Zorro (1957–1959): Season 1, Episode 19 - Death Stacks the Deck - full transcript

Carlos Urista inherits the family ranch, but loses it in a card game. Magistrado Galindo plans on taking control of the hacienda and controlling the water supply to all the other ranches. Zorro steps in to prevent it.

(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 ♪



(PRIEST SPEAKING LATIN)

(ORGAN PLAYING)

Young Ramon Santil
cannot make up his mind

whether to be stricken
with anger or with grief.

Poor boy. Not a half hour ago,

the Magistrado demanded the
full tax due on the ranch of Santil.

Demanded it before
his father's funeral?

But he must know he cannot pay.

His Excellency must do
his duty. But at such a time!

(CHURCH BELL RINGING)

(BELL CONTINUES TO RING)

Poor Don Luis.

Is it true, Don Diego, that gambling
killed him? He lost everything?

Everything but his land. Who
knows what kills a man, Sergeant?



And his son. Don Diego, you
knew him in the university in Spain.

Is he also a
little wild? A little.

He was thrown out of
the university for gambling.

Next to your father's, the rancho Santil
is the largest in the whole district.

Without money, how can a
boy like that run such a rancho?

MAN: Remove your horse, Senor!

Excuse me, Don Diego.

Eagle feather?

Senor, this is a funeral procession.
You should remove your horse.

Go ahead, go ahead.

You should also remove your hat.

Will removing my hat
bring the dead to life?

No. But at least it
shows a little respect.

Why should I show respect
for someone I do not know?

It seems we have a philosopher
in our midst, Sergeant.

We do? Oh. What is a
philosopher, Don Diego?

Someone hardly
anyone can understand.

Oh.

What is your name, Senor?

Carlos Urista.

I am Garcia, Comandante
of the pueblo garrison.

Every stranger coming into
the pueblo must report to me.

Why?

Well, because it is customary.

Besides, if you come
from... Or even if...

(SIGHS) Do you
know why, Don Diego?

Uh, Sergeant, I suggest
you get on to the cemetery.

Senor Urista can make
his report after the funeral.

I have a feeling he will
be with us for some time.

At least, Senor, I must
know where you are staying.

Is there more than one
tavern in this pueblo?

No. Then I will be there.

Ah.

Now, this feather,

I took this from Rojas' hand
the day he was murdered.

This one came from the
Magistrado's messenger.

Yes. I'm sure it
contains a message.

But if so, why would Senor
Urista wear it in plain sight?

Perhaps he just likes feathers.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

I saw you come in. Diego,
will you talk to Ramon?

I tried to after the funeral.

He was very rude.

He seems to think you are
offering him some kind of charity.

There is no disgrace in
accepting help from friends.

And no one holds the misfortune
of his father against him.

His pride proves he's
made of good stuff,

but he has never had
to face responsibilities.

It might help you too, Diego, if
you would set him an example

and take a greater part
in the affairs of the pueblo,

to serve the community.

A famous poet once said that, "They
also serve, who only stand and wait."

I sent my only son
away to military school

expecting they would send
me back a fighter. I got a poet!

Diego, my friend, for the
last time, I want no help.

I thank you, I thank your
father, but I don't need it.

I sold my cattle. I
cleaned them out.

Who bought them? Senor Urista.

He's a business man
from Monterey, I think.

You sold him your entire herd,

and yet you know
nothing about him?

What's the difference?
His money is good.

11,000 pesos, enough to meet
the Magistrado's tax demands.

If we loaned you money
you could've kept the herd.

Now you have to
start all over again.

It will take time.

I have time. I'm lucky.

Let me buy you dinner.

You have 11,000 pesos,
so it cannot be charity.

Please, Clara, have
one drink with me.

The innkeeper will not
mind. I will pay for it.

He minds that you have not
paid what you already owe him!

Ah, Don Diego!

Sergeant. Good to see you.

Urista.

Well, Senor Urista. I see
you've been busy today.

You've met Senor Barca.

His Excellency introduced them.

You're a friend
of the magistrate?

I'm hardly a friend.

I presented my
credentials this afternoon.

