Written by Robert L McCullough
Directed by Peter Diamond

First US Airdate 1 March 1992   Episode 3.17

[Exterior shot of the countryside as about a dozen men ride their horses on a dirt road.]

[Exterior shot of the pueblo as people mill about the market stalls.]

[Exterior shot of the countryside as the men continue to ride on the dirt road.]

[Exterior shot of the pueblo as two women talk over a basket of apples.  Other people go about their business.]

[Closeup shot of one of the men on horseback.  He has a grimace on his face as he rides past the camera followed by other men holding muskets.]

[Exterior shot of the pueblo as a boy wearing a serape walks behind Mendoza.  The boy turns around and steps on Mendoza's foot.]

Mendoza [hopping on his good foot as Victoria looks on]
Ay!  Malditas!

[Exterior shot of the pueblo gate as the men on horseback ride underneath it.]

[Exterior shot of the pueblo as Victoria and Mendoza walk up to Diego and Don Alejandro.]

Diego [tipping his head]
Buenos dias.

Don Alejandro [to Mendoza who is limping]
Are you all right, Sergeant?

[A gunshot is heard off camera.  Victoria, Don Alejandro, Diego, and Mendoza all look in the direction the gunshot came from.]

[Exterior shot of the pueblo gate as the men ride into the plaza, firing their muskets into the air.  Diego pushes Victoria and Don Alejandro to their right.  Mendoza turns to look at the men as he holds a melon in each arm.  The men ride into the plaza as people begin to scatter.]

Voice
What's going on?

[The men ride around the plaza, knocking over the stalls.  Two of them ride past Mendoza, who drops his melons on the ground.]

Mendoza
Lancers!

[Three lancers fire their muskets.  One of the bandits is wearing a skull mask.  He takes it off and fires his pistol, hitting one of the lancers in the shoulder.  Diego holds onto Victoria and looks around the plaza.  One of the bandits is trying to kiss a struggling woman.  Another lancer fires his musket.  Another of the bandits fires his pistol and hits the lancer.]

Bandit
Yeeaah!

[The bandits continue to ride around the plaza, wreaking havoc and shooting lancers.  Mendoza tries to run across the plaza but is run down by one of the bandits' horse.]

Mendoza [waving his hands]
Noo!

Don Alejandro [off camera]
Mendoza!  They'll kill him!

[The bandits continue to ride around the plaza.  Don Alejandro runs forward and goes over to where Mendoza is lying on the ground.]

Diego [off camera]
Father!  Look out!

[Diego runs to his left as Don Alejandro looks up then draws out Mendoza's sword.  He stands up and brandishes the sword.  A bandit rides by him, kicking him in the jaw, knocking him down to the ground.  Diego reaches Don Alejandro and pulls him up and out of the way just as two bandits were about to ride over him.]

Don Alejandro
I'm okay, Diego.

[Diego leads Don Alejandro over to where two men are standing in front of a doorway.  They reach out and hold up Don Alejandro.]

Don Alejandro [patting one of the men on the arm]
Gracias.

[He watches as Diego lifts Mendoza off the ground.  Victoria runs over to where Don Alejandro, Diego, Mendoza, and the two men are standing.]

Woman [as she stands in the plaza waving her hands]
Please, help me!  Oh, please!  Somebody get my son!

[Diego, Don Alejandro, Victoria, and Mendoza look over to where the boy in the serape is trapped by the fountain as the bandits ride around him.  Diego runs out and grabs the boy.]

Boy
Mama!  Mama!

[Diego dodges his way through the bandits's horses as he carries the boy away from the fountain.  One of the bandits dismounts his horse and walks up onto the tavern porch.  He kicks open the doors.  Other bandits continue to ride around, wreaking havoc.]

Victoria [off camera]
Can't anyone stops them!

Mendoza [boastfully]
The garrison lancers will take care of them!

Diego [off camera as lancers run inside the cuartel gates]
I'm not so sure of that.

[Two of the bandits ride up to the cuartel gates, swinging grappling hooks which they throw at the gates.  The hooks catch the tops of the wooden gates and the bandits pull them shut.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel yard as four lancers kneel behind the gates as de Soto marches up behind him.]

de Soto
Get those gates open!

