PRESENTING SENOR ZORRO
Prod. 5850-004
Bob Wehling/Norman Foster
April 4, 1957

   FADE IN:

1. EXT. CALIFORNIA COAST - DAY - LONG SHOT  (STOCK)
   
    A sailing ship approaches the coastline. Over this,
    SUPERIMPOSED:
                        SPANISH CALIFORNIA
                                1820

                                                        DISSOLVE TO:

2.  INT. CABIN - DAY - MEDIUM

    A small cabin with two port-holes. The bunk, in f.g., is
    cluttered with wardrobe, books, a sword, and guitar. Half-
    opened trunks and luggage fill the cabin. Movement is
    simulated by CAMERA and shifting sun from port-holes.

    Bernardo, a mute wearing the short jacket of a Spanish
    mozo, is peering out of a port when Diego de la Vega
    enters. Diego is a dashing young caballero, dressed in
    conservative Madrid fashion.

                        DIEGO
            Andale, Bernardo - haven't you
            finished packing yet? We'll be
            going ashore soon.
                (Bernardo kisses his
                    fingers, indicating
                    pleasure at the view.)
            Yes, California is beautiful.
            Many times I have dreamed of this
            homecoming, but I'm afraid things
            have changed since I left. We are
            in for trouble, Bernardo.

3   BERNARDO

    He looks questioningly: pantomimes feathers, war-whoop
    and bows and arrows.

4    DIEGO

    Laughs:
                            DIEGO
                No, not Indians - politicos. A few
                corrupt officials using their authority
                for personal gain. Conditions must be
                very bad for my father to summon me
                home.
______________________________________________________________________
Prod. 5850-004                                                       2.

5   TWO SHOT

    Bernardo takes the sword, fences and thrusts an imaginary
    politician through the heart.

                                DIEGO
                        Ah, the direct approach: just
                        what my father expects. No, no
                        Bernardo - that is exactly what
                        we must not do. Any open show
                        of resistance would endanger my
                        father's life.

                               (Bernardo's expression
                                    says "What, then?")
                        You know the old proverb: "When
                        you cannot clothe yourself in a
                        lion's skin, put on that of the
                        fox."
                                (Bernardo nods)
                        No one must suspect why I have
                        returned.

    Diego removes his jacket and puts on a very ornate one,
    during:
                                DIEGO
                        Hide the sword beneath the books.
                                (Diego holds up trophies)
                        Yes, all those trophies and medals
                        too. Instead of a man of action,
                        I shall be a man of letters - a
                        harmless scholar.

    Picks up a large book and opens it, striking a pose, disclaims:

                                DIEGO
                        "If I held in my hands the darts of love,
                        Then all the world would fall in love with you."
                                (Bernardo enjoys it;
                                    points eagerly to himself.)
                        Oh, you also wish to be something
                        you are not?
                                (Bernardo nods)
                        For instance?
                                (Bernardo puts fingers
                                    in his ears.)
                        You want to pretend you cannot hear?
                        An excellent idea. You shall be the
                        eyes and ears behind my back. From
                        now on, you not only cannot speak -
                        you hear nothing.

                                                                (CONTINUED)

______________________________________________________________________
Prod. 5850-004                                                           3.

5       CONTINUED

        A knock at the door, then a Voice calls:

                                    VOICE
                            Boat going ashore.

                                    DIEGO
                            Thank you.
                                (turns to Bernardo, who
                                  just stands there.)
                            Didn't you hear? Hurry and
                            finish packing.

    Bernardo merely looks innocent. Diego starts to panto-
    mime to him, catches himself, and takes him by an ear.

                                DIEGO
                        Not when we're alone, you imp.
                        Now, pack!

6 EXT. PLAZA OF LOS ANGELES - DAY - EXTREME LONG SHOT

    A comprehensive view described in "Zorro with Two Z's."

    A stage coach, with Diego's luggage tied on the top, drives
    around the plaza. It is hot and dusty. Vendors nap at
    their puestos; an oxcart lumbers by. Instead of passing
    through the pueblo, the stagecoach turns and heads for
    the cuartel.

7. EXT. GATE OF CUARTEL - DAY - MEDIUM FULL

    The driver pulls the horses to a stop near the gate, where
    two soldiers stand guard. Diego pokes his head from the
    coach window.

                                DIEGO
                    Cochero - why are we stopping here?

    The driver jumps down, as CAMERA TIGHTENS SHOT.

