Monastario's latest plan to gain control of the Torres ranch begins with the capitan riding there in style in a fancy carriage.

Arriving at the ranch, Monastario orders the coach stopped
so he can gaze longingly at his desired prize.

Albert Whitlock's masterful artwork brings life to the Torres hacienda.

Diego and Bernardo are not happy to see Monastario and the soldiers so close to the house. They ride there swiftly using a different route, hoping to get there in time to sound the alarm.

Meanwhile, Torres is telling his daughter and wife that he owes his freedom to the mysterious Zorro.

Diego bursts in and warns that Monastario is only minutes away.

Monastario tells Garcia that his new plan for conquest involves winning the hand of the beautiful Elena.

Much to his surprise and irritation, Monastario discovers Diego enjoying a glass of wine with the Torres women.

The capitan announces that he will have to search the house for the fugitive.

While Garcia stands at attention, Bernardo warns Diego that the house has been surrounded by the soldiers.

Garcia is assigned to search the cellar, so Diego tries to distract him with some liberal samples of the wines stored there.

Spotting the hiding Torres, Garcia tries to climb across the wine barrels to capture him.

One of the barrels breaks loose, with poor Sgt. Garcia trying to maintain his balance as it heads for the wall. It's not hard to guess how this will end for the unfortunate sergeant.

Elena realizes that the best hope for her father to escape will be if she plays along with Monastario's unwelcome affections.

She certainly looks less than happy as the capitan begins courting her.

Diego changes the mood, and further annoys the capitan, when he strolls in singing a song dedicated to Elena.

Unable to find Torres in the house, Monastario decides the fugitive must be coming home later, so he announces he will stay until he can arrest him.

Diego maneuvers Monastario into position so Bernardo can knock him unconscious. Luckily for the capitan Diego tells his servant to use something a bit smaller than this vase.

With the capitan unconscious, Torres dresses in his uniform and orders the soldiers to take him back to Los Angeles.

A change in direction on the way confuses Garcia, who then discovers the ruse.

Zorro arrives just in time, sending Torres away on horseback as he holds Garcia at sword point.

Later, back at the ranch, Monastario suspects that Diego helped Torres escape until he discovers him tied up in the cellar. The unwitting commandante has a good laugh for thinking that the clumsy Diego could possibly be Zorro.

(Note: this scene actually occurred in the previous episode.)