Written by Philip John Taylor
Directed by Ray Austin

First US Airdate 5 January 1992   Episode 3.14

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

[Interior shot of the tavern as Diego stands near the bar.  Mendoza and another lancer sit eating at a nearby table.]

Diego [as he walks up to Mendoza's table]
Buenos dias, Sergeant. [He points to the empty bench on the opposite side of the table.] May I join you?

[Mendoza nods as his mouth is full.]

Diego [as he sits down]
It looks as if the entire population of Los Angeles is eating here today.  All seven hundred of them. This town is getting far too crowded.

Mendoza [nodding with his mouth still full]
Mm-hmm.

[A napkin is whipped across their table.  De Soto stands there, wearing an apron and a chef's hat.]

de Soto
Buenas tardes.  My name is Ignacio.  I'll be your waiter this afternoon.  Today we have a lovely Pollo Zorro.  That's chicken, roasted with onions and a lot of chili peppers.  It's hot, hot, hot.  Served on a skewer, bathed in a black bean sauce and resting on a delightful saddle of Toronados.  It's very nice.

Diego
I'll take two, please.  Felipe should be here any moment.

de Soto [bowing]
Excellent.

Diego [looking askance at de Soto]
Thank you. [He looks over at Mendoza as de Soto walks away.] Tell me, Sergeant, um, if the Alcalde is running the tavern, then who is running the office?

[Mendoza looks up with a confused expression.  His mouth is still full of food.]

Sepulveda [off camera at first]
Sergeant! [He runs up to Mendoza.] You are wanted at once!

[He runs off.  Mendoza jumps up, pulls off his napkin, and grabs his hat.]

Mendoza [as he sticks a finger into his unfinished plate]
Un problema!

[He then runs out of the tavern, swallowing his mouthful of food.]

[Exterior shot of the plaza as Mendoza runs across it and up to the front door of de Soto's office.  He stops  to straighten his jacket before opening the door and going inside.]

[Interior shot of de Soto's office as Mendoza stands with his hat under his arm.]

Mendoza [slightly out of breath]
You called for me, Alcalde?

[Victoria sits on de Soto's desk, wearing a tan riding habit and holding a riding crop.  Behind her on the wall is a portrait of Zorro (where de Soto's picture of Machiavelli usually hangs). She slides off the desk and looks at Mendoza with a disgusted expression.  She begins to circle him.]

Victoria
Pull it in! [Mendoza sucks in his stomach.] Stick it out! [Mendoza lifts his chin.] Oh, Sergeant, you are a disgrace to the uniform.  And speaking of which. . .[She reaches over then holds up a red uniform jacket decorated with gold trim.] Try this on.  It's a new uniform I just designed.  And if it looks good on you. . .[She tosses the uniform at him.] It will look good on anybody.  Oh, and I almost forgot.  This place looks like a pigsty.  And by tomorrow morning, I want pink lace on all the windows.

Mendoza [holding the uniform]
Excuse me, Alcalde, but I don't think pink lace curtains are standard government issue.

Victoria [irritatedly]
Then pay for them from the pueblo's taxes, Sergeant.  Now, if I don't see frilly pink lace by tomorrow morning, I guarantee you, heads will roll. [She then smiles sweetly.] Why don't you try on the uniform.

[She turns away as Mendoza looks at the uniform in dismay.  Victoria turns back around then hits the desk with her riding crop.]

Victoria
Now, Sergeant!

[Mendoza nods nervously.]

[Closeup shot of the corner of a building as a foot wearing a shiny black shoe and white stockings steps out from behind the corner.  The camera pans upward to show red tartan bows on the tops of the stockings, then a red tartan kilt topped by the red jacket which has a swath of the red tartan draped across it.  Mendoza's unhappy face tops the outfit and a matching tam o'shanter sits on his head.  Off camera a wolf whistle is heard and the sound of laughter is also heard.]

[Exterior shot of the tavern as Diego and Felipe walk out of it and into the plaza.  Felipe grabs Diego's shoulder and points to his right.  Diego turns to look.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel as Mendoza walks mincingly out into the plaza.  A lancer standing at the gate laughs behind Mendoza's back.  Mendoza turns around and the lancer stops.  Across the plaza, Diego and Felipe look on with grins on their faces.]

