QUEEN OF SWORDS SYNOPSIS
103 HONOR THY FATHER

WRITTEN BY: Durnford King
DIRECTED BY: Brian Grant

Rockin' episode where Tessa finds a man who knows the true about her father's death at the same time a shaman needs to honor his own father's memory when his death mask is stolen.

GUEST STARRING
RAMON CAMIN as Raul
GAEL GARCIA Bernal as Churi

This episode opens at night in the country, a close up of a skull on a table and a soldier rummaging through a large bag containing jewelry. He tells another, "It's all here. Montoya will be pleased." The soldier opens the bag farther to reveal a gold etched ceremonial burial mask shaped like the sun. He lifts it up to reveal that it had been covering a corpse's face. They're going to take the mask because, "He won't miss it."

When the camera pulls back farther, we see that the bag was in fact the burial shroud for the Indian and it was set up for cremation. A young native man jumps out of nowhere and attacks the soldier. They beat him up and leave him, taking their stash with them. The young man yells to the heavens.

CREDITS

In Santa Helena, it's a quiet and windy day. Tessa walks by a building and ducks back when soldiers and their women exit. She walks into a stables and is surprised by a man who makes her comment, "Did you eat a lot of onions for breakfast, Senor?" holding her fan in front of her face.

~~~~~

COUNTRYSIDE

A wagon with two soldiers is pulled by two horses. The young man from the teaser runs after it. The mask is locked in a wooden box in the back. The man jumps onto the back of the wagon. A soldier sees him and goes back with his rifle as the wagon keeps going. The man knocks the rifle out of his hand and punches the soldier in the gut. He tosses him off the wagon and goes for the driver, who was the one who stole the mask. Since he's an overweight man, the young virile man has no problem with him.

He tosses the box overboard and jumps off the still moving wagon. (Why did he do that? Why not take the wagon home?) Anyway, as he's trying to break the lock with a rock, the other soldier that he had thrown overboard of course shoots at him with a pistol. It jams and he crawls back for his rifle. When he aims again at the man, he's gone.

~~~~~

Back with Tessa and the man who are haggling over her need for his note and signature as proof for the Spanish court. He argues that he's a deserter and risked his life to come to California. Tessa offers reales for him to write down the name of the man who murdered her father. They're interrupted by yelling soldiers. While Tessa's facing the other way, the man grabs the money pouch and takes off. The young man runs into the stables. He hides behind a wagon as Grisham enters to see Tessa.

Tessa helps the soldiers find the man because she doesn't want them to find Raul. After Grisham leaves, she whispers and searches for Raul. She climbs up a haystack to see that there was a hole for Raul to escape from.

Later, she searches the town for him and meets up with Dr. Helm. She's in a hurry and walks on but he gets her attention with:

HELM: You didn't tell me that you're leading a double life. But don't worry, you're secret is safe with me.
TESSA: I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean.
HELM: Your new career as a crime fighter.
TESSA: Obviously the good doctor is a little confused. Too much sun perhaps.
HELM: Wasn't it you who helped Captain Grisham get his man earlier today?
She's relieved he's not speaking about her alter-ego, The Queen of Swords.
TESSA: Yes. He was a thief.
HELM: No. He was an Indian Shaman who tracked Montoya's soldier for over a hundred miles.
TESSA: He attacked and robbed two soldiers.
HELM: Who attacked his father's burial ground. He was only trying to recover the stolen artifacts. But I suppose he is just a thief. Who cares if he's beaten within an inch of his life? He'll be conscious enough when Montoya hangs him.

Helm walks away and Tessa feels awful.

~~~~~

Raul gets another punch to the face. He's tied to a chair and being interrogated by Grisham. He had been picked up because he had 10 reales on him and was running. Grisham has his men take him away, calling him a disgrace to the uniform.

GRISHAM: (While looking at a coin) Tomorrow, the hangman does double duty.

~~~~~

Montoya takes a beautiful box out of his hiding place behind his study book shelf. The ceremonial mask is already in it's place on one of the shelves.

He walks through his rose garden and courtyard with Senora Hidalgo, who is flattered for being invited. The box is already on the table when they sit down. He opens the top and she peers inside and pulls out one of the gold necklaces that the soldiers stole. He wants to give it to her, but for a price. No, not that... <g> which was Vera's assumption. All he wants is a little information. He mentions that she has fine assets. Hm...

~~~~~

NIGHT - ALVARADO HACIENDA

Tessa tells Marta that she has to get ready to go and see Raul in jail. Marta tells her that appearing to Raul as the Queen wouldn't be a great idea. Tessa just wants answers.

TESSA: Was he alone? Was he in pain? Did he suffer? Did he call my name?
MARTA: Tessa, don't torture yourself like this.
TESSA: Every day that goes by that I don't know why or who... that's torture.
MARTA: The spirit world is very close tonight.

