Flash Gordon Page #10

Season #8

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WHIPE TO:

INT. MING’S LABORATORY – MINGO CITY

Escorted by the two MECHANICAL MEN, MING and ZARKOV return to the laboratory.

MING:

...you will design for me a way of harnessing the positronic rays in which I will...

The HIGH PRIEST walks into the laboratory. He approaches MING and bows. MING sneers at being interrupted and nods.

HIGH PRIEST:

The earth girl refuses to obey your royal commands, my emperor.

MING:

What?! She refuses to become my bride?

HIGH PRIEST:

It appears so, your majesty.

MING:

Very well. As High Priest, you know what to do.

HIGH PRIEST:

Your majesty? You don’t mean the de-humanizer?

MING:

Precisely what I mean.

HIGH PRIEST:

But, the danger of cerebral aneurysms or synaptic seizures...

MING:

Not if you see to it that the hypnotic symptoms last only long enough for you to perform the marriage ceremony.

MING waves the HIGH PRIEST away.

MING:

Oh, and priest. If she dies, I will see to it you die a million times over.

The HIGH PRIEST bows and slinks away. MING notices the dismay on ZARKOV’S face. MING approaches the doctor menacingly.

MING:

Our science has overcome all things, doctor. Even the human emotion.

WHIPE TO:

INT. ROCKETSHIP – HANGAR – MINGO CITY

FLASH is dressed in the uniform he found in the locker. After adjusting the tunic here and there, he casually sits in the pilot’s seat. It is both archaic instruments and high-tech. Switches, dials, levers, and vacuum tubes mixed with LED light monitors and screens.

FLASH looks the panel over. Flips a switch. Nothing. Turns a dial. Nothing. Pushes a button. The control panels spring to life. The generator in the back hums.

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, walk 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 toward 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, the top and bottom 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 in astonished fascination 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, Doctor Zarkov! Watch as 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. Unleash the laser cannons.

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 chases 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 of an enraged beast within the crashed saucer.

Amid the debris, FLASH notices a smashed open box filled with broken vials and what appears to be bandage tape. He quickly wraps the lower right wrist that was bleeding profusely.

The ROAR echoes out of the crashed ships.

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! His torso covered in short fur, his hands and feet are feline. 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. 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:

No, I’m not going to kill you. I fought only to save my friends who are being kept prisoners in Ming’s palace.

THUN:

Then, you are not an ally of the emperor?

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 sheaves 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 about to crash into.

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