562 – The Black Scorpion

In April of 2020 we did a live-stream video episode of Fusion Patrol on YouTube featuring our discussion on the movie, The Black Scorpion. (Link to YouTube video.) …and here it is for your audio enjoyment. John and Eugene discuss. Synopsis In the year 1957, in Mexico, a volcano forms near the small village of San Lorenzo and grows to 9,000 ft in just a few days.  The earthquakes and lava are devastating to the remote area.  US Geologist Dr. Hank Scott and Mexican Geologist Dr. Ramos head to the remote area to investigate. Along the way, the encounter a telephone repair crew working to restore the phone lines into the area.  Days have gone by since the eruptions and no one has heard from the town or knows how bad their situation is. That night, as they approach the village, they hear strange noises as their jeep overheats.  They stop at a nearby farmhouse and find no one there, buildings destroyed and a police cruiser that has been demolished.  They also find food on the stove and an abandoned baby.  Before they leave, they discover the missing police man, dead with a look of horror on his face and his gun emptied. In the village, the meet Father Delgado, the local man of God.  He puts them up for the night.  The village has been badly damaged, but now they suffer another problem. At first, villagers were going missing, but soon they started to find them dead, with the same look of horror on their faces. The next day the Army has arrived to help with the relief efforts and the geologists head to the volcano.  Along the way, the meet Teresa Alvarez, patron of a nearby ranch.  Her vaqueros have all run away, afraid of a “demon bull” they think is killing the cattle.  Dr. Ramos makes a discovery of an interesting piece of obsidian, which he collects. In the village, they meet the local scientist, who is doing autopsies on the victims.  He’s found a strange poison that he’s sent back to Mexico City to analysis. That night, they’ve transferred their accommodations to the Alvarez Ranch and Dr. Scott starts getting amorous with Ms. Alvarez.  Ever the wet blanket, Dr. Ramos interrupts them.  He’s discovered a scorpio, trapped in the obsidian.  He cracks it open and to their surprise, the scorpion is still alive. Later that night, giant scorpions attack, first the telephone workers, who just finished reconnecting the lines, and then they overrun the ranch, frightening Jaunito, a young, servant boy who lives there.   They escape to the village.   The next day Dr. Valesco, famed entomologist, has arrived from Mexico City.  He has identified the scorpions as an extinct species of Triassic scorpions.  He, the geologists and the army proceed to the area they think the attack originated from and the two geologists, along with a stowaway Juanito, descend into a massive fissure, hoping to gas the scorpions.  They encounter many of the scorpions, plus worms and spiders and barely escape with their lives.  The army blow up the fissure, entombing the scorpions forever. Dr. Scott and Ms. Alvarez start making their long term plans for the future. The next day, back in San Lorenzo, Dr. Scott gets a call from Dr. Valesco.  It’s a terrible bother, but could you pop down to Mexico City and give a report?  It’s for our friends down south.  We’ll even send a plane. Scott and Ramos, with Alvarez tagging along fly to Mexico City.  The geologists a let in on a secret.  We didn’t call you back because of a friend from the south, the Mexican Government wants you here.  Turns out we didn’t kill the scorpions and they might even be close to Mexico City.  But you’ve got to keep this TOP SECRET, we wouldn’t a panic. But a panic they get then the scorpions derail a train and eat the passengers.  Some good news comes from this, the biggest, meanest, blackest scorpion of them all kills all the other scorpions and heads for Mexico City, where Dr. Valesco has concocted a weapon that will hopefully kill it. Lured to a stadium with a meat wagon, at battle with the army ensues and Dr. Scott steps up to land the find blow with the secret weapon – an electrified harpoon. There’s still paperwork to be done, but that can wait, there’s a pretty little señorita waiting for him.