The Fall of Monastario

Season 1 - Episode 13

Airdate: 1/2/58
Starring: Guy Williams (Zorro and Don Diego)
With: Britt Lomond (Capitan Monastario), Henry Calvin (Sergeant Garcia), Gene Sheldon (Bernardo), Lisa Gaye (Constancia), John Dehner (Viceroy)
Directed by: Norman Foster
Teleplay by: John Meredyth Lucas. Based on the Zorro Stories by Johnston McCulley
Associate Producer: William H. Anderson
Music: William Lava
Art Director: Marvin Aubrey Davis
Photography: Gordon Avil, A.S.C.
Film Editors: Roy Livingston, A.C.E., George Gale, A.C.E.
Set Decoration: Emile Kuri, Hal Gausman
Costumer: Chuck Keehne
Make-up: Pat McNalley
Sound: Robert O. Cook
Fencing master: Fred Cavens
Unit Manager: Roy Wade
Assistant Director: Vincent McEveety
Production Coordinator: Louis Debney
Production #5863

The Story Line

Monastario has seen through Diego's attempts to disguise his fencing ability and plans his arrest and trial. He confronts Diego with the charge that the latter is secretly Zorro, an accusation the young don tries to laugh off. This time, however, Diego's charm fails to sway the commandante, who orders Diego held until he can be tried. The capitan's delight is cut short when he learns that the Viceroy, an agent of the King, will arrive that day for an inspection tour of the pueblo.

Desperate to hide the true conditions of his regime, Monastario orders all of the prisoners except Diego freed and that free wine be served at the tavern. The peasants are ordered to line the streets and welcome the Viceroy, who is surprised at this reception. He tells Monastario that he has heard rumors of unrest and cruelty, but he's delighted to see they are untrue. A smiling Monastario thanks the Viceroy for his confidence and promises another surprise - the arrest of Zorro.

That night, Diego is led into the tavern and denounced as the outlaw, a charge that astonishes the Viceroy. To Monastario's surprise, the Viceroy greets Diego as an old friend and is openly skeptical of the charge. Diego asks the Viceroy to indulge him in a small favor by asking the commandante to temporarily leave the room. When the protesting capitan returns, he sees a man dressed as Zorro whom he positively identifies as Diego, only to see the real Diego step out of hiding.

Disgraced before the Viceroy, Monastario attempts to prove that Diego is really Zorro by forcing him into a duel. Diego's childish efforts at defense convince the Viceroy that Monastario is wrong, and he orders the fight stopped. Monastario's downfall is assured when Zorro suddenly rides into the plaza seemingly proving that Diego is innocent of the crimes Monastario has charged him with. The Viceroy orders Monastario and his henchman, Piña, arrested and places Garcia temporarily in charge.

Cleared of the charges against him, Diego joins Bernardo for a celebration and a "thank you", for it was his loyal servant and friend who had dressed as Zorro and rode into the plaza.

Production Notes

  • The working title of this episode was The King's Emissary.
  • Actor John Dehner, who played the Viceroy, was a former Disney animator who worked on Fantasia and Bambi.
  • Stuntman Buddy Van Horn has an uncredited role as the lancer who is ordered to dress as Zorro. Than Wyenn (Licenciado Piña), Eumenio Blanco (Alcalde), and Nestor Paiva (Gonzales) also appear in this episode but are not in the credits..
  • This is the only episode in which Diego does not ride as Zorro.

