Written by Paul & Sharon Boorstin
Directed by Michael Vejar

First US Airdate 13 April 1990   Episode 1.19

[Exterior shot of the de la Vega hacienda]

[Exterior shot of the de la Vega hacienda courtyard where Felipe is standing ona ladder hammering on a birdhouse.  Diego stands behind Felipe.]

Diego
Nicely done, Felipe. [Felipe climbs down the ladder.] You know, we can learn much by observing our winged visitors.  Each have their own personality; the proud peacock, the ugly duckling, the predator, the prey.  Just like human beings.

[Don Alejandro walks up to them.]

Don Alejandro
I heard the new padre just arrived from Santa Barbara.

Diego
Padre Benitez?

Don Alejandro [surprised]
You know him?

Diego
Through out letters.  Um, he's not only a man of God, he's also a renown lover of nature.  I wrote him because I've identified a new species of bird and uh. . .

Don Alejandro
We don't need another birdwatcher, Diego.  We need a wise hand to guide our mission.

Diego
Ah, well, if anyone can guide the mission with wisdom and compassion, it's Padre Benitez.

[He pats Don Alejandro on the right shoulder then walks away, followed by Felipe.  Don Alejandro turns and looks a them with a concerned expression on his face.  He walks away to his left.]

[Exterior shot of the church from a side angle as its bell rings.  A man in priest's robe and a younger man walk alongside the outside of the church.]

Young Man
I hope you will find everything all right, Padre Benitez.

Padre Benitez
If it is not, Carlos, you will be the first to know.

[He stops walking and indicates something to his right.]

Padre Benitez
Those are the mission's vines, are they not?

Carlos
Yes, Padre.

[Two women, one young, one old, are picking grapes from an arbor beside the church.]

Padre Benitez
What are these women doing?  Helping themselves to what doesn't belong to them?

Carlos
The old padre always let the poor take what they needed.

Padre Benitez
And what has been the result?  A bankrupt mission. [He walks toward the woman and points at them.] If I catch either of you stealing from this vine again, you will be severely punished.

Carlos
But, Padre. . .

Padre Benitez [turning to face Carlos]
Things are going to change around here, Carlos.  Things are definitely going to change.

[He walks off to his left.  Carlos turns and watches him go with a puzzled look on his face.  The young woman helps the old woman move away from the vines.  Carlos still looks confused.]

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

[Exterior shot of the pueblo as people mill about the market stalls.  People ride horses and drive carts through the plaza.]

[Exterior shot of the pueblo gate as Don Alejandro rides into town.]

Padre Benitez [off camera]
There's been all together too much slackness here.  It will no longer be tolerated.

[Exterior shot of the grape arbor beside the church where Padre Benitez speaks to a group of men and women, many with garden implements.  Carlos stands in the front of the group.]

Carlos
Padre, these people work in the fields from dawn to dusk.

Padre Benitez
That's not enough.  In the evenings they must help with the mission chores.

Carlos
The old padre always let them. . .

Padre Benitez [angrily]
I am not the old padre!

Carlos [as Don Alejandro looks on astride his horse]
We may be your servants but we are not your slaves!  This is not right!

Padre Benitez
I shall decided what is right!

[He raises his right hand, intending to strike Carlos.]
 
Don Alejandro [off camera]
Padre Benitez!

[Padre Benitez turns to look at Don Alejandro who is dismounting his horse.  He then turns back to the people.]

Padre Benitez [waving his hands at them]
Take them to work.

[The men and women leave, led by Carlos.  Don Alejandro ties his horse's reins to a hitching rail as Padre Benitez walks toward him.]

Padre Benitez
It's difficult keeping these people in their place. [He switches to a friendly tone.] Can I help you, Señor?

Don Alejandro
I am Alejandro de la Vega.

[Padre Benitez nods.]

Don Alejandro
I believe you and my son, Diego, have been in correspondence for some months?

Padre Benitez
Why yes, of course.

Don Alejandro
He tells me you're interested in the study of ornithology.

Padre Benitez
The only study I am interested in is keeping the mission on a sound footing.  Now, if you will forgive me, Señor. . .

Don Alejandro
With all due respect, Padre, loyalty is earned by kindness and guidance, not by oppression.

Padre Benitez
My orders come directly from the cardinal. [He smiles smugly.] I suggest you take up the matter with his Eminence in Mexico City.

[He turns and walks away from Don Alejandro who watches him with a suspicious expression on his face.]

[Exterior shot of the de la Vega hacienda.]

Diego [off camera at first]
But how can the padre. . .