[Exterior shot of the plaza as the bandits tie the end of the ropes to a pole as they chuckle evilly.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel yard as de Soto and the lancers push on the gates.]

de Soto
Get some gunpowder over here!  We'll blow these gates open if we have to.

[Exterior shot of the plaza as the bandits continue to ride around.]

Mendoza [off camera]
Only Zorro could help us now.

[Mendoza and Diego stand and watch the chaos going around them.]

Diego
My sentiments exactly, Sergeant.

[Suddenly the cuartel gates are blown open in a loud, fiery explosion.  Don Alejandro shields Victoria from the blast.  The bandits spin their horses around to look.]

Bandit
Let's go, amigos!

[Lancers run out of the cuartel with de Soto in their midst.]

Lancers
Charge!

de Soto
Fire at will, lancers!

[The lancers line up in formation and fire their muskets.  A bandit fires back and hits one of the lancers.  The bandit in the tavern comes out and jumps onto the back of his horse.  He looks over at de Soto who is firing his pistol.]

Bandit
Too many soldiers, muchachos!  Vamos!

[The bandits start to ride out of the plaza.]

de Soto [off camera]
Don't let them get away!  Fifty pesos for the lancer who foils a bandit!

[The tavern bandit rides up to a lancer and kicks the lancer in the chest while smiling evilly.  De Soto stands in the plaza surrounded by smoke from the explosion.]

de Soto [over his shoulder]
Keep firing!  Reload!

[The lancers reload their muskets.]

Bandit Leader
I'll be coming back!  With more men! [He holds up his saddlebags.[ For the last of your money! [He laughs evilly.] Until then. . .  Nobody enters, nobody leaves this pueblo!  You all belong to Pablo Saragosa!

[He laughs as he spins his horse around and rides out of town.  The lancers are still reloading.]

de Soto [off camera]
Shoot him before he gets away!

[Don Alejandro, Victoria, Mendoza, and Diego all watch as Saragosa leaves.]

Victoria [with a confused look on her face]
No one enters?  No one leaves? [She turns and looks up at Diego.] What does he mean by that?

Diego
He means that Los Angeles is cut off.  Under siege.

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

[Exterior shot of the plaza as de Soto stands to the left of a line of lancers, dressed now in his military uniform.]

de Soto
Sergeant!  Prepare for volley fire!  Quick march!

Mendoza [at the other end of the line as he picks up his musket]
Hut!  [He tiptoes exaggeratedly.] Two, three, four. [The lancers copy his moves.] Present arms!

 [He and the first line of lancers get down on one knee.  A lancer behind Mendoza lowers his musket and hits Mendoza on the head with it.  Mendoza turns around.]

Mendoza [rubbing his head]
Ow!  What are you doing?

de Soto
No, no, no!  Lancers!  As you were, as you were.

[Mendoza stands up as de Soto walks up to him.]

de Soto
Sergeant, you have to leave step. . .

[He pauses and looks to his left.]

Don Alejandro [off camera]
All right, everyone.  Pay attention!

[A group of citizens have gathered between the tavern and the church.]

de Soto
Try it again, Sergeant.

[He then walks off to his left.]

Mendoza [moving out in front of the lancers]
Si, mi Alcalde.  All right men. . .

[De Soto walks across the plaza.]

Don Alejandro [off camera at first]
All right then.  You just fired your rifle. . .

[Don Alejandro stand in the middle of a circle of townspeople.  Diego and Felipe stand behind him to his right.]

Don Alejandro [holding a musket]
There's no time to reload.  The enemy is directly in front of you. [He turns his head to the right.] Diego?  If you please.

Voice [as Diego looks at Felipe and shrugs]
Come on, Diego.  Let's see what you can do.

[Diego walks over to Don Alejandro and stands in front of him.  De Soto walks up behind two women in the circle.]

Don Alejandro
All right then, step in like this. The rifle butt comes up like this. [He raises the end of the musket and Diego easily sidesteps out of the way.]

Diego
Maybe if you drove me back with your legs?

Don Alejandro
Excuse me, Diego, I have years of experience in this.  I know what I'm saying.

