Black Scorpion, The (1957)

[bunniefuu]

For centuries, the

Prayers of mexico's peasants

Have been their only shield

Against the devastating furies

That have wrecked their

Homes and destroyed their lives.

And so today, again they kneel,

Terrified and helpless,

As a new volcano is created

By the mysterious and

Rebellious forces of nature.

The earth has split

A thousand times.

Whole acres of rich

Farmlands have cracked

And dropped from sight,

And millions of

Tons of molten lava

Are roaring down the slopes

In a quake recorded

On the seismograph

Of the university of mexico

As the most violent


Of modern times.

To the benighted citizenry

Of this remote countryside,

The most alarming

Aspect of the phenomenon

Is the fact that its

Unabated hourly growth

Is without precedence,

Having reached a towering height

Of 9,000 feet within a few days,

And with each added foot,


It spreads its evil onslaught

Into a wider circumference.

But what is now most feared

Is that rescue work

Will be severely hampered

By the hazardous

Inaccessibility of the terrain.

Well, there she is.

Yeah.

How much further


Do you suppose, doc?

Three days on this washboard,

And that volcano looks

As faraway as it ever did.

Nobody stuck a g*n in your back

To make you become a geologist.

Yeah, but you don't

Have to rub it in.

"San lorenzo, 12 kilometers."

You know, if there


Was any other village

Within 50 miles of here,

A sign like this

Could confuse people.

Looks like somebody else

Has been through here lately.

Yeah. Army truck, maybe. Police.

Don't get me wrong, doc. I


Love this mexico of yours,

But up around here, I think I

Could stand a little company.

For my information, hank,

How did you get

Permission so fast,

From my group, I mean?

After all, red tape

And that sort of thing.

Simple. Just told


Them the truth...

That you needed me

Along as an interpreter.

Ha ha!

That may be true,

But I think the language

You really spoke best

Was with our secretary

Who secured all the

Documents for you.

Oh, I didn't use

Spanish with her.

That was sign language.

Ha ha ha!

Incredible... Truly, isn't it?

If these estimates are right,

This quake may be as

Severe as mount pelee,

Vesuvius, or san francisco.

Lucky there are so

Few people up here.

Well, there were enough.

Hello. Hi.

How far you come, fellas?

Mexico city. We left on monday.

Where do you want to go?

San lorenzo.

How far is it? Do you know?

Who knows how the bridges are?

Maybe a couple of hours.

A police car went by

Just before sundown.

They didn't come back,

So maybe they got through o.k.

Was san lorenzo hurt badly?

Who knows?

The telephone lines all down

Since the earthquake.

Thanks a lot. See you later.

Take it easy.

What the devil was that?

I don't know.

Ordinarily I've got nothing

Against moonlight nights,

But I'll be glad

To get by this one.

Looks like a farmhouse up ahead.

Maybe we can get

Some water up there.

I hope so.

I'd like to save those

Last two bottles of beer.

A little gas station

Never looked better.

Hello!

Anybody home?

I'll see if I can find a well.

Hey, hello in there!

Wonder if we can have

Water for our jeep?

Hey, hank!

Yeah?

Come here!

Look at this.

Over here, too.

What do you suppose...

Look at that!

What do you make of it?

Must be that patrol car

Those telephone men saw,

But I certainly have no idea

What could have happened or why.

What could do this

To a car out here?

You don't suppose

They're trying to walk

To san lorenzo?

511. Calling 511.

Do you read me?

Sergeant vega, do you read me?

This is headquarters

Calling. 511.

Hello.

Hello. Do you read me?

511. I read you, sergeant vega.

What's your location?

Sergeant vega?

Here. You better take this.

You're head man down here.

Hello.

Go ahead, please.

This is arturo ramos,

Professor of geology

From the university.

My associate and I came

Upon this patrol car.

There has been an accident.

I believe we're a few

Kilometers south

Of the village of san lorenzo.

Where's sergeant vega?

He's not here. No one's here.

The car is badly damaged,

But there's no blood.

Did the car run off the road?

No. Frankly, it...

Didn't the police sergeant

Make a report

After the accident?

The radio's working.

No, we have heard nothing.

Thank you, professor.

Leave the patrol car as it is.

We shall order

Military intelligence

To send an emergency unit

To san lorenzo immediately.

We will.

Well, we're not doing

Any good here, pal.

Hank, some of my countrymen

May like rattlesnakes

In the house.

I can do without them.

Let's take a look.

That rattlesnake

Is the worst kind

Of them all.

Come on, fella. There you go.

You've had practice, mr. Scott?

I guess so,

With four brothers

And two sisters.

What do you suppose

Caused this wreck,

That police car out there?

It could have been a bull.

Well, if it was, it had

To be the grandpappy

Of the biggest

Bull that ever was.

Hank, you did notice

The fried beans

Were still hot on the stove?

Yep. So?

When I've already got

A half-dozen questions

I can't answer, I try

To ignore any new ones.

