The Mark of Zorro Page #7

---

- The capitn's blade is not so firm.

- Still firm enough to run you through.

I needed that scratch to awaken me.

He's dead. Well, he's been troublesome lately.

And you killed him, Diego.

Your Excellency, a secret stairway

from the cellar. We just discovered it.

A secret stairway? Leading here?

Yes, Your Excellency.

Good. Very good.

Excellent. You shall be rewarded.

Sentries. Sentries!

Keep that man covered.

Take him to the guardhouse

and lock him in a cell.

The strongest cell you have.

Why arrest me, Excellency?

For three reasons. First,

you have mud from the cellar on your boots.

Second, that secret stairway

happens to be in your old home.

And third, you handle a sword

like a devil from hell.

And that's exactly where you're going,

Seor Zorro.

That's a pretty way to treat

your future nephew, Uncle Luis.

No more ofyour wit. Take him away.

You, Morales!

Send the officer ofthe day to me. I want all

caballeros and all peons summoned at once.

Yes, Your Excellency.

All caballeros are requested to report

at the alcalde's residence immediately.

- At this hour? Ridiculous!

- The alcalde's orders, seor.

Sergeant, assemble your men

for firing-squad duty.

- But why did they arrest Diego?

- I don't know.

Luis won't tell me.

He must have lost his mind.

- (knock on door)

- Come in.

His Excellency requests you ladies

to stay in your rooms tonight.

- Why?

- I cannot say. I was ordered to tell you.

Oh, lnez.

Firing squad, forward!

- Good evening.

- Why are we meeting here?

- What do you know about this, Alejandro?

- Nothing. I was forced to come here, like you.

They must be up to something.

Good evening, seores.

It's a pleasure to see you here.

Get to the point. Why drag us

out of our homes at this hour?

To witness a delightful spectacle, my good

Vega. You will find it particularly interesting.

I'm executing a caballero at midnight.

- What caballero?

- Who is it?

He's the man you selected from among you to

defy me, to prey upon me, to threaten my life.

I brought you here to see him die

as a lesson to the lot ofyou.

- I don't know what you're talking about.

- Nor l.

You almost convince me.

Too bad you're about to lose

the best actor among you.

But in a few moments,

you'll see your precious Zorro shot.

There. Oh, Padre.

Now, observe very closely. Watch the candle.

Blow.

You should really see something worthwhile,

like changing a copper coin into solid gold.

- Can you do that?

- The good padre here has seen me do it.

- Many times.

- It was a secret discovered by Merlin,

in the 11th century. It's been handed down

through a long line of sorcerers

to some of us living today.

You can change a centavo into gold?

- Easily.

- Please, seor, do that for me, eh?

Oh, I am very weary. I must seek repose.

Oh, seor, seor,

I have a wife and seven children,

and the little I earn isn't enough for them.

Please, make gold for them

and I'll pray for you. Please.

Well, if I must, I must.

- Now, hold the centavo in your closed fist.

- S, seor. Gracias.

Tightly now. Now,

put your fist well through the bars.

- S.

- Cold iron will spoil everything.

Now, I take your fist gently. Like this.

- Oh, seor.

- Now, open the door. Be quick about it.

- Come along now.

- S, seor.

Now, get in. Get down under there,

close to the wall. And not a sound, remember.

(drum roll)

Close the door, Padre.

Hide this in your robe.

Sit down.

And now, seores, you will behold

the result ofyour rebellious plans.

Come in!

Here is Zorro the fox, safely trapped.

Diego? What is this?

- Hola, seores.

- What idiotic joke is this?

- As ifyou didn't know.

- Luis Quintero, you are a fool.

Zorro is a man. This is my worthless,

trick-playing offspring.

Have you seen this one, Father?

Help! Help! Zorro is loose! Zorro is loose!

Sganme!

- Seores, are you with me?

- I am with you, Diego!

God forgive me.

God forgive me.

God forgive me.

Well, what a splendid audience you have.

Peons, caballeros, everyone.

- It was thoughtful ofyou to have them here.

- What's happened?

Good evening, ladies.

His Excellency is about to make an address.

Address? Well... well, what shall I say?

You know. The little matter

ofyour resignation.

Quiet! Quiet for His Excellency.

We're waiting, Excellency. Go on.

Uh... uh...

Good people of Los Angeles,

owing to my ceaseless efforts to...

to improve conditions in the district...

(angrymurmurs)

..my health is endangered.

(mocking laughter)

I have therefore decided

to give up my office and go to Spain.

(laughter)

To succeed me as alcalde ofthis district,

I am naming my illustrious predecessor,

Don Alejandro Vega.

(cheering)

And now, Your Excellency, I personally will

accompany you to the wharf at San Pedro.

I wish to bless your voyage, and ask God

to reward you according to your merits.

Spain. Spain!

Oh, Diego, when may we expect you

and our dear little Lolita in Madrid?

Not for some time, I'm afraid.

We'll follow the customs of California.

- What do you mean?

- We are going to marry

and raise fat children

and watch our vineyards grow.

Rate this script:2.0 / 1 vote