Caray, Caray!

While the slave traders discuss whether they want Garcia or just Esme, Esme asks Olmos why he is doing this and who paid him. He tells her that she knows why – she and her mother are a danger to the Crown of Spain and the who is Duke Jacobo (DJ), the real power in Spain who rules without a crown by controlling the Queen like a puppet.

DJ comes to visit Montero and Pizarro and tells them that Zorro got into the Queen’s chamber and spoke to her about SK. DJ says that this Zorro seems to know everything and he plans to tell it all to the Queen. Montero is impactado and Pizarro has a kind of rueful smirk.

Alej tells Diego that he has noticed that Diego has changed. He no longer reads poetry and does magic tricks for ladies all night. Diego says that his love for Esme changed him. Alej agrees and says that Diego now acts like an honorable and brave man: he withstood being tortured by Montero and learning about how his mother died. Diego responds that he can do much more. Alej tells him that one person can’t take on Montero and FS. He seems to be on the point of telling Alej that he is Zorro when Bernardo gives him the zip your lips sign. Diego tells Alej that Montero’s injustices have awakened the beast in him and he is going to make them pay. Diego leaves and Alej tells Bernardo to keep an eye on him – in his state, Diego is liable to do some crazy thing.

Montero tells DJ that Zorro is no ordinary criminal. He’s a trained soldier, an excellent swordsman and has more modern weapons than Montero’s men. DJ asks how a low-life criminal could have these qualities and Montero replies that he believes that Zorro studied in the best military academies in Europe. “And you don’t have any idea who he is?” asks DJ. Montero tells him that they have some suspects but are still investigating. DJ tells Montero that Zorro plans to visit the Queen the next night and tell her the rest of the truth about SK. Montero had better stop him or his military career and his life is over.

In the fox cave, Diego asks himself what has Zorro turned into? He can’t stop thinking about Esme, her eyes, her presence. He tells Bernardo that Esme was his universe and then she was ripped from his arms. They killed her and Zorro couldn’t do anything. The worst thing, he tells Bernardo, is that he can’t accept that she is really dead.

Olmos tells Esme and Garcia that if Esme disappears that is good enough for DJ. Basically, I guess he gets paid by DJ and then makes a little more selling Esme and Garcia to the slave traders and they will end up far away and eventually dead. Olmos tells the slave traders to do anything they want with Esme and Garcia but when they don’t want them anymore, they should kill them. The slave traders give Olmos some money and they lead Garcia off protesting and Esme zombie like.

Cut to AC and Renzo in a clinch. They are not sure it’s love but they need each other. AC is concerned that she isn’t a gypsy but Renzo tells he not worry about it. Gypsies are free and they understand love better than anyone.

Cut to Camba singing and dancing in the woods with little pine branches. All of a sudden his former fight promoter and his henchmen attack him from behind and beat him unconscious. The Don King of old LA wants his talent back in the ring.

Laisha, Azucena and Honas come to tell the lovebirds that Camba has disappeared. Moreover, the slave traders have been seen in the area and there were signs of violence where the gypsies found Camba’s necklace. Renzo and AC want to search for Camba but Honas is concerned that it is too dangerous and too late. Laisha has heard that the slave traders have a ship in port and are ready to sail. “Then you’re not going to do anything?” asks AC. Renzo looks pained.

Esme and Garcia have been taken on board the slave ship and they get to meet a new horrible person, Danny Gluck, the boatswain. He tells them, “I give life and take it away. To me you are just meat and I am a carnivore.[This works better in Spanish because ‘carne’ means flesh and carnivore is the same as in English.] Welcome to hell.” [Olmos has a lot to answer for here. Based on the way the slave traders are looking at Esme, it would have been better if Montero had just shot her.]

Selenia tells Olmos that she fulfilled her part of the bargain. Mangle is feeling better and she want to see Olmos and will treat him in a whole new way. Olmos has doubts and Selenia is offended and tells Olmos to pay her the rest of the money he owes her. He tells her that he won’t pay until he is knows the potion has worked. Selenia agrees and tells Olmos that the potion is like a spark – he has to fan it into a flame. Olmos tells her that he has plenty of the hots so that shouldn’t be problem.

FS’s henchman tells him that his men have caught the man they were after and are holding him. FS goes to see him alone. Cut to the hacienda where Don Alfonso’s friend, Manuel, has come to tell MP that Alfonso has been captured and taken away by men who weren’t soldiers. MP asks Manuel if he knew who the men were and Manuel thinks that they work for FS. MP asks Manuel to wait while she changes. They have to go to town. Alfonso’s life could be in danger.

On the slave ship, Esme and Garcia are moving cargo around under the watchful eye of the guards. A voice says , “Camba” several times. Garcia asks Esme how she is feeling and she tells him that she is sure that God has kept them alive for a reason. “Positive thinking, that’s good,” says Garcia. Esme seems quite animated. She says that she is free on this ship and far away from the man who killed her son – Montero. She believes that God will give her a chance to avenge herself on all those who have hurt her [a pretty long list]. Garcia devoutly hopes God arranges this. The evil boatswain orders them back to work and the camera pans to show Camba lying unconscious on some sacks. I guess the fight promoter sold him to the slavers.

