01x18 - Zorro Fights His Father

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Zorro". Aired: October 10, 1957 –; July 2, 1959.*
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Series is set in Los Angeles of the early nineteenth century, when it was part of the old Spanish California, where the people are oppressed by their rulers.
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01x18 - Zorro Fights His Father

Post by bunniefuu »

(THUNDERCLAP)

♪ Out of the night when
the full moon is bright

♪ Comes a horseman
known as Zorro

♪ This bold renegade
carves a "Z" with his blade

♪ A "Z" that stands for Zorro

♪ Zorro!

♪ The Fox so cunning and free

♪ Zorro!

♪ Who makes the sign of the "Z"!

♪ Zorro, Zorro, Zorro

♪ Zorro, Zorro ♪

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

MAN: We want our
rights! We want our rights!

Sergeant Garcia!

Yes, Your Excellency.

Why is this mob
not being dispersed?

They have done nothing.
They want only to talk to you.

Your Excellency,
we ask only justice.

So the revolt has a leader.

It's no revolt, Your Excellency,

but someone must
speak for the people.

We ask only our tax money
Your Excellency has impounded.

Money taken illegally
from the people.

Not only a leader, but it
would seem a lawyer as well.

This is the result of our mission
schools, breeding revolution!

Your Excellency, these
people have not caused trouble.

They come only to
petition you humbly.

You see, their hats
are in their hands.

And they do need the
money. They are hungry.

Then fill their
bellies with lead.

(CROWD MURMURING)

Sergeant, do your duty!

Shall I fire, Sergeant?

Yes. Fire.

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

(g*nf*re CONTINUES)

Sergeant Garcia, you idiot,
you have let them escape!

But Senor Magistrado, you
told me to disperse the crowd.

Look, they are gone.

You stand there and
let me be almost k*lled!

Excellency, it was
only a very little rock.

If I can find that
rock, Sergeant,

I will make an impression
in that thick skull of yours!

Yes...

There, Senores,
there is your answer.

You see what this
pueblo has come to?

Anarchy! The peons in
revolt, the soldiers helpless.

Is their demand unreasonable?

It is not a matter of reason,
or a question of right or wrong.

How could the viceroy have
left a clown like Garcia in charge?

Look at the result.

One irresponsible act
does not make a revolution.

I warn you, Senores, today it is
government property the crowd att*cks,

tomorrow it will be your wives,
your children who are stoned.

Surely, Your Excellency
is over-alarmed.

The people are hungry.

Would not releasing their
tax money solve the problem?

You, yourself, were hard hit
by the collection, my friend.

That has been straightened out.

You do not stop force with kindness,
Don Alejandro, but with force!

That is not what
our religion teaches.

I am the king's magistrate,
not a missionary.

I tell you again, Senores, your
salvation lies in your own hands.

That is true. With the soldiers
refusing to obey orders,

he has no power
to enforce the law.

The power has always come
from those who own the land.

You gentlemen, the
great landowners,

are the real rulers, if you
are strong enough to rule.

If you are weak, then there
will be revolution, anarchy.

You, who represent the
law, advise us to flout it?

Don Alejandro, there
are two kinds of people:

Those who lead and
those who are driven.

I have asked all the landowners in the
district to a meeting at my house tonight.

If we take the law
into our own hands,

we become no better than a mob.

The mob is peons who
have nothing to lose.

You are all honorable gentlemen.

You have an obligation
to restore order.

At least meet with us, listen.

I agree with Senor Barca.

In this emergency, Don
Alejandro, you have a clear duty,

which I am sure
you will not fail.

Good day, Senores.

It went well,
Excellency. Too well!

You nearly hit me.

I have another job for you. Do
you know Senor Esteban Tomayo?

You will give me all the money
and jewels you possess. Hurry!

And you, woman. Hurry!

The rest of it!

(GASPING)

Stop it!

(MAN GROANS)

Next time be quicker.

We are not your servants
now. We are the masters!

Ha!

(MAN GRUNTS)

This has gone far enough.

I opposed this action before.

Now I say to you
we have no choice.

Civil authority has broken down.

We must re-establish
that order or be destroyed.

This is the work of Zorro,
turning one class against another.