Diego [leaning down on the hitching rail]
What on earth?

[Mendoza slowly backs away from the lancer at the gate.  People in the plaza start laughing as Mendoza turns around and sees them.  He looks very embarrassed.]

Victoria [off camera]
Mendoza!

[Interior night shot of Mendoza's bedroom as he suddenly sits up in bed.  His eyes look to his right, then to his left.]

[Interior shot of the tavern as Mendoza brings a pitcher and three glasses over to a table where Diego and Don Alejandro are sitting side by side.]

Mendoza [sitting down opposite them]
. . .and that's when I woke up.  It was the most unsettling dream.  Señorita Escalante wouldn't act like that if she were alcalde, would she?

[There is a loud thump heard off camera.]

Victoria [off camera]
Aaa!

[Mendoza, Diego, and Don Alejandro all turn toward the bar as Victoria slaps a man's face.  She then walks out from behind the bar, eyeing the man angrily.]

Voices
Ooh!  Ooh!

[Diego looks at her in astonishment while Mendoza looks worried.  Don Alejandro fills their glasses from the pitcher.]

Diego
Ah, well, Sergeant, some people believe dreams are just another means for expression out innermost feelings; our hopes, our fears, and in some inexplicable way, we end up making them come true.

Mendoza [worriedly]
Madre de Dios!  I hope not.

[He looks over his left shoulder at Victoria then turns back to Diego and Don Alejandro, who start laughing.]

[Exterior shot of the tavern porch as two men sit at one of its tables.  Don Alejandro, Diego, and Felipe walk out of the tavern.]

Don Alejandro [as they walk into the plaza]
You know, Diego, you're right.  Sometimes dreams do come true, in a strange roundabout kind of way.

[A man puts some coins in a box attached to the hitching rail opposite them, then leads his horse away.]

Don Alejandro [pointing at the box]
What are these?

Diego [pointing at the box too]
Sergeant, can you explain this?

Mendoza [stepping off the tavern porch]
Oh, si, Don Diego.  The Alcalde feels the plaza is too congested.  This is his new tethering tax.  If you tie your horse, you put fifty centavos into the box.  If you don't put the fifty centavos in the box, your horse gets taken to the municipal corral and you will be fined.

Don Alejandro [indignantly]
That's a dreadful idea, sir!

[He throws something (coins?) into the air.]

Diego [reaching inside his jacket]
This town is getting far too crowded.

Mendoza
Madre de Dios! [He looks over at Diego, Don Alejandro, and Felipe, who are putting coins into the box where their horses are tied.] That's what you said in my dream!

[Diego, Don Alejandro, and Felipe all look at each other with confused expressions.]

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

[Exterior shot of the plaza as a lancer patrols the market stalls.  Mendoza and another lancer walk up to de Soto who tosses something into a basket of produce the lancer is holding.  Victoria is behind them, looking at some casks tied to a wagon.  De Soto moves on and Mendoza hands a piece of paper to the farmer.]

Farmer
What is this?

Mendoza [nervously]
It is a voucher, Señor, a reimbursement voucher.

Farmer
Your voucher won't pay my rent!  Give me back my vegetables!

[The farmer lunges forward and tries to grab the basket from the lancer carrying it.]

de Soto [turning around then pushing back the farmer]
Relax, amigo.  You'll be paid.

Victoria [stepping forward]
When?  When will Carlos see his money?

de Soto
The garrison is unfortunately suffering from an embarrassing cash flow problem at the present due to budgetary constraints stemming from a certain impecunious in the territorial coffers.

Victoria
So in other words, you're broke.

de Soto [angrily]
I refuse to allow my men to starve because of bureaucratic red tape in Monterey.  They must be fit.  Always on the alert for forces of evil lurking in this pueblo and that includes that arch fiend. . . that menace to society. . .

Zorro [off camera at first]
Let me guess!  Me?

[Zorro jump down from the tavern's balcony.]

de Soto
Lancers!

[Victoria and Mendoza duck down as Zorro steps forward, saber drawn.]

Zorro [to de Soto]
You'll hit the ground a dead man, Señor.

de Soto [as Zorro's saber rests on his chest]
Hold your fire! [to Zorro] What do you want?

