Luis Garcia, a 24-year-old experienced bullfighter, awaits his upcoming fight. His rival and rising star, Jose "the Indian" Gomez, approaches Garcia. They discuss their fighting experiences in a witty conversation. However, they mutually complement each other in humility. Garcia's assistant, Chucho Saenz, alerts him of his fight. The bullfighters march into the sunlit arena and walk its perimeter separately as the crowd cheers. Garcia notices a familiar-looking woman in the crowd smiling at him. She leans over and wishes him luck. He remembers she is Felice Del Vayo, a Mexican girl who has become a famous movie actress in the U.S.    The first bull enters the ring during the Indian's match and he unexpectedly runs out to meet it. Chucho remarks to Garcia that he runs to the bulls haphazardly before analyzing its actions and tendencies. He thinks the Indian is ignorant and unartistic in his matches, as he would recklessly break the banderilla _spiked sticks before placing them in the bull. On his turn, the crowd boos at Garcia when he does not break the sticks, but he still places them skillfully in the bull. The following day, the papers favored the Indian's fighting more because they found him "daring" while calling Garcia "conservative." When Felice was interviewed, she remarked that the Indian was spectacular, and Garcia was not as brave as him. Garcia calls the bullfight critic of the newspaper to complain about his inappropriately interviewing a movie star. The critic tells Garcia that his bullfighting methods are traditional and that he is "an anachronism."    Garcia later encounters Felice in the nearby marketplace with two American men accompanying her. They converse tensely but flirtatiously, and Garcia feels helpless around her. They talk about his upcoming match that weekend, and when they say their goodbyes, Garcia tells Felice he will call her. Several days later, Garcia continues seeing the media calling him overcautious. He calls Felice, who has been drinking and is upset he did not call her, rejecting his proposal to see him that night. Garcia runs into the Indian and his assistants at a bar a few days before his fight. The Indian reveals that the competing bullfighter got hurt in a fight and is out for the rest of the season, and now they will fight against each other that weekend. The Indian is excited to finally fight Garcia, someone who has indirectly taught him much knowledge about bullfighting. Garcia, on the other hand, simply feels tired and drunk while hearing this.    On the Sunday of the fight, Garcia feels unmotivated and displeased. He watches the Indian's performance on his first round and notices he is more careful and observant when attacking the bull rather than exercising his usual brashness. During Garcia's turn, he meets his bull with unexpected belligerence and hears Chucho exclaim from the stands that the two bullfighters switched their fighting methods. In the second third of the fight, when Garcia must place his _banderilla sticks, he places them as the Indian would do by breaking them short. One of the sticks falls out of the bull, displeasing the crowd. In the final third of the fight, where the killing occurs, the crowd throws items and boos at Garcia when he does not do the killing method they desired.    During the Indian's bullfight, Garcia runs out to help him with the banderilla sticks after the bull butts him. As the Indian is carried away, Garcia uses his cape and sword to kill the bull. After the fight, he visits the Indian in the infirmary, who is severely wounded. The Indian is satisfied that he will see God, and Garcia says goodbye to him, knowing he will die soon. Garcia returns to his fight that still requires two more bulls. He is exhausted but knows he will not die any time soon. He resolves to kill all the bulls "beautifully and bravely."