My business will keep me
in this pueblo for some time.

Oh. Are you in the
cattle business?

My business is none
of your business.

(BARCA LAUGHS)

Senor, I win again.

If you will excuse me,
I have an appointment.

Of course. Senores.

May I offer you gentlemen
some excellent brandy?

No, thank you.

How can a man who has lost so
much money still be so cheerful?

What is money for, Sergeant?

If you will not
join me in a drink,

perhaps you'll join
in a game of bruja?

Well, I have a dependable
life that satisfies all my needs.

Why should I risk it gambling?

I would be delighted...

Diego, here's my chance
to make up all the losses.

It is your chance
to lose everything.

I'll lose it anyway. Without
the herd, with no income,

I can't hold the rancho past
the next tax assessment.

I won't live off the pity
of my father's friends.

Look at the way he handles
cards, he's a professional.

You forget, my friend,

I've had some slight
acquaintance with gambling myself.

See you later.

Another bottle.

Clara, later, when you finish work, then
will you sit with me for a little while?

I will not sit with you now,
I will not when I'm finished,

not tomorrow or the day after.

For the last time, I will
not sit with you at all!

I will finish what I
was saying later.

You are finished before
you have started, Sergeant.

(LAUGHING) Well,
you're making progress.

I remember when she would
not even speak with you.

I've been following your advice.

At any rate, I've
been taking exercises,

but I do not seem
to get any thinner.

What about those
other things I told you?

What other...

Oh, you mean about
not to eat so much?

Or to drink so much.

Oh, I do not drink so much.

Only a little now and
then to aid my digestion.

(SCOFFS) What a digestion.
He's had two dinners already tonight!

I am a big man! My
father was a big man!

My mother was a big
man! We are all big...

I mean... I get hungry.

(SIGHS)

Well, perhaps you
better stop the exercises.

They give you an appetite.
Would you excuse me one moment?

I see you have considerable
skill with cards, Senor.

It must take practice.

Skill is something
one is born with.

Oh, uh, I imagine you played
well when you were a child.

I do not know about
your skill, Ramon,

but someone once told me
that brandy and cards do not mix.

Oh, would you tell me something?

I do not really
understand this game.

Is the object of this game to get
several cards that are the same?

Please. We must concentrate.

Oh, I imagine it takes quite a
bit of concentration to play this.

Did you know something else?

That the Arabs
brought cards to us?

Arabs don't have any
bearing on this game.

Well, actually, I should not have
said Arabs, I should have said Gypsies.

The Gypsies brought
cards from Egypt.

They used them to tell fortunes
before they were a game.

I do not care who invented
the game, I only play it.

Well, I was not
speaking of the game,

I'm speaking of the cards
themselves. Do you know something?

Very few people realize that "Gypsies"
is a corruption of the word "Egyptian."

Well, it's obvious these cards have
nothing to do with your fortune, Ramon.

Talking all the time!
Who can concentrate?

Perhaps Senor Urista would like
to continue this game tomorrow?

Your friend suggests you
are no match for an expert.

Under such
circumstances, of course,

I will be glad to
call off the game.

I am perfectly
capable of playing.

Also, he is no longer my friend.
Diego, would you please go!

All right.

Senor.

Please deal. I double my bet.

Don Diego, take
some wine with us.

Thank you. You're buying wine?

With Don Diego as my guest,
they dare not refuse me credit.

I shall buy the wine.

Ah, gracias, Don Diego.

Clara! Wine for Don Diego.

Ah... What a woman.

You know, Don Diego,
I am still a young man.

It is the time of life that I should
get married and settle down,

but no woman will
take me seriously.

It's not fair, Don Diego.

Maybe I am a little
bit overweight...

Ha!

You know what they say, a fat
man has a good sense of humor.

With a stomach like yours,
you need a sense of humor.

You are addressing
your Comandante!

All right, Sergeant.

Sergeant? Don
Diego, it's no use.

To my own men I'm
only a little sergeant.

A big, fat sergeant.

Well, Sergeant, perhaps
the mistake in your thinking

is you think of
yourself as a sergeant.