You think we ought

To use the radio

To tell them about the kid?

No. I think we we ought

To get to san lorenzo

As quick as we can.

Look at this kid.

Not a peep out of him.

You know if I ever

Have any of my own,

I think I'll feed 'em

Beans and tortillas, too,

Then I'll be able to

Get some sleep, nights.

Hey, wait a minute.

Every cartridge has been fired.

Hello. Hello.

We only found sergeant

Vega and the baby.

I have that, professor. Right.

You said vega's revolver

Had all chambers fired.

Yes. All.

At what?

We wish we knew, too.

Thank you again.

The emergency unit will

Be in san lorenzo tomorrow.

Right.

That's all.

We're from mexico city.

I say, we're from mexico city.

We're scientists.

Is the mayor here?

Rest for a day.

Rosa, don't let him

Try do too much.

Padre delgado, the road is open.

Help is here!

From mexico city!

At last! Thank god!

Ask them in spanish.

No estar un

Presidente municipal?

Welcome to san lorenzo.

I am father delgado.

Arturo ramos of the university.

Dr. Henry scott from

The united states.

I'm afraid I can't

Introduce this one.

Manuel tiburcio...

And the parents?

They weren't there.

I think it might be better

If we discussed

This inside, father.

Iperla! ¿Donde esta perla?

Señor.

Dead. They were dead.

Now, father, do you believe

There's a demon bull

k*lling us all one by one?

Perla!

I'll take manuel.

I'll take him with me,

But I will not protect

Him from the devil

Just by lighting candles!

Gentlemen, I know you are weary

After your journey.

Can I offer you what hospitality

The village may provide?

Thank you, father.

Permiso.

That car, father,

It was pushed in as

Though it were paper.

And finding the sergeant...

With a look of

Death none of us had

Ever seen before.

This isn't the first time?

The first sunday

After the eruption,

Various of the congregation

Were not in church.

This was understandable,

You realize.

Travel might have

Been impossible.

Then the tiburcio

Family simply vanished.

The farm,

As you have described,

Ravaged as by some giant being.

There were no bodies?

Not until last thursday.

Since then, a young girl...

She was crossing the fields

To spend that night

With some cousins...

Was found in the morning.

Horrible.

The dominguez

Brothers... Ranchers...

Were discovered in the gully

With that look of

Horror on their faces...

And no blood.

It's small consolation,

Father, I admit,

But as a scientist,

I know where the

Effects are so similar,

There must be a

Simple, logical cause.

I wonder how simple, dr. Ramos,

Or how logical.

Father, what about that

Story about the demon bull?

That seems like a

Strange superstition.

The demon bull

Is a symbol of evil

Among the many

Ancient civilizations.

About two days ago,

All the workmen on the

Big miraflores ranch...

That's a huge estate

On the other side

Of the foothills...

Decided to leave their work

And come here to san lorenzo.

Now, these men, usually

Frightened of nothing,

Said they wouldn't

Work there a day longer.

They brought the

Tale of the demon bull.

Has miraflores

Been attacked, also?

Cattle had been found dead

In various areas of the ranch.

They hadn't been

Rounded up yet this year.

For miles around,

Cowboys came upon one

Dead steer after another.

One of them had heard the tale

Of the demon bull

Of the maricopa.

Now, gentlemen,

I do not believe it,

But it's as good an

Explanation as any other.

I'd like to think

That our research up here

Might be of some help.

As do i, but this

Is no time to begin.

I know you're exhausted

From your journey

And from listening to me.

Tonight you will stay here,

And maybe in the morning

Things won't seem

Quite so mysterious.

Indeed, I hope so.

Here we are, isolated,

Almost cut off

From civilization,

Having lost family or friends

To something absolutely unknown.

We could be in another world.

Good night, father.

Good night.

Thank you for

Everything, father.

We really appreciate it.

That's all right.

See you late this afternoon.

Dr. Ramos, dr. Scott,

I will ask you one more time

Not to begin this

Unnecessary expedition.

Major garcia, dr. Ramos and I

Have answered all

Of your questions.

I don't see how we can be

Of any further service to you.

No, I don't require

You for my work here.

I only know that if you

Start for that crater

And find yourself in

Any kind of difficulties,

Men who are much

More badly needed here

Will have to go find you.

I'm sorry.

So that's why you

Must come back safely,

And before sundown,

With the answers

To your questions

And mine.

Now you've got me.

What do you say, doc?

Should we try

Around over that side

Or over here?

Neither one of them

Looks exactly like the

Pan american highway.

Everyone's always said

That the best fissures

Were on the eastern slope.

You can see the lava there.

Maybe we can get close enough

To get some pictures

And plan our approach.

See a trail up

Around those rocks?

I don't know about that,

But I found something

A lot more interesting.

So?

Si, si, señor.

Here. Have a look.

It'll do you a lot more good

Than that bottled water.

Ah, yes. Now I see him.

Doc, you haven't got

That thing in focus.

