Flash Gordon Page #7

Season #8

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Several of the ARMORED MEN race towards FLASH. He punches his way through until he reaches CAPTAIN MALO, who he just knocked out. FLASH snatches the SWORD from the captain’s scabbard and begins slashing at the oncoming GUARDS. The ARMORED MEN draw their swords as FLASH somewhat clumsily hacks and slashes at them.

He backs down the flight of steps as MING stands and points.

MING:

Toss this savage into the arena!

An ARMORED MAN at a nearby control panel throws a switch.

Down in the middle of the throne room, the courtesans split onto either side as the center floor opens to reveal a large and circular ARENA embedded into the palace floor. Along its smooth side is the ascension of small bricks jetting out of the stone wall from the rim down to its base. The floor of the arena itself is a series of metal grates.

CLOSE ANGLE - AURA

Wetting her lips, moving sinuously to WHISPER to the enraged MING.

AURA:

Don't kill him yet, father. Give him to me!

MING:

(eyebrows up)

And what of your Prince Barin?

AURA:

I can handle Barin.

MING:

Really, Aura, your appetites are too monstrous — even for our family. This could cause even greater trouble with Barin — I forbid it.

Still slashing at the ARMORED MEN with his sword, FLASH is backed to the ledge of the ARENA. He falls in.

DALE:

Flash!

MING:

He will not escape, my lovely. For the Earthman is to provide the court with rare amusement.

AURA:

Father, a bargain. If he survives, he’s mine!

MING:

(sneers)

If!

DALE scowls at AURA.

INT. ARENA – MINGO PALACE

Shaken, FLASH raises himself onto one knee and quickly takes in his surroundings. The ARENA is a ten-foot-deep pit in the palace floor. The walls are smooth marble and the floor is a series of metal grates. Opposite FLASH is a STEEL DOOR.

INT. THRONE ROOM – MINGO PALACE

MING casually raises his hand and a well-built slave in a loin cloth sounds a gong.

The ARMORED MAN at the control panel throws a lever.

INT. ARENA – MINGO PALACE

The STEEL DOOR slides OPEN. Three brawny men slowly emerge. They are men, but with the actual heads of SNARLING BABOONS! They brandish long yellow fangs at FLASH as the young man tenses up, ready to defend himself.

INT. THRONE ROOM – MINGO CITY

A lizardwoman and hawkwoman hold DALE by the arms as she struggles to free herself to assist FLASH.

DALE:

Let me go!

INT. ARENA – MINGO PALACE

The three BABOON MEN circle FLASH, seizing him up. Snarling and baring fangs. They attack! FLASH punches the first who howls away like a feral beast. Another jumps onto FLASH who counter-fights with expert wrestling tactics.

MING looks on in bored disappointment.

Aura watches. Her ample chest heaving in lust.

DALE watches in both fear and admiring love.

The three BABOON MEN attack FLASH all at once. One sinks its fangs deep into Flash’s shoulder as another tears away at his clothes and claws ripping into his flesh. The third hoots loudly as it claws at FLASH.

MING grins, arching his fingers.

FLASH rips himself free and flings his back against the wall. Bloodied and wounded, he renews his strategies strictly for survival. The three BABOON MEN hoot at him like feral beasts as they lurk in for the final assault.

The three BABOON MEN leap at FLASH. FLASH punches and kicks them away. One is punched so hard, it goes down.

INT. THRONE ROOM – MINGO PALACE

MING’S eyes turn to slits as his face flushes crimson in controlled rage.

MING:

He fights well, this earthman. But, he shall not escape the pit!

AURA:

No, father! I implore you! Not that! Not the pit!

As FLASH continues his struggle to survive, AURA races down the steps that lead to the throne and stands at the edge watching FLASH fight. Another BABOON MAN has slumped unconscious to the ground.

AURA dashes over and down the steps that lead to the floor of the arena.

MING rises from his throne and points at the arena.

MING:

Retrieve my daughter at once!

Five ARMORED MEN race down into the arena.

INT. ARENA – THRONE ROOM – MINGO PALACE

AURA stands next to FLASH. She clasps his muscular bicep. FLASH is exhausted. He is smeared in grime and blood. His shirt has been completely ripped off and one pant leg is gone. Bloody scratches crisscross his glistening torso.

AURA looks up at her father.

AURA:

Father! The earthman has earned the right to live!

One of the ARMORED MEN approaches AURA. FLASH punches him, sending the man careening across the arena against the wall. He falls unconscious.

The other ARMORED MEN fight FLASH. While they are in a scuffle, AURA runs over to the first downed guard and snatches a ray gun from his holster. She turns and blasts the attacking ARMORED MEN.

INT. THRONE ROOM – MINGO CITY

MING is enraged! He snarls as he points down to Flash.

MING:

The pit!

INT. ARENA – MINGO PALACE

AURA stands next to FLASH. She raises the ray gun. A beam SHOOTS out and hits the ARMORED MAN at the control panel. The man is sliced completely in half by the ray. The CORPSE slumps down, the hand still grasping a lever, pulling it as he falls.

The section of the grated floor FLASH and AURA are standing on drops open and the two fall downward.

DALE screams. AURA and FLASH plummet down into a pit of complete darkness.

WHIPE TO:

A TITLE CARD appears, white letters on black:

“To be continued in the next exciting chapter:

THE TUNNEL OF TERROR!”

Fade out. Credits.

 

FLASH GORDON:

EPISODE 2

THE TUNNEL OF TERROR

 

 

 

A triumphant Wagnerian-like theme plays over OPENING CREDITS. A vast sea of stars serves as the backdrop for the main title as a roll-up slowly crawls into infinity.

Chapter Two:

THE TUNNEL OF TERROR

Hurtling from the skies, a mysterious comet threatens to destroy the earth and forces Flash Gordon and Dale Arden into a rocket ship with Doctor Hans Zarkov in a desperate attempt to reach the planet-sized comet and divert it from its course.

Crashing on the unknown planet, Flash, Dale, and Zarkov are taken before the evil Emperor Ming who plans to add Earth to his chain of galactic conquests. The tyrant promptly imprisons Zarkov in his laboratory, and then, determined to win the beautiful Dale Arden for his bride, condemns Flash to fight to the death against huge ape-like mutants in an arena...

WHIPE TO:

INT. ARENA – THRONE ROOM – MINGO PALACE

AURA stands next to FLASH. She clasps his bicep. FLASH is exhausted, winded. He is smeared in grime and blood. His shirt has been completely ripped off and one pant leg is gone. Bloody scratches crisscross his glistening torso.

AURA looks up at MING.

AURA:

Father! The earthman has earned the right to live!

One of the ARMORED MEN approach AURA. FLASH punches him, sending the man careening across the arena against the wall. He falls unconscious.

The other ARMORED MEN fight FLASH. While they are in a scuffle, AURA runs over to the first downed guard and snatches a ray gun from his holster. She turns and blasts the attacking ARMORED MEN.

INT. THRONE ROOM – MINGO CITY

MING is enraged! He snarls as he points down to Flash.

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