During today's vicious
att*ck against the Magistrado,

our soldiers stood by,
openly encouraging the rioters.

Tonight, our friend,
Don Esteban Tomayo,

is brutally beaten by these
same rebellious peons.

I tell you, it is our obligation to
form a committee of vigilance

and restore order.

May I be permitted
a word, Senores?

Every man is free to speak.

First, I should like to know why

Senor Barca blames Zorro
or Paco for this trouble.

Do you stand on
the side of outlaws

and Indians against
your own people?

Can you look at the
face of Don Esteban

or hear what
happened to his wife

without wanting to punish
the scoundrels who did this?

I want very much to punish them,

but first I want to be sure
who the scoundrels are.

No doubt Zorro is a great rogue,

but you gentlemen
give him too much credit.

I do not understand, my son.

Well, why attribute
miracles to him?

There is a simpler explanation.

The soldiers have not been paid.

The peons protest having been
bled white by a false tax collector.

And, if you gentlemen remember,
Zorro recovered the money.

Which, Your
Excellency may recall,

the governor ordered
redistributed to its rightful owners.

The money is safe, Diego, and
it will be returned to the peons,

but the law moves
at an orderly rate.

Well, digestion moves
at an orderly rate.

These people are hungry! Diego!

Your pardon, Senores.

Of course, Diego, politics
is hardly your sphere.

His Excellency is right, Diego.

Leave this business to us.

You're right, Father.

Senores... Your servant.

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

And now, Senores, do continue.

By virtue of his lineage
and landholdings,

Alejandro is our natural leader.

I appreciate your
confidence, my friends,

and I will do all that
I can to deserve it.

This is the leader of the rioters, the
one who tried to k*ll the Magistrado.

I swear to you, I did nothing.
We only went to plead.

Shut up, Indian!

Paco, we are a
committee of vigilance.

You are charged
with instigating a riot.

You will be able to
answer the charge.

Hey!

I wonder, if I might trouble your
generosity for just one more cup?

My, uh, credit here at
the tavern is temporarily...

Of course, Sergeant.

Clara, wine for Don Diego!

Si.

What a woman.

But seriously, Don Diego,

what do you hear, are they
going to send a new Comandante?

Actually, Sergeant, your
guess is as good as mine.

But, as acting Comandante,

I must commend you
on your appearance.

If only you would lose,
oh, another 100 pounds,

then you would really
be a m*llitary figure.

I know, Don Diego, but
unfortunately I come from a big family.

How do you expect the barrel
to get lighter if you keep filling it?

The Comandante of the pueblo
deserves some respect, doesn't he?

That's the problem,
no one respects me.

(TRUMPET FANFARE)

Excuse me, Don Diego.

Don Alejandro, what
is the meaning of this?

We are a committee of vigilance.

This prisoner is guilty
of instigating a riot,

and attacking a
representative of the king.

Paco did all this?

That is right. His action
was overt treason.

The prisoner will be held in
the cuartel jail until morning,

at which time, you will form a
f*ring squad and execute him.

Now really, Your Excellency?

Without a trial?

Treason is punishable by death.

But I was there this morning. I
swear this boy did not throw the rock.

I know you were there.

Your actions could lay you open
to charges of criminal neglect.

Do not push me so
far that I make them.

No, Senor.

Are you going to allow this boy

to be m*rder*d for no greater
crime than breaking a window?

We will discuss
this later, Diego.

Sergeant, we will see the orders

of the Magistrado
are carried out.

Yes, Don Alejandro.

Tonight I wish they had
sent a new Comandante.

Oh, Diego.

Please step over here.

I see the committee has been
quite busy since I left the meeting.

With only seven armed men they
have captured one unarmed boy.

I remind you, I am your father
and I do not like your tone.

Do you suppose
Paco would like it?

Paco will not be k*lled.

It's simply a trap we have
devised to catch Zorro.

Zorro? This boy is innocent.

At least, innocent
of any major crime.

Since Zorro poses as a friend of
the people he will try to rescue him.

When that happens,
we spring the trap.

Very clever. Did Senor
Barca think of all this?

Actually, it was His Excellency.

But we dare not tell the soldiers
for fear the information gets to Zorro.

Have you told the bait?

We dare not risk it.

He's going to spend
an uncomfortable night.