They're focused,

And it's a very handsome horse,

And I'd like to get started.

Horse?

There was a girl on that horse!

Come on, we've

Got to get started

And find her.

Now, don't move too much.

I said don't move.

We'll find out if

You're all right, first.

Oh, I'm all right. Really.

Except I could have

Done this more gracefully

If I'd known spectators

Were around.

Now, don't worry about that.

Gently, now.

No broken bones, señorita?

No sharp pains?

No, really, I'm all right.

I've fallen off lucero before.

Not for many years,

But I really can

Ride, gentlemen.

I'm teresa alvarez

Of miraflores.

Hank scott. Dr. Arturo ramos.

Oh, the luck of the alvarez.

Tumble off a horse and

Land right next to a doctor.

Doctors of geology.

We operate only with

Little hammers on rocks.

Say, how 'bout the horse?

I saw him gallop off that way.

Oh, don't bother.

Lucero always goes

Back to miraflores,

But the saddle... I don't know.

I'll get it.

You're very kind.

No bother at all.

Do you happen to have a canteen?

Oh, sure. Right on the jeep.

Come on. Take it easy.

There's a mirror you can use.

Thanks.

We'll be here several

Weeks at least.

We're conducting sort

Of a preliminary survey.

And then some other

Boys will join us here

Sometime next month.

You make it sound like a

Very intriguing occupation.

It is. You meet

Such interesting volcanoes.

Hey, hank!

Thank you, doctor.

I ought to thank you.

I found this near the saddle.

Oh, is that good?

I'll say. It's obsidian.

That's lava that's cooled.

Well, I wouldn't know.

Cattle, yes, but rocks...

Could I ask another

Favor of you?

Sure.

Would you mind turning back

And taking me to san lorenzo?

Be glad to.

Oh, thank you.

I must get there today.

You see, the

Telephone isn't working,

And I have to hire riders

To help with my cattle.

That old volcano

Is really causing

A lot of trouble this time.

We heard in the village

About your cowboys.

If I lose my cattle,

I lose everything.

How are things in san lorenzo?

Oh, so-so.

I don't know what's gotten

Into my vaqueros at miraflores.

So there was an earthquake,

And the cattle started eating

Some poisonous weed

We haven't learned of yet.

Is that any reason to act

Like frightened children?

I don't think it's just

A poisonous plant,

Señorita.

Even in this climate,

You don't grow

Them that can push in

The side of a building

And wreck a car.

Oh, don't forget.

You promised to use miraflores

As your headquarters.

It will be a great convenience,

Señorita.

Then we'll meet later?

Right.

Chamoco, felipe,

Jose, all of you...

Señorita, let me ask you this...

If your patron, my

Father, were alive today,

Would you become frightened

Of sounds in the night

And run like silly children

To the safety of the village?

Señorita teresa, I

Understand you need...

I say only this, muchachos.

I've known you

All for all my life.

We've always worked together.

Many of you were

Born at miraflores.

That's right.

If you don't wish to return

To help me save my cattle,

Then return to save miraflores.

¿Que dicen, muchachos?

Vamos. Vamos.

We'll return.

Gracias.

Ilos caballos!

Vamos.

Dr. Ramos. Dr. Scott.

Mayor cosio wants to see you.

Where is he?

In the laboratory

With dr. Delacruz.

Laboratory?

You'll be surprised

At the experiments

That go on there.

Well, where is it?

This way.

Doctor, is that the patrolman?

Yes. Sergeant vega...

Who lived doing his duty

And who may perform

A greater one now.

Please.

Well?

They look like

Subcutaneous cells

That have just

Burst or run rampant.

My analysis, also, dr. Scott.

Not from any

Poison I can identify

With this equipment.

Lopez, your help again, please!

In this, pure alcohol.

In this, distilled water.

In this, tequila.

In this, water with some salt.

You, uh, think it is

A poison then, huh?

I do.

Not a chemical poison, doctor?

No, but I believe,

For many reasons,

That this is an organic poison.

I have had a little

Experience with them...

The venoms of the snakes,

The wasps, the spiders.

I'll prepare slides

And specimens

And take them to

A man in mexico city

Who will be sure to know.

Velasco.

You know velasco?

Who doesn't, doctor?

Well, as you say,

If it's an organic poison,

Anything from nature,

The great velasco

Will identify it.

You said for many reasons.

What other reasons?

Well, there was

Only one wound...

Here, but no blood.

Then the situation

Of the tissues,

The strange bacteria...

Bacteria, I think, found

In the soil samples

Near the footprints.

Footprints?

You are amazed.

When something

Knocks down dwellings

And flattens corn fields,

It would be amazing if

There were no footprints.

I never saw a moulage

Of a print this size.

Whatever it is, my friends,

I don't believe

Anyone has ever seen

A foot, a claw this size

Except those poor unfortunates

Who wish they never had.

One question, doctor.

I hope I can answer it.

The alcohol, the

Distilled water,

The salt solution...