                                COCHERO
                        Another new ruling, patron. All
                        vehicles passing through Los
                        Angeles must be inspected.

                                DIEGO
                        How long is this going to take?

______________________________________________________________________

Prod. 5850-002

77 CONTINUED

                                GARCIA
                        Forgive me, my Capitan -

        A wailing breaks out across the courtyard.

                                TOLENDANO
                        What is that?

                                GARCIA
                        The prisoners in the cell.

        points o.s.

78 CELL DOOR ACROSS COURTYARD  

        Ragged and miserable-looking men, mostly Indians, wail
        loudly.

79 TOLENDANO AND GARCIA

        Tolendano is furious.

                                TOLENDANO   
                        What are they making all that
                        noise for?

                                GARCIA
                        They wish to be fed.  It is
                        not yet time.

                                TOLENDANO
                        Tell them to shut up or they'll
                        get nothing. But first, show me
                        to my quarters so I can change!

        CAMERA FOLLOWS as Garcia leads the way to the office door.

80  INT. COMMANDANTE'S OFFICE - DAY - MEDIUM

    A desk with chairs and bench, a rack of muskets, a picture of the King.
    Tolendano looks around disdainfully.

                                GARCIA
                        Your living quarters are in
                        there.
                            (points through door)
                        You'll find it very comfortable.

                                TOLENDANO
                        That I doubt. Where is my baggage?

                                                                (CONTINUED)
______________________________________________________________________
Prod. 5850-002                                                           19.

80 CONTINUED
                                GARCIA
                            On the way, my Capitan.

                                TOLENDANO
                            Come in and pull off my boots.

        Garcia follows him into the adjoining room.

81. INT.  COMMANDANTE'S SLEEPING QUARTERS  - DAY

        A single bed, sabers on the wall, a table with a bowl.
        On the street side, a high, narrow window. Tolendano
        scowls at the furnishings, sits on the bed, holding
        out a muddy boot. Garcia tries to pull it off facing
        him.

                            TOLENDANO
                        Baboso! Turn around.
                            (Garcia does, straining
                                to pull boot off.)
                        Harder!

        Garcia puffs and pulls. Tolendano shoves with his other boot
        on Garcia's backside. Garcia reacts.

                                GARCIA
                            Please, I am very sensitive.

                                TOLENDANO
                            You are an idiot. You lead me
                            into a river of mud -permit a lone
                            bandit to escape - and now you can
                            not even remove my boot!

        Garcia jerks hard, pulling the commandante on the floor.
        Tolendano sits there, doing a slow burn. From the court-
        yard comes the wailing of prisoners again. Tolendano
        jumps to his feet.

                                    TOLENDANO
                            I told you to silence those animals!
                            Silence them!

                                    GARCIA
                            They won't stop until they're fed,
                            my Capitan. Shall I feed them now?

                                                                (CONTINUED)
_____________________________________________________________________
Prod. 5850-002                                                           20.

81 CONTINUED

                                TOLENDANO
                            Not now nor later! I'll teach
                            them to be quiet. Take them out
                            and have them flogged, every one
                            of them.

                                    GARCIA
                            Flogged?

                                    TOLENDANO
                            Thirty lashes. In the plaza,
                            where everyone can see. Im-
                            mediately!

        Sadly Garcia salutes and sadly he exits.

                                                                DISSOLVE TO:

82 EXT. PLAZA - NIGHT - ANGLE AT CORNER OF CUARTEL

        The sereno, carrying his lantern, comes down the side
        street to the corner. (A sereno is night-watchman and
        town-crier.)
                                SERENO
                        Nine o'clock and stormy weather
                        approaching!

        CAMERA PANS him past the plaza where a few townspeople
        have gathered, looking at something o.s.   Garcia enters
        SHOT.
                                GARCIA
                        Clear the streets. By order
                        of the Commandante. Clear
                        the streets!

        The townspeople mutter but move away. CAMERA FOLLOWS
        the sereno as he continues his rounds, revealing the
        six prisoners hanging by their wrists from a log sup-
        ported by two posts in front of the cuartel wall.
        Their bare backs show the marks of the lash. Everything
        is silent now. The sereno looks shocked by what
        he sees, but goes on.

83  MEDIUM AT GATE 

        Two guards stand on either side, coming swiftly to
        attention as Capitan Tolendano comes out. The
        commandante now wears a clean, elegant uniform,
        then struts like a fighting cock. Garcia enters, salutes.

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