Zorro
An honest day's pay for an honest day's work.  These people cannot exist on credit.  Pay them.

de Soto
Impossible!  This pueblo is operating on a deficient and short of raising taxes, [He raises his voice.] which I have sworn never to do!

Zorro
Spare me the political rhetoric.  You have six thousand pesos in your safe.  I checked.]

[He grins mischievously.]

de Soto [indignantly]
You what?  That is the reward money for your capture.

Zorro
No one is ever going to collect it.  So why not use it form something worthwhile.  So pay them!

de Soto
No.  The people of Los Angeles are willing to tighten their belts in support of the garrison.

Zorro
I insist.

[He slices a ‘Z' into the front of de Soto's jacket.  People start clapping.]

de Soto
Very well.

Zorro
You still believe the people of this pueblo support you?  I'll wager that in a free election, you'd be lucky to get one vote.

Victoria [sarcastically]
Well, maybe one. . .  His own!

[People laugh.]

de Soto
The people of Los Angeles respect me.

Zorro
Then why not prove it by holding a fair and open election?  Or do you choose to govern by intimidation and fear?

de Soto
Señor, I would be pleased to hold a free election.  But an election requires more than one candidate to run and [He raises his voice again.] since there is no one to run against me.

Victoria
I will!

[People gasp as Mendoza looks worried.]

de Soto [as Zorro lowers his saber]
What did you say?

Victoria
If that's all it takes to get you out of office, you have an opponent.

de Soto
So be it.

Mendoza [incredulously]
My dream. . .  It's coming true.

[Zorro turns to look at Victoria.]

Zorro
You'll be the finest alcalde in California. . .and certainly the most beautiful.  I must take my leave.

[He kisses her hand then turns around and punches de Soto in the stomach.]

de Soto [as he falls into a market stall]
Aah!

[Zorro takes out a coin and tosses it at Carlos.]

Zorro
For your vegetables, Monsieur.

[People start clapping and cheering as Zorro runs off.]

de Soto [off camera]
Lancers!

[Three lancers aim their muskets at Zorro who picks up a metal disk and holds it up in front of his face and chest.  The bullets ricochet off the disk.  Zorro tosses it aside and runs under an archway where Toronado is waiting.  Zorro hops up onto his back and rides away as two more lancers shoot at him.  He keeps riding away.]

[Exterior shot of the tavern as a woman sweeps the front porch.]

Victoria [off camera at first]
A vote for me. . .

[Interior shot of the tavern as Victoria stands with her back to a mirror while Don Alejandro sits to her left.]

Victoria
. . .is a vote for an alcalde who will see that your taxes will be spent justly.

[People cheer as de Soto, Mendoza, and another lancer enter the tavern.]

Victoria
For a better water supply. . .  For schools. . .  And not for pink lace curtains in my office!

[People laugh then clap.  Mendoza looks ill.]

Don Alejandro [standing]
Victoria Escalante, the next alcalde!

[He kisses Victoria's hand.]

[People continue to clap as de Soto look on with a sneer.  Diego turns and sees de Soto standing behind him.]

Don Alejandro [coming up to Diego]
Guess what?  Victoria has asked me to organize her political campaign.

Diego [as Felipe stands to his right and smiles]
A wise choice.  Congratulations.

Don Alejandro
Thank you.  We are going to unseat the despot de Soto, Diego.  I know I can count on you two for help.

Diego
Well. . .  Felipe's free to do as he chooses, but as the editor of the pueblo's only newspaper, it is my duty to be as fair as possible to both candidates.

Don Alejandro [a bit angrily]
What ‘fair', Diego?  We're talking about Ignacio de Soto.  The word ‘fair' doesn't exist in his vocabulary.

Diego
Does it follow we should exclude it from ours?

Don Alejandro [a bit more angrier]
Diego, we have a chance for a free Los Angeles at last, and I just can't believe that . . . that. . .  No, no, no.  Wait. [He smiles mischievously.] Wait.  Good thinking, Diego.  I can just see it now.  After impartially weighing all of the issues in the election, the Guardian firmly endorses la Señorita Victoria Escalante as alcalde. [He pats Diego on the arm.] Good thinking. [He turns around.] Aah. . .