[Interior shot of the de la Vega hacienda as Diego picks up a piece of paper from a desk and points to it.]

Diego
. . .who wrote this letter, a gentle student of nature, be so harsh?

Don Alejandro [handing Diego another piece of paper]
Look at what he sent to all the caballeros.  I tell you, Diego, he treats Carlos, and the others, with great cruelty.

Diego [reading the letter]
He's asking you to triple your offerings to the mission.

Don Alejandro [shaking his head]
Oh, it's not a request.  It's a demand.

Diego
Did he give any reason?

Don Alejandro
Oh, something about renovating the sanctuary.

Diego
It's not in need of renovation.  Besides, the church has more than adequate funds for these things.

Don Alejandro
I think this new padre needs a good bookkeeper.   He's even accused Carlos of stealing the church silver.

Diego
Carlos would never steal anything.

Don Alejandro
I'm going to find out more about this.  Are you coming?

Diego
Yes.

[Don Alejandro nods then turns and walks away.  Diego continues to look at the two letters.]

[Shot from Diego ‘s point of view of the two letters.]

Diego
His handwriting is totally different.

[Interior shot of Diego turning and holding up the two letters.]

Diego [suspiciously]
Who is this man?

[He turns and leaves.]

[Exterior shot of the plaza where Carlos is being led away by several lancers, including Mendoza.  People are protesting.  Diego and Felipe follow Don Alejandro over to Ramón's office where Ramón stands out front.]

Don Alejandro [to Ramón]
Alcalde, there must be some kind of mistake.

Ramón [holding out his hands]
The padre found the church's silver chalice under Carlos's cot.  The rest of the silver is still missing.  I must take this man into custody and make him confess.

[He turns and goes inside his office.]

Don Alejandro
This is ridiculous. [Diego turns and faces Don Alejandro, putting his right hand on a post and his left hand on his hip.] We've know Carlos all his life.  I'm sure he's innocent.

[Felipe stands beside Diego and puts his left hand on his own hip.]

Diego
Sometimes innocence alone is not enough to protect a man from injustice.

[Don Alejandro turns and walks away.]

Diego [dropping his hand from his hip as he steps forward]
I intend to find out more about this imposter at the mission. [Felipe drops his hand from his hip.]  This wolf in priest's clothing.

[Felipe grabs Diego's left arm then makes a ‘Z' in the air with his left index finger.]

Diego [patting the back of Felipe's neck]
Yes.  Zorro rides tonight.

[They walk away from Ramón's office.]

[Interior shot of the secret cave where a shirtless Diego (yeah!) hangs his white shirt on the clothes rack as Felipe runs across the cave over to Toronado.  Diego puts on Zorro's black shirt.]

[Exterior night shot of the hidden cave entrance as Zorro rides Toronado out of it.]

[Exterior night shot of Zorro riding Toronado across the countryside, down a hill, then across more countryside.]

[Closeup night shot of the church as its bell rings.  The camera pulls back to show the whole church.]

[Exterior night shot of the grape arbor beside the church where Padre Benitez stands with Ramón who is holding a wine glass.]

Ramón
It is gratifying to finally have a progressive priest such as yourself, Padre, in our humble pueblo.

Padre Benitez [as he pours wine from a bottle into Ramón's glass]
Progressive enough to offer you a share in the church's increased income?

Ramón
Truly you are a man of generous spirit.

Padre Benitez
Tell me, how generous would you think I am?  In spirit, that is.

Ramón [as the camera pans upward]
Very.  An equal share would seem appropriate.

Padre Benitez [off camera as Zorro climbs up onto the church roof]
Ten percent is more traditional.

Ramón [off camera]
But not as charitable as say, forty percent.

Padre Benitez [off camera as Zorro disappears from the rooftop]
Twenty.

Ramón [off camera]
Thirty.

Padre Benitez [off camera]
Twenty-five and not a centavo more.

Ramón [off camera]
Agreed.

[Interior shot of Padre Benitez's bedroom as Zorro steps inside it.  He walks across the room, looking around.  He goes over to a bureau where a small chest sits on top of it and opens the chest.]

[Exterior night shot of the grape arbor where Padre Benitez is pouring more wine into Ramón's glass.]

Padre Benitez
Of course.  Nevertheless, what exactly do I get for twenty-five percent of the church's revenue?

Ramón
The protection and support of my devoted troops.  In other words, Padre, you get to stay in business.

[They both drink from their glasses.  Padre Benitez holds up the wine bottle.  He then sets down his glass and carries the bottle toward a door in the side of the church.]