I can understand that,

But what's the tequila for?

Well, in your country,

I believe you call

It the coffee break.

Ha ha! Ha ha!

There's the hacienda.

It really looks

Like quite a place.

Well, it looks like you were

Pretty lucky. The thing

Really came close, didn't it?

Yes. We were blessed that

It didn't go any further.

Our plantation

Would have been ruined

Like the rest of the land.

Señorita, thank

Heaven you're safe.

When lucero came back

To the stables yesterday

Without you,

I began to search the hills.

Oh, pio, I'd already been

Found by someone else.

This is dr. Scott and dr. Ramos.

This is my foreman pio.

Hi, pio.

This way.

Not only comfortable,

But cool, too.

Yes, sometimes I think

Being cool is by far

The most important

On days like this.

Well, I know you'll

Want showers.

Florentina!

Show dr. Ramos to the blue room.

Si, señorita.

And, juanito, show

Dr. Scott to the left wing.

I'll take care of them!

Well, I'll see you later,

And you can tell me all

About your expedition.

Not bad, doc.

For half a day's work,

Chamoco, not bad.

Tell the boys.

Yes.

We'll get them all

Brought in by thursday.

Why put on such a face?

We will do it,

If I have to stay in the saddle

Without sleep myself.

Pio, don't you understand?

Can't you see the cattle know

Something evil's

Carried in the wind.

Let us wait, pio.

All women, chamoco.

Now let us have a good supper

And forget these superstitions.

Would you like some brandy, sir?

Yes, thank you.

Just a minute.

Juanito, hurry with the brandy.

Would you like some, too?

Please.

I'll take care of them.

Muchas gracias.

May I make a complaint, teresa?

Oh, I'm sorry.

What was not done suitably?

Well, that's just it...

Everything was done beautifully.

You know, you're making

It very difficult to think

About settling down to work.

Well, is that so bad?

That all depends.

It might be very bad

If I stopped thinking

About work altogether,

And just started

Concentrating on pleasure.

Hank, those volcanoes

Have been there

For hundreds of years.

I'm sure they

Wouldn't mind waiting

Just a little longer.

I didn't expect you two to

Be discussing volcanoes.

I've got something to show you.

Oh.

I noticed it last

Night at the village.

See anything?

Hold it up against the light.

That's fantastic, doc.

Why, there's a scorpion

Trapped in there.

I think so.

A few hundred years

Old, but there he is.

I wanted to show you

Before I broke it open.

Alive!

Impossible!

Juanito, bring a jar!

I can't believe life enduring

For centuries like this?

And under all that heat?

Velasco will certainly

Be interested in this.

Here, juanito.

Pardon me, señores. Do

You like to keep scorpions?

I know a place where

There are millions.

Not like this one, juanito.

Pancho!

Pancho, if you don't know

How to behave,

I'll send you out.

I want a magnifying glass

To watch this little monster.

You know, I could

Throw this scorpion

Out the window,

Then we'd really be alone.

It's simpler than that...

Why don't we go outside?

Why don't we?

Oh, excuse me. The

Line's been fixed.

Hello?

Hello?

Just testing the line.

Oh, is the line all fixed?

All clear, ma'am.

Miraflores was the last one,

Señora.

Aah!

Aah!

Gayetano!

What?

What's under the bridge?

No!

In the arroyo.

Hank, come here!

Listen to this.

Hello?

Hello?

Hello. What's wrong?

Look out!

Run, gayetano! Get to the truck!

Aah!

Aah!

Aah!

Where is the arroyo bridge?

I'll show you.

Pancho, what's happening

To you tonight?

Keep quiet.

Doc, we have to go

Over to the bridge.

There's some trouble. Come on.

Now, you be a good boy.

Come back here!

Pancho!

Pancho! Get back here!

Pancho!

Pancho!

Pancho, get back here!

Pancho, what's the

Matter with you tonight?

Pancho! Come back!

I'll get you!

Señorita!

What's wrong with the cattle?

I cannot say!

Help!

Why, that's juanito!

Run, juanito!

Give me your g*n!

Call for help.

It's a gigantic scorpion!

Where is juanito!

He's safe!

Operator.

Operator!

Operator!

Please, hurry! Operator!

I shot at that

Thing a dozen times.

Must be after the cattle.

Hank!

Juanito, come on! Quick!

Come on into the jeep! Quick!

Dr. Velasco.

Dr. Ramos, I hoped

I'd find you here.

This is fantastic.

Dr. Velasco.

Thank god, father. We

Thought you were all dead.

This is all that remains.

Even the animals...

I cannot speak of this night...

Eaten...

Devoured.

Father, I have been sent here

In charge of emergency

Arrangements.

All that are left will

Be moved to safety.

Certainly.

Please tell everyone to be ready

To leave san lorenzo.

And, father, they may only take

What they can

Carry in their arms.

Very well.

Where is the laboratory?

It's over there.

