diff --git a/examples/pylab_examples/zorder_demo.py b/examples/pylab_examples/zorder_demo.py
index 0ffb76ccdf6a..400cc060c784 100755
--- a/examples/pylab_examples/zorder_demo.py
+++ b/examples/pylab_examples/zorder_demo.py
@@ -20,26 +20,33 @@
 The second figure shows how to control the zorder of individual lines.
 """
 
-from pylab import *
-x = rand(20)
-y = rand(20)
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+import numpy as np
 
-subplot(211)
-plot(x, y, 'r', lw=3)
-scatter(x, y, s=120)
+x = np.random.random(20)
+y = np.random.random(20)
 
-subplot(212)
-plot(x, y, 'r', zorder=1, lw=3)
-scatter(x, y, s=120, zorder=2)
+# Lines on top of scatter
+plt.figure()
+plt.subplot(211)
+plt.plot(x, y, 'r', lw=3)
+plt.scatter(x, y, s=120)
+plt.title('Lines on top of dots')
+
+# Scatter plot on top of lines
+plt.subplot(212)
+plt.plot(x, y, 'r', zorder=1, lw=3)
+plt.scatter(x, y, s=120, zorder=2)
+plt.title('Dots on top of lines')
 
 # A new figure, with individually ordered items
-x = frange(0, 2*pi, npts=100)
-figure()
-plot(x, sin(x), linewidth=10, color='black', label='zorder=10', zorder=10)  # on top
-plot(x, cos(1.3*x), linewidth=10, color='red', label='zorder=1', zorder=1)  # bottom
-plot(x, sin(2.1*x), linewidth=10, color='green', label='zorder=3', zorder=3)
-axhline(0, linewidth=10, color='blue', label='zorder=2', zorder=2)
-l = legend()
+x = np.linspace(0, 2*np.pi, 100)
+plt.figure()
+plt.plot(x, np.sin(x), linewidth=10, color='black', label='zorder=10', zorder=10)  # on top
+plt.plot(x, np.cos(1.3*x), linewidth=10, color='red', label='zorder=1', zorder=1)  # bottom
+plt.plot(x, np.sin(2.1*x), linewidth=10, color='green', label='zorder=3', zorder=3)
+plt.axhline(0, linewidth=10, color='blue', label='zorder=2', zorder=2)
+plt.title('Custom order of elements')
+l = plt.legend()
 l.set_zorder(20)  # put the legend on top
-
-show()
+plt.show()