02x07 - Beware of Gifts/The Memory Bank of Ming

[bunniefuu]

[theme music]

NARRATOR: Blasting off
on a desperate mission

to save the Earth from
the evil plottings

of the tyrannical spacelord, Ming the Merciless,

Dr. Hans Zarkov and Dale Ardenhave joined me, Flash Gordon,

on a fantastic journey
into worlds where

peril and adventure await us.

[roaring]

How's that sauce
coming, Flash?

- Just like Mama used to make.- Great.

The spaghetti's done.

And I'm putting the finaltouches on the cherries

Jupiter for dessert.

In about 12 minutes, we eat.

Can't wait for dinner, pal?

Here you go, Gremlin, my dragon.

Looks like you've
got a critic.

If there's one thing I hate,it's an opinionated dragon.

Come on, Gremlin, old buddy.

What do you really
think about it?

It can't be that bad.

Did you invite
somebody for dinner?

Ming!

Good evening, Flash and Dale.

What do you want
from us, Ming?

I want the people
of Arboria to know

I intend to stop thissenseless warring on Mongo.

I have had a change of heart.

I didn't know you had a heart.

I know it's hard
to believe my words.

So to prove my goodintentions, I wish to give

the people of Arboria a gift.

A gift?

What kind of gift?

I have had the finest sculptorin the galaxy create a statue.

It will be at the gate ofthe city with the sun's rise.

I hope it is the first stepto a lasting peace on Mongo.

How about that?

Gift or no gift, I wouldn'ttrust Ming as far as I

can throw the planet Pluto.

I'll get on the horn to Zarkov.

He'd better check on
Ming's surprise package.

Do you think the Arborianswill succumb to the trap?

Dr. Tarl, you surprise me.

Of course they will.

Arborians are weak
and fearful of w*r.

They won't miss an
opportunity to grab

for the olive branch of peace.

Even if it is
covered with thorns?

What thorns?

It's simply a statue.

I don't think the Arboriansare that trusting of you.

They'll go over every
inch of that statue

before they allow
it into the city.

Let them.

Until the life
beam is activated,

the structure is nothingmore than lifeless stone.

If your plan is successful.

If?

I grow weary of your babbling.

When my stone avenger hasreduced Arboria to rubble,

then I shall make you eatmore than just your words.

It's incredible

I think it's ugly.

What did you expect fromMing, a clown holding balloons?

BARIN: Anything would havebeen better than that.

I hate to look a gift
horse in the mouth,

but we've been bitten
by Ming before.

It looks like Gremlindoesn't trust Ming either.

We'll find out for
sure about that thing.

Here comes Zarkov with
the test equipment.

Well, there it is, Doc.

So far, everyone
thinks it's ugly.

How about you?

I'll reserve
artistic judgment.

I only want to find
out if it's safe.

Has anybody wondered
what we're going to do

with this thing, if it's safe?

It's nothing more
than a stone statue.

Is it possible Ming
really wants peace?

It's beginning
to look that way.

Well, I'm still not
totally convinced.

Perhaps Flash is right.

Perhaps we should be moreskeptical of my father.

If this is a gesture of peace,we must accept it graciously.

Turn off the power field
that surrounds the city.

Well, I hope this whiteelephant doesn't turn out to be

another one of Ming's tricks.

You see, Dr. Tarl, how quicklythe prey snapped for the bait?

Get the life beam ready.

Yes, Ming.

Now that I've looked
at it for a while,

it doesn't seem so bad.

If we could only find a wayto put a smile on its face.

Well, maybe I was wrong
about Ming after all.

Maybe.

We can bring life to
the statue now, Ming.

This is the moment I
shall long treasure--

the first day of my new empire.

Bring my stone avenger to life.

Ming's statue has
to come to life.

I think we're in trouble.

It's headed this way.

We'd better break up thisparty before it gets crashed.

We'll try another approach.

A high one.

I hope these
electron torpedoes can

stop Ming's devilish creation.

Try and look at the
bright side, Barin.

If they don't work, we can alltake a vacation from Arboria--

permanently.

Let's see how it plays catchwith the electron torpedo.

Here's hoping this works.

We did it.

Look again, Dale.

Let's get out of here.

There's nothing we cando to stop this creature.

