Written by Robert L McCullough
Directed by Michael Vejar

First US Airdate 9 February 1990 Episode 1.6

[A man drives a wagon pulled by a white horse up to the gate of the de la Vega hacienda.  Don Alejandro opens the gate and greets the man.]

Don Alejandro
Macias, como esta.

Macias
I brought you some fresh beans.

Don Alejandro [climbing up to look at the beans in the wagon bed]
Ah, they're beautiful.  I'll buy them all.

Macias
Oh no they are not for sale.  These are a gift in return for your patience.  At the very least, I should have least paid the interest.

Don Alejandro [waving his hand]
Ah, the Alcalde's taxes are outrageous enough without one friend charging another interest.

[Diego rides up to Macias's wagon.]

Diego
Macias.

Macias
Hola, Don Diego.  I was just telling your father it won't be long until I repay my loan. . .

Don Alejandro
And I was telling him not to bother.

Macias
. . .because I have something that will make me enough to repay my debts tenfold.

Don Alejandro
Tenfold?  That would be a lot of beans.

[He chuckles as does Diego.]

Macias
Oh, not beans, amigos.  Zeus.

[Don Alejandro looks over at Diego, who looks intrigued.]

[Macias leads the way into a barn and indicates something to Don Alejandro and Diego.]

Macias [as a horse snorts]
He is beautiful, no?

[A white horse with a gray mane and tail stands against the far wall.  Don Alejandro walks toward it.]

Don Alejandro [patting the horse]
What's he doing here?

Macias
Two years ago, my corn had failed and I was helping Don Esteban with a foaling mare.

Diego
Don Esteban's foal fetch quite a price.

Macias
Si, when they are healthy. [He goes over to Zeus.] His birth was difficult.  The foreleg was broken. [He pats Zeus's neck.] Don Esteban handed me a pistol and returned to the hacienda.  I knew what I was expected to do.  But such a beautiful creature. . .I couldn't.

Don Alejandro
You've kept him all this time?

Macias
Si.  I worked with the leg, nursed him back to health.  When he could stand, I taught him to walk.  When he could walk, I taught him to run.

Diego
So why haven't we seen him before?

Macias
We train at night.  He is my secret.  Zeus is going to make me a rich man.

Don Alejandro
How much you want for him?

Macias
He's is not for sale.  But I hear there is a caballero in the pueblo, from Monterey, looking for someone to challenge his horse to a race.  I'm betting everything I own on Zeus

Diego [walking over and sitting down on a bale of hay]
This caballero from Monterey. . . wouldn't happen to be named Señor Herrera by any chance?

Macias
Well yes, that is his name.  You've heard of him?

Diego
I'm afraid we have.

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

[Mendoza with his left arm in a sling is yelling at two lancers who are constructing something with poles in the plaza.]

Mendoza
Carefully.  Carefully now.

[He walks around them and says something in Spanish.  Diego and don Alejandro ride up on their horses.]

Diego
Sergeant?  You're not well?

Mendoza
Ah, I had a terrible accident, Don Diego.  I was driving the military supply wagon and the horse took the bit in its teeth and drove straight into the posts.

Diego
The strength of an uncontrolled horse is most impressive.

Mendoza
I hate horses.  They are so big and they have such a little brain.  They are very dangerous animals.

[Don Alejandro and Diego chuckles as they ride away.]

[Inside the tavern, Victoria is carrying some dishes past the bar.]

Herrera [off camera at first]
The air is too dry in this part of the territory to properly breed a decent mount

[He takes a drink from his glass as Victoria comes up behind him.]

Victoria [picking up more empty glasses]
Some people might disagree with that.

Herrera
Señorita, please.  Nothing can compare to my Arabian.

[Don Alejandro and Diego walk into the tavern then.]

Don Alejandro
You're entitled to your opinion, of course.

Herrera [as Don Alejandro and Diego walk past him]
Well, if it isn't the de la Vegas.  Do I sense a challenge here?

Don Alejandro
Ah, what would be the point?  Our horses are the finest in the territory, my son is an excellent rider.

Diego
Father, please.

Herrera
Prove it.

[Diego turns around to looks at Herrera.]

