Big Brother
This episode was written by Phillip John Taylor and directed by Michael Levine
(Near Los Angeles. A man on horseback is being chased by Zorro. Everywhere he turns, Zorro is there first. When he falls over a cliff, Zorro’s whip lashes out and wraps around his ankle, saving him.)
Zorro: A stimulating chase, my friend. But you’ve come to the end of your rope.
Vargas: Get me out of here! Up north where I come from, they say Zorro is the alcalde’s enemy. Why are you helping him?
Zorro: I’m not helping him, amigo. I’m helping the people of Los Angeles. They believe you’ve stolen their hard earned money.
Vargas: I didn’t rob that bank.
We’ll let the law decide that, shall we? Don’t worry. You’ll receive a fair trial. I can personally guarantee it.
Vargas: You can guarantee all you like. But I won’t be around long enough for a trial, fair or not. I’ll be out of that stinking jail by tomorrow morning. I personally guarantee that.
Zorro: Let’s go then, shall we?
(Zorro’s cave.)
Diego: The alcalde reminds me of the man who killed both his parents and then begged for mercy because he was an orphan. He’ll bend the law to suit his own purposes. He set out after the thief at once. For instance, it’s almost as if he didn’t want to catch him. The alcalde’s behavior is very strange. I placed Enrique Vargas right in his clutches. (Felipe signs something.) I know, I had no choice. (Felipe signs something else.) Yes, everyone in town thinks Enrique did it. He must be proven guilty in a court of law. Zorro promised him as much.
(Alcalde’s office.)
Ramon: It’s an open and shut case.
Diego: Nevertheless, Enrique Vargas is entitled to legal representation. I am volunteering my services.
Ramon: All right, all right. Represent the little weasel. Just remember, the judge will be watching every move you make.
Diego: And who is judging the case, by the way? (Ramon smiles.) I see. I shall need to meet with your prosecutor.
(Mendoza enters.)
Mendoza: Oh, excuse me, alcalde, I didn’t know you… (Ramon indicates
Mendoza.)
Diego: You are the prosecutor?
Mendoza: Oh, si, Don Diego. The alcalde has entrusted me with this monumental task. I shall be the champion of justice. I will not rest until justice is served.
Ramon: All right, Mendoza. Don’t make a meal of it. The only reason you’re prosecuting this case is there’s no one else. Besides, a dim-witted orangutan with a speech impediment could win a conviction.
Mendoza: Si, mi alcalde.
Diego: Well, Señor Prosecutor, you are required to hand over to me all evidence related to the case.
Mendoza: Si, Don Diego, of course. (He hands him a small folded piece of paper.)
Ramon: As I said, it’s a very simple case.
(The jail.)
Diego: So. You were on your way from San Diego to Monterey where you live. You stopped at Los Angeles to exchange a gold coin for pesos and the next thing you knew you were accused of robbery. Yes? (Vargas does not answer.) Señor, I don’t think you’ve fully grasped the severity of your situation. If you’re convicted, you will hang. Now I need to know everything.
Vargas: They won’t hang me. I’ll be out of here by tomorrow morning.
Diego: How can you be so sure?
Vargas: You’ll see.
(The alcalde’s office.)
(There is a knock on the door.)
Ramon: Go away, I’m busy.
(The door is busted down and in walks a huge man.)
Nestor: You’re not busy now. Are you the alcalde?
Ramon: I am.
Nestor: I want to see my brother.
Ramon: Your brother?
(The jail.)
Diego: They didn’t find the gold on you—
(The big man walks in carrying Ramon by the collar.)
Vargas: Nestor.
Nestor: Ricci (He begins to bend the bars.)
Ramon: I have a key.
Vargas: I knew you’d come. I was framed, Nestor. They say I robbed the bank.
Nestor: Come on. Let’s go home.
Diego: Not so fast, my friends. Enrique, if you leave now, you’ll be branded a fugitive.
Nestor: But he say he never did it.
Ramon: But he’s been accused of a crime. If he doesn’t stand trial, I will…they will put a price on his head and every bounty hunter in California will be after him.
Vargas: He’s right, Nestor.
Nestor: Well, what do we do?
