01x01 - Chapter One: A Planet in Peril

[bunniefuu]

NARRATOR: Blasting off
on a desperate mission

to save Earth from
the evil plottings

of the tyrannical spacelord Ming the Merciless--

Ah, ha ha ha!

NARRATOR: Dr. Hans
Zarkov and Dale Arden

have joined me, Flash
Gordon, on a fantastic

journey into a worlds whereperil and adventure await us.

[theme music]

NARRATOR: Flash, Dale, andZarkov have set out for Mongo

on a mission of
mercy, to prevent

the impending
collision between Earth

and the mysterious comet world.

But as their rocket ship
enters the atmosphere

of the alien planet, thereis an unprovoked attack

which destroys the guidancesystem, plummeting them

towards unknown dangers below.

And now, chapter one--

A Planet in Peril.

Hang on!

We're going to crash!

What strange manner
of fish have we here?

Like nothing I've
ever hunted on Mongo.

And you've hunted
every every living,

haven't you, Prince Barin?-Heh, heh.

Only those who
furnish me with sport.

Like you and your
lion men, Thun.

We'll settle ourdifferences another time.

Any time, lion man.

And now, who are you?

Whence do you come?

From Earth.

Welcome to Mongo, Earth man.

Sorry I couldn't have arrangeda better welcome for you.

With a pack of hunters armedwith your ice arrows, no doubt.

I need no arrows to
deal with you, lion man.

Stop it, both of you!

Now, you've got bigger
troubles right now.

What are those things thathave us bagged in here?

They seem to be mutants,
bred to live in the sea.

Human of Mongo, Mingthe Merciless' fishermen.

Aye, and he'll be pleased
with this day's catch.

I don't think I like beingreferred to as the day's catch.

Who or what is
Ming the Merciless?

The emperor of theuniverse, he calls himself.

The absolute ruler of
this world, Earth man.

Though there are those
who stand against him.

Like you?

If it were not for me, Barinwould be emperor of Mongo.

Which would be no improvementat all, if you ask me.

No one's asking you, lion man.

You both hate your
ruler, Ming, and yet

you fight between yourselves.

Every race on Mongo is anenemy to every other race.

BARIN: Each man stands aloneon Mongo, as you'll learn.

If you survive, Earth man.

[grunting]

It seems we are part of thedaily catch, and not prisoners.

Hey, cod face, easy does it!

That other truck--
where does it go?

To the devil.

It leads eventually
to Ming's palace.

If we've got to go,
why not go in style?

Come on.

Hey!

Hey!

Wait for the others!

It's my chance to escape.

Why should I risk spoiling it?

A true prince does
not run from danger.

You owe me satisfactionfor that insult, Earth man.

Pick your time, Prince Barin.

Right now we've got
more pressing matters.

Doc, how long have we gotbefore we collide with Earth?

I'd almost
forgotten about that.

My previous calculationsindicated impact in a little

over a week.

But now--

Now what?

I don't know.

Whoever directed that energybeam at our rocket ship

intended us to land here.

Nothing happens on
Mongo unless Ming

the Merciless is behind it.

Ming wants you three
for his own purposes.

Count on it.

Maybe we can argue
the point with him.

Perhaps you are willing tosubmit to Ming's justice,

but I'm not.

What did you do?

Where are we going?

He's diverted us onto
the Dire Marsh track.

It isn't completed!

We'll crash!

You're on your own, Earth man.

Pray to your gods,
whoever they may be,

that we never meet again.

Save yourself, you mangy cur!

What about this shell?

Can we follow him?

There is no engine or skimmers.

Even if there was, wecould never find our way.

Only an Arborian hunterlike Barin knows this swamp.

Barin ran off with our
motor, so we'll need

another form of propulsion.

Look out!

You'll swamp us!

On Earth, we say necessityis the mother of invention.

[screeching]

What's that?

Whatever it is, I don'tthink it'll make that top 40.

Aura.

She comes with her hunters.

Aura?

Princess Aura.