Diego
Sorry.  Just trying to help.

Don Alejandro
That's quite all right.  Thank you.

[Felipe smiles knowingly as he watches.]

Don Alejandro [as he turns and addresses the people]
Now then. . .  There is another way.  You can drive him back with your legs.

[Diego shrugs as he chuckles.]

de Soto
What is all this, de la Vega?

Don Alejandro
Saragosa said he was returning, sir. [He hits the rifle butt on the ground.] We plan to be prepared.

de Soto [chuckling derisively]
I didn't know the de la Vegas were fighting men.

Diego
We're not.  But when forced to defend ourselves, we want to be ready.

Don Alejandro
And since Saragosa has already ambushed three of your armed patrols, we thought we'd have our own surprise. . . [He raises his voice and shakes his fist in the air.] Our own ambush!

Voices
Yes!  Yea!

de Soto
I assure you, Señor, when Saragosa and his men come through those plaza gates, they will feel the sting of true military power.

Don Alejandro
Excuse me, sir, what if Saragosa doesn't come through those plaza gates?  Suppose he comes from the south?  Or from the east or the west?  Or perhaps from behind your cuartel?  What good will all the military power do aimed in the wrong direction?

de Soto
Señor, the tactics employed by the Colonial Regimental Army were good enough for Cortez when he conquered the Indians.

Diego [a bit sarcastically as bandits can be seen riding in the distance behind his head]
The problem is these aren't unarmed Indians and you aren't Cortez, are you?

Voice
Here come the bandits again!

[Exterior shot of the countryside as Saragosa and his men ride toward the pueblo.]

Don Alejandro [off camera]
Quickly!  Quickly!  In order!  Scatter!

[Exterior shot of the plaza as people scatter in every direction.  Diego goes over to Felipe, who makes a ‘Z' in the air with his right index finger.]

Diego [patting Felipe on the arm]
No.  There's no time for that.  You take shelter.  I'll help my father's men.

[He goes off to his left.]

[Exterior shot of the countryside as Saragosa and his men ride closer to the pueblo.]

[Exterior shot of the plaza as de Soto stands in front of the blacksmith's shop.]

de Soto
Lancers!  Prepare to defend!

[The lancers run out into the plaza as de Soto runs toward them.]

Don Alejandro [off camera]
Assume battle positions, men!

[Three men look around the side of the blacksmith's shop as Saragosa and his men approach.]

Mendoza [as the lancer run through the plaza]
Formations!  Now!  Quick!

[The lancers from two lines.  Saragosa and his men ride under the pueblo gate.]

de Soto
If they try to enter the pueblo, shoot to kill!

[De Soto stands with his sword raised next to the two lines of lancers.  Saragosa and his men bring their horses to a halt just inside the pueblo gate.]

de Soto
Hold your fire, men.

[A group of about five bandits break from the main group and ride off to their right.]

de Soto
Don't shoot till they're in range.  Hold it. . .

[The rest of the bandits start riding forward into the plaza.]

de Soto
Steady. . .

[Mendoza accidentally fires his musket.  Four bandits ride around behind the church.]

de Soto
Ready. . .  Aim. . .

[The four bandits ride up behind de Soto who glances over his shoulder at them nervously.]

de Soto [a bit hysterically]
Fire at will!  Just don't stand there!  Fire!

[The lancers look around in confusion as bandits come at them from all sides, shooting at the lancers who don't fire back.  De Soto backs up against the wall of the church and watches as lancers are shot, punched, and run down by the bandits.  De Soto then starts running across the plaza.]

de Soto
Fall back!  Take cover!

[Mendoza runs across the plaza toward the cuartel.  Don Alejandro sneaks out form the side of the tavern with a musket.  Mendoza tries to direct the lancers to the cuartel.  De Soto takes cover behind a water trough.]

Mendoza
Take cover inside the gates, men!

[He and the other lancers run inside the cuartel.  Saragosa and several other bandits ride up to the cuartel gates (which are in perfect condition!).]

Saragosa
Run, you cowards!

[Don Alejandro is pointing as people run past him from beside the tavern.]

Don Alejandro
Take your places!  Quickly!  Quickly!

