Written by Philip John Taylor
Directed by Ray Austin
First US Airdate 20 October 1991 Episode 3.8
[Exterior shot of the pueblo's plaza. A woman is driving a one horse cart into the plaza. She comes to a stop in front of the cuartel where two lancers take hold of her horse. As she alights, two columns of lancers march under an archway as one of them beats a drum. In their midst is a man with his hands tied behind his back and accompanied by a priest. The man is walked over to stand in front of a wall. The woman watches from the Alcalde's office porch then goes over and knocks on the door.]
[Inside the office, de Soto is wiping off his hands with a white cloth.]
de Soto
Enter.
[The woman opens the door and steps inside.]
Woman
You are the Alcalde?
de Soto
I am.
Woman
You run a very quiet town.
de Soto
Yes. Well. Jacinto Santana is about to face a firing squad and
the people of the pueblo are, uh, shall we say somewhat squeamish about it.
Yes, you picked a bad day to visit out pueblo, Señorita.
Woman [walking further into the office]
Señora. It's Señora Alberta Sinestra. I am recently
widowed.
de Soto [stepping toward her]
Forgive me. [He takes her hand and bows.] Señora, Ignacio de Soto,
at your service.
Señora Sinestra [looking over her shoulder out the door]
What did this Santana do?
de Soto
He murdered the alcalde of San Diego in cold blood.
Señora Sinestra
You mean Alcalde Santana?
de Soto
Ah, you're from San Diego?
Señora Sinestra
No, but I just came from there. The alcalde was a good man. What
a coincidence, he shared the same name as his murderer.
de Soto
Hah, it was no coincidence, Señora. Jacinto Santana murdered
his own father. He was arrested here in Los Angeles and we could not
transport him back to San Diego because there would most certainly be a riot.
You see, Alcalde Santana was much beloved by the people of San Diego.
[Mendoza walks into the office.]
Mendoza
Excuse me, Alcalde, everything is ready.
de Soto
Excellent, Sergeant
[Mendoza departs.]
Señora Sinestra
I do so hate bloodshed. May I wait in your office until it's over?
de Soto
Of course. Make yourself at home.
[Señora Sinestra smiles at him and bats her eyes. De Soto bows again then leaves his office. Señora Sinestra walks over to a window on her right.]
[De Soto is facing Mendoza as the other lancers with their muskets are lined up in front of Santana. A man wearing a sombrero and a serape sits nearby, sleeping.]
de Soto
All right, Sergeant, let's get this over with. I hate to keep a lady
waiting.
[He chuckles.]
Mendoza
Si, mi Alcalde.
[De Soto walks over to Santana and the priest. Mendoza follows him.]
[Señora Sinestra watches from the office window.]
de Soto
Jacinto Santana, you've been found guilty of murder. Confess, it will
ease your soul.
Santana
How can I confess to something I did not do?
de Soto [laughing with derision]
As you wish.
[He turns and walks away, again followed by Mendoza.]
[Señora Sinestra continues to watch from the office window.]
de Soto
Prepare to fire!
[The lancers raise their muskets.]
de Soto
Ready!
[A loud whinny is heard, then Zorro and Toronado trot into the plaza.]
Mendoza [seeing them then tugging on de Soto's sleeve]
Alcalde! Zorro!
de Soto
About face! Lancers!
[The lancers all turn around.]
de Soto
Left wheel! Don't let him escape!
[Victoria pokes her head out of a tavern window.]
[The lancers line up again and aim their muskets at Zorro and Toronado.]
de Soto
Prepare to fire! Ready!
[De Soto waves his sword downward.]
de Soto
Fire!
[The lancers fire.]
Mendoza [as Zorro and Toronado ride away]
I think we missed, Alcalde.
[Victoria comes storming out of the tavern.]
de Soto
Reload quickly! He's up to something!
[The sleeping man in the sombrero jumps up, throws off his hat, revealing that he is Zorro.]
Zorro [running toward the lancers]
It's called drawing the enemy's fire.
de Soto
Zorro! But. . .
[Zorro runs up and punches de Soto in the face.]
Mendoza
Zorro! There's two of you!