Scene Images

A quiet morning in the pueblo
Another day begins in the pueblo as the citizens go about their business.
Diego has been arrested
This will not be an ordinary day, though, for Monastario has had Diego arrested and brought into town.
Garcia doesn't believe Diego is Zorro
Monastario proclaims that Diego is the outlaw Zorro, much to Garcia's amusement.
Diego is worried
Diego is not as amused, and he worries about this sudden turn of events.
Monastario gets word the Viceroy is coming
Monastario is interrupted by a courier who brings word that the Viceroy, an agent of the king, will be arriving shortly for an inspection visit.
Diego seems happy with the news
For some reason Diego doesn't appear worried to learn about the visit. In fact, he seems happy.
Monastario decides to impress the Viceroy
Never one to miss an opportunity for self promotion, Monastario decides to use the Viceroy's visit to his own advantage.
The jail cells are emptied
He orders Garcia to free all of the prisoners so they can welcome the Viceroy to the pueblo - after they get free wine at the tavern to put them in a better mood.
Bernardo is worried
Bernardo is surprised at all of the activity in the pueblo, and is worried that he can not find Diego.
The Viceroy arrives
Just then the Viceroy arrives in town with a special military escort under orders from the governor.
The Viceroy is impressed with the happy crowds
The Viceroy tells Monastario that he is pleasantly surprised at how happy everyone lining the streets seems to be.
Monastario is interested in the Viceroy's daughter
Monastario barely hears him, focusing his attention instead on the Viceroy's attractive daughter.
Monastario tells Diego he will be unmasked that night
While the Viceroy is resting from his trip, Monastario tells a surprisingly relaxed Diego that he will be unmasked as Zorro at a party that evening.
The party starts off well
The party is a success, with the Viceroy enjoying a fine dinner and lively entertainment.
Monastario has a surprise
As the party ends, Monastario says he has one more item of entertainment planned.
Zorro is led into the room
Diego, dressed as Zorro, is led into the room and meets the astonished Viceroy.
Monastario reads the charges against Zorro
Monastario then summarizes the charges against Zorro as Diego stands silently by his side.
Zorro is unmasked
Monastario pulls off Zorro's mask, shocking everyone when they see the prisoner is Diego.

Scene Images

The Viceroy doesn't believe it
Perhaps no one is more surprised than the Viceroy. It seems Diego is an old friend and went to school with his son.
Monastario is shocked
Monastario is astonished at this unexpected development, but Diego seems quite happy about it.
Monastario looks for support
Realizing the Viceroy doesn't believe him, Monastario asks the others in the room to positively identify Diego as Zorro.
Only Pina agrees
Interestingly, the only one who supports him is Piña.
Monastario tells Garcia of his plans to marry the Viceroy's daughter
Diego convinces the Viceroy to have Monastario step outside for a moment. There, the commandante talks of his hopes to marry the Viceroy's daughter.
The Viceroy asks for confirmation
When Monastario goes back inside the Viceroy has him confirm once again that the masked figure is really Diego.
Diego has a surprise
Monastario again asserts that the masked man is Diego - but Diego then leaps up from behind the bar.
Monastario is speechless
Monastario is astonished at this turn of events, and for once, is momentarily speechless.
The fake Zorro is revealed
The Viceroy reveals that he has had one of the lancers dress as Zorro to test Monastario's ability to accurately identify the outlaw's identity.
Monastario demands that Diego confess
Furious at being ridiculed, Monastario demands that Diego confess to being Zorro.
Monastario challenges Diego to a duel
When Diego refuses, Monastario challenges him to a duel.
Monastario wins the duel
Unable to show his skill with the sword, Diego is defeated by Monastario, who threatens to kill him if he does not confess.
Zorro arrives outside
Just then Zorro surprises everyone - including Diego - by riding boldly into the center of town.
Bernardo to the rescue
The masked rider tosses a note attached to a knife, saying he was sorry he missed the party.
Monastario challenges Diego to a duel
Once again it was Bernardo to the rescue, for it was he who had ridden as Zorro.
Monastario wins the duel
With his earlier suspicions about Monastario now confirmed, the Viceroy orders the arrest of the commandante and Piña.
Diego thanks Bernardo
No longer under suspicion, a grateful Diego thanks Bernardo for helping bring about the downfall of Monastario.
Garcia is put in charge
Before he departs, the Viceroy puts Garcia temporarily in charge of the pueblo. The happy sergeant immediately orders a holiday to celebrate.

Publicity Photos

All captions are from the Disney syndication publicity kit. Click on the photos for larger versions.

Monastario strikes a pose

Spanish Viceroy of Monterey (John Dehner) and his attractive daughter, (Lisa Gaye) arrive at the scene of the mysterious Zorro's activities against official tyranny.

Zorro heps Alejandro

Suspicious of Commandant Monastario (Britt Lomond) and his vicious use of official power, the Spanish viceroy of Monterey (John Dehner), left, puts him on the spot, along with his fellow conspirator (Than Wyenn).

Monastario strikes a pose

Don Diego (Guy Williams) gives the villainous Monastario (Britt Lomond) a lesson in swordsmanship.

Preview of this episode

"Next week, Monastario gambles all in one desperate effort to capture Zorro!"

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