Zorro (1957) s01e35 Episode Script

The Tightening Noose

[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 No, I won't do it.
I'm not criticizing you, Don Alejandro.
I am not condemning the others who have signed the oath.
But why should I place myself and my family in jeopardy when I am leaving? It is my father's position that you should not leave.
Not now.
I'm glad your father is no longer with us.
He could not have stood the spectacle of his son running from a fight.
I am not running from a fight.
And I did not come here to argue.
I have reached a time of life when a man wants peace, security and contentment.
This is no longer possible in California.
Was there ever a time when men could find security - if they were not willing to fight? - Please.
My mind is made up.
Do you not realize what you are doing? If you leave now, it is the first hole in the dyke.
Others may decide to leave also.
We have worked and built and dreamed.
All of this is for our children and our children's children.
How can we surrender it without a fight? These are the same arguments you gave me six months ago.
And each day, things have become worse instead of better.
Let me tell you one thing: Things will never get better anywhere if people run from their problems.
Perhaps things would get better here if the landowners united.
Then it is your thought that we take the law into our own hands? Absolutely not.
I am leaving tomorrow for Monterey.
I will ask the governor to give us official recognition.
We will stand as an army, but without uniforms.
We will be ready to defend our home, country, king against any enemies, from without or from within.
We are so far from Spain and it is so difficult to get reinforcements, that it seems this is the only solution.
[Sighs.]
I just hope I'm not signing my own death warrant.
You will not be sorry, Don Alfredo.
We will stand together.
All of us.
You know, there are other men signing oaths like this, in San Diego, Santa Barbara, Buena Ventura and elsewhere.
- Shall I take this to the library? - Sí, por favor.
Con permiso.
I will take the signed petition to Monterey.
But Diego will have a list of those who signed.
In case of any great emergency while I'm gone, he may call all of you together.
[Door opens.]
Did you come through the entrance in the sala? Be more careful.
Even though my father is not at home, there are the servants.
Sergeant Garcia? - Oh, there you are, Don Diego.
- This is an unexpected pleasure.
Sí.
- Won't you step inside? - Gracias.
Be seated, sergeant.
Well, to what do we owe the honor of this visit? I am the bearer of good news.
You are about to have company.
That is good news.
Who's coming? His Excellency José Sebastián de Varga, the new administrado for this area.
- He's on his way now.
- He's coming to visit me? - Sí.
- Thank you for bringing information.
I shall endeavor to receive him properly.
Do you think I could persuade him to remain for dinner? Sí.
I think so.
If you'll excuse me, I'll inform the servants.
Oh, uh, will there be others? Don Diego, there's a little something I think I should explain.
The administrado wants a hacienda while his house is being repaired.
And just think, Don Diego, of all the many fine haciendas in the area, he chose yours! Let me see if I understand you.
Do you mean to tell me the administrado intends to come here and take over, whether I want him to or not? - I did not mean to imply that.
- But it's true? - Sí.
- I cannot allow this.
- I am sorry.
- I will ask you to wait outside.
You can tell the administrado, if he wants this hacienda, - he will have to take it by force! - Do not take this attitude.
My father and my father's father defended it.
I will do the same.
How? The administrado has the soldiers at his command.
We have no choice! Leave now, or I start my battle immediately.
I will wait outside if you wish, but put away that sword before you cut yourself.
You heard? Well, this is it, Bernardo.
No more pretence, no more masquerading.
I will fight as Diego de la Vega.
I will defend this hacienda or die.
I know you heard.
You mean we could eavesdrop on the administrado? You're right as usual, Bernardo.
At least we can listen and learn the meaning of this.
Now there are too many things we do not know.
[Hoofbeats approaching.]
I'm sorry, but the administrado is here.
I thought I should tell you.
Of course.
I hope he finds our hacienda adequate.
Don Diego, this is His Excellency José Sebastián de Varga.
Your Excellency, this is Don Diego de la Vega.
