Flash Gordon Page #11

Season #8

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THUN:

I do not understand your meaning. 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 and the ominous crackle of arcing electricity. Both glance up.

EXT. SKY – MONGO

ANGLE ON:
The fleet of gyro-ships are being fired upon by laser cannons within the city. As the gyro-ships attempt to flee, a 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. The gyro-ships are picked off until there are no more.

EXT. SURFACE – MONGO – DAY

FLASH grabs the roll of cotton bandage. He approaches THUN and notices his bleeding abdomen.

FLASH:

That looks bad. Here, let me stop the bleeding.

FLASH begins to wrap the bandage around THUN’S torso. THUN reacts.

THUN:

What are you doing?

FLASH:

If we’re going to defeat Ming, we have to learn to help one another. Now, stay still…

As FLASH quickly bandages his new ally, THUN sadly watches his ships relentlessly 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 a way we can get into the city from here?

THUN:

Yes! 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 a glass 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!

Cut to:

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 towering statue of a grimacing, six-armed deity – this is the Mongo god TAO. The HIGH PRIEST stands next to a control board as a brutish, 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...

The HOODED MAN backhands her across the face. DALE drops from the blow.

HIGH PRIEST:

Easy, Torgo. If you damage her, the emperor will have us both executed. No visible bruises!

TORGO grabs DALE and drags her over to the chair. He STRAPS her in. DALE doesn’t like the looks of this.

DALE:

Please! Please don’t do this!

The HIGH PRIEST looms over her, smirking.

HIGH PRIEST:

I must admit. The emperor outdid himself. You are a beauty.

DALE is visibly distraught. Tears begin to form in her eyes.

DALE:

Please, stop. What has become of Flash Gordon? Please, tell me?

HIGH PRIEST:

You will never see the earthman again. However, you will not miss him. By the grace of the great god Tao, you will forget him, forever.

Dale begins to sob. The glistening back of TORGO enters and fills the screen as he approaches DALE. We hear DALE SCREAM.

WHIPE TO:

EXT. MINGO CITY – SLUMS – DAY

THUN leads FLASH through the steaming, garbage-infested outskirts of the city. Hundreds of SHANTIES constructed from garbage sit on both sides of a muck-lined street. RESIDENTS mill about, rummaging through HEAPS of REFUSE. STARVING CHILDREN gaze up at FLASH as he passes. GRIMY, EMACIATED MEN with milky white eyes lay in FILTH. THUN notices FLASH looking at them.

THUN:

They are the unfortunates who worked in the mines under the palace. The radiation from the ore burns cold making flesh rot, eyes blind. The tyrant Ming has a great deal to answer for.

THUN growls.

FLASH:

Tell me about this Ming.

THUN:

What’s to tell? He is the emperor of the universe, or so he calls himself. Without question, Ming is the absolute ruler of this world. Though there are a few he hasn’t completely convinced.

FLASH:

Like you and your lionmen?

THUN:

If it were not for Ming, Prince Barin of Arboria would be emperor of Mongo.

FLASH:

Then team up with Prince Barin. Take this Ming out.

THUN:

It would be no improvement if you ask me. The Arborians hunt us lionmen for sport. Ming is too clever to rely on brute strength alone to remain in power. He keeps every race on Mongo an enemy of every other race. Each man stands alone, distrusting one another, even members of his own kingdom. There is a saying on Mongo: Separate and destroy.

FLASH:

On our world, it’s divide and conquer. The oldest trick played by any tyrant.

THUN:

Keep down!

FILTHY WATER trickles out of a large STEEL DUCT jutting from the huge PALACE WALL. One ARMORED MAN holding a LASER RIFLE stands guard at the grate. He is eating bread. He tosses the remaining portion onto the ground like feeding ducks in a pond and watches in amusement as DIRTY CHILDREN fight over the scraps.

FLASH sneaks up behind the ARMORED MAN watching the scuffling CHILDREN. FLASH grabs the ARMORED MAN in a vice-like CHOKE HOLD. THE GUARD drops his chrome rifle. THUN picks it up. The ARMORED MAN struggles, but cannot loosen FLASH’s grip.

FLASH:

Lead us into the palace! To Zarkov! The scientist from the earth!

The ARMORED GUARD sneers at the lionman.

ARMORED GUARD:

I do not assist mutant filth!

FLASH:

Take us into the palace and we’ll spare you!

THUN draws his sword and buries it into the ARMORED MAN’S exposed midriff. Blood and intestines SPILL onto the dusty ground. FLASH releases the CORPSE in disgust.

FLASH:

Goddamn, Thun! Why did you - ?

THUN enters the SEWAGE DUCT.

THUN:

Come. We’ll find our own way.

WHIPE TO:

INT. THRONE ROOM – MINGO CITY – DAY

MING sits on his throne as there is a resounding GONG. The throne room doors slide open and the PRINCESS AURA strides in escorted by two Amazonian FRIGIAN WARRIORS.

MING is furious.

MING:

What have you done with the earthman, Gordon?

AURA:

I will not tell you, father. Unless...

MING:

(enraged)

Unless?!

AURA:

...you decree his life is to be spared.

MING:

It is not enough you make a fool of me before my soldiers when I ordered his death! You attempt to bargain for his life? Very well. You solicit a decree? You shall be taken by these two warriors to the frozen ice kingdom of Frigia where you will serve as a common soldier in their army! Away with her!

The two FRIGIAN WARRIORS take AURA by the arms and lead her out of the throne room.

AURA:

No, father! No!

WHIPE TO:

INT. SEWAGE DUCT – MINGO CITY

THUN and FLASH creep through the dark, dripping sewage tunnel.

THUN:

Keep vigilant, Flash. These tunnels are guarded by vicious beasts.

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