Flash Gordon Page #10

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FLASH:

Cool.

CUT TO:

INT:
MING’S LABORATORY – MINGO CITY

An ARMORED MAN rushes in and salutes MING.

ARMORED MAN:

Your majesty! The gyro-ships of the lionmen rapidly approach Mingo City in attack formation!

MING, followed by the ARMORED MAN and ZARKOV, walks over to a large monitor on the wall. A SERVANT flips a switch. WE see spinning, flying-saucer like objects approaching.

EXT. MINGO CITY – SKY

In a lined formation, a group of ten gyro-ships spin towards the awaiting palace. About the size of a garbage truck, these chrome and spinning flying saucer-like ships have no discernible windows. With a dome on top and bottom, the disc sections spin opposite one another.

As the gyro-ships reach the outer gates of the city, they begin dropping bombs onto the spires below.

EXT. MINGO CITY – STREETS - DAY

The people in the city streets scream and run as explosions rain around them and walls topple.

INT. ROCKETSHIP – HANGAR – MINGO CITY

Though the image is crude on the small monitor next to the control panel, FLASH watches as the gyro-ships bomb the city. Outside, he can hear the dull thud of explosions.

FLASH:

(to himself)

Wow. Wait! They’re heading to the palace! Dale!

Flash begins pulling leavers and flipping switches at random. There is an enormous ROAR as the rockets activate.

EXT. HANGAR – MINGO CITY

The small rocketship blasts out of the hanger and soars up towards the gyro-ships.

EXT. MINGO CITY – SKY – DAY

The gyro-ships begin a SECOND BOMBARDMENT as they drop more bowling ball-sized bombs onto the city below. EXPLOSIONS rip into the city.

EXT. MINGO CITY – STREETS

PEOPLE scream and run as the bombs EXPLODE. FIRE BURSTS across the screen as BODY PARTS and DEBRIS are flung around the city streets.

EXT. SKY – MINGO CITY – DAY

FLASH’S rocketship does a LOOP around the gyro-ships. It is obvious the pilot is inexperienced. The rocket spins and dips as it circles.

INT:
ROCKETSHIP – SKY

FLASH continues to pull levers and flip switches at random as he grasps the yolk on the control panel. He locates a button on the yolk and presses it. There is the sound of ARCING ELECTRICITY.

EXT:
SKY – MINGO CITY – DAY

A red beam of light flashes out from the rocketship and EXPLODES one of the gyro-ships. A second beam shoots at another, but misses.

INT. MING’S LABORATORY – MINGO CITY

MING, the ARMORED MAN, the SERVANT, and ZARKOV stand in front of the huge wall monitor watching the aerial battle. MING wrings his hands.

MING:

Ah! Observe, Zarkov! That gallant pilot single-handedly speeds to my defense!

ZARKOV:

He is indeed a brave man.

MING:

And will be royally rewarded if he survives this fight.

(to the ARMORED MAN)

Order out the rest of the aerial fleet to help him.

EXT. SKY – MINGO CITY – DAY

FLASH’S ROCKET swings around in a spiraling loop and fires on another gyro-ship. It EXPLODES.

One of the gyro-ships breaks formation and starts chasing FLASH. The Gyro-ship begins shooting ray beams at FLASH’S ROCKET. FLASH flies so erratically, making him hard to hit.

FLASH loops around behind the pursuing gyro-ship and begins firing ray blasts.

The gyro-ship dodges the shots and zips straight at FLASH’S ROCKET, ramming into it! Lodged into one another, the mid-air collision causes both craft to fall and smash into the side of a jagged mountain below.

EXT. MONGO – SURFACE – DAY

The rocketship and gyro-ship lay crumpled and smoking at the side of the rock formation. FLASH flings open the side hatch of his rocket and stumbles out of the smoking wreck.

He staggers back. Amazed he’s still alive, FLASH glances at the two crashed ships, he hears a TREMENDOUS ROAR.

From out of the wrecked gyro-ship climbs a LARGE MAN with the physique of a bodybuilder, however, he has the head and mane of a lion! He is dressed in no more than an ornate loin cloth, leather straps holding a sword, and leather sandals. At first sight, he is actually terrifying. This is THUN, PRINCE OF THE LIONMEN.

When he sees FLASH standing there, THUN issues an ear-shattering ROAR at the earthman. It is obvious THUN is hurt from the crash. He holds his abdomen. The lionman draws his sword and charges at FLASH. FLASH dodges and rolls out of the way, expertly kicking the lionman’s footing. THUN falls and rolls, dropping his sword.

FLASH grabs the sword and points the tip at the downed lionman’s throat. There is a tense beat as THUN glares at his victor.

THUN:

If you’re going to kill me, then kill me!

FLASH moves the sword away from the lionman. THUN looks bewildered.

FLASH:

I fought you only to save my friends who are being kept prisoners in Ming’s palace.

THUN:

Then, you are not an ally of Ming?

FLASH:

(smiles)

Ally? Not even close.

(He extends a hand and helps THUN to his feet.)

That a**hole’s been trying to kill me ever since I landed here.

FLASH hands THUN his sword, who promptly sheeves it.

THUN:

I am Thun, Prince of the lionman. Ming is also my enemy.

FLASH:

I’m Flash Gordon, from the planet you guys are going to crash into.

THUN:

I do not understand your meaning, earthman. However, you have spared my life and in return, I will help you free the prisoners of whom you speak.

FLASH:

Thanks!

(he extends a hand in friendship)

I’ll need all the help I can get!

THUN grasps Flash by the forearm and they shake. FLASH smiles. THUN nods. There is the ROAR of ROCKETS. Both glance up.

EXT. SKY – MONGO

ANGLE ON:
fleet of rockets, similar to the one which took FLASH, DALE, and ZARKOV prisoner, swoop in like fighter jets, and unleash a barrage of laser blasts at the remaining gyro-ships. The smaller gyro-ships are no match as they are one-by-one blown out of the sky.

The remaining gyro-ships begin to flee as the fleet of MING’S ROCKETS follow in pursuit, firing as they go.

EXT. SURFACE – MONGO – DAY

THUN sadly watches as his ships are destroyed. He growls.

THUN:

Ming is merciless and all-powerful. He can only be taken by surprise.

FLASH glances up at the towers of Mingo City. His anger mounting.

FLASH:

I got a surprise for him all right. Is there any way we can get into the city from here?

THUN:

Come! I know of a secret passage that leads to the palace.

INT. MINGO CITY – PALACE

DALE is dragged down a hall and forced into an elevator by four ARMORED MEN. She is dressed in the ceremonial gown the HIGH PRIEST had brought earlier.

DALE:

Keep your filthy hands off me! Let me go! This place is an insane asylum! Let me go!

INT. LOWER LEVELS – MINGO CITY

DALE is dragged kicking and screaming to a room. The door slides open and she is SHOVED in.

She surveys the room. There is a sinister-looking CHAIR hooked up to a series of chrome gizmos and electrodes. Across from the chair is an elaborate altar with a statue of a grimacing, six-armed deity – this is the Mongo god TAO. The HIGH PRIEST stands next to a control board as a burly, shirtless man in black leather shorts and a black hood approaches her.

DALE:

(terrified)

Now, look here, buddy, I’m not into that S&M stuff...

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