Zorro 2.38 - Senor China Boy

Plot: Diego and Bernardo are in town, relaxing outside, as they observe Tomas Gregorio, merchant, return with a wagonload of goods from San Pedro. He also has a stowaway, who is eventually captured by Sergeant Garcia and Corporal Reyes. Unfortunately, their prisoner is a young Chinese boy, and no one present, including Diego, speaks Chinese. However, Bernardo is able to communicate enough for the boy to indicate that he was a prisoner. As to why, he writes a note, which none of them can read. Garcia feels he has no choice to place him in a cell, though he tries his best to make it a comfortable stay. Diego is trying to translate the note, with limited success, and has Bernardo take a copy to Padre Ignacio, who must have spent time in China.

The padre is indeed able to translate some of it, but by then, a Mister Vinson, first mate on a ship from Shanghai, has arrived in town, and he claims the boy is a murderer. The boy is, obviously, unable to speak in his defense, so Garcia reluctantly turns him over to the brute. Fortunately, Bernardo observes all this as he prepares to return to Diego and is able to let him know, as well as present the padre's translation. Which says the boy is a prince being held for ransom. While Bernardo delivers that note to Sergeant Garcia, Zorro heads Mr. Vinson off at the pass. Though the sailor makes a determined attempt to split Zorro's skull with a tree limb, he ends up falling to his death off a cliff. Zorro departs as the lancers arrive, and soon enough, Garcia has all his soldiers out to see off Prince Chia Ch'ing in the proper fashion. The prince is kind enough to be understanding of the sergeant locking him in a cell.

Quote of the Episode: Garcia - 'Imagine, royalty in my jail.'

Times Zorro Marks a "Z": 1 (15 overall). On Vinson's jacket, before the guy falls to his death. Some people just don't know how to quit while they're ahead.

Other: No "baboso" this week, but Garcia did call Reyes stupid. Which isn't true at all. Reyes was clever enough to tell Garcia, 'Corporals never go first,' when they were pursuing the prince into Gregorio's warehouse. I'm surprised that line of reasoning worked, though.

Diego knows German and French in addition to Spanish, and I guess he must also know English since he was able to speak with Joe Crane. I can't really see Joe knowing Spanish.

The most interesting part of the episode was that James Hong plays the prince. Hong, of course, has been in hundreds of roles, from Big Trouble in Little China, to the Adventures of Brisco County Jr, to, well, take your pick. He doesn't get to do much here, other than be sad and frantic. Which are understandable reactions for his character, but since they have to play up the fact no one in Los Angeles can actually communicate with or really understand him (save the padre, who doesn't actually meet him until the end), it's hard to convey a lot to the audience.