Written by Gary Stephen Rieck
Directed by Robert L McCullough

First US Airdate 29 March 1992 Episode 3.21

[Exterior shot of the tavern with several people standing around in front of it.]

Diego [off camera at first]
He's a bit embarrassed about falling off his horse.

[Diego is leaning against the bar inside the tavern, talking to Victoria.]

Victoria [as Diego takes a sip of coffee from a white cup]
Your poor father. [She shakes her head.] But was he hurt badly?

Diego
Well, between some broken ribs and his wounded pride, I doubt he'll riding for a while.

Victoria
Well, I'm sure it could have been worse.

Diego [taking another sip]
Hmm.  I think his greatest regret is sending me to Santa Paula in his place.

Victoria
Santa Paula?  Isn't that where the Royal Spanish emissary is at the moment?

Diego
Yes.  He was looking forward to meeting with him to discuss the Alcalde's new tax initiative.

[He takes another sip of his coffee.]

Victoria [incredulously]
And your father trusts you to speak on the behalf of the pueblo?

Diego [a bit offended]
He certainly does.  And since I leave in the morning, I'll get my things together. [He sets a coin down on the bar.] Gracias.  Adios.

[Victoria stares down at the coin, open-mouthed as Diego leaves.  She then grabs something to her right.]

[Diego emerges from the front door of the de la Vega hacienda, carrying a suitcase.  He shuts the door behind him.]

Diego
I feel better about leaving knowing the Alcalde's away.

[Felipe waits at the gate, holding the reins of Diego's horse.  Felipe draws a ‘Z' in the air with his right index finger.]

Diego [chuckling]
He feels better about it too.  I won't be gone long.  Take good care of my father while I'm away. [He pats Felipe on the arm.  I'll be back soon.

[Victoria drives up then in a one-horse cart.  She comes to a halt in front of Diego and Felipe.]

Diego [walking up to greet her]
Señorita, good morning.

Victoria
Diego, I'm going with you.

[A horse's whinny catches Diego's attention and he sees two men riding in the distance to his right.]

Diego [distractedly]
I beg your pardon.

Victoria [after climbing down from her cart]
You will need my help pleading our case to the King's emissary.

Diego [still watching the two riders]
You don't say.

[The two men ride closer to the hacienda as Diego watches.]

Victoria
Diego?  Diego de la Vega!  You haven't heard a word I said!

Diego [chuckling as he turns his attention to her]
Of course I have.  But how would it look?  The two of us traveling alone together?  Think of the gossip.

Victoria [smiling]
Gossip?  About you and me?  Don't be silly.

[Diego walks away from her to greet the two riders who come to a halt in front of the hacienda.]

Diego
Hola!  Buenos dias, señores.

One of the Men
Buenos dias.  How far to Los Angeles?

Diego [pointing to his left]
About two miles down the road. [Victoria comes up to stand beside him.] You've come far?  You look as if you had a hard journey.

Man
Si.  The Santa Paula bridge is out.

Diego [to Victoria]
Ah.  Then it looks like you won't be joining me after all.

Victoria [a bit defiantly]
I'm sure Don Alejandro would not refuse me the load of one of his horses.

Man
A strong-willed woman, Señor.

[Victoria glares at the man then turns and walks away.  Diego smiles sheepishly and shrugs.]

Man
If she were mine, I'd put her in her place.

[He chuckles as Diego's expression turns to anger.]

Man
Adios.

[The two men ride off toward Los Angeles as Diego watches them go.  He then turns around.]

Diego
Felipe, take Señorita Escalante's wagon back to the tavern.  I'll saddle her a horse.

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

[Exterior shot of de Soto's office.  Two horses are tied to the hitching rail out front as one lancers slumps against the wall near the front door.]

[Mendoza is inside the office, sitting at de Soto's desk.  He opens a drawer and pulls out a cigar.  He sniffs the cigar before putting it inside his jacket.  He closes the drawer.  Three knocks sound on the door.]

Mendoza [going through another drawer]
Come in.

[The door opens to reveal a man wearing a leather apron followed by another taller man.]

Man in the Leather Apron [carrying a pair of boots and a belt]
Buenos dias, Señor.

[The other man closes the door behind them.]

Man in the Leather Apron
We finished your order.

[He sets the belt and the boots on top of the desk.]

Mendoza
Oh, fine, Renaldo, fine.  Eh, tell me, how long to fix my saddle?
 

Renaldo
Uhh. . . We're very busy.  But we'll be happy to work on it. . .tomorrow.

Mendoza [as he stamps paper with de Soto's seal]
Good.  Put it on the Alcalde's bill.

