The Mark of Zorro

1
  Oppression - by its very 
nature - creates the power
that crushes it. A champion
arises - a champion of the
oppressed - whether it be 
a Cromwell or someone
unrecorded, he will be there.
He is born.

2
  In California, nearly a
hundred years ago, with
its warmth, its romance,
its peaceful beauties, this
dread disease, oppression,
had crept in.

3
  Then - out of the mystery 
of the unknown - appeared
a masked rider who rode
up and down the great
highway - punishing and
protecting and leaving upon
the vicious oppressor.

4
THE MARK OF ZORRO.

5
  "In an evil hour - for no
cause -- that man beat a
native and maimed him
for life. Now he bears the
mark of Zorro."

6
  "This Zorro comes upon
you like a graveyard
ghost and like a ghost he
disappears."

7
  While in the north 
of the province, the
governor -- greedy,
licentious, arrogant -

8
  "This Zorro poses as a
protector of the poor and
breeds rebellion. Order
out my troopers. I'll go
to the South myself -"

9
In the hut of a native -

10
  "I tell you - Se�or Zorro
is our only friend -"

11
  At the hacienda of 
Don Carlos Pulido -

12
  "The governor shows no 
mercy. This order will strip
us of everything save the 
house -"

13
  "If I were only a man -
I'd ride the highway like
this Zorro -"

14
Sergeant Gonzales -

15
  "It's a good thing for that
carver of Z's that he keeps
out of reach of my sword.
I'll carve Gonzales all over 
his body."

16
  Don Diego Vega - lately
home from Spain -

17
  "Did I startle you,
sergeant?"

18
"I hoped it was Zorro."

19
  "Fetch me a pot of 
honey -- and serve
wine to everybody."

20
"Don Diego is my friend."

21
  "Why so eager to meet 
this - ah - Zorro?"

22
  "See, caballero, what
he does to my beautiful
soldiers."

23
"Where is he?"

24
  "He was in Capistrano.
He may be anywhere --
everywhere. Who can tell?"

25
  "He is in Capistrano,
se�or. In the morning
I go with my troopers
to capture him."

26
  "Is it true he always
makes fools of your
soldiers?"

27
  "Here's to any early
meeting with Zorro -"

28
"- and a short one."

29
  "I detest swords and
bloodshed - but - to rid
our beautiful country 
of a menace is a noble
deed."

30
  "Zorro knows the deeds
you do before you think
them - takes any shape he
wills -- appears through
keyholes!"

31
"I shall have that reward."

32
  "If you are so anxious 
to meet him, pick on a
priest or a native and -
presto! Zorro!"

33
  "Tell that to Zorro - with
my compliments!"

34
  "Keep your sword, 
Gonzales. You'll have 
use for it."

35
  "Sergeant Gonzales, I
am at your service."

36
  "The first man who 
moves from there gets
this!"

37
  "Pardon me, sergeant,
your boot."

38
  "I ask you - how can I
fight him if he will not
stand still?"

39
  "Justice for all! Punish-
ment for the oppressors
of the helpless - from the
governor down."

40
  "Break in the door. We
have Zorro in here."

41
"Open that door!"

42
  Bernardo who can hear
but cannot speak -

43
  "Oppression will grow
less, Bernardo. Could I
but enlist the caballeros
in this cause, perchance
'twould end -"

44
  "My father here - at this
time of night! There's some
ill brewing. Detain him."

45
  "You've been back from 
Spain three months - shut
up here in your house --
idle - bloodless -- without
ambition -"

46
  "The family name must 
be perpetuated. At least 
you are rich enough to 
win you a wife."

47
  "No girl will ever 
marry me -"

48
"- for my money."

49
  "Bosh! I've written the
Pulidos that you will pay
your addresses to their
daughter to-morrow. They
have good blood and the
governor has made them
poor."

50
"Have you seen this one?"

51
  "Don Diego comes this 
morning - the letter said.
He is the greatest catch
in the country. Such a
son-in-law will mend my
fortunes."

52
  "My father insists that I
get married. It's an awful
nuisance - but I suppose 
one must please one's 
father."

53
  "I have a servant -
a wonder at the guitar.
To-night I shall order 
him to come out and
play beneath your
window."

54
  "I have a maid -
passionately fond of 
music!"

55
  "I shall invite you and 
your parents to occupy 
my town house while I 
am away at my hacienda. 
You will see how richly 
it is furnished."

56
"Have you seen this one?"

57
  "I think I've said 
everything. I'll run 
along now."