[Interior shot of Padre Benitez's bedroom as Zorro turns around as a door opens off camera.  He goes across the room and into a cupboard.  Padre Benitez walks into the room and puts the wine bottle on a shelf.]

[Closeup shot of Zorro in the cupboard as he looks through its latticed door at Padre Benitez.  Padre Benitez carries another bottle of wine toward the door.  Zorro moves and something inside the cupboard makes a metallic sound.  Padre Benitez stops, then shrugs, then continues out of the room.  Zorro swallows nervously.  He brings up a bag with his right hand and looks into it.  He nods knowingly.]

[Exterior daytime shot of Ramón's office as its front door opens and Mendoza comes out, followed by Carlos then more lancers.  Mendoza walks over to a pole stuck in the ground and the others follow.  Carlos's already bound wrists are tied to a rope on the pole so they are slightly above his head.  People start gathering around, including Victoria.  Ramón walks up behind Carlos.]

Ramón
This man, Carlos Hernandez, stands accused of stealing the precious silver from the mission.  He is to receive twenty strokes of the lash unless he reveals where he has hidden it.

Carlos
How can I tell you where it is?  I didn't steal it!

[Ramón smirks then points his right finger at a lancer standing at Mendoza's right.  The lancer winds up, ready to whip Carlos, but a dagger pins the end of the whip to the ground.  The lancer tugs on it, then turns around.]

Zorro [from the cuartel roof]
Save your lash for its proper victim.

Voices
Zorro!  Zorro!

Zorro [pointing downward]
That man is no priest.  But he is most certainly a thief.  I found the stolen church silver in his closet and returned it to the sacristy.

Imposter
Do not listen to these lies.

Zorro
Lies?  What kind of liar hides behind the robes of a priest?

[The imposter starts to slink away then starts to run.]

Ramón [causing the imposter to hesitate]
Forget the priest! [He points upward.] I want Zorro!

[The lancers run up and aim their muskets upward.  Zorro lashes out his whip, wrapping it around a protruding beam end.  He swings down off the roof and onto the ground.  He then ducks behind some barrels. The lancers fire their musket but just hit the barrels, some of which water starts pouring out..  Zorro peeks out from behind the barrels.  The imposter resumes running to his left.  Victoria watches him go.]

Victoria
Zorro!  The padre's getting away!

[Zorro comes out from behind the barrels.  The imposter is on a horse and starts to ride away.  Two lancers on horseback let him pass by then ride toward Zorro.  He runs toward them then cracks his whip.  The lancers's horses rear up and both lancers fall to the ground.  Zorro runs past them but other lancers come at him with their swords drawn.  Zorro cracks his whip at them and they retreat.  He grabs a lancer and spins him into two other lancers and they all fall down.  Zorro whistles.  Toronado comes trotting into view and whinnies.   Zorro jumps up onto a loaded wagon then turns around.  A lancer shoots at him but misses.  Zorro hops down onto Toronado's back and rides away as the people cheer.  Mendoza looks relieved.]

[Exterior shot of Zorro riding through the pueblo gate and into the countryside.]

[Closeup shot of Ramón looking disappointed.]

[Exterior shot of the road as the imposter rides past some trees.]

[Closeup shot of Victoria as she glances to her right.]

[Closeup shot of Carlos as he is still tied to the post.  Victoria goes over and starts to untie him.]

[Exterior shot of the road as Zorro rides past the same trees the imposter did earlier.]

[Closeup shot of Victoria as she puts her hand on Carlos's shoulder.]

Victoria
Go.

[Exterior shot of Zorro riding Toronado across the countryside then up a hillside.  He brings Toronado to a halt at the top and looking around.]

[Shot from Zorro's point of view of an empty road and trees and grass.]

[Exterior shot of Zorro as he turns Toronado around and rides back down the hillside then back the way her came.]

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

[Closeup shot of a note stuck to a post with a knife.]

Diego [off camera at first]
If you wish to see the true Padre Benitez alive, bring five hundred pesos in gold to Don Ramon's pasture on Camino Real.

[Diego is standing with his arms crossed with Felipe standing to his right as others are also gathered around the post.]

Diego
There's also a message from the true Padre Benitez here.  ‘Please pay the ransom so that someday I might see the beautiful starlings again.'  Starlings?  I wonder if he is trying to give us a clue?

[Interior shot of the tavern as Don Alejandro walks through the open door.  He is carrying a sword.]

Victoria [off camera at first]
Well?  Is the Alcalde going to pay the ransom?

[She is standing by a table where three men are sitting.  Don Alejandro goes over to the opposite end of the table.]

Don Alejandro
He insists his coffers are empty when we all know that they are overflowing with gold.