Renaldo [not looking too happy]
Mm-hmm.

Mendoza [glancing up]
That will be all.

[The two men look at each other as Mendoza goes back to stamping papers.  They turn and leave the office.  Mendoza takes out a pocketwatch, looks at it then smiles.  He stands up as he sets the watch down on the desk.  He pauses then picks up a pile of papers from a box labeled ‘In' and puts them in a box labeled ‘Out'.]

[Exterior shot of Diego and Victoria riding past a rose garden and coming to a halt in front of a large pink adobe building.]

Diego [as a man comes out of the building and takes their horses's reins]
Well, here we are.  Santa Paula.  Beautiful, isn't it?

Victoria [as they dismount]
Yes, Diego.  It's lovely.
[Exterior shot of the tavern as a man pushes a cart through the plaza in front of it and other people mill about.]

[Inside the tavern, Mendoza is sitting at a table as a man places a bowl of food in front of him.]

Mendoza [unfolding his napkin]
I hope I'm going to like this, Perez.

Perez [as Mendoza shoves his napkin in the front of his jacket]
Oh you will, Sergeant.  I'm the best cook in the entire territory.  The absolute best.

[Mendoza smiles at Perez disbelievingly and Perez leaves.  The two men whom Diego encountered earlier sit at a table behind Mendoza.]

One of the Men [to his companion]
Just find them and bring them here.

[The other man gets up and leaves.]

Man [looking over at Perez who has his back to him]
Innkeeper.  Tequila.

[Perez doesn't pay attention as he is serving other customers.  The man grabs Perez's arm and pulls him over to his table.]

Man
Do you hear me?  I said tequila.   Now!

[Mendoza comes over to the table.[

Mendoza
Uh. . . Señor, excuse me. [He points at Perez then moves him aside.] Is there some kind of trouble here?

Man
When I need a lazy dog, I'll whistle.

Mendoza [authoritatively]
I am the alcalde of this pueblo. [He squares his shoulders.] Let's be pleasant, eh?  Or you'll be eating in the stockade.

[Renaldo comes up to the table then followed by two other men.]

Renaldo [to the man at the table]
Oh, you're here.

Man [shaking Renaldo's hand]
Hello, Renaldo.

[He pats Renaldo on the arm.]

Mendoza [looking puzzled]
Renaldo, you know this man?

Renaldo [hesitantly]
Yes. . . We work together.

Mendoza [incredulously]
He is a tanner?

Renaldo [removing his straw sombrero]
No.  He is a. . .trapper. . .from the Indian territory.

Mendoza
Well, that explains it.  His lack of manners. . .

[Mendoza walks back over to this table and sits down.  Perez sits down across from him.]

Perez
He was lucky you were here, Sergeant.  I would have torn them apart.

Mendoza
Perez, there are four of them.

Perez
No problem.  When it comes to a fight, Sergeant, I am the best.

[Mendoza starts chuckling as Perez gets up and leaves.  The four men at their table watch Perez go toward the kitchen.]

Renaldo
The Alcalde went to Monterey and left his sergeant in charge.  We picked the perfect time to rob them blind.

Man
So when do we do it?

Renaldo
Tonight.

[The man chuckles as he gets up and puts on his hat.  He walks past Felipe who is sitting at a table with some other boys his age.  Felipe watches the man leave then looks over at the other men at the table worriedly.]

[Diego and Victoria are back on their horses in front of the pink adobe building.  They start to ride away and a man waves at them.]

Man
Adios.

Victoria [as they ride past the rose garden]
It's so beautiful here, Diego.

[Exterior shot of Diego and Victoria riding along the edge of the ocean, their horses splashing through the water.]

Victoria
Why couldn't we have stayed in Santa Paula?

Diego
I promised my father I'd bring him news of the meeting right away.

Victoria
I think we're riding into a storm.

[Thunder is heard as they ride under a darkening sky.]

Victoria
See.  I told you we should have taken rooms for the night in Santa Paula.

Diego
But we didn't.  There's an old abandoned windmill about a mile up that way. [He points to his right.] I thin we can make it there before the storm hits.

[Exterior shot of a windmill as lightening flashes and thunder booms.  Two horses are tied up outside]

[Inside, Victoria sits and warms her hands near a fire.  She hugs her jacket tighter as Diego comes in, carrying an armload of firewood.  The storm rages on outside.]

Diego [crouching down as he sets the wood down near the fire]
I think it's getting worse out there.

[Diego stands up, rubbing his hands together.  Victoria looks up at him as he blows on his hands.  He looks back at her and notices she is shivering.  He bends down and places his hands on her arms then brings her to her feet.  She stares at him curiously.]