[Diego, riding a white horse, races into the pueblo ahead of Herrera who is riding a brown horse.  Mendoza waves a red handkerchief as they ride past him.  Don Alejandro claps as both riders slow their mounts.]

Don Alejandro [to Victoria]
He made it look easy.

[Diego rides over to the hitching rail in front of the tavern.  Don Alejandro walks over to him as he dismounts.]

Don Alejandro
Good riding, son.

Diego [looking over at Herrera]
Thank you, Father, but. . .

Herrera [riding up to them]
Don Diego, Abdullah is a little tired from our journey.

Diego
Is that why you pulled him up short?

Herrera [sliding off his horse and walking up to Diego]
I did no such thing.  Maybe you'd like to back up your insult with a serious wager, huh?

Diego
I'm not a gambling man, Señor Herrera.

[He turns and walks toward the tavern.]

Don Alejandro [condescendingly]
Besides, I think Abdullah has had enough, don't you?

[He turns and goes into the tavern too.  Herrera follows.]

[Diego walks inside the tavern, shaking his head.  He is followed by Don Alejandro, who is followed by Herrera.]

Herrera
Let's have a serious race, Don Diego, at a greater distance.  A real test of horse and rider.

Diego [as he and Don Alejandro sit down at a table where Victoria is standing]
Thank you for the offer but gambling is for the foolish.

Herrera
Is there not a sporting man amongst you?  Are there no challengers to my noble steed?

[Behind Herrera, Macias walks into the tavern.]

Macias
Si, Señor.  I will make that challenge.

[Don Alejandro, Victoria, and Diego all look over at Macias worriedly.]

[People place coins on a table in front of Don Alejandro, who writes something down.]

Don Alejandro [to Victoria who is standing next to him]
Why was I elected to do this?

Victoria [with a smile as a man hands her some coins]
Because you are. . .who you are.

[She places the coins on the table as Don Alejandro laughs.  Ramón walks up to them with a leather pouch.]

Ramón
Four thousand pesos on the farmer.

Don Alejandro [astonished]
Four thousand?

Ramón
Yes, it's every centavo I could lay my hands on.  If Don Diego can beat Señor Herrera, then the farm's horse is a sure thing.

[Don Alejandro looks up at Ramón with a concerned expression.]

[Herrera mounts his horse, then Macias mounts his.  Diego shakes Macias's hand.]

Mendoza [holding a pistol up in the air.]
Riders to the line!

[Macias rides up to the starting line as does Herrera.]

Mendoza
Ready!

[Everybody waits tensely.  Then Mendoza fires the pistol.  Both riders ride out of the pueblo toward the pueblo gate.  Diego and Victoria watch worriedly as Ramón smiles smugly.]

[The horses are neck and neck as they ride down a hill.  Macias pulls ahead of Herrera as they round a tree and start back uphill.  Herrera's horse catches up as they duck under branches that hang in their path.  Herrera whips his horse and it springs ahead as Macias's horse starts to slow down.  Macias looks very worried as Herrera pulls farther ahead.]

Ramón
What's going on?  Herrera's winning.

[Diego and Victoria try to see as does Don Alejandro.]

Don Alejandro [straining to see]
Impossible.

[Herrera rides into the pueblo ahead of Macias.  Mendoza waves the red handkerchief.  Diego walks away and Victoria follows him.  Ramón clenches his fist in anger.  Don Alejandro looks disappointed.  Herrera dismounts his horse.  Don Alejandro picks up a large pouch as Herrera heads toward him.  Herrera grabs the pouch from Don Alejandro and holds it up in the air.]

Herrera
To the victor goes the spoils.

Mendoza
I can't believe I lost a month's wages on that boy's horse.

[Ramón signals for two lancer to come with him.]

Mendoza [taking off his sling]
Horses.  Nothing but trouble.

[He angrily tosses his sling to the ground.  Macias brings his horse to a halt.  Diego comes up to him.]

Diego
Are you all right, Macias?

Macias
We lost.  Zeus didn't respond.  I don't know what happened.

[Diego pats Macias on the back.  Ramón marches up to them.]

