In the tavern, Diego and Garcia discuss Toledano’s efforts
to get information, and the sergeant admits he can’t return to the barracks
with that merchant waiting, since he can’t pay the sum until he captures Zorro.
Diego suggests imitating Zorro, by climbing over the rear wall, and volunteers
Bernardo to assist. The three procure a ladder and head out, but just as Garcia
reaches the top of the wall on the outside, so do the two prisoners on the
inside. With one double-handed blow to the top fellow’s head, Garcia stops them
both. The following day, at the de la Vega home, we learn Alejandro was gored
in the leg by a bull, and is most displeased to be laid up, losing at chess to
Diego. The Dr. Aguila (in whose pharmacy the secret meeting last week took
place) comes out to check up on him, and mentions the two prisoners were found
poisoned in their cells this morning. The Magistrado conducted an investigation
already, and ruled it suicide. Back in town, we see Toledano discuss his
problem with Garcia, and vow to crack the code behind the eagle feathers.
Unfortunately, he announces this in front of Figueroa as well, who is shining
his boots. Then he orders Garcia to bring in all the lancers who were on duty
the night before for questioning.
That’ll have to wait, because Zorro’s come a calling,
sneaking in through the Captain’s bedroom window, and then handcuffing and
gagging him so he won’t call for help while Zorro explains what he knows. Too
bad, Figueroa arrives with some wine. Zorro beckons him in, perfectly
imitating Toledano’s voice, then tells the lancer to drink the wine, which he
can’t bring himself to do. Before Zorro can interrogate him further, Garcia
arrives with all the lancers, and Figueroa calls for help. Zorro is forced to
flee, and Figueroa tries to use the confusion to escape, though Toledano tells
Garcia to pursue the lancer, rather than the outlaw. No need, Zorro run downs
Figueroa handily, and sticks him in his lair. Then we learn the Magistrado has
called a special meeting at the tavern to discuss the matter. Alejandro will be
attending, but Diego begs off, so Zorro can bring Figueroa along. At the
meeting, Senor Alacon (the mustachioed fellow who has been working with
Gallindo lately) arrives with several of his men, all armed. The blind man
stands outside, and the magistrate orders the doors barred. The meeting begun,
he claims to have uncovered a plot against the community, and he’s discovered
the leader: Captain Toledano. He then uses poor Garcia against the captain, as
Garcia can testify he found Toledano in his office with Zorro and Figueroa, and
that the captain told him to abandon chasing the former to pursue the latter.
Alacon’s men are ready to kill Toledano, on the pretext of
his being a criminal, and when Garcia tries to defend him, he gets a bottle
over the head. Which just leaves Alejandro, and Figueroa, who comes in through
the storeroom, a sword at his back courtesy of Zorro. He pins the blame on the
magistrate, and gets shot by the same. At which point it all goes nuts.
Toledano and Zorro fight Alacon and his men, Zorro even lending his sword to
the soldier at one point. Alejandro stops Gallindo from fleeing, but is nearly
killed by the blind man, who snuck in. Instead it’s the magistrate who catches
a sword between the ribs, and Alacon soon shares that fate, courtesy of Toledano.
Then the captain even returns Zorro’s sword, and lets him leave, despite
Garcia’s belated attempt as he gets his wits about him and pursue.
Quote of the Episode: Magistrado – ‘Any man who uses his
position of trust to rob and murder as Captain Toledano has done deserves no
mercy from the people he has cheated!’
Times Zorro marks a “Z”: 1 (12 overall) On the storeroom
door of the tavern.
Other: No babosos this week, but Garcia called Bernardo an
idiota, which one, he’s trying to help you, sergeant. Two, as far as you know,
he can’t hear you, but it’s still mean, and three, Diego is standing right
there, and might not appreciate you berating his servant. Though of course
Diego finds the whole thing terribly amusing.
I can’t believe Toledano is taking the cost of the debt from
Garcia’ pay. He caught those prisoners for the captain – twice! That ought to
result in a reward at least big enough to cover any silly little debt the
sergeant might have to a merc – hmm, maybe not. I wonder if even the reward for
Zorro (which I feel like has gone up again) would really cover it. Oh well, so
the sergeant enjoys his food and his wine, so what? It’s the early 19th
Century, and he’s a poor soldier in the army of a crumbling power. He already
has the risk of catching a bullet or a blade, not to mention cholera,
dysentery, tuberculosis, smallpox, who the hell knows what else. To make
matters worse, he’s in a place rife with conspiracies and ruthless killers, and
his best chance of survival is an outlaw who sometimes seems to preserve his
life only because he enjoys laughing at him. I’m just impressed he doesn’t
drink himself into a stupor out of depression, frustration, or sheer terror.
I’m a little surprised that Toledano would leave his bedroom
window open, given Zorro’s penchant for sneaking into his cuartel whenever he
pleases. Perhaps he’ll reconsider that habit, now that he’s seen Zorro imitate
his voice. Good thing his wife is staying at the tavern.
I thought it was funny Alejandro wanted Diego to come to the
meeting, and take an interest the affairs of the community. Seems every time
Diego does that, Alejandro tells him to butt out. Perhaps he has blood
poisoning from his wound and it’s messing with his brain.
So, the Magistrado’s actions at the end of the episode. On
the one hand, good job using the truth – that there’s a conspiracy afoot to
destabilize the community – to make your accusations sound more real, then
throw all the blame on a potential threat. Then let Alacon and his men appear
to be worked into a frenzy at this “revelation”, and kill in a fit of righteous
fury. But then he shoots Figueroa for tapping him as the ringleader. Meta
level, I know this was so none of the heroes are guilty of killing an unarmed
man, but Figueroa can be seen to receive punishment for his actions. In-story,
it puts me in mind of a Hercule Poirot mystery. You know, Poirot explains
everything with some convoluted and fairly ludicrous answer, and the guilty
party breaks down and confesses, rather than, you know, demanding Poirot
produce some real proof. Gallindo has already accused Toledano of being in
cahoots with Zorro and Figueroa, and here the two of them are, pointing the finger
at the Magistrado instead. Oh how convenient the timing for Toledano, and that
the finger is leveled at the man trying to bring his crimes to light. What a
clever ploy, why, the Magistrado wishes he’d thought of it himself *looks back
and forth shiftily*.
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