The Black Scorpion (1957) - full transcript

CAPTIONING MADE
POSSIBLE BY WARNER BROS.

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 GUN 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

KILLING 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 GUN!

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
GUN 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 SHOOT 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
KILL 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 EXPLOSION.

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 EXPLOSION

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 RIFLES
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 KILL 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 KILLED

AND HUNDREDS UNACCOUNTED FOR.

SURVIVORS REPORT THAT
A GIANT BLACK SCORPION

HAS ATTACKED AND KILLED
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 KILLED
4 OF THEM, AND I THINK

MAY HAVE KILLED
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 RIFLES 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.

CAPTIONING MADE
POSSIBLE BY WARNER BROS.