DJ comes to see the Queen and tells her that Zorro is a bandit of the worst kind; guilty of robberies, attacks on the military and is suspected of killing a royal official. “This bad man you are describing is totally unlike the man who came to see me last night,” says the Queen. [Of course, the Queen is not a very good judge of character though because she trusts DJ.] The Queen insists on meeting Zorro because he has information about her family and his eyes are sincere. DJ appears to agree to the Queen’s wishes.

Diego is holding baby Alej during yet another thunderstorm in LA. We switch to a long shot of slave ship, sailing under clear skies. All the sailors run around putting up the sails. Thunder and lightning starts – a fast moving storm, I guess. Esme and Garcia try to help Camba.

MP and Manuel are unsuccessful in getting FS’s henchman, Prudencio of the giant floppy hat, to tell them where Alfonso is. Manuel suggests telling Alej but MP thinks she knows where Alfonso is being held.

Alfonso is in a barn full of straw and lit candles – a good combination. FS comes in and tells Alfonso that MP is his and that’s it. FS asks Alfonso what his intentions are towards MP. Alfonso refuses to answer and FS hits him. Alfonso does not appear to be a very good fighter. FS ask him again what he wants with his woman. This time Alfonso tells him that he wants to marry MP. FS hit him again.

Montero ask Pizarro how Zorro could have gotten into the Queen’s quarters without any of his soldiers seeing him. Pizarro says that Montero knows Zorro’s abilities. In response to Pizarro’s practical question about how they are going to keep Zorro from repeating his visit to the Queen, Montero orders Pizarro to search neighboring houses, roofs and the area. There may be tunnels that go into the Queen’s rooms. Pizarro agrees and leaves and Montero says that Zorro will see the surprise he will have waiting for him.

FS tells Alfonso to leave town or he will become worm food. In comes MP and tells him to stop. “Do you want me to hate you more?” she asks, “You are a beast!” MP apologizes to Alfonso. He tells her that they are a couple and FS can beat him up every night and he’ll always stay by her side.” FS starts beating on him again and MP screams how much she hates him and orders him to get out. Manuel thinks Alfonso needs a doctor but MP says that she will take of his wounds. MP apologizes over and over to Alfonso.

Lying in bed with his crying baby, Diego dreams and rehashes about when PT warned him against Zorro seeking vengeance and the moment when Diego almost told Alej that he was Zorro. Suddenly, there is a flash of light and Diego hears Esme asking him to help her. Diego sits up – was it a dream? It felt so real.

We seem to be having a storm on the ship. I guess the budget didn’t run to a moving platform so the ship-set is rock steady while the sailors stagger about.

Renzo tells AC that God will protect Camba. She says that Camba is an innocent person. Renzo says that sometimes Camba is a gentle guy and sometimes he’s out of control. AC tell Renzo that Camba is possessed by the same evil force that possessed her. Renzo says that he doesn’t believe in those legends but AC assures him that it’s true.

On the ship, Esme gives Camba some water. Evil slave trader comes up and kicks it away saying that this isn’t an inn. The slave guy snatches Esme’s medallion. Esme tries to get it back. Then the devil takes over and Camba breaks his chains as if they were tin foil. He attacks the slave trader. During the struggle, the ship catches fire.

Montero comes to see FS who says that he is busy because his daughter just gave birth. Montero hasn’t heard about this. He tells FS that he needs some of his men to bring the shipment of weapons that he bought in Mexico into the City. It appears that Montero is setting a trap for Zorro by having his men bring in a false shipment while the real one is brought in by FS’s men. FS agrees to the plan. Montero tells FS that Zorro got into the Queen’s chamber and spoke to her about SK. “Does she know everything?” asks FS. “No,” says Montero. Zorro is coming back to tell her more with a witness present.” FS is angry. He says that Zorro cannot be allowed to see the Queen. He agrees to lend Montero his men.

Alfonso and MP are walking in the woods. MP apologizes again for what FS did. Alfonso proposes to MP. She tells him that her long relationship with FS has left scars on her heart and she needs time. Alfonso responds that maybe now is the time to make a decision.

Olmos comes to see Mangle. He has doubts that what Selenia told him was true. He knocks. Mangle tells him to come in and we see what she sees – a non hunchbacked bald guy. He’s not exactly handsome but better looking than Olmos, that’s for sure. To Olmos’ joy, Mangle tells him how much she wanted to see him. When he kisses her hand, he tells himself that Selenia was right – the potion worked, it worked!

Apparently, MP had never introduced Alfonso to Alej in the six months that they have been seeing each other. Now that he is going to ask MP to marry him, Alfonso meets Alej. He asks Alej’s permission to marry MP while FS enters the room behind him.

Diego asks the barmaid if she has seen Garcia. She says that she hasn’t seen him for several days. Agapito comes up and tells them that there has been a terrible tragedy. A ship loaded with slaves burned and sank with no survivors. At this moment, an old guy staggers up and collapses. When he reaches down to help the man, Diego sees that he is wearing Esme’s medallion. Diego is impactado. “No puede ser,” he says.

On a beach covered with flotsam and jetsam, is Esme, alive. She thanks God for sparing her life so she can continue her path of vengeance.

The credits roll.

Labels: Zorro