Diego
Excuse me.

[He moves her to his right before picking up the bench she was sitting on.]

Diego
Right.

[He sets the bench down on its end then goes over toward their luggage and picks up a blanket.]

Diego
I'm glad we brought these blankets.

[He spreads out the blanket on the floor.]

Victoria
You mean we're spending the night here?

Diego
Well, the storm doesn't give us much choice.

[He spreads out another blanket on the floor.]

Diego
There, that will make the floor more comfortable.

[He goes over and picks up the bench then places it lengthwise between the two blankets.  He gives the bench a firm pat.]

Victoria
And what is this?

Diego [as he places a bag of flour? on the blanket to his right]
Your side. [He places another bag on the blanket to his left.] My side.

Victoria [amused]
How very proper.

Diego
I wouldn't have it any other way.  (liar)

Victoria [indignantly]
And neither would I.

[Diego lies down on ‘his' blanket, his back to her.  She just stares at him.  He rolls over and looks up at her.]

Diego
Good night.

[He lies back down a Victoria continues to stare at him.]

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

[Exterior shot of the de la Vega hacienda at night as crickets chirp.]

[Inside the secret cave, Toronado shakes his mane and whinnies.  Felipe is in front of a mirror, dressed in a black shirt as he ties Zorro's mask over his head.  He takes Zorro's hat off a rack and places it on his head.  He adjusts the mask as he walks over to Toronado.  Felipe pats Toronado on the neck but Toronado tosses his head, knocking Felipe back.  Felipe tries to take the reins but Toronado pushes his away.  Felipe pats Toronado on the neck again.  Toronado pushes Felipe again, almost knocking him over.  Felipe pats Toronado once more and Toronado pushes him away.  Zorro's hat falls from Felipe's head and he bends down to pick it up.]

[Inside the windmill, Victoria is sitting on the bench, warming her hands.  Diego has his eyes open and is staring at her back.  She turns to look back at him and he quickly closes his eyes.  She turns back to the fire. Diego opens his eyes again to stare at her.  She turns again to look over at him, he closes his eyes again.  She turns back to the fire then quickly turns back to look at him.  He had opened his eyes and tried to close them before she noticed.  She turns back to the fire again, smiling smugly.]

Victoria
You were very impressive today.

Diego [pretending to wake up]
Ahem.  Was I?  Oh, thank you.

Victoria
Although speech-making is very different from action, isn't it?

[She turns around to look at him.]

Victoria
Why don't you ever do anything?

Diego
Oh, I do lots of things.  I read. . .play the piano. . .write poetry. . .

Victoria
I know all about those things.  But isn't there something you want above everything else?  Something you must have?

Diego [sitting up]
Yes!

[He stares longingly at Victoria whose expression looks hopeful.]

Diego
I. . .

[He continues to stare longingly at her.]

Diego [finally nodding his head]
Sleep.  I must have sleep.

[He lies back down on his blanket.  She stares at him open-mouthed before turning back to the fire & rolling her eyes.  She goes to lie down on the blanket on ‘her' side, still staring over at him.]

[Close-up shot of their fire burning brightly.]

Victoria [off camera at first]
The fire reminds me when my mother used to read me poems and adventures stories. . . [Diego lies awake, his back to her and looking nervous.] . . .of love and courage.  ‘Love has no rhyme and no reason.  It strikes with a passionate fire, engulfing the hearts in flame. . .'

Diego
‘And only your cool, sweet lips will quench my burning desire.'

[Victoria sits up and props her arms on the bench and stares at Diego curiously.  He gets a very worried look on his face.]

Victoria
Diego, something happened today.  Something I've never noticed before.  When you stood up to the King's emissary, there was something about you. . .  Well, you seemed different somehow.

[The wind howls outside and a gust causes the door of the windmill to blow open.  The horses whinny as lightening flashes.  Diego jumps up and rushes over to close the door.  Victoria hugs herself, shivering.  Diego secures the latch then turns around.]

Diego
Oh, you're chilled.  Here.

[He takes off his jacket and crouching down, drapes it over her shoulders.]

Diego
Get this around you.

[He rubs his hands up and down her arms as she huddles inside his jacket.  He suddenly stops rubbing her and stares down at her longingly.]

Victoria [a bit unnerved]
Thank you, Diego.

[He stands back up and goes over to ‘his' side and lies back down on his blanket, facing away from her.  She lies down on her blanket too.

Diego [in a husky voice]
Good night, Victoria.

Victoria
Good night, Diego.

[He smiles.]

[Exterior shot of the plaza at night as a coyote howls.]

[Two men wait inside de Soto's office as Mendoza walks through the front door, taking off his hat.]

