Written by Bruce Lansbury
Directed by Michael Levine

First US Airdate: 4 May 1990 Episode 1.22

[Exterior shot of the tavern at night.]

Woman's Voice [off camera]
Guardians of our precious loved ones who have crossed the great divide.

[A woman's hand picks up a bell and rings it.  The woman, Myatana, sits at a table draped with scarves with a crystal ball sitting in the middle of it. Light falls across her face.]

Myatana
We beseech thee to bring us the spirit of this man's father.

[A man, Don Arturo, sits in a chair in the corner across from Myatana. Suddenly, Myatana's face changes, like she is in a trance, and she begins to speak in a deep masculine voice.]

Myatana
Arturo, my son.

Don Arturo [looking stunned]
Father, is it really you?

Myatana
You call me from eternal rest for good reason, my son.  You have concerns about the rancho.

Don Arturo
Yes, yes.  Go on, Father.

[In the main room of the tavern, Mendoza sits at a table eating his supper.  Don Alejandro leans against the bar which Victoria is working behind.]

Don Alejandro [to Victoria]
I hear nothing but stories about this. . .extraordinary woman, this. . . uh, Myatana.  It can't be true that she brings back the spirits of the dead, huh?

Victoria
Well, rather than spend the one hundred pesos to find out, I'll settle of the two pesos she's paid for her room, in advance.

[She walks away, carrying a pitcher and glass.  Don Alejandro looks up as Don Arturo walks across the balcony and starts down the stairs.]

Don Alejandro [going over to the staircase]
Ah, Arturo.  Well, was it worth it?  Did you speak to your father?

[He crosses his arms as Don Arturo reaches the bottom of the stairs.]

Don Arturo
It was nothing short of miraculous, Don Alejandro.

Don Alejandro
Are you sure it was your father?

[At his table, Mendoza eavesdrops on their conversation.]

Don Arturo
Without me telling him, he knew what was in my heart.  The problems on the rancho.  Names, places, dates that only I know.

[Don Alejandro looks unsure.  Myatana walks out on the balcony then.  Everyone looks up at her.  She points at Don Alejandro.]

Myatana
You.

Don Alejandro [surprised]
Who?  Me?

Myatana [dramatically]
Don Alejandro de la Vega, I have a message for you. [She pauses dramatically as everyone stares up at her.] From your beloved Felicidad.

[Everyone starts talking excitedly as Don Alejandro looks uncertain and concerned.]

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

[Exterior shot of the de la Vega hacienda, the next day.]

Don Alejandro [off camera]
I'm not even sure I believe it myself.

[He paces back and forth behind the chair Diego is sitting in at a desk.  Diego is writing something with a quill.]

Don Alejandro
But she called me out of the crowd.  She even knew your mother's name.

Diego
So did everyone else in the pueblo.

Don Alejandro
But I heard from others beside Arturo.  Fernando Alvarez talked with his mother and she's been dead for eighteen years.  Enrique to his infant son who told him when the books were to arrive he ordered from San Carlos.

Diego [not looking up from his writing and a bit skeptically]
I find it hard to believe that a two-year old would know the timetables of the Republic's postal system.

Don Alejandro [sitting on a corner of the desk]
Maybe it's true that all things are revealed to the dead.

Diego [finally look up from his writing and at Don Alejandro]
But it isn't true that Mother would need this Myatana woman to do her talking for her. [He smiles wistfully.]  She was never at a loss for words, remember?

[Don Alejandro chuckles fondly.]

Diego
I think that what Mother would tell us is that you've mourned enough.  That it's time to go on with our lives.

Don Alejandro
You may be right, Diego.  But I wish she had the chance to tell me herself.

[He gets up and walks away.  Diego looks pensive as he twirls his quill.]

[Exterior shot of the pueblo's plaza which is bustling with activity.]

[Diego walks inside the crowded tavern where Victoria leans gloomily behind the bar.  Diego glances up a the balcony before going over to her.]

Diego
Victoria.  Why such a long face?  The place is nearly bursting at the seams with rich caballeros.

