02x29 - Exposing the Tyrant

[bunniefuu]

( dramatic theme playing)

I cannot accuse Don Cornelio
of smuggling and treason

when everybody in Los
Angeles owns something

that was not made in Spain.

I choose not to
hear that, sergeant.

Nevertheless, it is true.

It had better not
be. Because if it is,

then you are the one
who is guilty of treason.

Me? And for you,

the penalty would be death.

The death penalty for me? Why?

If, as acting comandante,

you publicly admit
that everyone trades

with the enemies of Spain,

then you are guilty of
treason because you have

willfully failed to enforce
His Majesty's laws.

But I didn't. I mean, I haven't.

And for that I
will see you hang!

( dramatic theme playing)

(announcer reading
on-screen text)

( heroic theme playing)

Ah, Sergeant Garcia.

Sit down, sergeant.

Here. Near me.

Please have one
of these, sergeant.

I can assure you they're
of excellent quality.

Light it for him, capitán.

And be quick about it.

Sergeant, I owe you an apology.

I had no idea you had been
in the army for so long a time.

Sí, in just three weeks
it will be 20 years.

I, uh, suppose you've
thought of retiring?

No, I love the army,
Your Excellency.

But you know, of course,

that you can retire
after 20 years of service?

Sí, but I do not wish to.

Oh.

Uh, but, uh, have you thought
of the land you could own?

Land?

(laughs)

I have no money for land.

Oh, but you don't need any.

There is a law that
permits the crown

to give land to
retired soldiers.

I did not know about that.

Of course.

Now what do you
think about retiring?

Well, I...

I would still like the
army, Your Excellency.

I'm surprised, sergeant.

I have always thought you would
make an excellent hacendado.

Yes, I can easily envision it.

You, the master
of a large hacienda,

which would be the social
centre of all Los Angeles.

Presided over by yourself:

Don Demetrio Garcia.

Don Demetrio Lopez Garcia.

Sergeant, you are my friend.

I can make this
come true for you.

You can, Your Excellency?

All you have to do is retire.

After all, it's your
duty to accept the land.

My duty?

Yes, your du...

It would set an example
to the other soldiers.

Encourage them to give the
same faithful service to the king

that you have, sergeant.

Sí, Your Excellency.

Adiós, Don Demetrio.

Are you feeling all
right, Excellency?

Don't worry about me, Mendoza.

I know what I'm doing.

There is a law which
states that a comandante

may seize the property of a
person convicted of treason.

The, uh, the
property I had in mind

presently belongs to
Don Cornelio Esperon.

Is he guilty of treason?

That, uh,

should not be too
difficult to prove.

One way or another.

But why give it to Garcia?

Sergeant Garcia
will be good enough

to hold it for us.

After this whole affair
has quieted down,

I can think of nothing easier
than taking it back from him.

( suspenseful theme playing)

Don Demetrio Lopez Garcia.

Don Diego. Buenas
tardes, my good friends.

Buenas tardes, sergeant.

Come into the tavern
and let me buy you a drink.

What? Just a
token of friendship.

You too, little one.

Ah.

Well, sergeant, uh, what
is this auspicious occasion?

My good friend,

today, as a matter of
fact, a few moments ago,

I decided to perhaps retire
and become an hacendado

like Don Alejandro or
yourself, Don Diego.

Very slowly, sergeant,

would you mind
repeating that? Not at all.

A few moments ago, I decided
that perhaps I would retire

and become an hacendado.

Don Diego, it seems that I...

Please, sergeant. Would
you allow me to pay this time?

Gracias, Don
Diego, if you insist.

Oh.

Now, what...? What
is this you were saying

about getting an hacienda?

Well, I'm not quite
sure about the details

but, uh, my good friend,
His Excellency, Señor Basilio,

is going to arrange everything.

Your friend, Señor Basilio?

Sí. Oh, Don Diego, he likes
me. He even apologized to me.

And then he told me
that my faithful service

should be rewarded.

You're making a joke.

No, Don Diego. I... I
wouldn't do a thing like that.

(chuckles)

Well, I don't
understand it, sergeant,

but I'm very happy for you.

Congratulations.
Gracias, Don Diego.

I think.

( soft theme playing)

(door opens)

That man follows you
around like a sl*ve.

We're all slaves, señorita.

Slaves to duty and
slaves to beauty.

Well, are you enjoying
yourself, sergeant?

Sí, Señor Basilio.

Somehow wine seems
to taste so much better

from a Venetian glass.

Really? Venetian?
I hadn't noticed.

But then I've had eyes
only for Señorita Moneta.

Gracias.

Tell me, sergeant,

uh, what other things
have you discovered?

Uh, forgive me, Don Cornelio,
but I like to encourage my men

to show an interest
in the finer things.

Well, that's very
commendable, señor.

Sergeant, feel free
to examine anything.

Gracias, Don Cornelio,
but it will not be necessary.

Oh, come now. Don't be
embarrassed, sergeant.

After all, as a
future hacendado,

you will have to learn to
accept hospitality graciously.

Ah.

Now, those, for instance.