[Zorro tosses the serape over Mendoza's head as Victoria watches and smiles. Zorro pushes Mendoza out of the way. He grabs a rope and ties three lancers to a tree with it. Señora Sinestra watches him from the office window. Zorro goes over to Santana, pulling out his knife and cutting the ropes binding Santana's hands.]
Zorro [to Santana]
Wait for me on the outskirts of town. We'll need to hide you until
the real murderer is found.
Santana
Gracias, Zorro.
Zorro
Vaya con Dios.
[Santana runs away.]
de Soto [getting to his feet, holding his jaw]
Ow!
[Townspeople begin to gather in the plaza. Zorro unsheathes his saber as two lancers come at him. He duels with both of them and then a third lancer who joins in. He knocks them all to the ground. Zorro runs over to Toronado, hops up on his back, and tosses off the Zorro dummy from the saddle. He rides over to the now upright de Soto.]
Zorro
You arrested Jacinto Santana in the tavern, where he's taken a room in his
own name. He had no knowledge of the murder. And according to
Señorita Escalante, he was devastated when you gave him the news of
his father's death. These are not the actions of a guilty man!
de Soto
The evidence against him. . .
Zorro
The evidence against him is as feeble as your sense of justice. Jacinto
swore he was already on his way to Los Angeles when his father was killed.
[He unsheathes his saber again and points it at de Soto.] You will thank
me, Alcalde, when the authorities in San Diego find the real murderer.
[Zorro then slashes a ‘Z' into the front of de Soto's uniform.]
Zorro
Adios.
[He then salutes de Soto with his sword before riding away as people cheer. Señora Sinestra has come out onto the office porch. Zorro starts to ride past her but spins around and stops in front of her, looking at her appraisingly.]
Zorro
Buenos dias, Señorita.
[He salutes her with his hand then rides away. She smiles. Victoria stares after him, open-mouthed with obvious anger and jealousy, her hands on her hips. People continue to cheer as Zorro leaves town. Señora Sinestra smiles smugly.]
*****COMMERCIAL BREAK*****
[Exterior shot of the pueblo on market day. Children run through the stalls as adults buy and trade. Señora Sinestra stops at a stall as de Soto and Mendoza walk toward her.]
de Soto [stopping suddenly]
Sergeant.
Mendoza [stopping too]
Si, Alcalde.
de Soto
Do you see yourself as a demented bloodhound?
Mendoza [shaking his head]
Oh, no, mi Alcalde.
[He chuckles.]
de Soto
Then stop trailing me like one!
[Señora Sinestra looks in their direction at de Soto's outburst. Mendoza salutes half-heartedly then turns and walks away. De Soto walks up to Señora Sinestra.]
de Soto [bowing]
Buenos dias, Señora.
Señora Sinestra
Buenos dias, Alcalde.
de Soto
No, Ignacio, por favor.
Señora Sinestra
Your pueblo is absolutely charming. I may stay her for quite some time.
de Soto
Well, Señora, your beauty and refinement are welcome additions to
our pueblo. Now, let me see. Sinestra. . . Your late husband's
uncles is the owner of the Bank of Cadiz, yes? And um, your own family.
. . Forgive me, what was your maiden name again?
Señora Sinestra
I was raised in an orphanage. I didn't have a family name until I married.
[De Soto looks dismayed.]
Señora Sinestra
You're shocked. But I always believe in being candid with a gentleman.
de Soto
Uh. . . Yes. . . No. . . Forgive me.
Señora Sinestra
You see, the man that I shall marry won't care about my parentage or how
much money my husband left me. He will be a man like Zorro.
[De Soto stares at her open-mouthed.]
de Soto [finally finding speech]
Ahem. Well. . . Zorro!
[Señora Sinestra sees a man to her left and gets antsy.]
de Soto [not noticing]
No, you're mistaken about Zorro, Señora, I assure you. Zorro
is nothing more than a common thief, a criminal with a price on his head.
A brigand. An outlaw. . .
[The man sees Señora Sinestra and starts coming toward her.]
Señora Sinestra [grabbing de Soto's arm]
Ignacio, I'm sure you have lots of riveting stories about Zorro. . .
[She leads him across the plaza. The man draws a pistol from his belt. Señora Sinestra turns around and sees the weapon then drags de Soto away faster. The man aims the pistol at her back.]
Man
Sinestra!
