The Mark of Zorro Page #6

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I'll be delighted with her?

What have you done?

Well, I've just taken the first steps

towards making you a grandfather.

What?

What a son you bore me.

An alliance with those terrible people.

Son, why did you do it?

- For the best reason in the world, Mother.

- What is that?

- Lolita Quintero.

- She attracts you?

- It's more than that. From the day I first saw...

- I thought you hadn't met her until tonight.

Well, I did catch a glimpse of her

some time ago. And...

You're concealing something from us, son.

I'm sure of it.

- It's time you went to bed.

- Very well.

But, Diego, tell me as soon as you can.

I will, Mother.

- What's the meaning ofthat?

- Gonzales was collecting taxes.

A priest resisted.

The fool gave him ten lashes.

- Send Gonzales to me.

- I wish I could.

- What's to prevent it?

- The disappearance of Sergeant Gonzales.

- He's gone? Where?

- To Hades, I hope.

I'll collect the mission taxes

myselffrom now on.

That should teach them.

What's that?

You!

- What's that?

- Sergeant Gonzales, Excellency.

- I think he's dead.

- Dead? Dead, you say?

- (groans)

- He's alive.

He's got a Z on his chest.

Zorro.

- Padre.

- Ah, Jos.

- How is the little one?

- She is well again.

I brought this to give thanks to the church.

Give thanks in your heart.

Buy milk for the child with this.

No, Padrecito. This is for the church.

Gracias. Gracias.

Gracias.

I come at precisely

the right moment, it seems.

- I'll take that.

- These are the funds ofthe mission.

- The property ofthe Church.

- Not any longer.

Hand them over.

- I refuse.

- In that case, I shall take them.

You should have been a soldier

rather than a churchman.

Santa Mara!

No wonder you chose the Church.

- Where did you get this?

- I'll tell you nothing.

Run me through and have done with it.

No, my dear Padre.

We shall presently hang you. Come on.

Ifyou marry that girl,

you leave this house for ever.

It might be rather amusing

to live with the Quinteros.

Oh, if I'd only leFT him in Spain.

Wait till you see her, Father.

She's just like this blossom.

I'll never see her. I promise you that.

(servant) La Seorita Quintero.

- We are not at home.

- I'm at home to the seorita. Show her in.

- So you defy me, too?

- You're not being sensible, Alejandro.

- Father, this is Lolita.

- I am honoured, seor.

- And my mother, chiquita.

- Seora.

Please forgive me, but could l...? Would it

be possible to see you alone for a moment?

Seorita, will you answer me one question?

- Certainly, seor.

- Do you want to marry my son?

Why, yes.

- Why?

- Well, l... I love him, seor.

You are right, my son. She is like the flower.

Diego...

Something terrible has happened.

They've arrested Fray Felipe.

They say he is Zorro

and they are going to hang him.

- Where is he now?

- In the guardhouse at the barracks.

Oh, Diego, what can you do?

I don't know yet.

Look, so far I've only frightened your uncle.

This may mean that I'll have to do

more than that. Do you understand?

But ifthat becomes necessary,

will it make any difference between us?

Sentries! Sentries! There's

someone in that chair. Seize him!

Diego! What are you doing here?

- You frightened me half out of my wits.

- Oh, this is too much.

It's distressing enough to call on

my betrothed and not find her at home.

- Now to be manhandled by these ruffians.

- Leave us. Leave us.

Where is Lolita? No one seems to know.

Oh, riding, driving, walking.

What does a young girl do?

Am I to understand that my betrothed

is allowed to wander about the countryside

without a duenna?

I protest, Your Excellency. I protest strongly.

I can't discuss that now.

Do you know this Zorro

had an accomplice? A priest.

We arrested him today. And another

horrible thing happened to me this morning.

Gonzales was beaten

halfto death by this Zorro.

He shoved him over the wall

right before my eyes.

How frightful. (tuts)

But aFTer all, it was harder on Gonzales.

Please, this is no time forjesting.

Perhaps that madman

is lurking on the grounds right now.

What shall I do? What shall I do?

I offer rewards and nothing happens.

Well, he may change his mind about you.

Those creatures usually do, I believe.

He may decide

to cut the throat of someone else.

- Must you always talk ofthroat-cutting?

- Oh, how thoughtless of me.

- What you need is a drop of brandy.

- Brandy. Yes, yes, brandy.

It's gone. I'm surrounded by idiots.

Stupid servants, stupid soldiers.

You know, I admire you tremendously.

Your courage, your fortitude.

Why, a weaker man would forget

his civic duty and get away from all this.

- You rang, Your Excellency?

- Yes, brandy.

- On the desk, Your Excellency.

- It's not on the desk. Bring some!

A situation ofthis sort would wreck

my constitution in a week.

But then I haven't the iron nerve

of Your Excellency.

Your Excellency, come! Come quickly!

Something has happened in the cellar.

Guards! You, follow me!

Look!

Look, Your Excellency.

Zorro.

Here in the cellar, right below my study.

Look, here's his trail.

It goes this way.

It ends here.

He couldn't have gone through the wall.

He's not human. He's...

Light my way out of here. Quick!

Diego. Diego, Diego.

You were right. You were right.

I'll leave this cursed place. I'll do as he asks.

- Pen, paper.

- Here, Excellency.

A man should consider his wife.

Inez has... Inez has gone crazy

over the idea of Madrid.

She's been at me

night and day to take her there.

This should do it.

This should suit that maniac.

There, look it over.

That's very direct. But you forgot to sign.

- Sign what?

- My resignation, Esteban.

This Zorro will kill me if I stay.

You may escape him, but I will surely

kill you ifyou write any more ofthese.

But, Esteban, I'm in danger.

Grave danger. Diego here will bear me out.

You're in even greater danger than he thinks.

So you tried to get gold out ofthe country?

Ifyou ever again take one peso of mine,

I'll cut your throat from ear to ear.

I must ask you to change the subject.

He objects to talk ofthroat-cutting.

Quiet, you popinjay.

I've no reason for letting you live either.

What a pleasant coincidence.

I feel exactly the same way

about you, Capitn.

You wouldn't care to translate

that feeling into action, would you?

I might be tempted, if I had a weapon.

Would you?

Now, please, gentlemen.

This is going much too far.

- It's only to serve you, Excellency.

- Ha! You have a champion, Luis.

And what a champion.

Now, gentlemen. Diego...

Esteban, why...?

Esteban, Est...

I'll make it short, and save you fatigue.

Esteban... Sentries! Sentries!

- (Diego) No interference, Excellency, please.

- We have a hero with us.

- Are you all right, Diego?

- Ask the capitn.

Get out. Get out.

The fencing master has met his equal.

Careful!

- Are you tiring, Diego?

- No, Excellency, I'll take you on in a moment.

- It's a good effort, Capitn.

- My next will be better, my fancy clown.

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