Renaldo [off camera at first]
See?  [He is sitting behind de Soto's desk.] Your saddle is ready, Alcalde.

Mendoza [walking up to the desk and seeing the saddle]
Oh, it's beautiful, Renaldo.  What a pleasant surprise.

[One of the men walks up behind Mendoza and puts his hand on Mendoza's shoulder then bows mockingly.]

Man
Indeed it is, Alcalde.

[He laughs as does Renaldo.]

Mendoza
What is this?

Renaldo
A robbery.

Man [grabbing Mendoza's jacket front]
Now, Alcalde, let's take a look at the safe, shall we?

[He lets go of Mendoza's then wipes his hands down the front of Mendoza's uniform.  Mendoza stands in the middle of the office, speechless.]

[Exterior shot of the plaza at night as Felipe rides into town on his pinto pony.  He is wearing his regular clothes.  He dismounts then walks over to de Soto's office.]

Renaldo [off camera]
We're not playing games here.  It's going to be a long night for all of us.  Especially for you, Alcalde.

[Felipe walks along the side of the office and walks up to a window.]

Renaldo [still off camera]
If you don't cooperate. . .

Mendoza [off camera]
I. . . I can't

Renaldo [off camera]
My patience is wearing thin.

[Felipe looks through the window.  Mendoza is tied to de Soto's chair as Renaldo and the other man stand on either side of him.]

Renaldo
Tell us the combination for the safe!

[The other man slams his hand on the desk as Felipe watches from the window.]

Renaldo
Now!  Don't force me to turn Chato loose on you.

[Felipe steps away from the window and goes over, sitting down on something next to a wall.  He tiredly rubs his face.]

[Exterior shot of the tavern at night.]

[Exterior shot of Felipe asleep, his head listing to his left.]

[Exterior shot of the pueblo gate as the sun rises.]

[Exterior shot of the sun rising at chickens cluck and crow.]

[Exterior shot of Victoria and Diego riding down a road.  Victoria stops her horse.]

Victoria
Diego, I can go alone from here.  You should go and see your father.

Diego
Yes, I should.  I'm glad you came along.

[Victoria smiles at him.]

Victoria
I'll see you at the tavern later.

[She urges her horse forward and rides toward the pueblo gate.  Diego watches her ride away with a wistful smile on his face.  Victoria rides through the gate and into the pueblo.]

[Felipe is still sleeping outside de Soto's office.]

[Inside the office, Renaldo and Chato lean over Mendoza, who is still tied up.]

Renaldo
Sergeant, it's been a long night.  Now, for the last time, tell us the combination to the safe or I'll let Chato kill you!

[Felipe wakes up and gets to his feet, then goes over to the office window.]

Mendoza [off camera at first]
Señor, if I don't tell you, you will kill me.  If I do tell you, the Alcalde will kill me when he comes back.  What is the difference?

Chato [putting a knife to Mendoza's throat]
The difference is I'd enjoy kill you.

[Felipe spies through the office window.]

Mendoza
I. . .can't.

Renaldo
Finish him now, Chato.

Mendoza
No.  Wait.  Please.  I will tell you.

Renaldo
Wise choice, Alcalde. [to Chato] Get the saddlebags.

[Felipe sneaks away from the window.]

Mendoza [off camera as Felipe walks over to his horse]
The combination is left sixteen. . .one. . .fifty-one. . .zero. . .two. . .

[Felipe unties his horse, mounts up and rides away.]

[Renaldo and Chato laugh off camera.  Mendoza is now gagged.]

Renaldo [off camera]
Thanks for the gold, Alcalde.

[Chato carries the saddlebags on his left shoulder and heads out the door, followed by Renaldo and the other two robbers.  Renaldo stop and turns around to face Mendoza as the others continue out the door.]

Renaldo [putting on his straw hat]
Enjoy your saddle.

[He leaves and one of the others shut the office door as Mendoza struggles to get free.]

[The four robber ride across the plaza.]

Voices
Hey, hey, ole!  Let's get out of here. [They all laugh.] Caballeros.  Adelante!

[Felipe is hiding behind the pueblo gate.  He lets the robbers pass through it before urging his horse forward.  He rides up alongside Chato and grabs the saddlebags off Chato's shoulder.  Felipe then veers off to his left.]

Chato
Hey!  Get the boy!

[The robbers all pull up for a moment then start chasing after Felipe.]

Voices
After him!  Hyah!  Go caballeros!  Hyah!  Hyah!

[Inside the secret cave, an envelope addressed to ‘Don Diego' sit on a piece of equipment?.]

Diego [off camera at first]
Felipe!