[De Soto turns around, pulls out his own pistol and shoots the man in the hand, causing the man to drop his weapon. Señora Sinestra starts to run away.]
Man [holding his injured hand]
Stop that woman!
[Mendoza comes out of de Soto's office and grabs Señora Sinestra. The man starts to run toward her. De Soto draws out his sword and confronts the man with it.]
de Soto
That woman happens to be Señora Alberta Sinestra. Now suppose
you tell me who you are, amigo.
Ventura
Jorge Ventura. [He pulls out a piece of paper from his vest.] Deputy to the
provost marshal in Santa Fe. [He hands the paper to de Soto.] I've
been following this woman for weeks. I almost caught up with her in
San Diego, but she eluded me again. She's wanted, among other crimes,
for the murder of her husband, Julio Sinestra.
[De Soto looks up from the paper he was reading to stare at Ventura.]
Señora Sinestra [struggling in Mendoza's grasp]
Ignacio, don't believe him! This man shot Julio down in cold blood
over a game of cards.
[Zorro is on a rooftop, watching the scene below]
Zorro [in his head]
One of them is lying. But we'll never know the truth while she's in
the Alcalde's hand.
de Soto [turning to look at Señora Sinestra]
Very convincing, Señora. But this warrant is even more convincing.
[He hands the warrant back to Ventura.]
de Soto
My apologies, Deputy Ventura.
Señora Sinestra [desperately]
You don't believe this lie, do you?
Ventura
Alcalde, will you hold this woman in your jail overnight? We'll start
our journey back to Santa Fe in the morning.
Señora Sinestra
I beg you! I won't make it to the next village, much less to Santa
Fe. I am the only witness to his crime!
de Soto [looking away from Señora Sinestra]
Sergeant.
Mendoza
Si.
de Soto
As you know, our jail is temporarily filled. The prisoner will be kept
under house arrest in her quarters at the tavern. And Sergeant, you
will be her guard.
Mendoza
Si, mi Alcalde.
[He starts pushing Señora Sinestra toward the tavern.]
Señora Sinestra [resisting]
No! Please! Somebody help me!
[Victoria stares unsympathetically as Mendoza pushes Señora Sinestra past her on their way to the tavern. Zorro leaves his rooftop perch.]
[Exterior shot of the tavern at night as coyotes howl.]
[Inside, Señora Sinestra is sleeping.]
[Outside her room, Mendoza is sitting at a table, cutting up some chicken. He smells it then pours out a glass of orange juice. He puts a fork full of the chicken into his mouth as footsteps are heard. He looks up and then chokes.]
Mendoza
Zorro!
[Zorro's gloved hand covers Mendoza's mouth as Mendoza continues to choke.]
Zorro [crouching down]
Make anymore noise, Sergeant, and you'll be in more pieces than this chicken.
[He holds up a drumstick.] Do you understand?
[Zorro takes his hand from Mendoza's mouth.]
Mendoza
I will. . .
[Zorro shoves the drumstick into Mendoza's mouth. Mendoza gags on it.]
Zorro
Now don't move. I have eyes in the back of my head.
[He stands up and goes to the door behind Mendoza, opens it, and goes inside. Mendoza starts to get up but Zorro pops back out of the door.]
Zorro
Tiny little pieces, Sergeant.
[Mendoza sits back down as Zorro goes back inside the room and closes the door.]
[Señora Sinestra is still sleeping but wakes up and stares at Zorro.]
Zorro [as she starts to sit up]
I heard you were in trouble.
[She gets up from the bed and stands very close to Zorro.]
Señora Sinestra
I hoped you would come.
[She puts her hand on Zorro's chest and he smiles uncomfortably.]
[Outside the room, Mendoza is wiping his face and hands on his red-checkered napkin as the door opens and Zorro and Señora Sinestra step out. They walk past Mendoza, holding hands, and are halfway down the stairs when Ventura suddenly appears at the bottom of the staircase, pointing a pistol at them.]
Ventura
Not another step.
[Zorro and Señora Sinestra look at him and stop.]
Ventura
Did you think I'd trust that fool sergeant to guard her by himself?
Zorro
Until you can prove you're truly a law officer, the lady is coming with me.
[Victoria appears at the top of the stairs.]