~~~~~

JAIL

Raul is in one cell and the chanting shaman is in another. Raul yells for him to be quiet and the Shaman calls up the spirits. Wind swirls the dust of the floor of the jail. Raul is rightly nervous and goes back to his bunk. The Shaman stops and continues to rub water on his arm and chant.

~~~~~

Marta is reading the Tarot and flips over the Death card.

MARTA: Someone dies for their sins.
TESSA: Who dies? Raul?

Marta pauses.

MARTA: Do you hear it?
TESSA: Just the wind.
MARTA: A voice. Mataydem. Mataydem. (That was what the Shaman was chanting) A wounded soul crying out for help.
TESSA: Is it Papa?
MARTA: One more.
Marta turns over another card.
MARTA: The High Priestess. Mother and Spirit.
TESSA: What does this mean?
MARTA: It means you are due some divine inspiration.

~~~~~

The jailer is at the desk when Tessa, dressed as a nun arrives. He won't let her see the prisoners.

TESSA: Then prepare your soul to join theirs in the everlasting fires of hell. May God and the worms have mercy on you.

She turns to leave, but the jailor lets her in.

When they're in the cell hold, she drops something and the jailor bends over to pick it up for her and she slams her bible over his head.

Grisham walks into the front room of the jail and sees it empty. He calls for the Corporal. He finds him still unconscious and two empty cells.

The guards trap the Queen, Tessa, the Nun, whatever on horseback and they can't hit the broad side of a barn even when their nose is up against it. <g> Needless to say, she gets away without a scratch, along with Raul and the Shaman. Grisham picks up a Queen of Swords card from the ground, as if he didn't have a clue as to who the nun was.

~~~~~

The Queen, on Chico, leads the Shaman and Raul out of town. They stop to rest the horses, and only then did she realize that the Shaman had been shot in the leg. Raul thinks of him as a savage and doesn't want to help him. He takes off on horseback.

~~~~~

The jailor's not having a good time of it in town. Montoya's giving him the business.

MONTOYA: You confuse the Queen of Swords with a nun?! Are you blind as well as stupid?
CORPORAL: But, she said that God would punish me, Sir.
MONTOYA: God has punished us enough already, by giving you life. Something I may soon remedy.

Grisham rides up to say that they lost her.

MONTOYA: You will note the lack of surprise on my face.

MONTOYA: Why Raul? Hm? I can understand the savage. It would appeal to her natural sense of justice... But, Raul? A deserter and a thief?
GRISHAM: What does it matter?
MONTOYA: Everything she does matter to me.

They wonder about where he stole the 10 reales from, a sum that most of the peasants would never see in a lifetime. Yet, the crime hadn't been reported.

MONTOYA: Find the answers to these questions, Grisham. And I think we may have the Queen of Swords.

~~~~~

ALVARADO HACIENDA

The Shaman is recovering and sees Tessa sitting beside him.

SHAMAN: Angel?

She hushes him. He thinks he's a failure and she tells him he's not and that she's not an angel. He says, "Mask." Marta comes in with a basin of water.

SHAMAN: Our fathers cry for justice.
TESSA: Our fathers?

They need to get him to Dr. Helm.

~~~~

HELM'S OFFICE

(I know I won't do this justice because it's the funniest scene I have ever seen on this show. Peter is wonderful reacting to Vera. You've got to watch it again and again...)

In voice over as we see people milling about outside his office:

VERA: I have this pain, Dr. Helm.
HELM: If you would turn around, please.
VERA: No. Over here. Yes.

We're finally in Dr. Helm's office and see a big closeup of Vera's chest. She slowly unbuttons her blouse.

VERA: And shortness of breath. It flutters so fast.
HELM: And how long have you had these symptoms?
VERA: Oh, they come and go. Depends on what I am doing and how I am with.
He takes her hand and reaches for his watch on the table.
VERA: Warm hands. (Doc Helm is too good to be true! Warm hands on a Doctor??)
HELM: Just relax.

He checks her pulse.

VERA: I heard you have been busy lately. First the man who attacked the soldiers, then the deserter. What was his name?
HELM: It's normal.
VERA: Raul, I think. I hear they found 10 reales in his pockets. Where do you think he got that kind of money?
HELM: Open wide.