Victoria
But surely the Alcalde will send out his soldiers to find out where our padre is being held captive?

Don Alejandro
He says it would be a hopeless task.  That they could be holding him anywhere between here and Santa Barbara.

Victoria
Ha.  For once the Alcalde has a point.

[She turns and walks off to her right.]

Don Alejandro [to the three men]
We caballeros must raise the money amongst ourselves.  Amigos, is five hundred pesos too great a price to pay to free our new padre?

One of the Men
We are with you, Don Alejandro.

Don Alejandro
Good.  Then raising the ransom should be no problem.

Victoria [coming back up to their table]
But what if you pay the ransom and you still don't find Padre Benitez?

Don Alejandro
In that case, we will have to take action among ourselves. [to the men] Vamos.

[The three men stand up and they all walk away, leaving a worried Victoria to stare after them.]

[Exterior shot of a canyon wall.  The camera pans down to where the imposter is dressed in a brown suit with a red cravat.]

Imposter
I am please to be out of your drab padre's habit.

Padre Benitez [sitting on a rock with his hands tied behind his back]
The robes of a man of God should be humble.  He's concerned more with the treasures of the spirit.

Imposter
Spare me you righteousness.  Aren't you afraid to die?

Padre Benitez
Even in death, I shall live.

[Exterior shot of some trees as a white bird flies over them.]

[Exterior shot of Zorro riding Toronado past more trees.  He brings Toronado to a halt.]

[Exterior shot of a white bird flying over the tree tops.]

[Closeup shot of Zorro smiling.]

[Exterior shot of Zorro riding Toronado past the trees.]

[Exterior shot of the canyon where the imposter draws out a sword and walks up to Padre Benitez.]

Imposter
The time has come to collect the ransom.  I'm afraid you won't be coming with me. [He points the sword at Padre Benitez.] However, you have been a valuable asset, Padre, now you are merely unwanted baggage.

Padre Benitez
Do as you wish, Zaragoza, I put my faith in the Lord.

Zaragoza
What pity.  I put my faith in this blade.

Zorro [off camera]
That will be your undoing, Señor.

[Zaragoza turns and see Zorro standing on a rock above him, holding his saber point down on the rock.]

Zaragoza [pulling out a pistol]
Faith is a tool of the weak, Zorro.  The strong have no need of such help.

Zorro
Right now you need all the help you can get. [He raises his arms.] From above. [He then jumps down off the rock as Zaragoza aims his pistol at him then fires.  Zaragoza runs off to his right as Zorro lands in front of Padre Benitez.] Or below.

[He salutes with his saber then lunges at Zaragoza and they duel.  Padre Benitez stands up and walks toward them.]

Zorro
Even the priests' robes you wore could not hide the heart of a common criminal.

[Zorro drives Zaragoza backward then turns Zaragoza's sword aside and presses it up against the canyon wall.]

Zaragoza
Perhaps.  But an uncommon swordsman.

[He frees his sword and lunges at Zorro, continuing their duel.]

Zaragoza
You're a formidable opponent, Zorro.  But why fight to the death when we can be rich?  I offer you half the ransom.

Zorro
Ah, I'm afraid not, Zaragoza.  Instead, I offer you this.

[He brings up his saber and slashes a ‘Z' into the front of Zaragoza's jacket.  Zaragoza swings his sword at Zorro's head but Zorro takes a step back.  They start dueling again.  Zaragoza uses his pistol to block Zorro's saber then tries to thrust his sword into Zorro.  Zorro grabs Zaragoza's right arm and swings him around then they continue to duel.  Zorro blocks Zaragoza's sword then hooks his saber on Zaragoza's pistol hammer and circles it around several times then lets go.  The pistol flies up into the air and lands on Zaragoza's head.]

Zaragoza
Ow!

[He drops his sword.  Zorro uses his saber to back Zaragoza up against the canyon wall.  Padre Benitez comes up beside Zorro.]

Padre Benitez
How did you find me, Zorro?

Zorro [as he unties Padre Benitez's hands]
Your clue in the ransom note about the starlings.

Padre Benitez
Oh, yes.

Zorro [as Padre Benitez rubs his wrists]
A friend of mine knows where they roost.  He remembered you wrote him before your journey to the mission.

Padre Benitez
You must mean Don Diego?

[Zorro nods.]

Padre Benitez
You're a friend of his?

Zorro
A mere acquaintance.

[He then points his saber at Zaragoza who looks unhappy.]

[Exterior shot of a rocky field where Don Alejandro and his three friends have dismounted their horses.  Don Alejandro walks forward, carrying a saddlebag.]

