Appearing in "Engagement with Death"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Don Alejandro de la Vega
- Toronado (Zorro’s Horse)
- Sergeant Mendoza
- Felipe
- Victoria Escalante
- Mother of Don Diego mentioned
- Francesca de la Pena
Antagonists:
- The Alcalde
- Gomez and his vaqueros
- Henry Bishop (Mentioned)
- Ramirez
- Impersonater of Francesca (dies)
Other Characters:
- Towns people
Locations:
- Pueblo of Los Angeles
- Hacienda of Alejandro de la Vega
- Ideaverse
Items:
- Sword of Zorro
- Whip of Zorro
- Pistols in Duel
Vehicles:
- Stage Coach
Synopsis for "Engagement with Death"
The Alcalde has been summoned to come testify on the trial of Bishop for his recent murder, and Mendoza is left in charge. Zorro thinks it is a quiet night. Suddenly, he hears a scream, and thinks a damsel is in distress, but she asked him to leave her at her consort Ramirez alone. As Zorro assumes his identity of Don Diego at his Hacienda outside the Pablo, Alejandro, his father, mentions a lady,Francisca, is coming to visit. They’ve been corresponding for five years. When Don Diego sees her get off the stage coach, he realizes it’s the same lady he met the night before, and knows she is not who she says she is.
Francesca appears much younger than the sketch that she had sent earlier, and Don Diego expresses his concern. Don Alejandro tells Dan Diego that it was difficult losing his mother years ago. Don Alejandro seems smitten with the younger version of his penpal. In the meantime, Gomez and his vaqueros have come to the Pueblo and are looking to have a good time, and Mendoza tries to have them arrested, but essentially Mendoza is left to fend for himself against the vaqueros. Felipe is in the square and comes out to the hacienda to tell Dan Diego of the need for Zorro. Zorro discusses a plan with Felipe to help expose the plans of Francesca and her co-conspirator before this charade goes too far.
Zorro arrives to the Pueblo and dispatches Gomez and his vaqueros and tells them worst things would happen if they did not clean up their mess. After they were leaving Gomez meets Ramirez and they seem to form an alliance. Back of the Hacienda San Diego learns of a rather hurried marriage engagement, but offers a celebration at Victoria Escalante’s tavern before the wedding. At the pre -wedding party Mendoza is there, as well as Gomez and some of his vaqueros. Zorro changes into the clothes that Felipe had brought for him. Zorro tells Don Alejandro that Francesca wanted to marry him so that he could be killed and his property would go to her. She denies this, but her co-conspirator Gomez confesses to this. There’s some underhanded sword fighting, and Gomez gets a few, forced parries with Zorro, but in the end, at sward point Ramirez confesses to the killing of the real Francesca. He pulls out a concealed Derringer from his shirt sleeve and points it at Zorro, but Victoria yells at him, and as he ducks the bullet hits the Francesca impersonator in the heart.
Dan Alejandro grieves his lost Francesca, and Victoria wonders if her and Zorro will ever have opportunity for a longer relationship. Zorro assures her that when he could take off the mask they would. He leaves a heart inscribed with the sign of a Z in the middle of it on the wall of her tavern.
Notes
- Story by Lansbury, script by Rimmer.