Flash Gordon Page #2

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A PASSENGER sitting in front of FLASH turns worriedly back to DALE. He is reading a newspaper with the headline, ‘WORLD COMING TO AN END. Strange new planet rushing towards Earth – only miracle can save us, says science’

PASSENGER:

Zarkov’s a lunatic, right? That planet’s just going to pass us by, right?

FLASH:

Well, let’s hope so.

DALE:

(She looks at Flash, points.)

Hey, I know you. I tried to get an interview with you during the last Olympics. Three gold medals. Triathlon. Fencing. Wresting. Made the headlines. Literal all-American everything. You’re Alex Gordon. Son of Professor Raymond Gordon, chief engineer over at NASA...

FLASH:

(smiles that winning smile)

My good friends call me Flash.

DALE:

(jokingly mocking. Smiles.)

Do they? Okay, “Flash”. What are you doing in Europe?

FLASH:

A postponed triathlon tournament in Naples. I know you, too. You’re Dale Arden. Columnist and correspondent for the New York Times. You’ve been writing all about Doctor Zarkov. Is that why you’re in Europe?

DALE:

Yep. The lead is he’s holding up in Austria near Salzburg. When we transfer, I’ll be getting off in Munich. Will you be continuing on?

FLASH:

Yeah, returning to D.C. What can you tell me about this Zarkov character?

DALE:

Well, he won the Nobel three years ago. Shortly after, he discovered that comet approaching us. Then, he went kind of haywire... started ranting we were under attack. He completely disappeared soon after he claimed to receive a radio transmission from outer space. Kept going on about something called ‘Mongo’... Raving about the end of the world. Attacks from outer space.

EXT. CHALLENGER JET

Traveling shot as we follow the CHALLENGER. LIGHTNING FLASHES as the clouds BECOME DARKER.

FLAMING METEORS the size of baseballs begin falling from the sky around the plane. One HITS the left engine. The engine BURSTS into fire.

INT. COCKPIT TO SKY - POV

The PILOTS watch the meteor shower, transfixed with disbelief. They speak with that incredible calmness characteristic of professional airmen in a moment of impending catastrophe.

PILOT:

Any word from control at Munich, Sam?

CO-PILOT:

No. All channels dead.

(Reacting to the panel)

Get a load of the VOR's....

The directional needles and the instruments are going crazy. Displays flash impossible symbols. The PILOT gapes at them a moment, then returns his gaze to the burning engine and swallows.

PILOT:

Let’s get the passengers out of here.

INT. CHALLENGER JET – CABIN – DAY

The CO-PILOT exits the cockpit and stands at the entrance to the cabin. The passengers stare back with rising anxiety. They see the worried look on his face.

CO-PILOT:

Ladies and gentlemen, we are attempting to make a landing at Munich Municipal Airport. Our right engine has been damaged. We can’t tell what might happen. You’ll find a parachute above every seat. We were ordered to bring them aboard in anticipation of any trouble.

The PASSENGERS quickly don their parachutes. DALE stands and yanks the parachute out of the storage above her.

DALE:

Like I know how to use one of these.

FLASH stands to help her.

FLASH:

Here, let me help you put it on. It’s not that complicated.

She gives him a placating smile as Flash slips her into the straps of the parachute.

EXT. SKY – CHALLENGER JET – DAY

The sky becomes OMINOUSLY DARKER as larger meteors begin to rain around the smoking, dipping CHALLENGER.

INT. CHALLENGER JET – CABIN – DAY

The moment FLASH attaches the final strap to DALE, there is a THUNDEROUS NOISE as the entire back of the plane rips away. PASSENGERS SCREAM as each one is sucked out of the back of the plane.

DALE SCREAMS as both she and FLASH are YANKED OUT. FLASH pulls the parachute cord and hangs onto DALE’S straps for dear life as they descend to the mountains below.

FLASH:

Hang on!

DALE:

I’m not about to let go!

The damaged CHALLENGER JET is struck by another meteor and EXPLODES above them.

EXT. POV – SKY – SOMEWHERE ABOVE THE AUSTRIAN ALPS

The camera spins and shakes as we descend toward the dark and wooded stretch of mountains.

EXT. AUSTRIAN MOUNTAINS – FOREST – DAY

The wind blows FIERCELY as our two drop down below the tree line. They fall through branches of a tree and roughly stop, dangling a few feet above the ground. The parachute has become ENTANGLED in the branches of a large tree.

FLASH drops five feet to the ground. He looks up at DALE, opening his arms to catch her.

FLASH:

Press that button on the front strap. Don’t worry, I’ll got you.

DALE drops into FLASH’S arms. He smiles comforting at her as he puts her to her feet.

FLASH:

Nice trip. Gonna have to try that again, sometime.

Still rattled, she shakes her head.

DALE:

I swear if you weren’t so damn charming...Where do you think we are?

FLASH glances around the forest. It is dark. The wind is howling and a rainstorm begins.

FLASH:

No idea. Definitely somewhere in the Austrian alps. Come on, we’ll have to hitch another ride.

WIPE TO:

EXT. ZARKOV’S CHATEAU – DAY

A small, two-story GERMAN CHATEAU sits in a clearing in the woods. Bordered by a white picket fence, the lawn is unkempt and overgrown. Opened packing crates, old jet engines, and steel piping among other industrial junk can be seen scattered haphazardly about. The house looks abandoned save for the YELLOW LIGHT coming from the first-floor window.

FLASH and DALE approach the house through the front gate. They look at the house. A FLASH OF LIGHTNING reveals a scaffolding surrounding what appears to be a missile pointed toward the sky. It is haphazardly constructed. As if someone rammed the fuselage of an old RUSSIAN R-1 BALLISTIC MISSILE rocket up the rear end of a SPACE SHUTTLE’S COCKPIT and welded it together with scrap iron.

DALE points at it.

DALE:

Is that a rocket ship?

FLASH:

Sure looks like it. Some fool trying to fly to Mars?

The two approach the door and ring the doorbell. No answer. FLASH loudly knocks. The door opens to reveal a stout, bearded man. The man is DR. HANS ZARKOV: feverish looking and seemingly half mad with exhaustion.

ZARKOV:

What do you want? Who are you?

FLASH:

We didn’t have time to send a calling card...

ZARKOV scoffs. He starts to close the door. Flash stops it with his hand.

FLASH:

Hey, hold up. Our plane was struck by a meteor. It crashed. We bailed out just in time. I mean, sorry if we’re intruding. Parachutes aren’t particular about where they set you down. Look, do you have a phone we might use so we could call for help?

ZARKOV huffs and turns. He walks into his house, leaving the door open. FLASH and DALE enter ZARKOV’S LABORATORY.

INT. ZARKOV’S CHATEAU – DAY

The inside eloquence and old-world charm of the furnished house are now CLUTTERED with a veritable junkyard of electrical and scientific machines, charts, stacks of paperwork, and random disorder.

As FLASH and DALE enter the house, DALE clutches FLASH’S arm and whispers.

DALE:

Flash, that’s Dr. Hans Zarkov.

In the middle of the living room, the DISHEVELED SCIENTIST turns on the couple and, pulling a REVOLVER from the pocket of his lab coat, points it at FLASH and DALE.

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