Episode Title:
Captured by Bandits.
Episode Description:
While exploring in the mountains Pinocchio and Franco witness the infamous bandit, Scallywag, and his gang robbing a stagecoach and are captured; the two manage to save themselves by offering to join his gang but are sent to help the outlaws break into one of the wealthiest homes in the area. Though Pinocchio realises what he's being asked to do is wrong, he's afraid the bandits will kill him if he leaves and follows the orders he's given, however when the old man living in the mansion is shot by Scallywag, he saves the man's granddaughter, Lucy. Later that evening when Pinocchio tries to bring some food to Lucy she refuses his help as she blames him for her grandfather's death, when he storms off in frustration the Oak Fairy appears and tells him that even though he didn't commit the crime himself he's still guilty of standing by and letting happen, however the spirits of the surrounding trees doubt he's capable of understanding. When the puppet tries to justify his actions his nose grows longer as he's lying to himself and the Oak fairy finally gets him to admit that he likes being one of the bandits (because he realises he's neither a Human nor Tree and the bandits don't expect him to be either one) and tells him that he must try to right the wrongs he's witnessed, though he isn't sure what he should do or how he's supposed to do anything without his nose being returned to normal. Nevertheless he tries to free Lucy before she can be sold by the bandits, unfortunately they're both quickly captured; the next morning they learn that the bandits plan to raid Pinocchio's village using Franco as a hostage and that Lucy's parents are likely there as well, the elderly tree Pinocchio is tied to hears him wishing to save everyone and sacrifices himself to free the puppet, whose nose is also restored to normal. Unfortunately everyone in the village chooses to run away and wait for Scallywag to leave, rather than stand up to him; however Pinocchio realises that if they don't stand up to the bandits now they'll never be rid of them and manages to convince his father to stay and help protect the village. Pinocchio then rescues Franco by appearing to pay the ransom, but tricks the bandits into trading him for a bag of rocks and manages to hold off Scallywag by taking advantage of being more agile and immune to the bullets (as he's made of wood); meanwhile Lucy and Franco catch up with the rest of the villagers and tell them of everything that's happened, convincing them to return to defend their home. They arrive just in time as Geppetto, who had been waiting with a gun, cannot bring himself to shoot another person, even as he's threatening to kill Pinocchio; Franco's father shoots Scallywag, causing the rest of the bandits to scatter, and Lucy is reunited with her parents who she wants to introduce to Pinocchio. However he's already taking the bandit's horse for a ride and when he falls off he encounters Sneeroff, who has tracked him down and is set on revenge.