[People armed with pistols scatter about the pueblo, taking cover behind various objects.  The bandits ride around the plaza and the townspeople start shooting at them.]

Bandit [as he is shot off his horse]
Uhhh!

[More townspeople run out from their hiding places.  Don Alejandro crouches behind an upended table and shoots a bandit who rushes him.  A man runs away on foot from a bandit on horseback.  A woman throws a shovel full dirt into the bandit's face.  His horse rears and the bandit falls off.  Another bandit pins a woman up against a building with his horse.  A second woman on the rooftop above drops a wooden crate on the bandit's head, knocking him off his horse.  Saragosa looks around incredulously.  Another bandit takes aim at Don Alejandro who fires and hits the bandit's hand.  The bandit tosses his musket aside, shaking his injured hand and then is hit up the side of the head with a shovel.  He falls off his horse.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel gate as Mendoza peeks out his head.]

[Exterior shot of the plaza as a bandit fires his pistol to his right.  A man with a bucket runs up and swings the bucket at the bandit's head, knocking him off his horse.  Diego jumps off a rooftop into the path of two bandits on horseback.  He pulls them off their horses then punches one of them.  He then looks around the plaza.]

Saragosa [angrily]
Come on, chicos!  Vamanos!

[He turns his horse around and starts to ride off, firing his pistol into the air as the other bandits follow him.  Mendoza runs out of the cuartel followed by other lancers.]

Mendoza
Come on, lancers!  After them!

[Exterior shot of the tavern as Don Alejandro and Victoria look down at the man Don Alejandro shot.  Don Alejandro runs out into the plaza as Victoria waves her hands helplessly, looking distressed.  Diego runs out into the plaza and he and Don Alejandro meet near the fountain.]

Don Alejandro
Run, you cowards!

[De Soto and Mendoza come up behind Don Alejandro and Diego.]

Mendoza
Alcalde, we drove them off, huh?

[Townspeople come out into the plaza.]

Voice
Look!  He's turning around!  Look!  Look!

[Closeup shot of a white cloth tied to the end of a musket.  The camera pans down to show Saragosa riding back into the plaza.]

Saragosa
I did not know the people of Los Angeles were such clever fighters.  But Pablo Saragosa, he's clever too.

[An explosion is heard off camera.]

de Soto [as people cry out]
What was that?

Saragosa
I'm sorry to say there's been a little landslide, and your water aqueduct is now closed.

Don Alejandro [through clenched teeth]
Swine!  You blocked the aqueduct!

[Saragosa nods and chuckles then becomes angry.]

Saragosa
You have two choices.  Surrender every peso in this stinking little pueblo [The water in the fountain stops flowing out of the pipes.] or die of thirst.  Okay?

[He smiles then turns and rides away, raising his musket into the air and laughing.]

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

[Exterior shot of the plaza where several people including Don Alejandro, Victoria, and Diego have gathered with jugs around the fountain.]

de Soto [off camera]
Word of this will get to Monterey. . .

[Interior shot of de Soto's office where de Soto paces between his desk and a window while Mendoza stands at attention.]

de Soto
A letter will be sent to Madrid.  A blemish will appear on my record of service and I will be stuck in this place. . .forever.

[He suddenly looks thoughtful and takes several steps forward so that his back is to Mendoza.]

de Soto [stroking his chin]
Sergeant. . .  What we need is one brave man.  A volunteer.  To ride up to that. . .aqueduct landslide and blast it clear.

Mendoza [coming up behind de Soto]
But Saragosa shoot every scout we sent out there.

de Soto
Yes, but they were dressed in uniform.  If we use the clothes from the man Don Alejandro shot, a lancer, a brave lancer, dressed in those clothes might be able to bluff his way past the sentries.

Mendoza [nervously]
Yes but if he fails. . .  He would be killed.

de Soto [turning and putting his hand on Mendoza's shoulder]
But Sergeant. . . [Mendoza turns his head to look at de Soto's hand on his shoulder.] You'll be a hero.

[Mendoza looks at de Soto incredulously.]

[Exterior night shot of the tavern.]

