Mexicali Rose

Gene Autry performs on a live radio program sponsored by Alta Vista Oil. Anita Loredo's sweater catches on his outfit, forcing her to stand with him at the microphone. The audience senses a spark as Gene sings directly to Anita.

After the show, Gene discovers Anita helps run an orphanage in Mexico with Padre Dominic. He learns the oil company has not delivered returns that would help the children. This revelation sets him on a quest to expose the scammers.

Gene resigns from his job and heads south to investigate Carruthers' scheme. Along the way he meets Valdez, a bandit who starts to see himself as a modern Robin Hood under Gene's influence. Their partnership begins as they both pursue the truth.

Gene arrives at the orphanage and is reunited with Anita. Padre Dominic explains that he leased the land to Carruthers on a royalty basis, and that the company has no real drilling plans. Without royalties, the orphanage will be bankrupted unless the scheme is stopped.

A fundraising dance is held at the orphanage to raise money for the children. Gene sings a romantic song to Anita, and Valdez uses his Robin Hood persona to encourage donations. The crowd responds to the spectacle, unaware of Carruthers' looming trouble.

Carruthers' men arrive during the event and kidnap Alta Vista's lead engineer Blythe. He was meant to reveal the company's schemes to the crowd. Gene and Frog Millhouse pursue them to recover Blythe.

Gene and Frog rescue Blythe, who confirms that there is oil in the area. The information gives them a tangible target to expose the deception. The rescue strengthens Gene's resolve to launch a calculated plan.

Gene identifies the land most likely to contain oil and, with Frog and Valdez, devises a ruse: plant oil upriver from the company office. The idea is to trail the contaminated water to the source and provoke Carruthers into drilling. The trio prepares to implement the scheme.

Oil is found in the drinking water and Carruthers and his men follow the trail to the upstream site. They build a derrick on the site, thinking they are striking oil. Gene watches as Carruthers learns of the ruse and abruptly abandons the well.

Convinced by Gene's plan, investors buy up the rest of Carruthers' stock and drill begins. Carruthers realizes there is real oil on the land and his men have liquidated his holdings. He launches a campaign of sabotage to regain control.

With oil on the horizon, two orphans go missing. Gene tracks them to a cabin where Carruthers and his men are holed up. The search leads to a dangerous confrontation as he closes in on the culprits.

Gene is captured during the standoff at the cabin, but Valdez arrives just in time to help him escape. The orphans are found safe after the rescue attempt. The pair fights their way out, preserving the plan to bring the criminals to account.

Valdez sacrifices his life to save the orphans, embodying his Robin Hood ethos. The sacrifice spurs the remaining fight to conclude the operation, and the well comes in at last. Gene remembers Valdez's words: 'He was a true friend' as the victory seals the mission.