Ramón
Now that you have no hope of paying your back taxes, I hereby confiscate your farm and all your personal property. . . [He grabs Zeus's reins.] Including this miserable horse.

[He hands the reins to a waiting lancer.]

Diego
Alcalde. . .

Ramón [pointing his finger in Diego's face]
You listen to me.  I have lost four thousand pesos.  Someone has got to pay.

[He walks away as Diego reassuringly grabs Macias's shoulder, shaking his head.]

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

[Mendoza is sitting at a table in the tavern, glumly eating a meal.  Diego and Don Alejandro sit with Macias.]

Macias
I want to see Zeus.

Don Alejandro
Pretty hard to do now that he's in the Alcalde's stable.

[Diego takes a drink of water then looks over at Mendoza.]

Diego [setting down his glass]
Come on.  I think I know someone who can help us.

[He gets to his feet.  Macias does as well as Don Alejandro looks on.]

[Mendoza leads Diego and Macias into a stall.]

Mendoza
If the Alcalde finds us here, I'll be saluting corporals.

[Macias runs into the stall ahead of Mendoza and Diego.  Zeus is lying in the hay, breathing heavily.]

Macias
Zeus!

Diego [as he and Macias kneel down beside Zeus]
What happened?  He's sick. [Macias strokes Zeus's side.] Something he's eaten.  Or something that's been given to him.

[He looks over at Mendoza who is crouched down by him.]

Diego
Go call the garrison blacksmith.

[Mendoza gets up and leaves as Macias continues to pat Zeus.]

[Mendoza walks into the tavern, carrying his hat and smiling.  He walks across the room to the table where Diego, Victoria, and Macias are seated and sits down.]

Mendoza
It was something he ate.  The blacksmith gave him some herbs to calm his stomach.  He's going to be fine.

Macias
Ah, gracias a Dios.

[He looks upward.  Victoria smiles as does Diego, who also lifts his glass.]

Macias
Do you really think that Señor Herrera would poison my horse?

Diego [looking across the tavern]
I don't know what to think.

Herrera [off camera at first]
If only you had the sense to bet on my horse instead. Well. . . [He chuckles evilly] Live and learn, eh?

Victoria [getting to her feet]
You don't have the fastest horse in California, you know.

Herrera
Really?  Then who does, Señorita.

Victoria [walking toward him]
Zorro.

Herrera
Ah, yes, the legendary fox of the night.  We have heard of him in Monterey too, hmm.

Victoria [walking behind the bar]
He also has an incredible horse named Toronado.

Mendoza
Nearly as smart as a man.

Victoria
Hah, and smarter than some.

[People laugh as Mendoza looks insulted.]

Herrera
Then where is he?  This legend and his wonder horse?

Diego
Zorro is a terribly unpredictable character.

[He takes a drink from his glass of water.]

Mendoza
Si, this is true.  He has a price on his head and he only comes out with good reason.

Herrera [setting his glass on the bar and walking toward Diego, Macias,  and Mendoza]
Then let's give him a good reason.  Another race.  If I lose, I return all that money.

Victoria [back at the table with Diego, Mendoza, and Macias]
And if you win?

Herrera
Then I shall own this incredible horse of Zorro's.  If Zorro ignores my challenge, then perhaps Toronado is not so special after all and Zorro is not such a hero.

Victoria
That's not true at all.

Herrera [walking back to the bar]
Put the word out.  I hereby challenge Zorro to a match race tomorrow at noon. [He puts some coins on the bar.] Barmaid, drinks for everyone.

Mendoza
Do you think Zorro will accept such a challenge?

Diego [chuckling]
Why should he?

Mendoza
Because we lost our money unfairly.  Macias's horse was drugged.

Macias [nodding]
That's true

Victoria [looking over at Diego]
Is that true?

Diego
There is no proof.

Mendoza [leaning in closer]
The money the Alcalde lost was from the governor's tax fund.  He'll do anything to get it back.

[Victoria smiles smugly as Macias laughs.  Diego gets a funny expression on his face then sneezes loudly into his napkin.]

Mendoza
Are you all right, Don Diego?

Diego [wiping his face]
I'm not sure.  I haven't been feeling well lately.  I think I'm getting a cold.  I need some rest.