58
  "You will honor my 
house with a visit?"

59
  "He isn't a man -
he's a fish!"

60
  Some ten minutes 
elapse, when -

61
  "Zorro! To secure his 
arrest will win the 
governor's favor."

62
  "Race to the presidio
and tell Captain Ramon
that Zorro is here!"

63
  "Once, in a garden I
saw a beautiful rose -"

64
  "I sought to pluck it -
quickly. It stung me -"

65
  "Then -- slowly --
cautiously - I reached
for it -- and the rose
was mine!"

66
  "Indeed! Then I'm but
another rose?"

67
  "Ah, no, se�orita. You
are too wonderful! I dare
not even hope."

68
"If this could be -

The high Sierras I would level
  to your feet -

The wild waves on Capistrano's 
  shore should pay you homage -

I'd make the desert a million roses
  yield -- to die in shame before
  your beauty -

If this could be!"

69
  "Zorro - at my master's
house!"

70
  "Your swordsmanship?
Where did you learn the 
blade?"

71
  "In Spain, se�orita,
where there are no 
eyes like yours."

72
  "They say you ride as 
if you were part of your 
horse!"

73
"Oh, such lips!"

74
  "Turn not away. Your
face is heaven - all else
is blackness!"

75
  "Why do you wear 
a mask?"

76
  "Perhaps to hide 
the features of a 
De Bergerac!"

77
  "The troopers! Se�or,
you must go at once!"

78
  "Captain Ramon leads.
I hate him - and I fear
him."

79
  "Have no fear of Ramon.
My soul's in arms and eager
to serve you."

80
  "He fled at the first 
sound of your horses' 
hoofs!"

81
  "Have you decided to 
accept my love, se�orita?
I have waited long for 
my answer."

82
  "To the speedy capture 
of Zorro."

83
  "I'll capture him -
and I'll make short 
work of him!"

84
  "Is it not true that
Se�or Zorro defends
the weak?"

85
  "Bah! He should die.
He goes about frightening
children and insulting
women!"

86
"The troopers!"

87
  Some ten minutes 
elapse, when -

88
  "We seek the vulture,
Zorro!"

89
  "You're too fat, Gonzales.
Poison the mountain tops
and set your traps in the
clouds - perhaps you'll have
better luck."

90
  As planned, the Pulidos
visit Don Diego's town 
house during his absence -

91
  "- and all this magni-
ficence is yours when 
you say the word, my
daughter."

92
  Hopeful of saving the 
small remnant of their
possessions, the Pulidos
go to the presidio to
plead their cause before
Captain Ramon -

93
  "The young lady's 
duenna is absent.
It will be better if
the se�or calls at
another time."

94
  "Captain Ramon, your 
visit at this time is an 
intrusion."

95
  "Beauty should not 
be cruel!"

96
  "I demand that you
leave - now!"

97
  "The daughter of a man
so out of favor with the
governor should be more
friendly - to the governor's
friend."

98
"Apologize!"

99
"Adios, se�orita."

100
  "I - give you - freely -
the kiss he would have 
taken."

101
  "I fear for your safety,
se�or."

102
  "Fear not - their wits 
are as slow as their 
blades."

103
  "The weapons you use
pierce deep, se�orita."

104
  When morning came life
seemed lovelier to Lolita
and romance beat high
as she told the tale of
Zorro's coming.

105
  "I trust you have been 
comfortable."

106
  "I am very much fatigued.
I spent a wretched night at
Fray Felipe's."

107
  "The troopers came
there and turned the place
topsy-turvy searching for 
this fellow, Zorro."

108
  "Captain Ramon came
here during our absence
and forced his attentions
upon our daughter!"

109
  "It is an insult, Don
Diego, that should be
wiped out in blood!"

110
  "So many unpleasant 
things happen -- it is
most fatiguing."

111
  "It is a matter for 
the sword!"

112
  "Don Carlos is so
excited - he confuses 
me. Perhaps you -"

113
  "I think my father has 
made it sufficiently plain!"

114
  "It was very wrong 
of Captain Ramon to 
affront you."

115
  "I think - after my
siesta - I shall ride up
to the presidio and -
rebuke him."

116
"Have you seen this one?"

117
  "It desolates me that the
se�orita does not look with 
favor on my suit. What
shall I say to my father?"

118
  "Do not give up hope, 
caballero."