[He goes off to join a group of older men.  Felipe looks at Diego, shaking his head.  He then waves his hands above his head, then in front of his own face, then hits his right fist into the palm of his left hand.]

Diego [after looking over his shoulder at de Soto again]
You're right, Felipe.  De Soto will use every means at his disposal to defeat Victoria. [He glances over his shoulder again.] But. . . [He turns back to Felipe and raises his voice.] I must remain neutral, Felipe.  The Los Angeles Guardian has a duty to the voters of this pueblo.

[De Soto looks at Diego and starts clapping.  Diego holds up his right index finger at Felipe and smiles before turning around to look at de Soto.]

de Soto
I applaud your integrity, Diego, if not your suit.  Please, stop by my office a little later.  I would like to outline for you my five-year expansion plan for the pueblo.

Diego
Why not?

de Soto
Excellent.  Until eight then.

[Diego nods then tips his head at Felipe.  They exit the tavern.  De Soto and Mendoza watch them leave.]

Mendoza
Alcalde, Señorita Escalante is very popular.

[He looks over to where Victoria and Don Alejandro are talking to a woman holding a baby.]

de Soto
Hmm. . .  Relax, Sergeant.  I have no intention of losing this election.  You see, I am very well aware of the fundamental political verities.

Mendoza
Excuse me, Alcalde.  What is a verity?

de Soto [as he hands Mendoza a slip of paper]
I want you to make five hundred copies of this for me by election day.  Comprende?

Mendoza [opening the paper and reading it]
Oh. . .  This verity.

[He turns and walks away.]

[Exterior night shot of de Soto's office as a coyote howls and a lone lancer stands outside.]

[Interior shot of de Soto's office as de Soto sits at his desk and empties a bag of gold coins on it as Diego stands to de Soto's right with his arms crossed while he watches.]

de Soto
Two thousand pesos.  It's all yours.

Diego
Provided the Los Angeles Guardian endorses Ignacio de Soto for the office of alcalde.

de Soto [smugly]
I knew we spoke the same language.  After all, we're both men of the world, si, Don Diego?  Democracy. . .it's just a plaything we give to the people when we need them.  We both know where the real power lies, huh, with men like us.  The movers and the shakers of this world.

Diego
I understand the pueblo funds were at an all-time low.  Where did you come by this?

de Soto
I took it from Zorro's reward money.  He gave me the idea himself.  Isn't that fantastic?

[He laughs evilly.]

Diego [trying to keep a straight face]
It does have a certain irony.

de Soto
Well, what do you say?

Diego
Two thousand pesos is a lot of money. [He takes a deep breath then exhales.] The Los Angeles Guardian endorses Ignacio de Soto for the office of alcalde with pleasure.

[He reaches out for the money bag as de Soto scoops the coins off the desk and puts them back in the bag.]

de Soto
Excellent.

[Diego looks down at him with a mock innocent expression.]

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

[Interior shot of the tavern as Victoria walks past Don Alejandro who is sitting at a table.]

Victoria [nervously]
Don Alejandro, what if the Guardian doesn't endorse me?

Don Alejandro
Rest easy, Victoria.  There is no way on God's green earth that my son is going to endorse Ignacio de Soto.  [He picks up a glass then lowers his voice.] Trust me.

[He raises the glass and takes a drink.  A gunshot is heard off camera.  Victoria turns around, obviously startled.  Don Alejandro sets down his glass.]

Voice
What was that?

Don Alejandro [getting to his feet]
What now?

[He, Victoria, and other people start running out of the tavern.]

Voices
Let's go!  Quickly!  Oh, my goodness!  Let's go see!

[Exterior shot of the tavern as Victoria comes out its front doors followed by Don Alejandro.]

de Soto [off camera at first]
My friends, in a few short minutes. . . [He and Mendoza stand behind a table set up in the plaza.  The table is decorated with campaign signs.  A crowd has gathered around them.]

de Soto
The latest edition of the Los Angeles Guardian will announce its endorsement for one of the candidates.  I suggest very strongly that you heed its wise and informed opinion.  My friends, you have before you a very simple choice.  On one hand, Ignacio de Soto. . . [He puts his hand on his chest as Mendoza claps.  De Soto turns to glare at him.  Mendoza stops clapping.] A man trained for this position.  A man who will labor day and night for your welfare.  And on the other hand, you have Señorita Escalante. . .