[Diego walks into the cave, carrying his jacket.  Toronado snorts at him.  Diego hangs his jacket on the piece of equipment, covering the envelope, while looking over at Toronado.  He goes over and sits down at his desk.  He picks up a white feather quill and looks at it curiously then he shuts the open lid on the inkwell.  Toronado whinnies loudly.  Diego looks up and smiles.]

Diego
What is it, boy?  You miss me?

[Toronado continues to snort and paw at the ground in agitation.]

Diego
What's wrong?

[He gets up and walks over toward Toronado.  He places his hand on the piece of equipment and knocks off his jacket.  He looks down and notices the envelope.  Diego picks it up, opens it, and reads it.  A muscle twitches in his cheek as he looks angry.]

[Felipe is riding down a hillside as the four robbers chase him.]

Voice
There he goes!

[At the bottom of the hill, Felipe dismounts nears some large boulders.  The robbers also dismount and start running across the rocky terrain.  Felipe climbs up a rocky, steep hillside, still carrying the saddlebags.]

Renaldo
Up on the rocks!  Be careful!

[Felipe keeps climbing.  Renaldo is right behind him.]

Renaldo
Give back those saddlebags!

[The other robbers also start to close in as Felipe climbs higher.]

Renaldo
Come here, my friend! [to the other robbers] Cut him off!

[Renaldo catches up with Felipe when Felipe can't get a foothold on a large boulder.  Renaldo rips the saddlebags from Felipe's shoulder.]

Renaldo
You will pay for this, my little friend.

[He raises his arm to strike Felipe.  Felipe puts up his fists to block the intended blow.]

Zorro [off camera at first]
On the contrary, amigo, it is you who will pay!

[Felipe turns around to look up at Zorro, who is standing above them, saber drawn.]

Renaldo [pointing at Zorro]
It's Zorro! [He turns around and faces the other robbers.] He's worth more than all the money in those saddlebags! [He throws the saddlebags down and points at Zorro again.] Get him!

[The other robbers climb up the rocks toward Zorro.  He kicks down loose rocks on them, hitting one on the head.  A second man reaches the top only to have Zorro kick him in the face.  The man falls backward down the cliff.  Chato comes at Zorro with a pistol.  Zorro uses his whip to knock it from Chato's hand.  Felipe smiles up at Zorro.  Zorro jumps down from the top of the rocks and lands in front of Chato, who has drawn out his sword.]

Chato
I am going to slice you into little pieces.

Zorro
I'm not ham, Señor.

[Zorro salutes Chato with his saber.  Chato makes a rude noise before lunging at Zorro.  They duel for a few moments before Zorro takes a swipe at Chato's waist with his saber.  Chato's pants fall to the ground.]

Chato [looking at his pants around his ankles]
Huh?

[Renaldo charges at Zorro but Zorro kicks him in the chest.  Chato pulls up his pants and tries to hold them up with one hand while lunging at Zorro again.  Zorro punches him and he falls to the ground.  Zorro slashes a ‘Z' into Chato's clothes.]

Zorro
If you plan to capture Zorro, Señores, you can't do it lying down.

[Zorro puts his hand on the back of Felipe's neck.]

Zorro
Coming?

[They walk away as the robbers lie unconscious on the ground.]

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

[Exterior shot of the tavern porch where Mendoza and Perez sit at a table.  Victoria carries a tray containing a pitcher and two glasses to their table.]

Mendoza [glumly propping up his head with his hands]
What am I going to do?

Perez
Don't worry, Sergeant.  I'll think of something.

Victoria [as she places the pitcher and glass on their table]
Don't you have any confidence in your men?

Mendoza [ignoring her question]
What is the Alcalde going to say?

[Something to Mendoza's right catches his eye and he stand up.]

Mendoza
What is this?

[The four robbers ride into town on two horses.  They are tied together.  Mendoza rushes over toward them.]

Mendoza
Madre de Dios!

Perez [as Zorro comes around the right side of the tavern]
It's Zorro!

Zorro
Good afternoon, Sergeant.  Please accept these prisoners as a gift from me.

Mendoza [confused]
Zorro?

Zorro
I think you'll find what you're looking for in the leader's saddlebags.

Victoria [stepping into his line of vision]
Señor Zorro. . .

Zorro [tipping his head]
Adios.

Victoria [plaintively]
Will you ever be able to stay?

Zorro
Your smile almost quenches my burning desire.

[He touches his hand to his lips then rides away.  Victoria watches him go with a smile on her face.  She turns away but does a double-take as she obviously realizes what he just said.]

Victoria [looking confused]
Huh?

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

Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland  8 December 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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