119
  The governor's cortege
arrives in the South -

120
  "All this is my domain
and I will be supreme in
authority. Let those who
oppose me beware -"

121
      OPPRESSION

  The good priest, Fray
Felipe, is falsely accused
of swindling a dealer in
hides -

122
  "If I were the supporter
of a licentious governor - my
hides would have been good.
I am a robed Franciscan -
therefore I am guilty."

123
  "For the swindle you shall
receive five lashes across
your bare back -- and for
your words of treason --
ten lashes more."

124
  "More treason! You inter-
fere with the governor's
officers in the performance
of their duty. His Excellency
shall hear of this!"

125
  "When the night is 
blackest, leave one of 
these at the door of
every caballero in the 
pueblo!"

126
  "Call to the magistrado
that he is wanted outside!"

127
  "Caballeros, as loyal
supporters of my admi-
nistration, I call upon
you to help capture
this insolent dog!"

128
  "It's adventure. Let's
do it for sport!"

129
  "Don Carlos Pulido is at
the bottom of this. He and
his family abet this rascal
at every turn."

130
  "Arrest them - throw
them into jail. I've had
quite enough of these 
blue-blooded Pulidos."

131
  At the home of Don 
Diego's father -

132
  "Se�orita Lolita has
refused me."

133
  "We pursue Zorro. Don
Diego's servant saw him
headed this way."

134
"I haven't seen him."

135
  "Pardon the intrusion -
we'll be on our way."

136
  "You know my cellars, 
caballeros. I trust you will
accept of my hospitality."

137
  "We never let business
interfere with our drinking!"

138
  "Se�ores, you will 
pardon me if I retire.
The journey from the
village has fatigued
me."

139
  "I am more ashamed 
of you to-night than 
ever before."

140
  "I'm sorry, father. Late 
hours weary me."

141
  "I sent him to Spain 
to be educated and his 
blood turned to water."

142
  "You idlers! You wasters!
You fashion-plates! You sit
and sip your wine while
the naked back of an un-
protesting soldier of Christ
is lashed with the whip!"

143
  "You -- who boast the
blood of Aragon and the
inheritance of Castile --
make merry while, all
about you, injustice
seethes!"

144
  "The heaven-kissed hills 
of your native California
swarm with the sentinels 
of oppression! Are your
pulses dead? Thank God,
mine is not - and I pledge
you my blood's as noble 
as the best!"

145
  "No force that tyranny
could bring would dare
oppose us - once united.
Our country's out of joint.
It is for us caballeros, and
us alone, to set it right!"

146
  "This man speaks true
and to his cause I pledge
myself -- so help me
heaven!"

147
"Justice for all!"

148
  "Good! And now, my
friends, for reasons known
to me, my name must be
my secret. Adios -- until
we meet again!"

149
  Accused of treason, the
Pulidos, under military
arrest, are brought to jail -

150
Just before dawn -

151
  "I fear it will help 
my cause but little
to be rescued by you,
se�or."

152
"I know your case. Go!"

153
"You trust me, Se�orita?"

154
  "To love is to trust,
se�or."

155
  "Remember - they are to
be taken to Don Alberto's
and you are to return to 
the plaza -- pronto! I'll
remain in the rear and
draw off pursuit."

156
  The troopers, forewarned
by Ramon to be on the 
alert -

157
  The caballeros and their 
rescued prisoners near the 
home of Don Alberto -

158
"Where is Lolita?"

159
  "I give you a safe rule, 
good landlady. Never do
anything on an empty 
stomach - but eat!"

160
  "Do not be afraid. Don 
Diego is my friend."

161
  "Watch for the return 
of the caballeros!"

162
"I protest this intrusion!"

163
  "So there you are. Where
is your lover?"

164
"I protest -"

165
  "You couldn't win this 
woman for yourself -- and 
your house is a rendezvous
for her and her bandit 
lover!"

166
"I know that blade!"

167
  "Get to your feet. This
time you'll wear your mark
where all can see!"

168
"ZORRO!!"

169
"Zorro!"

170
"Zorro - my son!"

171
"It's Zorro!"

172
  "Here your abuse
of power ends. Every
Californian of noble
blood stands with
me -"

173
"Wha - what shall I do?"

174
  "Abdicate - get out of
the country - and take
this skunk with you!"

175
"Justice for all!"

176
  "I'm with you - and
I'll cut the ears off
any soldier of mine
who isn't!"

177
"Till I need you again!"

178
  "You talk - you fight -
you look like Zorro!"

179
"And I love like Zorro -"

180
"Have you seen this one?"

THE END