Victoria
But they don't eat, they don't drink.  They just sit there, waiting for an audience with that woman. [She looks upstairs angrily.  Diego looks up again too.]

Victoria [thoughtfully]
It's strange that only the rich can speak to the dead, isn't it?

[Diego inclines his head, agreeing with her point.  He looks up once again to see Mendoza walking proudly across the balcony, carrying his hat.  He has a smug expression on his face.]

Diego
Why do you suppose the good sergeant is walking like that?

Victoria [bitterly]
Maybe because he said ‘adios' to all his life's savings.

Diego [as Mendoza walks toward the door]
Sergeant.

Mendoza
Ah, my dear Don Diego. [He shakes Diego's hand.] We must compare family trees sometime.  I have just learned that I come from a line of rich landowners in Guerrero Province.

Diego [bewildered]
Congratulations.  But, um, I understood you were an orphan?

Mendoza
I talked to the father I never knew.  A fine wonderful man.  A true champion of liberty who fought along side Father Morales in the Battle of Acapulco. [He puffs out his chest.] I am the son of a hero.

[He walks away.  Diego turns to look at Victoria who puts her hand on her head, her eyes full of obvious disbelief.  A man walks down the stairs carrying a small brown bag.  He stops about a third of the way down.]

Man
Attention.  Your attention, please.

[He holds up the bag.]

Man [as he walks the rest of the way down the stairs]
A special gift from the Lady Myatana to you, the good people of Los Angeles.

[The man opens the bag and pours out multi-colored stones on the nearest table.  Everyone oohs and aahs and rushed over to look.]

Man
Stones of uncommon value and uncommon power, which for a ridiculously small price, will bring you protection. . .

[His speech goes on as Diego talks to Victoria.]

Diego [suspiciously]
So, the miraculous Myatana takes her hundred pesos from the rich and this person. . .

Victoria
Is Ricardo.  All I know is that he has a nasty temper and he travels with her.

Diego
Further empties their pockets by selling them magic stones.

[Diego raises his hand as he walks toward Ricardo.]

Diego
Señor.  Tell me what stone is this?

[He picks up a greenish-blue stone from the table and holds it up for Ricardo to see.]

Ricardo
Turquoise.  The Arabs called it ferris; the lackey stone.

Diego
Ah, you're mistaken.  This is not turquoise. [He points to the stone.] This is a copper pyrite that's turned green to look like turquoise.

Ricardo
You are too sensible a man to call someone you've never met liar, Señor.

Diego
I'm only known for the truth, not for being sensible.

[He tosses the stone to Ricardo as he turns away.  Ricardo catches and holds it back out to Diego.]

Ricardo
Señor, you should take it. [Diego holds out his hand and Ricardo drops the stone into it.] The turquoise also warns its owner of approaching death.

Diego [sarcastically]
Oh, thank you.

[Diego turns again and walks away but is stopped by Don Arturo.]

Don Arturo
Don Diego.

Diego [patting the other man on the arm]
Don Arturo.

Don Arturo
Try to have an open mind about Señor Ricardo.

Diego
Oh, my mind is always open.  I'm even willing to learn the truth.

Don Arturo
You've heard that I've talked to my father?

Diego [skeptically]
Really?  What things did you discuss?

Don Arturo [animatedly]
Among others, they baptized my new niece, he even knew her name, Catrina, and even that of the new priest who baptized her.

Diego [unconvinced]
Truly incredible.

Don Arturo [patting Diego's arm]
Come, have a drink.

Diego
No, thank you.  I prefer to keep a clear head.

[Don Arturo walks away as Diego watches him go, jiggling the stone in his hand.]

Diego [his eyes narrowing suspiciously]
Someone is giving your dead father very pertinent information, Señor.

[Exterior shot of the tavern at night as Ricardo and Myatana walk out the front door and across the plaza to the garrison.  Zorro observes them from the garrison roof.  He walks across the roof and up to the peak of Ramón's office.]

[Two piles of coins and bills are stacked on Ramón's desk as Ricardo places more coins in the pile in front of Ramón, who sits behind his desk.]

Ricardo
There you are, Alcalde.  Your twenty percent share.

[Ramón picks up the money and puts it into a box that sits on his desk.]