[Interior shot of the tavern as Victoria walks across the room, carrying a blanket.  A baby cries as people are sleeping on the floor and on tables. Diego leans up against a wall looking out a window as Felipe sits at a table, resting his head on his arms and sleeping.]

Victoria [coming up to Diego]
Any sign of Zorro yet?

Diego [turning away from the window]
No, afraid not.

Victoria
You really should try to get some sleep, Don Diego.  We've done all we can now.

Diego
Yes, I suppose we have. [She hands him the blanket.] Thank you.

[She smiles and walks away.  Diego steps over to Felipe and pats him on the back, waking him up.  Diego rolls his eyes toward the door.  Felipe stands up.  Diego put the blanket on a child sleeping on a table with its mother.]

[Exterior night shot of the pueblo as a wolf howls.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel yard as de Soto peers around a corner.]

Mendoza [off camera]
Alcalde!

de Soto [putting up his hand]
Shh!

Mendoza [whispering as he emerges from the shadows]
Alcalde, Alcalde. . .  I just don't feel right taking the clothes off a bandit.

de Soto [handing Mendoza something]
Here's the dynamite, Sergeant.  You blow that aqueduct and we'll have water.

[He pats Mendoza on the back.]

[Mendoza leads a horse of the cuartel yard.]

Mendoza
Why me?

[De Soto pumps his first triumphantly then turns to his left.]

[Exterior night shot of the plaza as Diego sneaks around the corner of a building to where Felipe is standing near a short wooden door.  Diego opens the squeaky door and looks inside.]

Diego
Not even a trickle.  They must have stopped water above the wellhead pond.  Wish me luck.]

[He pats Felipe's arm then starts to go through the doorway.  Felipe grabs his arm.]

Diego
Yes, I know it's dangerous.  If that dam gives way while I'm in the aqueduct, I'll drown.  But if Zorro if ever going to appear, I've got to get outside the plaza.

[He ducks down and goes through the door.  Felipe closes it behind him.]

[Interior shot of the aqueduct as Diego walks through the cob webs.]

[Exterior night shot of the countryside as one of the bandits climbs down off a rock and walks forward, holding a musket.]

Bandit
Nadira!  We thought they had you.

Mendoza [with his hat pulled down over his face as he approaches on horseback]
Escaped.  Where's camp?

Bandit
It's over the next rise, amigo.

Mendoza
(closed captions says ‘okay', it sounds like he say ‘ali')

[He rides off to his right.]

[Interior shot of the aqueduct as Diego crawls on his belly through it.]

[Exterior night shot of the countryside as Mendoza dismounts his horse and then walks down a hillside.]

[Interior shot of the aqueduct as Diego continues to crawl on his belly.]

[Exterior night shot of the countryside as Mendoza walks up behind a rock.]

Mendoza
Water, water, water. [He then puts the dynamite in a crack of the rock.]

[Interior shot of the aqueduct as Diego continues to crawl on his belly.]

Mendoza [off camera and whose voice causes Diego to stop crawling]
The Alcalde is right, I will be called glorious, heroic. . .

[Exterior night shot of the countryside as Mendoza chuckles and lights the fuse.]

[Interior shot of the aqueduct as Diego starts crawling again.]

[Closeup shot of the fuse as it burns toward the dynamite.]

[Exterior night shot of the countryside as a group of bandits ride near the top of a hill.  Mendoza remounts his horse and rides away.  Diego emerges from a hole in the ground not far from the burning fuse.  Saragosa and his man look around as they ride down the hill.  Diego runs to his left then falls face down as the dynamite explodes.  The bandits's horses whinny and one rears, unseating its rider.]

Bandit
They blew the dam!

[Closeup shot of water flowing freely down the rocks.]

[Exterior night shot of the countryside.]

Saragosa
So, they want to play games with Saragosa, huh? [He puts out a pistol.] We attack tonight!  No prisoners!  We kill them all.

[He and the other bandits turn their horses around and ride back up the hill.]

Bandit
We get them tonight!

Another Bandit
What about my horse?

A Third Bandit
Leave him!

[Diego gets up off the ground and runs up the hill.  The bandit's horse comes up to him and he gets on it then rides away.]

[Exterior night shot of the tavern as Don Alejandro and Victoria come out onto the porch.]