Don Alejandro [as he raises his hands and starts clapping as other people join in]
Escalante!

[Mendoza starts clapping as well.  De Soto glares at him again and he stops.]

de Soto [raising his voice]
A thief! [People gasp.] Yes.  A woman convicted of robbery.

Voice
Convicted?

de Soto
It's true. [He points toward the church.] In that very mission, she stole from your poor little schoolchildren.  Do you deny that, Señorita?  Vericude? (I'm guessing at this, the word for truthful is veridico but that's not what was said.)

Victoria
Oh, for heaven's sake!  I was five-years old! [She turns and looks pleadingly at the crowd.] All right, I took a pencil form Jose Peron.  But everyone knows it.  I've told that story a million times.

de Soto
My friends, I want you to ask yourselves a question. [He points toward Victoria.] Is this the kind of person you want to govern you?  She stole pencils then.  What will she steal now?

[Someone in the crowd makes a rude noise as Don Alejandro looks disgusted.]

de Soto
Oh!  The Guardian.

[Felipe walks through the crowd, passing out newspapers.  Diego follows him, wiping his hands on a white cloth.]

de Soto
Read and judge for yourselves, my fellow Angelenos. [Felipe hands Don Alejandro then de Soto, a copy of the newspaper.] I'll be happy to continue to serve as your alcalde.

[De Soto looks at his newspaper as Diego reads over the shoulder of a woman holding a copy.]

de Soto [reading aloud from the paper]
The Los Angeles Guardian proudly and happily endorses Ignacio de Soto. . . [Don Alejandro shakes his fist in defeat.] for alcalde of. . .   San Diego?

[People start laughing.  Diego innocently cleans out his fingernails on the white cloth.]

de Soto
De la Vega!

[He angrily looks over at Diego, who lazily wipes his hands as he barely suppresses a smile.]

Diego [shrugging]
Well, it's a wonderful town.

[De Soto keeps glaring at him.  Diego points at de Soto.]

Diego
You mean you wanted to be endorsed for the alcalde of Los Angeles?

de Soto [angrily as people keep laughing]
Yes!

Diego
I'm so sorry, Ignacio.  You should have been more specific.

[De Soto crumples up his newspaper and heads towards Diego.]

de Soto [conspiratorially in Diego's ear]
I want my money back.  Now!

Diego
Well, I'd love to oblige you, Señor.  But unfortunately last night on my way home, I was robbed. . .by Zorro.  He said something about wanting to make a donation to the mission poor box.  Maybe he wanted to make amends for that pencil Victoria stole.  Anyway, good luck. [He shakes de Soto's hand.] I'll be voting early in the morning.  Avoid the crowds.

[He walks off, smiling mischievously.  De Soto is fuming as he tears his newspaper in half.  Diego walks up to Victoria and don Alejandro.]

de Soto [off camera]
Mendoza!

Mendoza [jumping to attention]
Si, Alcalde!

Victoria [reading from the newspaper]
It say here that the Guardian thinks Victoria Escalante is a welcome change to local politics.

Don Alejandro
Oh, well done, Diego.  Although I have to admit you had me worried there for a moment.

Diego [acting innocent]
Me?

Don Alejandro [as he and Victoria nod]
Yes, you.

[Diego smiles mischievously.]

[Shot from de Soto's point of view through his office window as a long line of men and women wait their turn to vote.]

de Soto [off camera]
She can't win.

[Interior shot of de Soto's office as he looks out the window.]

de Soto [incredulously]
Beaten. . .  By a woman?

[He then gets a thoughtful look on his face and walks quickly across his office to a cabinet where several books are.  He picks out one of the books and opens it as he sets it down on his desk.  He leans over and reads it then hold out his hands triumphantly as he sits down.]

de Soto [smugly]
Aah . . .

[He puts a bookmark into the book then starts laughing evilly, pounding his fists and stomping his feet.  He leans back in his chair, still laughing.]

de Soto [ceasing to laugh but smiling evilly]
Aah. . .