Come, my dear.

Those candleholders
are beautiful.

And by candlelight,

your eyes seem to
be flecked with gold.

Tell me, sergeant,

where would you say these
candleholders were made?

France.

They are exquisite.

What a pity we're not
better friends with the French.

Ah. Now, there is
something equally beautiful.

Come, my dear.

What workmanship.

What attention to detail.

Such a thing as this could
have come only from one country.

Where, sergeant?

England? Yes.

England. Spain's mortal enemy.

Sergeant, I deeply regret

that you should have
pointed these things out to me.

DIEGO: Señor Basilio.

BASILIO: In a
moment, de la Vega.

My dear.

I truly regret that

I should have to inject a...

An unpleasant note
into what has been

an otherwise thoroughly
enjoyable evening.

Please forgive me.

But I don't understand.

Don Basilio, you seem
to have taken offence

at some of my possessions.

Not I, Don Cornelio,
but the king of Spain.

Your glasses,

your silver service

and these candleholders.

And I am certain a
great many other things

that the sergeant could
find were all obtained

in open defiance of the
law which explicitly forbids

the possession
of these articles.

Your Excellency, we all know
that this is an obsolete law.

BASILIO: It is
nevertheless a law.

And as such it will be enforced.

Cornelio Esperon.

It is my duty to arrest you

for trading with the enemy,

for smuggling
illegal merchandise

and for high treason
to His Majesty the king.

Well, this is ridiculous.

Capitán Mendoza.

( ominous theme playing)

Surely you are joking.
I am sorry, my dear.

Believe me, I am. But
I had no other choice.

It's my duty to enforce the law.

Father. Excellency?

Señor Esperon is under arrest.

Take him away. No, Father.

It will be all right, Moneta.

Diego. Take care of her.

Oh, uh, Señor de la
Vega, (door closes)

I will need your
testimony at the trial.

You will come?
You can count on it.

Good.

And once again, señorita,

I must tell you how
sorry I was to do this.

However, feel free to
visit your father at any time.

Buenas noches.

( ominous theme playing)

Oh, uh...

Of course, you understand
that under the law,

this hacienda and all
the lands connected with it

are confiscated?

Oh. I almost forgot.

Congratulations, sergeant.

As the soldier who
discovered this treason,

all this will be yours
when you retire.

(door opens)

(door closes)

( m*llitary theme playing)

Now, sergeant, about
the hearing tomorrow,

you know what you're
to say, of course?

I cannot accuse Don Cornelio
of smuggling and treason

when everybody in Los
Angeles owns something

that was not made in Spain.

I choose not to
hear that, sergeant.

Nevertheless, it is true.

It had better not
be. Because if it is,

then you are the one
who is guilty of treason.

Me? And for you,

the penalty would be death.

The death penalty for me? Why?

If, as acting comandante,

you publicly admit
that everyone trades

with the enemies of Spain,

then you are guilty of
treason because you have

willfully failed to enforce
His Majesty's laws.

But I didn't. I mean, I haven't.

And for that I
will see you hang!

Stand up when His
Excellency is speaking to you.

(sighs)

Well, sergeant, I...

I hope our little talk
hasn't upset you.

Of course not, Your
Excellency. Good.

I want you to
understand the situation.

If you testify against
Don Cornelio,

he will be exiled

and you will take over all
his lands and properties.

But if you testify that

Don Cornelio's treasonable
acts are common practice,

you will hang.

Is that clear?

Sí, Señor Basilio.
And if you mention

a word of this conversation,

you will wish in the end

that I had hanged you.

Buenas tardes, sergeant.

( ominous theme playing)

Excellency, when Don
Cornelio is convicted of treason,

are you really
going to exile him?

Certainly.

But, uh, only as
far as the gallows.

Buenas tardes,
Corporal Reyes. Lugo.

Buenas tardes, Don Demetrio.

Just call me sergeant,
or even Demetrio.

Is that an order, sergeant?

Of course not.

Gracias, Don Demetrio.

Let's go.

Somehow I don't feel
very thirsty anymore.

Gracias, but I do
not have any money.

That is quite all
right, Don Demetrio.

But your friend, Señor Basilio,

has guaranteed your credit

until you receive
your blood money

for selling out Don Cornelio.

(spits)

( melancholy theme playing)

Buenas tardes, sergeant.

Buenas tardes, Don
Diego. And to you, little one.

Sit down, Don Diego,
please sit down.

I'd be delighted.

Some wine, Don Diego?
No, no. No, thank you.

I, uh, would like a
word with you, however.

Gracias, Don Diego. I
knew you were my friend.

Well, I hope I am.

I hope you are
Don Cornelio's also.

Oh, yes, Don Diego, believe me.

Good. I knew you
wouldn't testify against him.

You do not understand,
Don Diego. I must.

You are right, sergeant.
I do not understand.

Explain it to me.

Well, that is to say, I...

Go on.

I am sorry, Don Diego.

I must do what I must do.

Oh, now I think I do
understand. Don Demetrio.

I have better uses for
my time. Excuse me.