His Excellency is the new administrado for the southern area of California.
- A pleasure.
- Your servant, senor.
May I present my secretary and associate, Juan Greco? I trust you will find this hacienda adequate.
It is a great privilege, having a man of your stature as our guest.
- Quite impressive, Don Diego.
- Gracias, senor.
I should explain that my father is away at the present time.
I know.
I had the pleasure of meeting Alejandro de la Vega in Santa Barbara.
He was going north as I was coming south.
- On his way to Monterey, I believe.
- Sí.
To see the governor? The point I was making, Your Excellency, is that you will be most comfortable in his room during his absence.
If you will follow my man, he will show you to my father's room.
I should explain, he cannot hear or speak.
Well, gentlemen, you must both be tired after your ride.
Shall we go into the library for a few moments and relax? Gracias.
Please, be seated.
- Perhaps a glass of wine? - Thank you.
This is our own vintage.
We are quite proud of it.
Gracias.
- Most excellent, Don Diego.
- Gracias, senor.
Will Your Excellency be with us long? It may be for some time.
My father may be returning in a week or so.
That is all right.
He will be welcome here.
- Welcome in his own home? - I do not believe he meant it that way.
I meant it exactly that way.
Please understand, Don Diego, it would be within my province to take over this hacienda and request that you and your father leave it.
But I'm a reasonable man.
You are more than welcome to stay on.
At least for the time being.
The trouble, Your Excellency, is that my father may not be so reasonable.
He might be more inclined to dispute your right to take over his home.
You mean he might be inclined to call on his neighbors, who fancy themselves to be soldiers? They might attack the administrado and the soldiers of the king? - I did not say that.
- It is just as well that you did not.
That might constitute treason.
There is no need to argue about the statements a man does not make.
You have a splendid library, Don Diego.
I had no idea so many books could be found in Los Angeles.
We are quite proud of it, senor.
Many of these books have histories.
I repeat myself.
Your father will be welcome at this hacienda when he returns, so long as he recognizes I am in charge here, and deports himself accordingly.
If you gentlemen will excuse me, there are some things I must attend to.
Might it not be wise, Your Excellency, not to arouse young de la Vega unduly? He may provide some opposition.
I asked for your advice, did I? I merely I will not have you tell me what to do.
You will do what is assigned to you and you will be much better off.
Sí.
Do not be misled by snap judgments, impressions picked up on the spur of the moment.
I know all about young de la Vega.
A young popinjay.
A great disappointment to his father.
He will run from a fight if we give him half the chance.
What a pompous, egotistical fool.
This is too much.
I can no longer live in the same house as this man and keep up this pretence.
I came within a half-inch of throwing him out the window.
I have no proof, but I am sure he is the Eagle's agent.
Oh, and we'd better get this out of the room.
There may be too many prying eyes around.
People snooping through drawers.
[Knocking on door.]
What is it, corporal? I wanted to make sure you were here before taking my post.
Your post? I have to stay with you at all times to protect you.
- To protect me from what? - Just to protect you.
You see? I'm a prisoner in my own house.
It is my understanding you assigned the corporal to stay with me to protect me.
Now, uh, may I ask you the question he was unable to answer? Protect me from what? I am sure the corporal is no specialist.
He would protect you from anything that might present itself.
You must understand, it would be embarrassing for the administrado if anything should happen to you while he was occupying your hacienda.
All this is most gratifying, but I feel much more comfortable if I did not have a soldier at my elbow.
There is nothing personal.
It's a question of principle.
If it bothers you, I will assign the corporal to stand guard outside.
After all, I am sure you're perfectly safe inside these walls.
Corporal, you are hereby assigned to stand guard outside.
Shall we adjourn to the library? If you gentlemen will excuse me, I will speak to the servants and join you shortly.
It is not necessary, Don Diego.
I've instructed the soldiers to take over the menial chores.
But even this I will have to explain to the servants.