Don Alejandro
What was that?

[Water is heard flowing off camera.]

Victoria [stepping out into the plaza]
Don Alejandro!  Look!  Water!

[Water is flowing out of the fountain again.  Victoria and Don Alejandro smile as other people come out of the tavern.]

Voices
Oh, bueno!  It's water!

[People move toward the fountain.]

[Exterior shot of the pueblo as the sun rises over the horizon and a rooster crows.  A lone lancer stands guard.]

[Exterior day shot of the hidden cave entrance as the hillside opens and Zorro and Toronado ride out of it.]

[Exterior shot of the plaza as people gather around the fountain.  Don Alejandro beckons people forward.]

Don Alejandro
Come, everyone, get your water.  There you go. . .

de Soto [as he moves through the crowd]
Enjoy, good people, enjoy.

Don Alejandro [looking up at de Soto]
My hat's off to you, Alcalde, if you had anything to do with this.

de Soto [smugly]
Only the product of effective leadership, de la Vega, that's all.

[A gunshot is heard off camera.]

[Exterior shot of the pueblo gate as Saragosa and his men ride under it.]

[Exterior shot of the plaza as de Soto pushes people in front of him.]

de Soto
Madre de Dios!  Out of my way!

[He falls face down on the ground.  People scatter about the plaza.  Don Alejandro and several other people stand in front of the tavern as the bandits ride into town.  De Soto peeks up over the edge of the fountain.  Saragosa and his men come to a halt in front of the church.]

Saragosa [shaking his pistol in the air]
You'll pay for this water. . .with your lives!

Don Alejandro [defiantly]
We already have.  This entire pueblo was built on our sweat and our blood. [He holds up his right index finger and shakes it at Saragosa.] And we're not giving you one part of it. [Saragosa looks amused.] Have you ever heard of strength in numbers?

Saragosa
I laugh at your numbers.  Ha!  Ha!  Ha!

[Don Alejandro nods angrily as the other bandits start laughing too.]

Saragosa
I am Saragosa!  Attack!

[A woman holding a pot pulls out a pistol from it and shoots off Saragosa's hat.  A man whips out a pistol and shoots the pistol out of a bandit's hand.  People pop out of several places and shoot at the bandits.  Don Alejandro pulls out a sword.]

Don Alejandro [through clenched teeth]
You tell your men to dismount.  Now!

Saragosa [looking around nervously]
You people. . . are very clever.  Si, muchachos.

[The bandits dismount their horses.  De Soto gets to his feet.]

de Soto
Take them to the cuartel!

[A man with a musket runs up and points at Saragosa.]

Saragosa
Never!

[He pulls out a pistol and shoot the man.  He laughs evilly while spinning the pistol in his hand before he throws it.  He turns and rides off.]

de Soto
Lancers!

[The bandits look around as Saragosa rides through the people.]

Saragosa [to his men]
Don't move!

de Soto
Zorro!  Zorro!

[He runs over to the cuartel gates as Zorro rides out from behind the church, carrying his whip in his right hand.]

Voices
Zorro!  Zorro!  Zorro!

Victoria [to Don Alejandro in a relieved voice]
At last.

[Don Alejandro nods.]

Saragosa
He's mine, my friends.

[He holds out his musket in front of him and rides forward.  Zorro rides at him, swinging his whip over his head.  They ride past each other and Saragosa's musket hits the ground.  Zorro turns and comes to a stop as Saragosa shakes his left hand.]

Saragosa
Zorro, together we can own this pueblo!

Zorro
This pueblo belongs to the people.

[People start cheering as Zorro unsheathes his saber and raises it into the air.  Saragosa draws out his own sword and they ride toward each other again, both brandishing their swords.  They ride past each other again then turn then come to a halt.]

Zorro
As much as I'm enjoying this, someone is liable to get hurt.

Saragosa
Aah!

[They ride at each other a third time.  As they pass each other, Zorro slices a ‘Z' into Saragosa's vest.  Saragosa falls off his horse.  Zorro brings Toronado to a halt and dismounts.  Saragosa rolls over and crawls over to his sword as Zorro walks up to him.]