You must think of yourself
as the Comandante.

A man is what he thinks.

That is philosophy, Don Diego?

I am what I think?

I think I am the Comandante!

♪ I'm Comandante of the pueblo

♪ I am because I think so

♪ Every inch a handsome soldier

♪ Trim of hip and
broad of shoulder

♪ How do you know?

♪ Because I think so

♪ Ho-ho! Because he thinks so

♪ I am the man
who'll capture Zorro

♪ I am because I think so

♪ Though the Fox is very wily

♪ I'll pursue him, oh, so slyly

♪ How do you know?

♪ Because I think so

BOTH: ♪ Ho-ho!
Because he thinks so

♪ Now, in battle I have
won so many medals

♪ That my chest can't
hold another single one, I fear

♪ The only kind of medal
that you'll ever get will be

♪ For terrific speed
in running to the rear

♪ I am the man
the ladies love so

♪ I am because I think so

♪ Senoritas can't resist me

♪ They're my slaves
once they have kissed me

♪ Now, is that so?
Because he thinks so?

♪ No, no

♪ Not till he shrinks so

ALL: ♪ No, no Not
till he shrinks so! ♪

No!

Wait, please. Give me
a chance to get even.

You have some more money?

You have everything,
11,000 pesos!

I would like to oblige you, but if
you have nothing more to wager...

I have something else.

Clara, bring pen
and paper quick.

Ramon, go home.

You learned a lesson.
Accept it, go home.

I accept nothing. Quickly.

You have some
additional security to offer.

I do. The deed to
the rancho Santil.

I'll bet it against
everything I have lost.

Against 11,000 pesos? But
your home alone is worth that!

One.

Four kings.

Two, three,

four, six of swords.

And the five.

Good evening, Senores.

It has been most pleasant.

May I ask, Senor, what you
intend doing with the rancho Santil?

Yes, you may ask, but I am
not prepared yet to answer.

Forgive me, Senor, but you do
not have the look of a ranchero.

And you do not have
the look of a Comandante.

Sergeant.

Poor Don Ramon.

What will he do now?

There is not much you can do

when you bury your father
and your future on the same day.

MAGISTRATE: It is true,
the spring on the Santil rancho

controls the water
of all your lands.

My cattle have been sickened!

And mine. Urista has
poisoned the water.

Senor Urista has decided to erect
a tannery for leather on his land.

The mission tannery has always served
us. It's an excuse to pollute the water.

My sympathy is with
you, but the law is the law.

There is nothing I can do.

The question is, Your
Excellency, what can we do?

Unfortunately, nothing.

Senor Urista tells me he must
continue to dump the residue

from his tannery
into his spring.

His! The water
belongs to all of us!

That is true.

My father never considered
it to be his property.

Unfortunately, Senor,
your father is dead,

and Senor Urista, it would
seem, is a businessman.

He tells me he is in
the market to buy land.

You mean, by denying us water,

he hopes to force
us to sell our land?

Ramon, you fool,
you spineless fool!

Look what you have
done to all of us.

Ramon may have hurt us,

but remember, gentlemen,
he lost everything he owns,

a considerable punishment.

Since the king's magistrate does
not intend to defend us against Urista,

there is no point
in this discussion.

Senores, please, please
understand my position.

I represent the law.

The law states explicitly
that Urista owns the land,

the land controls the water
and the law controls us all.

Diego. Thank you.

Thank you for trying to help me.

Drive on.

(SLASHING SOUND)

Yes. I'm afraid only Zorro
can solve this problem.

I have another
assignment for you,

but we must not
be seen together.

Meet me at the east corner
of the cuartel in three minutes.

I will be there.

Zorro!

Don't move, Senor.

Zorro!

What do you want?

Please, do not
let us disturb you.

We are going to
play a little game.

Game?

Senor Urista's an expert at
cards, he's giving us a lesson.

Get a chair, please.

Yes, Senor Zorro.

Be seated, please.

Might... Thank you, Sergeant.

Who are you?

A fellow gambler.
Shuffle the cards.

Sergeant.

There is a reward of
5,000 pesos for his capture.

