Héctor Armienta’s ZorroSynopsis
1811: The embers of revolution in Spain have begun to spread to New Spain. Diego de la Vega, a trained swordsman, must now return to his childhood home in Alta California. It is there that he will be forced to choose between the power that he was born into as a young man of Spanish nobility or the righteous power of the poor and enslaved. At last, he will discover his true destiny and the name of Zorro will be forever etched in stone and in legend (or memory)…
ACT I
Spain
The action begins within the Mountain Fortress of the Order of Zazueta. A scholarly student named Diego trains to become a master swordsman and a skilled marksman. One fateful day, his enlightened master puts him to a final test by master students. He defeats them all and Zazueta carves a letter “Z” into his upper arm and sends him back to the place of his birth in Alta California. There it is said he will find his destiny and give the order a new life.
Reina de Los Ángeles (outskirts of the pueblo)
The poor are working in the fields. They lament their tragic lives, but still cling onto hope for a better day.
The Plaza
Diego arrives from his long voyage and enters the plaza. He encounters Carlota, whom he was once romantically involved with while in Sevilla, Spain. Ana Maria, Diego’s childhood friend, appears (much to Carlota’s dismay). Diego promises to catch up with her later in the day. Carlota takes Diego to meet the new alcalde (mayor), General Moncada.
Moncada’s Office
General Moncada is torturing a young man. Sergeant Gomez enters and announces to Moncada that he has guests. The prisoner is removed and Gomez leaves after he escorts Diego and Carlota inside. Through their conversation, Carlota quickly learns that Diego and Moncada were once friends at a military cadet school in Spain. Afterwards. Carlota invites Diego to the masquerade ball the following evening. He promises to attend, and they both leave. Gomez enters the office with a letter from the viceroy, giving Moncada full permission to enforce the brutal el sistema de castas.
The Plaza
Gomez enters as two of his soldiers bring him Don Francisco, a local drunk whom they’ve arrested. Gomez and the soldiers complain about their uneventful life, but hope for a better future.
A Street in the Pueblo
Ana Maria and Luisa, a servant, have finished giving food to the poor. Luisa is saddened by the people’s desperation, but Ana Maria holds hope that revolution will come to Alta California. Luisa leaves. Unbeknownst to Ana Maria, Diego enters. She finally sees hims, and they reminisce about their childhood together. Diego gives her a gift (a handkerchief) he brought from Spain and invites her to the masquerade ball, but she firmly reminds him that mestizas are not welcomed at such lavish social events.
Diego tells her that the hacendados (land owners), like his deceased father, will never change and that there might be a better life for them somewhere else, but Ana Maria tells him that she could never leave those that need her the most—the poor. He becomes upset with her and leaves, but tells her that he hopes she will still join him at the ball. Ana Maria accidentally leaves behind Diego’s handkerchief, and Carlota, who was hiding in the shadows, enters and takes it with her.
Courtyard of the De la Vega Estate (the same day)
The scene opens with Toypurina, who has been taking care of the estate since Diego’s father passed away. She is knitting. Luisa complains about her dreary life. She dreams of one day meeting the right man. Diego enters, and Luisa leaves. Diego asks how his father died. Toypurina tells him that they said it was a heart attack, but she believes evil forces were to blame. She shares with him that in his last years he understood the plight of the poor and left Diego a sword to wield in the name of justice.
Montage Scene
As the annual masquerade ball approaches, Diego, Moncada, Carlota, and Ana Maria contemplate what the future might hold.
Masquerade Ball in the Plaza (evening—the next day)
The hacendados and their wives are dancing and enjoying the evening’s festivities. Carlota enters and looks around the plaza hoping to see Diego, but she cannot find him. Luisa soon spots Sergeant Gomez and finds that there is instant chemistry between the two of them. Diego, dressed in costume, arrives at the ball and walks over to Ana Maria. They interact, but she is completely unaware of this masked gentleman before her.
The guests, including Ana Maria and Diego, perform a fiery flamenco dance titled El Zorro. When it concludes, Moncada arrives. Diego momentarily disappears. Moncada announces his plans to bring “order” back to Alta California. One of the soldiers brings in a tortured prisoner. Ana Maria yells, “asesino” and Diego (now dressed in full costume as Zorro with sword in hand) enters. A fight ensues. Before Zorro leaves, he makes the mark of “Z” on the plaza wall.