But... But nothing.

(door opens, closes)

I don't understand
the sergeant either.

We've got to make him
change his mind about testifying.

(air whooshing)

Certainly.

( suspenseful theme playing)

Señor Zorro. I hope.

Yes, sergeant. Zorro.

Thank goodness.

The way things
have been happening,

it could've been
Corporal Reyes even.

I am so glad to see you.

It is nice to have someone
to talk to, even if it is you.

All right, sergeant. Talk to me.

Tell me. Why are you going
to testify against Don Cornelio?

That is one thing
I cannot tell you.

Does becoming a landowner
mean that much to you, sergeant?

Oh, no, Señor Zorro.
You must believe me.

I am happy just being a soldier.

Can't you see how happy I am?

I don't want Don
Cornelio's hacienda.

Then why are you taking it?

Well, I...

I... Look, sergeant,

all you have to do is to testify

that nearly everyone
in Los Angeles

has bought goods
from other countries

and Don Cornelio will
go free. Will you do it?

And if I do not testify
against Don Cornelio,

Señor Basilio will...

Señor Basilio will not give
you Don Cornelio's hacienda.

Is that it, sergeant?
Please, Señor Zorro.

Well, let me tell you this.

If you do testify
against Don Cornelio,

I'm going to carve a Z right
on the seat of your trousers.

I know, Señor
Zorro. You always do.

Only this time, sergeant,

I'll do it from this side.

(knocking on door)

CORPORAL: Sergeant Garcia.
You haven't made your inspection yet.

Do I have to come
in and get you?

Remember, sergeant,
from this side.

CORPORAL: Sergeant Garcia.

Oh, shut up.

( ominous theme playing)

I hope I have been able
to make my position clear.

I am an humble
servant of the law.

A simple subject of His
Majesty, the king of Spain.

Whatever be my
feelings in this matter,

there is only one
course that I may follow.

The law has been violated,

and the law must be satisfied.

It would not surprise
me if he started to cry.

BASILIO: Because
this is a hearing,

and not a trial,

I shall call but one witness.

And he will be able
to supply all the facts

pertinent to this situation.

I now call

Sergeant Demetrio Lopez Garcia.

(people murmuring)

Now, Sergeant Garcia,

will you tell us in your
own words of the smuggling,

the treachery and the treason

that you discovered at the
hacienda of Cornelio Esperon?

Well, I...

May I have a glass of
water, please, Excellency?

Yes, of course. Help
yourself, sergeant.

GARCIA: Gracias, Excellency.

BASILIO: Now, you
found numerous items

forbidden by law

to be in the possession
of California citizens.

Is that true?

Sí. And you were surprised,

were you not, to
discover this evidence?

( ominous theme playing)

BASILIO: We're
waiting, sergeant.

You did not know of this
treasonable traffic, did you?

Otherwise, you would be
guilty of treason yourself.

All right. Then I am guilty.

Because I knew of it.

(people murmuring)
BASILIO: Knew about it?

Do you realize
what you're saying?

Sí.

Even the governor
and the viceroy,

they know we trade with other
ships that come to California.

It is a common practice.

Are you confessing to
treason in open court?

ZORRO: They tell
me, Your Excellency,

that confession is
good for the soul.

( heroic theme playing)

If anyone moves,
Señor Basilio dies.

Everyone stand still.

A wise decision, señor.

Let's see if we cannot broaden

the base of our
confession in open court.

I notice this coat
you're wearing

is made of
exceptionally fine wool.

Where is it from?

Where was it made, Excellency?

Uh, England.

(people murmuring)

(fabric ripping)

Well, Excellency.
What do we have here?

Excellent watch, eh, sergeant?

Where would you say it was made?

Switzerland.

(people murmuring)

You know, that's exquisite
brocade in your vest, señor.

(buttons clatter to floor)

Tell us, where did it come from?

I can explain.

Where did it come from? France.

(laughter)

For the sake of modesty, señor,

we will assume that the
pants were made in Spain.

(laughter)

And now, Your Excellency,

do you wish to render a verdict?

Are you, the sergeant
and Don Cornelio

guilty or not guilty of treason?

Not guilty.

(cheers and applause)

Hey, Lugo, did you
hear that? Not guilty.

There's no one to
guard now. Come on.

Zorro!

Mendoza!

Mendoza, get me
down! Get me down!

( action theme playing)

BASILIO: Lancers!

Get him!

Get him!

sh**t him!

sh**t him! After him!

Don't let him get
away. sh**t him!

(whinnies)

♪ Zorro, Zorro ♪

♪ Zorro, Zorro ♪

♪ Zorro ♪

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen,

you are about to witness

the most dangerous moment

in the adventurous
life of Zorro.

( ominous theme playing)

De la Vega!

ANNOUNCER: Zorro unmasked!

You'll be stunned, thrilled
by the amazing revelations

and dramatic tenseness next week

when Zorro takes
a dare. Don't miss it.

♪ 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 ♪

♪ Who makes the sign of the Z ♪

♪ Zorro, Zorro ♪

♪ Zorro ♪