Any Hispanic Tropers out there? Give a shout!
By the by, if you'd like to watch along, I got this film in a box set from Mill Creek Entertainment along with Zorro Rides Again and Zorro's Black Whip. That last one should be fun if we get to it.
Chapter Three: Descending Doom
After a brief recap of the story so far, in which it's revealed that the leader of the toughs is named Moreno. The action begins with Zorro learning that the mission has been mined. The plot unfolds as last chapter, but a new camera angle reveals a previously unmentioned stained glass window that hasn't been barred, as no one could climb to it. However, Zorro can use his whip on a support beam to Building Swing out the Soft Glass window just before the mission explodes.
Their job seemingly done, the toughs and Yaqui ride off.
zorro orders his men to disband to ally the toughs' suspicions, with only Juan to follow the baddies. Diego himself tends to the wounded Ramon.
The toughs meet Gonzalez at the mine. He reminds them that they must depart as soon as Tarmac {?) arrives. Juan, posing as a miner, watches as the toughs enter a hidden chamber.
The next morning, Diego and Ramon (apparently his injuries were minor) worry about Juan, who hasn't reported in. Juan's horse arrives without him, but with a note explaining that he's found the chamber where the golden arrows are made. Diego and Ramon ride off to help, taking Juan's horse with them.
At the mine, we see men turning a wheel to operate an elevator. In the secret chamber, the toughs prepare for departure.
Outside in the corridor, Gonzalez is accosted by a miner, #65, who reports that one of Zorro's men mugged him and took his identification tag. Gonzalez cals an emergency assembly of all miners.
Once together, the supervisor checks the miners' ID tags, since #65 should be on the intruder. Before Juan can be exposed, Diego and Ramon arrive. Diego goes into his "idiot" act, pretending he's just curious about mines. Gonzalez explains the search for a spy.
When Juan makes a break for it, Diego "accidentally" stumbles against a mule cart, blocking the exit after the fugitive.
Whiel the mine guards chase Juan; Diego, Ramon and Gozalez run across the toughs and Tarmac (who turns out to be one of the Yaqui.) A fight ensues, but when Moreno pulls a gun, Diego "cowardly" steps aside, and most of the intruders escape. All but one Diego "accidentally" knocks silly with a levered board.
Gonzalez offers to have his men guard the prisoner, "who I have never seen before", but Diego insists on taking him to the council immediately.
At the council meeting, the prisoner admits to being one of Don del Oro's men, but claims he doesn't know who the mastermind is behind his mask. Commandante Manuel suggests turning him over to the military for interrogation.
Diego counters that in California, they have more...persuasive methods of loosening a man's tongue. So saying, he opens his purse, and takes out some coins. When more coins appear, it's clear the prisoner is tempted. But he points out that money is no good to a corpse. Diego promises to put the prisoner on the next ship to Europe, far from the deadly Don del Oro.
The prisoner, persuaded, explains that he really doesn't know who Don del Oro, as none of his henchmen has ever seen the false god's face. But last night, as he guarded the secret chamber, the prisoner did see—TWANG—golden arrow to the back! Seems some idiot left the council chamber window open.
Most of the council members rush out to see if they can track the assassin. The conspirators, however, stay to make sure the prisoner's wound is fatal. Magistrate Pablo states that this is the fate of all traitors to Don del Oro.
In Don del Oro's hideout, he reveals that he's stalled the investigation of the mine's secret chamber so that it can be cleared of clues. However, while his men are there, Don del Oro wants them to cripple the mine, stalling gold production untilo he can seize power.
Zorro is Genre Savvy enough to realize he'd better check out the mine tonight for clues, and puts the Legion on standby. (They're still using the flaming 'Z' signal, despite what happened last chapter.)
At the mine, the toughs are busy cleaning out the secret chamber and laying blasting charges in the elevator shaft to be set off when they leave. The elevator is summoned by a bell attached to a rope, and the wheel is being manned by Yaqui warriors.
When Zorro arrives, he sees how things are and sends Juan to fetch the Legion. The next load will be the last. Zorro takes advantage of the surface workers all being needed to load the wagon to sneak down the elevator shaft ladder.
Down in the mine, Zorro encounters the other toughs, and a sword fight ensues. The bell rope is accidentally pulled and the surface crew starts pulling up the elevator. One of the toughs throws a torch, which misses Zorro, but does kabd where it can light a fuse.
Then he throws a heavy basket, which bowls Zorro over and into the elevator shaft, right next to the explosives! The toughs close and bar the shaft doors, hurrying to another exit.
Zorro awakens just in time to stop the fuse setting off the explosives. (whew!) He begins to climb the shaft. He discovers that the doors to the main mine are barred, and he doesn't have the leverage to bust them.
The elevator crew sees the Legion approaching and flee the wheel, allowing the elevator to plummet back down the shaft. Zorro looks up, but he's trapped on the ladder, doomed by the rapidly descending elevator!
Tune in next week for...The Bridge of Peril!