ACT II
Reina de Los Ángeles (outskirts of the pueblo and in the plaza)
As Moncada’s terror reigns, Zorro continues to come to the aid of the poor. With each new victory, he leaves the mark of “Z” behind. The scene opens as Diego/Zorro joins forces with Ana Maria to defeat soldiers that were chasing her. The two have a flirtatious exchange and Zorro professes his undying devotion to her. She admits her mutual attraction, but tells him that her heart belongs to another. He leaves the scene and changes back into his regular clothes.
Ana Maria sees Diego and asks him where he was at the masquerade ball the other night when her life was in peril. He tries to kiss her, but the conversation shifts to Padre Hidalgo, the father of Mexican independence. As they discuss the revolution, they profess their love for one another. Diego promises to take her away from the madness around them later that night. He tells her to wait for him at the old chapel.
Moncada’s Office
Moncada reprimands Gomez for failing to capture Zorro. Carlota tells him that he won’t be found and that the poor adore him and despise the general for his abject cruelty. A soldier enters and hands Moncada a note. He reads it and leaves it on his desk. When Carlota asks what it says, Moncada reveals they have found Ana Maria’s hiding place.
Summoned by Moncada, Diego enters. Suspecting that Diego is Zorro, Moncada challenges Diego to a fencing duel and accuses him of being Zorro. With all his might, Moncada attacks. Diego, aware that he cannot reveal his true identity, allows Moncada to injure him. Bewildered and confused, Moncada leaves in disgust.
Carlota tends to the wound, and Diego shares that he is in love with Ana Maria. Trying her best to hide her true feelings, she wishes him happiness. Diego leaves. Devastated, she weeps for the long lost love that never was to be. She picks up the letter Moncada had left on his desk and decides to warn Ana Maria. She’s unaware that Moncada was secretly watching her from afar.
Gomez’s Bedroom
Luisa and Gomez confess their passion for one another. She imagines a life of leisure with new clothes and shoes that do not have holes in their soles—a life where they both rub elbows with high society. They promise to love one another forever and build a life together.
Outside the Chapel
Carlota pounds on the chapel door. Ana Maria opens it, and Carlota tells her Moncada is coming to arrest her. Carlota begs her to leave with her, but Ana Maria is waiting for Diego.
Carlota confesses she still loves Diego. She pulls out the handkerchief Ana Maria dropped earlier and gives it to her. Ana Maria promises to always be true to Diego and agrees to leave with her. They both go inside the chapel.
When Ana Maria goes into the chapel to fetch her belongings, Moncada arrives. As he advances towards her, Carlota warns him that she will destroy him if he harms Ana Maria. The general touches her cheek, and she slaps him hard—scarring his face with her ring. He says that he will forgive this minor indiscretion if she agrees to marry him and be his prized possession; however, she refuses, and he takes out his dagger and stabs her while kissing her violently.
Ana Maria reappears and runs to Carlota’s aid. She grabs the dagger to attack him, but Moncada overpowers her. She drops her weapon, and Moncada makes it clear that he will blame her for Carlota’s death. Moncada takes her away. With her own blood, Carlota writes Moncada’s name on the handkerchief.
Diego and Toypurina arrive to find Carlota dying with the handkerchief in her hands. She gives him the cloth, and he reads what she wrote on it. Carlota requests that he look at her one last time, so that she might see her reflection in his eyes. Then, she dies. He vows vengeance, but Toypurina calms his anger and tells him that his destiny is to bring hope to the people.
The Plaza (at dawn)
Tortured, bruised, and battered, Ana Maria stands in front of a firing squad. With Sergeant Gomez looking on, Moncada falsely accuses her of the murder of Carlota de Obragón, but Ana Maria remains defiant. The general asks Gomez to do the honors. When he refuses, Moncada orders that they both be put to death. A small group of peasants arrive in the plaza. Zorro appears holding the bloody handkerchief with the name of Carlota’s assassin. Zorro shouts, “This will all end today!” A great battle ensues. Moncada is wounded, but he attacks once more before he is fatally pierced with the sword. Ana Maria is saved. Zorro lives to fight another day and defend the oppressed.