[Outside, Zorro climbs down the side of the office, then hangs upside down to look through a window.]

[Inside the office, Ramón stands up, picks up the box, and puts it in a niche that is hidden behind a bookshelf on the wall above the safe as Zorro watches from the window.]

Ramón [turning to Ricardo and Myatana]
This will be our last transaction.

[Zorro swings off to one side of the window so Ramón doesn't see him.]

Ricardo
What are you talking about?

Ramón
The risk is too great.  It's only a matter of time before someone finds out that I've been giving you official pueblo records.

Ricardo
Nonsense, Alcalde.  I have a sixth sense about such things.  It has never failed me.  There are still fat cows to milk.  The rancher, Don Emiliano Lopez.  Don Alejandro de la Vega.

Ramón
The de la Vegas cannot be duped by cheap tricks.

Myatana [indignantly as she rises from her chair]
Cheap tricks?

Ricardo
We've enriched you with our skills.  And unless you'd like all of Los Angeles to know how you've duped them, you'll quietly continue helping us with our ‘cheap tricks'.  The files.  Now.

[Ramón realizes he has no choice and walks over to his safe.]

[Outside the office, Zorro climbs back up onto the roof.]

[Inside, Ramón takes some papers out of the safe and hands them to Ricardo.]

[Back outside, Zorro jumps off the roof and onto a tree branch, then onto Toronado's back.  They ride off into the night.]

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

[Exterior shot of the de la Vega hacienda the next day.]

[Inside the secret cave, Felipe is carrying several bottles over to the laboratory table.]

Deep Voice
Felipe.

[Felipe drops one of the bottles and it breaks on the floor.  He looks around to see where the voice is coming from.]

Deep Voice
Answer me.

[Felipe drops the rest of the bottles he was holding and they break on the floor as well.  He looks around again.  Diego walks into the cave then, carrying a funnel-like device.  Felipe's shoulders sag with relief.  Diego smiles until he looks down and sees the broken glass on the floor.]

Diego
You heard me.

[Felipe points to the funnel device.]

Diego [holding it up]
This?  Something like this gives Myatana her curiously masculine vocal chords.  Ricardo is next door, he places the small end in a hole between the two rooms.  So now we have two sharks trying to trick my father.  And he won't listen to common sense.

Don Alejandro [off camera]
Diego!

[Diego and Felipe look toward the cave tunnel.  Diego hands Felipe the funnel, then bends down and picks up a bottle that didn't break, giving that to Felipe too.  He then exits the cave.]

[Diego comes out of the fireplace, heads to the nearest bookcase and pulls out a book.  He stands in front of the fireplace, holding the opened book as the panel closes behind him.  Don Alejandro comes into the library.]

Don Alejandro [a bit perturbed]
Oh, there you are.  Didn't you hear me calling?

Diego [not looking up from the book.]
I was just reflecting on this passage by Cervantes. [He closes the book and puts his hand on Don Alejandro's shoulder.] Perhaps I'm guilty of having a closed min.

[They start walking.]

Don Alejandro
Ah-ha.  So you've come around.

Diego
Let's just say I'm willing to be convinced.  Did you make your appointment for a reading with Myatana?

[They stops walking and turn to face each other.]

Don Alejandro
I'm meeting her this evening.

Diego
Good.

Don Alejandro
I must say your change of heart is remarkable.

Diego
Oh, my heart is one thing, my mind is another.  I know how badly you'd like to talk to my dear mother.

Don Alejandro [nodding]
If there's the slightest possibility.

Diego
And if there's no true possibility?

Don Alejandro
What do you mean?

Diego
What if there is only hope?  Wishes?  Blind faith?

Don Alejandro
Then many of our friends are being swindled.

Diego
Exactly.  I think it's time you put this Myatana to the true test.

Don Alejandro
How?

Diego
Well, as I recall, Mother was a true student of art.  I have an idea.

[He takes Don Alejandro's arm and lead his away.]

[Exterior shot of Ramón's office.  A lancer stands guard outside.]

Ramón [off camera]
She was an extraordinary woman.

