Don’t worry, Sergeant, I believe a higher authority than the Alcalde will soon allow you to cool down! 
- —— Don Diego
Appearing in "Liquid Gold"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Don Alejandro de la Vega
- Toronado (Zorro’s Horse)
- Sergeant Mendoza
- Felipe
- Julio
- Victoria Escalante
- Madre de Dios mentioned
- Devil mentioned
Antagonists:
- The Alcalde ( Luis Ramone)
- Alcalde’s men
- Lopez
Other Characters:
- Farmers and citizens
Locations:
- Pueblo of Los Angeles
- San Francisco mentioned
- Ideaverse
Items:
- Sword of Zorro
- Whip of Zorro
Vehicles:
- Horse and buckboard
Synopsis for "Liquid Gold"
The opening scene, Don Diego is in jail with Mendoza guarding him. He recounts the recent events that put him there. There had been a drought and people were coming to the fountain in the Pueblo for sufficient water for their animals and sustenance. The Alcalde wanted to tax the people for the water. Don Diego warns this would result in a rebellion and bloodshed. The Alcalde took that as a threat from him and had him arrested.
In the interim, Don Alejandro introduced Julio as assistant to the governor, and he played the part well. He actually is an actor and made the Alcalde believe that he should not tax the water, and should release Don Diego as well. They were at Victoria Escalante‘sTavern, and the discussion that they had was overheard by Lopez. They were discussing how Julio was an actor, and that he probably should get out of town quickly before the Alcalde found out that he had been played the fool. Lopez took this information to the Alcalde for a pittance of gold.
As Julio is leaving town, Mendoza and the soldiers pursue him, but Zorro had already arrived and help divert them away from Julio. Mendoza, in his clumsy pursuit of Zorro, fell backwards into some water, which would eventually turn out to be the source of the fountain in the Pueblo. Within a short period of time the water was damned up and the fountain no longer flowed in the pueblo, but the Alcalde magnanimously offered free water to all the citizens. As Don Diego and Felipe went out to evaluate the situation, they found out that Mendoza was going to charge a tax for them to cross the land for the free water.
Meanwhile, back at the Zorro cave, Diego is making apparently some gunpowder, and he and Felipe, then discuss the plot of a rebellion in town within the hearing of Lopez. Lopez again takes the information to the Alcalde, who had troops stationed guarding the water source on the his land. The Alcalde asked them to come back to the city, leaving only Mendoza and a few men to protect the water source. In the dark of night, Zorro easily sneaks up on them, as they had just been discussing that perhaps Zorro was the Devil himself. He quickly subdues the few soldiers and Mendoza has trouble finding his rifle. Zorro finds the source, and where it had been dammed up. Mendoza fires a bullet towards Zorro, and with great trepidation communicates to Zorro, in a garbled fashion, not to move. Zorro warns him that he is close to some explosives about to blow the damn, but he does not believe him. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured, but he did have a long walk back to town.
Everyone is glad to see the water flowing, and the Alcalde is looking for Lopez, who is already headed out of town as Don Diego arrives. After walking most the day, Mendoza shows up as well, and Diego says that perhaps a higher authority would allow Mendoza to cool off, and with that it began to rain.
Notes
- Story by Friedman, adaptation by Rimmer.