As soon as I

Received the samples,

I identified the poison

As that of a scorpion,

But I had no concept

Of the creature's size

Until I saw this... And this.

This specimen found by dr. Ramos

Is of a species

Thought to be extinct

Since the triassian era.

We have known

It in a fossil state,

But never alive.

Now from the

Bowels of the earth,

It has come forth again

To plague the earth.

I emptied the machine

g*n at one of them.

I beg of you all not

To lose your heads...

In any sense of the word.

But we have a few advantages

Against this enemy.

First... They come out

To eat only at night.

Thus, we have the daylight hours

To try find and destroy them.

Secondly... They're

Somewhat slow and lethargic...

Until inflamed by

The smell of blood.

I still ask one question, sir.

Yes.

What weapon do

You intend to use?

Gas... Poison gas.

It has been proved effective

Against normal species.

Let us pray it works

Against the scorpionida rex.

If it does not...

May god help all of you.

Be ready at dawn.

Is that all of them, lieutenant?

I want to do what I can, too.

Señorita alvarez,

I understand your emotion...

Believe me, dr. Velazco, I'm

Not trying to be emotional.

I wouldn't ask to come along

If I thought I couldn't help.

Teresa, you don't

Know the hardships...

Dr. Valazco, major cosio,

I know this area

Like the palm of my hand...

Better than any man here.

I'm a good shot.

You said yourself you needed

All the help you could get.

Señorita alvarez,

I think you have

Found yourself a job.

Gentlemen...

Major cosio and I

Are plotting this.

Note where the various

Incidents have occurred.

I want to go with

You! I want to do a job!

Don't worry, juanito.

We'll get together again.

That's a promise.

See if you can find my boots

For me, will you?

I know where they are.

Here they are!

Oh, good!

They are very, very fine boots.

Kind of like those, huh?

Mm-hmm.

Tell you what, juanito.

When you get to be a big man,

I'll get you a pair

Just like these.

I thank you, mr. Hank.

You'd like that, huh?

Uh-huh.

I know how to ride very good. I

Know how to sh**t very good.

I'm 7 1/2 years old. That's

Almost a half a man.

A half a man?

Ah, juanito.

You know, sometimes

Even a half a man

Has a lot of

Different jobs to do,

And right now the

Most important job

For you to do is to take care

Of your grandmother.

She can take care of herself.

I know, but...

You've got plenty of time

To do more exciting things.

And you... You be very careful,

And don't get hurt.

Won't you?

Don't worry. I promise.

And a full man never

Breaks his promise.

Ha ha!

O.k.

I don't see a

Thing, dr. Velasco.

Might as well go on.

All right.

Major?

Yes, doctor?

Tell your captain to hold

All the heavy equipment

Until we call for it.

Ok, doctor.

Here it is. A great big opening!

I guess he found

It, dr. Velazco.

Yes.

Look, there's something

Wrong with his horse!

He's falling in!

Aah!

Let's hurry up there, hank!

Come on. Let's go!

We must get down

To the lower level.

This crevice is new.

It must have opened

During one of the earthquakes.

This looks like a job

For us, doc. Of course.

No chance for mendoza?

Eh...

How deep do you say it is?

Well, doc and I have

Been down many a cave,

But there's no way

Of really telling

Until you actually hit bottom.

Well, the only

Way we can find out

Is to try to go down

There ourselves.

What do you say, doc?

Right.

Dr. Velazco,

Will that poisonous gas work

In a crevice this big?

I could not anticipate

Such a void as this.

It may dissipate.

Major, I think you better bring

All your heavy

Equipment up here...

Crane, tanks, and all.

Captain...

Bring the crane and

All the heavy equipment.

You want my men

To go down there?

It is suicide.

Don't worry about it.

Doc and I haven't had

A decent elevator ride

In a long time.

Hank, please, no.

What are you doing here?

I'm a stowaway.

Look, juanito. Do me a favor,

Will you,

And just stay out of the way.

Yes, mr. Hank.

Good. And just sit in the jeep

Like a big boy, ok?

Put these in the cage.

Why the birds, professor?

Because if the birds

Stop singing, that means

There's poison gas in the cave.

Hank, you don't have to do it.

Neither of you.

It's not your responsibility.

Whose responsibility is it?

The police. The army.

The people who live here...

Now, look, doc and I know more

About caves than

Anyone else here.

Why did you do that?

Maybe I just wanted

To see what you'd do.

What did I do?

You did all right.

Señorita...

You can help us if

You will keep the log

Of the descent...

How many meters down,

Reports which are made.

Sure. Keep yourself busy.

That's my theory.

Oh, and don't forget...

Take care of little juanito.

All right, take it down.

Doc, look down there.

Stop. Stop the cage a minute.

Stop!

Hank, are you all right?

It's the head of a scorpion

In the wall. Hold on a second.

Ok, I got a picture

Of it. Lower on.

All right, lower them down.

We've just hit bottom.

Were in a huge cavern...

I've never seen a cave so big

In my life.

Can you see any

Signs of mendoza?