And the promotion. What?

For me, promotion to
permanent Comandante.

Do something.

That is enough.

I am not sure what
impression this little bullet

will make of that huge stomach
of yours, but I'm willing to find out.

And now I suggest you play
one hand with Don Ramon.

For what stakes?

The deed to the rancho Santil and the
11,000 pesos you cheated him out of.

Against what do I
stake such a prize?

Your life, Senor.

You mean if I win, I...

Precisely. You die.

ZORRO: A valuable prize
makes the game more exciting, no?

Now, I will cut.

One moment, Senor.

Your fingers are
too agile. I will deal.

Where are the rest of the
men? Bugler, sound assembly!

You want to give
him warning, idiot?

Now, move out. I want
that tavern surrounded.

I warn you, if Zorro escapes,
I'll have the neck of every man!

Yes, Senor
Magistrado. Follow me!

Cards, Senores?

No.

Four.

Send half your men around
behind the tavern. Cover every exit.

And keep them in
the shadows. Go!

Lancers, follow me.

All right, Senores.
What cards have you?

Pairs. Fives and threes.

What cards do you hold, Senor?

You win, Senor.

As I promised, Senor
Urista has given us a lesson.

I think, perhaps, he has
given himself one too.

You can use the money, but what
can an outlaw do with the rancho Santil?

Perhaps you and
I can make a deal.

I would be glad to
make a deal with you.

If, in two hours,

you are within five miles of
the pueblo de Los Angeles,

I will kill you!

Since you are leaving,
you won't need the cattle.

We'll buy them back.

They're all placed, Excellency.

Good. Break down that door.

You have your land
and your cattle back.

Now I make a deal with you.

You will work the
rancho Santil for one year.

If I find that you have gambled,

it will be the last card
you turn, is that clear?

It is clear.

Thank you, Senor Zorro.

(THUDDING)

And you, Sergeant,
stay away from wine.

Ha!

(GRUNTS)

I warned you to
stay away from wine.

Lancers, up the
stairs! After him!

There he is! Take him alive!

I want him stopped!

(SCREAMS)

MAGISTRATE:
Forget him! Get Zorro!

Get Zorro! After him!

Zorro, the building
is surrounded.

You can save trouble
by giving yourself up.

After him. Get
a ladder, quickly.

I advise you to go back.
It's dangerous up here.

MAGISTRATE: Hurry
up! Don't let him get away.

Idiots! He's getting
away! There he goes!

(MEN SCREAM)

MAGISTRATE: He's trying to
get out at the rear. Follow me!

You, up the
ladder. Hurry, hurry.

Stop him!

If he escapes,
you'll pay for it.

Every one of you will pay!

DIEGO: Excellency!

Did you see that? I
was nearly run down.

It's not safe in this pueblo.

I have no time.

I do not wish to tell
you your business.

But something should
be done about it.

Something will be done!

Sergeant, speak to me.

Are you all right?

See if this will revive him.

Water? Would you
drown me, woman?

What is all this
commotion about?

This used to be
such a quiet town.

Don Diego, thank
heavens you were not here.

(GROANS) Oh, it was
terrible, Don Diego.

I had Zorro trapped when
my idiot soldiers interfered.

It is not easy being
Comandante. I know, Sergeant.

You must have
your troubles, but...

What a mess. Ah!

However... Excuse me.

We do have a
bottle of brandy here.

Don Ramon, join me in a drink?

No, thank you. I have
a lot to do. Good night.

Good night.

Senor Urista, will
you have a drink?

Thank you, no. I
am just leaving town.

Well, I do not think you
will refuse me, Sergeant.

No, Don Diego. Someone
warned me to stay away from wine.

But brandy is not wine, is it?

NARRATOR: Next
week, a scheming imposter

assumes the role of Comandante
to terrorize the rancheros,

and extort more
money for the Eagle.

Does our new Comandante agree
with this treatment of our rancheros?

The new Comandante is here to
bring law and order to Los Angeles.

NARRATOR: Join us next week
when the Walt Disney Studio presents

stirring adventure and
action in the life of Zorro!