Ming's offspring.

She and her witch women warriorswill hunt us down, and bring us

to her father in chains.

Not if I can help it.

In this terrible place, onlythe hunters can find their way.

And Princess Aura is
second only to Prince

Barin of Arboria in that skill.

You mean we're game for them?

The most dangerous
game they'll ever hunt.

Come on.

This way!

Come on!

Hold!

Your highness,
they've separated.

They won't get
far in Dire Marsh.

The strangers and the
lion man are afoot.

But Prince Barin-- he
has the powered shell.

He's gotten away.

I swear by the gods of Mongo,I'll settle with Barin yet.

Now, after the others!

If they get away,
you'll pay for it!

All of you!

[snarling]

We're trapped.

That's Dire Marsh.

There's no other way?

None.

And nothing can
live in Dire Marsh.

[growling]

Do we give up?

Chance the mercy
of Emperor Ming?

He has none.

In that case, we've
got nothing to lose.

The fools have
entered the marsh.

We have them now!

[snarling]

We've lost them.

More likely
they're being quiet.

Trying to get in closer to us.

The talk of a hunter, Earth man.

Run!

It's a carniva-tree!

Save yourself, Flash!

Flash!

[laughter]

You will find there is noescape from Ming the Merciless,

or his daughter.

You're Princess Aura?

The witch warrior herself.

Watch your tongue, lion man,or I'll have it stilled for you!

A fine welcome you give
visitors to your world.

I'd welcome you in
another way, wench,

if my imperial father
hadn't reserved

that pleasure for himself.

It is well to see that
even the queen of cats

fears Ming the Merciless.

I warned you, Thun!

[growling]

Easy, princess.

Your neck is too
lovely to wring.

Now, tell your warrior
women to back off.

Do as he commands!

[screeching]

Look!

An imperial flier.

There's no chance for you.

Captain Eric, you've comeat an opportune moment.

My orders, princess, are
to bring the prisoners

to Emperor Ming at once.

Very well Captain Eric.

I weary of the hunt.

I will return with you.

I wish to see these strangevisitors to our world.

She means you, Flash.

A fate better than
some I can think of.

You surprise me, Earth man.

And please me, too.

Now there's a designing woman.

And her designs are all for you.

Jealous, Dale?

You're darned right I am.

Flash, Dr. Zarkov-- look!

THUN: King Vultan's hawk men!

You've sounded like thehawk men are your enemies.

All men of Mongo are
enemies to each other.

As I told you, Earth man.

No wonder a tyrant like
your Emperor Ming rules

you, if you can't unite
to stand against him

Welcome to m1ngo City.

Father, the captured
Earth people.

We are from Earth,
and we came here--

I know who you are.

Then you must also know
that Mongo and Earth

are on a collision course.

Ha ha ha ha!

Our worlds will not
collide, Dr. Zarkov.

Mongo's course is
controlled by me.

But even a near miss
would be catastrophic.

Earthquakes, tidal waves!

Exactly.

It will disrupt your world.

Destroy any resistance.

And then my forces will land.

Conquest?

You came to conquer Earth!

We'll stop you-- somehow.

Ha ha ha!

Brave words.

Perhaps your anger canbest be used in the arena?

As for--

Father?

The Earth man, Flash Gordon--

pleases me.

Give him to me?

If he survives, daughter,perhaps he will be yours.

As for you, Dr.
Zarkov, you'll be

taken to my laboratories,where your Earthly science

will become part of my own.

As for the girl, she
will join my women.

Flash Gordon and the lion man--

let their fighting
skills be tested.

For the tournaments of Mongo!

PSNARLING]

Let the test begin!

Watch yourself, Earht man.

This training ball
carries a sting.

[laughter]

[zapping]

[snarling]

[crumbling]

Flash!

Jump!

It's your only chance!

Flash!

Stop them!

Get away if you can, Flash!

Hurry!

[beep]

We'll come back for
your friend, Earth man!

You try my patienceonce too often, daughter.

[theme music]