Victoria
Zorro!
[Zorro ignores her and jumps down and tackles Ventura.]
Victoria
What are you doing?
[Zorro punches Ventura in the face. Señora Sinestra runs down the stairs after him. Zorro grabs her hand and they depart. Mendoza comes up behind Victoria.]
Mendoza
Lancers!
Victoria [pushing Mendoza backwards]
Not now, Mendoza!
[She then hurries down the staircase.]
Victoria
Zorro, you mustn't do this!
[She reaches the bottom of the stairs and looks around the tavern. Zorro and Señora Sinestra are gone.
Victoria [whimpering]
Zorro.
[Ventura stands up behind her, holding his jaw and wincing with pain. Victoria spins around to face him.]
Victoria [sarcastically]
Congratulations, Deputy. You played your role to perfection.
Ventura
What are you talking about?
Victoria
It seems the señora hired you for this little drama just so she could
get her clutches on Zorro.
[Ventura stares at Victoria like she is crazy.]
*****COMMERCIAL BREAK*****
[Exterior shot the next morning. Outside de Soto's office a lone lancer stands guard.]
de Soto [off camera at first]
Sergeant, get out there and find her. Because it you don't. . .
[Inside the office, Mendoza is sitting in front of de Soto's desk. De Soto is leaning forward in his chair.]
de Soto
I'll take your sergeant stripes and I'll make you eat them in your next enchilada.
Is that clear, Sergeant?
Mendoza [nervously]
Si, Alcalde.
[Mendoza jumps up and starts to leave but stops, turns around then clicks his heels together as he salutes. Then he leaves the office.]
[Exterior shot of the plaza. Victoria is driving a one horse cart up to the front of the tavern. A man with a broom reaches out to hold her horse.]
Man with Broom
Ah, hello, Señorita.
Victoria
Whoa! Buenos dias.
[She climbs down from the cart then stares despondently at her tavern with her hands on her hips. Then she walks inside.]
[Inside the tavern, she goes over to the bar where Pilar is working.]
Victoria [taking a white cloth from Pilar]
Gracias, Pilar. I'll close up tonight.
Pilar [walking with Victoria to the door]
Buenas noches, Victoria.
Victoria
Buenas noches.
[The women kiss each other on the cheek. Pilar leaves. Victoria shuts and bolts the door behind her. She walks back toward the bar. She flashes back to a scene from "Broken Heart, Broken Mask."]
[She walks around in the de la Vega hacienda courtyard. She leans against a post then opens her fan, not seeing Zorro standing behind her. Suddenly she turns around and see him.]
Victoria
Señor Zorro.
[Zorro glances at the open door leading into the courtyard then moves closer to her.]
Zorro
You look lovelier than ever.
Victoria [as he places his ungloved hand on her cheek]
Thank you.
[They stare intently at each other for several moments before Victoria starts to say something but kisses him instead. The kissing couple break apart. Zorro strokes Victoria's face and lips.]
Zorro
I must go. I must go.
[Zorro dashes off, leaving a weak-kneed Victoria. She turns and leans against the post again, fanning herself.]
[Back to the present, Victoria walks to the bar. She sets the cloth down on the counter then tosses it to the other end of the bar in disgust.]
[Exterior shot of lancers, led by Mendoza, riding to the top of a ridge.]
Sepulveda (I think)
How much longer are we going to look for her, Mendoza?
Mendoza
Until we find her. Let's go.
[The lancers ride down the hillside.]
[Exterior shot of an abandoned windmill. There is a horse tied up by it.]
Zorro [walking inside the windmill, carrying a large white sack]
I brought a fresh horse and provisions for your journey. Ride to the
mission at San Pedro and wait there.
Señora Sinestra
Wait for what? Come away with me right now.
Zorro
Señora, I understand your desire to be free, but I trust you to stay
at the mission until your innocence is determined.
Señora Sinestra
My innocence? Ventura killed my husband. I saw him. And
if he has the slightest chance, he will kill me too. You must believe
that. You rescued me.
Zorro
As I would anyone in danger.
Señora Sinestra
Listen. I have money. More money than you can imagine. We'll
start a new life together, far from here, somewhere where they've never heard
of Zorro.
Zorro
Señora, my heart is here in this pueblo and it belongs to Señorita
Escalante.