[He gets up and walks away from the table.]

[Ramón is in a bathtub in his office at night, blowing bubbles into the air and then trying to skewer them on his sword.  He blows some bubbles into the air and catches them on his blade.]

Zorro [looking down through the skyligh]
Touche.

Ramón
Zorro!

[He starts to get out of the tub.]

Zorro
You really want to do that?

[Ramón looks down at his naked body then sinks back down into the bath water.]

Ramón [shaking his fist at zorro]
I'll have you shot for this.

Zorro
Then how will you get the governor's four thousand pesos back?

[Ramón sits back up and looks up with interest at Zorro.]

Zorro
I have a proposition for you.  Lift the bounty from my head and I'll meet Don Herrera in the plaza tomorrow.  It's your only chance.

Ramón
Agreed.  But after the race is over. . .

Zorro
We return to our game of cat and mouse.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

[He leaves.  Ramón smiles evilly as he chuckles.]

[Lancers are stacking bales onto a wagon the next day.  Mendoza looks over at Ramón.]

Mendoza
Do you really think this is going to work, Alcalde?

Ramón
Of course it will work.  After the race, Zorro will be mine.  Higher! [He looks at the men stacking the bales.]  Stack them higher!

[He walks away, smiling smugly.]

Victoria [to Don Alejandro as Herrera rides up behind them]
Don Diego didn't come with you?

Don Alejandro
He has a terrible cold, poor boy.

Victoria
He picked a fine time to get sick.

Herrera [off camera]
Zorro!  This so-called man of courage with his horse I've heard so much about, obviously has no interest in winning your money back.  So. . .

[He stops talks as he sees Zorro riding into the pueblo.]

Victoria [smiling]
Zorro!

[Zorro salutes to Ramón as he rides by him.  Ramón salutes back.]

Herrera [holding out the leather pouch]
Señorita, if you would be so kind.

[Victoria takes the pouch as Zorro rides up between them.  He stares down at Victoria.]

Herrera [to Zorro]
My challenge still stands, Señor.  My winnings against your horse.

Zorro [tearing himself away from staring at Victoria and looking over at Herrera]
Let's ride.

Mendoza [off camera at first]
Riders to your marks! [He holds a pistol up into the air.] Ready!

[Herrera spurs his horse forward before Mendoza shoots the pistol.  Zorro watches him go.]

Zorro
Once a cheat, always a cheat.

[He then urges Toronado forward and takes off after Herrera.  Toronado gains steadily on Herrera's lead.  Zorro catches up with Herrera and Herrera starts hitting Zorro with his riding crop.  Zorro grabs the crop away from Herrera and tosses it aside.  Herrera then kicks at Zorro and Toronado as they ride side by side.  Zorro starts to pull ahead of Herrera as they make their way back to the pueblo]

[People start cheering as they see Zorro riding first through the pueblo gate.  Mendoza waves the red handkerchief in front of Toronado.  Zorro brings the horse to a halt and then rides over to Victoria.  She hands him the leather pouch.]

Zorro
This money was taken from you under false pretenses. [He spins Toronado around.] Alcalde, I know you'll be relieved to return this.

[Zorro tosses the pouch over to Ramón, who catches it then holds it up in the air, smiling excitedly as the people cheer.  A seething Herrera spurs his horse forward and rides past Ramón, snatching the pouch from his grasp.  Herrera rides out of town.]

Ramón [whipping out a pistol]
Lancers! Stop him!

Zorro [looking down at Victoria]
I was hoping we would have more time.

Victoria [shrugging her shoulders hopelessly]
And so was I.

[Zorro urges Toronado forward.  He rides past Ramón who is still holding the pistol.  Lancers move two wagons that are piled high with bales together, blocking Zorro's path.  Zorro spins Toronado around to face Ramón.]

Ramón
No horse can clear that, Zorro.  Dismount or die.

[Zorro smiles at him and salutes.  He then urges Toronado forward.  Ramón fires his pistol as Zorro and Toronado soar over the top of the wagons, landing on the other side and riding out of town.  The people cheer.]