Don Alejandro
We're to leave the gold here.  As the ransom note demanded.  Pray they keep their word.

Zorro [off camera at first]
Save your prayers and your gold.

[Zorro leads Zaragoza toward Don Alejandro and the other men as Padre Benitez rides behind them on Toronado.]

Don Alejandro [smiling]
Zorro.

Zorro [stopping in front of a wagon loaded with hay and indicating Padre Benitez]
Meet Padre Benitez.

Padre Benitez [raising his right hand]
The Lord has been kind to me today.

Man from Tavern [drawing his sword]
He's been kind to all of us.

Don Alejandro
Emilio, what are you saying?  We owe the padre's rescue to Zorro.

Emilio
Perhaps. [He walks in front of Don Alejandro, sword raised.] But Zorro is a criminal.  He's wanted by the Spanish throne.  We must do our duty.

Zorro
Only to defend others from injustice and greed, caballero.

Emilio
Who stands with me?

[Another of the men draws out his sword.]

Emilio
Any one of us is a match for you, Zorro.

Zorro [backing up as the two men advance on him]
I fear you will find no safety in numbers, Señor.

[Padre Benitez steps in front of Zorro as Zaragoza runs off to his left.]

Padre Benitez [to Emilio]
Now stop!

[Emilio walks past Padre Benitez and toward Zorro.  A sword trips Zaragoza and he lands on his behind.]

Don Alejandro [looking down at Zaragoza and pointing his sword at him]
Your next step will be your last, my friend.

[He puts the tip of his sword at Zaragoza's throat as Zaragoza tries to sit up.  Zaragoza sags back down.  Emilio and the other man advance on Zorro.  Zorro turns and tosses his saber into the hay wagon behind him.  He dodges one way then the other as the two men thrust their swords on either side of him.  Zorro then jumps backward up into the wagon just as both men thrust at him.  Their swords get stuck in the side of the wagon.  Zorro smiles down at them from atop the wagon.  Padre Benitez starts laughing as does Don Alejandro.]

Padre Benitez
Now, now, listen, my friends.  Listen.  When Zorro found Zaragoza, he offered to split the ransom with him and Zorro, he refused.  He's a good man.

Zorro
Please, escort Padre Benitez to his new home at the mission [He points forward.] and my friend there to his new home in the jail.

[Zorro salutes then slides to the other side of the wagon and hops down onto Toronado's back.]

Zorro [raising his sword]
Padre, welcome to Los Angeles!

[Zorro rides past the two men then stops as Toronado rears up and whinnies as Zorro waves.  They then ride away.

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

[Closeup shot of the church bell tower as the bell rings.]

Padre Benitez [off camera as the camera pans downward]
You know, Don Diego, there is one thing I don't understand.  How did you ever find Zorro to tell him about the birds?

Diego [chuckling as he and Padre Benitez walks alongside the church]
Well, I didn't have to.  Zorro has a way of always finding me.

Padre Benitez
Aha.  You know from the moment that criminal waylaid me on the highway and took me prisoner, I did n to lose hope.  As a student of nature, the birds teach me to always have hope.

Diego
How so?

Padre Benitez [as he carries a bird]
Well, every morning, in the cold and dark before dawn, the birds start to sing.  They do not know the dawn comes and still they sing.  And you know, Don Diego, always the dawn does come.

Diego
We have much to learn from you, Father.

Padre Benitez [indicating the bird he is holding]
This poor thing.  He has a broken wing.  Hey Carlos. . .

[Padre Benitez and Diego have stopped under the grape arbor beside the church where Carlos is picking grapes.]

Carlos
Yes?

Padre Benitez [giving the bird to Carlos]
Take him inside.  We will look after this little one until his wing heals and he can fly once again.

Carlos
Yes, Padre.

[He walks off to his right.]

Padre Benitez
You know, after my ordeal, this place, it seems even more beautiful.  And now it is time for lunch.  Would you care to join with me?

Diego
I would be honored.

Padre Benitez [as he sits down]
What a pity Zorro can't be with us.

Diego [also sitting down]
Oh, but he is, Father.

Padre Benitez [confused]
Huh?

Diego [holding out his hands]
In spirit.

Padre Benitez [nodding]
Oh yeah.

[He eats a grape as Diego smiles knowingly.]

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

Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland  16 March 2007

This transcription is a not-for-profit publication produced solely for the enjoyment of other Zorro fans and is not intended to infringe upon any rights of Goodman/Rosen Productions, New World Television, Zorro Productions, the estate of Johnston McCulley or anyone else.

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