Señora Sinestra [looking at him with disdain]
Hah! I don't believe it. Zorro is in love with a tavern wench?
Ha, fine then. You've made your choice and you'll pay for it, Señor.
[She stomps off, leaving a very worried looking Zorro behind.]
[Exterior shot of the tavern at night. Clanking noises are coming from inside the building.]
[Inside, Victoria walks down the staircase. When she reaches the bottom, she looks to her left, not seeing Ventura to her right. He walks up behind her and touches her on the shoulder. She jumps.]
Victoria
Señor Ventura, you startled me. I heard a noise.
Ventura
So did I.
[He starts to cross the tavern floor. Victoria starts to follow him.]
Ventura [touching her shoulder again]
Wait here.
[He walks toward the kitchen. Victoria starts after him but stops halfway across the room. Ventura brushes aside the curtains and steps inside the kitchen.]
[Outside, Zorro and Toronado ride into the plaza and come to a halt outside the tavern.]
[Inside, a gun shot rings out and something falls with a thud to the floor in the kitchen. Victoria goes over to the curtains but hesitates.]
Victoria
Señor Ventura?
[She pulls open the curtains. Ventura is standing there with a bloody wound in his right shoulder.]
Victoria
AAAAH!
[Ventura staggers through the curtains.]
Victoria [stepping back away from him]
Señor Ventura.
[He tries to hold onto the bar but starts to fall to the floor.]
Victoria [trying to hold him up]
Oh, my God.
[Ventura falls to the floor. Señora Sinestra comes through the curtains with a knife held high in her right hand. Victoria backs away from Ventura as Señora Sinestra advances toward her.]
Victoria
Where's Zorro? He was with you.
Señora Sinestra [smugly]
That's right. You've lost him. He loves me now!
[She stabs at Victoria with the knife but Victoria turns and grabs a stool to deflect the thrust. The knife sticks into the stool but as Victoria tosses the stool aside, the knife comes out and slices her upper left arm. She runs away with Señora Sinestra in hot pursuit. Victoria stops by a post. Señora Sinestra tries to stab her again but this time, Zorro appears and grabs her wrist.]
Zorro
You have such a twisted view of love. I truly pity you, Señora.
You're going back to Santa Fe to stand trial.
[He wrestles the knife away from her.]
Señora Sinestra [defiantly]
Ventura was just like my husband and just like that alcalde in San Diego.
Prying, snooping, always thinking they were smarter than me. Well,
I showed them. They all deserved to die.
[Zorro and Victoria look at each other after hearing her confession.]
Señora Sinestra
And so do you!
[She runs over to the open tavern door. Zorro, realizing her intent, run after her.]
Señora Sinestra
Lancers! Zorro!
[Outside, a lancer starts running toward the tavern.]
Lancers
It's Zorro!
[De Soto opens then looks out his office door.]
Señora Sinestra [off camera]
Zorro's in the tavern!
Zorro
Please, stand aside.
Señora Sinestra
No!
[Victoria comes up to her and punches her with a right cross in the face. Zorro catches an unconscious Señora Sinestra before she hits the floor.]
Zorro [smiling up at Victoria]
Feel better?
Victoria [smiling and nodding]
Much better.
[Zorro chuckles then looks out the door as lancers can be heard running toward the tavern.]
Victoria [glancing out the door]
Quick. Hurry.
[Lancers run up to the tavern's porch.]
Victoria
They're coming.
[Zorro gently places Señora Sinestra head on the floor and gets up. He pulls Victoria away from the door just as the lancers rush inside.]
Lancers [looking around the room and down at the inert Señora Sinestra]
Where is he?
[Zorro cuts the rope holding up the chandelier with his saber. It lands on the lancers's head, knocking them all down to the floor, except one. That lancer lunges at Zorro with his sword drawn and Zorro fights back with his.]
Zorro
Bedtime, amigo.
[He punches the lancer in the face. The lancer falls to the floor. Victoria watches but starts to sway before her eyes roll back into her head. Zorro scoops her up into his arms and carries her away. De Soto walks into the tavern then as the lancers start to scramble to their feet. De Soto helps a revived Señora Sinestra to her feet.]
