Second Chance

Cappy Gordon shoots the mob bookkeeper on orders from Vic Spilato, who is under Senate investigation. The act marks Cappy as a dangerous operative and cements his loyalty to Spilato, setting his path toward San Cristóbal.

Cappy travels to San Cristóbal with a plan to murder Clare Shepperd. He seeks to eliminate Clare as a rival and to further destabilize Spilato's enemies.

Clare, using the alias Clare Sinclair, sells a valuable pair of earrings to Felipe, a bar-owner with links to Spilato. The sale creates leverage for Clare and positions Felipe as a key intermediary.

Russ Lambert, an American prizefighter, heads to San Cristóbal to ease his mind after an accidental killing in the ring. He defeats local challenger Rivera, and Clare watches, drawn to him.

Clare uses her leverage to compel Felipe to persuade Lambert to meet her at a secluded location. Felipe agrees, hoping to protect his own interests as he facilitates the planned encounter.

Clare and Lambert meet at the Posado de Don Pascual and begin a romantic connection. Clare withholds details of her past, while Lambert hints at his own vulnerabilities.

Clare and Lambert take an aerial tramway to the mountaintop village La Cumbre and stroll through the town. They witness a provocative dance, and Vasco the jealous husband kills the dancer and is arrested.

After the incident, Clare and Lambert decide to stay at a La Cumbre hotel because the aerial lift has ended service. Lambert reveals he knows something about Clare's history with Spilato, deepening their bond.

Cappy barges into Clare's hotel room and forces her to promise a later meeting on the cable car, threatening Lambert's life if she refuses. Clare resists but fears for Lambert's safety.

Lambert follows Clare to the cable car after discovering her absence, while Cappy boards the car with plans to abduct Clare. Clare claims she has changed her mind, but Lambert does not believe her.

At an intermediate stopping point, the main cable snaps, leaving the car suspended over an abyss. The remaining rope frays, and the passengers realize only escape lifts can save them, though weight limits threaten several lives.

Vasco volunteers to swing toward the escape lifts but dies after smashing into the rocks. Lambert volunteers next, returns with the first lift, and a struggle ensues when Cappy wounds a officer and tries to board with Clare. Lambert defeats Cappy, who tumbles to his death, and the remaining passengers escape moments before the cable parts and the car plummets.