Diego: Enrique must stay and face the charges. I’m defending him
Ramon: Hah!
Diego: I promise you, Señor, if your brother is innocent, I’ll get him acquitted.
Nestor: You’d better or this will be your head. (He crushes a wooden bucket with his hands.)
Ramon: There’s a lesson to be learned, Don Diego. Never volunteer for anything.
(The tavern.)
Mendoza: The alcalde asked me to tell you, if Vargas is convicted, he plans to
throw a huge celebration right here in the tavern, no expense spared.
Victoria: Are you trying to bribe a member of the jury, Sergeant?
Mendoza: Well, yes.
Nestor: Is this where the trial’s going to be held?
Mendoza: Oh, si, Señor. You must be the brother of the accused?
Nestor: That’s right. And if he doesn’t get off, there will be big trouble. The last man that bothered little Enrique ended up in Monterey
Mendoza: That’s not so bad. Monterey is very nice this time of year.
Nestor: And Sad Diego… and San Francisco… and Santa Barbara. Who are you?
Mendoza: Me? I…I…
Victoria: He is the prosecutor.
Mendoza: It’s a dirty job, Señor. But somebody has to do it. Please excuse me.
Victoria: Excuse me, Señor. I…I heard that you threatened Don Diego. He’s just trying to help.
Nestor: I’ll do anything to protect little Ricci. Wait until I get my hands on the man who captured him.
Victoria: You mean Zorro?
Nestor: That’s him. I will tear the rogue limb from limb.
Victoria: Well, I think Zorro has something to say about that.
Nestor: What? Ouch?
Enrique: Nestor, my brother!
Nestor: Ricci!
Ramon: This court is now in session. Luiz Ramon, Alcalde, presiding. The prosecution is ready to present its case. Pray, begin.
Mendoza: This man is guilty!
Ramon: Most eloquent, Mendoza. But why don’t you start by telling us why he’s guilty.
Mendoza: Yes, of course, Alcalde. Senoras y senores of the jury, on Tuesday last, this man, Enrique Vargas, entered the Los Angeles bank, drew a pistol, and proceeded to rob the bank of 12, 000 pesos in gold. I was right here in the tavern having my breakfast, huevos rancheros, coffee.
(Time passes.)
Mendoza: Think of your little babies at home, your dear old grandmothers, your kind, loving uncles, your loving wives, your mothers, your —
Ramon: Yes, thank you, Mendoza. You’ve made your point. Señor de la Vega, are you ready to begin the defense?
Diego: Yes, Alcalde. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury —
Mendoza: Objection!
Ramon: Not yet, Mendoza!
Diego: Enrique Vargas is —
Mendoza: Objection!
Ramon: Sustained.
Diego: Gentlemen, I cannot proceed if I am to be interrupted at every turn. (Nestor moves to sit just behind Mendoza and motions Diego to continue.) Thank you. As I was saying, the good Sergeant has told you the bank robber stole 12,000 pesos in gold. May I present exhibit A. (A wheel barrow containing a sack of gold is wheeled forward.) This sack contains 12,000 pesos in gold. Sergeant, if you would be so good as to carry the sack over to the alcalde for inspection.
Ramon: Mendoza.
(Mendoza tries to lift he gold, but can’t.)
Mendoza: It is very heavy. Fiera. (They both try and fail.) It’s not use. We can’t lift it.
Diego: Señor Vargas, would you please stand? This man, who is nearly half the size of the sergeant, is supposed to have carried such a sack all by himself. Thank you, gentlemen.
Ramon: That proves nothing.
Diego: True! But this will.
Ramon: How did you get that?
Diego: Let’s just say that a concerned citizen left it on my doorstep this morning.
Ramon: Only Zorro would have the nerve to break into my office.
Diego: So you admit that this is yours. This is the ledger of the bank of Los Angeles. Your bank, Alcalde. These records indicate that the bank’s primary owner is Luiz Ramon. Its treasurer is Luiz Ramon. And its managing director is one Roberto Ortega.
