The Mark of Zorro Page #4

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- Puppy!

- Oh, my dear Padre, really.

When I think ofwhat one man, single-handed,

has accomplished against these devils,

and see you, the last ofthe Vegas,

trembling at the very mention of his name,

why, I could... Can't you even

listen to what I'm saying?

Ordinarily, I'd drink in every word you say,

Padre, butjust now...

Thank you, Mother.

- Quick, hide this plunder.

- Plunder?

Well, don't stand there

gaping at me like a fish. Put it away.

- What is this?

- It's some ofthe alcalde's gold.

Oh, and this I took from his charming wife.

It's pretty, don't you think?

Youtook it?

Have you seen this one, Padre?

Zorro.

So my old mentor has no more wit

than the rest ofthem, eh?

Are you trying to make me

the receiver of stolen goods?

No, Padre, the dispenser.

This gold was wrung from the peons.

It's up to us to restore it to them.

My boy.

My boy!

My Diego!

Padre.

Then you will lead your people

against these scorpions?

No. No, we'd be no match for a garrison of

trained troops. My father was right about that.

But you must have had the alcalde at

your mercy when you took the gold from him.

I would have snuffed him out

like a candle. God forgive me.

It would accomplish nothing.

Anotherjust like him would take his place.

I see.

I see everything.

Diego, don't deceive your father any longer.

- It's not fair to him.

- I don't like doing it, Padre, believe me.

But I must.

My father is such a stickler for law and order,

he might spoil all the fun.

But what do you hope to achieve all alone,

taking his money?

Oh, no. But I may be able to persuade him

to resign and name my father in his place.

- Amusing, don't you think?

- Ifyou live.

Doa lnez begs you to make yourself

comfortable. She'll be down shortly.

- Thank you.

- Oh, what's this? What's this?

- Don Diego Vega.

- Oh, yes, Don Diego.

Well, uh... uh, what can I do for you?

Have you forgotten that you urged me

to regard this house as still my home?

Oh, did l?

It's good ofyou to remember the offer,

but didn't you have trouble getting in?

Oh, no. No, I had a note from Doa lnez

asking me to ride with her this morning,

and I just showed it to the sentries.

Excellent, excellent.

Come into my study till my wife appears.

It's been Esteban's privilege

to ride with her each morning.

Tell me, why is this house

so closely guarded?

I swear I saw a full company around it.

- I wish there were twice as many.

- Their clatter would drive me to distraction.

I find it reassuring.

Let me show you something, young man.

Look.

Madre de Dios. The mark ofZorro.

Mm-hm. He came here one night.

He threatened my life and leFT that.

I... I should be petrified.

He's mad, of course. Quite mad.

- You think so?

- Of course.

There was a case in Madrid, almost identical.

This fellow's mark was a cross.

He was a madman.

Cunning beyond belief. They always are.

He killed 40 people.

Slit their throats from ear to ear.

Warned them first, you know, and then...

Santa Mara.

It's a pity your sense of duty

keeps you here, Excellency.

- Frightful risk.

- Sense of duty?

Oh, yes. Yes, of course.

I'm so sorry to have kept you, Don Diego.

Esteban was surly about our little ride.

I'd promised the morning to him, it seems.

Seora, your invitation

was like a smile from heaven.

- I was positively suffocating with boredom.

- Then let's fly. I'm dying for a canter.

Oh, goodbye, Luis. Don't work too hard.

- Goodbye, Excellency.

- Goodbye, goodbye.

Esteban, that young Vega

Just told me a horrible tale

about a madman in Madrid, like this Zorro.

- He thinks I run a great risk by staying here.

- Forget your fears. I have a plan.

Yes? What is it?

Don Alejandro is the leader ofthe caballeros.

This Zorro wants you to appoint him

in your place. What do you gather from that?

Well, go on.

Doesn't it suggest to you that Zorro

is the tool of Don Alejandro?

Perhaps, but how can we prove it?

We can at least help the situation.

- How?

- Form an alliance with Don Alejandro.

That's impossible. You know Vega's attitude.

Perfectly, but Lolita should have a husband.

What could be stronger

than a matrimonial alliance?

Royal families keep

the peace of Europe in bridal beds.

Diego and Lolita.

Not bad.

Not bad at all.

Oh, Diego, talking with you is like

a drink of cool water in the desert.

- Oh, it's a pity.

- What, Diego?

- No, no. I mustn't make you discontented.

- Oh, please. Ofwhat were you thinking?

I was just thinking

how you're being wasted here.

Your beauty, your giFT for words,

your perfect poise.

You were born for something higher,

more civilised than this provincial life.

I know.

- May I tell you something, Diego?

- Anything.

Yes, of course I may.

I felt from the moment we met that we...

Diego, Esteban is urging me to leave

my husband and go to Spain with him.

- Oh, but my dear, no.

- But I'm dying here.

Go to Spain, but not with Esteban.

With whom, then, Diego?

- With your husband.

- My husband?

- Go to romantic, beautiful Spain with Luis?

- Well, let me explain.

As the wife ofthe one-time alcalde

of Los Angeles, you'd be received at court.

But as the companion

of a second-rate soldier offortune,

- you'd be completely ostracised.

- Oh, I see.

But Luis at court, imagine.

But, in Spain, the husbands of

adorable ladies are merely background.

- But I'd be lost among so many.

- Not you.

You'd need only one "friend"

to introduce you into the proper circles.

But I have no such friend in Madrid.

Who knows? I don't intend

to remain in California for ever.

Oh, Diego.

- What you suggest is utterly impossible.

- I'll give the girl a dowry of 20,000 pesos.

- No.

- 25,000.

Are you buying my son, Seor Quintero?

- There's the practical side to consider.

- It doesn't enter into this.

You come here on a friendly mission

with half a company oftroops. Why?

Not to threaten you, Don Alejandro.

It's because ofthis Zorro.

Zorro is only a symptom. This whole district

is bleeding under your vile administration.

I won't condone it by marriage

between our families.

- In that case, my friendly attitude will cease.

- Buenas tardes, Excellency.

What is all this fatiguing turmoil about?

His Excellency has offered a marriage

between his niece Lolita and you, Diego.

His niece? How flattering.

But why should that

cause an argument on a hot day like this?

Your father resents my efforts

to make the people here more, uh...

- industrious than under his regime.

- Grinding them into poverty

- to line your own pockets is hardly...

- Oh, politics, politics.

- What have they to do with my marriage?

- You'd marry into the family...

Well, how can I tell until I've seen her?

She may look like her uncle.

Quite right. I...

Oh, no, Diego. She's a sweet little dove.

It would desolate us

to have her leave the nest.

- If she were Venus, she'd still be his niece.

- Yes, but I'm not marrying His Excellency.

- Oh.

- Diego,

don't you think the wishes ofyour father,

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