Saragosa [as he gets to his feet]
You think you're such a hero. Well. . . you're going to die. [He lunges at Zorro with his sword.] Aah!  Aah!

[He swings his sword wildly at Zorro who parries then grabs Saragosa by his right arm.]

Zorro
The only heroes here are the very people you seek to destroy.

[He brings his saber down onto Saragosa's sword and knocks it from his hand.  Zorro then twists Saragosa around and punches him in the face.]

Zorro
The farmers. . . [He punches Saragosa again.] The shopkeepers. . . [He grabs Saragosa by the throat.] The mothers and father who keep their families together in the face of any adversity.

[He punches Saragosa again three times in quick succession.  Saragosa falls face down on the ground.]

Zorro
They are the true heroes in this world and they are what dooms men like you to failure.

[Closeup shot of Saragosa sneaking a knife out of his shirt sleeve.]

[Exterior shot of the plaza as Zorro goes over to where Victoria stands next to Don Alejandro.]

Zorro
Señorita. . .

Victoria
I knew you would come.

[Zorro brings her hand to his lips.  Behind him, Saragosa gets to his feet, holding out the knife.]

Victoria [seeing Saragosa]
Behind you!

[Zorro spins around and punches Saragosa, sending him rolling along the ground.]

Saragosa
Aaah!

[He then lies still.  Don Alejandro goes over and crouches down beside Saragosa, pistol in hand.  He rolls Saragosa over to show the knife sticking from his belly.  Zorro looks ill.]

Victoria [to Zorro]
You didn't have a choice.  He tried to kill you.

Zorro
We always have a choice, Señorita.  I, for one, choose life.

de Soto [off camera]
El Zorro!

[Exterior shot of the cuartel as de Soto and the lancers run out of the gates.]

de Soto
Hurry, men!

[Exterior shot of the plaza as Zorro steps up to Victoria.]

Zorro [touching his hand to her face]
Adios, mi preciosa.

[De Soto and the lancers run across the plaza.]

de Soto [stopping and pointing]
Fire!

[Zorro jumps onto Toronado's back and rides away as people cheer.]

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

[Exterior shot of the plaza as people and lancers mill about and talk in groups.]

Mendoza [talking to Diego, Don Alejandro, Victoria, and de Soto]
So, there I was, all alone in the dead of night, surrounded by these murderous desperados.

Don Alejandro [clapping]
Bravo, Sergeant Mendoza.  [Diego starts clapping too.] No. . .  Let's face it, the pueblo de Los Angeles owes you a great debt, sir.

de Soto
Of course, it was my plan the sergeant carried out.

[Don Alejandro shakes his head.]

Diego [standing up and patting Mendoza's arm]
I must say I'm in awe of anyone who would volunteer for such a risky mission.

Don Alejandro
Here, here.

Mendoza
Thank you, Don Diego.

Victoria [looking over at Don Alejandro]
However, it was Zorro who finally freed us from Saragosa.

Don Alejandro [looking over the top of her head]
And I say good riddance.

[A flatbed wagon pulled by two horses drives by carrying a coffin.  A woman makes the sign of the cross as it passes in front of her.]

Diego [a bit agitated]
Where are they taking him?

de Soto
The paupers' cemetery.  Unmarked grave.

Diego [looking concerned]
But where's the padre?

de Soto
I hardly felt that was necessary.

Diego [a bit more agitated]
Someone should say something.  Read some words or something.

Don Alejandro
Saragosa's death is not a great loss, Diego.

Diego
You brought me up to believe that the death of any man diminishes us all.

Don Alejandro
I know that, son.  But he was a murderer.

Diego [nearly hysterical]
But he was also a man!

de Soto [eyeing Diego curiously]
I don't quite understand your concern, Diego.  After all, it was Zorro who killed him.

Diego
We all should say a prayer for Zorro as well.

[The church bell starts ringing.  Diego turns and follows after the wagon.  Don Alejandro nods and goes after Diego.  Victoria and Mendoza follow too.  De Soto eyes them all for a moment then falls in behind them.  The bell continues to ring as they all follow Saragosa's coffin out of the pueblo.]

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

Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland 2 & 3 August 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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