Ramon: Impossible. I am the managing director. I —
Diego: Quite right. There is no Robert Ortega. Forgive the rather obvious subterfuge. This ledger shows that the alcalde has been siphoning off funds from the bank from the very first day that it opened. I believe that he deliberately staged the entire robbery by himself to get off the hook from his depositors. He then waited until a stranger showed up in town so he could blame the whole sordid incident.
Ramon: It is a lie!
Victoria: (Rising.) Enrique Vargas is innocent. The jury demands his release.
Ramon: Never! I am the presiding judge. Your verdict is overruled. The prisoner is guilty! The sentence is to be carried out at once. Lancers!
(The lancers surround Nestor and lower their muskets toward him.)
Nestor: Wait! Ricci!
Vargas: Nestor! Help!
Alejandro: Alcalde, you cannot do this!
Ramon: (Indicating Nestor to his lancers.) Bring him along so he can watch.
(Vargas is taken out to the gallows.)
Ramon: Enrique Vargas has been found — (Zorro appears on a rooftop.)
Victoria: Zorro!
Mendoza: Zorro! That’s all we need.
Ramon: Lancers! Shoot him! (All but one lancer chases after Zorro)
Lancer: Stay still or I shoot.
Nestor: Is that so? (Nestor lifts him up.)
Lancer: Yes, that is so. (Nestor throws him down.)
Ramon: Where’s he going?
Vargas: Zorro was the one who captured me. And Nestor’s like an elephant. He never forgets.
Ramon: Lancers, don’t interfere.
Zorro: Nestor. (Nestor knocks down a wooden post supporting the roof upon which Zorro is standing. Zorro falls.) You pack a mean wallop, amigo, but I’m trying to help you. I’ll explain later. (Nestor throws Zorro through a doorway.)
Ramon: I always wanted to see Zorro
ground to a pulp. This ought to be entertaining. (Nestor and Zorro fight.)
Zorro: Listen. I came to rescue your brother from the gallows.
Ramon: My money’s on the big fellow. (Laughs.)
Zorro: Look…I…Look, amigo, (Nestor keeps fighting.) Look, your brother’s escaped!
Ramon: Lancers! Find that little
weasel!
Zorro: I’m the one who got him into trouble. I felt it was my duty to get him
out of it. Do we still have a quarrel? (Nestor shakes his hand.) Now
maybe you can help me.
Nestor: How?
Zorro: How about we find the gold your brother was accused of stealing?
Nestor: Good idea.
Zorro: I know just where to start looking. Come on. (They leave together.)
Ramon: Where are they going? Lancers!
Mendoza: But, Alcalde, you just sent them away.
Ramon: Mendoza, do something!
Mendoza: But, Alcalde— (They see Zorro and Nestor breaking down the door of the alcalde’s office.)
Ramon: No, not the…door again.
Nestor: After you, my friend.
Zorro: You’re too kind. (Inside.) Ah. A wall safe behind that shelf. (Nestor starts tearing the place apart.)
Nestor: The bookcase!
Zorro: It’s possible.
(Outside.)
Ramon: Please don’t look under…
(Inside)
Zorro: The floorboards. (They find the gold. Zorro can’t lift it. Nestor can.) Gracias.
Nestor: De nada. (They go outside with the gold. Zorro whistles for Tornado.)
Mendoza: The stolen gold, Alcalde. It was you.
Ramon: Merely circumstantial evidence.
(Zorro rides up to Victoria.)
Zorro: I understand you did an excellent job as head of the jury today. My compliments. (Zorro looks at Ramon.) And as for you, I’ve heard all about the trial. Return the money to your investors or I’ll be back. (Zorro looks toward Nestor.) My friend. (To the crowd.) Adios!
(Plaza)
Nestor: Don Diego, we’ve come to say good-bye.
Alejandro: Well, you better not take too long. If the alcalde finds you here —
Vargas: Oh, it’s all right. I’ve been given a free pardon personally signed by the alcalde himself.
Diego: Well, safe journey, gentlemen.
Nestor: Thank you.
Alejandro: Diego, I want to say something. You cut a very impressive figure yesterday in the courtroom. No, no, no, no, no. Seriously now, think about taking up the law.
Diego: So long as Sergeant Mendoza was always my adversary, I could be the greatest attorney in the territory.
Alejandro: In the world. (They laugh.)
The End