Well, not from here.

We'll take a look around.

Well, the birds seem all right.

Yeah.

Are you there, hank?

Hank?

Answer.

Are you there, hank?

Dr. Ramos. Dr. Ramos.

Hello.

Hello?

Hello?

Yes?

Mendoza's dead.

We just saw a worm 30 feet long.

Hank, please come up! Hank!

We want to look

Around more first.

Hey, doc?

Over here!

Must be a nest of 'em.

Yeah.

Doesn't even penetrate it.

Try another one.

No, wait!

That must be the

Granddaddy of them all.

That's how they

k*ll each other...

Weak spot in the throat.

That must be it.

Mr. Hank!

Help!

Help!

Help!

Help!

Mr. Hank!

It's juanito!

Help!

Help!

Help!

Help!

Mr. Hank!

Help!

Help!

Mr. Hank!

Stay back in the cave, juanito!

Come on, juanito!

I thought I told you

To stay in the jeep.

What are you doing down here?!

I came to help you.

To help us?

Oh, come on.

Mr. Hank! Mr. Hank!

Look!

What's causing that?

Dr. Ramos! Hank! Are you there?

Are you there, dr. Ramos?

Hank, answer me!

Block the crane!

It'll be pulled in!

Throw some rocks

Under that crane!

There goes our cage,

Gas tanks, everything.

There's no weight on the cable.

Oh, no.

Here, take the cable, doc.

Send it back down

As fast as you can.

Bring it in slow.

Maybe they're on it.

Please pull it up!

Keep bringing it in.

Keep going, doc!

Hang on, doc. You can make it!

Keep going!

Come on. Hold on!

Hold on!

What happened to hank?

Hank and juanito are down there.

Get a loop on the cable

And send it down quick!

Make a loop on the cable.

Oh, juanito!

Oh, juanito, why did you do it?

I tried to help them.

It'll be dark in about an hour

And those scorpions

Will be coming out again.

You couldn't use the gas?

No. We lost it in

The molten lava.

There must be about 50 of

Those things down there.

Can't we close that opening

With dynamite and seal it?

You have no idea as to

The size of that place.

Wait till you see

These pictures.

I want those pictures.

I even hoped to get a specimen.

You couldn't get one

Of those things out

Even with this crane.

Major, we must

Try to seal it shut

With an expl*si*n.

We must try before nightfall.

I thought you said scorpions

Could go for months

Without food.

The giants don't

Last that long..

They eat their own

Weight every 3 or 4 days.

Suppose they find another way?

Those... Those

Passages down there?

This is the only place

They have appeared.

This, probably,

Is their only exit

From the cavern.

Major?

Let's close it. Yes, doctor?

Ready?

Let her go!

I guess that does it.

Midnight...

When everyone goes

Back to what he was before.

Hmm.

This isn't the end of anything,

Not for us.

It's the beginning.

Hank, all of us have

Done our work now,

And thank heaven it can be done

Without any more tragedy.

And you still have your

Survey of volcanoes to make yet.

Well, that's fine.

I'll be home every night

For dinner.

I have to leave at once.

I should have

Left for the states

Two months ago

To buy cattle for the herd.

You'll be in mexico city

For a week first.

I'll finish up my

Work here with doc,

And I'll meet you there,

And you can show me the town.

Even if we do have, what?

A day, two days?

I don't want to settle

For just two days, hank.

I don't want just

Two days, either.

I don't fool people.

I don't want them

To fool me, either.

I'm not, darling.

I like you very much indeed,

And I want you very much.

Dr. Scott.

Hello, I can hardly hear you.

This is dr. Velasco.

Oh, dr. Velazco.

How are you, sir?

Well, we're just

Getting started,

Finally.

Yeah. Right now.

Hank, I regret to have

To complicate the plans

You and dr. Ramos

Have made for so long

But some of my

Colleagues here in mexico

Are very, very anxious to

Talk to you both at once.

Well, i, uh... I

Don't really think

There's anything we can add

To what you already

Know, dr. Velazco.

I am with the director

Of civilian defense

And high army officers

Right now, hank.

It is imperative that you

Both return here at once

To complete your report.

I don't like to say that

You could be ordered.

What's the trouble?

Everything is under control,

Isn't it?

There's no cause

For alarm... Not at all.

But a request for

Cooperation has been made by...

By a good neighbor

To the south...

Well, if you put it like that...

Look, we've already

Postponed the trip

Five times.

I guess once more won't matter.

What?

Oh, a plane, yes.

Sure. That would help a lot.

Oh, uh, dr. Velasco...

Do you suppose

There would be room

For three on that plane?

Of course there'll

Be room for three.

All right, sir.

Yes, sir. I understand.

Right. See you

Then. Hasta luego.

Did he suspect?

No. I don't think so.

He assumes that the danger

Is completely over.

That's fine.

You seemed very willing

To postpone our trip

Once you learned that

Teresa could ride with us

On the plane.