He sticks a tongue depressor in her mouth. That doesn't stop her from talking. He smiles and take the stick out.

VERA: I don't suppose he mentioned anything while you were treating him.
HELM: Who?
VERA: Raul. About where he got the gold. (Vera may have assets, as Montoya said when he hired her, but she sure doesn't know how to fish for information from a source that keeps a closed mouth.)

They hear a noise in the other examination room and he goes to check. He sees something, reacts to it, but we don't know what or who it is yet. He shuts the door and returns to Vera.

HELM: You can do up your blouse, Senora. You'll have to excuse me.
VERA: But my heart, Doctor.
HELM: It's nothing a little quiet time at home with your husband wouldn't cure. Good day, Senora.

He goes into the exam room and shuts the door. The Queen has brought the Shaman in.

HELM: Hell of a day. First beaten then shot. I suppose you had something to do with this.
QUEEN: If he would have stayed in prison, Doctor, he would have hung tomorrow.
HELM: Give me that cloth. (Pointing behind her) So you're solution is getting him shot, is that it?
QUEEN: He's alive.
VERA: (calling from the other room) Is everything all right in there?
HELM: Everything is fine, Senora. I'll check on you tomorrow. (He turns back to the patient) This wound is infected. Why did you leave it so long?
QUEEN: We were on the run all night.
VERA: (OS) Do I hear a woman's voice?

Helm goes to the door and she looks over his shoulder to see inside.

HELM: Senora Hidalgo, still here I see.
VERA: You naughty man. Are you trying to hide something from me?
HELM: Yes, I am, as a matter of fact. A soldier with severe intestinal dysfunction.
VERA: I see.
HELM: Obviously I'd rather spare you the odor. Not to mention the unsightly discharge. But if you insist... just be careful not to get any on your shoes.
VERA: Good day, Doctor.

When he turns back to the patient, the Queen is gone.

~~~~~

ALVARADO HACIENDA

The Queen walks in and Marta's waiting for her, sitting at the table, and smoking a cigarette. When she asks Tessa about the Shaman, she tells Marta that he's with the doctor.

MARTA: He's in good hands.
TESSA: I've never met such a smug... arrogant...
MARTA: Complicated.
TESSA: Do you want him? You can have him.

Raul is outside, looking in the window as Tessa takes off the Queen's mask. He runs away. Marta heard a noise and goes to check. She sees Raul get on his horse and ride away.

MARTA: We have a problem.

~~~~~

Soldiers race to Grisham's place, where he's shaving and a black haired woman gets out of his bed to leave. (Alert! Mandatory Grisham shirtless scene. Thought we'd actually get through an episode without one. Silly me.) The soldiers have Raul, who makes him an offer. Raul will tell Grisham who the Queen of Swords is if he lets him go.

~~~~~

HELM'S OFFICE

The Shaman awakens.

HELM: Ah. That's more like it.
SHAMAN: Where is the moon?
HELM: It's in the sky where it usually is.

The Shaman tries to sit up but reopens his wound. He asks about the mask and Helm tells him that Montoya has it, along with the other loot.

SHAMAN: The new moon grows closer. If I don't return the mask to my father's grave...
HELM: Is that what this is about?

The wind kicks up inside the room.

SHAMAN: His spirit... it sighs with sadness. Soon it will starve. Die forever.
HELM: The only spirits I know come in bottles. Men are flesh and bone. That's all they are. When they die, they die.
SHAMAN: You know that is false. But you still tremble. Why?

~~~~~

Raul is in the town square in one of those wooden shackle deals, sorry forgot what they're called. Water is splashed on his face. Montoya is there along with Grisham and soldiers. Montoya is ready to dismiss the kook who wants 50 gold pieces for the information.

MONTOYA: Do you have any idea who I am?
RAUL: One of the conspirators in Don Alvarado's murder. (You gotta give Raul credit, he's got cojones...) Just like it says in my signed confession.
MONTOYA: He lies. He can't even read.
RAUL: And in my signed confession, I beg forgiveness for helping chase down Don Alvarado, to have him shot in cold blood.

Grisham pulls out his sword.

MONTOYA: At ease, Grisham.

Grisham puts his sword down.

MONTOYA: And in this confession, it names every man involved? (Raul nods) Who has it?
RAUL: A friend. And if anything happens to me, he'll make sure it's delivered to the Royal Court.
MONTOYA: Check and mate. Talent like this should have made you Sergeant years ago.

Montoya and Grisham walk away. Grisham asks if Montoya believes it.

MONTOYA: Of course not. When a man is faced with death he will say anything. That's why torture is so unreliable.