Señora Sinestra
Quickly. Ignacio. Zorro was here. He killed Ventura.
Ventura [pushing himself up with one hand as the other clutches his wound]
Sorry to disappoint you, Señora.
de Soto [letting go of Señora Sinestra's hands and going to Ventura]
Ventura, you've been shot.
Ventura
Yes. You can add attempted murder to her charges.
[Señora Sinestra turns to run away but she runs right into the arms of a lancer who was walking into the tavern.]
de Soto [turning to look at her]
Not so fast, Señora. Lancers, get Ventura to a doctor.
Lancers
Yes sir. Yes sir.
de Soto [to the two lancers now holding Señora Sinestra]
Take her to my office.
Lancers
Si, Alcalde, si.
[They lead her away. Two other lancers help Ventura out the door.]
[In Victoria's quarters, Zorro finishes tying gauze around her slashed arm as they sit on her bed. He brings his right hand up to her cheek, then rests it on her shoulder.]
Victoria
I'm all right. Really.
[He just stares at her and fondles her shoulder.]
Victoria
You must go. This is your only chance to clear Jacinto Santana of murder
charges.
[He leans forward and kisses her on the lips. He strokes her cheek with his left hand as they draw back apart. They stare at each other for a moment then he stands up and leaves. Victoria stares after him.]
[Exterior shot of Zorro riding Toronado across the countryside in front of the full moon.]
*****COMMERCIAL BREAK*****
[Exterior shot the next day of Mendoza and his lancers riding back into the pueblo. They ride up to the cuartel as de Soto walks out of his office.]
Mendoza [on horseback]
Alcalde, we could not find Señora Sinestra.
de Soto [sarcastically]
Really? How surprising.
[Mendoza gets a funny look on his face. Ventura comes out of the office, leading a handcuffed Señora Sinestra whose face is sporting a large bruise.]
Diego [off camera at first, walking up to the others with Victoria]
Señorita Victoria has uncovered some very interesting information regarding
the prisoner here.
de Soto
Indeed?
Victoria
Last night I heard this woman confess to the murder of Alcalde Santana.
Señora Sinestra
That is a lie!
Victoria
Zorro was there. He heard you too.
Diego
I'm sure he did, Victoria, but I don't think Zorro's evidence will, um. .
.
de Soto
Hold up in court?
Diego
Precisely.
Señora Sinestra [smugly]
So it's my word against yours, tavern wench.
[A horse's whinny catches Diego's attention and he looks to his left.]
Diego
Maybe not.
[Jacinto Santana rides into the plaza.]
de Soto [pulling out his pistol]
Santana.
[Santana dismounts as de Soto aims his pistol at him.]
Victoria
Wait! He is giving himself up freely. [She turns to Santana.] Señor
Santana, do you recognize this woman?
Santana
Yes. Alberta Sinestra. She visited San Diego a few days ago.
My father was a widower and being alcalde, she was attracted to his power
and prestige. He did not return her affection. I think that after
I left Los Angeles, she killed him.
Diego
And then she came to Los Angeles to witness Jacinto's execution just to make
sure everyone thought that justice was being served.
Señora Sinestra [defiantly]
You wont' get a thing out of me.
de Soto
That remains to be seen, Señora. [He turns to Mendoza.] Sergeant, please
take statements from Señorita Escalante. . .
[Diego breathes a sigh of relief.]
de Soto
And Jacinto Santana. [He turns to Ventura.] And Deputy Ventura, would you
mind remaining in our pueblo a few days until this thing can be settled.
Ventura
Of course.
{He smiles. Victoria goes over to Santana and put her hand on his arm.]
Santana
She's an evil woman.
[Señora Sinestra glares at their back as they walk away. Diego puts his arms around Mendoza's shoulders.]
Diego
You know, Sergeant, I thinks there's a lesson to be learned from all of this.
For all the allure of physical beauty, we should remember that it's only
skin deep.
Mendoza [nodding]
This is true, Don Diego. That's why I always say, "What counts is not
how a woman looks, but how a woman cooks."
[Diego nods until he realizes what Mendoza said, then he gives Mendoza an odd look. Then Diego chuckles as he shakes his head.]
*****END OF EPISODE*****
Transcribed by Pamela Elbert Poland 17 & 18 November 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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