Flash Gordon Page #4

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INT. ZARKOV’S ROCKET – COCKPIT

ZARKOV checks readings on several dials. Data information begins to SCROLL onto the screen of his computer monitor.

ZARKOV:

Hmmm. Most peculiar.

FLASH:

What is it?

ZARKOV:

This comet. It’s twice the size of our moon, yet has a mass ratio as dense as the Earth. The gravity will be slightly less, but the same as back home. Oxygen. Nitrogen. Some unknown inert gasses.

FLASH:

Then we can breathe on it?

ZARKOV:

Yes. And walk on it. (ZARKOV looks FLASH up and down.) With its lower gravity, you will feel stronger, higher dexterity. What intrigues me, even more, is if the planetoid supports life, how did they survive traveling between solar systems without the warmth of a sun? Amazing.

DALE looks out the window. The cusp of the planet fills the view.

DALE:

It’s strange and beautiful.

WHIPE TO:

EXT. SPACE – MONGO

The TINY ROCKET races toward the grey, foreboding COMET. Shrouded in tumultuous clouds of grey, we are unable to see its surface. Its misty tail stretches hundreds of miles behind. A multitude of asteroids and rocky debris travel along with it.

INT. ZARKOV’S ROCKET – COCKPIT

ZARKOV looks with wonder at the approaching comet. He glances back at the awed faces of Flash and Dale.

ZARKOV:

The answers we seek lie here. Young man, I need your help. Without reservations. Whatever the outcome.

FLASH:

You can count on me, doc.

Shocked, DALE points at the front window.

DALE:

Look out!

TWO ROCKET DRONES soar towards the cockpit window and split up, one left, one right. They resemble old submarine torpedoes with large, curved fins on either side. They FIRE LASER BLASTS as they pass.

EXT. MONGO – UPPER ATMOSPHERE – SPACE

ZARKOV’S ROCKET races past as the TWO DRONES turn and double back to continue the attack. The TWO DRONES rapidly release a series of laser bolts straight at the ENGINE CONE. It bursts into a million pieces.

INT. ZARKOV’S ROCKET – COCKPIT

The inside cockpit shakes violently as panels spark and explode. ZARKOV pulls levers and flips switches in a desperate attempt to control the rocket.

ZARKOV:

Hold on! We’re going to crash!

Dale grabs Flash by the arm.

DALE:

Flash!

FLASH:

(He comforts her)

We’re going to get through this!

EXT. MONGO - SPACE

ZARKOV’S ROCKET leaves a smoking spiral trail as it drops down into the grey clouds of THE PLANET.

EXT. MONGO – SKY

A great vista of a broken and desolate landscape. Jagged peaks of black rock and ash-filled craters. PIERCING through the grey overcast sky drops the spiraling ROCKET SHIP.

The ROCKET SHIP glides down and violently ricochets off the tip of a jagged peak.

INT. ZARKOV’S ROCKET – COCKPIT

The cockpit shakes intensely as the P.O.V. shot spins. DALE screams in terror. ZARKOV attempts to control the rocket’s descent.

ZARKOV:

Hold on! This is it!

EXT. MONGO – SURFACE – DAY

In a gulley nestled in the craggy rocks, ZARKOV’S ROCKET slams into the ashy surface of the planet and SKIDS to a halt.

SILENCE.

The rocket settles, wrecked and smoking.

INT. ZARKOV’S ROCKET – MONGO – DAY

Inside, the cockpit is a shambles. FLASH, cut and bruised, unfastens his seat belt and leans over to an unconscious Dale. He gently shakes her.

FLASH:

Dale? Dale, are you all right?

She stirs. Groggily, she looks up at Flash and grins.

DALE:

I’m okay. I think.

FLASH turns and sees ZARKOV coming to. He has a bloody gash across his forehead. ZARKOV holds his head and moans.

FLASH:

Dr. Zarkov?

ZARKOV:

I’m not hurt, Flash. Just dinged up a bit.

FLASH:

We’ve made it to Mongo.

ZARKOV glances over the destroyed control board.

ZARKOV:

It’s no use. Everything is smashed. We can’t even radio back home. We have failed our mission.

FLASH:

No, doc, we’re still alive.

EXT. ZARKOV’S ROCKET – GULLEY – MONGO – DAY

We see THE ROCKET laying in a smoldering ruin against the base of the canyon wall. There is growling as a LARGE SHADOW can be seen creeping toward the rocket.

INT. ZARKOV’S ROCKET – COCKPIT – DAY

Sadly, ZARKOV flips dead switches on the smashed control board to the rocket. It smokes and sparks.

ZARKOV:

Even the reactor is dead. I don’t think...

DALE:

Oh!

FLASH:

What is it? What's the matter?

Dale SCREAMS.

A HUGE REPTILIAN FACE appears in the cockpit window. Everyone SCREAMS.

The rocket LURCHES - and we hear a deep GROWL.

The three hold tight, paralyzed.

The rocket is YANKED from the side to side. Battered this way and that, the terrified trio tightly grip their seats.

Finally, the horrible sounds of WRENCHING METAL as the nose of the rocket is RIPPED RIGHT OFF. Zarkov and Dale are suddenly sitting in the open air. Debris tumbles out the open end of the rocket.

Suddenly, a long snout with dagger-like teeth pushes past the cockpit seats, opens wide, and CLAMPS DOWN, barely missing Zarkov’s head.

A large, SCALY HAND with long black talons reaches in and snatches up DALE. She screams as she is lifted out of the rocket.

EXT. ZARKOV’S ROCKET – GULLEY – MONGO – DAY

We see that it is a HUGE LIZARD, standing on two hind legs. Twenty feet in height. Though resembling a t-rex, it is not like any dinosaur from Earth, but no less monstrous. It ROARS at its prey.

FLASH quickly exits THE ROCKET from the rip THE LIZARD made and stands on top of the fuselage. FLASH grabs a steel beam and brandishes it like a club.

FLASH:

Hey!

THE LIZARD turns, and leans down, roaring its challenge to FLASH. With all his strength, FLASH whacks THE LIZARD across the temple with the steel beam. The beast roars in pain and drops DALE.

Quickly, FLASH leaps off the rocket, takes DALE by the hand, and the two run off, away from THE LIZARD. The GIANT LIZARD roars, turns, and begins charging after FLASH and DALE.

As the two race toward the end of the small ravine, ANOTHER GIANT LIZARD appears at its entrance. This one looks like a six-legged brontosaurus with a writhing head of a fanged and horned serpent. The BRONTO LIZARD roars its challenge to the T-REX LIZARD and charges like an enraged bull. The very ground SHAKES as FLASH and DALE barely scurry out of the way, hiding behind a large boulder. The two giant beasts begin to tear into each other.

ZARKOV creeps up and joins FLASH and DALE behind the boulder. The ground rumbles and the roars are deafening as the two colossal lizards fight.

ZARKOV:

Good thing those two are mad at each other.

Above the chaos of battle, we hear the distinctive sound of JETS ENGINES soaring overhead. ZARKOV looks up. DALE points skyward.

DALE:

Look!

EXT. SKY – MONGO

From their point of view, we see five rocket ships pass overhead in a v-formation. One breaks formation and dives downward.

The rocket, it looks like a stunted b-29 bomber except the wings are curved back into retro-looking fins and with powerful rockets at the back of a cylindrical fuselage, soars over the battling lizards. There is an ELECTRICAL CRACKLE as a white, buzzing beam emits from the rocket, slicing the two beasts cleanly in half.

EXT. GULLEY – MONGO – DAY

The three watch in stunned amazement.

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