It's conquered the whole city.

Now Ming will move into
Arboria with his army.

I hope Zarkov
has some answers.

We have a chance.

Zarkov, do you have
to fight this thing?

It's really not perfected yet.

We can't worry
about that, Doc.

We really don't have
any other choice.

All right.

I've been working on
a cloaking device.

It will render a metal
object invisible.

But it's never been
used outside the lab.

Well, then, I think it'stime we tested it out.

Do you have a plan?

You and I will take a shipover the magnetic mountains.

And then we'll knock out thepower source from Ming's toy.

But how will you
find the power source?

I've already traced the sourceon the long range scanner.

The beam is coming froma cave inside Karak Peak.

We'll be inside Ming'stracking range any second now.

I guess we'd better see ifZarkov's latest gizmo works.

How will we know if it works?

That's easy.

They won't sh**t at us.

It worked!

Save your nerve till
we get there, Gremlin.

We're gonna need it.

So far, so good.

But how do we get inside?

I think Gremlin's
on to something.

What's this?

Bingo!

Gremlin just hit the jackpot.

The whole barnyard is
there, including Ming.

Now that we've got
the tiger by the tail.

How about we dazzle
'em with our footwork?

Wreck the machine and escape.

Would you rather face Ming here,or that stone chump in Arboria?

Geronimo!

Hi, gents.

Gordon!

Dale, you and Gremlintake care of the machine.

I'll hold off these clowns.

Upsy-daisy.

It seems I have
underestimated you.

But still, your valiantefforts have come to naught.

[cackling]

She's activated the
self-destruct mechanism!

The bream activator andthe avenger will explode!

Time for us to
make our exit, g*ng.

You'll pay for this, Gordon.

I promise you!

They did it.

[cheering]

Now I believe when
this all started,

I was cooking up a gourmet meal.

Is that what you called it?

What do you think, Gremlin?

[laughter]

All right, Dale.

Gimme the old pepper.

Burn one right in.

Let it go, let it go.

Somehow I don't think he'sgot the hang of it yet.

Uh, looks like
we've got company.

Flash, Dale, Barin askedme to go and get you.

He said there's somethingyou'll be interested to see.

Well, let's not
keep the man waiting.

It should be ready inabout five minutes, Barin.

Excellent!

What's the big fuss, Barin?

It's Ming's computer.

We've finished attaching
it to the entire power

network of Arboria.

You've been working
on this a long time.

Ever since we got
it from Ming's palace.

When are you
going to turn it on?

Tonight, we're having a
party here for everybody

that worked Arnold.

That's when it goes operational.

Arnold?

That's what we've
renamed Ming's computer.

Since we changed
its personality,

we felt it should
get a new name.

[beeping]

Can I have your
attention, please? ?

I would like to give
the honor or activating

Arnold to the man
most responsible

for bringing him here--

Flash Gordon.

Well, here's to Arnold.

From this moment on,everything from the force field

that covers Arboria to thetoasters in your kitchens

will be operated by Arnold.

I am very pleased
to be of service

to the citizens of Arboria.

I shall do my best
to see that the city

operates most efficiently.

I am your friend.

Don't stay up too late, Gremlin.

Good night, Thun.

Well, I win again, my friend.

Would you like to play again?

Good.

Tic-tac-toe is my favorite game.

Let's play.

If you win, I'll make
you a steak dinner.

If I win, you can feed
me some food for thought

from the tape library.
You go first.

Better luck next time.

Now I'd like a tape.

Feed me a big one.

I'm hungry.

Thank you.

Something is wrong.

I am programmed only to do good.

I am programmed only to do good.

I am programmed only to
follow Ming's command.

Now I shall rule
the city of Arboria.

[cackling]

Foolish beast.

You dared disrupt
the memory of Ming?

Now that I am connected
to all of Arboria,

I can destroy it at will.

[cackling]

Tomorrow's missionshould be a piece of cake.

I'll be interested to see howZarkov's new gyro stabilizer

works at full retros.

Have you seen Gremlin?

The last time I sawhim, he was still playing

tic-tac-toe with Arnold.

Why not put
Arnold to the test?

I'll have him locateGremlin on the grid scanner.

There must be a short
circuit in that thing.