That's strange, Bernardo.
These are not clipped as were the others.
At least we know the administrado works for the Eagle.
- Sergeant.
- Well, what is it? - This wine is for the administrado.
- Take it to him, in the library.
Sí.
But you told me I should show you everything before I served it.
Those were the administrado's orders.
You've shown me.
Serve it.
Sí.
Then I'll come back and take away the dishes.
- Well, corporal? - There you are.
I was looking for you.
Did you expect to find me sitting on top of the table? No.
But since I was looking in this direction, I thought there might be something left of that leg of mutton.
- But I don't see it.
- Obviously, they ate it all up.
The bone too? Why are you doing here? You're supposed to be guarding Don Diego.
The administrado told me to stand guard outside.
Outside? Follow me.
- Sergeant! - Sí, administrado.
There's a satchel on the stand.
Bring it.
[Garcia.]
Of course.
[Garcia.]
You were supposed to guard outside, so go outside.
Outside! I'm going to see what's going on in the library.
Sí, administrado.
I will personally remain on guard.
I warn you, you'll pay with your life for any more of these mistakes.
Do you mean the satchel? I told you not to let it out of your sight.
- Anyone could have picked it up.
- What would it mean? Do not argue with me.
Do not question me.
When I tell you to do something, I want it done.
[De Varga.]
Somehow we must find out who these men are who would make up de la Vega's army.
Well, say something! Don't just sit there.
Yes.
Remain here and watch.
I'm going to the secret room.
[De Varga.]
Look for a moving panel or a loose board.
Or any group of books fastened together.
I've been over this and haven't found a thing.
There are no loose boards I could find.
But I know these old haciendas and how they are built.
Many have secret passageways, and almost all, secret compartments to hide valuables.
Slow down.
You mean you think they've found the secret passages? [De Varga.]
We will go over the hacienda, inch by inch, until we find what we want.
We cannot wait.
Somehow we must stop them.
Yes, come.
Don Alejandro claims to have a list of 50 men willing to die for their country.
How can you be sure he has a list? Perhaps the names are in his head.
Not 50 names.
I'm sure he must have them written down somewhere.
If they are so willing to die for their country, we will soon oblige them.
I think I've found something.
- Look at these.
- Those are not important now.
[De Varga.]
Let us first get rid of our enemies and we can pick up ornaments by the bushel.
Maybe this is it.
A list of names! Drop the list.
If you read one name I will kill you.
Drop it! Make no outcry, I warn you.
Permit me to introduce myself.
I am El Zorro.
Take your bandas off and stand back to back.
Zorro! Guards! Zorro is in the sala! I have him trapped.
Capture him! Help! Help me! [Diego.]
Help! Hold him, Don Diego! We are coming.
- It's locked.
- Then break it down.
He went over the balcony.
Look! There he goes! [Horse whinnies.]
Whenever you gentlemen are ready, I will show you the rancho.
It would be a good idea if one of your vaqueros rode with us.
Yes.
Acquaint us with the boundaries and help locate the cattle.
Oh, I just remembered, I have to write a letter to my father before the coach leaves today.
Would you excuse me? If the vaquero comes with us, we won't need Don Diego.
Of course.
What's the matter? These are my father's papers that Zorro took from the library.
"Senor, I have one question: How much are you willing to pay? Meet me in Los Angeles.
Have your answer and money ready.
Signed, the Eagle.
" Apparently this is a letter Varga received from the Eagle.
You're right.
This has not passed through the mails.
Well, this can mean only one thing.
Our pompous house guest is the Eagle! But why did he come here personally? There's no doubt.
He is here to tighten the noose on us all.
We have almost reached the hour of decision.
Our lives, our fortunes, the future of California is at stake.
No.
I'm afraid a dozen Zorros couldn't stop these men.
They're too well-organized.
We'll fight to the limit of our ability.
We will do our best.
No man can ask more than that, even of himself.
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