[He is standing by his desk as he speaks to Ricardo and Myatana.  Myatana is looking at a piece of paper.]

Ramón
I can assure you.

Myatana [reading from the paper]
That is obvious.  Direct bloodlines to the Spanish nobility.  Well-educated. [She looks the paper further.]  Ah, a devoted patron of the arts.

[She glances over at Ricardo.]

Ricardo [smiling confidently]
No problem.

[Ramón sits down at his desk, looking very worried.  Ricardo and Myatana chuckle as they look over at Ramón.]

[Inside the tavern, Victoria is serving a man a drink as Ramón and Diego sit at another table.  Ramón looks nervous as he drinks from his cup.  Diego looks concerned as he taps his fingers on the table.]

Myatana [close up of her lips as they speak in the deep voice]
And my love for you has only grown since my passing.  You are still in my heart, Alejandro.

[Myatana is sitting in a trance-like state at her table with the scarves and crystal ball, the light falling across her face.]

Don Alejandro [sitting in a chair in the opposite corner.]
I am truly touched, Felicidad.  You know how much I miss you as well.

Myatana
Of course, my darling.  But now I must go.

Don Alejandro [putting up his hand]
No, no.  Wait.  One more question.  I . . um. . .I was wondering about something you once said.  You spoke of the influence Goya had on the paintings of Michelangelo.

Myatana
I remember, Alejandro.

[In the next room, Ricardo reclines on a bed, speaking into a funnel-like device (exactly like the one Diego made).]

Ricardo [into the funnel]
I said that Goya's influence was threefold; color, style and content; combined into the unmistakable ambience we know as Michelangelo's.  The works in El Escorial are a case in point.

Don Alejandro
You. . .um. . .  Y-You're, uh, certain this was actually my Felicidad?

[Myatana pretends to go limp as if she is coming out of the trance.]

Myatana [in her normal voice]
Without a doubt, Señor.

Don Alejandro [rising to his feet]
Then without a doubt, Madam, you are a fraud.

[Myatana looks scared as Don Alejandro walks toward her.]

[In the next room, Ricardo looks scared as well and uncertain as to what to do.]

Don Alejandro
Everyone knows Goya came after Michelangelo and no work of Goya's hangs or ever has hung in the Escorial.  Enough of your lies, Ricardo.  You can come out now from wherever you are and give these good people back their money.

[Don Alejandro walks out of the room through some curtains, goes over to the balcony railing and leans over it.]

Don Alejandro [to the people below]
It's a fraud.  It's all a fraud.

[Ricardo comes out of his room and rushes toward Don Alejandro.  Diego jumps from his seat and runs up the staircase.]

Ricardo
Shut up, you old fool.

[Ricardo strikes Don Alejandro across the face.  He then tries to punch Don Alejandro but Don Alejandro blocks his fist.  Diego grabs Ricardo from behind and slams him up against the wall.  Diego then goes over to see if Don Alejandro is all right.  Ricardo tackles him and sends Diego flying over the railing.  Diego lands on his back atop a table, crushing it to the ground.  Victoria runs over to help him.]

Victoria [bending over and touching his arm]
Are you all right, Don Diego?

[Diego nods and waves her off.  Victoria then marches over to Ramón's table, where he sits drinking.  Don Alejandro comes down the stairs and help Diego get to his feet.  Ricardo follows Don Alejandro and goes over to stand beside them.]

Victoria
Alcalde, do something!

Ramón [setting down his glass]
Step in between two charging bulls?

Victoria
You're the law.  Stop them!

Ramón [slamming his fist on the table then getting up and going over to where the men are standing]
Señors.

[Don Alejandro is holding Diego's arm while Ricardo looks on.]

Ramón
Why not settle this as gentlemen?

[He takes off one of his gloves and hold it out.]

Ramón
In a duel, I would be powerless to interfere.

[Ricardo grabs Ramón's glove.]

Don Alejandro
My son is no swordsman.

[Ricardo slaps Diego across the face with Ramón's glove.]

Ricardo
You have grossly insulted the lady and myself, Señor.

Diego [deadly calm]
You've assaulted my father.

Don Alejandro
Diego, forget it.