[Exterior shot of the tavern as Victoria stands on the porch.  She looks up as Mendoza walks toward her, his mouth hanging wide open.  Behind him, people put their ballots into a box sitting on a table where Don Alejandro and de Soto stand on opposite sides.]

Victoria [noticing Mendoza's expression]
What's wrong, Sergeant?

[The camera pans down to show that Victoria is wearing a blue and red plaid skirt.]

Mendoza
Madre de Dios!  Plaid!

Victoria
Yes.  It just arrived from Europe.  It's in fashion there now.

[She steps off the porch as Mendoza just stands and stares at her skirt.]

Don Alejandro
It's time, Alcalde.

de Soto [looking at his pocketwatch]
So it is. [He raises his voice.] I declare this polling place closed!  Mendoza!  Count the ballots.

Mendoza [turning around and walking toward the ballot box]
Si, mi Alcalde.

de Soto
I will assist.

Don Alejandro
And so will I.

[De Soto hits his fist on the ballot box as does Don Alejandro as the screen fades to black.]

[Fade into an exterior shot of the plaza where Mendoza unfolds a ballot.]

Mendoza [excitedly]
Five hundred and ninety-nine. . .  Señorita Escalante!

[People clap and cheer.]

Voices
Yay!  Hooray!

Don Alejandro [as Mendoza hands him the ballot]
All right!  Victoria Escalante!

Mendoza [opening another ballot]
Five hundred and ninety-nine. . .  Alcalde de Soto.

Voices
Oh, no!

Don Alejandro [as Mendoza hands him that ballot]
Oh, no!  That's a tie.  After all our hard work, Victoria.

Victoria [sitting to Don Alejandro's left]
Well, I don't believe it.  If just one more citizen would have voted.

[People talk excitedly as Victoria and de Soto look glum.]

Don Alejandro [off camera]
How could that be so exact?

Mendoza [jumping]
Oh, Señorita Escalante!  I completely forgot to vote.  It will never happen again.  I promise.

de Soto [slapping the table]
I declare this polling place officially reopened for thirty seconds while my idiotic and absent-minded. . .  Uh, my. . . [He chuckles nervously.] My ever-faithful and astute sergeant records his civic duty. [He holds a quill up to Mendoza.] Sergeant, it's up to you.

Mendoza
Please, mi Alcalde, Señorita Escalante, don't make me do this.  No matter which way I vote, half of the town is going to hate me.

Zorro [off camera]
Not so, Sergeant.

Voices
Zorro!

Victoria [standing up and smiling]
Zorro!

[Zorro rides Toronado into the plaza.  Four lancers aim their muskets at him.]

Zorro [as he holds a flaming torch]
I would advise caution, amigos!  There's a fuse that runs right into the armoury.

[People gasp.]

Zorro [as Toronado prances nervously]
It's such a shame I can't come into this pueblo for a pleasant chat without having to resort to such dramatic schemes.

de Soto
The sergeant was about to elect me alcalde.

Victoria [looking to her left]
That's not true! [She looks at Zorro.] He was just about to elect me.

Zorro
Actually he was about to elect no one.  I understand there were five hundred and ninety-nine votes for each candidate.  That makes nearly twelve hundred votes cast by the citizens of Los Angeles.  But at the last census, there were only seven hundred people in the entire pueblo.

[People gasp again.  Don Alejandro and Victoria look at each other.  De Soto and Mendoza look at each other guiltily.]

Zorro
Yes, my friends, someone has been tampering with the ballot box.  I suggest you vote again, in the morning.

de Soto
That won't be necessary.  I've been waiting for the appropriate moment. [He holds up the book from his office.] You see, I've discovered a law.  Written by King Ferdinand the Second in fourteen eighty-four. . .  A wonderful law. . .  A sublime law. . . [He opens the book at the bookmark.] which forbids females from holding public office.

[He sets the book back down on the table with a thud.]

Victoria
Oh, that's absurd.  That was over three hundred years ago!

de Soto
Well, that may be so, but it's still the law.  So if you want to be alcalde, go right ahead, take office.  You will be immediately arrested and I win.

Zorro
Ah!  You win. . . [He holds up his torch.] And you lose!

