Though bedridden for most of the runtime, Clara is the film’s emotional center. Her cough is the film’s countdown timer. When Reynaldo turns off his light to save battery, he isn't giving up; he is budgeting his hope. The most haunting line of the film is not spoken aloud but appears as a text on screen during the blackout: "She never asked for the gold. She asked for him to come home."
As they excitedly discuss their future, José, the more cautious of the two, notes that the support beams look weak. Antonio, driven by impatience and greed, insists they extract a sample immediately. He hacks at the gold vein, causing a small collapse. A large boulder pins José’s leg to the ground, and a cascade of rocks blocks the narrow tunnel behind them.