Diego [holding up one finger]
The plaza.  One hour.

[Ricardo nods his acceptance.  Diego leaves the tavern.]

Don Alejandro [watches Diego go then turns to Ramón]
I tell you, Diego is not a swordsman!

Ramón
How well I know.  But this, Sir, is an affair of honor.

[Don Alejandro glares at Ramón then turns and leaves.]

[In a barn or stable in the pueblo, Zorro ties on his mask as Toronado eats in the background.]

Zorro
Our little fight with Ricardo was a nice diversion.

[Felipe hands Zorro his black gloves which Zorro puts on.]

Zorro
You managed to get into his room?

[Felipe nods.]

Zorro
And the money?

[Felipe reaches behind him and pulls a pouch from the back of his pants and shows it to Zorro.]

Zorro
Well done.  And you managed to bring everything into town.

[Felipe holds out Zorro's saber which has his black hat on its hilt.  Zorro has to untangle the hat's strings from the sword's handle.  When he does, Zorro puts the hat on his head.]

[Exterior shot of Ramón's office.]

[Inside, Mendoza stands in front of a cheval mirror, wearing one of Ramón's jackets and looking at himself admiringly.]

Mendoza
With all due respects, Alcalde, you were not meant for leadership as I was.  Under my direction, Zorro would not be at large today.

[Suddenly Zorro's image appears in the mirror.]

Mendoza
Zorro!

[He grabs his sword from the desk as he turns around and points it at Zorro's throat.  Zorro raises his hands.]

Zorro
I'm not here to fight with you, Mendoza.  I'm here to do you a favor.

[He turns and opens the bookshelf, taking the box from it.  He shows it to Mendoza.]

Zorro
Do you know what this is?

Mendoza
That's the Alcalde's money.

Zorro
Exactly.  It's his twenty percent share of what the mysterious Myatana has swindled from our good townspeople.  Obviously I would steal it but for the valiant struggle you're putting up.

Mendoza [confused]
Valiant struggle I"m putting. . .? [Then he catches on, pointing his sword again at Zorro.] En garde!

Zorro
Of course, I'm sure the Alcalde would appreciate the return of this box to him in the plaza.

[Zorro hands the box to Mendoza then gives him a salute.  Mendoza opens the box and goes through its contents.]

Mendoza [as he looks up]
It. . .It's. . .It's a. . .

[He spins around but Zorro has disappeared.]

[Ricardo paces on the tavern porch as a crowd has gathered in the plaza.  Then he goes to stand by Myatana who is standing by Victoria and Ramón.]

[A pair of black gloved hands touch the shoulders of people in front of them, clearing a path through the crowd.  Zorro emerges near the tavern's porch.

Zorro [to Victoria]
Señorita. [He holds up Ricardo's money pouch.] Please return this money. . .[He tosses the pouch to Victoria who catches it with a smile.]. . .to the families who were cheated by this man.

[Ricardo walks off the porch and points at Zorro.]

Ricardo [unsheathing his sword]
First, you steal my money.  And you further insult me by calling me a cheat.

Zorro
Intentional insults, I can assure you.

[Zorro draws out his saber.  Ricardo lunges at him.  Zorro sidesteps as he parries and Ricardo almost runs past him.  They duel then.  Ricardo tries to lunge at Zorro again, but Zorro spins out of the way, causing Ricardo to stumble and almost fall on his face.  Ricardo grabs a bystander and hurls him at Zorro.  Zorro comes after Ricardo then and pushes him onto the porch.  Myatana overturns a table trying to block Zorro's path but he avoid it neatly.  The sword fight continues on the tavern porch.  Ramón has to press himself against the wall in order to avoid the clashing swords.  Ricardo spies a basket on a table.  He picks it up and throws it at Zorro, who ducks easily to one side so it misses him.  Zorro drives Ricardo backwards than slams his sword hand into a pillar, causing Ricardo's sword to fall to the ground.  Ricardo pulls out a knife and raises his arm at Zorro, who has turned his attention to Ramón.]

Victoria [seeing what Ricardo is about to do]
Zorro!  Look out!