Everything will be
all right tomorrow.

I know you're
with us in principle,

but I wish your
feeling were stronger.

I can assure you, Father, my
feelings could not possibly be stronger.

Diego, I hope you
have now reconsidered

and share your father's
desire for order and justice.

Justice is blind, Your Excellency,
and she can be led around by anyone.

With your permission?

You are the one
who is blind, Diego.

You will find nothing in books

to compare what you will see
here, where history is being made.

I have no quarrel with history,

but I'm often appalled
by the people who make it.

You are not only rude, my
son, but extremely foolish!

Sergeant Garcia.
Yes, Excellency?

There has been a
change in orders.

The execution will not take
place tomorrow morning.

Oh, that is good, because
Paco is not really...

Silence!

It will take place at midnight.

At midnight? You
mean this midnight?

But, Excellency, I
was there. I saw...

That is an order.

I'll give you one further order.

You are to divulge this to no
one until you form the f*ring squad.

I'm feeling unwell. Can
someone else can carry it out?

That is an order
and if it is not obeyed,

I promise you, you will
feel a great deal worse.

(SIGHS)

Maybe it is possible to feel
worse, Excellency, but I doubt it.

Above everything
else, we want Zorro.

Won't it destroy
our plan to k*ll Paco?

He's our bait.

I want him out of the way.

The boy is too intelligent.
He's a troublemaker.

All we need is for Zorro to
hear about the execution,

he will come.

With one stone, I
will k*ll both my birds.

Please do not k*ll me
now. We have work to do.

You did not hear me? I am sorry.

I did not want the other
servants to know I was home.

(WHOOSHING SOUNDS)

Yes. Work for Zorro.

I do not know what his plan is.

The Magistrado's stirred
up the soldiers and peons.

He's formed a
committee of vigilance.

They've arrested Paco.

Yes, that was the reason
he ordered his execution.

He thinks he can get rid of
Paco and Zorro at the same time.

Yes, it is a trap, but
we are going to spring it.

However, it means I will
have to fight my own father.

Sergeant Garcia?
Yes, Don Alejandro?

Are your men in position?
GARCIA: They are ready.

Corporal Reyes, are
the men in position?

First position. Second.

Third. Fourth.

Fifth. Sixth.

Seventh. Eighth.

Ninth.

As you see, Don
Alejandro, the trap is set.

We have only to wait
for Zorro to fall into it.

Once inside the cuartel, he
will be surrounded by muskets.

I would not be in his
cloak for a thousand pesos.

But first we have to
get him into the trap.

Oh, he will come, never fear, Don
Alejandro. Over that wall, right there.

How do you know?

He always comes that way.
But this time, he will not leave.

Very good, Sergeant.

Is there anything I
can do for you, Paco?

In the time I have left,
Senor, my needs are small.

Get rid of that virtuous idiot
before he ruins everything.

But you suggested him.

I had no idea he'd
take it so seriously

and want to run
the whole operation.

I wish he'd stayed at your
residence with the others.

He's more trouble
than all of them.

It's almost midnight.
We have to get rid of him.

For the execution?

He'll be just as bad
when he finds out.

Then it'll be too late. We can
always say it was a mix-up in orders.

Everyone knows he
leads the committee.

He cannot repudiate
what the committee does.

How can we get rid of him?

You will have to do it.

Uh... I have an idea.

I cannot say anything
more, but trust me, Paco.

Don Alejandro, come
quickly! Yes, Your Excellency!

What is the matter?

I don't know, he collapsed.

(GROANING) Where am I?

He should be taken to the
tavern. He'll be out of danger.

If he's not better, the
doctor could see him.

Good. I will send word
when we have Zorro.

Don Alejandro, in due
deference to your ability,

it would be better if the king's
magistrate, a representative of the law,

remained here.

Yes, yes, of
course you are right.

I'll come back as
soon as possible.

I'll send word of any developments.
Open for Don Alejandro!

What is wrong with
him, Your Excellency?

Nothing. Don Alejandro is
getting him something to drink.

An excellent idea. I
will go and help him.

May I get you something, Senor?

While I'm there, I'll
have a bite to eat.

Idiot! Try and remember,
you're no longer a mere sergeant,

living only to
fill that fat belly.

