Flash Gordon Page #6

Season #8

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Under a statue of a giant winged gargoyle, sitting on a jade throne, is EMPEROR MING, the absolute Ruler of Mongo. On either side of him stands his servants and acolytes.

In front of him stands a cowering noble. This is KING NURID, leader of a race of dark-skinned dwarves.

NURID:

Emperor Ming, the people of my war torn country are starving. The hawkmen constantly raid our silos of grain. I humbly come before you begging for assistance.

MING:

You stand before me and claim your citizens have nothing to eat? Is that what you are saying, King Nurid?

NOBLE:

Yes, my emperor.

MING:

And you wish for me to end your people’s suffering?

NOBLE:

Please, my emperor! I beg you!

Ming flicks his finger ever so subtly. An ARMORED MAN approaches, draws his sword, and decapitates KING NURID. Blood gushes from his neck as his head rolls across the floor.

MING:

You will be hungry no more, King Nurid. (He motions to an ARMORED MAN standing to his left.) Dispatch my air armada to their kingdom. Reduce their capital city to a charred cinder. Deliver me the heads of the royal family and place them on pikes at the city gates.

ARMORED MAN:

As you command, my emperor.

There is a resounding gong. All eyes fall on the main entrance to the throne room. The palace doors slide open as CAPTAIN MALO, along with FLASH, DALE, and ZARKOV enter with the four MECHANICAL MEN.

The entourage stops at the foot of the steps leading to the elaborate throne. CAPTAIN MALO bows at the hips and salutes with his hand up and out. MING acknowledges with a casual flip of his wrist.

CAPTAIN MALO:

Your majesty, we have captured the earth people!

MING:

Was there any resistance?

CAPTAIN MALO:

No, your majesty. Except from the blond savage.

FLASH, DALE, and ZARKOV react to the decapitated body slumped on the floor. CAPTAIN MALO turns to the three. He points to the floor.

CAPTAIN MALO:

Kneel!

The MECHANICAL MEN on either side of FLASH attempt to make him kneel. FLASH punches CAPTAIN MALO in the face, who goes sliding across the palace floor. The MECHANICAL MEN raise their gatling rifles.

MING:

No! Do not harm them! Let them stand! Bring the earth people closer.

The three are escorted up the five steps and stand before MING.

MING:

Why did you trespass in my kingdom?

ZARKOV:

To rescue you from your fate.

MING:

(turning crimson with rage)

What? Your meaning?!

ZARKOV:

Your planet is rushing madly towards the planet earth from which we came. A collision could only mean destruction for both our worlds. I am asking you to...

MING chuckles. He leans back, arching his fingers.

MING:

Incompetent savage. I control the absolute movement of this world. Mongo and your pathetic planet of ignorant buffoons will not collide. Our worlds will come close, however. Very close. When the two atmospheres touch, my superior air armada will swoop in and conquer your primitive armies in a single campaign. Your planet will learn to serve me or be reduced to a lifeless tomb!

ZARKOV:

Mein Gott! Even a near miss would be catastrophic! Millions will die!

MING:

Exactly. It will disrupt your world and destroy any resistance.

FLASH:

But, why?

MING:

(sneers)

Why not?

FLASH:

We haven’t done anything to you!

MING:

You exist -- and yet you pay no homage to Ming! What greater crime can be committed?

(beat)

In what manner did you arrive to Mongo?

ZARKOV:

In a rocket ship of my own design.

MING:

I see. To successfully traverse the void, you are a man of remarkable genius. I could use you. (To guards) Take this one to my laboratory. Grant him everything he requires, except his freedom.

ZARKOV:

I will never serve a tyrant!

MING:

You will serve me willingly or otherwise. You remain alive only because I permit it. It will benefit you to remember this.

FLASH:

You can’t get away with this! We don’t obey dictators!

MING:

We will see if your strength is as great as your insolence! I hereby condemn this savage to the radium mines!

From behind the throne steps PRINCESS AURA, MING’S daughter. Young, voluptuous beyond her years, fiercely erotic.

FLASH can't take his eyes off her. FLASH swallows with a dry throat as AURA'S gaze devours him.

She casts her sultry stare onto DALE. DALE doesn’t like the way she looks at her and reacts. AURA glances her up and down in judgment, then looks at FLASH. Her eyes widen in lust. AURA approaches and leans into MING, stroking his ear.

AURA:

Father, if it pleases you, I desire the earthman for my own amusement.

MING:

You dare interrupt these proceedings, my daughter? It would have earned anyone else death.

She stomps her foot and pouts.

AURA:

I am of royal blood! My wishes are not to be questioned!

MING:

Well said, daughter.

AURA:

Then the earthman is mine?

MING:

No. I think not.

AURA pouts as MING returns his attention to ZARKOV.

MING:

Remove him. Take him to my laboratory.

Two guards escort ZARKOV out. This moves DALE.

DALE:

Dr. Zarkov? (To Ming) You monster! How can you be so merciless?

Ming chuckles. He salaciously eyes her. Gestures toward a court page. The sickly-looking page approaches with a scribe pad.

MING:

Merciless? That amuses me! Let it be written into law. From henceforth my title will be Emperor Ming the Merciless. All will address me as such under penalty of death!

PAGE:

It is written, it is done, Emperor Ming the Merciless, Ruler of Mongo!

The palace rings with an answering chorus: VOICES of all the ARMORED MEN and numerous others, including the mutated courtesans.

COURTESANS:

Hail, Emperor Ming the Merciless! Ruler of the Universe!

Ming glares down at Dale. He leans forward on his throne.

MING:

This earth woman. She pleases me. If she performs well, I may favor her. Abduct the girl to me.

FLASH tenses as two ARMORED MEN grab Dale by the arm. Dale pushes one away.

DALE:

Get the hell off me!

The other ARMORED MAN grabs DALE, who quickly kicks him in the nuts. He bowls over. MING chuckles.

The two MECHANICAL MEN raise their rifles.

MING:

Stop!

(leeringly at DALE)

Earthwoman, you amuse me more and more.

CAPTAIN MALO grabs Dale by the arm and leads her to stand in front of MING. MING raises to his feet. The robot guards keep Flash at bay.

MING:

Your eyes. Your hair. Your skin. I’ve never seen the likes of you before. Oh, you are beautiful.

During this, he places a hand across her breast, down her stomach, and along her hips. Dale winces in disgust.

FLASH pulls himself free. He dashes up and grabs MING. FLASH then shoves him back down on his throne.

FLASH:

Keep your goddamn, slimy hands off her, you perverted...

MING is wide eyed and crimson with fury.

MING:

You touched me! You dare touch ME!

FLASH turns to CAPTAIN MALO who is holding DALE.

FLASH:

And that goes for you, too, a**hole!

FLASH punches MALO who goes flying, hitting the palace floor hard.

MING:

Seize him!

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