[Zorro turns and throws his saber like a dart, pinning Ricardo's shirt ruffle to another pillar.  The knife drops out of Ricardo's hand.]

Zorro [pulling his sword from the pillar]
He who calls the bull, Señor, must endure the wound.

[He slashes a ‘Z' into the front of Ricardo's jacket.  People start to laugh.  Victoria goes back inside the tavern.]

Zorro [to Ramón]
And as for you, deny you furnished them pueblo records.

Ramón [acting indignant]
Ridiculous.  Of course, I deny it.

[Just then Mendoza (dressed once again in his own uniform) steps onto the porch, carrying the box.]

Mendoza
Mi Alcalde, I saved your money.

Ramón
What money?

Mendoza [pointing at Ricardo and Myatana]
Uh, the twenty percent share they gave you.  I caught Zorro trying to steal it.  We had a truly formidable battle.

[He puffs out his chest as everyone stares at Ramón.]

Ramón [as Zorro turns and leaves]
S. . .S. . .Sergeant, you're suffering from delusions.  Put that with the other money and arrest those two on conspiracy to commit fraud. [He points at Ricardo and Myatana.] And while you at it, arrest. . .

[He turns and points to where Zorro had been standing.]

Ramón
Well, where is he?  Where is Zorro?

[Mendoza shrugs his shoulders.]

[Inside the tavern, Victoria walks into the kitchen.  A black gloved hand touches her arm and she spin around to see Zorro behind her.  He takes her hand in both of his.]

Zorro
Once again I have you to thank for my life, Señorita.

[He brings her hand to his lips and kisses it.]

Victoria [after she regains her composure]
Don Diego has more to be grateful for.  He would have been no match for Ricardo.

Zorro
I take it you have no regard for Don Diego.

Victoria [trying to be nice]
He's not unattractive, but. . .

Zorro
But what, Señorita?

Victoria [smiling up at him flirtatiously]
There is another.

Soldier's Voice [off camera]
Check the tavern.

Zorro
The Alcalde' men.  I must be off.  Adios.

[He kisses her hand again.  Zorro then climbs up the kitchen wall and up over the short wall to the second floor.  Victoria watches him leave then sighs.]

[Zorro jumps off a rooftop onto Toronado's back and rides out of town as people cheer and wave as he goes galloping by.]

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

[Diego walks into the tavern followed by Don Alejandro.  Mendoza is at the bar where Victoria is pouring drinks.]

Diego [acting confused]
There's no on in the plaza.  Where's Ricardo?

Mendoza [turning around to face Diego]
In jail.  Along with his accomplice, Señorita Myatana.  The Alcalde and I uncovered the fraud you suspected.

[He picks up his cup and walks away, puffing out his chest.]

Diego [acting outraged as Don Alejandro chuckles]
What?  I was looking forward to a good fight.

Don Alejandro
Diego.

Victoria [smiling at him patronizingly]
Believe me, Don Diego, you're better off. [Then she looks at him suspiciously.] What did detain you anyway?

Don Alejandro
He insisted on a complete change of clothes before coming.

[Diego glances around, acting haughty.]

Don Alejandro [to Diego]
For once your tardiness worked to your advantage.

Victoria [still curious]
But how is it that Zorro just happened to take your place.

[She looks at him and Diego stares back at her, his expression unreadable.]

Victoria
No. [She starts to laugh] No, impossible. [She shakes her head.] For a moment, I thought he could be Zorro.

Diego
And what makes you so sure that I'm not?

Victoria [trying to be nice again]
Zorro has something that you do not.

Diego [scoffingly]
I think I could hold my own against him anytime.

[He unsheathes the sword he wearing and whips it around awkwardly.]

Don Alejandro [amused]
All right, Son.  Let's go home.

[He puts his hand on Diego's shoulder and leads him out of the tavern.  Don Alejandro chuckles.]

Don Alejandro
I was fool enough for both of us.

Diego
No, I think like any good man, you were in love with a memory.

[Don Alejandro nods as Diego pats his shoulder.]

Diego
You still have that.

[Don Alejandro and Diego continue on their way out of the tavern.]

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

Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland  11 July 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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