All Grisham wants to do it kill him but Montoya thinks he may get the Queen of Swords, even if Raul was talking nonsense.

MONTOYA: Don't worry, Capitan. There's plenty of time for killing later.

Grisham releases Raul.

~~~~~

Raul brings Grisham and a soldier to the Alvarado hacienda. Grisham is ready to kill him.

GRISHAM: You're telling me that a spoiled little rich kid beat my best men?

They burst into Tessa's house. Tessa and Marta are tied up in chairs by the fireplace. Tessa tells them it was awful. She said that the Queen of Swords tied them up, furious that Tessa helped Grisham capture the Shaman.

RAUL: She's the one! She's the Queen!
TESSA: What? You saw the Queen of Swords enter my home and then you ran like a coward?
RAUL: Bitch! You know the truth. Do you want me to scream it from the hilltops?

Tessa slaps him. Marta attacks him with a silver vase. While Grisham and the guards are holding back Marta, Tessa gets a knife from her drawer and gives it to Raul.

TESSA: Take me.

He holds the knife to her throat.

RAUL: Drop your weapons or she dies.
GRISHAM: Not a chance.

Marta pleads with Grisham and he decides to lower his gun. Raul and Tessa walk out. Raul asks for the gold, but Tessa wants the secret. He'll be back for the gold later and leaves as Grisham comes out of the house. As Grisham runs to her, she times a faint perfectly so she falls into his arms. The guards shoot at Raul as he's riding off on horseback. I thought the guns could only fire once and there were only a couple of guards with guns but there were about eight shots fired.

~~~~~

HELM'S OFFICE

He walks into the exam room to see an empty bed and blood trickling down the open window frame.

~~~~~

ALVARADO STABLES

Tessa is washing Chico as Marta enters wondering how she could have chanced Raul not slitting her throat.

TESSA: Raul needs money. That's why he wouldn't kill me and that's why he'll be back.
MARTA: You have much more faith in Raul than I have.

Tessa had given all the workers the night off in case Raul came back. She lamented that she came so close to knowing the truth about her father's death.

MARTA: The truth maybe... not even the truth comes without a price.

Marta leaves and Raul appears with a gun.

TESSA: What are you doing?
RAUL: Not that I don't trust the lovely Senorita... or should I say her Royal Majesty, the Queen.

~~~~~ Commercial break

Continuation of scene. They argue over the money.

RAUL: Look at her cheeks. They're on fire. Anger looks good on you.

TESSA: What the hell do you think you're doing?

She punches him and throws a bucket of water on him and the gun. Throws a box at him and runs. He catches up to her, grabbing her hair. He forces her into the carriage and she kicks at him and flips backward off of it. When she runs, he's blocking the exit and draws his sword. She releases Chico's reins and he knocks Raul over. Tessa runs out of the stables after the horse and grabs a pitchfork.

RAUL: So, you want to know how your father died?

They spar with sword and pitchfork.

RAUL: Like a stuck pig.

Fight more.

RAUL: Begging for mercy like a little baby.

Tessa is obviously upset and attacks with the pitchfork. His sword gets stuck in the tines of the pitchfork.

RAUL: Don Raphael Alvarado died a coward.

TESSA: No!

Marta out of the house yelling her name. When Tessa turns to her, Raul swings out with the sword. Tessa is shocked that she had stabbed him with the pitchfork. He falls, symbolically on Don Alvarado's grave. Tessa moans because she had killed him and didn't get her answer and because she hadn't meant to kill him. Marta runs to them. Tessa is shaking Raul's body.

TESSA: Who killed my father! Who killed my father!

Marta holds her as Tessa cries. She stands having made a decision.

MARTA: Where are you going?

TESSA: If my father can't have justice... maybe someone else can.

~~~~~

The Queen is riding at dusk.

~~~~~

SANTA HELENA - night

The Queen rides into town.

Helm is taking a walk. Hides behind a carriage as a soldier walks by. By the time the soldier walks out of vision, Helm is behind a pillar. He climbs up Montoya's house and gets blood on his hand. He must be going in the right direction. The Shaman is bandaged and walking in the courtyard when Helm jumps down from above. Helm pulls him back to the wall and sets him down, tells him to shush while a soldier walks by on patrol.

HELM: Persistent little bugger, aren't you?

SHAMAN: You will help me?

HELM: The way I see it, I've got two choices. I either help you or watch you commit suicide.

Helm sees that the hangman's noose is hanging in the town square.

~~~~~

HELM'S OFFICE

The Queen walks in to see that the Shaman isn't there, also the blood by the window.

