard of noble birth?  He wouldn't dare.

Holton
Try me.

Ramón
Amazing.  Do you really consider yourself my equal?

[Zorro flicks out his whip and knocks the pistol from Ramón's hand.  Holton punches Ramón in the face.  Ramón falls against the safe, holding his left jaw.  He stares at Holton in horror.]

Zorro [recoiling his whip]
Apparently not all men are created equal, Alcalde.  Some are better than you'll ever be. [He looks down at the desk and picks up some papers.] These wouldn't happen to be yours, would they?

[He hands the papers to Holton who looks them over.]

Holton
Yes.

[Zorro unsheathes his saber and points it at Ramón, who crosses his hands over his throat.  Zorro moves the saber to his right.  Ramón turns to look in that direction.]

Ramón [in a horrified voice]
Not the desk again!

[Zorro holds his saber over the top of the desk and deliberately carves a ‘Z' into the wood.  He then salutes with his saber.]

Zorro
Adios.

[He and Holton turn to their left and leave.  Ramón watches as he still sits on the floor by the safe.]

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

[Closeup shot of Mendoza's hands as he rubs them together.  The camera pans up to his face.]

[Interior shot of the tavern where Mendoza stands and stares at the punching bag hanging down beside him.  Victoria stands in front of the bar, looking at Mendoza with her arms crossed over her chest.  Felipe and Diego walk up to her.  Diego indicates Mendoza then looks at Victoria.]

Victoria [shaking her head]
He's so depressed.  He's been in here all day.  That's why I let him hang that silly bag in my tavern.

Diego [walking over to Mendoza]
A new advocation, Sergeant?

Mendoza [looking up at Diego]
The Alcalde thinks I'm a coward.  I'll show him who can fight.

[Diego holds onto the punching bag as Mendoza punches it.]

Mendoza [as he walks around in a pain]
Oh. . .  Ugh. . .

[Victoria and Felipe look at each other and smile.]

Diego [looking over at victoria]
I think a couple of your best tamales will help put some strength behind the sergeant's punches.

[He grabs Mendoza by the shoulders.]

Mendoza [smiling]
That's a good idea. [He turns and looks up at Diego.] Tell me, Don Diego, do you really think Señor Holton is a better fighter than me?

Diego
No, I don't really think so.

[He squeezes Mendoza's shoulders.]

Mendoza
But he knocked me out.

Diego
Trust me, Sergeant.  It was nothing but a lucky punch.  He calls that his, um, sleeper.

[Mendoza smiles as Diego winks at Felipe.  Victoria looks over at Felipe who smiles innocently at her.  She then looks over at Diego who is rubbing Mendoza's shoulder and also smiling innocently.]

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

Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland  4 & 5 October 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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