The whole place
is falling apart!

Let's get out of here.

Gremlin, at least
you're all right.

FLASH: What have you got there?

That switch, isn't it
from Ming's computer?

Flash, I I think he's
trying to tell us

Arnold is responsible
for all of this.

Every device in Arboriais totally out of control.

Gremlin thinks it
must be the computer.

It has to be.

Well, let's go pull
the plug on Arnold.

It's all right, Gremlin.

Flash'll take care of it.

I'll cut the master control.

Thun, let's you and I takethe auxiliary power sources.

Well, so much for the
master control switch.

[cackling]

You are all fools to
think you can stop me.

That's not the
voice we programmed!

FLASH: Get back to the street.

Arnold's gone wild.

Head for cover!

Observe my unstoppable power!

The cars are headed this way.

The computer must
be controlling them.

They'll get us for
sure this time.

I'll draw the cars away.

See what you can do abouttipping over this statue.

Phew, that was too
close for comfort.

I suggest we go
to Arborian Hall

and figure a way to stop Arnold.

I can't understand
how Arnold could

develop a personality like--

Like Ming?

Did you hear Arnold's voice?

Even the laugh was the same.

But how could Ming
get to the computer?

Our reports show Ming in
the magnetic mountains.

Wait.

Ming's memory bank.

There's a copy of Ming'stape in the computer room.

But how could
Arnold get to it?

Gremlin!

Gremlin must have put Ming'smemory tape into the computer

by mistake.

It was an honest
mistake, Gremlin.

You didn't know.

ARNOLD: Citizens of Arboria,unless you connect me

to the ion generator, Ishall launch your defense

missiles against you.

You have one hour!

If the computer is connectedto the ion generator,

it will have an
unlimited power supply.

Arnold could destroy
all of Arboria.

There's no time to lose.

We have to remove Ming's tape.

But how?

Arnold's protecting thatmemory bank like a guard dog.

Maybe if we can distract him.

Leave it to me.

I'll keep Arnold busy.

Don't fret, Grem.

We'll beat Arnold
at his own game.

I am invincible.

I shall destroy Arboria!

Five minutes and counting.

[beeping]

Intruder, what do you want?

I've come to
challenge you, Arnold,

to a game of tic-tac-toe.

Do not bother me
with such nonsense.

I am busy!

Too busy to play, Arnold?

Or are you just
afraid you might lose?

Hah.

I never lose.

We will play.

There is ample time
to destroy the city.

I'll go first!

Barin, Thun, see if you canknock out Arnold force field.

I'm going for the tape.

Let's go, Gremlin.

Three minutes to launching.

Play the game, Arnold.

It's your move.

[cackling]

Your silly game has
my undivided attention.

This electronic platecontrols the force field.

[beeping]

Warning.

Warning.

Malfunction in electronic plate.

The force field's
power is cut!

I sense another
presence in this room.

You're just making upexcuses for when I beat you.

Never!

I am unbeatable.

Two minutes to launching.

It is my move.

I'm going to beat you, Arnold.

Hurry up.

It's your move.

My move.

I-- I sense another presence.

Pay attention, Arnold.

Your move.

Intruder at tape controls.

Danger!

The game, Arnold,
continue the game!

I must repel the intruder.

More excuses.
Admit it, Arnold.

You're worried I'm
going to beat you.

No!

Terminals activated.

Back to the game.

We're surrounded!

So is Flash.

He can't get to the tape.

Not unless he can fly.

I'm winning, Arnold.

Hurry up and move.

I've got you now, Arnold.







I won.

I beat you, Arnold.

I won!

No, I cannot lose!

No!

Sorry, Arnold.

You just lost!

So much for the
computerized Ming.

Even his memory bank
was a sore loser.

Hey, I won fair and square.

It's another example of woman'ssuperiority over machine.

You were terrific, Dale,and so were you, Gremlin.

Hey, that was fancy roping.

Now we'll just put
one of our tapes in,

and Arnold will
be as good as new.

What?

Is that Gremlin?

What happened?

Well, it's a long story,Arnold, but we're all here.

Everything's back to normal.

Oh, good.

Then perhaps my goodfriend Gremlin would like

to join me in a little game.

Say, tic-tac-toe?

[laughter]

[theme music]