[Zorro rides to the crest of a ravine and stops.  He watches Herrera riding on a trail down below.  Zorro and Toronado ride down the hillside.  Herrera rides on a flat trail as Zorro continues to ride down the hill.  Herrera rides underneath a tree where Zorro is sitting on a branch.  Zorro whistles and Herrera pulls up his horse under the branch.  Zorro jumps and lands on the back of Herrera's horse.  Herrera turns around to stare at him.]

[Back at the pueblo, the lancer move apart the two wagons filled with bales.]

Ramón
Mendoza!

Mendoza
Sir?

Ramón
I want Zorro.  Obviously they're in league with each other.  It was all a trick.

[Don Alejandro and Victoria look over at Ramón with disgust.]

Ramón [tapping his finger on Mendoza's chest]
Now you get your horse and get after him.

Mendoza
But, Alcalde, you know how I feel about horses ever since . . .

[Ramón stares at Mendoza with a look that brooks no argument.]

Mendoza
Si, mi Alcalde.  A horse.  Right away.

[Mendoza scurries over to where a saddled horse is waiting.]

Mendoza [to the lancer holding the horse's reins]
Just hold him steady.  Easy now, easy.  Hold him.

[Mendoza tries to put his foot in the stirrup but slips and falls to the ground.  Everyone laughs.]

Mendoza [off camera]
Stupid horse.  You did that on purpose.

[Ramón brings his hand to his temple and closes his eyes.  Mendoza starts to sit up then stops and looks at something.  Ramón turns around and sees Herrera, with a ‘Z' slashed into the back of his jacket, riding backwards on his horse into town.  Mendoza shakes his head.  Two lancers go up to the horse and take its reins.  Mendoza runs over and takes the leather pouch.]

Mendoza [looking in the pouch]
Alcalde!  The money.  It's all here!  We did it.

Ramón [taking the pouch from Mendoza as the lancer remove Herrera from his horse's back]
Of course I did it.  And look what I've won, huh.

[He holds out his hands as he looks at Herrera's horse.]

Mendoza
Be careful, Alcalde, this horse could be dangerous.

Ramón [putting a hand to his lips]
Shh.  Sergeant, please.  I am an expert horseman.

[He puts his foot in the stirrup but the horse starts moving.]

Ramón
Hold him!

[The lancers try to hold the horse but it keeps moving.]

Ramón [with his foot still in the stirrup as the horse goes in circles]
Help me, you fool!

[People start laughing again.  Ramón finally manages to get his leg over the horse's back then struggles to hold onto the reins.]

Ramón [as the horse starts galloping out of town]
I'll have this horse shot!  Help me, Mendoza!  Help!  Help!  Help!

[The horse takes him out of town as the people laugh and wave their arms.]

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

[Exterior shot of the de la Vega hacienda,]

[Zorro climbs through a lace curtained window.]

Don Alejandro [off camera]
Diego!

[Zorro hurries across the room and ducks down, shoving his hat and saber under a bed.  He then climbs under the blankets.  He lies there waiting then touches his hand to his head, realizing he is still wearing his mask.  He pulls it off and stuffs it under the blankets which he pulls up to his chin.  Victoria walks into the room.]

Victoria
Don Diego? [Don Alejandro walks into the room.] Don Diego?

[He peers up over his covers.]

Victoria
How are you feeling?

Diego [in a hoarse whisper]
Much better.

Victoria
Well, you look much better.

Don Alejandro
Macias paid his taxes.  He can keep his farm now.

Diego
Finally, a bit of justice.  We should celebrate.

Don Alejandro
There's something else to celebrate.  That life of Hayden you've been waiting for just arrived.

[He holds out a book toward Diego.]

Diego [starting to sit and moving his arm out from under the blankets]
Wonderful!

[He realizes he is still wearing his black shirt and lies back down.]

Diego
Oh.  I don't feel very well.  I feel terrible.

[He rolls back over onto his side.]

Diego
Awful.  Maybe we should celebrate later.

[He pulls the blanket over his head as Don Alejandro and Victoria look at each other then back at Diego as he moans.]

[The camera pulls back to show Zorro's hat and sword resting under Diego's bed.]

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

Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland  15 October 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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