[He turns Toronado around then tosses the torch at the end of the fuse.  It catches fire and starts burning toward the armoury.]

de Soto
Lancers!

[Several lancers run forward, trampling on de Soto's face on his campaign signs.  Zorro spins Toronado around in a circle, preventing the lancers from reaching the burning fuse.  Toronado suddenly rears up and a lancer is knocked backward.  Zorro dismounts and unsheathes his saber.  A lancer lunges at him with his sword.  Zorro parries then kicks the lancer in the stomach.  Another lancers lunges his sword at Zorro who parries it before driving the lancer's upward then punching him in the face.  A third lancer comes at Zorro and is elbowed in the face.  Toronado keeps three lancers at bay by rearing up again and again.  Zorro punches and kicks two more lancers before going off to his right.]

de Soto [pointing forward]
Someone stop that fuse!  Put out the fuse!

[Zorro rides Toronado out of the pueblo.]

de Soto [walking forward]
Put out that fuse!

Don Alejandro [to Victoria]
If the armoury goes, we go! [He grabs her arm.] Come on.

[He, Victoria, and Felipe turn and run toward the tavern as other people scramble around as well.]

[Exterior shot of the cuartel yard as Mendoza and de Soto chase after the burning fuse.  Mendoza tries to step on it but it keeps burning.]

Mendoza
Santa Maria!

[He and de Soto keep trying to stomp out the fuse.  People are taking cover in the plaza.  Don Alejandro, Victoria, and Felipe huddle up on the tavern porch.  De Soto and Mendoza peer around a corner and watch as the fuse burns up to a sign that reads ‘BOOM!' as it sits at the base of a keg.  The fuse burns out several inches away.]

Mendoza [very relieved]
Madre de Dios!  It was just a trick.  ‘Boom!'

[De Soto turns and starts walking away.]

Mendoza
Alcalde. . .

de Soto [angrily turning around]
What?

Mendoza
I don't know that much about mathematics but if Zorro's calculations are correct, the señorita has five hundred and ninety-nine votes. [He points at de Soto who is wiping his brow.] You only had ninety-nine, because the five hundred I put in. . .

de Soto [angrily]
I can count, Sergeant!

Mendoza
Si, Alcalde.

[De Soto turns and walks away.  Mendoza follows him.]

de Soto [in a mocking voice]
‘Because of the five hundred I put in. . .'  Because of the five hundred I put in. . ."

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

[Closeup shot of one of Victoria's campaign signs (with the picture of her that Diego did in "Child's Play" episode 1.18).  The camera pulls back to show the interior of the tavern as Victoria moves the sign to her right.  Diego, Felipe, and Don Alejandro sit at a nearby table.]

Victoria
Fourteen eighty-four. . .  Columbus hadn't even discovered America yet!  And this is eighteen twenty and we're still forced to live by the laws of the Old World.

[She sits down next to Don Alejandro.]

Don Alejandro
Even so, you put up a great fight.  I salute you.

Diego [as he raises his glass of orange juice]
You may have lost the battle, but don't give up the war.

Don Alejandro [raising his glass]
Victoria!

[They all touch their glasses together.  Mendoza comes up behind Victoria, holding his hat.]

Mendoza
Saludos, amigos.

Diego [a bit coldly]
Sergeant. . .

Mendoza [smiling nervously]
You are still my friends, no?

Don Alejandro [a bit coldly too]
Well, I don't know. . .

[Diego and Victoria make noncommital noises.  Diego looks away then starts laughing.  Felipe smiles as Victoria and Don Alejandro laugh as well.]

Don Alejandro [lifting his glass]
Welcome!

Victoria [not looking at Mendoza]
By the way, Sergeant, which way would you have voted?

Mendoza
Oh, no, no, Señorita.  My lips are sealed.  I don't want to lose my job. . . [Victoria rolls her eyes.] Or your delicious enchiladas.

Diego
Well, that's a better reason.

[Everyone laughs and clink their glasses together again.  Diego looks over at Felipe who looks over at the picture of Victoria which has ‘OUR HOPE' written underneath it.]

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

Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland 20 & 24 July, 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.

BACK TO SEASON THREE TRANSCRIPTS