Well, at least it was some sort

Of an inducement.

My friend, remember,

This is not the balcony

Of the neighborhood

Movie theater.

This is mexico.

When a man shows as

Much attention to a girl

As you have,

All of a sudden,

He's in a cathedral

And wondering how he got there.

So? What have you got

Against marriage, doc?

I try remember what my

Father told me one time...

He said, "arturo,

Every child in the world

"Is born single.

"Please try to

Profit more than I did

By the experience."

Ha ha ha!

Dr. Ramos, dr. Scott...

I am victor esteban.

Dr. Velasco has asked me

To take you to him at once.

Right away? What

About señorita alvarez?

I have orders to

Take señorita alvarez

Wherever she wishes,

But you gentlemen

Must accompany me

To the university.

All right.

Follow me, please.

Gentlemen, we are grateful

That you have given up

Your own plans to help us.

We must apologize

For bringing you here

Under false pretenses.

It's not a neighboring country

Which needs your help.

It is our government.

Señor moreno, of

Course there's always

A possible danger again...

20 Years from now,

Another earthquake.

It is not a potential danger,

Gentlemen.

We all fear it's all too real,

And not 20 years from now.

Perhaps in less than a month.

Dr. Velazco, maybe

You'd better fill us in

From the beginning, huh?

Yes, of course.

I'm in charge of an

Aerial mapping project

For our government.

Recently, our planes were

Photographing the area

Near san lorenzo.

Gentlemen, perhaps if you would

Sit down and take a look.

All right. Put out the lights.

No.

Not near the city.

It is one of them.

Now you're convinced

Our fears are justified?

I don't like to disagree,

But merely because a

Dead scorpion was found

Trying to make its

Way to the surface

Doesn't necessarily mean

That we didn't destroy them all

When we dynamited.

Now, this scorpion

May have just been one...

Excuse me, sir.

That's the same thought

That occurred to us.

We rechecked our photographs.

On the 21st,

Two days after the earthquake,

The scorpion was not there.

He was not there until the day

After you exploded the dynamite,

And you thought you destroyed

The scorpions.

It is obvious that at least one

Survived that expl*si*n

And almost succeeded

In reaching the surface.

Switch the lights on.

Gentlemen, we must proceed

As if there are

More of them left.

Exactly where is this area

Where it was photographed?

Southwest of the volcano,

Almost directly

Across from the fissure

Where you and

Dr. Scott descended.

You will see,

Here is the fissure.

This is san lorenzo.

It was here, exactly here,

That the photograph was taken.

Gentlemen, I still think

You're making a mountain

Out of a molehill.

Dr. Velasco knows

How that mountain went

When we blew it up.

Nothing could live

Under those tons of rock.

Not if they were

Under the rocks, no.

I don't think I

Quite follow you.

From your description,

What dr. Velasco told us,

It is obvious that the cavern

Into which you 2 men descended

Is part of chamilca caves,

Huge tunnels that

Run under the earth

At depths up to 5 miles,

Many of which have

Been mapped in the region

Around mexico city.

Some are flooded, part

Of the underground lakes.

Yes, I've heard it.

Here they are.

Notice how this

Large fissure here

Is directly above

This arm of the system.

This large pocket here

Is exactly the place where

You took your photographs.

Now, also note that here,

Where the scorpion was

Photographed from the air,

Is also part of the

Connecting system.

The scorpions could easily

Have fled underground

To one of many

Underground shelters.

As you thought, at the

Time, could happen, hank.

What's that long arm there?

That's a cavern which

Extends southward

To within 30 miles

Of mexico city.

There it lies

Under the railroad.

This is what we wonder...

How many of the scorpions

Might have decided to rush here,

And when will they decide

To come to the surface...

After blood?

So that is why we

Brought you here.

The day after tomorrow

We want you to address a group

Of scientific and

Military experts

So that we may plan

For any emergency.

What kind of r*fles

Were you using?

How powerful?

Well, the cartridges I was using

Are supposed to

Penetrate 2 inches of steel.

But they didn't

Stop the scorpions.

How do they k*ll each other?

The throat.

There's a small spot right here

That has no armor.

That's its weak point.

When they attack

Each other, of course,

They have the poison to inject

Into their enemy's throat.

Can you duplicate the poison?

No. Not without

A giant scorpion.

What we need is something

That will penetrate

That small area exactly

And then send

Some sort of poison

Into the circulatory systems.

What it could

Be, I have no idea.

We're all in the same dilemma,

But with the meeting on friday,

I'm sure we will

Reach a solution.

Gentlemen, I do

Not have to tell you

That everything we

Have discussed here

Is absolutely secret.

This is a city of

Four million people.

If word of this leaks out,

The panic of the population

Could be worse

Than the scorpions.

Nice dress...

Nice girl.

Well, thank you. I'm

Glad you can see me

In something else

Besides clothes

I wear at the ranch...

For two days, at least.

So am i.

Hank, what's the

Meeting on friday about?

