The stage coach brings two visitors to Los Angeles. Firstly there is Victoria's brother, colonial army Lieutenant Francisco Escalante, who concludes after a meal with Mendoza that the garrison is in no condition to resist a U.S. annexation attempt; the alcalde promises him a post- if he captures Zorro. Furthermore a woman claims to be the mother of Jose del Reynoso- Felipe?! Don Diego recalls how he adopted the boy after finding the orphan, probably mute from that very trauma, at the August revolution battlefield, under the cart where his real father lay dead;

This is the original unaired pilot. While studying in Spain, Don Antonio de la Cruz (Patrick James) is asked to return to his native California by his ailing father. Upon his arrival, he discovers the Alcalde (Valentin de Vargas) is ruling the province as a tyrant and his soldiers murder anyone who dares to challenge his authority. The people's only hope is the legendary hero, Zorro AKA Don Diego de la Vega, whom Don Antonio finds mortally wounded after rescuing innocent men from the Alcalde's firing squad. Zorro/Don Diego urges Don Antonio to assume his secret identity and rally the Californians to fight the iron-fisted rule of the government. Don Antonio is also bethrothed to the wealthy señorita, Doña Maria Costanza Arellaga (Patrice Martinez), in which they do not get along but their romance is hinted when Don Antonio assumes the role of Zorro.