~~~~~

Helm has the noose in his hand as he walks back to the courtyard. He hides when a soldier walks outside to have a smoke. Helm grabs him and somehow makes the guard pass out. He just had his arm around his neck, not even touching it, but oh well.

HELM: Dream well.

He takes the noose and throws the knot up on a post of the railing of the balcony.

The Queen walks through town with her sword raised.

~~~~~

MONTOYA'S OFFICE

Helm goes through his drawers. (What a visual!) Sorry. Helm goes through Montoya's desk drawers. He realizes that the mask is probably kept in a secret room behind the bookshelf. He starts looking for the trigger. He's surprised by the tip of a sword blade tapping him on his shoulder. When the Queen turns him around, he relaxes that it's just her.

QUEEN: Let me guess. You stopped by to borrow a book?

HELM: Since when did that become a capital offense? (Looking at her sword)

QUEEN: I had to make sure it was you.

HELM: It is and I don't need any help.

QUEEN: I'm not here for you, I'm here for Chiri.

HELM: Just out of curiosity, why the hell do you give a damn about him?

QUEEN: Why has a respected doctor suddenly turned to a life of crime? I'm amazed you've made it this far alive.

HELM: Well sorry to disappoint you.

QUEEN: Do you know what you're doing?

He suddenly knows where the trigger is and lifts a book on the shelf. It opens up.

HELM: You tell me.

QUEEN: You're full of surprises, Doctor.

They walk behind and go to the room with the golden mask on the shelf with an iron gate in front of it and the rest of Montoya's loot. Helm uses her dagger to pick the lock on the gate.

QUEEN: Where did you learn to do that?

HELM: You tell me your secrets, I'll tell you mine.

QUEEN: Maybe next time.

He takes the heavy mask and leaves. When they get to Montoya's study, a guard walks in as Helm walks out of the secret passage with the mask.

QUEEN: Get down!

Helm ducks and the Queen shoots the guard.

HELM: He's DEAD!

QUEEN: But you're alive and the guards are coming.

HELM: And I'm supposed to thank you for this!?

QUEEN: Get out!

She pulls him up from where he was crouched by the dead soldier and pushes him out the door. She picks up her sword and shuts the secret passage. Montoya asks 'Who's there?' She hides behind something. Montoya comes in with a sword, looking around, walking slowly, senses something. He turns with his sword leading. His sword crashes into the Queen's.

MONTOYA: Leaving so soon?

Sword fight.

QUEEN: Apparently not.

More fighting. She gets away by overturning a chair that Montoya trips over. She jabs at a soldier with her sword in the hall by a balcony and throws him over. (So the body count in this episode is Raul, the soldier she shot, the guy she just threw over the balcony...) At the top of the stairs, she kicks one soldier and like a domino effect, about five fall back. Fights again with Montoya but slams the door between them and run out onto the balcony. Montoya rushes out.

MONTOYA: Dead by moonlight. How romantic.

QUEEN: I bet you say that to all the girls.

More sword fighting. He has her trapped against a wall at the end of the balcony.

MONTOYA: Adios my Queen.

She draws the sword up then down to her side.

QUEEN: Adios Colonel.

She jumps off and lands on Chico. She rides off as Montoya yells, "Damn you!" but you can tell that he's not that angry. He's probably enjoying their cat and mouse games.

She rides out of town.

~~~~~

HELM'S OFFICE

Helm is fixing the bandaging on the Shaman.

HELM: You're strong. That's what saved you.

SHAMAN: Not my strength, yours. And hers.

Helm notices that the Shaman is looking over Helm's shoulder. He sees her.

HELM: Put your shirt on.

Helm walks to the Queen in the doorway.

HELM: Montoya's men are looking for you everywhere.

QUEEN: Not in town, they're not.

HELM: That soldier you killed...

QUEEN: He was going to shoot you.

HELM: You don't ever have permission to kill for me.

QUEEN: I was saving your life.

HELM: By taking another. Who the hell do you think you are? Only God has the power of life and death.

QUEEN: God and doctors.

She leaves. He turns to see the Shaman and the mask are gone.

~~~~~

We see the Shaman return the mask to his father's corpse.

SHAMAN: Peace now, father. The spirits of both our fathers sing tonight. They sing 'Beware the truth. It is a scorpion dancing at your feet.' They say, 'Step carefully... my angel'.

He puts his hand on the Queen's cheek.

THE END

Synopsis by:
JoLayne
EnyaJo@aol.com

Jo's Obsessions - Highlander, Queen of Swords, West Wing, X Files, Hitchcock
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