Oh, some geophysical conference

Dr. Velasco roped us in on.

Cigarette?

Not right now.

After you finish that,

Where am I

Taking you for dinner?

Hank, it's only 9:00.

That's what I mean.

Do you realize

This is mexico city,

And no one has dinner

Before 11:00 at night?

Sometimes midnight.

Why, it's practically

Afternoon right now.

Lots of men are just

Leaving their offices.

Oh, am I going to

Have trouble with you!

Well, you work on it, teacher...

I think you can solve me.

Nice work.

Caviar...

Aren't you overdoing

It a bit, hank?

I've got to make an

Impression on you

In 48 hours

That will last for two months.

What's the matter,

Don't you like caviar?

Oh, I love it, but I must say

I could never understand

Why it's so expensive.

Well... It's a whole year's work

For a sturgeon.

It's been wonderful

These past two days.

I wish they'd never end.

They don't have to.

For a while they do.

I wish you'd change your mind.

You don't have to go away,

And that volcano can wait.

No, you'll get through

With your speech tomorrow,

And your silly expedition,

And I'll do everything

I have to do.

And then when we come back

We won't have a

Worry in the world.

Aah! Aah!

Help!

Aah!

We interrupt this program

To bring you a news bulletin.

The express train from monterrey

Has been derailed

Outside of mexico city.

Early reports indicate

An appalling loss of life.

There are eyewitness

Accounts which state

That monster scorpions have

Swarmed around the wreckage,

Creating havoc.

One moment please.

We're trying to get through

To the emergency area.

Reports to this moment

From all available hospital

And emergency field units

Indicate that many of

The victims of the disaster

Are so badly injured,

There is little hope

Of their survival.

All ambulances, private cars,

Trucks, and other vehicles,

Have been commandeered

By the authorities

In this emergency.

We've received a verified report

From the scene of the wreck

Confirming that 129

Persons are k*lled

And hundreds unaccounted for.

Survivors report that

A giant black scorpion

Has attacked and k*lled

The smaller scorpions

And is now headed

For mexico city.

We were trying to find you.

What can we do?

You can help us soon enough.

We're still not sure how

Many of them are left,

But I believe the largest

May be the only one.

With their lust for

Blood after the wreck,

The scorpions went mad.

The largest k*lled

4 Of them, and I think

May have k*lled

The rest of them.

Where is this scorpion?

We've lost it in the hills,

10 Miles out of town.

But it's approaching

The northwest

Area of the capital.

Yes.

Yes!

It has been seen.

Let's go!

Attention! Attention!

The city is under martial law.

All inhabitants living

North of tacubaya

And west of guadalupe

Are ordered to

Leave their homes.

Follow the orders of the police.

Listen, darling, you

Get in that building

And stay there. Go on.

The scorpion has not

Yet reached the city.

It has now been verified that

Only one giant black

Scorpion is alive.

The public is warned

That the city will have

A complete blackout.

A defense ring is being set up

Completely surrounding the area

Where it was last seen.

Authorities are taking all

Possible protective measures.

Observe safety precautions.

Protect your homes

From fire hazards.

The community has been

Thrown into a state of panic,

Adding greatly to the

Burden of the authorities,

And threatening to

Disrupt communications

Vital to the

Defense of the city.

If r*fles and cannon

Won't stop it...

Major cosio here.

Yes!

We've narrowed

The ring one mile.

Operation is proceeding.

Ok, that's fine.

Have major ortega meet us

In front of the stadium

With the weapon.

Major ortega, major ortega,

This is dr. Velasco.

Meet us in front of the stadium

With the weapon and generator.

But what kind of weapon?

I hope it is a weapon.

Just now it is only a prayer.

Dr. Velasco? Yes.

Tell colonel sanchez to

Move all the heavy equipment

Into the stadium.

Colonel sanchez.

Colonel sanchez?

Dr. Velasco here.

Move all the heavy equipment

Into the stadium right away.

The projectile

Enters the throat.

If I'm lucky, dr. Velasco.

But I've never used a

Weapon like this before.

Attached to the projectile

Is a copper wire,

Then the insulated wire,

Which leads to the cable

And the generator.

It should give 600,000 volts.

This meat should

Bring him in here.

I hope so.

It's about the only

Way we can corner it.

You might need more

Than one shot, major.

Señor moreno.

Yes, yes.

The scorpion is

Following the meat wagon.

There it is.

The throat, major. Remember,

The white area on the throat.

The head comes back

Just before it strikes.

Right.

You missed!

I won't miss this time!

Uh...

Turn it off! Turn it off!

Aaaeeeh!

Turn it on!

Turn it off!

Now we can secure

Some of the actual poison

From the scorpionida rex

Analyze it and create a

Simple protection against them

If ever again.

Hank, velasco wants to...

Gentlemen, we must

Not waste any time.

If we could all meet

Tomorrow at my laboratory

For a recapitulation.

Hank, señorita alvarez...

We have not yet finished.

Neither have we.