You're now acting
Comandante of this garrison.

Si, Senor. But even an acting
Comandante gets hungry.

Very well, Sergeant. It is time.

Time?

Oh. Wouldn't it be better
to wait until morning?

No! f*ring squad!

My men are not very good
marksmen. In the dark, they might miss.

You have your orders,
Sergeant. Bring the prisoner out.

Tie him to the door, Sergeant.

Here, Excellency? You
mean to sh**t him here?

Tie him!

You wish a blindfold, Paco?

I am sorry, Paco.

Prisoner, do you
have anything to say?

Stop wasting time,
let's get it over with.

Yes, I have something
to say. Death to tyranny.

Senor Magistrado, we
cannot sh**t this man without...

Without... Without a priest.

I want no more delays, Sergeant.

For a soldier,

the refusal to obey an order
carries an a*t*matic death penalty.

Do you wish to
join the prisoner?

No, Senor.

f*ring squad, ready.

(g*ns COCKING)

Aim.

(SIGHS)

Fire!

(g*nshots)

What is the matter? I
do not know, Excellency.

He does not fall. Paco,
why don't you fall?

I warn you, Sergeant, if
this is one of your tricks...

Tricks? Excellency,
you were here.

You saw everything.

What is the meaning of this?

I think someone has
tampered with the muskets.

Who ordered this execution?

I thought it best to
force Zorro's hand.

Force his hand? You would betray
the cause we lent our names to?

(HOOFBEATS)

Shh!

Hold your fire! Let
him come over the wall.

Once he's in here, we'll be sure
of him. What's he doing out there?

Riding in a circle
like a crazy man.

Crazy like a fox. He's
found out about the trap.

Call your men off the wall, take
them to the south of the cuartel.

Send half in a wide flanking
movement to cut off his retreat.

Yes, Excellency. Corporal Reyes!

Come down. Tell the others.

Sergeant, if you lose Zorro, believe
me, I'll have you going in circles!

Yes, Excellency.
Lancers, follow me! Quickly!

Somebody betrayed
our plan, Don Alejandro,

but at least you see
our bait was good.

(HOOFBEATS)

Gomez, take your
men and go down there.

Try to work your way behind him.

Then we will close
from two sides. Now go.

Quietly, quietly.

Now what is he doing?

(ZORRO WHISTLES)

Lancers, follow me.

(GARCIA GRUNTING)

Sergeant, remember our training.

Of course. Thank you, Corporal.

Here.

(GARCIA GRUNTS)

(GROANS)

(GRUNTS)

Lancers! Zorro is here!

Lancers, come back!

The cuartel is under att*ck.

Oh!

Oh, Sergeant!
Lancers, to the rescue!

Get back to the cuartel!

Lancers, after him, after him!

ZORRO: Release him
once you're out of town.

MAGISTRATE: Sergeant Garcia, you
are a disgrace to the m*llitary profession.

Yes, Your Excellency. I know.

In the entire Spanish Empire,

there's only one thing that is
fatter than that belly of yours.

You know what that is, Sergeant?

No, Excellency. What?

Your head!

Yes, Excellency.

Well, Sergeant, I
warned you to reduce.

What are you doing here?

I couldn't sleep. I rode in to
have a drink with my friend.

Gracias, Don
Diego. I need a drink.

I will never become
Comandante now.

You will be fortunate if you're not
up on charges of criminal neglect.

I want to know why
those muskets misfired.

It was Zorro, Excellency.

What happened was not
the fault of the Sergeant.

It was a bad plan and we
almost k*lled an innocent man.

We were fools to let
ourselves be drawn into it.

Citizens have no right to take
the law into their own hands.

I do not know what
the rest of you plan.

But I am finished with
the committee of vigilance.

Now that that is all over with,
Father, join us in the tavern for a drink.

No, thank you, my son.

Well, Sergeant? The tavern.

Si, Don Diego. Gracias.

NARRATOR: Next week,
another victim of the eagle's feather.

And now Zorro plays
for his biggest stakes,

with death riding on a
single turn of the cards.

You mean, if I win I...

Precisely, you die.

NARRATOR: Be with us next week,

when the Walt
Disney Studio presents

breathtaking action and
thrills in the life of Zorro!
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